How to pick the right wattage for your bathroom heater
Here is the thing about infrared heaters: they don’t actually warm up the air in the room. Instead, they beam heat directly onto you. It’s a bit like stepping into sunlight on a crisp autumn morning. But if you pick the wrong wattage, you’re either going to freeze or feel like you’re standing too close to a campfire. Getting the size right If you’re just dealing with a tiny powder room (under 4m²), keep it simple. A single 250W to 400W lamp is usually plenty. Go any higher in a space that small and you’ll just bake yourself—plus, you’ll probably burn out the bulb way faster than you should. For your average bathroom (4m² to 8m²), I’d go with two lamps. Aim for a total of 800W to 1200W. Spreading the heat out makes the whole room feel cozy rather than just having one scorching spot. Then you’ve got the big master baths. If you’re over 8m², you’re looking at 1500W or more, likely split across three or four lamps. If you go too low here, the heat just vanishes into the walls before it even hits your skin. The “Hot Spot” problem Higher wattage means you feel the warmth the second you flip the switch. It’s instant. But there’s a catch. A powerful 600W lamp in a small space can feel a bit too intense—almost aggressive. If that happens, try mounting the lamp a bit higher or look for one with a wider beam. It softens the heat and makes it feel more like a warm hug and less like a heat lamp at a buffet. A quick warning about your wiring Before you go all out with a high-power setup, take a look at your circuit breaker. Three 600W lamps pull 1.8kW. That’s a lot. If that same circuit is powering a heavy-duty hairdryer or a water heater, you’re probably going to trip the breaker mid-shower. Not a great feeling. If you’re installing a big array of lamps, it’s worth running a dedicated line. It keeps the power steady and helps your lamps last much longer.