Here at Knowtheflow.com we have recently turned our attention to portable car heaters, and frankly, we’ve become a little concerned about so many of the products out there that either doesn’t really work at all or are unsafe (or both) – and concerned too about so many of the buyer’s guides which unconcernedly recommend those products.
That is why we have decided to put together our own buyer’s guide for the best portable heaters to use in a car. We will focus on how well these heaters work, and how safe they are to use, and we’ll only recommend products which satisfy these two extremely important criteria.
What can I use a portable car heater for?
There are a number of reasons why you might want to get a portable
- As an emergency
heater - To keep you, or your passengers, warmer while driving
- To replace a broken or inadequate factory
heater - To help keep your windows clear and defrosted
- To keep your food warm
Portable car heaters do some of these tasks quite well, and others not so well, and so we would like to first talk a little about each of these applications and what you can expect.
Do portable car heaters really work?
The question of whether portable car heaters are any good depends on what you want to use them for.
The first thing that we should make clear is that any
Amazon pages and buyer’s guides all over the web are filled with such plug-in products which claim to heat the cab of your car, defrost your windows and keep you and your loved ones safe, but it just takes a few minutes of reading customer reviews to realize that none of them will do any of these things.
It is also easy to understand from a more technical angle. The kind of electrical current required to heat even smaller space, like the interior of a car, is so great that you would be blowing fuses in the lighter’s circuitry all the time. So cigarette lighter heaters, to prevent this, just don’t get that warm and are not really effective.
What kinds of portable heaters for cars are there?
There are, though, a few other options. And here we should make another point as clear as possible. If you want to keep a
We have found that in this case there are only a few basic types of heaters that you can really depend upon in an emergency and that in any situation will always work well for you:
- Propane Heaters – not to be run while driving, while you are sleeping in the car, or with the car completely sealed, these are perfectly safe if you crack the windows and give them some space.
- Electric
Heater with Emergency Battery – a two-part solution, this is often the very best and most reliable way to go.
- Direct Wired Heaters – these connect directly to your car’s electrical system, and because they will drain the battery they are best used when the engine is running.
5 Best Portable Heaters for your Car Comparison
There are a very few cigarette lighter heaters which work well, and we will include those below as well, and one rechargeable electric
What is the best portable heater for my car?
In this buyer’s guide – Top 7 Portable Heaters for your Car (2023 Edition) – we will pick the very best unit in six categories:
- What is the Best Portable Propane
Heater for my Car? - What is the Best Portable Electric
Heater for my Car? - What is the Best Portable Direct Wired
Heater for my Car? - What is the Best Portable Battery Powered
Heater for my Car? - What is the Best Portable Cigarette lighter
Heater for my Car (4 Types)? - What is the Best Portable Windshield Defroster for my Car?
- What is the Best Portable Lunch Box for my Car?
What is the Best Propane Heater for my Car in 2023?
Mr. Heater Little Buddy F215100 MH4B Propane Heater
- Indoor-safe portable propane heater for rooms...
- Continuous odor-free, 45-degree heating...
- Simple on/off buttons; uses 1-pound...
- Low-oxygen sensor and accidental tip-over...
- Recommended for emergency heat, tents,...
Although you may be tempted to get a big
The Mr Heater Little Buddy is a smaller
With the Little Buddy, you’ll enjoy a more modest 3,800 BTU output, which is still plenty of heat for any car, and for even extreme conditions, and it will operate at maximum output for over five and a half hours.
This
That said, the Mr Heater Little Buddy is one of the safest propane heaters on the market, with a sensor to monitor oxygen levels and a tip-over switch, either of which will turn the
The ideal small emergency
Please note: If you are in North America, this Little Buddy
What is the Best Portable Electric Heater for my Car in 2023?
NinjaBatt Portable Power Station
Andily Portable Ceramic Space Heater
- 【 Ceramic Technology】: Advanced PTC...
