How to pick the right infrared heater for your bathroom
If you just grab any heater off the shelf, you’re probably going to waste a lot of money on your electric bill. The trick is matching the wattage to the actual size of your room. We use short-wave infrared lamps. Now, here’s the thing: these don’t bother heating up the air in the room. Instead, they warm you and your surfaces directly. It feels more like standing in a patch of sunlight on a crisp autumn day.
Figuring out the power
You can’t just use one standard wattage for every room. If you’ve got a tiny powder room—maybe around 3 to 5 square meters—a 250W to 400W lamp is plenty. If you go overkill here, you’re just burning through electricity and wearing out the heating element for no reason. For those mid-sized bathrooms (6-10m²), aim for 600W to 800W. And for the big master baths? You’re looking at 1000W or more. In those larger spaces, I usually suggest putting up a few smaller units across the ceiling rather than one giant one. It just feels more natural.
Dealing with the steam
Bathrooms are brutal on electronics. Steam and splashes are basically a death sentence for most gear. That’s why we stick to the IP65 standard. We use sealed quartz glass and heavy-duty gaskets to keep the moisture out. We also use high-temp silicone seals so the housing doesn’t warp or crack after you’ve turned the heat on and off a hundred times. It stays solid.
The trade-off: One big lamp or a few small ones?
Here is where people usually get stuck. A high-wattage lamp hits you with heat immediately. It’s powerful. But it creates a “hot spot.” You’ll feel toasted right under the lamp, but your toes might still be freezing in the corners of the room. If you want that cozy, even warmth everywhere, try wiring up two 400W lamps instead of one 800W unit. It spreads the heat across a wider area. Just a heads-up: more units mean a bit more time spent on the wiring and installation. But for most people, the comfort is worth the extra effort.