Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater vs Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater
Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater (#2, best premium) vs Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater (#4, best value): in our Space Heaters for Garages scoring the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater totals 8.3/10 and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater 8.1/10.
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Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater
$104.19Check price at AmazonRead full review
TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater | Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $104.19 | $112.99 |
| Heater Type | Electric infrared + forced air | Electric infrared quartz + PTC |
| Voltage | 208V / 240V (NEMA 6-30P plug) | 120V (standard outlet) |
| Power | 4,800W (208V) / 5,600W (240V) | 1500W (≈5,200 BTU) |
| Coverage | Large 1- and 2-car garages, workshops, warehouses | Small to medium garages |
| Thermostat | 37–113°F adjustable | Electronic, 50–85°F |
| Mounting | Portable, wall, or ceiling | Portable, four caster wheels |
| Safety | Overheat protection, tip-over shutoff | Tip-over shutoff, overheat protection, 12-hr auto-off |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
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-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater made our Top 5 Space Heaters for Garages, at #2 (best premium) and #4 (best value). The pick when a 120V heater is not enough. Bob Vila's tested best-infrared 240V pick, the DR-988 draws 5,600W at 240V through a NEMA 6-30P plug and its industrial forced-air blower with a 37–113°F thermostat covers workshops and detached uninsulated garages a plug-in cannot. It ranks below the Phoenix because it needs a dedicated 30-amp 240V outlet before you can use it — an electrician job for most homes — and its Amazon buy box typically routes through third-party sellers rather than Amazon direct. 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.
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-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater totals 8.3 out of 10 and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater 8.1. The widest gap is Heating Power for Garage Size, where the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater scores 9.5 against 7.5 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater — BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation. Installation & Portability also separates them: 9 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater versus 5.5 for the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater claws back ground on Value and Safety Features.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Heater Type — Electric infrared + forced air on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus Electric infrared quartz + PTC on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Voltage — 208V / 240V (NEMA 6-30P plug) on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus 120V (standard outlet) on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Power — 4,800W (208V) / 5,600W (240V) on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus 1500W (≈5,200 BTU) on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Coverage — Large 1- and 2-car garages, workshops, warehouses on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus Small to medium garages on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Thermostat — 37–113°F adjustable on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus Electronic, 50–85°F on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Mounting — Portable, wall, or ceiling on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus Portable, four caster wheels on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater. They match on Warranty.
Pricing as of August 24, 2026: $104.19 for the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater and $112.99 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater, a $8.8 difference in the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater's favor. Owners praise the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater for genuine 5,600W (240V) output covers workshops far beyond a 120V heater's reach and portable, wall-, or ceiling-mountable so it works in existing shop layouts; the most common complaint is requires a dedicated NEMA 6-30R 240V/30A outlet — an electrician job for most homes. 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 — coverage stops well short of a 240V unit's.
Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater
- Genuine 5,600W (240V) output covers workshops far beyond a 120V heater's reach
- Portable, wall-, or ceiling-mountable so it works in existing shop layouts
- Adjustable industrial thermostat (37–113°F) holds a target rather than cycling on max
- Bob Vila tested best-infrared 240V pick; well-established Dr. Infrared platform
- Requires a dedicated NEMA 6-30R 240V/30A outlet — an electrician job for most homes
- Forced-air blower is louder than a passive infrared panel
- Buy box on Amazon typically routes through third-party sellers rather than Amazon direct
Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater
- Dual infrared + PTC heating combines fast radiant warmth with room-air circulation
- Electronic thermostat (50–85°F) actually holds a temperature rather than cycling on/off max
- Four caster wheels move it wherever you are working without lifting
- 12-hour auto-shutoff timer plus tip-over and overheat protection
- Still a 1500W 120V heater — coverage stops well short of a 240V unit's
- Cabinet takes floor space a wall-mounted infrared does not
- No smart-home connectivity or scheduling
Which should you buy?
The Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater is the better fit for detached, poorly insulated, or 2+-car garages a 120V heater cannot warm and workshops with 240V wiring already run — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Heating Power for Garage Size and Warm-Up Speed & Coverage. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater is the better fit for workbench-side or bay-side heat in a small-to-medium garage and buyers who want a thermostat and remote at a portable price, and the stronger choice if Installation & Portability and Value matter more to you than the overall score. Since the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater is both the higher scorer and $8.8 cheaper, the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater only makes sense for workbench-side or bay-side heat in a small-to-medium garage. The Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater is a poor fit for homes without 240V wiring and no plan to add it; the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater is a poor fit for large uninsulated shops (buy the DR-988 or NewAir instead).
Choose the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater if
- Detached, poorly insulated, or 2+-car garages a 120V heater cannot warm
- Workshops with 240V wiring already run
- Owners who prefer a permanent, thermostat-controlled solution
Skip it if
- Homes without 240V wiring and no plan to add it
- Renters or anyone unwilling to hire an electrician
Choose the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater if
- Workbench-side or bay-side heat in a small-to-medium garage
- Buyers who want a thermostat and remote at a portable price
- Anyone who prefers a floor unit to a wall-mount
Skip it if
- Large uninsulated shops (buy the DR-988 or NewAir instead)
- Wall-mount-first setups
Common questions
Is the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater better than the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater?
In our Space Heaters for Garages ranking the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater scores higher overall, 8.3 to 8.1, with the biggest advantage in Heating Power for Garage Size. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater is stronger on Installation & Portability and Value, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater cost than the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater?
$8.8 more as of August 24, 2026: $112.99 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater against $104.19 for the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater?
The headline spec difference is Heater Type: Electric infrared + forced air on the Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater versus Electric infrared quartz + PTC on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater. In use, the gap that matters most is Heating Power for Garage Size (9.5 vs 7.5 in our scoring): BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation.