If you love to tinker in your garage, then you know how disrupting the winter months can be to your hobbies. The cold makes tasks that require tools difficult to complete, and as your body chills you probably won’t even enjoy whatever it is you are working on.

Luckily, no matter what size of a garage you own, there are a variety of heating choices from which to pick that will provide enough warmth to get you working back in comfort. If you’ve begun your search for a garage heater, you probably have already become slightly overwhelmed with the sheer amount of choices available to you. This is why we have done a little bit of legwork in advance to provide you with a few choices to consider surrounding your heating choices. Read on to look over our best electric garage heater reviews.

5 Best Electric Garage Heater Comparisons

What is an Electric Heater?

An electric heater is a system that converts electrical currents to heat. This works through the process of conversion that includes an electrical resistor through which an electrical current passes through to be converted into heat energy. This heats the air surrounding it, which is then blown by a fan into your workspace.

Electric heaters are easy to use and operate since the only maintenance they require is the optional mounting (if available) and plugging into a 220v / 240-volt outlet. Although 120v and 110v electric heaters exist, these are not built for larger spaces and will not be effective in larger areas, such as a garage.

Why Would I Want an Electric Heater?

Electric heaters are incredibly convenient and easy to use and can provide a significant amount of heat to your indoor spaces fairly quickly. Since they aren’t the main source of building heat, they do not need to be run for long periods of time and can be used only when you are in the garage. This makes them more efficient overall than other comparable choices.

They also run quietly. The coils make no noise as they heat, and the prop fans produce minimal noise moving air over coils to heat your space. They also are easy to install if they have this feature: simply mount and plugin. Plus, they are usually thermostatically controlled to keep from wasting energy.

Portable vs Fixed Heaters

Electric heaters are available in two basic designs: portable and fixed. Portable designs are more compact and can be moved from place to place depending on your needs. These often do not have as much power to them and may not heat large spaces, but are sufficient for two car garages. Many are also built to be mounted on a wall or ceiling to direct heated air where needed. Some of these are capable of heating much larger spaces and are the more popular choice for garages that are the standard 2 car garage size or larger.

Fixed heaters require installation and once installed, will not be going anywhere. Wall, ceiling and freestanding designs are all useful for a variety of reasons but are created specifically for larger spaces. Mounting and electrical work is included in getting a system like this up and running as it is much more complicated than the more portable versions. These are popular in larger garages and industrial areas.

Concerns about Electric Heaters

Electric heaters do cost more to run than gas choices. An electric draw is simply a more expensive pick, but it’s also a very dependable and an efficient one. The larger the unit, however, the higher the cost as it will be putting out more BTU to more effectively heat your garage.

These heaters can overheat as well with continual usage. Overheating can cause potential damage to your unit, as well as be a cause of fire if not properly removed from flammable items. Quality models will have built-in overheat protection features that will shut the unit down after prolonged use, or when internal temperatures reach a certain point.

Heaters that have not been mounted can also tip over when bumped, which can not only damage the unit but could also start a fire. Making sure the heater is secured is a start towards safety surrounding its use, but you may also want to consider procuring a model that has a built-in tip over a feature that automatically turns it off if this happens.

Electric heaters can become warm, or even hot to the touch in certain areas of the unit. Although there are cool-touch models available, you should still always be aware of this possibility to avoid burns - and to keep it from close proximity to flammable materials. You may also occasionally want to wipe down the vents to keep them from getting clogged with dust to avoid a burning smell or overheating. This is especially important in a garage like atmosphere.

How to Choose the Best Electric Heater for Your Garage

Choosing the best model for your use shouldn't have to be stressful. Before making a commitment to invest in a heater. First, ask yourself a few things to help get you started with a product you know you will get the most out of.

How much space do you want to heat?

First off, you need to ask yourself how large is the area you need heat within. If you have an approximate square footage of the garage, you can narrow down the choices you have to ensure you will be feeling what heat it provides and not blowing into an area within which it will be wasted.

Is your garage insulated?

An uninsulated garage will lose heat more quickly than an insulated one. If you aren’t ready for investing in what it takes to provide this added protection, especially if you have a large garage, then you may want to consider more powerful, energy efficient choices. Gas, infrared, and waste oil heaters are all options for large, cold spaces. Even wood burning stoves can more quickly heat up and maintain areas that are not insulated.

Where would you place your heater?

No matter whether you are using a portable heater to a place near where you work, or want it mounted for better coverage, first have a few ideas of where it will best fit. More important than mounting, be sure you can get your cord to reach to reach your available 240-volt outlets.

Top 5 Best Electric Garage Heater Reviews

Although there are plenty of quality heaters available in the current market, your best choices are those brands that are already well-known and reviewed by various consumers. A few of our top picks are found below to give you an idea of what you may want to be considering before making an investment.

Fahrenheat Ceiling-Mount Industrial Heater

• Dimensions: 17 x 16 x 15 inches
• Weight: 31 lbs
• Heating Capacity: 750 sq. feet
• Watts: 7500 w
• Warranty: 2 year

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Fahrenheat is a dependable, well-known brand with a healthy series of heating choices for your outdoor building spaces. Equipped with ceiling mount bracket for vertical and horizontal flow, or anything in between, this is a unit that can get heat to exactly where you may need it. The unit is also coated with an epoxy paint finish to avoid corrosion, and last you for years to come.

This is a 7500-watt unit is capable of heating a 2 car garage to 60 degrees with ease in the low setting. With the adjustable heat output, you can also warm a larger space to a comfortable temperature above freezing as well. Although it mounts easy, it does require a bit of simple installation and a 240-volt outlet. It also has a built-in single pole thermostat that can be adjusted from 45 to 135 degrees

PROS

• Preheat and cool down features
• Average half hour heat up time for 2-car garage
• Very efficient

CONS

• Long run times equals high electric bills
• Works best in insulated areas

PRO TIP

Perfect for 2-car garage spaces or slightly larger, this is a heater that can handle the space and provides a quiet running system to keep you comfortably warm.

 

King Electric Electronic Control Garage Heater

• Dimensions: 13.5 x 15 x 16.5 inches
• Weight: 31.5 lbs
• Heating Capacity: 500 sq. feet
• Watts: 5000w
• Warranty: 1 year

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King heaters are made specifically for warming outdoor buildings such as garages, barns, sheds, etc. This comes with a mounting bracket to take advantage of where you need it, but you can also use it as a truly portable and place it where you need it when you need it. The front is adjustable to direct heat, and you can control the thermostat with an on-off switch located both on the unit and one the remote control- making it easy to use if it is placed out of reach.

With an average max 500 square foot coverage, this is the perfect size for a single or smaller two-car garage. The heating element is finned to get the maximum amount of heat surface possible, with a fan supported forced air setup. Plus, you can adjust the heat capabilities as you need, allow it to turn off according to the thermostat, or allow it to continue running.

PROS

• Durable and easy to mount
• Nice heat output
• Warms a single car garage quickly

CONS

• Noticeable fan noise- similar to a box fan

PRO TIP

This is a good mounted fan for smaller areas in the garage or workspace. With durable mounting, air directional control, and a remote control, you can take advantage of this for a variety of needs.

 

Dr. Infrared DR-988 Garage Heater

• Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 15 inches
• Weight: 12
• FHeating Capacity: 600 sq. feet
• Watts: 5600 w
• Warranty: 1 year

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The Dr. Infrared DR-988 series is made specifically as an industrial heater for basements, garages, sheds, etc. With a built-in handle, this is a product made for transportation due to its portability. It has a built-in thermostat that adjusts from hi to low and is capable of being adjusted from 45 to 95 degrees. With finger proof intake and discharge grills, no accidents are going to occur when working in close proximity to it.

A variety of other safety features are included, such as a high-temperature heat limit and tip-over protection. The 5600-watt capability can handle up to 600 square foot space easily and comes with a heavy-duty 6-foot, 240-volt cord. This cord also has a built-in storage, truly making this a compact and portable product.

PROS

• Many safety features
• Adjustable thermostat
• Compact design

CONS

• Fan may be off balance
• Box fan noise when running

PRO TIP

This is a perfect solution to those who are on-the-go but need a dependable heater in multiple spaces. From the garage to the basement, this heater has built-in safety features to assure you peace of mind while working within in busy areas.

 

Comfort Zone Industrial Steel Electric Heater

• Dimensions: 18 x 14.5 x 14 inches
• Weight: 16 lbs
• Heating Capacity: 500+ sq. feet
• Watts: 5000
• Warranty: 1 year

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This Comfort Zone deluxe utility wall mount heater is specific to industrial use as a ceiling heater to provide heat down and over the space below it. The airflow can be adjusted horizontally or vertically, depending on needs and how it is mounted. An adjustable thermostat allows for an adjustment of 45 to 135 degrees, and you can provide three heat levels at 3000, 4000, and 5000 watts depending on the space you need heated.

Caution lights for malfunction and overheating, as well as a cut off tip-over safety feature, are included to provide you with visual measures if anything is going wrong with it. Plus, it has a fan delay until the unit is warm to avoid blowing cold air. Made for a single car or smaller double car garage spaces, this is a powerful little heater that gets the job done.

PROS

• Powerful and dependable
• One person can set up and mount
• Automatic heat shut off

CONS

• Fan is noticeable
• Could do with a strong fan

PRO TIP

Perfect for anyone looking for a heater to place in their single to an average size garage, this is a powerful, compact mounted unit that requires very little setup and seems to work well even in extremely cold climates.

 

NewAir G56 Garage Heater

• Dimensions: 11 x 10.5 x 14 inches
• Weight: 16.5 lbs
• Heating Capacity: 560 sq. feet
• Watts: 5600-watt
• Warranty: 1 year

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The NewAir G56 is made specifically for easy portability. It can heat up to 560 square feet quickly and efficiently. The built-in handle and cord keeper allows you to move the unit to any area within 6 feet of a 240-volt outlet, and at only 16.5 lbs and less than 12 inches square, this can be done with ease. The sturdy steel construction and powder finish also ensure it will last a long time even through heavy usage.

The adjustable manual thermostat has an overheat protection, plus the fan can be controlled to either run or be set on auto to heat when needed. Built to be set on flat, solid floor surfaces, one-car garages, sheds, workshops, and basements can all benefit from this product.

PROS

• Consistent temperature
• Can easily handle larger, insulated spaces
• Quick heat up

CONS

• Fan is noticeable
• May become unbalanced - covered under warranty

PRO TIP

If you need to heat a smaller space or garage and are not interested in a mounted heater, then this is a choice worth taking a closer look at. With safety, shut-off features and the ability to run at variable temperatures make it a worthwhile investment.

Conclusion

When on the hunt for the best electric heater in a garage, you may not have been aware of the many choices you have to choose from. Although your heating needs should determine the type of unit you decide to purchase, our overall favorite is the Fahrenheat Ceiling-Mount Industrial Heater due to the durability, ease of use, and quick heat times that support 750 feet or more depending upon the insulation of the space it is within. Plus, its adjustability allows you to use it in various sized spaces. And, since it is lightweight, compact, and portable, you don’t have the hassle of mounting and securing electrical cords.