Trying to warm up homes, people often forget about their garages. And it can be challenging to keep a place that remains cold for months in a functioning state. However, the electric garage heater can help you solve this problem.
Low temperature greatly influences both the garage space and your vehicle. This especially affects the people who use their garages as a workspace, fix their car by themselves, have a drum kit installed there, etc. And of course, a drop in temperature can be a problem for your car if you do not drive it every day. This way, cold weather quickly turns your garage in an uncomfortable place and makes you puzzle over what measures to take to fix it. That is why many people use electric garage heaters to prevent their garages from freezing and temperature fluctuations.
The electric heater is the most common, cheap option which is also quite economical to run daily. They frequently use an intelligent programming system with an accurate thermostat. The electric heaters also don’t require gas lines or flues, so they won’t take an excessive place in your garage and can be located in places where it’s impossible to place a combustion-powered heater.
Fortunately, the range of electric heaters for garage offered on the modern market is wide enough to choose a unit for different needs. You can whether invest in a heavy-duty multifunctional heater that for your home workshop or buy a simple model for a bare minimum.
The purchase of an electric garage heater for a long term benefit requires some time and research. That is why our article will be helpful for those searching for a reliable heating device. Check out our top 10 picks and make a deliberate decision basing on their features, pros and cons. For newbies, our buyer’s guide contains some additional information on how to choose the right heater for your individual needs.
Electric Garage Heater Reviews
Lasko 754200 – Best Electric Garage Heater Overall
The Lasko 754200 is a convection heater. This model can be the best electric garage heater with 1500W of power in terms of portability as it measures 6 x 3.7 x 9.2 inches and weighs only 3.16 pounds. It also comes with a large 3-year warranty.
Despite the fact that a heater looks very small, it’s supplied with a fan that spreads warm air.
Plus, there is also a metal grill which gets very hot for a short amount of time. This way, the heater warms up small areas impressively quickly. You can heat up the whole garage by moving the unit from one corner to other.
The unit features silver color design and requires a standard 120V power source. The panel with two dial controls is located on top of the heater. There is also a red lamp indicating the on/off status.
There are three main heat settings: fan only, low heat, and high heat. Additionally, thanks to an adjustable thermostat, the 754200 can possibly be the best 120V electric garage heater in terms of control precision. It allows setting the heat level to 11 different positions.
There is also an overheat protection which means that it can be turned on for an extended amount of time without the risk of overheating. Besides, it also features a cool-touch exterior and remains cool even at the highest temperatures.
The Lasko 754200 ceramic heater is also supplied with a convenient carrying handle so you can easily carry it from place to place.
Pros
- The unit comes fully assembled and is ready for work right out of the box.
- It works quietly in all three settings.
- The 754200 is ETL listed which means that it meets all the North American safety standards.
Cons
- There is no tip-over protection.
- It lacks the power to move the warm air much.
- It’s not an energy-efficient model.
Lasko T42954
The Lasko T42954 is a tower fan heater that uses widespread oscillation. This model is very tall (42 inches), so it blows a lot of pleasant warm air which is enough to quickly heat up medium-sized spaces.
It comes with a remote control with on-board storage that includes five control buttons (Power, Speed, OSC, Timer, and Night).
This 120V electric garage heater features three speed settings: Low, Medium, and High (L/M/H). It works quietly at M and L settings but gets a bit noisy at H setting.
The auto shut off timer allows setting the T42954 to work from half an hour to 7.5 hours. There is also a nighttime setting that automatically sets the heater to work at H setting for one hour, then for one hour at M, and then it stays on L until you turn it off.
On the very top, this device has five control buttons and a small display which shows timer and heat settings. The unit weighs almost 12 pounds but features a convenient carrying handle. The T42954 has a small footprint of 13 x 13 inches, so despite being tall, it doesn’t take too much space.
Pros
- Despite the fact that the heater is quite tall, it’s very easy to assemble.
- The Nighttime mode automatically dims the display not to disturb sleep.
- Thanks to Blue Plug safety fuse technology, the heater automatically cuts off electric current to itself if it detects any potentially hazardous electrical faults.
Cons
- It doesn’t provide too much heat at the highest setting.
- Due to its slim design, the heater is not stable.
Lasko 751320
The Lasko 751320 is a ceramic tower space heater with a self-regulating ceramic element, remote control, programmable thermostat, timer, and low/high heat settings. It uses widespread oscillation with wide range which efficiently adds heat to large spaces, moving the hot air around.
