Top 5 Best Garage and Shed Heaters
The garage or shed is used for many things apart from storing your car. For some, the garage is their workspace or office. To make sure that you are not working in freezing conditions, a dependable heater is needed. Garage heaters can be found in most DIY stores and inline stores such as Amazon and in huge numbers which is where the problems lies. Finding the best garage heater may seem daunting at first but once you understand what to look for, the process is simplified.
We spent hours scouring the internet and local DIY stores and going through varied product details and online reviews. From our research, we shortlisted five garage heaters that may be some of the best models currently available. We compiled detailed reviews and a buying guide to help you find the best heater to keep your garage or shed to a comfortable temperature. By the end of this review, you would have found a model that matches your needs.
Our top recommendation is the Marko 3Kw Thermostat Controlled Industrial Space Heater. This an affordable electric heater that offers 3000W of power, more than any other electric model are most are around 2000W. Variable heat settings will ensure you only get as much heat as you want and maintaining that temperature, while its waterproof IP44 rating plus CE and RoHS compliance means this garage heater is safe and reliable for extra peace of mind.
BEST PICK
This powerful 3000W model offers 3 heat settings and a self-resetting thermostat for heat regulation. Being that it is an electric model, this heater is far more convenient than its gas counterparts. Additionally, the quality of the features offered match the price asked for this heater which means it offers excellent value for money. If you need a reliable and powerful electric heater, this would easily heat large garage or shed with ease.
Mini Buyers Guide
Before any purchase, one has to sit down and make all the considerations needed. When it comes to heaters, you have to think about the size of the area to be heated. Also consider insulating your garage as this can make a big difference.
Small areas don’t require much energy to heat up and therefore, the heaters don’t have to be big and powerful. Furthermore, one has to think of the power source that will be used to heat up the space.
Do you prefer electric or gas? Electric heaters are easier to use with no maintenance while gas garage heaters will heat an area up much faster but can sometimes it get to warm and most don't have thermostats to regulate the temperature. Then comes considerations such as the safety features provided and the waterproof rating of the product. All these considerations are explained further in the buying guide.
RUNNER-UP
This gas-powered space heater as they are commonly referred to offers a large energy output that is able to heat areas up to 200m2so is perfect for larger garages and sheds. Additionally it comes with a regulator and a hosepipe so that it can be used right off the delivery box assuming you have a gas bottle handy. The 10kW model features a fan that helps disperse the heat fast ensuring that there are no cold spots in the room. When they say you get what you pay for, this model embodies that statement to the fullest. This is about as small as space heaters come but they are perfect for warming up larger spaces quickly.
Top 5 Garage and Shed Heater Reviews
BEST PICK
Marko 3000W Electric Space Heater With Thermostat Controller
Pros
The Marko 3Kw Industrial Space Heater is a heavy-duty model that can be used to heat up your garage or shed. The portable heater features three power settings from 30W where it’s the fan moving only which is great for using in the summer and then the 1500W, perfect for heating up smaller spaces and then theres 3000W setting for heating up larger spaces. Depending on the surrounding temperatures and the size of the area you want to heat, you can select which power setting suits you best.
Ideal for different work environments like workshops and garages, this model comes with a thermostat to help regulate the temperature. The self-resetting thermostat prevents overheating but also helps keep the room at a more consistant temperature. Regulating between 0-40 degrees Celsius, the thermostat is a convenient feature. The problem with models that you can only turn on and off, the room can become to warm and then you have to turn it off, the room then cools and you have to turn it back on. If you have a thermostat the heater does this on its own.
RoHS Compliant and CE certified this portable heater comes with a waterproof rating of IPX4 which basically means its splash proof which is perfect if you use it on different sites where it may get exposed to the rain for a while while passing from your van to your job. Measuring 36cm x 43.5cm x 39cm its fairly compact and easy to store away, it's also very light weight at around 6kg and comes with a stainless steel heating element that is durable and will provide optimal performance at all times.
This heater comes with an ergonomic handle and a stable base to keep the model from tilting over. For an electric heater, it's about as good as they come for a model that can be plugged into a standard plug socket, at 3Kw its perfect for garages and sheds, most other electric models are usually around 2Kw. If you have a garage or shed you want to warm to a comfortable temperature and you want an electric heater for ease of use, then this model ticks all the boxes and is well worth considering. If you want something that will give out more heat, then unfortunately i don't think an electric model would be up to the task, with this in mind, gas is going to be the only model that can achieve this.
