How Can I Safely Heat My Garage?

»Related: How to Heat a Garage

How can I safely heat my garage?

Consider these options:

You can install a forced air garage heater that blows heated air, rather like a furnace does. Look for a 45,000 Btu size for heating a two-car garage and at 60,000 Btu size for a three-car garage. Generally, a forced air heater runs off of natural or LP gas, so it would need to be installed close to a gas line.

Since warm air rises, the blown air will be warmer closer to the ceiling and it can be lost when the garage door is open. In addition, the moving air can stir up dust and particles, especially if woodworking projects are done in the garage.

An infrared heater is available in both gas and electric models, both of which can safely heat your garage. Purchase a “low intensity” infrared heater and avoid “high intensity” models that glow red. These are normally not approved for residential installation.



This type of heater does not blow air, it radiates heat and can heat up objects close to it quickly. Keep all objects at least 4 feet away from the unit at all time. Both the room and the concrete floor will absorb the heat, so you feel warm throughout the garage. Most are installed near the back of the garage.

With radiant floor heat, heating coils are installed into the floor of a garage, generally when the garage is being built. Radiant floor heat rises up from the floor to warm from the ground up. It is quiet, safe and efficient. However, this system can be slow to heat and does not work well in garages with a lot of air leakage.

»Related: Best and Worst Garage Heaters