Black & Decker Personal Desktop Heater

I set this compact desktop heater on my office credenza during the first cold snap of the season, curious whether a 1500‑watt, sub-10-inch box could keep pace with a drafty workroom. After several weeks of daily use across an office, bedroom, and bathroom pre-heat routine, I’ve got a clear picture of where this little unit shines and where it compromises.

Design, build, and setup

The heater is small enough to tuck on a bookshelf or under a desk: roughly 7.5 inches wide, 6.3 inches deep, and 9.5 inches tall. At 2.8 pounds, it’s easy to grab by the top and move from room to room. The styling is utilitarian plastic; nothing fancy, but no creaks or loose panels on my sample either.

Controls are intentionally simple:
- A mode selector: Fan, Low (900 W), High (1500 W)
- A manual thermostat dial
- A power indicator light

There’s no digital display, timer, or remote. If you value set-and-forget simplicity, that’s a plus. If you want precise temperatures or scheduling, you won’t find them here.

Important setup note: the tip-over switch must be engaged for the unit to run. That means it has to sit on a stable, flat surface; lift it while it’s on and it will cut power immediately, as it should. Place it on a hard floor, solid desk, or countertop—not on an uneven rug or thick carpet that could defeat the safety switch.

Heating performance

I tested the heater in three scenarios:

1) 110 sq ft office (old windows, mild draft)
- Starting at 66°F, High mode raised ambient temperature to 71°F in about 15 minutes, measured at desk height 6 feet away.
- Once the space warmed, switching to Low maintained 70–71°F with the thermostat set around midway.
- On the floor near my feet, the perceived warmth arrives within 30–60 seconds; for spot heating, it’s immediate.

2) 150 sq ft bedroom (closed door, moderate insulation)
- High mode added about 5–6°F in 20 minutes. It won’t replace central heat, but it absolutely takes the edge off for one person.

3) Bathroom pre-heat (small room, tile floor)
- Five minutes on High made cold tile tolerable. I turned it off before showering and avoided any splash risk—don’t run space heaters around water.

Heat distribution is forward and slightly upward; there’s no oscillation. Aim matters. For whole-room performance, set it 4–8 feet from where you sit or stand, pointed at your body. For ambient boost, a corner placement with some clearance works, but don’t expect even heating across larger spaces.

Power draw measured by a plug-in meter:
- Low: 890–910 W (varies slightly with line voltage)
- High: 1450–1480 W
Fan-only mode uses minimal power and provides gentle air movement, but it’s not a substitute for a dedicated fan.

Controls and thermostat behavior

The analog thermostat has no numeric setpoints; you “learn” the knob position that keeps your space comfortable. It cycles the heater on and off as the room meets the target. In practice, I warmed the room on High with the thermostat maxed, then backed the thermostat down until the unit clicked off, and finally nudged it up slightly until it clicked back on. From there, it maintained an even comfort level without constant fiddling. Expect a few trial runs before it feels intuitive.

One caveat: if the heater’s air intake is too close to a wall, curtain, or furniture, the thermostat will sense higher localized temperatures and may short-cycle or shut down early. Keep the back and sides clear by several inches.

Noise and air quality

Fans make noise, and this one is no exception. Measured with a phone app at three feet:
- Low: ~49–51 dBA
- High: ~56–58 dBA

On Low it’s an unobtrusive hum—fine for calls and focused work. On High it’s “white noise” territory. It never rattled or whined on my unit, but if you’re ultra-sensitive to fan noise, you’ll notice it at full blast. For light sleepers, Low is workable; High may be too present.

On first run, I detected a faint “new appliance” odor for about ten minutes. That’s typical residue burning off the heating elements. I recommend running it on High near an open window for the first cycle to clear the smell. If your smoke detector is unusually close or very sensitive, do that initial burn-in away from detectors.

Safety and stability

This heater checks the necessary boxes:
- Tip-over auto shutoff: cuts instantly when lifted or nudged off level
- Overheat protection: the unit shut down once during a stress test when I partially obstructed the intake; it reset safely after cooling
- Power-on indicator: clear and bright

The front grille gets hot in extended use—keep it away from fabrics, papers, and curious hands. Use a hard, level surface. I don’t run any space heater unattended or while sleeping, and I recommend the same here.

A few usage best practices:
- Don’t use with extension cords or power strips. Plug directly into a wall outlet.
- Avoid shared 15A circuits with other high-draw appliances (microwaves, hair dryers) to prevent breaker trips.
- Maintain at least 3 feet of clearance in front and several inches around the sides and back.

Energy use and cost

All resistance space heaters convert electricity to heat at roughly 100% efficiency; the differentiator is how effectively they move that heat where you need it. At 1500 W, this heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour on High; Low uses 0.9 kWh per hour. If your electricity costs $0.15/kWh, that’s about $0.23/hour on High and $0.14/hour on Low. A practical strategy is to preheat on High, then hold on Low with the thermostat dialed back.

If you’re offsetting central heat by a few degrees and only warming the room you’re in, this can be cost-effective. If you run it all day to heat a large space, your bill will reflect it.

What I like

• Fast, focused warmth: Instant comfort at your feet or at a desk; meaningful room boost in small spaces
• Simple, reliable controls: Easy to operate without a manual
• Useful Low mode: Maintains comfort without running full tilt
• Safety features that work: Tip-over and overheat protection behaved exactly as they should
• Light and portable: Easy to carry room to room without feeling flimsy

What I’d change

• Noisy on High for quiet environments
• No numeric thermostat, timer, or oscillation
• Front grille gets hot to the touch (typical for the category, but still a consideration)
• Fan-only setting is gentle; fine for a light breeze, not a real fan replacement

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

This heater excels at personal zone heating: home offices, small bedrooms, workshops, or a quick bathroom pre-heat (with appropriate caution around moisture). It’s particularly effective if you sit or stand within 4–8 feet, aimed your way. It’s not designed to uniformly heat larger rooms, and it’s not a whole-home solution.

If you prioritize absolute quiet or want a heater you can “set to 70°F” and forget, an oil-filled radiator with a digital thermostat may fit you better, albeit with slower warm-up and more bulk. If you need scheduling, smart control, or a remote, this minimalist approach won’t satisfy.

Reliability notes

Over a few weeks of daily use, I didn’t encounter persistent faults. The only shutdowns were the intended safety responses: tip-over cuts and a single overheat trip when I deliberately restricted airflow. Keep intakes clear, give it space, and the thermostat cycles normally. As with any compact heater, treat it as a seasonal appliance: store it clean and dust-free, and give it a short burn-in at the start of each season.

Recommendation

I recommend this desktop heater for anyone who needs quick, localized warmth in small to midsize rooms and appreciates simple, no-frills controls. It heats fast, the Low mode is genuinely useful for maintaining comfort, and the safety features are effective. The trade-offs—audible fan on High, lack of precise temperature control, and no timer or oscillation—are fair for a compact, budget-friendly unit. If you want silent operation, digital accuracy, or room-wide distribution, consider other styles. For targeted, portable heat that just works, this one earns a spot under the desk or by the bedside.