Garage Heater Cost Calculator
Find out exactly what it costs to heat your garage — electric, gas, or propane. Instant results.
Calculate Your Garage Heater Running Cost
Garage Heater Monthly Cost by Type
| Heater Type | 1-Car | 2-Car | 3-Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | ~$97 | ~$195 | ~$292 |
| Natural Gas | ~$32 | ~$65 | ~$97 |
| Propane | ~$63 | ~$125 | ~$188 |
| Infrared Electric | ~$97 | ~$195 | ~$292 |
Heater output of 15,000 / 30,000 / 45,000 BTU/hr for a 250 / 500 / 750 sq ft garage, run 4 hrs/day for 30 days. Electric 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, May 2026). Natural gas $1.44/therm at 80% (winter average, November 2025 - March 2026 (US); December 2025 - February 2026 (by state)). Propane $2.55/gal at 80% (EIA heating-season average, October 2025 - March 2026). Infrared heaters are electric resistance heaters, so they cost the same per BTU delivered as any other electric heater.
Which Garage Heater Is Cheapest to Run?
Natural gas is the cheapest option wherever a gas line is available — about 67% less per month than electric resistance heat for the same heat delivered. A 2-car garage heated at 30,000 BTU/hr for 4 hrs/day runs about $65/month on gas, against about $195/month on electric at the US average rate of 18.44¢/kWh.
Propane suits detached garages with no gas line. At the EIA heating-season average of $2.55/gal it delivers heat for about 36% less than electric resistance — roughly $125/month for the same 2-car garage — but still costs around twice what natural gas does. See the full propane vs electric cost comparison for a detailed breakdown.
Infrared heaters cost exactly the same to run as any other electric heater of the same wattage — all electric resistance heat is ~100% efficient. What differs is where the heat goes: infrared warms people and surfaces directly rather than the air, so you may feel comfortable sooner and choose to run it for fewer hours. That is a real saving, but it comes from shorter runtime, not from the heater using less power. For broader home heating context, see our heating cost calculator.
Rates: electricity 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, May 2026); natural gas $1.44/therm (EIA, winter average, November 2025 - March 2026 (US); December 2025 - February 2026 (by state)); propane $2.55/gal (EIA heating-season average, October 2025 - March 2026). Gas and propane unit heaters at 80% and 80% efficiency.