Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater
The escape hatch for garages without a suitable outlet at all. The Big Buddy is a portable radiant/convection propane heater that runs on two 1 lb bottles (or, with the included hose adapter, an external 20 lb tank), producing 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTUs across three settings — enough to warm roughly 450 square feet without any electrical hookup. Independent expert roundups (Bob Vila, findingdulcinea, Garage Gym Reviews) consistently rank the Big Buddy line as the best propane option for garages, and the MH18B specifically adds an auto low-oxygen shut-off, a tip-over safety switch, and a piezo igniter — no matches, no batteries needed for ignition. Because it burns propane, you must crack a door or window for ventilation.
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Our Verdict
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.
Score Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- •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
- •Bob Vila and multiple 2026 roundups recommend Mr. Heater's Big Buddy line for garages
Cons
- •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
Specifications
| Heater Type | Portable propane (radiant/convection) |
| Voltage | None — no electricity required |
| Power | 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU on 1 lb bottles or 20 lb tank |
| Coverage | Up to 450 sq ft |
| Thermostat | None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) |
| Mounting | Portable, floor-standing |
| Safety | Low-oxygen shut-off (ODS), tip-over shutoff, overheat cutoff, piezo ignition |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Who Is This For?
Best For
- 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
Not For
- Sealed, unventilated garages
- Anyone who wants a set-and-forget thermostat-driven heater
Where to Buy
Appears In
Customer Reviews
Alternatives to Consider
Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX Phoenix Infrared Heater
Heat Storm
The safest first pick for a typical home garage, and Bob Vila's tested best-overall garage heater. The Phoenix is an infrared quartz heater that plugs into any 120-volt outlet — no electrician, no dedicated circuit, no gas plumbing — with two output steps (750W and 1500W), a digital thermostat, a remote, and a wall bracket that keeps it off the floor and out of the way. Infrared warms objects and people in its beam directly instead of trying to heat the whole air volume, so it feels warm quickly in an insulated one- or two-car garage and its housing stays cool enough to touch. It is not the pick for a large uninsulated shop — a 1500W plug-in cannot outrun that — but for the vast majority of home garages it is the least-fuss way to a reliably warm workspace.
Dr. Infrared DR-988 240V Industrial Garage Heater
Dr. Infrared
The picks scale up here from a plug-in convenience heater to a serious garage furnace. Bob Vila's tested best infrared 240V heater, the DR-988 draws 4,800W at 208V or 5,600W at 240V through a NEMA 6-30P plug into a dedicated 30-amp outlet, and its forced-air blower with a 37–113°F adjustable thermostat is rated to warm workshops, warehouses, and detached uninsulated garages far beyond what any 120V heater can reach. It sits on the floor or mounts to a wall or ceiling, and its industrial finish and duty rating are meant for the space you actually work in. The trade-off is straightforward: it requires an electrician and a dedicated 240V circuit before you can plug it in.
Dr. Infrared DR-968 Portable Space Heater
Dr. Infrared
The best value in the lineup and the most-recommended portable 120V heater across the reputable roundups. The DR-968 is a dual infrared quartz + PTC heater in a compact wheeled cabinet that plugs into a standard outlet and pushes 1500W / roughly 5,200 BTU with a low-noise blower and an electronic thermostat that will hold a target between 50°F and 85°F. It has a 12-hour auto-shutoff timer, tip-over and overheat protection, and a full remote. It does not have the wall-mount elegance of the Heat Storm Phoenix or the raw output of the DR-988, but for a workbench-side heater in a small-to-medium garage it is the pick that gets the most for the least.
Comfort Zone CZ285 Electric Ceramic Utility Heater
Comfort Zone
The best-budget pick and the most-owned heater on this list by a wide margin — nearly 29,000 Amazon ratings averaging 4.2 stars. The CZ285 is a straightforward 1500W ceramic garage/workshop utility heater with a metal frame, a pivoting cradle base, a mechanical adjustable thermostat, an integrated overheat sensor, and a carry handle. There is no thermostat display, no remote, no smart features — just a heater you can slap onto a bench or the floor, plug into a 120V outlet, and use. Comfort Zone is the brand Pro Tool Reviews awards multiple times in its electric garage heater roundup, and this specific model is repeatedly cited as the best-under-$100 pick.