When it comes to indoor heating, propane heaters are one of the best options available. They are highly efficient and can quickly warm up a room. Among the top-rated models are the Mr. Heater MH9BX, the ProCom MG10TBF and the Dyna-Glo RMC-FA60DGD. These highly portable heaters are perfect for those who want to move them around from room to room easily. The Mr. Heater MH9BX, for example, has a built-in handle and a lightweight design, making it easy to move around.
The ProCom MG10TBF has a heat output of 10,000 BTUs, making it ideal for larger rooms. The Dyna-Glo RMC-FA60DGD has a thermostat control system that allows you to adjust the temperature to your desired level. All three models are highly rated and considered some of the best indoor propane heaters on the market.
Best Indoor Propane Heaters
- Mr. Heater Vent-Free Propane Heater
- Mr. Heater F274830 Big Buddy Heater
- Dyna-Glo IR18PMDG-1 Infrared Heater
- Dyna-Glo IBF10PMDG Liquid Propane Heater
- Mr. Heater F232017 Portable Buddy Heater
- Martin Direct Vent Wall Heater
- Camco Olympian Wave Catalytic Heater
- ProCom MGH10BF
- Dyna-Glo IRSS18LPT-2P
The 10 Best Indoor Propane Heaters in 2022
As you can probably guess, I’ll walk you through the best propane heaters for indoor use throughout this section. So, without further ado, are you ready to meet your next propane heater?
1. Mr. Heater Vent-Free Propane Heater
I’m kicking off this list strongly with one of the best indoor propane heaters, the Mr. Heater Vent-Free heater. It would help if you took a moment to appreciate this heater’s compact, modern, and cute design that’ll fit right into any room and camping trip.
Mr. Heater uses a blue flame burner and heat output of 30,000 BTU/hr, making it perfect for large rooms or small houses. Despite its size of 11.25 x 27.25 x 27 inches, this heater is much more powerful than you’d think. It’s advertised to heat and raise temperature levels up an area of up to 1,000 square feet!
Also, if you’re looking to save some room, this Mr. Heater unit works as a wall-mounted propane heater. It weighs around 30 lbs; it’s not too heavy, but I wouldn’t say it’s one most portable propane heaters on the list.
Moreover, Mr. Heater is vent-free, which raises some safety concerns. I strongly recommend getting a carbon monoxide sensor if you don’t have one already; you should never take risks when it comes to gas as lethal as carbon monoxide. I have to mention that my sensor didn’t read any gas leaks or unusual levels of carbon monoxide even after I let this heater run for hours. Still, you can never be too careful.
It has a built-in thermostat to control how hot you want the room to be and five heat settings. Additionally, the heater is quite safe because it has an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) that’ll shut off the heater if the oxygen in the room gets too low.
Lastly, this indoor safe portable propane heater uses electronic ignition but doesn’t need electricity to run. “How?” you might ask, and the answer is that its ignition is battery-operated.
Pros:
- It has five settings for heat
- Oxygen depletion sensor
- Battery-powered electronic ignition
- Powerful
- Compact design
- Wall-mounted option available
Cons:
- The pilot turns off randomly
2. Mr. Heater F274830 Big Buddy Heater
Coming in second place for the best indoor propane heaters is the Mr. Heater F274830 Big Buddy. This heater is much more powerful than you might think despite its small size.
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy indoor portable propane heater has three settings that you can choose from: low, medium, and high, and heat output of 4,000, 9,000, and 18,000 BTU/hr, respectively. As you can see from the energy usage, this heater is advertised to warm up heating enclosed spaces up to 450 square feet, but I’d even say that, on the highest setting, this heater can handle bigger rooms than that.
This Mr. Heater Big Buddy liquid propane heater has some incredible safety features, including tip-over protection, which shuts the heater down in case it gets knocked down or tipped over. Moreover, the heater will also shut down if the pilot light goes out or detects a lack of oxygen in the room, making it suitable for indoor use.
