Garages are great places to store vehicles or set up a workshop or home gym. An electric garage heater is a great way to heat your garage in winter.
I mean, who would want to hang out or work in 20-degree or below weather? No one! Let’s explore our best garage heaters.
This article will discuss what different garage heaters there are, what features to look for, and if you prefer a portable or mounted garage heater. This is your ultimate guide to choosing which heater will best suit your needs!
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Best Heater - 110v
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Best Heater - 240v
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Runner Up - 240v
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Best Electric Heater for Garage
The heaters listed below are among the highest rated in functionality, safety, and price, to help you find the perfect heater to keep your garage or workshop nice and warm when you use that space.
If you end up not liking the heaters listed, at least it will give you plenty of examples of what to look for and give you a jumping-off point to find the right heater.
110/120-volt Electric Garage Heaters
110/120-volt electric heaters can plug into a standard electric outlet and max out at 1500watts of power.
This ceramic space heater delivers 1500 watts of power with 2 settings for fast and effective heating. The Auto setting allows the unit to automatically switch between the two settings as needed. The unit features an adjustable thermostat and remote control to adjust the temperature. The heater has a built-in timer from 1 hour to 8 hours.
This portable electric garage heater is tower-shaped and has an oscillation mechanism that allows heat from its ceramic elements to be distributed over a higher and broader zone.
For a maximum 1500-watt power output, you can adjust the temperature to either a set low or a set high level. The ceramic heater also has an adjustable thermostat for automated operation.
When you switch on the heater, you can set an automated timer to turn it off when the timer expires, or you can allow it to run on its own before you shut it off.
The heater has a built-in carry handle, a remote control, and other safety features, such as overheating protection and a cool-touch surface that helps you manipulate the heater when it is in operation without getting burned.
If you do not want to bother with hard wires or mounting your radiator, the Aikoper is a decent option. Connect the cable to a standard outlet and change the temperature on the customizable digital thermostat to start warming your garage to the appropriate temperature. Low heat generates 900 watts of energy, while high heat generates up to 1500 watts.
ECO mode will automatically switch on or off the heater based on your temperature settings, ensuring that you are never without heat while not wasting electricity when the heater is not needed.
This ceramic heater has an oscillating feature for more even heat distribution and remote control for operation from a distance.
The heater has a cool-touch body and built-in handles, making it an excellent portability choice. Still, it also has overheating and tip-over protection for additional safety.
This ceramic tower heater will quickly heat up due to its ceramic elements with High and Low heat settings that run at 1500 and 750 watts, respectively.
This heater allows you to adjust the temperature in 1-degree intervals to set your perfect temperature while also providing you with an ECO setting to automatically turn the device on and off, saving you money on your electric bill.
The Aikoper is packed with essential safety features that provide reliable tip-over and overheat protection and an 8-hour timer when you forget to shut off your heater.
This heater also comes with a cool-touch housing to protect you and your family from burns when handling it if you need to move it before it cools down.
This portable infrared heater is designed to resist wind and rain, allowing you to use it not only in your garage or workshop but on your patio or even in yard sitting areas.
The GreenTech Preheat provides a safe heat that is felt up to 15 feet away and comes with three adjustable heat settings, multiple mounting options, and an auto shut-off timer.
This heater also comes on a stand, so you can adjust the height and angle to direct the flow of heat exactly where you need it most.
Not only that, but the GreenTech comes with built-in tip-over and overheating protection to automatically shut off this device at a moment’s notice if an accident occurs.
The excellent Broan-NuTone wall-mounted electric garage heater delivers. The wall heater is designed to operate with a 240 volt or 120-volt electrical system (in terms of watt usage, this equates to 4000 to 2000 watt maximum output.)
It can be plugged into an accessible socket or hardwired straight into the electrical systems.
The fan-forced electric garage heater features a heavy-duty 18-gauge steel grill and a front-mounted adjustable thermostat.
The down-facing Louvers on the grill guide airflow toward the ground, so you could better install this heater higher up on the wall.
A fan delay stops the fan from turning on before the element has reached a high enough temperature to pump out only hot air.
220/240-volt Electric Garage Heaters
A 220/240-volt electric heater will require a dedicated 220/240-volt receptacle or hardwire to a dedicated 220/240-volt breaker. These are not typically portable heaters and are often mounted on a wall or ceiling in your garage.
