Best indoor propane and kerosene heaters for power outages (2026)
When the power is out in winter, an electric space heater is useless, and a heater that burns propane or kerosene is how many households stay warm. This page compares the ones made for indoor use, Mr. Heater's Buddy range on propane and convection heaters on kerosene, on heat output, the room size the maker gives and run time. Every one of them makes carbon monoxide, so the safety rules here come from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and a battery-powered CO alarm comes first. We haven't used these ourselves; every figure is from the listing.
By Tom Calder · Updated October 24, 2026 · 7 products, prices indicative
Our picks
Mr. Heater Buddy
The classic: one living room through an outage
Mr. Heater Little Buddy
One small room, a bathroom or a home office
Mr. Heater Big Buddy
A larger space, and the longest run on a 20 lb tank
Sengoku HeatMate
Long, quiet heat with no electricity: one or two rooms
All 7 compared
| Heater | Heat output (max) | Heats up to (maker) | Fuel | Run time (maker) | Safety shutoffs | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9,000 BTU/hr · 225 sq ft · Propane, one 1 lb cylinder · 5.4 h low, 2.4 h high on a 1 lb cylinder · Low-oxygen shutoff The classic: one living room through an outage | 9,000 BTU/hr | 225 sq ft | Propane, one 1 lb cylinder | 5.4 h low, 2.4 h high on a 1 lb cylinder | Low-oxygen shutoff | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The heater most people mean by 'Mr. Heater Buddy': 4,000 or 9,000 BTU, for about 225 square feet, and approved by its maker for indoor and outdoor use, with a low-oxygen shutoff. On a 1 lb cylinder it runs 5.4 hours on low and 2.4 on high, so a long outage means a stack of cylinders. Like every fuel-burning heater it still makes carbon monoxide, so a battery-powered CO alarm in the room isn't optional. Best for The classic: one living room through an outage Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want hours from one cylinder: the Big Buddy takes two and runs far longer on a 20 lb tank. | ||||||
2. Mr. Heater Big Buddy 4,000/9,000/18,000 BTU Propane Heater (Midnight Series) Best for a bigger space 18,000 BTU/hr · 450 sq ft · Propane, two 1 lb cylinders or a 20 lb tank (hose sold separately) · Up to 96 h on low from a 20 lb tank · Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over shutdown A larger space, and the longest run on a 20 lb tank | 18,000 BTU/hr | 450 sq ft | Propane, two 1 lb cylinders or a 20 lb tank (hose sold separately) | Up to 96 h on low from a 20 lb tank | Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over shutdown | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Three settings up to 18,000 BTU for about 450 square feet, a fan to move the heat, and room for two 1 lb cylinders or a 20 lb tank, where Mr. Heater gives up to 96 hours on low. Low-oxygen and tip-over shutoffs are both listed. Note the listing's own line: indoor use is not approved in Massachusetts (or Canada). Best for A larger space, and the longest run on a 20 lb tank Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you live in Massachusetts and want it indoors: the listing says that isn't approved there. | ||||||
3,800 BTU/hr · 95 sq ft · Propane, one 1 lb cylinder · Not given on the listing · Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over shutoff One small room, a bathroom or a home office | 3,800 BTU/hr | 95 sq ft | Propane, one 1 lb cylinder | Not given on the listing | Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over shutoff | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The smallest Buddy: 3,800 BTU on a single 1 lb propane cylinder, for about 95 square feet by Mr. Heater's figure. That's one small room, such as a home office or bedroom you're sitting in during the day. It has the low-oxygen and tip-over shutoffs and one-button ignition. Keep the room's door open to the rest of the house while it runs, as CPSC advises for unvented fuel-burning heaters. It's too small for a living room. Best for One small room, a bathroom or a home office Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to warm a living room: the 9,000 BTU Buddy covers about 225 square feet. | ||||||
11,000 BTU/hr · 275 sq ft · Propane, 1 lb cylinder · Up to 3.5 h low, 2 h high · Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over protection A bit more heat than the Buddy, with tip-over protection listed | 11,000 BTU/hr | 275 sq ft | Propane, 1 lb cylinder | Up to 3.5 h low, 2 h high | Low-oxygen shutoff, tip-over protection | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A newer, slightly bigger Buddy: 8,000 to 11,000 BTU for about 275 square feet, with low-oxygen and tip-over protection both on the listing and an all-around burner. The trade-off is run time on a 1 lb cylinder, up to 3.5 hours on low and 2 on high, so plan on a bigger tank for a long outage. Best for A bit more heat than the Buddy, with tip-over protection listed Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want the lowest setting for a small room: the classic Buddy drops to 4,000 BTU. | ||||||
