Find Your Garage Heater: Reviews of 2021’s

Garages are generally cold and uncomfortable for both humans and cars during winter. Your vehicle may experience cold-start issues, and in extreme cases, your fuel can even freeze. That’s all a bummer, but it doesn’t stop there – what about your well being? Wouldn’t it be great if you were welcomed by cozy, warm air as you head off to work in the morning?

Garage heaters are a great way to upgrade your life without spending too much cash. They’re not something you buy every day though, so without a bit of research you may find it hard to choose the best garage heater for your home. I’ll demystify everything in this article, but in short, some of the factors to consider when choosing the best garage heater includes your garage size, insulation, and ceiling construction. You’ll also want to consider whether you prefer an electric garage heater, or perhaps one of the gas-powered garage heaters that burn natural gas or propane. By taking a closer look at these factors, it’s easy to decide on the most suitable garage heater for your home.

The ideal garage heater for your home should be energy efficient and must feature a built-in thermostat to regulate the heat output. It should also have a shutdown mechanism in case of overheating and faults. The louvers should be adjustable to allow redirection of hot airflow to your desired location. You should also choose a garage heater that comes with mountings for easy installation. Let’s take a look at some of the top garage heaters available today.

Top Garage Heaters of 2021

My choices for today’s top garage heaters are as follows:

Fahrenheat FUH Electric Garage Heater

After conducting hours of research of the various garage heaters available today, I’m quite confident that today’s best garage heater is the Farenheat FUH. This is a heavy-duty louvered garage heater that can be used to warm a two-car garage. The Fahrenheat garage heater can be used as a primary, auxiliary, or supplementary heat source for garages, maintenance rooms, workshops, service stations, and stairwells. It comes in a beige color that matches most walls and ceilings.

The Farenheat FUH is equipped with a single-pole thermostat with a wide range of temperature adjustments from 45 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the user to adjust the heater according to their needs. It provides continuous comfort and can heat plenty of space. It is designed with a heavy-duty heating element that delivers a powerful BTU output to heat massive cold areas to ambient room temperature.

The control system delays the fan from running until the element becomes hot, hence preventing the circulation of cold air. These control systems reduce and save electricity consumption and extend the lifespan of the garage heater. The thermostat allows automatic shut off and output regulation to prevent overheating and automatically switches on when the temperature drops below the selected value. The FUH garage heater also offers compatibility with most electrical systems, either 208V or 240V.

The FUH garage heater is easy to install and use, unlike natural gas heating systems (which require a natural gas connection and intricate piping) or propane systems. All Farenheat FUH garage heaters are equipped with ceiling or wall mounting brackets that can be installed horizontally or vertically, depending on the user’s desired placement. The louvers can be adjusted in any direction enabling the user to direct heat towards any desirable location.

The Fahrenheat electric garage heaters offer many more pros than cons. The vertical and horizontal flow of hot air allows better control of the direction of the hot forced air flow. They are also easy to use and control the temperature due to the adjustable thermostat and vents. The safety features prevent overheating by automatically shutting down. This heater is also light and portable but durable, making it suitable in harsh environments. The main disadvantages are that these garage heaters can only heat 600 square feet of space and they require an electrician to install.

Comfort Zone CZ220 Fan-Forced Ceiling Mount Heater with Dual Knob Controls 

The Comfort Zone CZ220 is a fan-forced garage heater that is designed with a heavy-duty steel body that can withstand high temperatures and temperature fluctuation. It is standard gray in color and weighs about 24 pounds. The CZ220 has a dimension of 17.25 inches of length, 13.70 inches wide and 14.5 inches high. Why did I select this as the runner-up for today’s best garage heater? Let’s take a look.

The compact design allows this garage heater to occupy a small space on the wall or ceiling. The hard wire mountings are easy to install and can be mounted on either horizontal or vertical position. The adjustable louvers allow for targeting heating in the desired direction. The high-speed fan is designed to force hot air out, enhancing distribution throughout the building.

This Comfort Zone garage heater is equipped with a dual knob thermostat that allows temperature adjustment and makes it easy to turn on and off. It is also equipped with adaptive safety features that enable the garage heater to turn off when it overheats automatically. The indicator lights alert the user if the heater is on or off. The heavy-duty steel body allows the heater to withstand high temperatures and dissipate heat to the environment as quickly as possible.

