The Best Garage Heater Reviews

There are several reasons why your garage may be cold in the winter: drafty garage doors, concrete floors, and poor insulation, to name a few. The good news is, you'll no longer need to bundle up before going into your garage, workshop, or shed this winter. With an electric garage heater, you can spend time in your garage without chattering teeth and cold fingers. 

To help you find the right heater for your space, we've rounded up the best electric garage heaters on the market. Before we dive into our reviews of the best electric garage heaters, let's take a quick look at what you need to know before purchasing a heating unit for your home. 

Garage Heater Buyer's Guide:

Types of Garage Heaters

The main difference between the different types of garage heaters is that they use various power sources to create heat. While there are pros and cons to each, most homeowners opt for electric space heaters that do not require natural gas or propane gas. Here are the different types of garage heaters:

• Infrared Garage Heater— Infrared heater directly emits heat, creating a localized heat source that is ideal for small spaces, as they don't contain a fan to circulate the warmed air.
• Fan-Forced Garage Heater— The most popular type of garage heater, fan-forced space heaters rely on electricity to power a small fan that blows air overheated wires to circulate warm air throughout your garage. 
• Propane Heater— While cost-effective, propane heaters require liquid propane and adequate ventilation to reduce carbon monoxide poisoning risk. 
• Natural Gas Heater— While natural gas heaters have the lowest running cost, they require you to extend a natural gas line to your garage if you do not already have one. 

How can I heat my garage safely? 

An electric heater is one of the safest ways to heat your garage in the winter. Because they are heated with electricity instead of gas, you can have peace of mind knowing you've eliminated the risk of a carbon monoxide leak. 

When it comes to the best garage heaters, you get what you paid for. If you're looking for a long-term heating solution for your garage, it's worth investing in a high-quality heater with safety features that reduce the chances of something going awry. Here are a few key safety features to look for in a garage heater: 

• Tip-over safety
• Overheat shut-off
• Heat guards
• UL Certification or ETL Certification

In order to safely heat your space with an electric heater, it's also crucial that you choose a model with the correct wattage for the size of your room. 

How many Watts should my garage heater have? 

When deciding on a garage heater, it's important to find one with the correct wattage for your space's size. As a rule of thumb, you'll want 10 Watts per square foot of floor space. The table below shows an estimate of the wattage required for common garage sizes. 

If the space garage heater wattage is too low, your heater won't be able to create enough heat to warm up your garage adequately. While a low-wattage electric space heater may add warmth to space directly around you, it won't be able to circulate enough warm air to warm the entire room. Heating a space too large for your heater's capacity will not only run up your electricity bill it'll shorten the lifespan of your overworked heater. 

It's easy to assume that higher wattage is better, but that is not always the case. Choosing an electric garage heater with more wattage than you need is a big waste of money. While your garage will be toasty in no time (perhaps even too warm), you'll have spent money on the heating capacity you can't take advantage of. It's also important to note that as space heaters increase in wattage, they also increase in size and weight. High wattage electric space heaters can be cumbersome to mount and difficult to move around your space. 

The Six Best Electric Garage Heaters 

Dyna-Glo Electric Garage Heater with Thermostat

Best electric garage heater Overall 

Dyna-Glo's Electric Garage Heater is one of the best overall garage heaters on the market in 2021. The fan-forced heater offers 24 heat settings that can easily be adjusted on the LED touch screen display or with the included remote control. The 10,000 Watt space heater can efficiently warm a two-car garage and features overheat shut-off protection, safety locks, a fully enclosed motor, and a caution indicator light.

It comes complete with a number of convenient features— like an energy-saving mode, timer, and heatless fan-only setting that's ideal for ventilating fumes or cooling your space in the summer— that make it an ideal choice for any household. The sturdy steel construction and sleek design ensure it'll last for many winters to come. 

Wattage— 10,000 Watts

Size— 18.25 x 20 x 18 inches

Weight— 49 lbs

Style— Portable Fan-Forced

Infrared Heater DR975 Mounted Hardwired Electric Garage Heater

Best Wall Mounted

If you're looking for a garage heater that won't take up precious floor space, you can't go wrong with Dr. Infrared Heater's Mounted Electric Garage Heater. The heavy-duty 7500-Watt 240-Volt single-phase heater can be mounted on either your garage wall or ceiling. It offers a remote-controlled thermostat (which has a temperature range of 50-90F) and five adjustable louvers to control airflow and temperature easily.

Dr. Infrared Heater's DR975 Heater uses a spiral steel metal sheath electric heating element that provides uniform heat and a long lifespan. Its large fan quickly circulates warmth throughout the room with minimal noise. Because its motor is entirely enclosed, thermally protected, and permanently lubricated, little maintenance is required. 

Wattage— 7,500 Watts

Size— 15 x 13 x 19 inches

Weight— 26 lbs

Style— Mounted Fan-Forced

NewAir Portable Electric Garage Heater

Best Portable 

Despite its compact size, the Portable Electric Garage Heater is powerful enough to heat up to 600 square feet. It's perfect for two-car garages, workshops, and large sheds. The 5,600 Watt infrared heater features a thermostat, automatic temperature-control fan, and an automatic shut-off that prevents overheating. With a convenient cord-wrap handle and black steel exterior designed to stay cool, the portable heater can easily (and safely) be repositioned in your garage. 

Wattage— 5,600 Watts

Size— 11 x 10.5 x 14 inches

Weight— 16.6 lbs

Style— Portable Fan-Forced

Briza Infrared Indoor/Outdoor Heater

Best Infrared 

While Briza's Infrared Indoor/Outdoor Heater is perfect for heating a small garage, it can also be used to heat your patio, workshop, entryway, and interior rooms. Instead of using convection to warm the air, it emits infrared heat rays that can be absorbed by objects directly in its path. This infrared heat technology is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and (unlike fan-forced heaters) completely silent. The portable heater can be mounted on a wall, ceiling, or the extendable stand included to provide heat exactly where you want it. 

Wattage— 1,500 Watts

Size— 35.5 x 4 x 4 inches

Weight— 13 lbs

Style— Portable Infrared

Infrared Heater Salamander Electric Heater

Best for Large Spaces 

If you're looking for an effective way to heat a large garage or workshop, look no further than the Salamander Portable Fan-Forced Electric Heater from Dr. Infrared Heater. Its 15,000 Watts of power are more enough to heat a six-car garage. Plus, the portable heater can easily be repositioned throughout your space to provide heat exactly where you want it. It's made with a heavy-duty steel frame and 10 in. wheels for easy maneuverability. The heater also offers many safety features, including safety guards on both the intake and output, an automatic reset, and a thermal cutoff switch that prevents overheating. 

Wattage— 15,000 Watts

Size— 28 x 22 x 39 inches

Weight— 70 lbs

Style— Portable Fan-Forced

Trustech Portable Space Heater

Best garage heater for Work Benches

A small desktop heater is a cost-effective option that doesn't run up your energy bill. While it can't heat your entire garage, it can warm up space around you while you work. Set one on your workbench or inside your small toolshed to keep you warm while completing your project. Plus, the compact heater can be brought inside and placed on your work desk, kitchen counter, or nightstand to keep you warm anywhere, anytime. 

Trustech's Portable Space Heater offers 500 Watts of infrared heat using two quartz radiant heating elements that can heat up to 200 square feet almost immediately. With two adjustable heating modes, tip-over and overheat protection, a convenient handle, and a noiseless design, it's the perfect way to add warmth to any workspace. 

Wattage— 500 Watts

Size— 14 x 3.5 x 15 inches

Weight— 2.40 lbs

Style— Portable Infrared