My favorite feature about this Mr. Heater liquid propane heater model is that you can use a battery or connect it to a power outlet as it needs electricity for the fan. Many people, including myself, don’t like connecting their portable indoor propane heater to an AC source because it’s a hassle if the power goes out, so the battery-operation option is a game-changer.
More importantly, you can connect the heater to two 1-lb propane cylinder tanks or just one 20-lb propane larger tank. If you use it occasionally, going for the first configuration is much more convenient. However, if you’ll be using this indoor heater all winter, you should connect it to a 20-lb propane tank.
If there’s one thing to complain about, it would be that the Mr. Heater Big Buddy propane heater doesn’t have a built-in thermostat; however, the three heat settings make up for it.
Pros:
- Three heating options: low, medium, and high
- The blower fan uses DC or AC power sources
- Tip-over safety shut
- It shuts off if the pilot light is out or it detects low oxygen levels
Cons:
- No built-in thermostat
- It uses up propane gas quickly
3. Dyna-Glo IR18PMDG-1 Infrared Heater
Dyna-Glo is a brand known for producing high-quality indoor propane heaters, and its IR18PMDG infrared heating unit is no exception. This heat is vent-free, so you’re guaranteed heat and power usage efficiency.
Speaking of heat, the Dyna-Glo IR18PMDG has a heat output of 18,000 BTU/hr, meaning it’s quite powerful. It can heat spaces of up to 700 square feet as advertised, which is quite accurate, I’d say. Of course, it all boils down to how cold the room is and whether it’s insulated, but this heater can handle large rooms or even small houses.
The fact that this heater is an infrared one means that it targets heating objects and people rather than air, and then these objects start warming up the entire room. The heated objects can keep a room warm for longer than you might think, which results in less operating time for the heater itself.
This space heater is wall-mounted, so you’ll be saving some larger space. However, if you’re looking for a standing option and like this great propane heater, you can purchase a floor stand, but it’s sold separately. You can also get a blower fan if you want optimum heat distribution.
Even though the Dyna-Glo IR18PMDG doesn’t have a built-in thermostat, it has three settings that you can choose from: low, medium, and high. Additionally, it’s battery-ignited, so you don’t need to plug it into a power outlet.
For safety, this propane heater automatically shuts off if it detects low oxygen levels, thanks to its ODS.
Sadly, there’s one disadvantage about this heater that I have to mention; it must use a 100-lb propane tank or larger, meaning it’s not the best option for occasional usage.
Pros:
- Energy-efficient propane heater
- Heats objects and people, not air
- A wall-mounted propane heater
- Three settings for heat
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a built-in thermostat
- Requires a 100-lb propane tank or larger
4. Dyna-Glo IBF10PMDG Liquid Propane Heater
Dyna-Glo makes another appearance as one of the best indoor propane heaters on my list, this time with the IBF10PMDG indoor propane heater. This heater’s all-black design is so elegant that it’ll take the room’s look up a notch. Not only does it function perfectly, but it also looks like a part of the decor.
Producing a heat output of 10,000 BTU/hr, this is the least powerful heater on the list so far, but don’t take that as a negative. Having a heating unit that’s too powerful for the room is a waste of energy, so settling for the most suitable propane heater is what you should be opting for.
It can warm up to 300 square feet, the size of an average living room or an above-average bedroom. In other words, this is the perfect indoor safe propane heater for most cases and rooms.
This Dyna-Glo heating unit is a blue-flame liquid propane heater, which heats the air, proving that this is a great heater for bedrooms. Also, it’s a ventless propane heater, so you don’t need to worry about installing pipes or an adequate ventilation system.
The Dyna-Glo IBF10PMDG offers three settings: low, medium, and high heat, making up for the fact that it doesn’t have a built-in thermostat.
It’s worth noting that the manufacturer explicitly mentions on their official website that this heater must be used with a 20 or 40-lb propane tank only. I recommend following what the manufacturer says when dealing with indoor propane heaters.