- 【Advanced Safety】: Auto Safety shut off...
- 【Adjustable Thermostat】 : Comfort Control...
- 【 Three Heat Settings With Fan】: 3...
- 【Compact Heater Dimensions】: 7.48" X...
Although in theory, an emergency
The best way to make sure that you are covered in an emergency, or any time you want or need a
In fact, that the most important item any emergency kit can have may well be a good rechargeable power station, and the best affordable unit we have found is the NinjBatt – a silly name but a serious product.
The NinjBatt has pure sine AC power, for any normal electrical product, and can power a
And the perfect
At only 7.5 inches tall, and weighing only 3 pounds, the Andily ceramic space heater puts out plenty of heat for a car’s interior, even at the low setting, and has excellent safety features as well – including a tip-over switch, an overheating switch and materials which will not burn or melt and remain cool even when the
The Andily portable ceramic
If used properly, though, it is the best ceramic
What is the Best Portable Direct Wired Heater for my Car in 2023?
American Cooling Solutions 20,000 BTU 12V Low Profile Universal Auxiliary Cab Heater
- Fits: Tractors, Trucks, Buses, Vans, Cars,...
- Universal Auxiliary Cab Heater
- Includes installation kit
- Adjustable Outlet Ports, Copper Tube Core
- 12V
We may be cheating here a little bit. I mean, a
But, if you’ll allow us, we simply couldn’t get behind the idea of using any portable
Not so with the American Cooling Systems 20,000 BTU heater, which has plenty of heat output for any sized car’s interior, and its low profile and under-seat mounting allow it to do its job discretely and without getting in the way.
Also, a great 12v truck
As such, it is a great option if your car’s
And, with a unit as great as this ACS auxiliary 12-volt
Keep in mind that this 12-volt
The American Cooling Solutions 20,000 BTU 12V Low Profile Universal Auxiliary Cab Heater is a truly superior product. Industrial quality materials and construction, simple and reliable design and an exceptionally high level of effectiveness – whether you are replacing or just supplementing your car, truck, van or SUV’s factory
To be sure, the ACS 20,000 BTU heater puts out a lot of heat and is good for even larger personal vehicles, but if you are looking for something a bit smaller, with an even lower profile and not quite as much heat, you may want to consider their excellent 13,000 BTU Universal Auxiliary Cab Heater – a perfect choice for compact cars.
What is the Best Portable Battery Powered Heater for my Car?
Fourheart Rechargeable Hand Warmers
The Fourheart Rechargeable Heater is a bit of a different option.
I know that, even with all of the safety features offered with the other heaters on our list of best portable heaters for your car in 2023/2021, some people still don’t feel completely comfortable using one in the small interior space of their car.
And so, if you ever run out of gas or are stuck in the snow or ice, and you need to stay warm for a few hours, something as tiny and simple as the Fourheart Hand Warmer can make a big difference.
A tiny, rechargeable
With its large 5,200 mAh rechargeable battery, the Fourheart rechargeable heater can also be used in an emergency situation as a power bank for a depleted phone.
The Fourheart
Ultra easy to use, the Fourheart has only one button, for power on and off and to switch between three temperature levels: 107° F (42°C), 118° F (48° C) and 131° F (55° C), and will stay warm for up to 8 hours on a charge.
A great little gadget to always keep in your glove compartment, the Fourheart Rechargeable Hand Warmers is our choice for a best portable battery-powered
They also make the perfect holiday gift for people you care about!
What is the Best Portable Cigarette Lighter Heater for my Car?
This category will cover the last four recommendations in our 2023 buyer’s guide for the best portable heaters for cars – the Vosarea Portable 12V Car
What is the best portable windshield heater for cars in 2023?
Vosarea Portable 12V Car Heater
We are going to start our recommendations for portable cigarette lighter heaters with the most problematic type of
And why are they so problematic? Well, we have tried many different dashboard heaters and researched lots more, and there is only one possible conclusion: none of them is any good!
