8 Best Infrared Heaters For Indoors, Patios, Garages (With ECO Thermostats)

With so many good infrared heaters to choose from, it’s quite surprising to see how many people still go with the bad ones. Modern infrared heaters offer quite a fantastic way of heating up single rooms, patios, or even garages. To avoid choosing a bad heater, we are going to look at a full list of the best infrared heaters for indoor and outdoor heating.

Infrared heaters have quite a few advantages over other electric heaters. Most heaters will use heat-exchanging elements to heat the air, thereby increasing the temperature in the room. Infrared heaters, on the other hand, work by heating through electromagnetic radiation (using 750 nanometers to 1-millimeter wavelength electromagnetic radiation generated by quartz tubes). That’s why the pros of infrared heaters include:

• Instant heating. Infrared light heating starts the moment you press ‘On’ on the heater. You don’t need the heat-exchanging element to heat up the air; the heating is immediate and direct.
• No dry air. Most electric heaters will, when heating the air, remove natural humidity. Infrared heaters heat directly (not via hot air-forced airflow) and therefore prevent the decrease in humidity levels. Example: Let’s say you have 50% relative humidity levels. Standard heaters will decrease these levels to 40%; infrared heaters will not change them (they will remain at 50%).
• (Very Important) Safe to use. Because infrared heaters don’t have a hot 500°F+ heating element, the risk of burning down your home is minimized. With the addition of overheat and tip-over safety protections, infrared heaters are one of the safest types of space heaters to be used indoors.
• Energy efficiency. Infrared heaters, especially those with ECO thermostats and multiple heating modes (900W/1200W/15000W for Low/Mid/High, save electricity. They provide only the heating that is needed and don’t waste electricity on heating the air that might escape through the windows or doors.
• Heater doesn’t blow air. Many people don’t really like heaters that blow hot air. This is similar to air conditioners blowing air (creating airflow). Because infrared heaters use radiation heating rather than a forced-air heating approach, you don’t get that annoying airflow with IR heaters.

Type-wise, it is useful to start with the spaces that the infrared heaters should heat up. Here are the different types of infrared heaters:

• Infrared space heaters (indoor use). These heaters will heat an area of up to 170 sq ft on their own. Small room panel infrared heaters will run on 500 watts or 1000 watts, while the best infrared heaters for large rooms will run on 1500 watts (producing 5,118 BTU of heating output).

  

• Infrared heaters for garage (indoors). These heaters need to be robust and run on up to 1500 watts to adequately attached garages or detached garages. They can also be used to heat our workspace; the immediate vicinity heating infrared heaters are the best at.
• General outdoor infrared heaters.
• Infrared patio heaters.

  

Before we look at the best infrared heaters for indoors, garages, and the best outdoor infrared heaters such as infrared patio heater, we first need to get a bit acquainted with these types of heaters and their specs.

That’s why we will start by looking at the specifications we need to check in order to be able to tell which infrared heaters are good and which ones are not all that great. You will have all of the following specs included in the infrared heater spec-by-spec comparison table and the reviews further on:

• Wattage and heating capacity of infrared (IR) heaters. Most electric IR heaters will use up to 1500 watts to produce 5118 BTU of heating output. Some of the bigger 240V garage infrared heaters are powered by up to 7500 watts, producing more than 25,000 BTU of heating output.
• Coverage. Infrared space heaters can be used as the main heat source (30 BTU/sq ft) or supplemental heat source (10 BTU/sq ft). An average 1500-watt infrared heater is able to heat up to 170 square feet on its own (8 ft ceiling height) or provide supplemental heating to up to 512 sq ft areas.
• Energy usage. Do infrared heaters use a lot of electricity? We are going to look at how much power do infrared heaters use in terms of watts, kilowatt-hours (kWH), and US dollars ($). Example: 1500-watt infrared heater (running at 100% heating output) will use 1.5 kWh of electricity per hour, costing between $0.20/h to $0.40/h to run.
• Safety features. We are going to look into which safety features should infrared heaters have to provide safe heating.
• Additional: Wiring requirements. This is relevant for 1500+ watt garage infrared heaters. All 1500-watt infrared heaters can be plugged into the standard 110/120V outlet with 15A, 20A, or 30A amp breakers (they draw about 12.5 amps). Bigger 7500-watt garage heaters will require an upgraded 240V circuit about 40A breakers (2 x 20A) and 10 AWG or even 8 AWG copper wires.

