Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater vs Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater
Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater (#3) vs Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater (#5, best budget): in our Space Heaters for Garages scoring the Mr.
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Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater
$116.25Check price at AmazonRead full review
Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater
$99.99Check price at AmazonRead full reviewTopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater | Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $116.25 | $99.99 |
| Heater Type | Portable propane (radiant/convection) | Electric ceramic PTC (fan-forced) |
| Voltage | None — no electricity required | 120V (standard outlet) |
| Power | 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU on 1 lb bottles or 20 lb tank | 1500W |
| Coverage | Up to 450 sq ft | Small garages, bays, and workshops (~150 sq ft) |
| Thermostat | None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) | Adjustable, mechanical |
| Mounting | Portable, floor-standing | Portable, pivoting cradle base |
| Safety | Low-oxygen shut-off (ODS), tip-over shutoff, overheat cutoff, piezo ignition | Overheat sensor, all-metal housing, carry handle |
| Warranty | 1 year limited | 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 Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater made our Top 5 Space Heaters for Garages, at #3 and #5 (best budget). The escape hatch for garages without a suitable outlet at all. Consistently the top propane pick across Bob Vila, findingdulcinea, and Garage Gym Reviews, the Big Buddy MH18B runs on two 1 lb bottles or a bulk 20 lb tank and pushes 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU across three settings — enough to warm ~450 sq ft with no electrical hookup. Automatic low-oxygen shut-off, tip-over shutoff, and piezo ignition make it the safest portable propane heater rated for indoor use. It ranks here rather than higher because propane demands active ventilation, and per-hour fuel cost at the top setting is higher than electric. The best sub-$100 pick and the most-owned unit here — nearly 29,000 Amazon ratings averaging 4.2 stars, with Comfort Zone winning multiple Pro Tool Reviews awards as a brand. The CZ285 is a fan-forced ceramic utility heater with an adjustable mechanical thermostat, a pivoting cradle base, an overheat sensor, and an all-metal housing. It has no smart features and its thermostat is less precise than an electronic one, so it ranks below the DR-968 despite its better price — but it is the fewest-compromise budget pick you can buy today.
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 Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater totals 8.2 out of 10 and the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater 7.4. The widest gap is Heating Power for Garage Size, where the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores 8.5 against 6.5 for the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater — BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation. Warm-Up Speed & Coverage also separates them: 8.5 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 6.5 for the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater. The Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater claws back ground on Running Cost & Efficiency and Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Heater Type — Portable propane (radiant/convection) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Electric ceramic PTC (fan-forced) on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater; Voltage — None — no electricity required on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 120V (standard outlet) on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater; Power — 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU on 1 lb bottles or 20 lb tank on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 1500W on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater; Coverage — Up to 450 sq ft on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Small garages, bays, and workshops (~150 sq ft) on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater; Thermostat — None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Adjustable, mechanical on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater; Mounting — Portable, floor-standing on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Portable, pivoting cradle base on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater.
Pricing as of August 24, 2026: $116.25 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and $99.99 for the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater, a $16.26 difference in the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater's favor. Owners praise the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater for no electricity required — the answer for detached garages and remote workspaces and 18,000 BTU high setting warms up to ~450 sq ft, comparable to a 5,000W electric unit; the most common complaint is propane combustion demands adequate ventilation — never run in a sealed space. Owners praise the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater for under $100 with a well-established brand behind it (Pro Tool Reviews multi-award winner) and nearly 29,000 Amazon ratings at 4.2 stars — an unusually deep sample for confidence; the most common complaint is mechanical thermostat is less precise than an electronic one.
Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater
- No electricity required — the answer for detached garages and remote workspaces
- 18,000 BTU high setting warms up to ~450 sq ft, comparable to a 5,000W electric unit
- Runs on two 1 lb bottles or (with the included fuel-line accessory) a bulk 20 lb tank
- Automatic low-oxygen shut-off (ODS) plus tip-over shutoff and overheat protection
- Propane combustion demands adequate ventilation — never run in a sealed space
- Fuel cost is higher per hour than electric at the top BTU setting
- Radiant heat is directional; the far side of a garage warms more slowly than the beam side
Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater
- Under $100 with a well-established brand behind it (Pro Tool Reviews multi-award winner)
- Nearly 29,000 Amazon ratings at 4.2 stars — an unusually deep sample for confidence
- Full metal frame plus overheat sensor makes it safer than most sub-$50 disposable heaters
- Adjustable thermostat, pivoting base, and carry handle cover the essentials
- Mechanical thermostat is less precise than an electronic one
- No sleep mode, timer, remote, or connectivity
- Ceramic PTC is fan-forced, so it is meaningfully louder than a passive infrared panel
Which should you buy?
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater is the better fit for detached garages, barns, and workspaces without a suitable outlet and owners who need occasional or seasonal heat rather than daily runtime — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Heating Power for Garage Size and Warm-Up Speed & Coverage. The Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater is the better fit for buyers who want a proven, no-frills heater under $100 and bay-side or bench-side heat in a small garage, and the stronger choice if Running Cost & Efficiency and Value matter more to you than the overall score. If the $16.26 saving matters more than Heating Power for Garage Size, the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater is the better value. The Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater is a poor fit for sealed, unventilated garages; the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater is a poor fit for anyone heating a large or uninsulated garage.
Choose the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater if
- Detached garages, barns, and workspaces without a suitable outlet
- Owners who need occasional or seasonal heat rather than daily runtime
- Job sites and shops where portability matters
Skip it if
- Sealed, unventilated garages
- Anyone who wants a set-and-forget thermostat-driven heater
Choose the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater if
- Buyers who want a proven, no-frills heater under $100
- Bay-side or bench-side heat in a small garage
- Households that want a spare heater to keep on a shelf
Skip it if
- Anyone heating a large or uninsulated garage
- Buyers who want a remote, timer, or smart control
Common questions
Is the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater better than the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater?
In our Space Heaters for Garages ranking the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores higher overall, 8.2 to 7.4, with the biggest advantage in Heating Power for Garage Size. The Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater is stronger on Running Cost & Efficiency and Value, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater cost than the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater?
$16.26 more as of August 24, 2026: $116.25 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater against $99.99 for the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Heating Power for Garage Size — 8.5 versus 6.5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater?
The headline spec difference is Heater Type: Portable propane (radiant/convection) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Electric ceramic PTC (fan-forced) on the Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater. In use, the gap that matters most is Heating Power for Garage Size (8.5 vs 6.5 in our scoring): BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation.