The Best Way to Heat a Garage in All Climates (2024)

Heat Storm HS-1500

Portable Infrared Power

Check Price

HEAT STORM HS-1500

Buy

IN THIS GUIDE:

› PLUG-AND-PLAY 120V: DR INFRARED HEATER

› SMALL GARGE 240V: DR INFRARED W/REMOTE

› BEST RADIANT : HeatStar 120,000 BTU

› BEST COLD CLIMATE: MR HEATER BIG MAXX

› PORTABLE PICK: BRIZA INFRARED

The best way to heat a garage is with a power-friendly heat source that maintains heat when needed. But the choice of the right heater will come down to climate, insulation, installation preference (DIY or contracted), and how you intend to use the garage.

For example, a three-car garage in a northern climate often requires a large 50,000+ BTU garage heater that is professionally installed.

But a small garage in a southern climate can make do with a fraction of the BTUs.

Getting started, things to consider when choosing the best garage heater include:

Cold climates require thermostat-controlled heaters
Some heaters require venting to allow moisture or vapors to escape
More “BTUs” equal more heating power.
Insulation in cold climates is a must
Radiant heaters will heat the objects in space – air heaters will heat the air
Most electric heaters are 240v and will require a licensed electrician to complete the installation
Not all heaters are intended to be left on. Look for a thermostat-rated device (preferably one with one) and follow directions.

Editor’s note: I’ve heated my Minnesota-based woodworking shops with everything from indirect wood stoves and barrel stoves to (now) a 75,000 BTU natural gas unit (professionally installed).

Page Contents

Hire a Professional for Installations and Follow Unit Instructions Almost all heaters require professional installation. Never install a heater that requires a professional, and for heaters that cannot be left running un-attended never leave them running. Follow all manufacturer instructions.

First Things First: Garage Size & Climate

Before looking at heaters, you’ll need to evaluate a few things based on where you live:

Garage Square Feet: this is the #1 determinant of heater size. Measure the width and depth of your garage to arrive at square footage. Note: a 3-car garage is usually 20×30′ = 600sqf.
Climate Zone: there’s a big difference between heating a garage to 60 degrees in northern Georgia and Minnesota.
Heating Sources: do you have gas (LP or propane) or electricity?

The bottom line is the farther north you live, the more BTUs, insulation, and need for a thermostat-controlled solution you’ll need.

Why Are You Heating the Garage?

So you have size, climate, and heating source options; now, what else matters?

How you’ll use the space, of course.

For example, if you’re a woodworker, you need a steady temperature above 60 degrees to prevent glue joint failures. On the other hand, a mechanics’ shop can cool off overnight and then warm up.

Or, you’re looking to keep the temperature at 50 degrees for a warm car and to keep a garage fridge or freezer running.

With that in mind, before selecting a heater, you’ll want to consider the following:

Temporary heat or hold a steady temperature
Heating to 50 degrees vs. 70 degrees
Does the heater need to be portable?
Location and programming of the thermostat
Energy efficiency
Brand of the unit (e.g., Honeywell, Reznor, HotDogg)
And lastly, the location of the unit

With all these factors in hand, you’re ready to decide and warm your garage!

Beware of Dust and Flammable Fumes

If your workshop will be used for woodworking, you’ll need to factor in how the heater handles dust.

Many heaters, like mini-split systems, have sensitive filters that will easily clog. And some systems with open flames cannot be used in paint or finish environments.

Generally, a closed electric or gas system with proper venting is the best way to go if you are heating a workshop that produces hazardous dust or fumes. Not sure? Call in a professional.

Types of Garage Heaters

While this might seem obvious, the number one step in deciding the best way to heat a garage is whether you need occasional or constant heat.

If your needs are for weekend projects and you won’t need to bring the temperature up significantly, you can consider smaller plug-in heaters or stand-alone infrared units for small spaces.

But if you live in a cold climate, you’ll need a heater to hold the garage above freezing the entire winter. And then a heater big enough to raise the temperature quickly when you are working in it.

