Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater vs Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater
Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater (#3) vs Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater (#4, best value): in our Space Heaters for Garages scoring the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater totals 8.2/10 and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater 8.1/10.
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Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater
$116.25Check price at AmazonRead full review
TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater | Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $116.25 | $112.99 |
| Heater Type | Portable propane (radiant/convection) | Electric infrared quartz + PTC |
| 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 (≈5,200 BTU) |
| Coverage | Up to 450 sq ft | Small to medium garages |
| Thermostat | None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) | Electronic, 50–85°F |
| Mounting | Portable, floor-standing | Portable, four caster wheels |
| Safety | Low-oxygen shut-off (ODS), tip-over shutoff, overheat cutoff, piezo ignition | Tip-over shutoff, overheat protection, 12-hr auto-off |
| 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 Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater made our Top 5 Space Heaters for Garages, at #3 and #4 (best value). 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 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 Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater totals 8.2 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 Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores 8.5 against 7.5 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater — BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation. Warm-Up Speed & Coverage also separates them: 8.5 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 7.5 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater claws back ground on Running Cost & Efficiency, Safety Features 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 infrared quartz + PTC on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Voltage — None — no electricity required on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 120V (standard outlet) on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space 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 (≈5,200 BTU) on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Coverage — Up to 450 sq ft on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Small to medium garages on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Thermostat — None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Electronic, 50–85°F on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater; Mounting — Portable, floor-standing on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Portable, four caster wheels on the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater.
Pricing as of August 24, 2026: $116.25 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and $112.99 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater, a $3.26 difference in the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space 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 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.
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
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 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 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 Running Cost & Efficiency and Safety Features matter more to you than the overall score. If the $3.26 saving matters more than Heating Power for Garage Size, the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater is the better value. The Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater is a poor fit for sealed, unventilated garages; 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 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 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 Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater better than the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater?
In our Space Heaters for Garages ranking the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores higher overall, 8.2 to 8.1, with the biggest advantage in Heating Power for Garage Size. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater is stronger on Running Cost & Efficiency and Safety Features, 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 Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater?
$3.26 more as of August 24, 2026: $116.25 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater against $112.99 for the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space 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 7.5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and the Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater?
The headline spec difference is Heater Type: Portable propane (radiant/convection) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane 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 (8.5 vs 7.5 in our scoring): BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation.