Not everyone has the luxury of having a natural gas hookup in their home, but if you do, you may have just found one of the best ways to heat your garage in the dead of winter. A gas garage heater can warm up a room quickly and efficiently, for just pennies per day. Try that with an electric heater and you might see your electric bill spike significantly. It's true that gas heaters are a bit pricier upfront, but in the long run, you'll end up paying far less.

Read this guide to learn more about safety, features, and efficiency of gas garage heaters. And the best gas garage heater reviews are just below, so you can pick one out that suits you and the space you need to heat.

5 Best Gas Garage Heater Comparisons

Why Would You Need a Gas Garage Heater?

If you've ever stepped into a garage in the Midwest on, say, a cold day in January, then you know how much colder it can get in there compared to the rest of the house. Garages are often uninsulated, and even those that have insulation likely have hard concrete floors and drafts galore. You just can't keep cold air from seeping through doors, nooks, and crannies of a garage. So, many people leave their projects to sit until the snow melts and spring arrives. If you're not willing to compromise your home's workshop, or you don't want to do laundry in a frigid garage, a gas garage heater could be the solution you need. Gas garage heaters come in a few different styles. The vented ones work sort of the same way as a fireplace with a flue and chimney, and also have their own safety guidelines. They don't heat nearly as well as vent-free gas garage heaters, as some heat is lost to the vents. If you don't have a vent system, then you will need to install one, or have one installed. Ventless systems don't require a flue or chimney, so they're much cheaper to install and use.

Are Gas Garage Heaters Safe?

This is the biggest question on your mind, probably. When you use gas for anything, there's a question of how safe it really is. What about carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide leaking? The vented heaters are less of a concern because of the flue or vent setup. All those noxious fumes are released to the outdoors, so you can safely heat an indoor space without worry. Ventless gas heaters are a bit trickier, as they can release all those gases into your garage. If you don't have proper ventilation, there could be cause for concern. Most gas garage heaters made today are equipped with safety features to prevent any accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, for example. It's still a good idea to use this in a space where you can let out any potentially hazardous fumes, and let outdoor air in.

Features to Look for in the Best Gas Garage Heater

Gas garage heaters come with a variety of features to make them more beneficial. The more features, the pricier it could be, but because the operation of these gas heaters is so economical, you might not mind paying a little more on the cost of the unit, versus up to $100 more per month o an electric bill.

*You might also like: The Best Ways to Heat a Garage and More!

No Electricity Needed

Man's hand plugging an extension cord into an emergency generator.

When the power goes out during a particularly bad storm, you'll be grateful you chose gas over electric. Most of the units featured here work on natural gas, so you just hook it up to your natural gas line and that's how heat is generated. So, even if your electricity fails for a day, two, or a week, you'll have heat from your gas garage heater.

Adjustable Heat Levels

Indicator Thermometer for various design

You don't have to deal with sweltering heat or nothing at all. Most units offer variable temperature adjustment, even if it's just an option between low, medium, and high.

Safety Shut-off – Oxygen Depletion

Many of the gas garage heaters made today include sensors that can detect when oxygen is low (and other gases are high). When it does, it will automatically shut the heater off. This is a good indicator that you should open a door or window.

Safety Shut-off – Tip Over

When you're using gas, you're dealing with a flame. The fires that are burning could be a huge hazard if you tip a unit over, which is only really feasible with the portable gas garage heaters. Most of the gas heaters that are also portable include a safety feature that will shut the unit off if it's tipped over.

Forced-Air Heat

Horizontal photo of female hand opening up heater floor vent with Red Oak Floors in background

Some garage heaters include built-in fans, but most of them don't. Still, you can find some brands that offer an optional fan that you can buy separately. A fan can help push all that heated air out into the room to help warm it faster.

Natural Gas

When you can hook up a heater to your existing natural gas line, you don't have to worry about much of anything at all, except venting it. There's no need to go out to buy fuel.

Propane

in australia sydney outside the restaurant the propane hetar in the patio

The biggest benefit of using a propane-powered gas garage heater is that it allows you to tote your heater with you. If you're working on a project that requires you to do work just outside your garage, but it's super cold outside, you can lug a portable garage heater outside with you to keep you warm while you work. It's also handy to have when hunting, camping, or fishing in cold weather.

*You might also like: BEACON-MORRIS “BRT” RESIDENTIAL GARAGE HEATER REVIEW

Top 5 Best Gas Garage Heater Reviews

Dyna-Glo BF30NMDG 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Wall Heater

• BTUs: 30,000
• Weight: 24.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.51 x 28.07 x 24.09 inches
• Warranty: 1 year

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There are quite a few things to love about this natural gas garage heater from Dyna-Glo. First, it operates on natural gas, so you can easily hook it up and you won't have to worry about replacing the fuel source. Be sure you get the proper hoses and you have a space for venting the resulting fumes. This is safe to use indoors if you're smart about it. Plus, it includes an automatic shutoff if the oxygen in the room gets too low. It may also shutoff in elevations above 4,500 feet, which is something to keep in mind if you live up in the mountains. Second, this is a wall unit, so you can set it almost flush with an interior wall if you want to cut a hole for it. You also have the option of buying base legs to run this as a floor unit. The low to high heat levels let you choose just how hot this gas garage heater gets, but you may find that the low setting is enough. This unit heats the air quickly. Of course, hot air rises, and without a fan, you may find cold spots in the room. You can purchase a fan separately to attach to the unit, which can help. Many who have bought this unit just use a box fan, which is effective. There's no built-in thermostat, so you can't set it to a certain temperature and have it maintain. You'll have to manually turn this on and shut it off.

