Mr. Heater 30K Blue Flame Dual Fuel
#1 in Vent-freeFull review
The pick for heating a big room on either fuel with a thermostat and a long warranty. Add the blower kit for high ceilings.
Amazon $265.39$265.39
A gas wall heater hangs on an inside wall and burns propane or natural gas to heat one room, a cabin, a basement or a garage. These rankings compare what the makers publish on the same terms: how much heat it gives for the money, how big it is, how it is controlled, which fuels it takes and how long it’s covered.
Venting is the first choice. A vent-free heater burns in the room and sends all of its heat there, so it is cheap and needs no pipe through the wall, but it also puts water vapor and combustion gases into the room and relies on an oxygen depletion sensor to shut it off if the air runs low. Vent-free heaters are not allowed in California and are restricted in other states, counties and cities, most often in bedrooms and bathrooms, so check your local code before you buy. A direct vent heater is sealed, draws its air from outside and vents through the wall, so nothing burns in the room; it costs more and has to be installed on an outside wall.
Size is the second. Makers rate heaters by maximum input in BTU per hour, and a vent-free heater’s room size is also capped by code, which limits input to the volume of the space. Buy the smallest heater that does the job, not the largest that fits.
Controls are the third. A built-in thermostat holds a set temperature without you turning the valve by hand, a blower spreads warm air instead of letting it pool at the ceiling, and most vent-free heaters still run with no power, which makes them useful in an outage.
Top Picks
Shop by Venting
Vent-free
15 rankedBlue flame and infrared heaters that need no flue, the cheapest way to add gas heat to a room.
Top rated: Mr. Heater 30K Blue Flame Dual Fuel $265.39
Direct vent
14 rankedSealed wall furnaces that draw air from outside and vent through the wall, so nothing burns in the room.
Top rated: Rinnai EnergySaver EX38DTN $2,642.22
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Prices were last checked November 2, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best Vent-Free Gas Wall Heaters
- Mr. Heater 30K Blue Flame Dual Fuel#1 of 15Full review
The pick for heating a big room on either fuel with a thermostat and a long warranty. Add the blower kit for high ceilings.
Amazon $265.39$265.3930,000 BTUDual fuelYes - Mr. Heater 30K Radiant Dual Fuel#2 of 15Full review
A big radiant heater for a garage, workshop or open room on either fuel. It pairs thermostat control with the longest warranty in this group.
Amazon $265.39$265.3930,000 BTUDual fuelYes - Heatstar HSSVFBF30LPBT 30K Blue Flame#3 of 15Full review
The vent-free heater to buy when you want a blower and thermostat in the box on propane. It costs more up front but needs no add on fan.
Amazon $319.99$319.9930,000 BTUPropaneYes - Mr. Heater 20K Blue Flame Dual Fuel#4 of 15Full review
A thermostat blue flame heater for a living room or cabin of up to about 700 sq ft that may switch between propane and natural gas. The long warranty sets it apart.
Amazon $199.99$199.9920,000 BTUDual fuelYes - Mr. Heater 20K Radiant Dual Fuel#5 of 15Full review
A radiant heater for a drafty room, shop or cabin up to about 700 sq ft on either fuel. Radiant heat suits spaces where warm air escapes.
Amazon $209$20920,000 BTUDual fuelYes
Best Direct Vent Gas Wall Heaters
- Rinnai EnergySaver EX38DTN#1 of 14Full review
For a small home, cabin or open plan space that needs one wall unit as the main heat source with modern thermostat control. Owners in outage prone areas should plan a backup.
Amazon $2,642.22$2,642.2238,400 BTUNatural gasYes - Rinnai EnergySaver EX22DTN#2 of 14Full review
The pick of the Rinnai range for a large living area or small cabin that wants quiet, even heat with real thermostat control. Pair it with a backup if outages are common.
Amazon $2,218.86$2,218.8621,500 BTUNatural gasYes - Rinnai EnergySaver EX17DTN#3 of 14Full review
For a large room or small home zone that needs steady, thermostat controlled heat. The EX22DTN is worth the small step up if the space is borderline.
Amazon $2,005.92$2,005.9216,700 BTUNatural gasYes - Rinnai EnergySaver EX11DTN#4 of 14Full review
For a mid sized room, finished basement or sunroom where you want set-and-forget thermostat control. Buyers who need heat without power should look at a millivolt furnace instead.
Amazon $1,677.06$1,677.0611,000 BTUNatural gasYes - Rinnai EnergySaver EX08DTN#5 of 14Full review
For a bedroom, office or small addition where steady, quiet, thermostat controlled heat matters more than purchase price. Skip it if you need heat through power outages.
Amazon $1,401.75$1,401.758,000 BTUNatural gasYes
How We Rank
Each heater is ranked against others with the same venting, and scored on its price per 1,000 BTU, its heat output, its thermostat, blower and ignition, whether it runs on both fuels and its warranty.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per 1,000 BTU/hr | 30% |
| Heat output | maximum BTU/hr | 15% |
| Controls | thermostat, blower and electronic ignition | 20% |
| Fuel | runs on propane and natural gas | 5% |
| Warranty | warranty on the whole heater | 30% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.