Garage Heaters For Occasional Use

See on Amazon: Briza Infrared Portable Heater

Almost all homeowners have a garage with paint, chemicals, and freezers or refrigerators that shouldn’t freeze.

And those living in a southern climate enjoy temperatures rarely dropping below 32 degrees for sustained periods. This makes an intermittent-use garage heater a great option to save energy.

So, consider a heater that isn’t hooked up to a thermostat when:

Your garage won’t freeze
You only need to warm the garage periodically
Temperature rise (difference between unheated and heated temp) is low. For example, an occasional use heater can take hours to take a space from 40 degrees to 72 degrees.

Garage Heaters For Continual use

See on Amazon: Mr. Heater 80,000 BTU Natural Gas

As you can guess, cold climates require larger heaters.

And if your garage needs to be kept above freezing, a regulated heater on a thermostat is necessary. But the good thing is these heaters can be set to a low temperature (say 45 degrees but follow manufacturer minimums). Best of all, you can set the temperature up before use for projects like woodworking or fixing the car.

You’ll find these heaters are generally:

Natural gas hung from the ceiling
Radiant heat affixed to the wall
Electric 240V for smaller garages

Note: most homeowners must use a professional. And, generally, purchase the heater through them for their warranty and insurance reasons.

Best Way to Heat a Garage

With variations in your workshop size, intended use, budget, desired “steady” temperature, and climate, no single heater works for everyone.

However, the following list is a comprehensive collection of the best way to heat a garage:

1. Electric Shop Heater for Small Shops

See on Amazon: DR. Infrared Heater

Overview

Are you looking for occasional heat for your garage and living in a warmer climate?

First, a great place to start is an electric heater to take the chill off a small workshop and keep the heat at a working temperature for your shop projects.

And, as a significant advantage to a gas garage heater, you will NOT need to vent an electric unit (that I have seen – follow all manufacturer guidelines).

Key features:

Ceiling mounted not to take up valuable wall or floor space
Direct wired (no extension cords!)
Available in sizes from 5000-7500W+
Quiet operation
Most units have a thermostat on the unit

When doesn’t this heater work? An electric garage heater is the BEST for small spaces based on unit size, energy cost, and climate. For larger areas, you’ll want to consider a more industrial unit.

120V Electric Heater vs. 240v Electric Heater

So you’ve heard about 120V and 240V heaters, but what’s the difference? For a heater, it is as simple as more power in the 240V.

And while you should hire an electrician for ALL wiring, you can learn more about the differences between 120V and 240V here.

Pros

Cons

2. Gas Garage Heater – Best Way To Heat A Large Garage

See on Amazon: Mr. Heater Big Maxx

Overview

You’ll want (need) to start with a vented gas garage heater for large spaces.

And, I have no regrets about going this route since I’ve used a 75000 BTU heater in my 1200 square foot garage with 12′ ceilings in a cold climate. Due to the design of a gas heater, they heat up fast and hold a temperature easily.

Key features:

Ceiling mounted with external venting
Direct wired and connected to a gas supply
Capable of heating a large space to a high temperature quickly and efficiently
Wall-mounted thermostats to control the temperature
Most units have a thermostat on the unit

If your space is for woodworking, this will ensure your table saws, workbenches, and other tools are warm and ready.

Pros

Cons

3. 120V Electric Infrared Heater For Small Spaces

See on Amazon: Heat Storm Infrared

Overview

There are a few options for heating that use a standard 120V outlet, but this unit is one of them.

Should you consider this for constant-duty heating in colder climates? Probably not.

But, if you live in a warmer climate and want to take the cold out of the garage for the weekend, this is worth looking at. Featuring a no-vent installation, the ability to set and forget temperature, and setup in minutes, this unit has many of the basics for low-cost heating.

Just don’t expect this to heat a large workshop. And don’t overload circuits by installing multiple units.

Pros

Cons

4. Vent-less Space Heater For Small Garages

See on Amazon: Rinnai Space Heater

Overview

After building two home workshops, I’ve had to cut two holes in garage walls to accommodate a vented garage heater.

But my shops are larger and in a (very) cold climate.

