Patio heaters can be a significant investment as they can help you enjoy your patio and outdoor space. Due to cold weather, you don’t have to stay away from your garden or outdoor patio. Having the best patio heater can help you stay warm while you enjoy your outdoor space.
You can make the most out of your patio and garden with a patio heater. You can enjoy more family time at night, watch the sky, or enjoy BBQ with friends and family on your patio with the presence of a patio heater. Even though patio heaters might cost a little more, they are definitely a perfect solution to enjoying your outdoor space.
Due to the high number of patio heaters in the market, it can be pretty stressful to get a patio heater that suits your outdoor space. This guide brings you a list of the ten best patio heaters you can get.
Editor’s Choice
Best Overall: AmazonBasics Commercial Patio Heater 46,000 BTUs
Best Wood Burner Patio Heater: Wood Pellet Outdoor Patio Heater 72,000 BTUs
Best Electric Patio Heater: DONYER POWER 1500W Electrical Patio Heater 1500W
Best Table Patio Heater: Ener-G+ Outdoor Freestanding Electric Table Heater 1500W
Best Ceiling Patio Heater: AZ Patio Heaters Electric Patio Heater 1500W
Best Propane Patio Heater: AZ Patio Quartz Glass Tube Patio Heater 40,000 BTUs
Best Infrared Patio Heater: Muskoka Lifestyle Products 1500-Watt Infrared Heater 1500W
Best Patio Heater
AmazonBasics Commercial Patio Heater #Perfect Choice!
This patio heater, a product of AmazonBasics, is durable and efficient. This patio heater which measures 33 x 18 x 89 inches and weighs 40 pounds, can keep you warm in your outdoor space.
It has a heat output of 46,000 BTUs, and it is an excellent alternative to a fire pit. Also, you can power this patio heater with gas. This gas patio heater can provide you with a quiet, comforting, and steady heat, and it produces no smoke, nor are there open flames to worry about.
This outdoor heater can serve both personal and commercial purposes. This commercial patio heater can also provide you with the final solution for a year-round outdoor entertainment.
Also, this outdoor patio heater can be easily moved from one point to another as it comes with a wheel that supports mobility. It is also well-coated in order to avoid rusting or quick damage and scratch.
This outdoor heater is easy to turn on due to the Piezo ignition system that it comes with.
Features you will like:
- No flames.
- Very durable.
- Piezo ignition system.
- Well-coated.
- Environmental-friendly.
- Easy to move around.
Wood Pellet Outdoor Patio Heater
This is a propane heater that has a simple design but works efficiently. This outdoor propane heater happens to be one of the best outdoor patio heaters.
It produces a heat output of about 72,000 BTUs and can better make you enjoy your outdoor space with your family and friends. This outdoor heater has a heating radius of about 10 feet, covering 300 square feet.
This propane patio heater produces a clean and soothing fire that can make you feel warm and comfortable. It gives you all the benefits that come with using a wood Fire Pit except the fact that there are no smokes.
You don’t have to worry so much about cleaning ashes when using this standing propane heater, as it takes about 4 hours of burn time to produce only a cup of ash. And it also has an easy design to enable you to take off the ashes easily. It also has a new shutoff key to enable you to start or stop the patio heater easily.
Features you will like:
- Very durable.
- Environmental-friendly.
- Fewer ashes.
Golden Flame True Commercial (Natural Gas)
Here is another outdoor patio heater that can serve for both personal and commercial use.
This patio heater is tall like most outdoor heaters and is powered by gas. This 3-sided pyramid-shaped heater emits heat of 41,000 BTUs and comes with a Quartz Flame Tube. This tall patio heater comes with controls that would enable you to adjust the dancing flames’ height and control the heat output. You can set the outdoor patio heater to suit your demands with this feature.
This patio heater is top-rated and coated with a non-rust aluminum frame to prevent it from rusting. This outdoor gas heater has an advanced rapid multi-spark electronic ignition system that makes starting and stopping this heater an easy task.
