Best Garage Heater
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A garage starts much colder than a room in your house, so it needs far more heat. A one-car garage in a cold climate needs about 3,000–4,000 watts, and a two-car garage 6,000–7,500. That is beyond any plug-in heater, so most garages need a 240-volt heater wired to its own circuit. Enter your garage below to see which size fits.
Space heater size calculator
Our picks for garages
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-975 Garage Heater
A 7,500 W fan-forced heater that mounts on a wall or ceiling, with a tilting head and louvers to aim the heat. It has a remote-controlled thermostat (50–85°F) and a timer. A low setting of 4,700 W saves power once the garage is warm.
| Type | Fan-forced, wall or ceiling mount |
|---|---|
| Power | 4,700 or 7,500 W |
| Electrical | 240 V single phase, 31.25 A, hardwired (no cord) |
| Controls | Remote thermostat 50–85°F, timer |
| Safety | Overheat protection, UL/cUL listed |
| Also | Listing calls for 8 AWG copper wire; tilting head and 5 louvers |
Worth knowing: It is hardwired, with no cord. The listing calls for 8 AWG copper wire, so plan on an electrician and a dedicated 240 V circuit.
Comfort Zone CZ230ER Ceiling-Mount Garage Heater
A 7,500 W heater with a heavy steel body that mounts on the ceiling to keep the floor and walls clear. Digital programmable thermostat and remote.
| Type | Fan-forced, ceiling mount, steel body |
|---|---|
| Power | 7,500 W (listing gives 25,600 BTU) |
| Electrical | 240 V, 31.25 A, hardwired |
| Controls | Digital programmable thermostat, remote |
| Safety | Overheat shut-off |
| Also | Listing claims coverage up to 1,250 sq ft, which assumes a well-insulated space |
Worth knowing: The listing claims coverage up to 1,250 sq ft, which assumes a well-insulated space. For an uninsulated garage in a cold climate, our calculator puts 7,500 W closer to 450–500 sq ft.
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 Garage Heater
A smaller 240 V heater with 3,000 and 6,000 W settings, suited to a one-car garage, a workshop or a large shed. It mounts on a wall or ceiling with the included bracket and has an adjustable thermostat.
| Type | Fan-forced, wall or ceiling mount |
|---|---|
| Power | 3,000 or 6,000 W |
| Electrical | 240 V single phase, 25 A, hardwired (no cord) |
| Controls | Adjustable thermostat with high and low |
| Safety | UL/cUL listed |
| Also | Mounting bracket included; 5 louvers |
Worth knowing: It is hardwired, with no cord included, and needs a 240 V circuit sized for 25 amps at the high setting.
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968
If you only need to warm the corner where you work, or you have a small insulated garage, a 1,500 W plug-in heater avoids the cost of new wiring. The DR-968 combines infrared and PTC elements, so it warms you directly at the bench.
| Type | Infrared quartz + PTC cabinet heater |
|---|---|
| Power | 1,500 W (high and low settings) |
| Electrical | 120 V plug-in, 12.5 A |
| Controls | Remote, electronic thermostat 50–85°F, 12-hour shut-off timer |
| Safety | Tip-over and overheat protection |
| Also | 19 lb on caster wheels; listing gives about 5,200 BTU and a 39 dB blower |
Worth knowing: At 1,500 W it will not heat a whole cold garage. Use the calculator to see how far short it falls.
Garage heater sizes at a glance
| Garage (9 ft ceiling) | Mild winters | Cold winters | Very cold winters |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-car, ~250 sq ft, no insulation | ~3,200 W | ~4,300 W | ~5,500 W |
| One-car, ~250 sq ft, insulated | ~2,200 W | ~2,900 W | ~3,700 W |
| Two-car, ~500 sq ft, no insulation | ~6,400 W | ~8,500 W | ~11,000 W |
| Two-car, ~500 sq ft, insulated | ~4,300 W | ~5,700 W | ~7,400 W |
Estimates from the calculator above. Insulating the garage door and sealing the gap at its bottom often does more than buying a bigger heater.
Electric or propane?
This guide covers electric heaters only. Propane and kerosene heaters put out more heat for the money, but they burn fuel inside the space, which brings carbon monoxide and ventilation concerns. If you are looking at one, check the maker's ventilation rules and fit a carbon monoxide alarm.
Installing a 240 V garage heater
- These heaters are hardwired and need a dedicated 240 V circuit, with breaker and wire sizes set by the heater's manual.
- Mount it high in a corner and aim it toward the middle of the space or your workbench, keeping the clearances in the manual.
- A wall thermostat or a remote thermostat stops it running flat out all day.
Space heater safety basics
- Plug the heater straight into a wall outlet. Heater makers and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission both warn against extension cords and power strips.
- A 1,500 W heater draws about 12.5 amps. Don't run two on the same circuit, or with a microwave or hair dryer on that circuit.
- Keep 3 feet of clear space around it: beds, curtains, paper and clothes.
- Look for tip-over and overheat protection and a safety certification mark (UL, ETL or CSA).
- Turn it off when you leave the room. Safety groups also advise turning heaters off when you go to sleep, so a timer or auto-off setting is useful in a bedroom.
- 240 V garage heaters are hardwired. Have an electrician run the circuit and follow the wire and breaker sizes in the manual.
More heater guides
Questions people ask
How many watts do I need to heat a garage?
Roughly 10–15 watts per square foot in a cold climate, depending on insulation. That works out to about 3,000–5,000 W for a one-car garage and 6,000–7,500 W or more for a two-car garage.
Can I heat my garage with a plug-in space heater?
Only a small, insulated one, or the area right around a workbench. Plug-in heaters give 1,500 W at most, while most garages need several times that.
Do 240 volt garage heaters need an electrician?
Yes. They are hardwired and need a dedicated 240 V circuit with the wire and breaker sizes listed in the manual.