Best Budget Electric Garage Heater
Before we get started with our article detailing the best budget electric garage heater, we have included links in the for each product mentioned, so make sure you check those out to see which is in your budget range.
1. Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550
Starting off at number 1 we have Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550.
This compact heater can easily warm a 3-car garage without costing a fortune. Its powered exhaust is designed for either horizontal or vertical venting, and the included remote makes it easy to change your settings.
Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550
While fairly compact, it’s quite a beast as far as heat output is concerned. The 50,000 BTU Big Maxx is designed to run off of natural gas, you can use the accompanying liquid propane conversion kit to increase your options.
Note that the unit requires a minimum 8-foot ground clearance, but only one inch of ceiling clearance. The fact that the Big Max can heat up to 1,250 square feet makes it an excellent space heater for large room use. The unit can heat large spaces quickly and maintains good temperature stability in even uninsulated garages.
Unlike similar models, the Big Max is relatively quiet, adding yet another reason for it being the best natural gas garage heater in its class.
Several consumers have received this heater damaged due to packaging that could definitely be improved upon. In many cases, the damage was only been a few dings to the outer shell. However, in more extreme instances, the internals was affected, causing a normally quiet heater to vibrate or generate a lot of noise.
Excerpts from buyers’ reviews
- Vent pipe expensive cat 3
Heater works well, vent pipe kit on Amazon costs $285 with tax, this is not type b vent it is category III pipe, I found everything online for $185 but still very expensive to vent. - Good heater for the garage.
Works well. Fan turns on before the burner is even running for some reason but works fine. Keeps my garage warm and dry. Found venting items cheaper on Supplyhouse website. Definitely not for the inexperienced installer. - Works ok
Came broken and keeps breaking - Great unit
Keep my 750sqft garage nice and toasty. I did hook the t-stat up wrong and blew the arc fuse inside. The directions dont say anything about the fuse so I did a little snooping and discovered there is a ATC fuse (standard automotive fuse )on the control board and replaced it the unit works great… - Works great.
This is are 2nd one we bought. Really good luck with them.
2. Fahrenheat FUH724 240V Garage Heater
At number 2 we have the Fahrenheat FUH724 240V Garage Heater.
This 7,500 watt, 240V ceiling-mounted electric heater is designed to allow angling over a 90-degree arc between vertical and horizontal.
Fahrenheat FUH724 240V Garage Heater
A durable epoxy coating helps protect the cabinet from corrosion. In the event of overheating, the Fahrenheat FUH724 is designed to automatically shut off for improved safety until its internal temperature returns to normal levels.
Designed to handle smaller one or two bay insulated garages (up to about 750 square feet), this unit puts out over 25,000 BTUs of heat and can quickly bring up the temperature of a medium-size garage to comfortable working conditions.
The small size might make it seem like a poor choice, but the internal thermostat maintains the temperature you set with ease, making it highly efficient compared to many larger models.
There have been some concerns over the wiring in some units. Some users have reported bad wires upon delivery, while others have reported experiencing electrical arcs. As these issues aren’t very common, it could have been a matter of defective units slipping through QC.
Excerpts from buyers’ reviews
- Worked Great 2 years after Electrician Install then replaced wires, works again.