On the top panel, you will find LED indicators and control buttons. The LED indicators allow seeing timer and temperature settings. The Timer button lets you set the heater to work for 1, 2, or 4 hours straight. With the Thermostat button, you can set the temperature. If you press the OSC button, the heater will start distributing the hot air throughout the garage.
The provided remote control has six buttons to control oscillation or timer, high/low heat setting, up/down temperature control, and power on/off.
The automatic overheat protection automatically turns the device off if left running for too long.
The Lasko 751320 ceramic tower heater with remote control is rated at 120V, provides 1500W of power, measures 7.4 x 8.7 x 23.5 inches, and weighs 7.45 pounds. The rear side of the unit has a convenient carrying handle.
Pros
- Cool screens and grids protect the heating elements.
- It’s supplied with tip-over protection.
- The 751320 continues giving out heat for some time after turning off.
Cons
- When you turn the heater on, it’s always in a high heat setting.
- It has a plastic grill that starts producing a bad smell when the heater is on for several hours.
Lasko 755320
The Lasko 755320 is a tower heater supplied with a powerful fan that is able to blow out a great amount of heat. At the highest setting, the heater can heat up a spacious garage.
that features three temperature settings: high, low, and auto. It comes equipped with a 1500W elongated heating element and penetrating air velocity. Thanks to widespread oscillation, this warmer can spread heat throughout your garage. The 755320 has a cool-touch exterior and an overheat protection to provide safety.
The top panel contains a large, easy-to-read digital display that shows temperature, timer, and heat settings. There are buttons to set the timer from 1 to 8 hours, choose heat setting, raise or lower the temperature (in Fahrenheit or Celsius), and activate the oscillation function. The included multifunctional remote control is tiny but has the same control buttons as those on the heater.
The Lasko 755320 ceramic tower heater with digital display and remote control measures 8.5 x 7.25 x 23 inches so it can fit into tight spaces like corners and won’t take too much place in your garage. It weighs only 8 pounds and can be easily moved from place to place thanks to a convenient built-in carrying handle located on the rear side.
Pros
- The base of the unit is made of a non-skid material which ensures stability when it placed on hardwood floors.
- The auto setting constantly keeps an installed temperature.
- The fiberglass construction ensures the heater’s longevity.
Cons
- The heater beeps loudly every time you change the settings.
- The display is very bright which may be a problem at night.
Dr Infrared DR968
The DR968 is a portable 1500W infrared heater rated at 240V. Thanks to dual heating systems with an infrared quartz tube, it can heat a large space. Besides, thanks to the infrared technology, the heater doesn’t dry out the air.
This way, it can be the best 240V electric garage heater for you if you need to warm up a large-sized garage. The unit measures 13 x 11 x 16 inches.
The informative digital display is located in the very center of the unit and shows temperature and heat settings. Near the display, you will find such control buttons as power, standby, two buttons to raise and lower the temperature, and a mode setting button. The programmable timer can be set up to 12 hours. The DR968 has three heat settings: low, high, and auto.
The heater also comes with a remote control that includes buttons to turn the unit on/off, control the temperature, and set the heat mode.
In terms of safety features, the Dr. Infrared heater DR968 can offer a tip-over and overheat protection. It also has a cool-touch wood-like casing. Besides, it’s UL certified in the USA and Canada.
Pros
- The unit uses the high-pressure low-noise blower instead of a fan, so it has 39 dB of max noise level which makes it a very quiet model.
- It stands on caster wheels to easily move the heater around.
- The unit is equipped with a removable filter that is easy to clean and replace.
Cons
- The thermostat is not truly accurate.
- With 19 pounds of weight, the heater is really heavy to carry.
Lasko 100 MyHeat
This model from Lasko is a portable electric garage heater that uses only 200W of power, so it’s one of the most economical models on the market. Lasko 100 MyHeat has a glossy finish and is available in four colors: black, purple, white, and blue. The unit heats up the immediate surroundings to approximately 2 feet.
Note that this ceramic heater is designed to warm up you, not space. It’s only 6 inches tall and has a small 4 x 4 inches footprint. This way, you can place it on your working table or use it to warm up your legs, for example. Besides, it’s almost silent and won’t disturb you while you are working in your garage. Equipped with a standard 120V power outlet, it’s also endowed with automatic overheat protection and its housing always stays cool to the touch thanks to self-regulating heating element so you shouldn’t worry about safety.