10,000 BTU/hr · 1-K kerosene, 1.2-gallon tank · Up to 14 h · Automatic shutoff, tip-over switch Long, quiet heat with no electricity: one or two rooms | 10,000 BTU/hr | — | 1-K kerosene, 1.2-gallon tank | Up to 14 h | Automatic shutoff, tip-over switch | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A compact 10,000 BTU kerosene heater with a 1.2-gallon tank that runs up to 14 hours, push-button lighting that needs no matches or power, an automatic shutoff and a tip-over switch. Kerosene heaters come with rules: CPSC says use only water-clear 1-K kerosene, never gasoline, refuel outdoors once the heater is cool, and keep the room's door open to the rest of the house. Best for Long, quiet heat with no electricity: one or two rooms Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you won't store and handle kerosene safely: a propane Buddy is simpler. | ||||||
23,800 BTU/hr · 1,000 sq ft · 1-K kerosene, 1.9-gallon tank · About 12 h · See the listing Heating most of a floor without electricity | 23,800 BTU/hr | 1,000 sq ft | 1-K kerosene, 1.9-gallon tank | About 12 h | See the listing | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A big round convection heater, 23,800 BTU for up to 1,000 square feet by the listing, with a 1.9-gallon tank, about 12 hours of run time and battery ignition. That's whole-floor heat in an outage, and it puts out a lot of combustion gas too, so CPSC's rules matter more: door open to the rest of the house, a window cracked about an inch if the room is closed off or the house is tight, and a CO alarm. Best for Heating most of a floor without electricity Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only need one room: the 10,000 BTU HeatMate burns far less kerosene. | ||||||
23,000 BTU/hr · 1,000 sq ft · 1-K kerosene · Not given on the listing · Tip-over protection Big convection heat with tip-over protection listed | 23,000 BTU/hr | 1,000 sq ft | 1-K kerosene | Not given on the listing | Tip-over protection | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Another 23,000 BTU indoor convection heater for about 1,000 square feet, with tip-over protection on the listing. The listing is thin on detail (no run time or tank size), which is why it sits behind the Comfort Glow here; check the manual's tank size before you buy kerosene for it. Best for Big convection heat with tip-over protection listed Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want the details up front: the Comfort Glow lists its tank and run time. | ||||||
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Before you buy
Match the heater to the room.
Makers give a coverage figure: about 95 square feet for the Little Buddy, 225 for the Buddy, 275 for the Buddy FLEX, 450 for the Big Buddy and up to 1,000 for the big kerosene convection heaters.
Propane or kerosene?
Propane Buddys run on 1 lb cylinders you can store sealed, and the Big Buddy can run from a 20 lb tank with a hose and filter sold separately. Kerosene heaters run much longer per tank, but CPSC says to use only water-clear 1-K kerosene, never gasoline, and to refuel outdoors once the heater is cool.
Check the safety shutoffs on the listing
A low-oxygen shutoff on propane heaters (CPSC says unvented gas room heaters are required to have one) and a tip-over shutoff.
Check your local rules.
The Big Buddy's own listing says indoor use isn't approved in Massachusetts, and CPSC says to make sure an unvented gas room heater is legal in your community.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
Is a Mr. Heater Buddy safe to use indoors?
Mr. Heater says its Buddy heaters are designed and approved for indoor and outdoor use, and they have a low-oxygen shutoff. They still burn propane and make carbon monoxide, so keep a battery-powered CO alarm in the room, keep the door open to the rest of the house, as CPSC advises for unvented fuel-burning heaters, and turn the heater off when you go to bed. The Big Buddy's listing says indoor use isn't approved in Massachusetts.
Can I use a kerosene heater indoors?
Only one made for indoor use, and with CPSC's rules: use only water-clear 1-K kerosene and never gasoline, refuel outdoors after the heater has cooled, keep the room's door open to the rest of the house, and open a window about an inch if the door has to be closed or the house is tight. Keep it at least 3 feet from furniture or clothing, and follow your local code.
Can I sleep with a propane or kerosene heater on?
No. CPSC says never leave portable heaters on while sleeping, and never use fuel-burning heaters while sleeping in tents, campers or vehicles. Turn the heater off at bedtime and use blankets and sleeping bags instead.
Can I heat my house with the gas oven or stove?
No. Ready.gov says never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home: it raises the risk of carbon monoxide, fire and burns.
What size heater do I need?
Go by the maker's coverage figure for the room you'll actually use. In an outage it's usually better to heat the one room you're living in, with its door open to the rest of the house, than to try to heat the whole house.