I am a little mixed on this. It did a terrific job putting our 50’ x 20’ and 23’ high Motorhome garage with blown insulation in shirt sleeve weather for winter. It kept me from having to winterize the motor home and allowed 4 season use. We usually kept it set to 40 degrees minimum and bump it up to 65 when I am working inside. One day our electronic temperature sensors alarmed it was 39 degrees. The unit had power, no fault lights but the fan would not run and it would not heat. With a quick call to the manufacturer they diagnosed the problem and the next day 4 easy slide on replacement wires arrived. The old wire ends were brittle oxidized and almost looked aluminum compared to the thick insulated copper replacement wires I received. No other parts or wires looked fatigued or heat stressed. It is back to working like a champ. I will keep an eye on it. Hopefully many years of trouble free service from it. It really works well for us. - Trash
As others have stated, after less than a year of marginal use, my heater also decided to light up like a Christmas tree / burn up inside and with that I have removed the faulty heater and decided to move onto another heater. - Almost great
Love everything about it except the fan could be powerful, does throw much air out for any distance. Also, it completely resets if power has an outage. So if the electricity goes out it won’t return back to where it was. It will need powered back on and temperature reset. But it heats my 24X34 garage well. - Beware burning wires
I bought this on Amazon October of 2018. I have had issues with wires burning at the connectors twice now. The first time it happened, I replaced or tightened every connection – more than a couple were loose and had burned. Recently it happened again. The wiring is not up to the task! - Wiring issues – Caution
While I’ve used a similar unit, a 5,000 watt heater, by the same manufacturer for 3 winters in a shop space without problems, this 7,500 watt unit has reoccurring serious wiring issues. Blown and burnt connectors within the unit. Wiring repairs were made by a professional electrician; installed new wire end connections. After repairs, the unit failed again in a similar manner within weeks. I will no longer use the unit as I believe it presents a fire hazard. Used unit one partial winter season in the fully insulated garage, then unit was deemed unusable. Essentially, lasted 3 months. I would avoid this unit.
3. Fahrenheat FUH54 Electric Garage Heater
At number 3 we have the Fahrenheat FUH54 Electric Garage Heater.
The little brother of the FUH724, this 240-volt electric heater uses between 2500 and 5000 watts to put out about 17,000 BTUs of heat. Its single pole thermostat can be adjusted from 45-135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550
The louvers on the FUH54 allow you to direct the flow of heat, while the ceiling mount makes horizontal or vertical mounting a snap. This Fahrenheat model covers up to 500 sq. ft. and is popular for those with smaller garages or if only needing to heat up a section of a garage. While it will eventually heat a larger area, it won’t be as efficient at that as a larger model.
The blower on the fan only starts once it reaches the desired temperature. This function not only saves money, but the lower running temperatures make it an incredibly safe garage heater that won’t burn out any time soon.
Some users have reported vibrations or rattling coming from the unit. In many cases, the boxes appeared to have either broken open during transit or were repackages, suggesting that these customers have received refurbished units.
Note also that this unit was designed to be hardwired, so it lacks some features typical of plug-and-play models.
Excerpts from buyers’ reviews
- easy control heater
works great in garage. - Works as advertised
Heats up my 650 square foot garage, just fine. - Great for a 2 car garage
Keeps the temp at 50 here in Idaho where it can drop below 0. Easy to install. Very satisfied with this product!! - Great garage heater!
I installed this in my two car garage in NJ and it works great. Easy to install. I originally considered a gas heater, but this is a great alternative (and easier than running gas lines). Warms up the garage pretty quickly and turns on and off to keep it at a steady temp. Nice compact size, installed the bottom is only 15″ down off the ceiling. As others mentioned, the built in thermostat doesn’t have temperatures on it but its easy enough to find a mark that keeps it comfortable. I find its just as easy to turn it on from the built in knob, wasn’t worth it for me to run a remote thermostat (even though it has the diagram in it). Highly recommended!!! - Nice job!
My shop is 900 sq feet and the old heater finally just died. This smaller surface electric heater dose a very nice job here in Montana. I was able to remove the old Honeywell thermostat from the wall. I replaced it with a exterior/interior temperature gauge so I could follow the difference. This heater dose a fine job heating my area, just takes an hour or so to preheat before I can start my project. The thermostat mounted on the heater is all I need to regulate temps. Easy mount and fairly quiet.
4. Dyna-Glo Delux RMC-FA60DGD
At number 4 we have the Dyna-Glo Delux RMC-FA60DGD.
This powerful forced-air unit is arguably the best propane heater for a garage or workshop in its class.