The Comfort Zone CZ220 garage heaters come with more advantages to the consumers. They offer three different wattages. They can be adjusted to varying angles for the horizontal and vertical flow of air. The removable grills allow for easy cleaning and maintenance. The main disadvantage of these garage heaters is that they offer a small heating radius of only 650 square feet.

The Comfort Zone CZ220 provides a comfortable and warm environment and is safe for use in garages with space for 2 cars. While it doesn’t quite have the edge over the Farenheat FUH, it’s easy for me to say that the Comfort Zone CZ220 is the runner-up for today’s best garage heater.

DR988A Garage Heater

The DR988A Industrial Garage Heater is a durable garage/industrial heater suitable for warming garage, basement, and construction sites. It is portable and light with an aesthetically-pleasing design and an adjustable thermostat that can be set to the desired temperature. The DR988 Industrial Garage Heater comes with built-in cord storage to store the electric wires and enhance tidiness. The grills on the inlet and outlet are designed to prevent fingers from getting burned or injured by rotating fans.

The fan motor is fully enclosed, and both the inlet and outlet ducts are covered with steel grill, protecting fingers from getting burned or injured. The electrical wires are insulated by a heavy-duty material to protect from electric shocks. The built-in electronic thermostat provides automatic switch off when overheating is imminent.

The DR988 garage heater offers dual heating to enhance the room’s quick and uniform heating and comes with a wide temperature range, i.e., 45-95 degrees F. Adaptive energy-saving features allow the DR988 Industrial Heater to turn off automatically when the desired temperature is attained hence reducing electricity consumption. This heater is also compatible with any voltage input available, either 208 or 240 volts.

Noise reduction materials are used to minimize noise from rotating fan and motor. The compact and portable nature allows for easy installation and transport. The DR988 garage Heater weighs 20 lbs. The dimensions are 15.87 inches high, a width of 11.5 inches, and a length of 11.5 inches, making it suitable for workspaces as it occupies a small area. The standard color for this heater is red. It comes with a one-year warranty.

The DR988A Garage Heater comes with advantages and some disadvantages. It is easier to install and heats the garage very fast. However, it has a high noise level and comes with a short electrical code. It is also not as powerful as other electrical garage heaters. 

NewAir G73 Garage Heater

This NewAir G73 garage heater is a beautifully designed product that has a compact size and adjustable louvers. It comes in a standard white color with red indicator lights. The heater exterior is made of a heavy-duty stainless-steel material that enhances its durability and survivability in a harsh working environment. It is equipped with mounting brackets, making it easy to install. The adjustable louvers allow the concentration of heat at the desired area.

The NewAir G73 electric heater comes with safety-conscious features such as an electronic thermostat that cut-off power when the heater overheats. The G73 also comes with very minimal maintenance problems and is durable. The highspeed fan delivers heat quickly and uniformly around the room and has a heating radius of 500 square feet, enough for a garage housing 2 cars. The strong grill at the outlet and inlets protect fingers from the heat and rotating fan. The 30-amp circuit breaker protects the heater from over-current and is easily replaced without the help of a technician. The red indicator light helps to show that the heater is on.

The NewAir G73 heater can be wall mounted or ceiling mounted with minimal difficulties. Its dimensions are 8.90 inches in length, 11.25 in height, and 9.10 in width, and it weighs 20 lbs. The heating element is made of a durable stainless-steel material. A single-pole thermostat helps to regulate heat produced. This heater receives UL and CUL certification and has a heating capacity of 17060 BTUs. This is not enough to heat an uninsulated garage housing 2 cars or more, during winter but will be suitable for an insulated one. The fan-force design allows quick heat transfer and circulation into the room.

Mr. Heater F260560 Big Maxx MHU80NG Natural Gas Unit Heater

The Mr. Heater F260560 Big Maxx MHU80NG is a natural gas-powered garage heater. It comes with two angle brackets and a liquid propane conversion kit, in case you prefer propane over natural gas or don’t have a natural gas hookup (of course, you will need a propane tank). This natural gas heater measures 30.31 inches length,27.55 inches width, and 22.04 inches height. The Big Maxx delivers 80,000 BTU per hour and can heat an area of 2000 sq. Ft.

The Mr. Heater Big Maxx has a powered exhaust that allows for vertical and horizontal venting from the natural gas combustion process. It offers exceptional safety and durability with a 3-year limited warranty on parts and burners and a 10-year warranty on the heat exchanger.

Equipped with double spark ignition with a self-diagnostic control module. It is designed with a low profile hence can be installed in buildings with low ceilings. A minimum of 8 inches is required from the base of the heater to the floor.