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RUNNER-UP
Garden Mile 10Kw Industrial Gas Space Heater With Electric Fan Assisted
Pros
The Garden Mile 10Kw Industrial Gas Space Heater is designed to work in both open and semi-open spaces providing adequate heat. The gas model comes with its own regulator and 1.5m hose pipe to make connection to a propane gas or LPG gas easy. All you need is a gas bottle, we got ours from B&B but most petrol stations and garages sell them, you can even get gas bottles delivered which may be handy.
Back to the heater itself, it has a power rating of 10000W which means it can produce 320m³ / h of air output which means it can quickly heat a large room with ease. To give you an idea, it can heat up areas of 200m2 with ease leaving no cold pockets of air. Being that it is fan assisted, the heater is also able to heat up areas within a matter of minutes but remember you still need to plug it into a plug socket to power the fan.
Safety is important, specially with gas models and that is why this heater comes CE and RoHS certified. Additionally, there are safety instructions provided that are meant to facilitate the safe use of the gas heater. Basically don't put it near anything flammable and make sure the room is well ventilated.
Consuming 0.73kg per hour of fuel, this model is economical and will not cost much to run when consider how much space it will heat. The handle and the stable base make it easy to move or position the model on a stable surface.
Overall its certainly one of the best gas models and the best choice for larger garages or sheds. The only downside is that it has no thermostat so if it gets to warm, you have to turn it off manually and switch it on again when the room cools. With very large rooms you may not need to turn it off but with smaller rooms, this can become a problem as the room can get very warm very quickly.
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Honeywell 2.5Kw Heavy-Duty Electric Heater
Pros
The Honeywell 2.5Kw Heavy Duty Electric Heater is a slightly smaller model than our best pick at 2.5kw but it has all the same features including a metal casing design for durability. This model is able to warm sheds and garages up to 30m2 and would even make a good greenhouse heater. This model comes with a frost watch function that allows the heater to automatically come on once the room temperature drops under 5°C. This is perfect if you want to keep a garage or shed frost free in situations where you might have water pipes or temperature sensitive items or products for example.
Additionally, it comes with overheat protection to avoid damage to the electrical system. The tip-over protection mechanism stops the heater from working should it accidentally gets knocked over, which in turn prevents fires and other accidents.
On this Honeywell models there are three power settings available one being the fan running independently, perfect for summer when it gets warmer and the other two settings for increasing heat when its gets colder.
This model is accompanied by a 3 year warranty which is longer than most other models. We would be recommended this as a good alternative to our best pick to heat up smaller spaces or those who have a need for the frost watch setting.
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Sealey LP14 Propane Gas Heater
Pros
The Sealey LP14 Propane Gas Heater is a simple heater which is perfect for heating garage or even small workshops. This heater uses around 10250 to 15354 BTU/hr depending on how to adjust the heat settings. The heater is mounted on the stainless steel stand for stability which incorporates a handle to make moving the heater possible.
It is supplied with a 1.5 meter hose and a gas regulator therefore, the only thing you need to get is the gas tank and you are set to go. At 2.86kg, this heater is pretty lightweight to ensure hassle-free handling too which means its also super portable and easy to store.
This model is probably commonly used with propane gas but if you want to use butane gas you will have to change the regulator first.
To give an idea of running cost and gas consumption, on full it uses around 0.3kg per hour so a 13Kg calor propane bottle will last around 39 hours or 80 hours on low from a 13KG bottle. If you plan on using it a lot, we would recommend switching the hose for a 4 meter hose, plenty available on Amazon or eBay and running it on a 47 Kg bottle for 141 hours reducing hourly running cost to around 0.33p per hour or 0.06p per kw per hour, this would make it very cost effective compared to electric. However you don't have thermostat and you do have the hassle of a gas bottle.
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Ecoheater 3ft Eco Electric Tube Heater (135W)
Pros
The Ecoheater HHT310 Slimline Heater saves you money by heating your space effectively. The 120W tube heater helps in preventing dampness and condensation around the room. It won't keep a room warm like the other heaters in this reviews but if you want to avoid freezing pipes or keep a room above freezing this is perfect and the most cost affective way to do it.
The easy-to-clean seamless tube has a waterproof rating of IP44 to prevent any water damage to the electrical components of the unit which makes it excellent for heating greenhouses too. It also comes with a thermostat that will switch off the heating element once the desired temperatures are achieved and then when it drops below a certain temperature it will come on again.