Let’s start by looking at the sizes of infrared heaters (determined by wattage) and coverage area:

Infrared Heater Sizes: How Many Watt Infrared Heater Do You Need?

All electric heaters, including infrared electric heaters, use electricity to produce heating output. Electricity can be turned into heat (BTUs) with almost 100% efficiency.

That means that the wattage of the infrared heater will tell us how many BTUs of infrared heater produces.

Most infrared heaters will have a maximum wattage input of 1500 watts (on High setting). At Low and Mid settings, the wattage input can be 500 watts, 750 watts, 900 watts, 1000 watts, 1200 watts, or 1250 watts. The biggest infrared heaters for large rooms with high ceiling will have an up to 2000 watt input while the biggest 240V infrared heaters are powered by up to 7500 watts of electricity.

To calculate the coverage of infrared heaters for full or supplemental heating, we need to convert these input watts into heating output (BTUs).

Here is a chart of how many BTU of heat infrared heaters with different wattage inputs produce (we need to multiply the watts by 3.412 to get to the BTUs since 1 watt = 3.412 BTU):

As you can see, most infrared heaters (1500-watt heaters) will produce up to 5118 BTU of heating output.

Based on these BTU outputs, we can calculate how many square feet will these heaters adequately heat:

Coverage Area (For Full And Supplemental Heating)

Infrared heaters can be used to heat a space on their own (full heating) or as a secondary heating unit (supplemental heating).

In HVAC, the heating BTU rule of thumb for heating is:

• 30 BTU per square foot for full heating (8 ft ceiling height).
• 10 BTU per square foot for supplemental heating (8 ft ceiling height).

Example: A 1500-watt infrared heater produces 5118 BTU of heating output. That means it can adequately heat up to 171 sq ft rooms by itself and provide supplemental heating to areas with up to 512 total square footage.

Here is the full list of infrared heater coverage areas for different sizes of space heaters:

Using this chart, you can see what size infrared heater you need. The common sizing problem with most electric heaters is that the top wattage is usually 1500 watts. That’s why you will need to get several infrared space heaters to heat up larger areas or outdoor patios.

Another important aspect of all heating devices is how much do they cost to run. Let’s check this as well:

How Much Does It Cost To Run An Infrared Heater?

Running an infrared heater costs as much as running any electric heater. We have written about electric heater running costs here.

Here is a short example of how to calculate 1500-watt infrared heater running costs:

Running a 1500-watt infrared heater at 100% output will use 1.5 kWh of electricity per hour. The average US electricity prices are about $0.15/kWh. That means that running a standard infrared space heater will cost 22.5 US cents per hour.

Infrared heaters with ECO thermostats will save electricity because they will be able to switch from 1500-watt input to 1200-watt input or even 900-watt input. That will result in 1.2 kWh/h and 0.9 kWh/h electricity usage, and $0.18/h and $0.14/h running costs, respectively.

To illustrate a bit how will it cost to run different infrared space heaters per hour, per day (8 running hours per day), and per month (30 days with 8 running hours per day), we have calculated the infrared heater running cost for different size infrared heaters (at $0.15/kWh electricity prices), and summarized the results in this chart:

As you can see, most standard infrared heaters will run on $0.30 per hour or less. The big 240V garage infrared heaters with 7500-watt max. input can burn over $1 of electricity every hour.

Now, let’s focus on one of the most important aspects of every space heater:

Safety Features Of Infrared Indoor Heaters

Luckily, infrared heaters are one of the safest types of heaters to use in general. They don’t have an exposed heating element because they don’t heat via hot forced-air; rather, they use harmless infrared radiation to heat up people and things in their vicinity.

Nonetheless, it is important to keep this warning by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in mind:

“Heating is the 2nd leading cause of home fires, and the 3rd leading cause of home fire deaths. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 48,530 fires involving heating equipment. These fires resulted in annual losses of 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.” (NFPA on indoor heating)

That’s why, for additional security, you should look for the safest infrared space heater on the market. Which infrared heaters are safer than others? Easy. The ones that include most of these following safety features:

