Best Garage Heaters in 2022 – The Most Economic & Super Warm Models
Whether you’re the kind of person who uses their garage as a simple storage unit or use it as a place to indulge in a hobby or work from home, you’ve probably experienced one thing:
Cold.
Because no one is expected to live in there, it isn’t usually included in a home’s central air or aren’t even insulated, which means they can get quite cold in the winter.
Space heaters can solve this problem, but there’s an even better solution: Garage heaters.
Garage heaters are often larger and more powerful. They can be placed on the floor, or mounted on the wall and ceiling. Because they’re expected to be in a less protected area than space heaters, they’re also often sturdier and capable of with standing a lot more use, which means you’ll find plenty of models with great ratings online.
Table of Contents
- 9 Best Garage Heaters - Comparisons
- Best Garage Heaters - Reviews
- 1. Mr. Heater F23200 MH9BX Buddy Heater
- 2. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 Garage Shop 208/240V Heater
- 3. Lasko 675919 Stanley Pro-Ceramic Utility Heater
- 4. Dimplex DGWH4031 Garage/Workshop Heater
- 5. Comfort Zone CZQTV5M Ceiling Mount Quartz Heater, 2 Pack
- 6. Dyna-Glo RMC FA60DG LP Gas Powered Forced Air Heater
- 7. Heatstar by Enerco F125545 Radiant Overhead Garage Heater
- 8. Fahrenheat FUH54 240-volt Garage Heater
- 9. Lasko-675945 Stanley Ceramic Utility Heater
- Final Verdict
9 Best Garage Heaters - Comparisons
Image | Product Name | Heats Up To | Weight | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
200 Sq ft | 9.5 pounds | |||
600 Sq ft | 12 pounds | |||
600 Sq ft | 8.8 pounds | |||
400 Sq ft | 12.1 pounds | |||
200 Sq ft | 16 pounds | |||
1,350 Sq ft | 16.8 pounds | |||
600 Sq ft | 20 pounds | |||
1200 Sq ft | 24 pounds | |||
Lasko 675945 (Currently unavailable) | 800 Sq ft | 18.8 pounds |
Best Garage Heaters - Reviews
With that in mind, we’ve scoured the internet in search of the best garage heaters the market has to offer and today we bring you a review that covers the top 10 of 2020.
A lightweight and effective appliance, this radiant heater is capable of heating garages up to 200 square feet with little to no problem, all without drying the ambient or blasting hot air in random directions.
This sturdy heater has a wide base that makes it capable of standing on its own and a thick handle, which allows you to move it around your garage even when in use.
Because this is a radiant heater, it’s capable of heating things fast, all without drying the environment or blasting hot air in random direction. The later is a particularly attractive attribute if you’re the kind of person who uses their garage as a home office or a hobby room.
This heater has different safety features –like the one that shuts it off if it’s accidentally knocked over or the one that shuts it off if it starts overheating. However, its most remarkable safety feature is the one that shuts off the heater if it starts consuming too much oxygen, which is a must for garage heaters.
This handy feature has a big drawback, though, and that’s the fact that this heater doesn’t work well at altitudes over 7,000 feet above sea level. While small, this heater is powerful enough to heat up garages up to 250 square feet, but it will struggle with larger areas, since radiant heaters aren’t capable of heating large rooms.
What we liked
- Affordable
- Great for small heaters
- Fast
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to use
- Safe to use
- Includes a sensor that monitors oxygen levels in the room
What we didn't like
- Can’t heat up large garages
- May shut off if you live 7,000 feet above sea level
One of the most affordable articles in this list, this garage heater is perfect for those of you who want to heat up their garage at an accessible price.
Its sturdy and open design makes it perfect to warm up garages, construction sites and basements, even non-insulated ones.
Capable of heating up to 600 square feet reliably, this heater isn’t exactly quiet, but it’s very efficient and doesn’t use as much energy as one would imagine.
While this heater comes with a handle that makes it easy to carry around, it’s not a portable heater and does best staying in a single place, since despite its relatively small size the design is very bulky. This heater comes with your usual safety features, as well as a grate that protects the heater’s fan.
The one thing this heater lacks, though, is a stay-cool housing, as it does tend to get hot when it’s used. The Dr.Infrared DR-988 also comes with a thermostat that lets you keep a room at the temperature you want, though because it is an electric heater, it does take a while to heat up.
