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It is 6 a.m., the power has been out since midnight, and the dog has claimed the only warm blanket in the house. Propane heaters for inside house use fill that gap because they make heat without an outlet and shut off if oxygen runs low. After comparing 6 models, the ProCom ML100TBA is the best fit: it puts out 10,000 BTU, is rated for up to 500 square feet, and has a thermostat with 3 settings. The Rovsun 18,000 BTU Propane Heater is the alternative, rated for up to 450 square feet.
Pros
- 10,000 BTU output for spaces up to 500 sq. ft.
- High, medium and low thermostat control
- No electricity required for operation
- Wall mount hardware and base feet included
- ODS shutoff and ANSI certification
Cons
- Limited to areas up to 500 sq. ft.
- Requires liquid propane fuel
- At 15.9 lb, it is not an ultra-light portable heater
Pros
- 3 heat settings, 6,000, 12,000, and 18,000 BTU
- Heats areas up to 450 sq. ft.
- Up to 69 hours on a 20 lb propane tank
- Tip over shut off and ODS auto shut off
- Battery free piezo ignition
Cons
- 450 sq. ft. coverage may not suit larger spaces
- Requires a standard 20 lb propane cylinder
- No thermostat listed in the product data
Pros
- 6,000, 12,000, and 18,000 BTU heat settings
- Radiant warmth for spaces up to 450 sq. ft.
- ODS and automatic tip-over shut-off
- Runs up to 72 hours on low with a 20 lb tank
- 18.4 lb steel cabinet with rolling casters
Cons
- For outdoor use, not stated as indoor rated
- Needs a standard 20 lb propane tank
- No thermostat listed in the product data
Pros
- 10,000 BTU blue flame heat
- Heats up to 300 sq. ft.
- Thermostat cycles burner on and off
- O.D.S. with automatic shut-off
- Includes 10 ft hose and regulator
Cons
- Liquid propane gas only
- 300 sq. ft. coverage limit
- 15 lb weight may be less portable
Pros
- 30,000 maximum BTU output
- Heats up to 1,400 sq. ft.
- 3 manual heat settings, Low, Medium, High
- No electricity required for operation
- Oxygen Depletion Sensor with automatic shut-off
Cons
- Propane only, not for natural gas
- Blower sold separately
- Manual control, 3 heat settings only
Pros
- 3 heat settings, 6000, 12000, and 18000 BTU
- Heats spaces up to 450 sq ft
- Runs up to 69 hours on low with a 20 lb propane tank
- ODS and tip-over protection shutoffs
- Folds to 15 cm thin with 4 swivel casters
Cons
- For outdoor and well-ventilated indoor use only
- Requires a standard 20 lb propane tank
- Disconnect gas hose before folding for storage
What We Looked For in a Propane Heater for Indoor Use
A heater that burns fuel inside a closed room has to balance heat output against oxygen, ventilation and carbon monoxide. That is why the criteria below put room size and safety sensors ahead of raw power.
- Heat output and coverage: Among our picks, maximum output runs from 10,000 to 30,000 BTU. Rated coverage runs from 300 to 1,400 square feet, so the right unit depends on the room, not on the biggest number. Four of our picks top out at 18,000 BTU or less, which suits a bedroom, office or single-car garage. The cabinet heaters step down to 6,000 BTU on low, which helps when a small room warms up fast.
- Indoor rating and oxygen depletion sensor: Every one of our picks carries an oxygen depletion sensor. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, unvented gas heaters should have this sensor so the heater shuts off if oxygen drops too low, and buyers should choose a heater certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The ProCom ML100TBA pairs its sensor with ANSI certification and is rated for up to 500 square feet. Its 10,000 BTU output and High, Medium and Low thermostat settings are sized for bedrooms, offices and living rooms rather than open jobsites.
- Ventilation and carbon monoxide: The 3 cabinet heaters on our list are sold for outdoor and well-ventilated indoor use, so they suit a garage with the door cracked better than a closed bedroom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector, which keeps working through the same outage that sent you to propane. The U.S. Fire Administration adds that anything that can burn should stay at least 3 feet from a space heater.
