An electric garage heater is a perfect budget-friendly heating option for any sized garage workshop. The best electric garage heaters are cost effective and very safe, suitable for hobbyists and professionals alike. These heaters are portable, but not quite as portable as gas fueled alternatives (as they always need to reach a close by outlet or generator).Though they’re highly versatile and will easily keep a consistent flow of heat for any indoor space in the coldest of weather.
Most are able to connect to an external thermostat or have one built-in. They come in many different shapes and sizes and have many different features to choose from, but the main difference you’ll find is if they produce heat through forced air fans or infrared. Below are my picks for the best electric garage heater. My reviews will cover everything you need to know about that particular heater (specific features and the nitty-gritty specs) as well as some general information about choosing an electric garage heater.
5 Best Electric Garage Heaters | Reviews
1. Fahrenheat FUH54 Electric Garage Heater
- HEAVY DUTY HEATER: Warm-up just about any open space with this heater that provides long-term comfort...
- CONTINUOUS COMFORT: If you have a large drafty space, this heater is ideal. Its powerful output means it can...
This is a top-rated fan forced air heater on Amazon and also my pick for the best electric heater. While a good Amazon rating isn’t the end all way to judge a unit, it’s a good sign that this unit is effective and built to last. Farenheat is a front runner in the world of space heaters, both residential and commercial, so I would expect nothing less from them.
Depending on the garage insulation you have, this 240 volt heater can easily be the most energy efficient garage heater for a three car garage (approx. 500 to 1000 sq. ft.). An external thermostat (digital is an option) can be used with a bit of installation. I don’t want to spoil it all though! So let’s check it out.
2. Dr. Heater DR966 Shop Heater 240-volt
- Heavy Duty 240V Single Phase 3000/6000W Commercial Electric Heater
- Hardwired; Power cord not included in the unit. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -14.5". Overall...
This heater is actually my top heater for a small garage. If you’re simply a hobbyist spending a few hours per week in your room, this is probably the best electric garage heater overall. The cost to run is very low, as is the initial purchase price. Wiring is straight forward and it can easily use an external thermostat.
The Dr. Heater brand is arguably one of best known in workshop and space heaters, so it’s no wonder a lot of the most all around heaters are made by them. This particular heater is receiving good reviews all over the forums due to its solid make and specs. I’d recommend reading the whole review to see if it’s a good fit for your particular garage and needs.
3. Newair G73 Workshop Heater with Built-in Thermostat
- [RUGGED EXTERIOR BUILT TO LAST] - The hard-shell exterior is made from heavy-duty material that is built to...
- [SAFETY FEATURES FOR PEACE OF MIND] - This heater is considered one of the safest on the market and is our...
Another heater with good reviews for its durable construction. Newair offers a few variations of this one, from G70 to G80. Generally the Newair G73 with built in thermostat is perfect for the average garage (heats up to 600 sq. ft. – about a 2 car garage). What separates this heater is the swivel wall/ceiling mount inclusion and adjustable fans. This makes it incredibly easy to set up and get the heat directly where you want.
While there’s a lot more to this heater (something I’ll go over in the detailed review), I’ll just say it’s in the 3rd spot for a reason. I recommend checking the Amazon reviews and current price.
4. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988
- Infrared Portable electric 208 (4200 watts) -240 (5600 watss) volt heater
- At full power produces ~18,500 BTU
Thermostat control. Ceiling mount. Slick red exterior. This is the easiest unit to set up and heat your space. This electric heater scores well in every area – good reviews, solid performance, and it’s definitely the best budget garage heater. It’s handles make it easily portable and it’s efficient enough to easily heat up a 600 square foot room in around 30 minutes (on a regular cold day).
While it’s built quite as thick as the units above and it doesn’t perform quite as well, it reflects this in the price. If you’re looking for a workshop heater to take the chill off, or if your garage/basement is relatively insulated then this may work. Let’s take a look to get into the finer details about this unit.
5. Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater – 1500-Watt
- Can heat up a large room with Auto Energy Saving Model With High and Low Feature. Tip-over protection and...
- Dual Heating Systems featuring infrared quartz tube + PTC with 12hr automatic shut-off timer
With 3,400 user reviews (and still has a 4.3 rating!) this had to be mentioned. While it’s not the top choice for garage heaters, it is probably the best choice if you have an insulated basement or an insulated garage. This infrared shop heater heats up to 1000 square feet due to its dual radiant heat technology and is most definitely the cheapest to run. Includes a remote for thermostat control too. If you’re looking for a heater without the big industrial metal box this is a good bet.
If you plan on using it as a house space heater as well this is your best pick. All heating components are inside the unit, so it’s safe for dogs and small children. Without getting too into it (that’s all in the full review) I would definitely take a look at it’s price, because if this fits your workshop and needs, you’ll find it’s the best bang for your buck.
Which One is the Best Electric Garage Heater?
This list was made after careful consideration of all the following categories with the assumption you are heating a regular, somewhat insulated, garage;
- Heating Ability & Watts
- Construction, Material, and Estimated Lifespan
- Efficiency
- Price
- Warranty and Brand Reputation
Though I put all these electric garage heaters in a list, all are top quality. Most are powerful enough to easily heat 1000 sq ft (approximately a three car garage) by utilizing forced air or infrared heat. Most come with a thermostat (digital or dial), wall thermostat, remote thermostat, or are able to utilize an external thermostat. Installation is a breeze with these electric garage heaters, whether you choose to mount them on the ceiling or wall, or want to use the mount as a portable carrying handle. Some require a bit of hard wiring while others simply plug-in.
While I believe in buying the best quality (hence my #1 top electric garage heater), ultimately the choice is dependent on your needs and how well insulated your garage space is. I suggest you try out the garage space heater calculator for the perfect recommendation.
My number 3 choice – the NewAir G73 – is over viewed quite nicely in the video below.
Even if this is not your first choice, you’ll find a lot of the recommendations made in the video can be directly applied to picking an electric garage heater.
So there’s a quick article about the five best electric garage heaters on the market currently. Thankfully they’re all readily available on most online marketplaces, but if you’d rather check them out in person first then your local hardware stores are likely to have at least one of these options. For larger workshops/garage spaces you may need to check a more specialized store or order online. Hope this has helped, feel free to comment with any questions about electric garage space heaters you have below.