Safety is always a massive concern with indoor propane heaters. The Dyna-Glo IBF10PMDG shuts off if it detects low oxygen in the room. Additionally, it’s a battery-assisted igniter, which is much safer than manual ignition.
Pros:
- Perfect for bedrooms
- Battery assisted igniter
- It offers three heat settings
- It has an oxygen depletion sensor
- Vent-free, blue flame propane heater (Air propane heater)
Cons:
- No built-in thermostat
5. Mr. Heater F232017 Portable Buddy Heater
Mr. Heater makes another entrance to my list with the F232017 Portable Buddy heater. As the name implies, this heating unit is perfect if you want a portable indoor propane heater to carry around the house. It weighs only 10 lbs and has a handle that can be folded down, taking portability to a new level.
The Mr. Heater Portable Buddy portable indoor propane heater has two heat settings, low and high, with energy outputs of 4,000 and 9,000 maximum BTU of heat, respectively. It’s advertised to heat up areas of up to 225 square feet, but I’d even say it’s suitable for rooms larger than that on its high setting. Unfortunately, this unit doesn’t have a built-in thermostat, just like all the other top indoor propane heaters on this list.
A radiant heater is perfect for areas like garages and living rooms that aren’t insulated because radiation propane heaters tend to warm up objects and people, not air.
Among my favorite things about this Mr. Heater unit is its safety features. Because this heater is quite small and portable, it’s very likely that you’ll accidentally run into it or knock it down somehow. Luckily, it has tip-over protection that shuts the heater down if it gets tipped over, making it one of the few indoor portable propane heaters with that feature.
Moreover, this heater has an oxygen depletion sensor that’ll immediately shut it down if it detects low oxygen levels in the room.
This portable propane heater has a swivel regulator, allowing you to connect this heater to a remote gas supply. However, you’d have to buy a single hose and a filter, as they’re sold separately.
I must mention that I found myself burning through propane tanks faster when using this Mr. Heater model, so keep that in mind.
Pros:
- Accidental tip-over safety shut-off and ODS
- Offers two settings for radiant heating
- Portable space heater with a foldable handle
- Remote gas supply
- It has a swivel regulator
Cons:
- No built-in thermostat
- It uses a lot of propane
6. Martin Direct Vent Wall Heater
Vented indoor propane heaters are the perfect devices for indoor use because they are safe compared to ventless ones. For that, the Martin Direct Vent heater is your best bet.
There are two models of this wall heater: 8,000 and 20,000 BTU options. The former is advertised to warm an area of up to 194 square feet, which is pretty accurate. Also, the latter model is perfect for large rooms or small houses, thanks to the fact that it can handle areas of over 500 square feet.
This indoor propane heater has a built-in thermostat with low to high heat settings. Adjusting the heater to your liking is a breeze; you turn a knob!
As a wall-mountable, vented heater, you can already tell installation isn’t easy. Not only will you need to connect it to your tank, but you’ll also have to get professional help to dig a hole into the wall and install the vent. However, the installation kit comes with a heater, so that’s a bonus.
It’s nowhere near as easy a floor-standing heater, but it’s worth the effort, considering how long this heater can last. It’s an investment in terms of both cost and effort.
I have to touch on this heater’s design; the die-cast grill looks modern, and the overall sleek design gives the room a cozy feeling. The 20,000-BTU model is a bit large, but that’s justifiable, considering how powerful it is.
Pros:
- Modern design
- Offers two BTU configurations
- Micro heat adjustments
- It has a built-in thermostat and thermoelectric safety valve
Cons:
- Installation is a bit difficult
7. Camco Olympian Wave Catalytic Heater
I had to include a catalytic heater, and there’s no better one than the Camco Olympian Wave Series, specifically, the Wave 6 one. Catalytic propane heaters are flameless, meaning there’s a lower risk of accidents, which is why catalytic heaters are so popular nowadays.
Focusing on the Wave 6 propane heater doesn’t necessarily have a thermostat, but it offers adjustable heat levels ranging from 3,200 to 6,000 BTU/hr. It’s powerful enough to reach the desired temperature and to warm up areas up to 230 square feet, making it the perfect indoor propane heater for RVs, tents, and homes.
