Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 vs Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988
The short answer
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 comes out ahead overall with 7.0/10 against 6.4/10 for the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 is stronger on safety, heating performance, health & materials and value. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 is stronger on bedroom usability. At current verified prices, the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 costs about $24.57 less.
- Choose the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 if: Owners of a one- to two-car garage or woodshop who can run a hardwired 240V circuit and want sturdy, well-documented whole-space heat.
- Choose the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 if: Owners of a shop that already has a NEMA 6-30R welder or compressor outlet who want 240V heat without hardwiring.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 |
|---|---|---|
| Noise & Sleep-Friendliness | 4.5Fan-forced unit heater, so the blower is audible at the bench. | 4.5Fan-forced blower. |
| Safety | 8.2Manufacturer-confirmed UL/cUL listing, thermally protected enclosed motor, mounted off the floor away from vapors. | 6.3UL/cUL per retailers and a high-limit cutoff, but used at floor level and no confirmed tip-over switch. |
| Heating Performance | 8.36kW suits a typical two-car garage; the thermostat has no numbered settings (Bob Vila, Popular Science). | 7.85.6kW suits up to about a two-car garage. |
| Bedroom Usability | 6.0Analog dial, no remote; hardwired, so you likely need an electrician. | 6.5Plug-and-play with a 6-30R outlet; otherwise you need an electrician. |
| Health & Materials | 8.0Steel housing, sealed motor for dust, no combustion, no recall found. | 7.5Steel body, guarded grills, no combustion. |
| Value | 8.0$176 for 6kW, sold by Amazon; 1-year warranty. | 7.5About $151 for 5.6kW; adding an outlet may cost extra. |
Specifications
| Spec | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 | Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 |
|---|---|---|
| Heater type | Fan-forced wall/ceiling-mount unit heater (marketed as infrared) | Fan-forced portable (marketed as infrared) |
| Fanless (no blower) | No | No |
| Overheat protection | Yes | Yes |
| Safety listing (ETL/UL) | UL and cUL listed (manufacturer) | UL and cUL listed (retailer listing) |
| Thermostat type | Analog thermostat, 37–104°F, High/Low | Analog dial, 37–113°F |
| Remote control | No | No |
| Warranty | 1 years | 1 years |
| Manufacturer-rated coverage | 600 sq ft | 600 sq ft |
| Oscillation | No | No |
| Voltage | 240V single phase | 240V / 208V |
| Max wattage | 6,000 W | 5,600 W |
| Power connection | Hardwired (cord not included) | 6 ft cord with NEMA 6-30P plug (needs 30A 240V 6-30R outlet) |
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966
Pros
- UL and cUL listing from the manufacturer
- Three independent recommendations
- Enclosed motor suited to shop dust
- 3,000W and 6,000W settings
- Tilting louvers to aim heat
Cons
- Thermostat has no numbered settings and testers found it finicky
- No remote
- Hardwired, so most buyers need an electrician
- Fan-forced, so it is not quiet
The best choice for most garage and shop owners who can get 240V. It is well built, listed and widely recommended, and the main costs are the electrician and some thermostat fiddling.
Full Dr. Infrared Heater DR-966 review →Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988
Pros
- 5,600W output
- Plugs into a 6-30R outlet
- Thermostat 37-113°F
- Listed UL and cUL by retailers
- Finger-proof grills
Cons
- Needs a 30A 240V outlet, and testers had trouble finding one
- Floor use only per the manual
- No tip-over switch confirmed
- Fan noise
A sensible choice for shops that already have the outlet. Otherwise a mounted unit is a better fit.
Full Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Electric Garage & Workshop Heaters (120V/240V) of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.