- Fuel, tank size and run time: Every pick runs on liquid propane only and needs no electricity. The cabinet models hold a standard 20-pound tank and list run times of 69 to 72 hours on their lowest setting. The ProCom 10,000 BTU Propane Heater ships with a 10-foot hose and regulator so it can run from a 20-pound cylinder. Its thermostat cycles the burner to hold a set temperature across up to 300 square feet, which fits a small den or ice house. The CDC also says to use only the fuel a heater is designed for.
- Ignition and safety shut-offs: All of our picks light with a push button or piezo spark, so none needs batteries or an outlet. The CPSC requires tip-over cut-offs on electric and kerosene heaters, and 3 of our propane picks add one anyway. The Avenger A00 pairs its oxygen depletion sensor with a tip-over shut-off and reaches 18,000 BTU for up to 450 square feet. Its design leans toward outdoor work, so keep it to garages and workshops with a fresh air supply.
- Size and portability: Two of the ProCom units come with base feet and a wall bracket, so they can sit on the floor or hang out of the way. The cabinet heaters roll on casters, and one has 4 swivel casters with 2 locking brakes. That same model folds down to 15 centimeters thin for storage in a closet. The CPSC says to set any heater on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, never on a rug or carpet.
We left out central furnaces and whole-house systems because they need professional installation. Water heaters and heated blankets do a different job, and outdoor-only patio heaters are not rated for enclosed spaces. A few well-known heaters did not make the cut either, and the next section explains why.
The Competition
These are other propane heaters we looked at but did not put on our main list.
If your space is closer to a full basement or an open cabin floor, the Bilt Hard 30,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater is rated for up to 1,400 square feet. That is triple the 10,000 BTU of our top pick, with a thermostat and an oxygen depletion sensor. For a single bedroom or office, though, it is far more heat than the room can use.
Weight is where the Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Propane Radiant Heater falls behind. At 26.2 pounds, it is rated for up to 1,000 square feet and has an adjustable thermostat. It is a capable unit, but it does not match a typical room inside a house as closely as our main list does.
Its sibling, the Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Space Heater, is nearly identical on paper at 26.1 pounds. It also covers up to 1,000 square feet with a thermostat. We left it off for the same reason: our top pick handles a 500-square-foot room with a third of the output.
And if easy carrying is the whole reason you are shopping, the Mr. Heater Buddy weighs 7.1 pounds and makes 9,000 BTU. Its 225-square-foot rating is less than half the 450 square feet of our alternative pick. That leaves it short for most living rooms.
FAQs
Is it safe to run a propane heater inside a house?
It can be, if the heater is certified and has an oxygen depletion sensor, which the CPSC says unvented gas heaters should have. Add a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector, as the CDC recommends, and give the room some fresh air. Cabinet heaters sold for outdoor and well-ventilated use belong in garages and workshops, not sealed bedrooms.
How many BTU does one room need?
Our picks rated at 10,000 BTU cover 300 to 500 square feet, which fits most bedrooms and offices. The 18,000 BTU cabinet models reach up to 450 square feet, and the largest pick at 30,000 BTU is rated for up to 1,400 square feet. Start with the room size and pick the smallest heater that covers it.
How long does a 20-pound propane tank last?
The cabinet heaters on our list claim 69 to 72 hours on their lowest 6,000 BTU setting. Run time drops sharply on high, so keep a spare tank on hand during a long outage. Store spare tanks outside, never in the living space.
Where should an indoor propane heater sit?
The CPSC says to place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface and keep it at least 3 feet from bedding, drapes and furniture. The U.S. Fire Administration notes that portable heaters caused only 3 percent of home heating fires but 41 percent of fatal ones. Turn the heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.
Sources
- CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Home Fires From Space Heaters, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fire-safety tips and required safety features for space heaters.
- Safety Guidelines: During & After a Winter Storm, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Winter heating safety for space heaters, kerosene heaters and carbon monoxide.
- Heating Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration. Home heating fire statistics and prevention messages.
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