Newair Portable Ceramic Electric Garage Heater
Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.6 x 10.3 inches | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Heat output: 5,120 BTUs | Cord length: 6 feet | Temperature range: 45 to 95 degrees
Pros:
- Convenient carry handle
- Adjustable, tilting head provides direct heat
- Automatic shutoff safely prevents overheating
Cons:
- Unlikely to heat a large garage
The Newair Portable Ceramic Electric Garage Heater is the lightest option on our list and has a comfortable top handle, allowing users to transport it with ease. However, don’t let the compact size fool you: The maximum heat output is 5,120 BTUs, which allows it to heat spaces up to 300 square feet. Customers say the durability is impressive, especially considering the price, and it comes with a one-year warranty should any issues arise in its first winter of use.
Best Smart Electric Garage Heater
A High-Tech Model You Can Control From Your Phone
Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Heater With Wi-Fi
Dimensions: 19 x 4 x 13 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Heat output: 5,200 BTUs | Cord length: 3 feet | Temperature range: 50 to 97 degrees
Pros:
- The app allows you to create helpful timers
- Easy to use digital display
- Included remote control
- Modern, stylish design
Cons:
- Not as powerful as other mounted heaters
- Short power cord
With this WiFi-enabled heater, you can wait for the garage to warm up while relaxing in the comfort of your living room or bedroom. Simply connect it to your phone and control features like temperature, fan speed, display brightness and heating timer. Installation only requires four screws and a few minutes, so there’s little hassle. One of the only downsides is that its effectiveness depends on a garage’s size and amount of insulation. While that’s true of all heaters, this one has a particularly wide variance, as it’s best suited for small rooms of roughly 150 square feet but can heat large rooms up to 750 square feet if they’re insulated.
Best Large Electric Garage Heater
An Extra-Strong Heater For Freezing Winter Nights
Dyna-Glo 10,000-Watt Electric Garage Heater
Dimensions: 18.2 x 20 x 18.3 inches | Weight: 49 pounds | Heat output: 34,121 BTUs | Cord length: Not specified | Temperature range: 50 to 95 degrees
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Can be adjusted manually or with the included remote control
- There’s a timer and automatic shutoff for safety precautions
Cons:
- Expensive
- Loud operation
If it falls within your budget, Dyna-Glow’s 10,000-watt Electric Garage Heater offers unbeatable heat output. It emits 34,121 BTUs, which heats rooms as spacious as 1,000 square feet. It also comes with a remote control, touchscreen display and fan-only setting, allowing you to use it without heat. Mounting this device to the ceiling is straightforward but may require two people, given the item’s weight.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team includes three expert editors: deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, senior editor Amanda Arnold and editor Sholeen Damarwala.
- The author of this piece, Derek Rose, is a regular Forbes Vetted contributor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics. He also writes for the home services website Angi, where he frequently covers articles on heating, cooling and insulation.
- To gain greater insight into electrical heating, we spoke with experts Jared Kunkel, electrical administrator at Fischer Electric, and Jamey Stephens, general manager of Evergreen Home Heating and Energy.
How We Chose The Best Electric Garage Heaters
Naturally, the most important quality when buying a heater is how much heat it emits. However, other considerations include price, design and the number of features. Here’s what to keep in mind.
- Our home and kitchen editorial team focused on models from trusted brands and retailers, such as Newair, Lasko, Comfort Zone and more.
- We evaluated key specifications, including heat output, size, weight, materials and ease of installation. Our final selections reflect different budgets, styles and needs.
- We took customer reviews and average star ratings into careful account, sticking to models that have garnered at least an average rating of 4 stars and only a negligible amount of concerning reviews, if any.
- The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In The Best Electric Garage Heaters
Naturally, the most important quality when buying a heater is how much heat it emits. However, other considerations include price, design and the number of features. Here’s what to keep in mind.
The best way to gauge heat output is by looking at two figures: BTUs (British Thermal Units) and watts. BTUs measure heat, and watts measure the rate at which energy is transferred. Both units illustrate a heater’s strength. “The higher the wattage, the higher the BTUs a heater is pumping out,” says Jared Kunkel, electrical administrator at Fischer Electric. “Typically, the wattage you need is based on the square footage of the space you’re trying to heat.” Some manufacturers note the maximum room size they recommend for a heater. Plus, it’s often easy to find a heater’s watts and BTUs.
It’s worth considering how much control you have over the temperature before buying a heater. Some heaters have a single on-off switch, while others have low, medium and high heat settings. The temperature can be adjusted by a single degree, usually between 45 and 95 degrees, for the utmost control.
There are two main styles of electric garage heaters: mounted and freestanding. The former are attached to the wall or ceiling and are usually larger and more powerful. The downsides are that mounted heaters require installation and are more expensive. However, they’re the better long-term heating solution. Freestanding heaters are cheaper, more portable and don’t require installation. They’re a great option if you can get by with less heat or want to move the appliance to different parts of the garage or rooms of the house.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Type Of Heater Is Best For A Garage?
The best heater depends on the size of your garage, how you plan to use the space and how cold the weather in your area gets. Stephens says that homeowners with access to gas who are interested in a permanent heating solution may prefer that route. “If you’re looking for something affordable or portable, then a space heater is fine,” he says.
Kunkel echoes this thought, saying, “If you’ve got a garage that’s four hundred or five hundred square feet, then I’d suggest a commercially rated, fan-forced heater. It’s similar to a space heater but on a larger scale.” All of the electric garage heaters highlighted in this guide, including the smallest option, have a minimum of 1,500 watts, which can efficiently warm most garages and take the chill out of the air.
Is Electric Heat Good For A Garage?
Electric heat is safe to use in a garage and should be effective if enough BTUs are generated. Gas is a viable option as well and presents its own benefits. “If you’re talking about sheer efficiency or the cost to run it, a gas appliance is better,” Stephens says. “But if you’re looking for a temporary or easier solution to put in a room, then a space heater works. That’s what I would use as well.”
Does A Garage Heater Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Garage heaters cause electric bills to rise, but the actual amount depends on the heater’s wattage and how frequently it’s used. A garage heater that runs all day naturally uses much more electricity than one that’s only turned on when you spend time in the garage. If long-term energy costs are a major concern, gas heat might be the better option. As Stephens puts it, “If the heater you’re buying is a regular electric-resistance heater, you’ll probably end up spending more money on the electricity than you would on a gas appliance to heat the same space.”