Also, mobility wheels are included for easy movement of this outdoor patio heater. To avoid fire accidents from occurring when this patio heater falls, a Smart Auto-Tilt Shutoff system has been incorporated into the heater. This outdoor gas heater is perfect for almost every outdoor use.
Features you will like:
- It can serve both residential and commercial use.
- Adjustable flame height and heat output.
- Aluminum frame to prevent rusting.
- It is a Smart Auto-Tilt Shutoff system.
- It has mobility wheels.
DONYER POWER 1500W Electrical Patio Heater
Unlike other standing patio heaters, this patio heater is being mounted on the ceiling, and it can be used as an indoor heater and an outdoor heater. This outdoor patio heater is powered by electricity.
It comes with two different heating modes, and they are;
- 600W (which is the low heating mode).
- 1500W (the high heating mode).
The design of this patio heater enables it to heat at 360⁰. This ceiling patio heater has a halogen tube that allows luminous heat dissipation, high heating efficiency, no oxidation during heating, and long service life.
You can adjust this electric patio heater to a height that children and pets won’t get to. The installation process of this electric patio heater is a simple one and won’t take much time to complete.
Features you will like:
- Environmental-friendly.
- Two heating modes.
- Easy to install.
- Very durable.
Ener-G+ Outdoor Freestanding Electric Table Heater
Here is another electric outdoor patio heater, but it is a portable and easy-to-move electric heater this time. This portable outdoor heater is dust and water-resistant.
This outdoor patio heater makes use of radiant infrared energy, which requires no gas or other flammable fuels, making it environmentally friendly. It comes with a gold tube technology that would help transmit more efficiently.
The “Red hot” Bulb filament can last up to 5,000 hours, and it is replaceable. It also produces an output of 1500 watts.
This electric patio light is made of high-quality materials in order to provide a reliable service to you. Unlike other patio heaters that are powered by gas and propane, this electric outdoor patio heater has a low cost of operation. Due to how portable this patio heater is, one can use it anywhere. It is a perfect fit for camping.
Features you will like:
- Portable and easy to move.
- Dust and water-resistant.
- Environmental-friendly.
- Low cost of operation.
- It can be used for camping.
AZ Patio Heaters Electric Patio Heater
This is a very unique and well-designed electric patio heater that looks like a ceiling fan. One can use it both indoors and outdoors.
This outdoor patio heater is very easy to assemble and is suitable for umbrellas and parasols. It also has variable temperature control to adjust the temperature to meet your demand. This electric patio heater has three burners and a heating mode of about 1500 watts.
Also, this outdoor patio light is designed to last long as it is waterproof. An anti-tilt switch has been added to this electric heater for safety purposes.
Definitely, with this electric outdoor heater, you can get to enjoy your outdoor space and get value for your money.
Features you will like:
- It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Easy to assemble.
- An adjustable heat level.
- It is waterproof.
- It has an anti-tilt safety device.
AZ Patio Quartz Glass Tube Patio Heater
This is another outdoor area heater that is powered by propane. This patio heater has a 91-Inches tall radiant heat glass tube, and it is built for both personal and commercial purposes.
This propane patio heater has a heat output of up to 40,000 BTUs. It also has a variable control that can enable you to adjust the heater to suit your demand.
It is very durable and has a good stainless-steel finishing in order to prevent it from rusting quickly. Also, this outdoor propane heater has wheels for easy mobility.
The designers of this heater also considered the safety of the users and included an anti-tilt safety device. It has a reliable ignition system that enables you to turn on and off the heater easily.
Features you will like:
- It has a glass tube.
- It can be used for both residential and commercial purposes.
- The heat level can be adjusted.
- Very durable.
- It has an anti-tilt safety device for safety.
Muskoka Lifestyle Products 1500-Watt Infrared Heater
This outdoor patio heater is an infrared heater and is 8” tall. This heater can serve both indoor and outdoor purposes. This Infrared patio heater has a heating mode of 1500 watts and does not produce any harmful or negative ultraviolet rays. It is very important that it is kept away from the reach of kids.