Available in different sizes from 50cm to 100cm but most people thinking of using it in a small shed or garage will probably need the larger size. These tubular heaters all provide different power outputs. Whether you decide to mount in on the wall or on the floor, you will find the appropriate mounting brackets provided. We would recommend this simplistic heater for those who require a little heating to keep the room frost free, whether for a small garage or shed.
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Garage and Shed Heater Buyers Guide
How to choose the best garage heater
There are various types of heaters available in the market and garage heaters happen to be a bit more powerful than their other counterparts usually used inside the home. Because they have to heat larger spaces/semi-open spaces which are usually not quite as well insulated, they are more adaptable to work situations. To find the best heater for garage, sheds and workshops, these are some of the factors you need to consider:
Power options
Garage heaters as we said before come in different types and they all have different power output depending on your requirements.
Electric heaters usually require the fans to help distribute heat throughout the space from the heating element. These popular heaters come with varied power outputs so depending on the space being heated choose a model that will meet the heat requirements needed.
Gas heaters are the more powerful heaters but should not be used in closed spaces due to their emissions. These heaters are popular for garages and workshops as they supply a steady stream of heat. Depending on your area of residence gas prices may be cheap and therefore, these types of models are economical to run.
Area of coverage
How large is your garage? Knowing the amount of space to be covered allows you to buy a heater that is able to heat up the area effectively. Large areas need heaters with large power outputs or you can purchase more than one heater to keep the space warm. Smaller areas don’t require much power and thus should be easy to meet the required heat levels.
Waterproofness
Electrical devices do not mix well when exposed to high levels of moisture. That is why these heaters come protected from moisture damage by offering waterproof protection. You can see these ratings specified by the manufactures. A higher IP rating means the level of protection is higher. For example, a product with an IP65 rating is stronger than a product that has an IP44 rating. IP44 is usually the rating garage heaters are manufactured to which means they are splash and moisture proof.
Heat settings
Many of the models in the market offer some form of heat regulation. You can choose whether you want the heater to operate on the maximum heat setting or lower heat settings. These heat settings allow you to regulate the temperature depending on the current environmental temperature. Summer cannot be in full swing and the temperatures in your garage are high. You may end up creating a very uncomfortable work environment. Most models have 2 or 3 heat setting which is better than one heat setting so you can better regulate the temperature.
Mountable vs freestanding?
Are you looking for a portable model or a model that you can mount on the wall? Depending on your preference’s, the marketplace offers both kinds of heaters. Select freestanding models if need a heater that you can move around with from location to location. If you need a heater whose job is to provide constant heat for large periods of time then getting a wall-mounted model is more convenient. Most heaters suitable for garages and sheds tend to be free standing.
Other features
Thermostats help regulate the temperature of the room. Once optimal temperatures are reached, the thermostat prevents the temperatures from going higher causing the heater to turn off or overheat. Overheating causes damage to the heater and it may cause fires. As soon as the room drops below a certain temperature it will start to heat the room again.
Frost watch allows the heater to come on automatically once the temperatures drop below a certain point. For those who just want to keep a room above freezing this feature is a must.
Safety features
Tip-over switches prevent the heater from being active once the heater is knocked over. This action of deactivating the heater prevents the heating element from damage and saves your property from unwanted fires.
Cool to touch heaters are essential when you have children or pets wandering about. The cool surface of the heater prevents unwanted burns and trips to the hospital.
User-friendly features
The aim of some features in a product is just to make interaction with the product easier. When it comes to garage heaters you can expect the following;
Comfortable handles are another feature that makes life easier. All you have to do is pick up the heater and move it to the location you want. Models without handles may prove challenging in the long run.
Long power cords permit you to operate without constraints or the need for extension cables. Long cords may be a tripping hazard so be careful about their placement.
Our Final Conclusion
Why work in discomfort when you can do something about it? Garage heaters are not so expensive that it will cost you an arm and a leg. They are affordable models that will serve you for years to come if you maintain them well. What are you waiting for? Get yourself the best garage heater within your budget and transform you're garage into an ideal working environment.
BEST PICK
This powerful 3000W model offers 3 heat settings and a self-resetting thermostat for heat regulation. Being that it is an electric model, this heater is far more convenient than its gas counterparts. Additionally, the quality of the features offered match the price asked for this heater which means it offers excellent value for money. If you need a reliable and powerful electric heater, this would easily heat large garage or shed with ease.
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