Updated on Jan. 24, 2025
Even in winter, projects, repairs and hobbies must go on. And that often means you'll be spending time in the garage. Instead of risking frost bite, consider these 12 ways to heat your garage safely and reliably in winter.
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Heating a garage in winter isn’t just important from a comfort standpoint, it’s also necessary for protecting your water pipes and stored supplies like paint from freezing.
“Heating your garage during the winter also boosts your home’s value, and maximizes your home’s potential,” says Max Veggeberg, CEO and founder of Tetra.
But keeping that space warm can be expensive, and dangerous if not done properly, so it’s important to pick the right type of heater for your structure. First, consider how cold it gets in your part of the world, the square footage of your garage and whether you have sufficient insulation.
Most heater outputs are measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), and you can figure out how many of those you’ll need by measuring your space and deciding how warm you need it to be. After you get that number you’re ready to shop for a unit to warm your garage.
Here are common heater types and solutions, so you can decide the best way to heat your garage in the winter.
Before you invest in a garage heating system, make sure your garage has plenty of insulation so the warm air — not to mention the money you spend on utility bills — isn’t seeping out through the cracks.
“Effective garage insulation begins with addressing the most vulnerable areas, which are the walls, the ceiling and the garage door itself,” says Leonid Stepchenkov, director at Berintek Garage Doors.
You may be able to insulate your garage door, but if not, consider replacing your door or retrofitting it with an insulated model. You can also easily and inexpensively add clear plastic shrink film or even bubble wrap over windows for added protection against the cold.
Stepchenkov also recommends sealing the floor with weatherstripping or foam insulation panels to block cold air entry. “This can help make the interior of the garage feel much warmer, and may also contribute to energy savings because the heating system does not have to struggle so hard,” he says.
You can use a forced-air unit to heat your cold garage. These heaters range in price and size and are not as pricey as an infrared heat source. They can be professionally installed to tie into your home’s gas or propane line, too.
“Forced air heaters are excellent for quickly warming up a space, as they blow heated air directly into the area,” says Veggeberg. “However, they can be noisy, stir up dust, and create uneven temperatures.”
That means if you do a lot of woodworking, for example, the forced air will blow dirt and debris around, which is a major drawback especially when you’re painting, staining and finishing projects.
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When considering which is the best garage heater, a convection heater is another versatile option. You can choose a unit that’s powered by electricity, natural gas or propane. These heaters operate by air convection currents circulating through the unit and across its heating element, thus heating the air around you.
“Convection heaters are much more consistent than forced-air, and evenly heat an area; hence, they are ideal for long use or when one spends much time in the garage,” says Stepchenkov. “The downside, though, is they take some time to heat a room, and their effect could be poor in a place that is badly insulated.”
How quickly a convection heater can heat a garage will ultimately depend on the type and size of your appliance, so factor in how cold your garage gets and how long you’re willing to wait for it to warm up if you choose a convection heating system.
There are many reasons to go with a ductless heating and cooling system to heat your garage. Sometimes called split systems, multi-split systems, or split-ductless systems, a ductless system heats or cools with a single unit. They’re an efficient use of energy, thereby saving you money on your utility bill.
“Most homeowners who are looking to regulate the temperature in their garage year round, would likely benefit from a mini split which can provide heat in the winter and cool air in the summer,” says Veggeberg.
And ductless systems are eco-friendly since they meet the highest, most efficient energy guidelines. If that wasn’t enough to consider this option, they are easier to install than most HVAC systems.
Warm floors aren’t just for bathrooms anymore! They’re also great for heating garages and perfect for the part-time mechanic. If you find yourself rebuilding that classic car from the ground up, treat your toes, back, neck and more with an in-floor heating system. This is a great addition to any other heat source you have in the room.
Whether the garage is the place where you tinker or you do more serious work, you’ll want to be comfortable in winter. When searching for a heat source you’ll come across many options including a propane appliance. Propane, an affordable heat source, also delivers great warmth.
With a propane heater you can go big or small, depending on your needs. With this type of heater you add the fuel to the appliance and begin to instantly warm your space. The unit typically provides an automatic setting or manual ignition. Their affordability and mobility make them a great option for warming up your space.
If you’re looking for a primary way to heat your garage in winter consider the radiant electric ceiling panel. These 1-in.-thick panels mount on the ceiling and can be an energy-efficient option that heats up quickly and cools down just as fast. Plus, if your garage not only needs to function well, but look good, you can’t go wrong with these ceiling-slimming panels.
Bigger than a portable space heater, a wall-mounted electric heater is among the best ways to heat your garage space in winter. Here you’re typically looking at installing a 240-volt hard-wired unit. Another plus—these wall-mounted heaters can be easier to install than a forced-air heating system, so you may not need to call in a professional for help.
A portable space heater—like the kind used to heat up a cold room in your home—is a simple way to augment an existing heat source to better warm your garage on those super-chilly winter days. Depending on how much additional heat you’re looking for, a garage space heater comes in nearly any size to fit any budget. Plus, they’re very portable and readily available. The U.S. Department of Energy’s tips on buying and installing a heater can help you decide what type and size unit is right for your garage, so you can purchase the best space heater for garage.
A low-intensity infrared tube heater can be one of the best ways to heat up your garage. (Not the kind that glows red, since that could be a potential fire hazard.) Instead of blowing air like a forced-air unit, a tube heater radiates heat throughout your space. This kind of heater tends to heat objects first, people second. So, you’ll get comfortable, but it may take a little while.
A wood burning stove is an economical way to heat your garage space in winter, if done safely. Just like you take steps to make your indoor wood-burning fireplace safe, you’ll want to do the same with your garage stove. First, check with your local municipality for the permits that may be required. Then check with your insurance company. You need to make sure installation of a wood stove in the garage for cheap heat will not void your homeowner’s policy. After getting the necessary approvals, you can order a wood stove from your local hardware store. Once installed, don’t forget to periodically clean your chimney and flue or hire a professional. Otherwise, you risk exposure to toxic gases.
Whether you’re battling rising heating costs or simply looking for cozy winter solutions, these tips will help you stay warm and save energy.