This heater made by KING comes in 3 different max wattage settings. You can choose either 5000 watts, 7500 watts, or 10000 watts which all come at different prices.
While this specific heater may be one of the most expensive on this list, these heaters are mainly used for extensive areas. They also come with a multitude of features.
By providing unparalleled heating, energy conservation, and user control of the built-in electronic thermostat, the KB ECO2S works smarter, not harder.
It provides energy-efficient 2-stage heating with an Eco mode, which will automatically use the low wattage of the device to heat the room. It also comes with integrated fan only and timer modes, easy-to-install wall and ceiling mounts, and remote control to easily change the temperature.
Fahrenheat’s 5000-watt garage heater will suffice if you have an oversized garage. This model employs fan-forced heating to steam up vast and drafty work areas.
The heater has a mounting bracket that allows you to place it on your ceiling or wall, depending on where you want the heat to be directed. The heater also has louvers that you can adjust for improved directional control.
Although this electric garage heater’s price is relatively higher than most heaters on this list, you get various advantageous features.
You get a remote control for long-distance use, overheating safety, and an adjustable thermostat that monitors the ambient temperature and automatically turns on or off the heater based on the current reading.
However, this heater must be either directly connected to a 208 or 240-volt grid or plugged into a fitting 208 or 240-volt socket.
This heavy-duty space heater uses 240v operating at either 3000 or 6000 watts for the Low and High settings. Not only that, but this heater also comes with an 8-inch steel fan, which will heat any oversized garage or workshop with ease.
It comes with wall or ceiling mounts to install wherever you desire. This heater also has five adjustable louvers to direct airflow with added precision.
However, the DR966 only comes hardwired and with no power cord. Meaning it requires some knowledge to install it into your electrical grid properly.
So if you do not have the know-how to do so, if this is the right heater for you, perhaps hiring an electrician to install it is the way to go.
This heater by NewAir comes with 5000 watts of heating power, capable of heating up to 500 square feet comfortably and without costing a fortune.
This air heater also requires you to hardwire it into your power breaker. However, you can steer heat anywhere in your garage with adjustable louvers and tilt heads.
If you happen to be seated in one place when working, you can direct the heat to the exact position you need. Alternatively, you may leave the louvers open to allow heat to circulate in the space.
With its ETL certification for electrical safety and overheat protection, you can ensure this device lives up to safety standards.
This kit also has a mounting bracket that allows you to connect it to your workspace wall or ceiling. You can keep toasty and warm with a heater shielded from busy work areas.
With its specifically built heating unit and fantastic compact build, the DR988 industrial electric garage heater is ideal for warming any building site, garage, basement, or workshop. It has a built-in thermostat that you can set from Low to High. It even has a fan to keep you warm all the time.
The DR988A industrial heater is reliable and long-lasting. Built-in cord storage aids in the organization of your closet. Finger-proof intake and discharge grills, as well as a high-temperature heating limit, are among the safety features. Choose the DR988 for easy, clean, and reliable heating; you will never be left out in the cold.
This powerful ceiling-mounted heater is ideal for a garage or workshop, providing plenty of warmth without taking up any floor space.
With 5000 watts of power backing this heater, it is ideal for large areas and heats them quickly. This fan-forced heater has a rugged, heavy-gauge steel body designed for prolonged use in harsh conditions.
This enables it to withstand the unexpected temperature changes and surges that can occur in improperly insulated environments.
The heater has a dial knob on the front that helps you set the thermostat or switch the machine on and off quickly and easily. The easy controls make it simple to adjust the heat output to the ideal amount for your room.
To avoid overheating, a built-in sensor automatically turns off the fan-forced ceiling mount heater if it exceeds an unacceptable temperature. The device also has a power light that signals when it is in operation, assisting you in ensuring that it is securely switched off before leaving the building.
Using the integrated wireless thermostat control, you can easily change the temperature of this 10,000-watt space heater.
You can achieve effectual heat output and customized heating settings to accommodate yourself and your surroundings. The remote control is simple, and the 12-hour timer adds ease.
You can also change the orientation of this ceiling-mounted space heater. It is ideal for use in a garage or workshop since it needs a hardwired connection. It has a heavy gauge steel body and completely sheathed heating elements for long-lasting efficiency in any setting.
