A garage heater in Ottawa costs roughly $900 to $4,500 installed in 2026, depending on the type you choose. A hardwired 240-volt electric unit heater typically runs $900–$2,200 installed including the new circuit, a natural gas or propane forced-air unit heater lands around $2,200–$4,000, a gas infrared tube heater runs $2,500–$4,500, and a cold-climate ductless mini-split heat pump sits between $3,500 and $6,500. Operating cost matters as much as install cost here: with Ottawa winters routinely hitting -25°C, a natural gas heater costs substantially less to run than electric resistance, which...
Electric unit heaters are the cheapest entry point. A 5,000-watt 240V hardwired unit costs $250–$600 for the heater itself, plus $500–$1,400 for a licensed electrician to run a dedicated circuit from your panel — call it $900–$2,200 all in, more if your panel is full and needs a subpanel or service upgrade. Natural gas forced-air unit heaters (typically 45,000–75,000 BTU) run $2,200–$4,000 installed, which includes the gas line extension, venting through the wall or roof, and the electrical conn...
Plug-in 120V portable heaters cost $80–$250 but max out around 1,500 watts — enough to take the edge off a small space for an hour, not enough to hold a two-car Ottawa garage above freezing in January. Treat them as spot heat only.
Sizing depends on garage volume, insulation level, and how warm you want it. A common rule for an insulated Ottawa garage is roughly 45–55 BTU per square foot to maintain a comfortable working temperature in deep winter, and about 25–30 BTU per square foot if you only want to keep it above freezing. A standard two-car garage of about 500 sq ft therefore needs roughly 22,000–28,000 BTU for frost protection or 45,000–60,000 BTU for shop-level comfort. For electric, divide BTU by 3,412 to get watts...
Installing a heater in an uninsulated Ottawa garage is like heating the driveway. Before or alongside the heater, budget for the envelope. Batt insulation in the walls and ceiling of a two-car garage typically costs $1,500–$3,500 installed with drywall, or $2,500–$5,000 for spray foam, which also air seals. An insulated overhead door (R-12 to R-18) runs $1,800–$3,500 installed and makes a dramatic difference, since a bare steel door is usually the biggest single heat loss in the space. Weatherst...
Attached garages are cheaper to heat with gas because the gas line and venting runs are short. Detached garages often need a trenched gas line or a separate electrical feed, which can add $1,500–$4,000 depending on distance and whether the trench crosses a driveway.
Garage heating touches two regulators in Ontario. Any new hardwired electrical circuit — including the 240V feed for an electric unit heater or a mini-split — requires a licensed electrical contractor and an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) notification and inspection. Budget roughly $100–$200 for the ESA permit fee, usually included in your electrician's quote. Gas work is governed by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA): only a licensed gas technician (G2 or G1) may extend a ga...
Upfront price is only half the decision. At Ottawa's 2026 electricity and natural gas rates, electric resistance heat is the most expensive per unit of heat delivered, natural gas is typically the cheapest fuel, and a cold-climate heat pump delivers the lowest operating cost of all because it moves two to three times more heat energy than the electricity it consumes, even at low outdoor temperatures. Practically: if you have natural gas at the house and want the garage warm all winter, a gas uni...
In 2026, expect $900–$2,200 installed for a hardwired electric unit heater, $2,200–$4,000 for a natural gas forced-air heater, $2,500–$4,500 for a gas infrared tube heater, and $3,500–$6,500 for a cold-climate ductless mini-split.
For an insulated 500 sq ft two-car garage, plan on roughly 22,000–28,000 BTU to keep it above freezing, or 45,000–60,000 BTU for comfortable working temperatures in deep winter. Uninsulated garages can need nearly double.
Gas costs more to install but far less to run, so it's better if you heat the garage all winter. Electric is cheaper to install and fine for occasional use. A cold-climate mini-split costs the most upfront but has the lowest operating cost and adds summer cooling.
Yes, in most cases. A new hardwired circuit requires a licensed electrical contractor and an ESA notification and inspection. Gas heater installation must be done by a TSSA-licensed G1 or G2 gas technician and meet CSA B149.1 venting and clearance rules.
Yes. Insulating walls and ceiling and upgrading to an insulated overhead door lets you install a smaller heater and dramatically cuts operating cost. A bare steel garage door is usually the single largest source of heat loss.