What we liked
- Sturdy
- Easy to use
- Energy efficient
- Portable
What we didn't like
- Noisy
- Gets hot to the touch
You can see right away that what makes this heater special is its unique design, which not only lets you move it around and place it just about everywhere but also makes it very hard to knock over.
(And if you’re concerned about safety, you’ll be glad to know this heater comes with the usual safety features) One of the coolest features of this heater, is the so called “pivot design”, which allows you to easily move it and direct the heat in any direction you want.
Of course, this is possible because the heater works with a fan, blasting hot air rather than radiating it. This little garage heater, which comes already assembled, comes with a thermostat that lets you choose the temperature you’re more comfortable with and makes sure the temperature stays just where you want it to.
The Lasko 675919 is a little underpowered, everything considered, but it’s reliable and capable of heating up garages, though if you’re looking for something more powerful, or an industrial grade heater, you should probably look elsewhere. The upside to this is that, unlike other heaters in this list, this one is surprisingly quiet, making it a great choice for those who work in their garage and get distracted easily by noise.
What we liked
- Affordable
- Fun design
- Lightweight and portable
- Can direct heat in any direction
- Very hard to accidentally knock over
- Quiet
What we didn't like
- Not very powerful compared to similar heaters
This is the kind of heater that comes to mind when one thinks of garage heaters.
This heater is quite powerful and capable of heating areas up to 400 square feet without any issue. It comes with a thermostat and an automatic mode that will keep your garage at a stable temperature even if you’re not around.
The fact that this heater can be wall-mounted makes it one of the safest ones out there, as it can’t be accidentally knocked over or even touched by children or pets, though it also means it can fall, so you should be very through when attaching it.
This Dimplex is a lot smaller than it looks, which works in its favor in a variety of ways. The most remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that mounting this heater is very easy, and it can be done against a wall or on the ceiling.
This heater works with a powerful fan that spreads heat through the room, though it is quite loud, so you should keep that in mind. This also means that it consumes a lot of energy, which you’ll definitely see reflected in your power bill.
Safety-wise, this product does leave something to be desired, as it can get quite hot to the touch and doesn’t include a tipping shut-off function, which is understandable, considering this heater is supposed to be mounted on a wall.
What we liked
- Can be mounted on a wall
- Sturdy
- Powerful
- Can heat up large areas
What we didn't like
- Loud
- Uses a lot of energy
An elegant and powerful heater, this is an excellent choice for those of you looking for a powerful garage heater that’s both nice to look at and effective.
Since this is an infrared heater, it doesn’t dry the air when in use, making it a good option for people with sensitive lungs or for people working in sensitive projects where temperature and humidity need to be considered.
Powerful enough to easily cover a 200 square feet area, this heater is surprisingly silent (even though there’s a buzz to it) and works with a fun little pull switch that has three different temperature settings. This is particularly useful because the manufacturers recommend mounting this unit at around 7 feet tall.
Affordable and easy to use, this unit could use a couple of improvements but it does the job without any real issue. This heater was designed for garages and workshops, which means it’s not well suited to use indoors or in the bathroom, since it really can’t handle heating up areas larger than 200 square feet.
What we liked
- Affordable
- Practical
- Works well in small areas
- Adjustable temperatures
- Comes with a little safety light
- Fun design
- Quiet
What we didn't like
- Not very powerful
A powerful and efficient liquid propane heater, this heater is perfect for those of you looking to heat up large areas without sacrificing their power bill in return.
How powerful is this heater? Powerful enough to heat up an area up to 1,500 square feet without any problem!
While this heater does use propane to work, it’s surprisingly portable, not only for its relatively small size but also because of its handle, which makes carrying this heater around easy. It also comes with a 10 feet hose, which can be connected to a propane tank without any issue.
Safety wise, this heater comes with safety features that shut it off if it’s knocked over. This automatic shut-off feature also kicks in if the heater starts overheating or if the flame goes out, ensuring no propane leaks into your workplace.
Because this heater uses fuel to work, it does smell like it, so we don’t recommend using it in a small space. However, if you plan on using it in large garages, this shouldn’t be a problem.
While using this heater is quite easy, turning it on can be a little tedious, as you need to hold down the ignition button for almost an entire minute.
(Then again, maybe we’re just spoiled) If you think this heater looks powerful that’s because it is, though keep in mind part of its effectiveness comes from its fan, which is quite loud.