The heater doesn’t come with a remote control and only has a power on/off switch on its casing. The switch also lights up with red when the unit is turned on.
Pros
- Thanks to extremely low power consumption, it excludes circuit breaker tripping.
- The heater has a powerful fan in the center which quickly spreads the warm air.
- It weighs only one pound.
Cons
- There is no tip-over protection.
- Its glossy housing quickly collects dust and requires frequent cleaning.
GiveBest PCT-905
The PCT-905 from GiveBest is a 120V electric garage heater with thermostat and PTC ceramic heating element which allows heating the area of 200 sq. ft in less than a minute. It’s available in black and silver colors.
The unit measures 6.2 x 7 x 9.2 inches and weighs 3.2 pounds. Thanks to the large handle on the unit’s top, it’s convenient to lift it up and move around. It pauses when you lift it up and resumes heating when you plop it down. There is also an indicator light which glows red when the warmer is on.
Despite the fact that the unit seems to be too small to be able to crank a lot of heat, it has a truly decent heat output, giving out an impressive amount of hot air.
There are two controls on top of the unit. The first one is a high/low control which is also used to turn the unit on. The other control works to set the heater to works at 1500W, 750W, or turn on the fan mode. The adjustable thermostat allows setting the temperature up to 158℉. The heater automatically shuts off when it’s overheated or tipped forward or backward.
Pros
- The PCT-905 is made of a flame retardant material so there is a minimal fire risk.
- The unit blows cool air in the fan mode, so you can use it in your garage in summer.
Cons
- It has a plastic smell in the first hours of usage.
- The heater has quite an average built quality that does not seem durable.
Lasko 4900
The Lasko 4900 is a 120V electric garage heater that features a pivoting blower design. It’s equipped with a large carrying handle located on its top so the unit can be carried around easily. The device is 14.47 x 11.25 x 14.59 inches and weighs 10 pounds. This way, it’s a bit heavy but built very solidly.
Note that this model moves a lot of air and won’t be suitable for you need just a light breeze.
The dial offers to switch between three high-velocity speeds (Low, Medium, and High). The highest setting provides a cooling breeze that can be used to cool down the space in your garage on a hot day, for ventilation, or even as a dryer which makes it a great and universal unit for DIY projects. Near the switch, you will find two built-in 120V accessory outlets which you can use to power tools or charge your phone instead of using an extension cord.
Pros
- The heater comes with a heavy-duty 10-foot power cord and grounded plug.
- It stands on well-spread elastic feet which make sure that the unit is really hard to knock over.
- A wide pivot angle enables you to direct an air produced by the heater exactly where you need it.
Cons
- There are only three screws holding the heater to the housing which don’t seem reliable.
- This model is pretty loud.
PELONIS Electric NY1507-14A
The PELONIS NY1507-14A is an oil-filled 1500W electric heater for garage with three heat settings (900W, 1500W, and ECO) and five temperature settings (from 65°F to 85°F).
It works by warming up the oil inside which stays warm for some time after you turn the unit off. Thanks to that, you can significantly save on the electricity bills.
The LCD display shows a timer that can be set from 1 to 10 hours, temperature, and heat settings. There are five onboard controls: power on/off, two buttons to lower, or raise the temperature, mode, and timer buttons. The heater comes with a remote control which includes the same five control buttons. There is also a power indicator that shows when the unit is on.
The safety protection ensures that the heater always stays cool to touch and will automatically switch off when overheating or tipping over.
Measuring 13.78 x 11.02 x 25.19 inches, the unit provides multidimensional heating. Weighing 16 pounds, it’s definitely heavy, but four swivel caster wheels which rotate at 360° provide easier portability.
Pros
- As an oil-filled heater, the NY1507-14A is almost silent. The only noise you may hear is a click of the thermostat.
- It’s a great choice for people who suffer from airborne allergies as it doesn’t have a fan so it doesn’t move the air.
- There is a hook on the unit’s side which serves as a power cord storage.
Cons
- It takes a lot of time to warm up the space.
- The handle is awkwardly positioned near the display and isn’t convenient.
TRUSTECH PTC903
The PTC903 is a garage electric heater that uses PTC ceramic heating technology with three heat settings (1500W, 750W, and Fan). It’s a lightweight (3 pounds) and portable model (7.1 x 6.3 x 9.1 inches) designed to warm up small spaces. Thanks to a modest size, this heater doesn’t produce too much noise.
