If you plan to camp in cold weather, a dedicated heating system is the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. This guide dives deeper into the specific systems, brands, and installation requirements for each heating option.
For a general overview of all heating options with pros/cons, see our main Heat guide. This page goes deeper into the practical details of choosing and installing a heating system.
For most van builds that will see cold weather: a Chinese diesel heater ($100-200) is the best option. Cheap, effective, sips fuel, and uses minimal electricity. If you have a gas vehicle and don't want a second fuel type, a vented propane heater ($400-800) is the next best choice.
Chinese diesel heaters (often sold under brands like Vevor, Hcalory, or generic names on Amazon) have become the dominant heating choice in the van build community. They're essentially clones of the much more expensive Webasto and Espar heaters, and while they're not as refined, they work surprisingly well for the price.
These are 2kW or 5kW units that burn diesel fuel to heat air, which is blown into the van through a duct. They include a fuel pump, combustion chamber, fuel tank (usually 5-10 liters), and a control unit with thermostat.
These are the "real" diesel heaters that the Chinese units are cloned from. Webasto Air Top and Espar Airtronic are the most common.
You can tap into your vehicle's existing fuel tank instead of using a separate tank. This eliminates the need to carry and refill a separate fuel supply. Just make sure the pickup is positioned so you can't accidentally run the heater and drain your driving fuel completely.
Vented propane heaters (like Propex) are sealed combustion units that draw air from outside, burn propane, and vent the exhaust back outside. The heated air is blown into the van through a separate, clean air stream. This is important - the combustion gases never enter the living space.
Vented propane makes the most sense if you already have a propane system for cooking (share the tank), or if you have a gas vehicle and don't want to deal with a separate diesel fuel supply.
Electric heating is the simplest option from an installation standpoint but the most demanding on your electrical system. There are two main approaches:
A standard 120V space heater running through your inverter. Easy and cheap ($20-40 for the heater itself), but uses 750-1500W. This is really only practical if you're plugged into shore power or have an enormous battery bank.
The math: A 1500W heater draws 125 amps from a 12V battery. Running it for 2 hours would drain 250Ah - almost an entire 280Ah battery. This is not viable for off-grid use.
A much more practical electric heating approach. A 12V electric blanket uses only 40-60W (3-5 amps). Running one all night (8 hours) uses 24-40Ah - totally manageable on even a modest battery system.
Best for: Moderate cold where you just need to take the edge off at bedtime. Not enough for extreme cold, but surprisingly effective for 30-50°F nights.
Practical combo: A diesel heater for true cold weather, plus a 12V electric blanket for mild nights when you don't want to bother with the heater. The blanket adds comfort on marginal nights without the noise and startup time of a diesel heater.
A note on portable propane heaters (Mr. Buddy): We don't recommend these for sleeping in a van. They're designed for open spaces, not sealed vehicles. In a closed van at night, they can consume oxygen and produce carbon monoxide at levels that are genuinely dangerous. People have died from using unvented propane heaters in enclosed spaces. Use a properly vented heating system instead.
For cold weather camping: A Chinese diesel heater ($100-200). It's cheap, effective, uses almost no electricity, and a gallon of diesel lasts days. The installation is a weekend project. Yes, it takes some tinkering to dial in, but the value is unbeatable.
For mild/moderate cold: A 12V electric blanket ($30-50) might be all you need. It uses minimal power and requires zero installation. Use it alone for 30-50°F nights, or as a supplement to a diesel heater on really cold nights.
Skip if: You only camp in warm weather. A good sleeping bag handles cool nights just fine, and your van's built-in heater works when you're driving.