I love how portable this indoor propane heater is; it’s lightweight enough that I can carry it around the house, around camping, and it’s not too bulky, so it fits perfectly in any room. You can also mount it onto a wall, which is a decision you won’t regret, considering how long-lasting this heater is.
This portable propane heater is radiant, so it heats objects rather than air and uses convection-style heat (convection heating). I must mention that it takes some time to start heating the room. However, the warmth will last a while because the heated objects will radiate warmth into the room for a long while, even after you shut off the heater.
In addition to this propane heater's safety shut-off valve, it uses a Piezoelectric lighter that turns on the heating unit with a spark.
Pros:
- Equipped with a safety shut-off valve
- Adjustable heat settings
- Lightweight and portable heater
- Can be wall mounted
- It uses both radiant and convection heat
Cons:
- It takes some time to start heating the room
- It doesn’t have a built-in thermostat
8. Mr. Heater F215100 Little Buddy
What can I say? Mr. Heater keeps making incredible indoor propane heaters, and I must include them. The Mr. Heater Little Buddy heater is just what it sounds like. It’s a small heater, about the size of a lamp, perfect for spot heating.
This tiny heater produces 3,800 BTU/hr of heat energy, which is so low compared to other indoor propane heaters on the list, and that’s what makes the Little Buddy so special! You can leave this propane heater indoors on a nearby surface and direct it towards you, and you’ll be warm in a few short minutes. It can heat about 95 square feet to give you a better perspective.
The propane heater’s angle is 45 degrees, which is the perfect angle for the most coverage. However, it’s not adjustable. You’d have to test different areas and locations for this Mr. Heater heating unit to get the best results possible.
Moreover, the Mr. Heater Little Buddy indoor propane heater has an ODS that shuts off the heater when detecting low oxygen levels. Also, it has tip-over protection, which is critical considering its size; accidentally knocking it down is possible.
The Mr. Heater Little Buddy is a radiant heater, which you should know by now means that it heats objects rather than air. In this case, radiant heating is ideal because such a small propane heater isn’t capable enough to warm up the air; spot heating is where it shines.
It’s just 5 lbs in weight, so you can easily move it from one location to the other with the utmost ease. Lastly, it uses 1-lb propane cylinder tanks, and each tank can last around 5 hours, which is quite decent.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Perfect for spot heating
- ODS and tip-over safety shut
Cons:
- It takes a while to light
9. ProCom MGH10BF
The ProCom MGH10BF is a unique heater! It’s a dual-fuel heater, which can operate on propane or natural gas! Such a feature isn’t easy to find, so ProCom offering it in the affordable MGH10BF model is incredible.
It’s a blue flame technology heater, so it heats the air in the room; you’ll get warm just mere seconds after turning this heater on. It’s best suited for an insulated room, but always keep a vent open because this heater is vent-free.
The ProCom MGH10BF produces 10,000 BTUs of heat energy and can warm up a room of up to 500 square feet, which is quite a large area. This compact heater is a lot more powerful than it looks.
I have to talk about this dual-fuel heater’s design. It looks modern with its slim construction and black-and-white color scheme; it’ll give the room a cozy feel, especially with the blue flame.
Additionally, if you’re seeking a portable indoor propane heater, you’re lucky because the MGH10BF weighs just 14 lbs. When combining its weight with its slim design, you’d get a portable unit that can fit into any room.
Equipped with ODS, this indoor heater will shut off if it detects an increase in carbon monoxide levels or a decrease in oxygen. Saving you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning infections. Also, it uses Piezo ignition, so you don’t need to plug it into a power outlet or worry about the battery running out.
Pros:
- Slim and modern design
- Can operate on natural gas or propane gas
- Compact and portable
- Equipped with an ODS
- Uses Piezo ignition
Cons:
- Not very energy-efficient
10. Dyna-Glo IRSS18LPT-2P
I’m strongly finishing off this list of the best propane heaters with another Dyna-Glo heater. The IRSS18LPT wall heater is an excellent pick for an infrared heater that can cover large areas.