So how can I heat my garage without holes? Well, if your garage is in a moderate climate or smaller and you don’t want a hole in the wall, this unit is a must-see.

The only downside? You’ll need to supply it with either propane or LP.

Pros

Cons

5. Torpedo Heater For Fast Warm-ups

See on Amazon: Mr. Heater Portable

Overview

Growing up in a northern climate, I remember my dad’s torpedo heater well. On cold days in the workshop, this would occasionally appear to quickly warm the shop after extended periods of opening the shop doors.

And as a kerosene-powered unit, it blasted out a high volume of heat quickly.

Key features:

Doesn’t require any installation
Plug it into a wall outlet and a 20-gallon propane tank
Runs around 20 hours on a single tank

The biggest drawback? You won’t want to use this for continuous-duty heating (follow the manufacturer’s instructions!).

Pros

Cons

6. Best Way To Heat A Garage With No Installation: Portable Convection Garage Heater

See on Amazon: Dyna-Glo Kerosene Heater

Overview

First, convection heat works by heating the air around it and continuing to warm air gradually warms an entire room.

Similar to a torpedo heater but with no noise or air movement this installation-free heater will heat a small to medium sized garage at an affordable price.

The biggest downside? Storing and supplying this heater with kerosene.

Pros

Cons

7. Electric Shop Heater for Small Shops

No products found.

See on Amazon: No products found.

This 240V plug-in heater will heat a small garage with 4000 watts of power.

Overview

A compact wall garage heater is an option for a 1-2 stall garage in a warmer climate.

While this heater will still require a 240V connection to achieve the necessary heat, they are easy to use, simple to mount, and will take the chill off a cold workshop.

Pros

Cons

How to Heat Different Garage Types

Choosing a heater often involves deciding what type of garage you’re trying to heat.

For example, a detached garage will have different considerations due to location, availability of energy, and often differing construction quality (and efficiency).

However, an attached garage may require additional considerations for venting and controlling the temperature for doors that may open more frequently.

Best Way to Heat a Detached Garage

As you might guess, a detached garage has several shortcomings regarding heating options. For example, you’ll need to overcome likely:

Limited power supplies such as availability of natural gas or propane.
Insulation and construction quality are often less than home due to building codes
And lastly, if you’ll be heating and holding the temperature, or letting it cool and re-heat (time to heat)

With that in consideration, there are two options for heating a detached garage:

One of the best options is a 240V electric heater (or two) that leverages your existing electrical.
Or, if propane is an option, a gas heater with a propane conversion for more oversized garages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most efficient way to heat a garage?

Before choosing a heater, you must fully insulate your garage and garage doors. Without adequate insulation you’ll spend hundreds (or thousands) on lost heat. Next, based on your garage size and target temperature, you can just look for a heater that will run when needed. Gas heaters can be the most efficient way to heat because they can quickly heat a space and turn off the blower motors.

What type of heater is best for a garage?

The size of the garage often dictates the best heater. For single-car garages, a wall or ceiling-mounted garage is usually best. While for two or 3-stall garages, you’ll want to turn to gas (LP or propane) for sure-bet heating to higher temperatures. Are you building a new garage? Then I’d consider investing in radiant in-floor heating.

Should I heat my garage in the winter?

You should only heat your garage in winter if it’s necessary, of course. Reasons to heat a garage often include keeping an outdoor fridge or freezer above 45 degrees. Or, for hobbies like woodworking (my use), you NEED to heat it to keep glue and other cannot-freeze items above freezing.

How many BTU's does it take to heat a 2 car garage?

The minimum is generally 35,0000 BTUs in warmer climates, up to 70,000 in bitterly cold temperatures with tall ceiling spaces (remembering a 12′ ceiling can add 50% to your room over an 8′ top).

Summary

While there is no best way to heat a garage, there are types of heat that can go from heating a small garage in Florida to an oversized industrial garage in northern Minnesota. Just follow directions, use a professional for installation, and be responsible with the thermostat.

About the Author
Latest Posts

Eric Trion( Woodworker )

Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.