Best Portable Car Heaters
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The best portable car heaters of 2024 are the Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater, TIKSCIENCE, Sunny Color, Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, and Mr. Heater Little Buddy.
- On average, you can expect to spend as little as $20 upward of $100 for a high-quality portable heater.
- When buying a portable car heater, it’s worth considering the heat output and installation location that will be best for what you want in a car heater.
The best way to heat your vehicle is by using the onboard air conditioning system. However, fixing your broken heating system can easily cost upwards of $500. The best portable car heater may be your only alternative during a harsh winter.
In this guide, we recommend several car heater options that we’ve tested. We’ve found options for window defogging, seat warming, and cab warming. Some of these heaters can be used outside of the car as well and are especially helpful for camping and outdoor use.
Portable Car Heater Reviews
In our search for the best portable car heaters on the market we wanted to consider heating power, convenience, and portability throughout our testing process. We measured each heater on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0 stars to evaluate each product.
What Is The Best Portable Car Heater?
We named the Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater, TIKSCIENCE 12V Car Heater, Sunny Color 12V Seat Cushion, Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, and Mr. Heater Little Buddy as the best-rated portable car heaters on the market in 2024.
Brand/Model | Cost | Overall Rating | Award |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Heater |
$80 |
4.3 |
Best Overall |
TIKSCIENCE |
$20 |
4.0 |
Best Defroster |
Sunny Color |
$55 |
3.7 |
Best Heated Seat |
Mr. Heater |
$75 |
3.6 |
Best for Large Cabs |
Mr. Heater |
$65 |
3.6 |
Also Consider |
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
Portable Car Heaters Ratings: Our Testing Process
After looking at factors such as car heater portability, design, customer ratings, and prices, our product testing team ordered the portable car heaters that best met these standards. A team member tested each product in a sedan, taking note of how well the portable car heater heated the space, was easy to move, and conveniently designed. Each portable car heater was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested portable car heaters here.
1. Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater: Best Overall
2. TIKSCIENCE 12V Car Heater: Best Defroster
3. Sunny Color 12V Seat Cushion: Best Heated Seat
4. Mr. Heater Portable Buddy: Best For Large Cabs
5. Mr. Heater Little Buddy: Also Consider
Portable Car Heaters Buying Guide
Frankly, the available options for heating a car are limited. Any heater that is powered through your car’s 12.0V outlet is unlikely to have enough power to combat freezing temperatures. Gas-powered portable heaters are much more powerful, but cannot safely be used in a car with the windows raised.
The best way to heat your cabin is always going to be your vehicle’s air conditioning system, but when these systems break, they can be costly to repair. If you lack the funds to repair your AC system, a portable car heater may be your only choice.
What To Consider
When looking for a portable car heater, consider how it will be used. Wired 12.0V electric car heaters can be used with the windows up, but aren’t very powerful. A propane heater can put out a lot of heat, but shouldn’t be used in an unventilated cabin. Driving with the windows down can bring in more cold air that the heater may be able to warm.
Some other alternatives to keep yourself warm in an unheated car are an electric blanket, a heated seat, or even an old-fashioned hot water bottle bag.
When it comes to dealing with cold weather inside a vehicle or camper, your best bet should be the vehicle’s heater fan. If your vehicle can’t adequately produce hot air, a 12V portable car heater might be a workable substitute.
We’d recommend using steering clear of propane or diesel heaters, since ventilation may not always be an option in winter weather. Ceramic heaters usually offer fast heating, and a power inverter for a lighter socket works as a plug adapter if needed. Still, customers should be wary of things like overheating with any portable electric car heater, and purchase items with modern shutoff safety features.
