Best Garage Heater For Keeping Your Vehicle Warm

The Mr. Heater 28,000 BTU Tank Top Infrared Propane Heater is an excellent choice for an open garage where rapid heat loss occurs. The open garage requires a heat source that can provide a high number of BTUs to keep your work area warm and this heater can meet that requirement. Connected directly to any propane tank, up to 20 pounds, the two burner heater quickly provides anywhere from 2,000 to 28,000 BTUs an hour.

The heater gives you the option to only use one of the burners, but when using both burners, the heater provides you with six different heat settings. Operating the heater on the highest setting will provide you with the highest number of BTUs for 15 hours when connected to a 20 pound propane tank. The heater is provided with two safety shut-offs and a one year manufacturer’s warranty. Only operate this model in open, well ventilated garage areas.

Designed to be simple, durable, and effective, milk house heaters were originally used for keeping dairy barns warm in the winter. The Patton PUH680-U uses this milk house heater design to offer this same simplicity and durability at a very budget-friendly price. The PUH680-U uses a rugged steel housing with a fan and convection coil heat on the inside and the automatic thermostat provides effective temperature control, along with a choice of high or low settings.

The PUH680-U includes an automatic shutoff feature if it has been tipped over. Although this basic heater might not be the quietest or the most stylish, it’s extremely effective at heating an open space and at around $30, it offers some of the highest heat output per dollar.

The Mr Heater Portable Buddy Heater can be used both indoors and outdoors, using radiant heat to warm a space up to 200 square feet in size. Although this isn't likely to be the best choice for a large garage or workshop, those with a smaller space will appreciate the budget-friendly price and portability of this unit.

The Portable Buddy Heater uses a small propane cylinder or optional connectors for a larger propane tank, and features the choice between a low setting of 4,000 BTU/hour or a high setting of 9,000 BTU/hour. This heater is lightweight and includes a built-in handle for easy portability, while being rugged enough to be used in tough outdoor and workshop environments.

The Portable Buddy Heater includes several safety features that automatically shut the unit off if it is tipped over, if the pilot light goes out, or if it detects low oxygen levels. This simple heater is an excellent budget-friendly choice for use in a garage, workshop, or even as an emergency or portable heat source.

The Broan 6201 offers both extremely durable steel construction and effective performance. This utilitarian heater has an industrial appearance along with a large built-in carrying handle, and rounded corners to protect any surfaces it might get bumped into.

The 6201 uses ceramic heating elements to produce heat, and a fan to force air circulation. A 1,500-watt high setting is used for fast warm up, while a 1,200-watt low setting provides efficient temperature maintenance. There’s also the option to use only the fan for simple ventilation when heat is not needed.

The Broan 6201 features both automatic shut off if tipped over, and overheat protection which shuts off the heater and activates a "caution" light to alert you to the problem. Although some of the metal housing does have a tendency to heat up somewhat, and the fan does create some noise, this rugged heater is an excellent choice for a garage, workshop, or other space that requires portable, heavy-duty heating.

This utility heater from Lasko is well-suited to a variety of tasks, although it is most effective at heating a small space. The 675919 includes a pivot feature to direct heat, allowing you to point the heater at the specific area in your garage, basement, or work area where the warmth is needed most. An adjustable thermostat allows for controlling heat levels, and you have a choice of high, low, and fan-only settings.

This durable heater features a rubberized grip handle for easy portability, as well as overheat protection to ensure safety. The Lasko 675919 is an excellent choice for those with a room to a draft to those needing to warm an unfinished garage, while also being budget-friendly and easy to use.

The Mr Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater uses propane to warm a space such as a garage up to 400 square feet in size. The heater can be connected either to two one-pound propane cylinders or two 20 pound tanks when using the optional propane hose assembly. Three heat levels can be selected with the control knob, and range from 4,000 to 18,000 BTU/hour. A blower fan can be powered using the AC adapter or batteries to increase air circulation and warm an area faster.

The Mr Heater Big Buddy heater includes several safety features, such as low oxygen shutoff, a built-in thermal protection probe, and safety shutoff in the event that the unit is tipped over. This heater is safe for indoor and outdoor use, but as with any propane heater, it is important to always shut off the propane first and let the heater run until all the fuel in the lines is burned off. The Mr Heater Big Buddy produces a lot of heat in a durable, portable package.

The Dimplex Electric Garage Heater with Built in Thermostat provides your garage with the same amount of heat a permanently installed garage heater can, but with the convenience of portability. The 4,800 watt heater comes with a six foot power cord that plugs into any 30-amp 240-volt outlet. The heavy-duty construction of the heater’s cabinet makes it safe to use anywhere in your garage or at a construction site.

The heater offers six heat settings allowing you to choose a heat setting right for your garage and the built-in thermostat maintains said setting until you change it. Additional features of the heater include a 160 CFM fan, overheat protection and a one year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

The Fahrenheat Ceiling-Mount 5000 Watt Electric Heater is great for large garages doubling as workshops. The power fan inside the heater can project heat up to 16 feet across the garage while the louvers on the front of the heater can be adjusted to blow the air from the heater in any one of four different directions.

The built-in thermostat is manually adjusted in order to select one of the 10 different heat settings. The heater provides up to 17,065 BTU/hour to easily maintain a comfortable temperature in a large garage. Mounting the heater requires a permanent electrical connection to a 240-volt circuit. The heater comes equipped with a thermal cut-off safety device and a 12 month parts and labor warranty.

The Cadet RCP502S portable garage heater features rugged construction that would not be out of place on a commercial unit, ensuring that it can meet the demands of being used in a garage or workshop environment. Although this heater is a bit pricey, it does an excellent job of warming reasonably large, un-insulated spaces such as a garage.

The RCP502S comes with a wall-mounting bracket or it can simply be set down on the floor. A high/low switch allows for choosing between 5,000 watts and 3,333 watts, so the unit can provide the most efficient performance for the space it's in. keep in mind the RCP502S does require a 240-volt outlet.

This portable garage heater has multiple features, such as an automatic fan delay to allow the heating element to heat up before distributing air, a built-in thermostat, and manual reset thermal protection. This means that if the unit detects it's too hot, it shuts itself off; then requires a manual reset to operate again, ensuring safety.