We’ll start by talking about propane and recommending two options you can use for propane heaters. Then, we’ll jump to kerosene and do the same! Then we’ll compare and contrast. Sound good?
Propane vs Kerosene Garage Heaters: Propane
Propane heaters are some of the cleanest and most eco-friendly ways to keep your garage warm in the chilly months.
Propane tends to cost a little more than kerosene and burn at a lower BTU rating per gallon — meaning it doesn’t warm your garage quite as efficiently — but propane is widely available, especially in bulk.
Plus, if you already have a grill that runs on propane, it’s really easy for you to use the same canister as a heat source. You just have to swap them out!
With that in mind, let’s check out some of the best propane heaters for your garage.
Dyna-Glo Workhorse LPFA125WH Propane Forced Air Garage Heater
The Dyna-Glo LPFA125WH liquid propane heater is a powerful, convenient, and portable solution to keeping your garage warm.
This propane garage heater is designed for safety above all else. That’s why it comes with a built-in tip-over kill switch, ensuring it turns off immediately if it’s not upright.
In addition, you can adjust the angle of the heater as you move around your garage. You can also easily pick it up and move it since it comes with a swivel handle and only weighs 25 lbs.
Best of all, this Dyna-Glo garage heater is designed for you to plug it in and start working. It even comes with its own 10 ft. hose and regulator!
If you want a simple, portable, and safe propane heater for your garage, go with Dyna-Glo!
Mr. Heater Propane Garage Heater
The Mr. Heater 22,000 BTU propane garage heater is a high-powered, efficient, and stationary unit that you can mount on a wall or ceiling.
This heater (see full specs) is ideal for when you need heat in the same general area, like a small room, at any given period. It requires zero electricity to operate, and it emits highly-efficient infrared heat that keeps you warm without draining your propane tank right away.
On top of that, this heater comes fully assembled, meaning you don’t have to worry about complicated maintenance or disassembly. With that in mind, you can keep this heater mounted in the same spot for years with virtually no maintenance as it warms up to 5000 sq. ft. at a time (about the size of a 2-car garage).
If you want a stationary and energy-efficient solution to warming an average-sized garage, this is the heater for you!
Propane vs Kerosene Garage Heaters: Kerosene
Now that we’ve covered propane, let’s talk about kerosene.
Kerosene heaters are in demand today because of their incredible heat output. A kerosene heater that runs on a similarly-sized tank of fuel as a propane heater will heat an area more quickly. However, that means it won’t heat the area for quite as long — and it definitely won’t be as efficient!
In a nutshell, kerosene heaters are designed for output above all else. Let’s take a look at two of the best options for your garage.
Dyna-Glo Delux KFA80GD Kerosene Forced Air Garage Heater, 80K BTU
The Dyna-Glo Delux KFA80GD kerosene forced air heater is the compact, powerful, and easy way to keep a small area of your garage warm when you need it.
This kerosene garage heater pumps out 80,000 BTUs of heat and warms up to 1900 sq. ft. of your garage at a time, making it one of the most powerful units of its size! Plus, because kerosene heaters burn so quickly, a convenient temperature dial lets you conserve fuel when you’ve already hit the temperature you want in your room.
A real-time fuel gauge makes it easy for you to see how much fuel you have left, and it comes with a handle so you can haul this heater anywhere you want. As a nice touch, the entire rig only weighs 27 lbs.!
If you want a kerosene garage heater with a small footprint and huge output, this is your answer!
Mr. Heater F270320 MH125KTR Contractor Forced Air Kerosene Garage Heater
The Mr. Heater F270320 contractor kerosene heater is an incredibly high-output heating solution, even by kerosene standards.
This kerosene garage heater (see full specs) is designed for contract work, which is why it’s mounted on a cart. Essentially, you’re able to hook this heater up to a kerosene source, wheel it to the place you need it, and turn it on full blast!
An 8.5 gallon tank provides about 15 hours of heat for this unit, and its built-in safety sensors will automatically deactivate the heater if any flame or overheating starts. Plus, the whole unit is mounted on oversized pneumatic tires, meaning you can cart this heater across bumpy terrain if you’d ever need to do it.
If you want an all-around great heater that’s reliable, powerful, and portable, this is the heater for you!
Propane vs Kerosene Garage Heaters: Propane or Kerosene?
Is a propane heater right for you? Or do you need a kerosene heater? Here’s the way to figure it out.
If you’re conscious of how much money you’re spending on fuel, go with propane since it’s more efficient. This is also important for anyone who’s eco-conscious since propane burns so cleanly. It’ll last longer, it won’t create any smoke, and you’ll spend on fuel less frequently than kerosene.
However, if you want something that’ll bring your garage to temperature in a flash, then kerosene is the way to go. You’ll burn through fuel, but with a big enough tank and smart use, you can get multiple days (maybe even weeks) out of a single tank. Plus, your garage will warm up way more quickly than with a propane heater, and you’ll heat more square footage with a single unit.
Ready to make the choice between propane vs kerosene garage heaters? Check out our list now. Good luck!