Best Garage Heaters for 2026: Propane Portables and Hardwired 240V Electric

Comparing every Mr. Heater Buddy model? See our propane heater guide. For heat without electricity, see our kerosene heater guide.

Garage heaters fall into two groups. Portable propane heaters need no installation and can move with you, but they burn fuel and produce carbon monoxide. Hardwired 240V electric heaters burn no fuel, but they need a dedicated circuit and an electrician. Which one fits depends mostly on how often you're out there and whether you can add a 240V circuit.

The Picks at a Glance

The Picks

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy - Our Pick for Occasional Heat

Our Pick

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy (9,000 BTU)

4,000 or 9,000 BTU, up to 225 sq ft, with a low-oxygen shutoff and tip-over switch; Mr. Heater lists it as indoor-safe.

Check price on Amazon

Sold by Amazon

Per Mr. Heater, the Portable Buddy runs at 4,000 or 9,000 BTU, heats up to 225 square feet, and connects to a 1 lb propane cylinder or, with an optional hose and filter, a 20 lb tank. It has an oxygen depletion sensor and an accidental tip-over shutoff, and Mr. Heater lists it as indoor-safe. Run time from a 1 lb cylinder is 3 hours on high and 6 on low per Mr. Heater, and 2.4 and 5.4 hours per the Amazon listing. Mr. Heater lists Massachusetts as a restricted state for Buddy heaters. Our propane heater guide has the full details.

Mr. Heater Big Buddy PRO - More Propane Heat

More Propane Heat

Mr. Heater Big Buddy (18,000 BTU)

4,000, 9,000, or 18,000 BTU, up to 450 sq ft, with a low-oxygen shutoff and tip-over switch, per Mr. Heater. The PRO version was unavailable on Oct 12, 2026; this is the standard MH18B.

Check price on Amazon

Sold by Northern Tool + Equipment on Amazon

Per Mr. Heater, the Big Buddy runs at 4,000, 9,000, or 18,000 BTU, heats up to 450 square feet, and has an oxygen depletion sensor and tip-over shutoff. It weighs 17.1 pounds per Mr. Heater and takes two 1 lb cylinders or a 20 lb tank with a hose. The Big Buddy PRO listing, which adds a built-in fan, was unavailable on Amazon when we rechecked on October 12, 2026, so our link goes to the standard Big Buddy (MH18B): same three settings, same 450-square-foot rating, sold by Northern Tool + Equipment. See Buddy vs Big Buddy for the differences.

Dr. Infrared DR-975 - Our Hardwired Pick

Hardwired Pick

Dr. Infrared DR-975 (7,500W, 240V, Hardwired)

• 240V single phase
• 4,700W/7,500W
• Hardwired with 8 AWG copper wire
• Remote thermostat
• UL/cUL listed

Check price on Amazon

Sold by Amazon

Per Dr. Heater USA and the listing, the DR-975 is a 240V single-phase heater with 4,700-watt and 7,500-watt settings, a remote-controlled thermostat (50 to 85 degrees F), five adjustable louvers, a timer, and a fully enclosed motor, and it is UL/cUL listed. It is hardwired, with no power cord included. The owner's manual lists 25,597 BTU/h, calls for a dedicated circuit with a 40-amp double-pole breaker and 8 AWG copper supply wire, and says the heater must be installed by a certified/licensed electrician. It mounts on a wall or ceiling with the included bracket.

Comfort Zone CZ220 - Smaller 240V Option

Smaller 240V

Comfort Zone CZ220 5,000W Ceiling Mount

5,000W, 240V, hardwired ceiling mount with a dual-knob thermostat, louvers, and overheat protection, per the listing.

Check price on Amazon

Sold by Amazon

Per the listing, the CZ220 is a 5,000-watt, 240-volt ceiling-mount heater that is hardwired. The listing mentions a heavy-gauge steel body, louvers with an adjustable mounting angle, a dual-knob thermostat, and overheat protection. It has less output than the DR-975, so it suits a smaller or better-insulated space. Have an electrician confirm the circuit it needs from the manual.

Propane or Electric?

Portable propane needs no installation and can go wherever you're working. But it burns fuel, so follow the ventilation rules in the manual and use CO alarms. Hardwired electric burns no fuel and has a thermostat, but you need a 240V circuit and an electrician to install it. For occasional weekend use, a Buddy heater is the simple choice. For a shop you work in often, a hardwired heater avoids buying propane and handling cylinders.

Insulation Helps Any Heater

A garage loses heat through the door, walls, and gaps. Weatherstripping and insulating the garage door helps any heater keep up. The heated space also helps the snow blower and ice melt you store there. For pipes in unheated spaces, see our heat tape guide.

Common Questions

Can I run a propane heater in a closed garage?

Only a heater the maker lists for indoor use, and only as its manual directs. Mr. Heater lists the Buddy heaters as indoor-safe, with oxygen depletion sensors, but any fuel-burning heater makes CO. Follow the manual's ventilation rules, keep CO alarms working, and keep the heater away from fuels and solvents.

Can I use a 120V plug-in space heater instead?

You can, but a typical plug-in heater has much less output than a 5,000 to 7,500-watt 240V heater. For a larger or colder garage, the 240V units on this page put out more heat.

What does a hardwired heater need?

A dedicated 240V circuit installed by a licensed electrician. For the DR-975, the manual calls for a 40-amp double-pole breaker and 8 AWG copper wire. If you're also adding a generator transfer switch, ask the electrician about both.

What about kerosene heaters?

The CPSC says to use only water-clear 1-K grade kerosene and never gasoline. See our kerosene heater guide for options and safety.

Bottom Line

The Portable Buddy for occasional heat, the Big Buddy PRO for more propane heat, the Dr. Infrared DR-975 for a hardwired shop heater, and the Comfort Zone CZ220 for a smaller 240V option. Use CO alarms with any propane heater, and hire an electrician for any hardwired one.