This infrared heater is easy to move around and is built to resist bad weather, and is also waterproof.
This heater comes with an adjustable wall mount bracket. Also included is a remote control that can be used to switch the heater on and off. Also, this remote control can be used to set the heat level at either a low, medium or high level.
This easy-to-move patio heater can be used in patios, decks, BBQ areas, Horse stables, Barns, camps, and many more.
Features you will like:
- It can serve both indoors and outdoor.
- Easy to move around.
- It is waterproof.
- It has a remote that can be used to switch the heater on and off. Also, the remote can adjust the heat level.
Fire Sense Telescoping Infrared Outdoor Heater with Offset Pole
This infrared outdoor patio heater is powered by electricity and comes with a 12ft non-retractable electrical cord. This electric-powered infrared patio heater can serve both outdoor and indoor purposes.
This patio heater comes with a pole that the heater sits on in order to keep it away from the reach of children and for safety purposes. Also, it has a heating mode of about 1500 watts and gets to heat up as fast as possible. It comes with an easy-to-use on and off toggle switch.
This patio heater is made of stainless steel in order to avoid rusting, and it is also dust and waterproof. It also has wheels for easy movement. When you purchase this outdoor patio heater, you get a heater cover that you can use to cover the heater when not in use.
Features you will like:
- It can serve both indoors and outdoor.
- It has a pole to hang on to keep away from children.
- Heats up very fast.
- It is waterproof.
- Easy to move around.
- It has a cover.
Dyna-Glo 48,000 BTU Premium Stainless-Steel Patio Heater
This outdoor patio heater is a stylish heater built with premium stainless steel to make it last longer. This outdoor heater is powered by propane.
The heat output of 48,000 BTUs that this patio heater produces can keep an entire family warm while enjoying the outdoor space.
It has a one-step electronic ignition that makes it easy to start and stop the heater. The patio heater also has a variable control which allows you to adjust the temperature according to your needs.
It has an automatic shutoff unit for safety purposes. Also, it has a wheel in order to make it easy to move the heater around.
Features you will like:
- Adjustable heat levels.
- Automatic shutoff unit for safety.
- It has mobility wheels.
- Very durable.
Best Patio Heater Buyer’s Guide
Which type of Patio Heater Do you need?
There are four basic types of patio heaters in the market, and they are:
Freestanding Patio Heaters
A freestanding patio heater is the most common type of patio heater and can be used in virtually every environment and for all purposes. In outdoor areas such as bars and restaurants, this type of patio heater is mostly used. Since this type of patio heater is freestanding, it can be placed anywhere on the patio.
Table Top Patio Heaters
Just as the name goes, this type of patio heater is mainly placed on a table. Although, they can also be placed on a high plain surface. This patio heater is designed to be closer to individuals as they have lower heat output. Like freestanding patio heaters, this patio heater can be easily moved.
Wall-Mounted Patio Heaters
Wall-mounted patio heaters are another type of patio heater and are very effective. They are best used by persons with little children around in order to prevent them from going close to it. Also, wall-mounted patio heaters are a good option for persons with pets around their patio. Wall-mounted patio heaters are also effective and efficient when heating the patio.
Ceiling Patio Heaters
Ceiling patio heaters are just the same as wall-mounted patio heaters. They both serve the same purpose, but the difference between them is that wall-mounted patio heaters are mounted on the wall. In contrast, ceiling patio heaters are hung on the ceiling, just like ceiling fans.
What Power Source Do You Need?
When it comes to patio heaters, there are different power sources, and knowing about the power source can help you make a good decision when choosing a patio heater. Here are the different types of power sources.
Propane-powered
Patio heaters powered by propane are easy to install and do not require a lot of skill to set up. Although, they cost more than patio heaters powered by natural gas.
The good thing about propane-powered patio heaters is that they heat up fast. Also, propane patio heaters, in most cases, are built to be portable and easy to move around.
The only main disadvantage of this power type is that you would have to replace the gas tanks.