• IP55 Approval. IP55 stands for Ingress Protection (or International Protection) 55. Infrared heaters that are IP55 approved are tested to be protected from dust accumulation on top or within the heater interfering with normal operation. This is an important approval for outdoor infrared heaters like patio heaters because they are exposed to the elements.
• Overheat Protection or Auto Shut-Off Protection. Infrared heaters with overheating protection will shut off automatically if the temperature within the heater increases by too much. This prevents the infrared heater from catching fire and protects your home.
• Tip-Over Protection. This is a sensor and shut-off mechanism that powers off an infrared heater that might tip over. All electric heaters can tip over if they are hit by a force; pets (especially cats, you know how they are) and kids are the main reason why heaters might be tipped over. If that happens and the infrared heater has tip-over protection, you are safe; the heater will shut off immediately.
• Touch Safe. Most infrared heaters are not hot to the touch (other electric heaters usually are because they need to heat the air). Touch safe infrared heaters use outdoor shells that don’t warm up as much as ordinary materials.
• UL Certificate or ETL Certificate. The safest infrared space heaters will have the UL or ETL safety certificate. That means they have been rigorously tested in terms of safety features (forces from left or right, overheat mechanisms, tip-over testing).
• Additional: Child lockout safety features.
• Additional: Fireproof cabinet outdoor shell. Example: #5 LifeSmart HT1013 has a fireproof cabinet shell.

Admittedly, these safety features are more important than other gas-powered heaters and air-forced electric heaters. Nonetheless, having an infrared heater packed with additional safety features doesn’t hurt.

Last but not least, let’s have a look at the wiring requirements for infrared space heaters:

Wiring Requirements (Relevant For 1500+ Watt Infrared Heaters)

With a standard 1500-watt infrared heater, you don’t have to worry about wiring and amp breakers. That’s because it runs on standard 120V, and draws 12.5 amps when running at full 100% heating output (1500-watt input). A 15A breaker and standard wires can handle that easily.

With higher wattage infrared space heaters, however, you might need to do some electric circuit upgrades.

Here are two examples from the list of the best infrared heaters for larger spaces you will find further on:

• #7 Dimplex DSH20W is powered by 2000 watts. It uses 240V voltage; that means you can leave the same wires and amp breakers, but you will have to upgrade the voltage to 240V to handle the load.
• #6 Dr. Infrared Heater DR-975 has a maximum wattage of 7500 watts. Now, this is some serious wattage that runs on a 240V circuit. At 7500 watts, it draws 31.3 amps. That means that you can use standard 15A, 20A, or even 30A breakers; you will need a 40A breaker (or two 20A breakers) to handle those 31.3 amps. On top of that, you will also need a wire that can handle 31.3 amps or more. That’s why you will need a 10 AWG copper wire with 35A ampacity or an 8 AWG aluminum wire with 32A ampacity.

Alright, now we are all set with the required knowledge to make an intelligible decision of which IR heater is best for your situation. Here is the full list of the best infrared heaters on the market (for all major purposes; indoor heating, outdoor heating, patio heating, and garage heating):

List Of 8 Best Infrared Heaters

1. Best Infrared Patio Heater (Outdoor): Briza Infrared Patio Heater
2. Best Infrared Space Heater (Indoor): AirNmore Comfort Deluxe
3. Best Outdoor Infrared Heater: Dr Infrared Heater DR-238
4. Most Energy Efficient Infrared Heater: Dr Infrared Heater DR-968
5. Best Infrared Quartz Heater: LifeSmart HT1013
6. Best Infrared Heater For Garage: Dr Infrared Heater DR-975
7. Best Infrared Heater For Large Rooms: Dimplex DSH20W 2000 Watts
8. Best Infrared Panel Heater For Small Rooms: Heat Storm HS-1000-WA

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1. Best Infrared Patio Heater (Outdoor): Briza Infrared Patio Heater

Infrared patio heaters are very popular. IR heating is perfect for outdoors because they heat people and objects rather than air (that just blows away outdoors). Briza heater is the perfect infrared patio heater; it is simple to use, quite affordable, can be used in winter, spring, summer, and fall (IP55 approved) and uses carbon infrared technology, producing heat that is alike the heat that the sun produces.

As you can see from the heater’s photo, its horizontal heating emitter is mounted on the tripod (you get the tripod along with the purchase of the Briza infrared heater). You can also mount it on the wall or on the ceiling; maximizing the effective heating it provides.

Wattage-wise, this is a 1500-watt infrared heater. When running at 100% output, it can generate up to 5118 BTU of heating output. The key advantage here is that you also have low 900-watt and medium 1200-watt heating modes. That means that you can lower the heating output and thus save costs.

Namely, running the Briza at the full heating output will burn 1.5 kWh of electricity per hour. Running it at lower modes will use 0.9 kWh or 1.2 kWh per hour (resulting in 40% and 20% lower running costs, respectively). That reduces the average running cost to below $0.20 per hour.