With a BTU rating of 18,000, the Dyna-Glo IRSS18LPT can warm up a heated enclosed space to 700 square feet. I’d say that’s the perfect rating for an average user who wants a powerful heater that’s still energy-efficient and won’t cost a fortune.
As an infrared propane heater, this unit can save lots of energy as it heats objects in the room, which will stay warm for hours even after you shut the heater off. Also, it doesn’t need to be plugged into a power outlet, which is always a bonus!
This Dyna-Glo heating unit boasts a built-in thermostat control knob that you can use to adjust the heater’s settings according to how hot you want the room to be. Additionally, the thermostat turns off the heater when the room is warm to help preserve propane.
Even though this is a wall heater, you can purchase separately-sold legs if you want a standing heater. Choosing between mounting it or getting the legs depends on personal preference and whether you plan to move this propane heater indoors around the house.
To finish this review, I have to mention that this wall heater boasts an ODS, which is expected from an indoor propane heater; it’ll shut off if the sensor detects low oxygen in the room.
Pros:
- It has a built-in thermostat with multiple adjustable heat settings
- Energy-efficient
- Equipped with an ODS
- Good value for the money
Cons:
- Legs are sold separately
11. Other models we looked at include
Here are the following safe indoor propane heaters that we review in our rating that will serve as your central home heating system. Some can still be used as both indoor and outdoor propane heaters or at other job sites:
Mr. Heater Corporation 29,000-45,000 BTU Heater, Mr. Heater F215100 Safe Indoor Propane Heater, Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy Heater, Mr. Heater MH18B Propane Heater, Mr. Heater MH9BX, Mr. Heater MH18CH Propane Heater, Dewalt DXH12B Portable Propane Heater, Dura Heat Propane Heater and Dyna-Glo BFSS30LPT-2P Indoor Propane Heater.
Are these propane heaters safe, you ask? Yes, indeed, these space heaters are very safe. Purchase and try these indoor heaters with no worries as these safe heaters come with a 1-year warranty or longer warranty period.
How to Pick an Indoor Propane Heater
Before jumping the gun and buying the first indoor propane heater your eyes land on, there are a few factors that you need to consider. Here’s everything you need to know in our indoor propane heater reviews and guides.
Safety Features
It goes without saying that a heater's safety features make a perfect heater and a heater's safety features are the most critical aspect of any heating unit.
Many concerns arise when indoor propane heaters are brought up because their carbon monoxide emissions could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. It is dangerous, so you need portable heaters with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). Most propane heaters, if not all, are equipped with ODS. That sensor can shut off the heater if it detects increased carbon monoxide levels or if the oxygen ones get too low.
However, I recommend even taking it further and getting a carbon monoxide detector if you don’t have one. CO isn’t a gas you’d want to take risks with, as it can be dangerous and takes hours to get out of the lungs. Make sure you’re well-acquainted with CO poisoning symptoms, so you can spot it early on and take suitable actions.
Another one of the most critical safety features is tip-over protection, which is especially for standing propane heaters. It’s very likely that you’d run into your heater and knock it down; I know I’ve done that quite a few times myself, and the tip-over protection saved the day every time. It shuts off the heater once it’s tipped over to prevent fire hazards or causing damage to the heater.
Speaking of damage and fire hazards, going for a propane heater with overheating protection as an additional feature is a welcomed plus.
BTU Rating
British Thermal Unit, otherwise known as BTU, is a measuring unit of heat energy. This rating will give the clearest idea of how powerful the heater is and whether or not it’s suitable for your needs.
First, you need to know how large the area you want to heat is. After that, multiply that number by 40 and ta-da! That’s how much BTU/hr you need.
Keep in mind that this is a very general rule; many more factors can affect the unit’s heating capabilities, like the heater’s type, the room’s insulation, and how high the ceiling is. Most and many propane heaters manufacturers specify the maximum range of area each of their propane heaters can cover, so always take that into account.