These apparently clever and often cool-looking gadgets promise to sit easily on your dashboard and keep your windshield frost-free, and maybe even heat up the car’s interior as well.
In truth, though, they do none of that. What they do is make pathetic little whirring noises, put out almost no heat, or even air, do absolutely nothing to clear the front window, in fact even reduce visibility by blocking your view and – to add injury to insult – often blow fuses in your car’s electrical system.
We had totally given up on the idea when we came across the nifty little Vosarea, which is not only the best car
Looking like an oddly misshapen hairdryer, the Vosarea 12 volt heater puts out some hot air, enough to help you warm up and defrost your front windshield. You can use it on your hands and feet as well.
The Vosarea comes with a mounting bracket for your dashboard, but also has a handle for spot use. We highly recommend using it in this way, as a hand-held windshield
Please keep in mind that using the Vosarea windshield
The Vosarea 12V portable car heater comes with a cigarette lighter adapter, is made from high-quality ABS plastic and feels nice and solid in the hand.
There must be hundreds of 12-volt heaters which claim to do what this nice little unit actually does, but believe us – they don’t. The Vosarea portable 12 volt car heater is the one you can count on and is our choice for best portable dashboard
What is the best 12 volts heated lunchbox for cars in 2023?
Hot Logic 12 Volt Food Warming Tote
- HOT FOOD ON THE ROAD: Ideal for cooking...
- YOUR FOOD, PERFECTLY COOKED: Evenly cooks or...
- HEAT YOUR WAY: Compatible with most...
- SET IT AND FORGET IT: Requires no monitoring...
- DROP THE MIC: No more overcooked meals,...
Our final item in this 2023 buyer’s guide and review of best portable heaters for the car is not actually meant to warm you up – or, at least not directly.
Every once in a while you come across a product that is so useful, works so well and is so special that it develops a fierce loyalty among its customers, and the Hot Logic 12-volt food
The Hot Logic electric car stove is so much more, though than just a food warmer. It will reheat leftovers and keep them at your desired temperature, but it will also cook foods – even frozen or raw meat – quickly and easily, with no muss and no fuss, and keep them too at the perfect temperature until you are ready to eat.
I somehow didn’t believe it could be so easy, but you literally just put food in, plug it into the car’s lighter socket and come back in a few hours – anywhere from 1 to 12 hours for precooked food, and 1 to 12 hours if the food needs cooking.
The Hot Logic Food Warming Tote doesn’t dry food out, it preserves all of the flavors and it makes absolutely no mess. It is also absurdly easy to clean. Really, what’s not to love?
Not just for campers or RVs, the Hot Logic 12V Food Warming Tote is so useful for long road trips or for working commuters who want to save money on lunch every day. It’s our choice for the best 12 volt heated lunch box for cars in 2023, and is one of the most effective and useful gadgets we’ve even come across!
Should I Buy a Portable Heater for my Car?
- [Heating & Cooling] -In just 5 seconds, Car...
- [High Quality Design] -Intelligent design,...
- [Quick Installation] -just remove it from the...
- [Electronic Auto Heater] -These car heater...
- [Satisfactory Service] -365 days product...
If you live in a cold climate or ever travel though cold and wintry conditions, and you don’t already have an emergency
When you run out of gas, get stuck in snow or ice, your car breaks down or you simply need to pull over because of the conditions, you may have to wait in your car for help, and that can often take anywhere from an hour to several hours – sometimes you may be stuck overnight!
In those situations, an emergency
And for anybody who just wants a little more heat in the interior of their car, a portable
Whether you are looking for assurance and backup in case of emergency, warmth and comfort, or even nicely cooked hot food, you can select any one of the products on our buyer’s guide – Top 7 Portable Heaters for your Car (2023 Edition) – with total confidence, and we’re sure you’ll be more than happy with your purchase.