The vital thing for any infrared heater that is going to be used outdoors is the IP55 approval. Briza is IP55 approved; which means it can be used throughout the year for years on end.

On top of that, you get auto shut-off to overheat mechanism and tip-over protection in order to prevent patio fires if the wind tips it over, for example.

Briza heater can be used indoors as well. However, it is specifically designed to be used outdoors, due to IP55 protection. For indoor use, you could get a cheaper alternative like the #4 Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 on our list which cost less than $150. The price of the Briza heater is about $250.

All in all, if you need an infrared heater for your patio, the Briza heater is the go-to choice. It does have the necessary IP55 approval for outdoor use, 3 heating modes to save on electricity and it is quite moderately priced for such a superb outdoor infrared heater:

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2. Best Infrared Space Heater (Indoor): AirNmore Comfort Deluxe

Infrared heaters are one of the best solutions for indoor heating. It is important for indoor IR heaters to have a 1500-watt input, necessary safety features, and is built well; AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is all that (it’s specially built to last due to copper PTC element). That’s why the AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is the safest and the best indoor infrared space heater.

AirNmore Comfort Deluxe has two powerful heat modes; the 1000W and 1500W modes. At the full 1500W mode, it will produce up to 5118 BTU of heating output. This is enough to heat up to 170 square feet of space by itself (30 BTU per sq ft) or be used as supplemental heating in spaces with up to 520 sq ft (10 BTU per sq ft).

You will notice that AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is the heaviest 1500-watt infrared space heater, weighing 25.3 lbs. This is due to the inclusion of the superb copper PTC element and the overall high-quality materials. Namely, heavier materials are usually of higher quality; this results in durability and reliability. The higher weight of the AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is a pro for durability but a con for moving it around (it’s not all that easy to pick up).

For all indoor infrared heaters, safety features are essential. AirNmore Comfort Deluxe has the all-important ETL certificate; which means it has withstood rigorous safety tests. On top of the certificate, this infrared indoor heater also has dual limit sensors for an overheat shut-off mechanism, touch-safe elements, and a tip-over sensor, just to make things even safer than they need to be.

Many homeowners, however, may bulge at the price tag. Due to the durable copper PTC element and high-quality materials like steel used, the price of the AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is about $300. This is a higher-than-average price for a 1500W infrared space heater.

All in all, the price of the AirNmore Comfort Deluxe is quite justified. This is not a heater for 1 winter; it is a heater for at least 10 seasons. It has the dual heating output and, most importantly, the best safety features making it the safest indoor infrared space heater on the market:

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3. Best Outdoor Infrared Heater: Dr Infrared Heater DR-238

As we have discussed earlier, every infrared electric heater that is used outdoors required IP55 approval. Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 is one of the best IP55 approved outdoor infrared electric heaters. Safety and convenience-wise, setting up a couple of these electric heaters is a much better option than using an outdoor propane heater (where the heating output is just dispersed in the air).

The advantage outdoor infrared heaters like Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 have over propane heaters is that they heat up people directly via IR radiation; not indirectly by first heating up air and hoping that the heated up air will heat a person.

Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 outdoor heater has 3 heating modes; 900W, 1200W, and 1500W, producing as much as 5118 BTU of heating output when running at 100% 1500W input.

On top of that, Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 has a mirror aluminum reflector with 90% reflectivity. This will further increase the feeling of warmth near the infrared heater.

Safety-wise, the Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 is ETL certified and has the all-important IP55 approval for outdoor use. You will also see several safety features such as overheat protection.

All in all, the Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 is the best outdoor infrared heater. You might, however, need more than 1 unit for larger groups:

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4. Most Energy Efficient Infrared Heater: Dr Infrared Heater DR-968

Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 is considered one of the best affordable infrared heaters on the market. With the superb thermostat, shifting between Low, 1000W, and 1500W heating modes, the Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 is the most energy-efficient infrared indoor space heater on the market.

Electric input in all infrared heaters is transformed into electricity with almost 100% efficiency (98%, to be exact). The key to energy efficiency – running a cost-saving infrared heater – is the automatic adjustment of heating output. The Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 has the advantage here because it can shift between its 3 heating modes (auto energy saving mode) to produce only as much heat as needed (and not needlessly spend electricity).

For indoor use, safety features like overheat protection, tip-over protection, and touch-safe outer parts is key. Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 has all of these 3 safety features built in.