Size
The heater’s size is directly proportional to how powerful it is. Generally, larger indoor propane heaters can cover larger areas. However, if you found two space heaters with the same heating capacity and don’t know which one to go for, go for the more compact gas heaters.
At the end of the day, the heater is a device for an additional heat source that you add to the room; it’s not a part of the furniture or the decor, so going for a compact one won’t significantly affect the aesthetics of the room. Also, smaller propane heaters don’t take up much room space.
Thermostat
A built-in thermostat is an incredible feature that, sadly, not all propane heaters provide. Indoor propane heaters with built-in thermostats can be quite pricey, but they’re cost-efficient in the long run, and let me tell you how.
Your heater’s built-in thermostat control can turn it on and off depending on how hot the room is. What I mean is when the room gets to the desired temperature, the thermostat will turn off the heater or run it on the lowest settings possible to help preserve propane fuel.
An alternative to a built-in thermostat would be opting for a unit with multiple heat settings. While that’s not the most efficient, it’s a much more budget-friendly approach.
Heater’s Type
Throughout this article, I included multiple different indoor propane heaters. The most popular propane heater types are blue flame and infrared ones, but what is the difference?
The difference is what each type heats. Blue flame technology propane heaters are air heaters that warm the air, making them the better option for insulated rooms.
On the other hand, infrared or radiant propane heaters warm up objects and people, so they’re much more efficient in large, well-ventilated areas. Also, reflective radiant heat produced from radiant space heaters is much more energy-efficient because those heated objects can keep radiating heat into the room even if the heater is turned off.
However, you need to be aware of a massive disadvantage to infrared heaters: radiant heat can damage nearby furniture, especially burnable furniture. Make sure you remove any antiques or valuable items as far away from the heater as possible.
Another type I mentioned is catalytic propane heaters. They use chemical reactions inside a catalytic converter to produce heat energy, which isn’t as scary as it sounds. Catalytic propane heaters don’t use as much propane as the other two.
However, there’s a misconception that catalytic propane heaters don’t produce carbon monoxide gas, which is false information. Treat them like a regular infrared or blue flame heater, and make sure the room is well-ventilated with a CO detector nearby.
Propane heaters are also more efficient than electric heaters because they cost less, decently warm up a cubic foot of room and are readily available during a power outage, so you won't be worrying about indoor supplemental heating from your electric heaters if power electricity goes off. If you have an electric generator available at home, electric heaters are also an option.
Vented vs. Ventless Heaters
Over the course of this article, you saw vented and ventless indoor propane heaters. Well, now it’s time to know the pros and cons of each.
Vent-free propane heaters are much more efficient than a central heating system because you won’t lose any heat energy through the vents. However, the emissions of the combustion process are released into the air and not on exhaust, which is concerning. I’m not saying they’re dangerous, but they’re not as safe as vented gas heaters ventilation.
Vented heaters are much safer for indoor use because the harmful emissions are ejected through the flue vent and don’t stay in the warm air you’re breathing. However, their installation process is a pain in the neck! You’d have to dig a permanent hole into your wall to install the vents for proper ventilation, and you’d probably need to hire someone to install them.
Final Words
Searching for an indoor safe propane heater as a reliable source of heat should be a stroll in the park now that you’ve reached this point in the article. However, to make things even easier for you, here’s a quick recap of my top pick heater and why it earned that spot.
The Mr. Heater Vent-Free Propane heater is an unmatchable heating device, to say the least. Its compact construction and modern design make it a perfect solution for any room size or decor you have.
Looks aside, this safe indoor propane heater is incredibly powerful and can handle a 1,000-square-foot area with no issues whatsoever. Also, it’s quite portable, so you can move it around effortlessly and even carry it for camping purposes.
Moreover, this indoor propane heater boasts a built-in thermostat with five heat settings! Not only will you be able to pick any setting you want, but the thermostat will also help maintain the room’s heat, and the oxygen depletion sensor will monitor any rise in carbon monoxide levels.