The space heater complies with OSHA and NEC standards and has power and caution indicator lights for simple operation and tracking. An overload transfer adds additional safety and protection against electrical overload.
Best Natural Gas & Propane Garage Heater
Gas heaters would be a good choice if you have a larger garage or work space. Electric heaters won’t produce enough heat to warm larger garages. Natural gas garage heaters, or if natural gas utility is not available, propane gas heaters can heat your whole garage.
Many natural gas heaters offer a propane conversion kit. Either way, you’ll likely need professional installation to run the natural gas lines (or propane), vent for carbon monoxide, and install a propane tank.
Natural gas and propane heaters can heat two-car garages and three-car garages with one ceiling or wall mount heater. Most gas or propane heating systems will heat 2000SF or more, so even a huge garage can be warm.
The Mr. Heater Big Maxx is your natural gas heater of choice. It can heat up to 2,000 square feet with 80,000 BTUs of heating power. The durable steel construction is built to last and includes an integrated handle for easy mobility. It is backed by a limited 3-year warranty on parts and burners.
This Mr. Heater Big Maxx™ Natural Gas Garage/Workshop Unit Heater is quiet and vented for easily heating a 2- to 3-car garage. The low-profile design requires only 1in. clearance from the ceiling. Includes LP conversion kit for easy changeover.
Two angle brackets allow for positioning the heater up and out of the way. Works thermostat, Item# 173641 (sold separately). Note: Installation requires an 8ft. clearance from the floor and will not pass code with less than 8ft.
Types of Garage Heaters
Three main types of electric heaters are considered the best for use in your garage. Each type ranges in size and functionality to produce a comfortable environment in your garage. Let us go over all the heaters that fall under these categories:
Infrared Heaters
Radiant or quartz heaters are other names for infrared garage heaters. They produce radiant infrared heat, which you can use in small and large garage spaces. These small heaters pack a punch.
Instead of fan-forced or ceramic electric garage heaters, they start running as soon as you turn them on and have a very high heat output.
On the other hand, the heat generated by infrared heaters does not warm the air inside the garage. In other words, infrared heating warms the actual structures in which the infrared waves come into contact, such as with humans or cars. This means the ambient air temperature has not increased when the heating is running.
When the heater has been turned off, the temperature of the things and people in the garage drops rapidly. This also implies that the more things and people you have in your garage, the less powerful the infrared heater will be because the beams will be scattered around the space due to the objects and people.
Ceramic Heaters
Ceramic electric garage heaters work in the same way as fan-forced heaters.
Still, these radiators have one significant difference. They use a ceramic heating element instead of the metal part used in fan-forced heaters. Because of the material difference, ceramic heaters are much more efficient than a fan-forced heater at heating an expansive room.
Ceramic heaters are a decent choice for more significant areas where you increase the indoor air temperature rather than only heating physical artifacts, as in an infrared heater. On the other hand, Ceramic garage heaters can take some time to heat up until the fan can begin blowing warm air.
Fan-forced Heater
Fan-forced heaters heat the air surrounding them using an electric heating device inside the heater. A fan in the heater’s back drives this hot air out into the garage or workshop, warming the surrounding air and raising the temperature in the building.
This electric heater takes longer to warm up and is not as efficient as a ceramic heater. So, a fan-forced heater would suffice if you have a smaller workshop and do not mind waiting a little longer for heat. Otherwise, an infrared or ceramic electric garage heater may be better.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best Electric Garage Heater?
Before choosing an electric garage heater for your garage or workspace, take a few minutes to educate yourself on the most crucial shopping considerations to keep in mind.
1. Adjustable Thermostat
If you want an electric garage heater that will control the room’s ambient temperature and switch on when it is too cold and off when it is too hot, you will need one with a built-in adjustable thermostat.
This function allows you to set the optimum temperature for the garage, and the heater will begin heating automatically until the ambient air in the room exceeds that temperature.
This role is perfect in colder climates where 24-hour heating is needed, as the auto on and off functionality can keep your garage at the proper temperature without wasting excessive electricity.
2. Garage Size
When choosing an electric garage heater, the size of your garage is a significant factor to remember. If you purchase an insufficiently efficient heater for the room you want to heat, it will leave you working in the cold and the money you wasted on the faulty heater.
