Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater vs Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater

How they differ in real use

Built from our space heaters for garages scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.

Both the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater and the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater made our Top 5 Space Heaters for Garages, at #4 (best value) and #5 (best budget). The most-recommended portable 120V heater across the reputable roundups and the best value here. The DR-968 combines infrared quartz and PTC heating with a low-noise blower, an electronic thermostat that holds 50–85°F, a 12-hour auto-shutoff timer, and a remote, on four caster wheels you can push to the workbench. It lacks the wall-mount elegance of the Phoenix and the raw output of the DR-988, but for a small-to-medium garage that needs a heater on hand it wins on capability-per-dollar. The budget pick now that Amazon no longer sells the Comfort Zone CZ285. Its stablemate, the CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse heater, is the cheapest way here to put thermostat-controlled heat at a workbench: 1300W or 1500W (about 5,120 BTU) from a standard 120V outlet, a fan-only setting, and both a tip-over switch and overheat protection with a caution light, in a 5 lb housing with a carry handle. It ranks last because owners report that its small fan throws heat only a few feet, some also report a warm cord at full output, and it lacks the DR-968's electronic thermostat, timer and remote. Buy it to spot-heat a bench or one bay, not to warm the whole garage.

We score space heaters for garages on Heating Power for Garage Size (30%), Warm-Up Speed & Coverage (20%), Installation & Portability (15%), Safety Features (15%), Running Cost & Efficiency (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater totals 8.1 out of 10 and the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater 7.4. The widest gap is Heating Power for Garage Size, where the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater scores 7.5 against 6 for the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater: BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation. Warm-Up Speed & Coverage also separates them: 7.5 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus 6 for the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater. The Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater claws back ground on Value.

On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Heater Type: Electric infrared quartz + PTC on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus Electric fan-forced (milkhouse style) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Power: 1500W (≈5,200 BTU) on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus 1300W / 1500W (≈5,120 BTU) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Coverage: Small to medium garages on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus Spot heating: a workbench, single bay, or small shop on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Thermostat: Electronic, 50–85°F on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus Adjustable dial; high, low, and fan-only settings on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Mounting: Portable, four caster wheels on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus Portable, carry handle on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Safety: Tip-over shutoff, overheat protection, 12-hr auto-off on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus Tip-over switch, overheat protection with caution light, ETL listed on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater. They match on Voltage.

Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater for dual infrared + PTC heating combines fast radiant warmth with room-air circulation and electronic thermostat (50–85°F) actually holds a temperature rather than cycling on/off max; the most common complaint is still a 1500W 120V heater, so coverage stops well short of a 240V unit's. Owners praise the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater for the lowest-cost heater here, with an adjustable thermostat and tip-over switch plus overheat protection with a caution light; ETL listed; the most common complaint is owners report its small fan throws heat only a few feet, so it spot-heats rather than warms a garage.