Typically, garages of most homes are cold and drafty, which makes them uncomfortable to stay in for a long time, especially in colder months. To make my garage a more functional and comfortable place for the family to pursue their hobbies, I decided to install a garage heater.
Since my garage also serves as my workshop, a garage heater proved to be an invaluable appliance that helped me ensure that my garage space stayed warm, usable, and comfortable.
My experience working with different types of heaters allows me to share my expert reviews of a selection of the best garage heaters in this post. I have also shared a practical buyer’s guide that will help you identify the different heaters you can find and the most important features to look for during your search.
Table of Contents
- Best Garage Heater Buying Guide
- 5 Best Garage Heaters Review
- 1. Mr. Heater F232000 Portable Propane Radiant Heater – Best Propane Gas Garage Heater
- 2. Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater – Best Electric Garage Heater
- 3. STANLEY ST-60HB2-GFA Propane Heater – Best Cheap Garage Heater
- #4 Dr. Infrared DR-988A, 6-30R Plug Garage Heater- Best Heater for Medium Sized Garages
- 5. Mr. Heater Corporation F299730 Propane Heater – Best Propane Garage Heaters
- Verdict
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. What is the best type of heater for a garage?
Best Garage Heater Buying Guide
Garage heaters can prove to be crucial to homeowners since they provide warmth and a comfortable environment to a part of the house that is usually overlooked but can be great for various activities.
Installing a garage heater will allow you to create a favorable environment so you can continue doing projects throughout the year. When buying a heater for your garage, you first have to understand the different types available in the market, which will allow you to indent the correct model for your needs.
Types Of Garage Heaters
A quick hunt online will reveal to you that there are different types, brands, and models of garage heaters that you can buy, each variant comes with a set of features, as well as specific advantages and disadvantages.
Infrared Heaters
Regarded as one of the best types of heaters for a garage – low-intensity infrared heaters are highly effective in making you feel warm. The infrared technology allows the heater to radiate heat throughout the space by heating the objects that the infrared rays hit as opposed to warming up the surrounding air. With an infrared heater, you’ll feel the warmth more quickly since it will heat the objects and people first. Whereas the heating the entire area will take time.
Radiant Heaters
The design of radiant heaters also works similarly to infrared heaters, which heats objects and items first, rather than blowing out hot air. Anything in the radiator’s direct line-of-sight will get heated and start radiating heat, thus warming you up more effectively.
The constant heat supply is the greatest advantage of radiant heaters, making them more suitable for commercial spaces and workshops. You can find radiant heaters that are powered by electricity, natural gas, or propane.
Fan Heaters / Space Heaters
Based on the principles of conventional heaters, fan or space heaters use a fan to distribute and speed up the heating. Although they provide gradual warming that makes the environment comfortable, fan heaters can be noisy.
Even though their quick heating process is faster, the lack of a thermostat means that you will not be able to easily control or monitor the heat supply.
More user-friendly variants are equipped with an in-built electric ignition spark that turns the heater on while the fan distributes heat. You can find industrial and domestic versions of fan heaters.
Ceramic
Ceramic heaters are fundamentally the same as conventional fan heaters, with a ceramic heating element that is heated using electricity, which emits better heat, which is then distributed by a fan.
Their improved efficiency of heating makes them more suitable for heating large rooms.
Quartz Halogen
Quartz halogen heating technology combines infrared radiation and metal reflector sheets to provide better heat radiation than infrared heaters to give off heat in a specific direction.
It is most efficient in quickly heating objects and people but not the surrounding air. The heating of a Quartz Halogen heater is comparable to the sun’s heat, which makes them ideal for a large room and outdoor spaces.
Propane / Natural Gas
As you may have guessed by the name of these heaters, they are powered by natural fossil fuels rather than electricity, which makes than ma more affordable option. These are one of the most prevalent heater types used in garages because they are portable and work based on a controlled flame. Their ability to provide a high amount of heat for an extended period also makes them suitable for industrial use.
In terms of safety, you have to be extra cautious when using Propane / Natural Gas heaters because leakage of gas can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, these heaters should only be used in well-ventilated areas to avoid potential hazards.
Freestanding
Portable or freestanding heaters have a compact design that makes them easy to move around in any space and around the house. Their easy movability allows you to place them exactly where you need then for better heating. However, freestanding units can be a tripping hazard, especially if you move around too much during work.
Wall Mounted
As the name suggested, these heaters are secured to a wall that keeps the wiring and fuel tanks away from walk paths. They come in a variety of energy options, sizes, and prices. However, it is important not to keep the cords of wall-mounted heaters because they too can be a tripping hazard.
Important Safety Features to Consider in a Garage Heater
Given how these heaters constantly produce heat, potential electric faults or fire hazards are likely outcomes, thus the necessity of safety features just in case. Select models equipped with:
Overheat Protection
It is typical for heaters to run for extended periods while you work, especially during winter, so the probability of overheating is high. Considering, a heater with overheat protection features will be critical to detecting when the heater is giving too much heat and automatically switching it off to prevent damage.
Tip-Over Mechanism
With an appliance like a heater, you can never be too careful because accidents sometimes happen, such as the heater tipping over, which can be a dangerous fire hazard.
The tip-over mechanism in a heater is a useful feature that allows the unit to sense when the model has been knocked over and is immediately switched off.
5 Best Garage Heaters Review
1. Mr. Heater F232000 Portable Propane Radiant Heater – Best Propane Gas Garage Heater
If you want to buy the best propane garage heater under 100, you will not be disappointed with Mr. Heater F232000 Portable Propane Radiant Heater. The compact, portable heater can provide between 4,000 to 9,000 BTU of comfortable radiant heat from a 1 lb. propane gas cylinder.