A reasonable rule of thumb to remember when selecting an appropriate garage heater is that for every 10 watts of production, you can heat 1 square foot of room. For example, a 1500-watt electric garage heater can heat a 150-square-foot garage or store.
Also, consider how much physical space you have. If you only use a third of your garage and the remainder is used for your car or storage, you might be able to get a smaller heater that will provide enough space for you while not wasting electricity by heating the rest of the unused area.
3. Portable or Mounted
Electric garage heaters are classified into two groups based on their installation: mounted and portable.
Mounted Electric Garage Heaters
It is possible to install it on the wall or the ceiling. They can either be hardwired into the building’s electrical grid for a more efficient heat output or plugged into a standard power socket, a less complex form of installed heater to install than the hardwired kind.
If you want a semi-permanent heater that you only have to set up once, mounted heaters are a perfect choice. These larger units can be too strong for a small room if you do not have a huge garage or studio.
Portable Electric Garage Heaters
These heaters can be placed on the floor or on a table. Portable electric garage heaters can also be moved whenever and wherever you choose to get the room’s best heat.
These heaters do not need much assembly or configuration and usually require an available outlet to start working right away. These heaters take up room on the floor and tables, and their cord can be a tripping threat.
4. Maintenance
Any heating or cooling appliance will take some maintenance to function correctly over time, and an electric garage heater is no exception.
Lightweight heaters are less costly than heavier-duty models, but they will not last as long. So, if you do not mind repairing a heater every couple of years, you should get by without much maintenance.
Electric garage heaters that are more reliable can last longer. Still, it would be best to disinfect them daily, check the power inlets for breaks, and monitor the heat outputs to ensure they are working correctly.
If you do this daily, the more costly heaters will cost less in the long run than replacing many lightweight heaters.
5. Safety Features
Electric garage heaters can be unsafe if not built, set up, and used correctly. Fortunately, many manufacturers have started to include protective features such as a tip-over system, overheating protection, and a cool-touch feature to make the product as accident-proof as practicable.
Overheating Protection
Almost all electric heaters would have this helpful feature. It is intended for days of continuous use where the air temperature will vary by many degrees, allowing the heater to overheat.
When this occurs, the overheating safety detects the rising temperature and turns off the heater to prevent exterior damage to the garage and internal damage to the heater.
Cool-touch Case
Since wall-mounted and portable garage heaters are frequently set up or placed in places where passing children or adults come into contact with the heater’s sides, this function is mainly used for them.
Heaters without this protection option will cause severe burns, but the cool-touch feature allows you to touch or grab the heater’s exterior without hurting yourself.
Tip-over Shut Off Switch
This feature is convenient when you wish to use it for any room in your home for heaters. The tip-over safety switch on your heaters will automatically shut off the heater if it is well tipped over.
The tip-over protection will prevent the appliance from overheating due to having less than optimal airflow while lowering the chance of causing a fire.
Fortunately, it is rare not to find this feature in a space heater. With this, you can rest assured that nothing will happen if an accident happens, whether you, your kids, or your pets accidentally knock your heater over and you do not notice it immediately.
6. Other Features to Consider
Electric garage heaters have evolved with the times and now provide many extra features that may help your garage stay warm. Evaluate the features mentioned below to see if any are necessary for you to keep warm when working in your garage.
- A handle: Having a Handle will allow you to move your heater of choice easily, so if the heater does not have a cool-touch case, you can adjust the heater without turning it off and letting it cool.
- Louvers: These are a type of shutter with horizontal slats angled to allow air to flow in a specific direction of your choice.
- Extended cords: Using a heater with one of these would allow you to position the garage heater anywhere within reach of an outlet, thus extending the possible areas to set up and keep warm.
- Wheels: Getting a heater with wheels will allow you to move your heater around with ease without having to pick it up. If you plan on getting a heavier heater, look for one with wheels to save you some hassle.
- Wi-Fi Feature: Some heaters come with a Wi-Fi function that will allow you to adjust the said heater’s temperature via an app on your phone, thus giving you a makeshift remote control for your heater.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we know finding a heater for your garage can get a bit upsetting at times, but we hope you have found this article helpful!
We also wish to help you find the heater of your choice from the list of highly-rated heaters and provide you with enough information to help you look for that perfect heater you need to keep you comfortable and warm for your work.
