Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I needed a couple of new inexpensive space heaters so I decided to do a bake off between this LASKO 754200 and the HOLMES HFH111T. Both have a single fan speed, and a choice of fan only, low heat, and high heat. Both have a thermostat which will turn the unit off once the desired temperature is reached. Both have internal over temperature protection which needs to be reset by unplugging the device and letting things cool down. LASKO PLUS The light is lit if the unit is plugged in so you know if it's plugged in by a look only. I want to leave space heaters unplugged when I'm not around and this makes it easy to tell. Quieter than HOLMES: ~55DB vs the HOLMES 60DB Seems more efficient at heating a given volume of air. Passing my hand in front of either unit at about 18 inches away with heat on high, my hand got rather hot with the LASKO which seemed to have good even hot air distribution over an arc +/-20 degrees of center, but the HOLMES air distribution seemed uneven with more air going to one side, and my hand never got uncomfortable. HOLMES PLUS Simpler packaging: no internal packaging.... LASKO had: 2 pieces of pressed formed cardboard, plastic wrapping and tape to recycle. The light is lit once the switch is no longer in the OFF position, even if the thermostat has caused the fan to turn off. Thus you can look at the light to know that the heater *may* be on. With the LASKO you need to look at the switch to make sure it's going to stay off. More sensitive thermostat. It takes only a 5 or 10 degree rotation to get the thermostat to go on or off, while the LASKO took about 30 degrees. May very well move more air for the noise. Tip over protection. It has a weight on a switch. If the unit leaves vertical by more then 60 degrees tipping front or back, the unit will shut off. BOTTOM LINE If no kids or cats I'd recommend LASKO. If tip over is a concern, the the HOLMES is an acceptable low cost solution. The LASKO will go in my office where I will appreciate the quiet and the more direct heat, and the HOMES will in the bathroom where the noise and uneven direct heating is less of an issue.