Natural Gas-powered
Natural gas patio heaters are often preferred over propane patio heaters because they are less expensive and have a little maintenance cost. They also offer continuous heat.
The primary bad side of natural gas patio heaters is that a plumber’s service would be needed to set up the lines. Also, unlike propane patio heaters, they are not easy to move around.
Electric-powered
An electric patio heater is a unique and more user-friendly patio heater as it does not require ventilation; hence one can use it for both indoor and outdoor purposes. They are highly efficient and do not emit carbon and harmful gases, making them more environment-friendly.
When setting them up, it is best to get a professional to do the wiring in order to avoid any future damage. Also, they are not easy to move around in most cases as they rely on an electric supply. They are slow when heating up but are still efficient.
Infrared-powered
Infrared patio heaters work with electromagnetic waves and are able to transfer energy to a body. Unlike electric patio heaters, they have a lesser cost of operation and are cheaper.
Some infrared patio heaters are built to be mounted, while some are portable and easy to move around.
Wood-powered
Wood-powered patio heaters are now becoming obsolete because they are not so environmental-friendly. Also, they require more attention as you would have to keep adding more woods and clean out the ashes.
Also, you have little or no control over the heat output. Many persons who use wood patio heaters do enjoy the atmosphere it provides. Also, it is affordable to build or purchase a pit for wooden patio heaters.
How many BTU do you need?
BTU, which stands for British thermal unit, measures heat/thermal energy. BTU helps ascertain the thermal output of a heating unit. It is important that you choose heaters with BTUs that are okay with the patio space. By that, I mean you should not go with a heater that has an output that is larger than your patio space. Although, you can adjust most patio heaters stated in the list above to suit your space size.
You might wonder what the best heat output rate for your patio space is, and here is a list of the recommended BTUs for an outdoor area:
| Area in Square Feet | Recommended BTUs |
| 100-150 sq. ft. | 5,000 BTUs |
| 150-250 sq. ft. | 6,000 BTUs |
| 250-300 sq. ft. | 7,000 BTUs |
| 300-350 sq. ft. | 8,000 BTUs |
| 350-400 sq. ft. | 9,000 BTUs |
| 400-450 sq. ft. | 10,000 BTUs |
| 450-550 sq. ft. | 12,000 BTUs |
| 550-700 sq. ft. | 14,000 BTUs |
| 700-1,000 sq. ft. | 18,000 BTUs |
| 1,000-1,200 sq. ft. | 21,000 BTUs |
| 1,200-1,400 sq. ft. | 23,000 BTUs |
| 1,400-1,500 sq. ft. | 24,000 BTUs |
| 1,500-2,000 sq. ft. | 30,000 BTUs |
| 2,000-2,500 sq. ft. | 34,000 BTUs |
How many Watts makes 1 BTU?
If you choose to go with an electric patio heater or an infrared patio heater, there is still a simple way to know how many BTUs are being produced. In general, 1 watt produces 3.4 BTUs of heat, and 1,000 watts produces 3,400 BTUs.
Factors to consider when picking a patio heater
- First, know the amount of heat you need in your patio space. You might not know what BTU you would need. But here is how to calculate and know the minimum BTU you would need in your outdoor patio space.
The area in Square Feet x (current temp in F – desired temp) = minimum BTU
Also, the recommended list above can help you choose the BTU measurement you need for your patio space.
- Secondly, you need to make up your mind about the power source of the patio heater you need.
- Also, you must understand the cost of maintenance of the patio heater you choose to buy.
Conclusion
In general, outdoor patio heaters are essential and can help you enjoy your patio space. You don’t have to worry about a cold weather when you have an efficient and effective patio heater in your outdoor living space.
Also, it is essential to read every manual that comes with the patio heater you buy. Many patio heaters have their unique sides, and until you read the manual included by the manufacturer, you might not enjoy all the benefits that it has.
The list of patio heaters mentioned above is well-built and can suit different purposes. Some can serve for only commercial purposes, some can serve for only residential purposes, while some can serve for both.
Get yourself an effective outdoor patio heater and always enjoy your outdoor living space.
