Best 5 Portable Garage & Shop Heaters For Sale Reviews 2022
When cold winter comes the best thing you can do is be inside your house and keep warm. Many people, however, decide to do some work in their shops or garages. Garages are often not connected to the central heating system of the house so a portable garage heater is a perfect solution for you.
In this review, you will find a list of the five best and most efficient portable garage heaters available. Do your research and find a heater that is a perfect match for you and your garage.
Some Useful Tips On Buying A Portable Garage & Shop Heater
What Is A Portable Heater?
Heaters can be divided into two groups – portable and mounted. Mounted heaters usually come with some sort of hardware (brackets) for you to mount them on a wall or a ceiling to become overhead heaters. Portable heaters are not attached to any kind of surface and can be moved around freely.
Is It Better Than A Mounted Heater?
One isn’t necessarily better or worse than the other, they just serve different purposes and both have their benefits. If you don’t want your heater to get in the way, you will perhaps choose a mounted heater. If you need your heater to heat different rooms or maybe take it on camping trips then a portable heater is the best choice.
Type Of Fuel
There are a few different fuel types that heaters use. Most frequently used are electric, propane, natural gas, and kerosene heaters. Be sure to research the specifics and benefits of every fuel type before purchasing your heater because they are all very different.
Types Of Heating
Along with using different types of fuels, the products produce heat differently. The two main types are radiant (which include infrared) and forced air heaters. Find the heater most suitable for you by looking into the different combinations of fuel and heat type.
Power And Area Coverage
When looking into buying a garage heater you should check its thermal output in BTUs. The British Thermal Unit tells you how much energy your heater produces i.e. how quickly it raises the temperature. The higher the BTUs the faster it heats a room. Combine this information with the size of your desired heating area and find your ideal heater.
Best 5 Portable Heaters For Garage Or Shop
Best Portable Kerosene Heater
Sengoku HeatMate 10,000-BTU Omni-Radiant Kerosene Heater
Emergency Heating For Large Spaces
The Sengoku HeatMate is an omni-radiant heater that is a great substitute heating source for emergency situations. It does not use electrical power so it is fit to use in power outages. It can heat up to 380 sq ft.
Security Measures
This portable gas heater for garage features all the necessary protection measures like the automatic safety shut off that turns the heater off when overheated, the tip-over protection and protective safety metal grills. It also has an easy push-button start so no matches are needed and a flame adjuster.
Good For A Number Of Uses
This is a multi-purpose kerosene heater, very suitable for outdoor use. It can be used on patios, gazebos, decks and other spaces for recreation. It is also great indoors for your garage and shop as supplemental heating and will heat it nicely in a short time.
Original Burner Design
The HeatMate features a newly designed burner which protects it from the wind and makes sure this heater operates in the most energy-efficient way. It operates on kerosene gas and has the thermal output of 10 000 BTUs.
Dimensions And Weight
This model’s size is 15 by 15.5. by 22 inches. It is fairly light as it weighs around 20 pounds. The Sengoku manufacturing company is known worldwide for the production of quality alternative heating products and has over 60 years of experience.
- Good for indoor and outdoor use
- New burner design for wind protection
- Tip-over switch and safety grills
Best Portable Electric Garage Heater
Cadet RCP502S 5,000-Watt Portable Garage Heater
Versatile Use
The Cadet portable 240v electric garage heater is an excellent source of heating for your garage or workshop. The most appealing feature is how versatile this heater is. You have the option of mounting it on a wall (it comes with the necessary bracket) or you can use it as a free-standing floor heater.
Additional Features
The package includes a 6-foot long cord which requires a NEMA polarized 30 amp receptacle for it to run properly. Be sure to check your receptacle before operating the heater or consult your electrician about it.
Design And Exterior
The Cadet heater has a sturdy, durable, 20-gauge steel construction. It was produced and manufactured in the USA. It has a baked-on powder paint finish making it more enduring and aesthetically pleasing.
Built-In Fan Switch
The portable electric garage heater also has the fan-only switch. This offers you the option of using only the fan without the heat. This is perfect for summer days when you can use this heater for cooling as well, once more making a point for this model’s versatility.
Built-In Thermostat
The Cadet manufacturer produces heaters that have a built-in double pole thermostat. You can also select your desired wattage with a high and low option. According to UL safety standards, this heater should have a minimal 3-foot clearance from the front. A 6-inch clearance from the back and 12-inch from the sides is advised.