Many people choose this heater because of the fact that it comes with natural gas to the liquid propane conversion kit. As it’s powered by either natural gas or propane, the unit only needs 115 volts of electric power for ignition via the pilot light.

Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater

The Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater is certainly one of the most popular wall-mounted garage heaters that you can purchase on the market right now. The most popular design aspects of this device include the WiFi temperature controls that sync with compatible smartphones. A lot of users also respect the fact that this infrared heater can be wall-mounted with ease. This means that you won’t have to worry about losing valuable floor space in your garage, but instead, you can plan to mount this appliance in a convenient area.

The lightweight design is also relatively popular, but some customers place their personal priorities on other topics. The heat output is impressive and the control system is also efficient and effective. The WiFi digital smartphone controls are an added bonus as well. 

The general consensus towards the Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater is positive. Thousands of customers have already praised the overall design quality of this particular heater appliance, but some users may dislike some of the features anyways. If you are looking for something a little bit different, then you could take a peek at some of the variations of this heater. There are choices with different color options and varying features, but you may have to pay a slightly higher price. All of these variations can be checked out on the Amazon page, but we still highly recommend the standard version of the 1500-Watt Heat Storm Infrared Heater. 

Mr. Heater Portable Propane Forced Air Heater

There are several impressive things to look at when evaluating this Portable Propane Forced Air Heater. This powerful propane heater operates significantly quieter than other similar items, but it also is capable of heating upwards of 1,500 square feet. This efficient air heater also has a maximum run-time of 14 hours, but these are not the only reasons that users truly appreciate the Portable Propane Forced Air Heater.

While it can’t be powered by natural gas, many existing customers like the affordable price range that is attached to this heater appliance. Many rival products are significantly more expensive, but that is certainly not the case with this particular product. 

If you are looking for a cost-effective portable propane air heater with an impressive set of design features, then you will likely be impressed with this selection from Mr. Heater. Hundreds of existing customers have already praised the general design quality of this product and that is one of the reasons that we consider it to be one of the best selections on the marketplace right now. 

MH9BX Portable Propane Heater

The MH9BX Portable Propane Heater is constructed with high-quality steel, plastic, and nickel to enhance reliability and durability. This portable garage propane heater is designed to handle smaller areas, up to a maximum of 225 square feet. This device can also be used in outdoor conditions, and it’s made our list of today’s top outdoor heaters as well. 

There are also several integrated safety-conscious design features, including an automated shutoff valve that will trigger if the propane heater is tipped over during operation. This portable heater appliance can also run for up to 6 hours at a time. 

Despite the fact that it can’t burn natural gas as a heat source, a lot of existing customers were impressed with this product because of the generous price tag and impressive reliability. In the rare event that you do have a reliability issue, you could then take advantage of the included warranty to acquire a replacement. With that being said, there are many reasons to praise the design of the MH9BX Portable Propane Heater, but you will have to ultimately decide if it is right for you. 

MultiFun 1500W Portable Ceramic Space Heater

The MultiFun 1500W Portable Ceramic Space Heater is extremely affordable and it is powered electrically with over 1500-watts of power. The design of this space heater includes unique angled legs for rapid heating capabilities and efficient heat circulation. An adjustable thermostat has also been integrated for convenient and efficient operation.

There are also several features that make this one of the most portable garage and space heaters in the industry. A convenient handle on top of the space heater makes it easier than ever to lift and transport. Several additional safety-conscious design choices have also been included to protect users from dangerous hazards. 

Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater

This Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater is certainly one of the more premium selections when it comes to purchasing a high-quality natural gas heater. This also means that it is one of the more expensive selections that customers can choose from within the industry. With that being said, the manufacturer includes a generous Multi-Year Warranty with every purchase from the Amazon Marketplace. 

This powerful natural gas unit heater can heat up large rooms up to 1250 square feet. The appliance also includes convenient external access to a premium thermostat that can be adjusted with ease. Users have reported within the feedback section that a minimum of 10 feet will be required between the floor and the base of the natural gas heating unit for proper operation. 

After evaluating all of the design features on this Big Maxx Natural Gas Garage Heater, it is quite clear that this device checks several important boxes when it comes down to value and quality. As we previously mentioned, you will be forced to pay several times more for this particular appliance, but it is also significantly more powerful than several other similar heater appliances that we have looked at on the marketplace. 