To produce infrared heating, it uses an infrared quartz tube with PTC. This also means it has a quiet operation (down to 39 dB noise levels).

The range the thermostat allows is between 50 degrees and 85 degrees.

For very large rooms (500+ sq ft), you will need 2 or even 3 of these heaters for adequate heating. This infrared heater is perfect for rooms up to 170 sq ft (that’s including 12×14 rooms).

All in all, the Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 is one of the most popular and most energy efficient infrared heaters for indoors:

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5. Best Infrared Quartz Heater: LifeSmart HT1013

Most infrared heaters use quartz tubes to generate heat (from electric input). The core of the LifeSmart HT1013 heater are 6 large quartz heating elements that generate heat without drying the air. The LifeSmart HT1013 is arguably the best infrared quartz heater on the market.

As you can see from the wattage, the LifeSmart HT1013 has 3 heating modes; 1000W, 1500W, and, most importantly, the ECO mode. This ECO mode will generate only as much heating output as needed (following the thermostat setting). That will reduce the overall wattage and amp draw, and thereby reduce the running costs.

This is a typical indoor infrared heater with overheat and tip-over shut-off protection. On top of that, it also has a child lockout and fireproof cabinet (even if a fire starts, the cabinet should isolate the flames within the heater).

The 6 quartz heating tubes make it a great quartz infrared heater; however, with 6 of them, there is also a higher possibility that some of these 6 tubes will fail and need to be repaired.

All in all, the LifeSmart HT1013 is very affordable for such a great quartz infrared heater:

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6. Best Infrared Heater For Garage: Dr Infrared Heater DR-975

For heating up a garage, you will need more than 1500W infrared heater. That’s why Dr Infrared Heater DR-975 is a perfect infrared heater for garages; it has dual high-wattage heating modes with up to 7500-watt electric input.

Specifically, the Dr Infrared Heater DR-975 features 4700W and 7500W heating modes. The higher 7500W heating mode generates up to 25,590 BTU of heating output. That is 5 times stronger than a standard 1500W heater. On its own, it can heat up garages with up to 850 square feet; this includes 1-car, 2-car, and even 3-car garages.

Most garages have subpar insulation (R-values) compared to the house; thus a high heating output is needed.

Obviously, Dr Infrared Heater DR-975 is also considerably more expensive to run. Running it at 100% heating output will spend 7.5 kWh of electricity per hour. That can result in a running cost above $1/h; it depends on your electricity prices per kWh.

In short, if you need an infrared heater for a garage, you better get a strong heater. Dr Infrared Heater DR-975 is the strongest and best infrared heater for 1-car, 2-car, or even 3-car garages:

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7. Best Infrared Heater For Large Rooms: Dimplex DSH20W 2000 Watts

Most infrared heaters will run on 1500W. For a larger room, you will need a more powerful infrared heater. The Dimplex DSH20W is one of the few infrared heaters that can produce almost 7000 BTU of heating output (6824 BTU, to be exact). This makes it a perfect infrared heater for large rooms.

Dimplex DSH20W has a top wattage level of 2000W. This is enough to heat up to 230 square feet room on its own, or it can be used as supplemental heating for rooms with up to 682 sq ft (that includes up to 26×26 rooms).

It has all the necessary safety features for indoor use, including the automatic shut-off mechanism.

Since this is Dimplex (a premium brand) and a little larger unit, it cost more. Quite a lot more, actually; the Dimplex DSH20W has a price tag of about $450.

All in all, the Dimplex DSH20W is a powerful infrared heater that can be used to heat up larger rooms. However, it does come with a steep price increase:

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8. Best Infrared Panel Heater For Small Rooms: Heat Storm HS-1000-WA

For smaller 10×10 or 12×12 rooms, you don’t need a standard 1500W heater. A 1000W infrared heater will be sufficient. The best infrared space heater for small rooms is the Heat Storm HS-1000-WA.

The Heat Storm HS-1000-WA has 2 heating modes; 500W and 1000W. At 1000W, it can produce 3412 BTU of heating output. This is enough to heat up a small 10×10 and even 12×12 room on its own.

Safety-wise, the Heat Storm HS-1000-WA is ETL certified for indoor use. It can be mounted on the wall and thus save you space.

With about $110 price tag, it is quite affordable for such a great small room infrared heater:

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This has been a short guide on what to check for when buying an infrared heater for indoors or outdoors. With the best infrared heater suggestion, you will have an easier time choosing the right infrared space heater for your situation.