For the price, Mr. Heater F232000 offers impressive features, including auto shut-off that ensures complete safety if the pilot light goes out if tipped over, or detects low oxygen levels.
It also offers efficient adjustments like two heat (low and high) settings, a swivel-out regulator, fold-down handle, and more. All-in-all, the clean-burning Mr. Heater F232000 is one of the best garage heaters on a budget.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Provides quick heating
- Lightweight and compact
- Travel-friendly design
- Works well even at 7,000 FT elevations
- High and low heat settings
Cons
- Only suitable for heating small to medium areas
2. Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater – Best Electric Garage Heater
It is common to think that only a high-powered propane heater with high BTUs is necessary to heat a garage adequately, but this isn’t the case because a quality heater with fewer BTUs can also provide ample heat.
A well-designed and efficient electric garage heater, such as the Fahrenheat FUH54, will provide the warmth you need with fewer BTUs than a typical propane heater, minus the unpleasant fumes or gasses, which reduces the need for ventilation.
Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater comes with a mounting bracket, which allows you to mount the unit to the wall. The mount can be rotated for directional heating, and you can control the settings with the built-in thermostat.
Despite having a fan, this heater isn’t noisy, which is great for no annoyance while you are working.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent for small and medium-sized garages
- Industrial built-quality
- Ceiling mounting bracket included for vertical or horizontal mounting
- Built-in thermostat
- Dual 208 or 240 volts compatibility
Cons
- Requires professional installation
3. STANLEY ST-60HB2-GFA Propane Heater – Best Cheap Garage Heater
The STANLEY ST-60HB2-GFA propane garage heater is rated highly, thanks to its ability to crank out high amounts of heat, portable design, and affordable price. This heater features a functional yet compact design complete with a built-in handle so you can easily carry the unit with you around your workspace.
The STANLEY ST-60HB2-GFA has a push mechanism igniter that doesn’t require batteries or matches. The durable built and materials will surely last a long time. The greatest advantage of this heater is its powerful heating, which is an impressive output of 60,000 BTU and heating ability of around 300 cubic feet per minute. This heater is gas-forced air and has a built-in thermostat.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable construction quality
- Can heat an outdoor space to 1,500 square feet
- Easy to install and use
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
Cons
- For well-ventilated spaces
#4 Dr. Infrared DR-988A, 6-30R Plug Garage Heater- Best Heater for Medium Sized Garages
Dr. Infrared is a simple to use garage heater that does not require any installation. You just need to plug-in and start using it.
The heater has sheer power that lies between 4800W to 5600W. This makes it ideal to use it for medium to small-sized garages. Despite being very powerful, it comes with a portable design and is easy to move from one place to another.
The best part about the heater is the low noise level of 48dB noise. Even better, it is extremely convenient to clean.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industrial grade heater
- Produces very low noise
- Easy to carry from one place to another
- Automatically shuts off to avoid overheating
Cons
- The heat flows in one direction only
5. Mr. Heater Corporation F299730 Propane Heater – Best Propane Garage Heaters
Mr. Heater is widely known and trusted for its range of best garage heaters. The F299730 is just another example of Mr. Heater’s excellent design and heating technology
Mr. Heater F299730 can easily heat a 750 square feet area and efficiently operates at even high altitude areas (over 4,500 FT above sea level) where other best propane heaters fail to perform. The heater also offers an automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS) that ensures optimum heating safety.
Although, the Mr. Heater F299730 includes all the features that make it one of the best garage heaters, however, it comes with a big price tag and doesn’t have a blower included. So, you have to think carefully about making an investment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- CSA Certified
- Electric ignition for easy start-up
- Excellent for small and medium-sized garages
- Works well at higher elevations
- Reliable built-quality
Cons
- Pricey option
Verdict
We hope that our buying guide and best garage heaters guide will help you confidently select a heater that will efficiently heat your garage or workshop. Whether its gas, propane, or electric, ensure that you choose the best option according to your garage’s needs and requirements. Our favorite garage heater is STANLEY ST-60HB2-GFA Propane Heater; it offers incredible heating power, affordable, and, best of all, portable. What is your ideal garage heater? Please share it with us!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best type of heater for a garage?
There are a ton of different types and models of heaters options to choose from. Most garages and garage workshops are small; hence they do not require a complex heating system. However, it is important to understand your garage’s heating needs before making a choice.
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What are the top considerations of choosing the best garage heaters?
A few important factors that will help you choose the best garage heaters include the size of your garage, the duration of usage, the heater location, the importance of portability, safety features, and your budget.
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What is the ideal BTUs estimate to heat a two-car garage?
Although it is difficult to suggest the ideal BTUs estimate, however, most experts suggest that a minimum of 45,000 BTUs are ideally required to keep the entire two-car garage warm. If you are searching for a warmer or maybe more comfy temperature, 60,000 BTUs is also an ideal BTU estimate.
You also have considered that, although 45,000 to 60,000 is an ideal BTUs estimate to heat a two-car garage, the quantity of BTUs also depends on the heater type you wish to use.
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What is the most cost-efficient way of heating my garage?
Besides getting an excellent garage heater, there are additional ways you can cost-efficiently keep the garage warm. One of the more popular is by installing and maintaining reliable insulation. You have to ensure any cracks around doors and windows of your garage are adequately insulated.
Proper insulation is not just an excellent way to keep your garage warm during the colder months, but it will also help you lower your air-conditioning bills during the summers.
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Hi, This is Luis. Author at “TheHeatersGuide”. I am a graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Currently researching on heating technology. However, I have learned many home heating techniques and still learning the home heating technolgy. And I love to share my research and reviews.