ISILER Space Heater

The safety and reliability that comes with the ISILER Space Heater are clearly one of the main priorities for this particular heater appliance. It is also exceptionally affordable when compared to several other products, but it is only capable of heating medium-sized spaces. 

This heater is capable of generating heat instantaneously and it utilizes every watt of power that it is available. External thermostat controls have also been included so that users can adjust their preferred heating temperature. Simply rotate the control knob to your preferred temperature and this space heater will immediately match your desired temperature. 

The compact design for this space heater is both portable and efficient. Users appreciate the lightweight design and the attached carrying handle. These convenient design aspects certainly make this one of the most appealing portable space heaters on the marketplace right now. Thousands of customers have already praised the cost-effective price range as well. With that being said, there are several important reasons to consider purchasing the ISILER Space Heater, specifically because it is reliable, affordable, and efficient. 

Comfort Zone Digital Fan-Forced Ceiling Mount Heater

We are now going to shift focus towards one of the high-quality electric garage heaters that you might be interested in taking a look at. The Comfort Zone Digital Fan-Forced Ceiling Mount Heater is powered electrically and utilizes durable steel to ensure optimal reliability. It is also designed to be mounted on ceilings so that you won’t have to worry about losing a large amount of space on the ground.

This powerful electric heater includes a convenient control panel on the front with in-depth temperature control heat settings. Simply use the buttons to customize your heat settings and the Comfort Zone Digital Fan-Forced Ceiling Mount Heater will immediately operate at your desired criteria. 

Safety enhancing designs are also important, which is why the manufacturer has installed an overheating sensor on this appliance. The built-in sensor will automatically detect extreme temperatures and shut off the heater in hazardous conditions. This particular electric heater might be a little bit more expensive than most garage heaters, but the slightly higher price seems acceptable after considering all of the impressive features. 

Dr. Heater 240V Hardwired Shop Garage Commercial Heater

This heavy-duty commercial garage heater from Dr. Heater provides 240-volts of power and has several adjustable features to optimize heating. You can adjust five different louvers to direct heat and airflow. You can also utilize the thermostat on the front for adjustable settings, including temperature control and power. There are two power settings, either low or high, that you can select from. 

There is no doubt that the Dr. Heater 240-volt Hardwired Shop Garage Commercial Heater is crafted with heavy-duty construction materials. This should be an extremely positive sign for new customers that want a heavy-duty commercial heater. 

One of the reasons that customers might be interested in paying a little bit more money for this particular heater is because of the added convenience from the design features. The convenient lifting handle makes this heater extremely portable, but the thermostat controls are a little bit hard to access in the awkward position that they have been placed at. 

A ceiling mounting bracket has been included, and customers are encouraged to mount this garage heater to the ceiling. This will save overall space on the ground and the appliance will be far more effective when mounted properly. Unlike some rival garage heaters, there is no annoying rattling, turbulence, or noise that will come from this appliance while operating under normal conditions. This is also an extremely popular fact that hundreds of customers have praised in the review section. 

New Air Garage Heater

The New Air Garage Heater might be the perfect selection for some customers because of its simplified design characteristics. The first aspect that we want to talk about is the safety considerations implemented in the design. An automated overheating sensor will shut this heater off if temperatures get too hot. 

We also want to talk about the possibility of mounting this garage heater on the wall. A convenient wall-mounting bracket is included, but you will have the ability to determine how you ultimately want to use this New Air Garage Heater. 

The ultra-fast heating capabilities are certainly impressive, but customers should expect this kind of quality at this price range. The adjustable heating controls can be customized at any time to reflect your desired settings. This New Air Garage Heater will automatically heat the area evenly and rapidly. You will never have to worry about reliability issues or other frustrating problems with this device, specifically because a multi-year warranty is included from the manufacturer. 

The overall customer feedback is extremely positive for multiple reasons, but ultimately it comes down to the fact that this heater appliance is reasonably priced, extremely durable, and safe to operate. 

Mr. Heater Corporation Heater

A lot of users are interested in purchasing this garage heater because of its extensive power and efficiency. There are several controls and power settings that make this one of the most impressive and powerful propane heaters on the marketplace. The manufacturer recommends using these heaters on spaces upwards of 750 square feet. 

There are multiple safety shut-off features that can automatically power down this heater under dangerous conditions. Low oxygen levels at high altitudes may trigger the safety system to cut off power to the propane heater. 