The heater pushes out a decent amount of hot air which is impressive as for its modest dimensions. Thanks to fan inside, it quickly spreads the warmth throughout the space.
Two control dials to turn it on/off and set the mode are located on top of the heater along with a carrying handle. There is overheat protection which means that the unit’s housing cools down quickly. Thanks to tip-over protection, the heating element turns off automatically if you accidentally knock the heater over.
Pros
- The heater warms up the air around within a few seconds.
- The Fan mode spreads natural warm wind.
- Thanks to PTC technology, the warmer doesn’t generate heat at a constant rate which ensures more safety.
Cons
- It can be placed only on a perfectly flat hard floor.
- The range of operation is limited to only three settings.
Buyers Guide
How to Choose the Best Electric Heater
It’s not easy to define what is the best electric heater for a garage as they differ greatly. For example, the infrared models are used for large, difficult-to-heat places and even in the open air. They are immune to the natural circulation of air. Just like the sun warms the earth, the infrared heaters warm objects and people directly, not the air around them.
The fan heaters offer the fastest way to warm a small space. They blow air through the heated element and then spread a warm air in the room. The standard ones use a metal element to generate heat. The others are known as ceramic heaters and are more efficient since they transform energy into heat more quickly than those that use metal element. Plus, they can give out the same amount of warmth at a lower power rating, being more cost-effective.
The convector heaters use an electrical element to generate the heat: the air rises up and then moves outwards into the room. They work almost silently and warm up the space pretty quickly.
The oil heaters use convection to heat the oil inside them. They are among the most expensive ones but retain heat for a long time, so use less electricity. However, they take long to warm up and are usually large in size so they aren’t able to offer portability.
If you want to keep a certain temperature in the garage, you should opt for a heater with an adjustable thermostat. Such a solution will also be economical, as you will be able to set warmer or cooler temperature depending on conditions and your needs.
What Size Electric Garage Heater Do I Need?
The most common and the easiest way to find out the heater of what size do you need is to follow the rule of 10 watts per square foot of floor space. For example, a 32 ft. x 34 ft. garage has 1,088 square feet, so to find out the needed wattage you have to multiply it by 10: 1,088 x 10 = 10,880. This way, for such a garage you will need a unit with approximately 10,000W of power.
If you need a more accurate measurement, there is another way to calculate the required wattage which is also more complicated. Firstly, find out the amount of air in your garage: if our hypothetical 32 ft. x 34 ft. garage has the ceiling of 10 feet, you need to multiply 1,088 by 10, and you will get 10,880 cubic feet of air. If you have good insulation in your garage, you need to multiply 0.5 ( if average — 1, bad — 1.5, no insulation — 5) by both the cubic feet and the amount of temperature rise you need (we will take 30°F), and then divide it by 1.6. For example: 0.5 x 10,880 x 30 / 1.6 = 102,000. To turn it into watts, you need to divide this number to 3.41: 102,000 / 3.41 is approximately 29,912W.
Since it’s unlikely to get a heater rated for 29,912W, you will need several electric heaters to achieve the temperature you need.
Garage Heater’s Safety Features
The presence of vehicle/s in the garage makes it an especially dangerous space for placing an electric heater. And even the best electric garage heater won’t guarantee you safety if you won’t be following some rules:
- Don’t forget about ventilation
The ventilation is important to keep your garage space safe. It needs to be ventilated to prevent build-ups of dangerous fumes emitted by the heater. - Don’t use extension cords
It’s highly recommendable to plug anelectric heater directly into an outlet. The usage of an extension cord increases risks of overheating, fires, etc. You also should ensure that the outlet is properly grounded. - Ensure safe placement
Position the unit on a hard, stable surface. If you place the warmer near your working area, make sure that there is no risk of bumps, falls, etc. Otherwise, you can get burns or electric shock. You also shouldn’t place it to close to easily flammable objects (paper, fabrics, wood chips, flammable liquids, etc.). - Don’t leave the heater running when you are gone
Even if you are planning to leave for a short while, don’t forget to turn the heater off and unplug it. - Don’t block any vents on the heater’s body
This can result in malfunctions and fires. - Don’t ignore any signs of damaging on the unit
If you have noticed any damages on the heater’s wiring or body, contact a certified electrician. Any attempts to repair it by yourself can lead to injury or cause a malfunction in the electrical system of your home.