PROS

• Push-button ignition
• Heats quickly
• Good for 1,000 sq. ft
• Three heat levels
• Safe to use

CONS

• May shut off above 4,500 ft. elevation
• No thermostat

PRO TIP

If you’re in the market for a natural gas garage heater to heat a large space, this could work well for you.

 

Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Vent Free Blue Flame Natural Gas Heater MHVFB30NGT

• BTUs: 30,000
• Weight: 26.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.25 x 23.75 x 27 inches
• Warranty: 1 year

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You can easily heat your garage, basement, or the whole house with this Mr. Heater ventless natural gas heater. At 30,000 BTUs, it really throws heat. You get five heat settings, 1 through 5, and the estimated temperatures are 60.8, 75.2, 89.6, 104, and 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Many who purchased this unit said they've rarely gone above the second heat setting, but on the most frigid days, they might hit the third highest setting. The best part about this gas garage heater is that it has a built-in thermostat, so it'll turn on and off on its own, regulating the temperature of the room. It's a good idea to have a professional install this unit for you unless you know what you're going and have all the proper connectors and you know how to vent the unit. It includes all the safety features you'd expect, so if there's an unsafe drop in oxygen, the unit will shut off. You can install this in a wall, or you can use the included legs to use this on the floor. There's no fan included, but many say it isn't necessary. Perhaps the biggest complaint is that it heats too well, and you might not want this unit to stay on.

PROS

• Push-button ignition
• Affordable
• Heats quickly
• Good for 1,000 sq. ft.
• Includes thermostat
• Has optional legs included

CONS

• May shut off above 4,500 ft. elevation
• No fan included

PRO TIP

If you want an affordable gas garage heater that includes an automatic thermostat, this one could be the right one for you

 

Modine HD45AS0111Natural Gas Hot Dawg Garage Heater 45,000 BTU with 80-Percent Efficiency

• BTUs: 45,000
• Weight: 60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 26 x 12 x 16.5 inches
• Warranty: 2 years

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One of the best things about the Modine Natural Gas Hot Dawg Garage Heater is that it is a powerhouse of heat. With 45,000 BTUs, it can heat a three-car garage from cold to warm in 15 to 20 minutes. It's also versatile, so you can use your existing natural gas line, or you can hook it up to a large propane tank. A self-installation is only suggested if you have experience working with gas lines, otherwise you'll need to spend extra to have it professionally installed. And this is an expensive unit. Yes, it'll cost pennies to operate, thanks to it being powered by gas, but you'll pay a small fortune upfront. There's no built-in thermostat, so you will have to turn it on or off, as needed.

PROS

• Vented unit
• Can be used with natural gas or propane
• Heats quickly
• Works well in 3-car garage

CONS

• Expensive
• No built-in thermostat

PRO TIP

If you’d prefer a vented gas garage heater, this could be a good one for you.

Mr. Heater MH25NG 25,000-BTU Natural-Gas Radiant Heater

• BTUs: 25,000
• Weight: 21.6 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10 x 28.5 x 13 inches
• Warranty: 1 year

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The Mr. Heater MH25NG Natural Gas Radiant Heater isn't like the wall and floor units you may typically see. This one works well mounted on a wall or ceiling and it includes the brackets. This unit has a large steel reflector, which helps with pushing the heat all around. The radiant heat puts out 25,000 BTUs per hour, and it can heat a room quickly. It can even be used outdoors to keep a patio warm in the winter. A built-in thermostat is included, so you don't have to turn off the unit when it gets too warm, only to turn them until back on when the temperature drops again. However, the thermostat isn't great – especially when you're trying to heat a larger space. You'll have to find a professional to install this for you, unless you have experience. And the hookup kit is sold separately.

PROS

• Great for garages
• Uses radiant heat
• Easy to install
• Includes built-in thermostat

CONS

• Not a great thermostat
• Hookup kit is sold separately

PRO TIP

If you need a gas garage heater to keep your small to medium sized space warm, this radiant heater may work well for you.

Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater

• BTUs: 9,000 BTUs
• Weight: 9.5 lbs.
• Dimensions: 14.17 x 8.97 x 14.37 in
• Warranty: 1 year

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A natural gas garage heater is great and all, but they're typically installed and don't move from that spot. The Mr. Heater Buddy Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater can move with you to your workshop, garden shed, tailgating parties, or camping trips. This small unit is powerful enough to heat a space up to 225 square feet. It uses propane, so you can get a tank to run this. This small garage heater will need some ventilation, but there is an automatic shutoff in case the oxygen in the area gets too low, or in case you accidentally knock the unit over. There's no fan included on this little guy, but it's hardly needed when you're heating such a small space. There's also no thermostat built into this heater, so you're going to have to turn it on when you need heat and off when it gets too warm.

PROS

• Turns off if tipped over
• Quiet operation
• Shuts off if oxygen is low
• Portable
• Uses propane

CONS

• Needs ventilation
• Heats up to a one-car garage

PRO TIP

If you’re looking for a portable garage heater, this little propane unit could be perfect for you.

Conclusion

A gas garage heater may be more expensive than an alternative, but that's only the upfront costs. To run the heater on natural gas, you'll pay mere pennies to keep your garage, basement, or home warm. It's best if you have a gas garage heater professionally installed, unless you know what you're doing, so that's an added cost. Anyone of these would work well to keep you warm during the winter and will keep your monthly bills low. However, one unit stood out compared to all the others. TheMr. Heater 30,000 BTU Vent Free Blue Flame Natural Gas Heater MHVFB30NGT has enough power to warm up a three-car garage or a 1,200 square foot home quickly and easily. The built-in thermostat will cycle on and off to maintain your preferred temperature, so you won't have to keep an eye on it and turn it on or off as needed.