Optional wall mounting tools are included in the event that you want to mount this appliance. You can also customize the thermostat to your desired settings at any time. The expensive price range may seem out of range for some customers, but the exceptional level of quality almost justifies the significant price tag. The user-feedback is also exceptional, but it is still a significant price to pay for some people.

This unit unfortunately will not operate on natural gas. With that being said, if you are looking for a mountable propane heater, then you probably can’t go wrong with choosing this garage eater.

Dimplex Large Garage 4000-Watt Space Heater

This unique Dimplex Large Garage 4000-Watt Space Heater is crafted with durable metal and is capable of utilizing up to 4000 watts of power to sufficiently operate this heater. A durable mounting bracket is included with this powerful space heater and it can easily be mounted to the wall or ceiling. Automatic temperature controls can also be adjusted with the button control system that is included with your purchase. 

A lot of customers like this specific space heater because it is extremely durable and reliable. The construction materials are extremely high-quality and you will basically never need to worry about durability issues. In the event of a rare defect, you will also be covered with the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Users report that these garage heaters spread heat swiftly and evenly over the course of a few minutes. In the event of over-heating, the appliance will automatically utilize the safety protection system to auto-shutoff. This is an extremely popular feature because it prevents hazardous situations from developing if the appliance overheats. 

There are no color variants available for customers to browse through on the Dimplex Large Garage 4000-Watt Space Heater. The only color variation that is available in the traditional gray and black metal design. This is a small problem for some customers, but it shouldn’t be too big of a deal for most users. 

It may be challenging to determine whether this particular space heater is right for you. The overall consistency across the important product categories certainly catches our attention, but it is tough to say if the overall price tag is worth the premium level of quality. It really depends on your specific situation, but there is no doubt that the Dimplex Large Garage 4000-Watt Space Heater is one of the best options available in terms of quality. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the answers to the questions most commonly asked by our readers when it comes to garage heaters:

How many BTU does it take to heat a 2-car garage?

Garages are normally ice-cold during winter, making it hard on vehicles and other tools stored in them. It’s important to find a heater that will turn your garage from a chilling cold, uncomfortable place to a comfortable and welcoming place. Factors to consider when deciding the number of BTUs required to heat your include:

• The area of the garage. You should always measure yours, but a two-car garage is approximately 400-600 square feet in area.
• Your garage’s insulation. If insulated, the garage may get by with a lower BTU heater.

Pro tip: Divide your garage area by 200 and then multiply your answer by 9000 to determine BTU requirement for uninsulated garage and 6000 on an insulated garage. An uninsulated garage requires about 45000-60000 BTUs heater.

What is the best heater for a 2-car garage?

Most of our readers are thoroughly pleased with the Farenheat FUH garage heaters for this purpose. It’s powerful, easy to install and operated, and runs off electricity. This makes for much less of a headache than hooking up the plumbing for a natural gas heater.

However, some of our readers do prefer garage heaters powered by natural gas. Using natural gas as the heat source does allow some benefits. If you’re looking for a garage heater powered by natural gas, then the Big Maxx MHU80NG Natural Gas heater is the most suitable heater for this purpose. It produces 60,000 BTUs an hour while a garage requires a similar heat to be heated to ambient temperatures. The forced-air system on this heater ensures uniform and quick heating. That said, if you don’t have a natural gas connection then I would refer you back to the Farenheat FUH garage heaters.

What is the best propane garage heater?

If you prefer a gas-powered heater but your home lacks a natural gas hookup, then propane is a decent alternative. The F260560 Big Maxx MHU80NG is the best garage heater because of the following features, which include high BTU output of about 60000. The forced air system also allows uniform heating of the garage. It is also easy to install and requires minimal maintenance.

Conclusion

It is important to note that garage heaters should be used carefully to avoid fires and injuries. Only garage heaters that are UL or ETL approved should be applied. Other factors to be considered include the level of noise produced by the heater, wattage, style, and color. The F260560 Big Maxx is the best propane garage heater available. The fan-forced mechanism allows for fast heat circulation. The dual spark plug ensures quick and complete combustion, and the oxygen sensors enhance corrective burning to save fuel.

You can also look for other households needs at our site. Head on over to our guide to choosing the best electric fireplace for ambience and heating in the cozy areas of your home. Alternatively, check out our other guides for home heating options such as our guides to finding the best tent heater or patio heater for your camping or outdoor events, or our guide to choosing the best kerosene heater as a good, portable alternative to a garage heater.