- Wall mounting optional
- Fan-only option for summer
- Double-pole thermostat
- Requires 6ft cord with NEMA 30amp receptacle
Best Portable Infrared Garage Heater
iLIVING Infrared Portable Space Heater with Dual Heating System
Dual Heat System
This new infrared portable heater has a dual heating system. This means that it combines infrared quartz tubes with PTC technologies. Because of this feature, this model produces twice as much more air than regular infrared heaters making it more economical and efficient.
Quiet Blower Technology
This new and innovative blower technology ensures extremely silent operation which makes this heater a lot more quiet than other similar models available. The noise level produced by this model is under 39 db.
Child Proof
To ensure maximum safety for your children and pets, this heater has tip-over protection which automatically shuts it off if someone (like a child or dog) knocks it down. It also features overheat protection which operates in the same manner if the heater reaches a critically high temperature.
Top Energy Efficiency
This model is one of the most energy-efficient heaters available as it has an auto energy-saving mode which also makes it quite easy on the wallet. It also comes with an electronic thermostat with a heat range from 50 to 80 degrees.
Other Features
Many other useful features are available with this heater. It comes with 4 caster wheels for simplified portability, a filter that is easily vacuumed or washed with warm water, IR remote control etc. It is UL listed and comes with a one-year warranty.
- Safe for kids and pets
- Produces noise under 39 dB
- Auto energy-saving mode
- Dual heating system
- One-year warranty
Best Portable Propane Garage Heater
Mr. Heater MH60QFAV Portable Propane Heater
Forced Air Heating
Mr.Heater uses a forced air type of heating and operates on 60 000 BTU per hour. This is enough to heat an area of roughly 1500 sq feet. It can run on a 30 000-60 000 BTU range. It uses propane as fuel.
Long-Lasting Run Time
This portable propane garage heater uses a 20lb. Propane tank. When set on the lowest heat setting, this heater can operate efficiently for up to 14 hours. This is a great feature for people who spend a lot of time in their garages or workshops and want consistent heating during the day.
Quiet Burner Technology
This heater operates using quiet burning technology. This makes it as much as half less noisy than regular propane heaters. This feature is very useful because the operation of this heater isn’t distracting and allows you to perform your task without any disturbances.
Safety Ensured
Many useful safety features are available with this heater. It is fitted with a high limit switches thermoelectric safety valves. These are especially important if you want to use this heater in construction sites, factories, utility buildings, and other industrial areas.
Additional Features
The MH60QFAV is equipped with 10-feet long gas hose and regulator, ensuring the safety of use and convenience. As far as installation goes you just need to plug the unit to 115v outlet, attach the hose and regulator to the propane tank and enjoy the warmth this heater provides.
- Quieter than regular heaters by 50%
- Uses forced-air heating
- Can heat up to 1500 square feet
- 30 000-60 000 BTUs
- 10ft hose and regulator included
Best Fan Forced Portable Garage Heater
Comfort Zone PowerGear CZ250 1500 Watt Shop Heater
Versatile Use
This 1500W heater is sufficiently powerful to heat up a variety of differently used spaces. It is a good industrial heater, but it can also be used in garages, workshops or homes. It is also fit for outdoor use so you can put it in your backyard.
Two Heat Settings
This heater features a high and low-temperature setting, allowing you to enjoy comfortable heat specifically adjusted to you. The built-in adjustable thermostat gives you even more control. The PowerGear uses fan-forced heating and features a fan-only setting. This is convenient if you want just the cool airflow without the heat.
Wide Area Coverage
Due to it being fan-forced, the CZ250 evenly distributes heat around the room leaving no corner unheated. This is perfect if you have a large workshop or garage which needs constant and balanced warmth throughout the day.
Adjustable Angles
A handy feature on this heater is the adjustable angles which allow you to direct the flow heat in whichever direction you need it most. It does so by using the adjustable tilt. This helps to set and secure the heater on the floor as well.
Safety Features
This model features plenty of smart safety features that are necessary for the easy and carefree use of this product. It features overheat protection which shuts the unit off if too hot. It has a paddled handle with a non-slip grip which makes it easily portable. The base is of durable heavy design and it ensures the heater’s stability.
- Used for a variety of purposes
- Angles can be adjusted for heat direction
- 2 heat settings and adjustable thermostat
- Necessary safety features
Conclusion: What Is The Best Portable Garage & Shop Heater?
Portable garage space heaters are very convenient and practical, and the top two would have to be the iLIVING Infrared Portable Space Heater and the Comfort Zone PowerGear CZ250. The infrared portable garage heater is very energy efficient and has a quiet operation, and the Comfort Zone Power Gear can heat a wide area fairly quickly.
If you want to do your research before buying a garage heater you should read this review. Read these reviews to find out all you need to know about propane garage heaters and electric garage heaters.