What we liked
- Great for large areas
- Powerful
- Sturdy and durable
- Safe to use
- Easy to use
- Works with different types of propane tanks
- Portable
What we didn't like
- Can be quite noisy
- Tedious to turn on, as it takes a long time.
A rather odd looking yet surprisingly effective heater, this isn’t the most affordable item in this list but it’s one of the most reliable.
This is a radiant heater, which means it won’t dry the environment and it will give you a warm and comfortable sun-like feel when it’s in use. The fact that this is an overhead heater only increases that feeling.
Because propane is such a reliable fuel, this is a very eco-friendly heater that will help you save money on your electric bills while also providing you a lot of heat. Easy to install and even easier to use, this heater comes with an adjustable thermostat that lets you select a variety of temperatures. However, the pilot isn’t automatic and you need to turn it on with a lighter or a match.
In fact, the pilot works so similarly to that of a water heater or stove that the fire will also go out if you place this heater somewhere drafty, so be careful with that.
As you can imagine, this isn’t the kind of heater you should leave unattended, but as long as you use it while you’re around and can keep an eye on it, you shouldn’t have any problem enjoying the comfortable warmth this radiant heater emits.
What we liked
- Easy to use
- Overhead mounted
- Great warm feeling
- Powerful
- Can save you a lot of money
- Efficient
- Quiet
What we didn't like
- The pilot of this unit isn’t automatic, which can be a problem.
- Because the pilot isn’t automatic, you shouldn’t leave this heater unattended.
- Drafts can turn off the pilot, so keep this heater way from windows or doors.
Also Read: Best Kerosene Heaters – Reviewed & Compared
A high powered and efficient heater that works perfectly in garages and basements, this unit is capable of heating rooms up to 500 square feet with little to no problem.
Sturdily built with industrial grade materials, this isn’t the lightest or the most portable heater but it definitely works well as an over-head or wall mounted unit and can take a beating if, for any reason, it happens to fall down.
Part of the reason why this heater is so powerful is because it works with propane rather than electricity, which means this heater can save you a lot of money in the long run. However, installing it properly is rather tricky and you may have to hire someone to do it for you.
Because this is a propane heater, you may experience some fumes or smells coming from the unit, though this is rare enough that, if it happens, you should take a look at the machine to ensure everything is working properly.
Very quiet, even when cranking up heat, this is a great choice for those of you who get distracted with loud noises, but should be used only when you’re around to supervise just in case the pilot goes off.
We’re not joking when we say this heater is powerful, so keep anything flammable away from it and be prepared to start sweating after a few minutes if you set the thermostat too high.
What we liked
- Sturdy
- Powerful
- Energy efficient
- Doesn’t smell like propane most of the time
- Heats up large areas quickly
- Can be mounted on the wall or ceiling
What we didn't like
- Complicated installation
- Gets very hot to the touch
This is one of the smallest items in this list but also one of the most versatile heaters, thanks to the fact that, while created to heat up garages and basements, it can also be safely used in your bedroom or living room.
Small and lightweight, this heater is perfect for those of you who like to move around their heaters. The fact that it’s ceramic and stays at a single temperature consistently, also means there’s no heat blasting directly at your face.
The downside?
This heater “feels” weak, since there’s no heat hitting you directly. This is a common characteristic amongst ceramic heaters, but it seems to be particularly noticeable in this one.
Safety wise, this is a very simple heater that stays cool to the touch and automatically shuts off if it starts overheating, but it doesn’t seem to shut off if the unit is accidentally knocked over, so you should place it against walls to be on the safe side.
Because this unit is on the small size, it can only heat up small or medium-small rooms, but it does so quietly so it’s not distracting, which is always a plus.
All in all, this is an affordable and reliable heater that works perfectly well as both as a garage or a space heater, but it does have its limitations when it comes to power, so it works best for personal use.
What we liked
- User friendly design and easy to use
- Comes with some safety features
- Quiet when in use
- Portable and lightweight
- Can maintain a room at a certain temperature for hours
What we didn't like
- Doesn’t have a tipping shut off feature
- Feels a little weak
Final Verdict
We’ve come to the end of our review, we hope you found this article useful. If you’ve selected an item from our list and want to share the good news, or if you’ve already used one of these heaters and want to share your opinion, leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
I want to make my garage warm this winter and great to find out here that there are some good ones to choose from.