Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 vs Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06)
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968
The short answer
Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) comes out ahead overall with 8.0/10 against 7.6/10 for the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 is stronger on heating performance and bedroom usability. Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) is stronger on noise & sleep-friendliness and value. At current verified prices, the Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) costs about $40.00 less.
- Choose the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 if: Owners of large primary bedrooms who need more output than a compact heater gives and can accept a low fan hum and a standby light. It is not a pick for the lightest sleepers.
- Choose the Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) if: Light sleepers who want quiet whole-room heat in a typical bedroom, with a long warranty and simple controls.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 | Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) |
|---|---|---|
| Noise & Sleep-Friendliness | 7.4Bob Vila: a slight hum from the fan. No dB figure. | 9.0CR calls it the quietest heater in its ratings, though it publishes no dB figure. The mechanical controls don't beep. |
| Safety | 7.5Tip-over and overheat protection. The UL listing comes only from a retailer spec. | 7.7Top marks in CR's fire-safety test, and Vornado lists tip-over and overheat shutoff. Its ETL/UL listing is unconfirmed, and CR flags the hot exhaust. |
| Heating Performance | 8.6Room rose 10°F in 33 minutes in Bob Vila's test. | 8.0CR calls it a champ at room heating. Vornado.com reviews (3.9/5) say it is weaker in large rooms. |
| Bedroom Usability | 6.9Remote, timer and digital thermostat, but the standby light and 19–25 lb weight count against it. | 6.2Mechanical dial with no timer or remote. It is compact and easy to keep 3 ft from bedding. |
| Health & Materials | 6.5Fan-assisted. 3-year warranty. | 6.8The fan moves dust. The 5-year guarantee is long for the category. |
| Value | 7.4$104.99 is fair for its large-room output. | 8.7Sold by Amazon for $64.99 with a 5-year guarantee. |
Specifications
| Spec | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 | Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) |
|---|---|---|
| Heater type | Infrared quartz + PTC, fan-assisted | Fan-forced vortex (whole room) |
| Fanless (no blower) | No | No |
| Manufacturer-rated noise | 39 dB | — |
| Tip-over shutoff | Yes | Yes |
| Overheat protection | Yes | Yes |
| Cool-touch exterior | — | Yes |
| Safety listing (ETL/UL) | UL | — |
| Thermostat type | Digital (50–85°F) | Mechanical dial |
| Max timer | 12 hours | — |
| Remote control | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 years |
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968
Pros
- Fast warm-up in Bob Vila's test
- Digital thermostat, 12-hour timer and remote
- Tip-over and overheat protection
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Low fan hum
- Standby light in a dark room
- Heavy cabinet, about 19–25 lb
- Not the quietest option
A reasonable choice for big bedrooms where heat output matters more than silence. For ordinary bedrooms and light sleepers, the picks above fit better.
Full Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 review →Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06)
Pros
- Called the quietest heater in Consumer Reports' ratings
- Top marks in Consumer Reports' fire-safety test
- Tip-over and overheat shutoff, cool-touch case
- 5-year replacement guarantee
- Budget-friendly price
Cons
- Exhaust outlet can get hot, per Consumer Reports
- Mechanical dial, no timer or remote
- Vornado.com reviews average 3.9/5, with some complaints in larger rooms
- No safety listing is shown on Vornado's product page
The best all-round choice for light sleepers in a typical bedroom. It gives up convenience features for the strongest independent evidence on noise, safety and heating, plus a long guarantee.
Full Vornado VH10 (2026, EH1-0241-06) review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Quiet, Safe Space Heaters for Bedrooms of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.