The most popular selling model puts out between 30,000 and 60,000 BTUs of continuous heat, you can keep a 1,350 square foot shop or garage toasty warm. Larger versions (up to 300,000 BTUs!) are also available for large garages or commercial applications.
Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550
A 10-foot hose and regulator are included, while the unit is designed to keep a very low psi for optimum BTU output in even frigid weather.
Safety isn’t overlooked, and this unit has an auto-shutoff to prevent overheating. For such a small unit, this heater can really pack a punch!
Its size and portable nature make it the perfect choice for a wide range of environments. It’s one of the best indoor heaters for large rooms, but can also be used to heat a structure when vacationing in a small cabin or similar rustic facility.
Quality control is the biggest issue with this heater. While the vast majority function without a hitch, the odd defect can slip through, such as a faulty thermocouple. As with any tool or device, always be sure to test the unit upon arrival to ensure you didn’t get a flawed one.
Excerpts from buyers’ reviews
- Awesome
Little noisy, but work wonders! - Great for home garage gym
I bought this after a neighbor let me borrow his for our garage gym. I wake up and turn the heater on high. After about 30 min on high the garage is nice and toasty. It is a little loud on high so I turn it down while working out. It would be nice if you could turn the unit off without unplugging it. Overall it’s great. - Great buy
Great heater. This one is much better than my older Dayton. Super easy to light and seems to be way more efficient. The flame even looks better than the Dayton. - Works!
I use it in my garage when working. Plenty of heat. Plenty! However, be sure you leave a couple feet between door bottom and the surface. - GOOD ITEM WORKS AS NEEDED
ALL IN ALL GOOD FOR MONEY, ONLY ISSUE IS THE AMOUNT OF NOISE
5. Dr. Heater DR966 Infrared Shop Heater
And at number 5 we have the Dr. Heater DR966 Infrared Shop Heater.
This hardwired 240-volt heater is perfect for a garage-based workshop and is designed to be mounted on either the wall or ceiling.
An 8-inch fan distributes heated air with minimum noise, while the five adjustable louvers let you focus that air where it’s needed most.
Mr. Heater Big Maxx F260550
Once installed, this unit and its 20,500 BTUs can quickly warm up a room to the point you can dress for summer while working in the garage. Its two heat settings are enough to cover most garages (up to 600 sq. ft.), and the low setting will work fine for all but the largest spaces. Also, note that you can save money by setting the unit up to focus air on a specific workspace, allowing you to be nice and warm even if you kept the unit off when not present.
Many of the complaints regarding this model seem to stem from a single internal wire. When this wire is loose, it has a major effect on the amount of heat produced by the unit but is very easy to repair. In the event you notice poor heat production in your post-purchase testing, check for this loose wire before sending in for a replacement.
Excerpts from buyers’ reviews
- Not this one.
Wiring diagrams on description don’t match paper installation diagrams. Electrician back ground so a little too dangerous for me. - Great heater
Works great heats up my gym and keeps it dry - Great for garage
I now owned this heater for several winter months and find it to perform excellent for my 500 sq ft insulated garage. If you don’t mind the electric cost this is an excellent device. I have the heater set to the highest setting and it rarely turns on when the thermostat is at lowest setting when outside temp is 30 degrees. I keep the garage at 40 degrees (above freezing). The blower is excellent in strength and noise is lower than I expected. The only problem is the additional thermostat (DR-001). It tends to not shut off in the off position. But the heater is a good buy. - Heater
My garage only needed a boost. Works great tho. - Heats up fast
I put this in my 30×30 shop to replace and older 5000 watt heater which due to a slow fan never quite did the job – this one has a powerful fan which scatters the 6000 watt heat and 3000 much more efficiently and quicker. Very glad I bought it.
5 Best Budget Electric Garage Heater 2022
So that sums up the top electric garage heaters. We hope you enjoyed. Until next time have a great day.