Compare Portable Car Heaters
Brand/Model | Power Source | Heat Output | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Heater
Golf Cart Heater | Propane gas | 4,000.0 British Thermal Units | 6.0 pounds |
TIKSCIENCE
12V Car Heater | 12.0V outlet | 510.0 BTU | 1.0 lb. |
Sunny Color
12V Seat Cushion | 12.0V outlet | N/A | 1.1 lbs. |
Mr. Heater
Portable Buddy | Propane gas | 9,000.0 BTU | 8.7 lbs. |
Mr. Heater
Little Buddy | Propane gas | 3,800.0 BTU | 5.0 lbs. |
Best Portable Car Heaters: Bottom Line
- Best Overall: Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater
- Best Defroster: TIKSCIENCE 12V Car Heater
- Best Heated Seat: Sunny Color 12V Seat Cushion
- Best for Large Cabs: Mr. Heater Portable Buddy
- Also Consider: Mr. Heater Little Buddy
Portable Car Heaters: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about portable car heaters:
Is there a portable heater for a car?
There are many portable heaters designed for cars. However, be wary of 12.0V car heaters, as this is not typically enough power to generate a significant amount of heat. Some portable heaters can be taken inside your car, though are not specifically designed for vehicle use.
Do portable car heaters really work?
Portable car heaters do not work nearly as well as your vehicle’s air conditioning system. Most 12.0V car heaters don’t throw a significant amount of heat and you may be better off with an electric blanket or heated seat cover.
However, a portable car heater can be useful to more quickly defrost your windshield or to add a little bit of heat in a pinch. Propane-powered heaters offer a lot more heat but cannot safely be used in a cab with the windows up.
What’s the best portable heater for a car?
We think that the Mr. Heater Little Buddy is the best option for a portable car heater. It’s small yet powerful. However, it has several drawbacks. Because it is gas-powered, you shouldn’t operate it inside your cab without ventilation (windows open). It’s also not easily stabilized in a moving vehicle, so it works well for situations where you may be parked but is not as good at heating your car while you’re driving.
How can I heat my car without a heater?
You can warm your body with a hot water bottle bag or a good blanket. If you need to heat your entire car and not just yourself, there are portable car heaters that can raise the cabin temperature. However, these aren’t as good as a functioning air conditioning system.
Parking your car in the sun with the windows up can raise the temperature of your car pretty significantly as well.
Can I use a propane heater in my car?
You can use a propane heater in your car, but take care when doing so. You should never run a propane heater in a car without proper ventilation. This means do not use such a heater while the windows are up. It is often not a good idea to use a propane heater in a car while driving unless the heater is completely stabilized. Otherwise, you risk burns or worse. It is also inadvisable to run a propane heater in your car with the windows up while you sleep.
Full Portable Car Heaters Testing Methodology
To test these heaters, we sat in the vehicle on a cold day, using nothing but the heater for warmth. Heating power, convenience, and portability are the most important factors we wanted to consider during our testing process to provide an honest evaluation of each product.
Heating Power: Our heating power score is based on the amount of heat each portable heater can generate, and how quickly it can get warm. Heaters that put out the most BTUs the quickest score best in this category.
Convenience: Not every one of our recommendations is specifically designed for use in a vehicle. Our convenience score is a representation of how well each heater integrates into the car. Does it have an easy place where it can rest or be stored? Can the heater be used while driving? Heaters that are well integrated into the vehicle and don’t require a fuel source score best in this category.
Portability: Heaters that are lightweight and easy to move score the best for portability. The inclusion of convenient carrying handles or storage options also contributes to a higher portability score.
How We Score Products
Star ratings help us to differentiate between products so we can honestly and accurately evaluate each portable car heater. We calculated an average rating of 3.8 out of 5.0 stars among the portable car heaters in this review.
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating is a well above-average score for the car heaters in our review. If the heater exceeded our expectations by heating our car quickly and being convenient and easy to use while on the road.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star rating is an above-average rating. If the car heater was efficient at heating our car but was larger and lacked portability, you’d likely see an overall 4.0-star score.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating is an average score for the portable heaters in this review. If the heater worked as expected but lacked convenience or was slower to warm up the car, you’ll see a 3.0-star score.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating is a below-average score. For example, if the portable heater did not heat our car to a noticeable temperature, you’d see a below-average rating.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star rating is a well below-average rating. If the car heater was defective in some way or was designed poorly with low-quality material, you’d see a 1.0-star rating.
Why Trust Motor1.com
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.