Best Garage & Shop Heaters

Pros

• +6,000W / ~20,000 BTU on high — more output than standard 5,000W units on the same 30A circuit
• +3,000W low setting for holding temperature cheaply overnight
• +Built-in adjustable thermostat and 8 directional louvers

Cons

• −Hardwired 240V / 30A — electrician required for most people
• −Loud fan, like every unit heater

Pros

• +50,000 BTU — heats ~1,000–1,250 sq ft of insulated garage, or a large uninsulated one
• +Natural gas (propane kit included): roughly a third the running cost of electric per BTU in most regions
• +Power-vented; exhaust can run horizontally through a wall or vertically through the roof

Cons

• −Professional installation strongly recommended: gas line, vent kit, 115V power, permit
• −Thermostat and vent kit are sold separately; budget several hundred dollars above the unit price

Pros

• +7,500W / ~25,600 BTU on high — the most electric heat here from a single unit
• +4,700W low setting for holding a garage at 45–50°F cheaply overnight
• +Remote-controlled thermostat (50–85°F) and timer — no ladder to adjust it

Cons

• −Needs a dedicated 240V / 40A circuit and 8 AWG copper — a bigger electrical job than the DR-966's 30A run
• −Hardwired: no plug, electrician required for most people

Pros

• +5,000W / ~17,000 BTU from a compact ceiling-mounted unit
• +Hardwired 240V with bracket included — mounts in a corner and stays out of the way
• +Built-in adjustable thermostat and directional louvers

Cons

• −Requires hardwiring to a dedicated 240V / 30A circuit — electrician for most people
• −Loud fan

Pros

• +5,600W / ~19,100 BTU — the most heat in this guide that plugs in rather than hardwires
• +Portable: carry handle, cord wrap, 16.8 lb — moves from bay to bench to barn
• +Built-in thermostat, 45–95°F, cycles the element to hold temperature

Cons

• −Needs a dedicated 240V / 30A receptacle; never an extension cord or an adapter
• −Dial thermostat, no remote, no timer — a knob-and-fan shop heater

Pros

• +Plug-in 240V — no hardwiring if a suitable outlet exists
• +3,750W / ~12,800 BTU with a built-in thermostat
• +Mounting bracket included; use it on the wall or as a portable floor unit

Cons

• −Less output than 5,000–6,000W ceiling units — size it for ~350–400 sq ft insulated
• −Needs a dedicated 240V circuit with the matching receptacle; never an extension cord

Pros

• +4,000 / 9,000 BTU with no electricity — works in outages, off-grid, and on job sites
• +Oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) and tip-over shutoff; indoor-rated with ventilation
• +Runs ~3–6 hours on a 1-lb cylinder; connects to a 20-lb tank with a hose and filter

Cons

• −Combustion indoors: you MUST provide ventilation and run a battery CO alarm — no exceptions
• −1-lb cylinders are expensive per BTU; the 20-lb hose kit is the economical way to run it