8 Best Outdoor Heaters for Patio of 2024

By Harry RamosLast update: 2023-12-14

Don't let the cold temperature at night lose your interest in enjoying your party outdoor. You can add a little warmth to this atmosphere with an outdoor heater.

Here are the best outdoor heaters for patio you can buy in 2024:

  • Best Overall (Propane Patio Heaters): AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater
  • Best for Small Area (Propane Patio Heaters): Hiland HLDS01-GTHG
  • Most Durable (Propane Patio Heaters): Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze
  • Best for Large Area (Propane Patio Heaters): Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S
  • Best Overall (Electric Patio Heaters): Dr. Infrared heater
  • Best for Large Area (Electric Patio Heaters): DONYER POWER Electric patio heater
  • Quietest Model (Electric Patio Heaters): sundate outdoor heater
  • Best for Small Area (Electric Patio Heaters): Hiland HLI-1P
8 Best Outdoor Heaters for Patio
Best Overall
AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater
  • Propane Patio Heaters
Best for Small Area
Hiland HLDS01-GTHG
  • Propane Patio Heaters
Most Durable
Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze
  • Propane Patio Heaters
Best for Large Area
Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S
  • Propane Patio Heaters
Best Overall
Dr. Infrared heater
  • Electric Patio Heaters
Best for Large Area
DONYER POWER Electric patio heater
  • Electric Patio Heaters
Quietest Model
sundate outdoor heater
  • Electric Patio Heaters
Best for Small Area
Hiland HLI-1P
  • Electric Patio Heaters

Best Overall (Propane Patio Heaters): AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater

AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater
AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater
Pros
  • Powerful

  • Stylish design

  • Sturdy

Cons
  • Not clear instruction

Is there really a perfect heater with high durability, strong power, good mobility, and beautiful design? More than these outstanding features, AmazonBasics is extremely easy and safe to use.

It's straightforward for a tall and thin floor-standing heater to fall. However, this model is an exception. Its base reservoir system allows you to fill with water or sand to add weight, improving stability. But, this heater is not a perfect solution on heavily windy days.

Even first-time users can use this model easily. After installing, what you need to do is to adjust the large variable-heat control knob to choose a suitable level of heat or turn off the unit.

When it comes to safety, it will automatically shut off when the heater gets tipped over. Therefore, there is no need to worry about unexpected accidents.

After adding water or sand, the heater is pretty heavy. So, if you want to move it from a place to place, you can mount the 2 attached smooth-rolling wheels to transport with less effort on your end.

AmazonBasics Commercial propane outdoor patio heater Specifications

Height

89 inches

Heat Range

18 feet

BTU Output

46,000

Highlight Features

Powder-coated slate gray finish, piezo ignition, auto shut-off tilt valve, wheel

Verdict

Do you want to purchase a heater with high durability, excellent performance, a lot of safety features at a reasonable price? Pick up AmazonBasics.

Best for Small Area (Propane Patio Heaters): Hiland HLDS01-GTHG

Hiland HLDS01-GTHG
Hiland HLDS01-GTHG
Pros
  • Safe

  • Durable

Cons
  • Not work well in large space

You have a small and compact patio, right?

If so, there is no need to waste your money on a big model with a large capacity. The size and power of Hiland HLDS01-GTHG are enough to heat a small area. Specifically, this heater produces 40.000BTU, which can provide a 10 sq ft patio with the warmth.

Also, thanks to a small design and its black wheels, you can move this model inside your house when it's rain easily. If you are a lazy person and that day doesn't have strong winds, the cover can protect the heater from light weather conditions.

Hiland HLDS01-GTHG Specifications

Height

91’’

Heat Range

10 sq Ft.

BTU Output

40,000BTU

Run Time

8-10 hrs

Highlight Features

Wheels in Black color, One cover and One Stainless Steel table, a reliable igniter and a Safety auto shut off tilt valve

Verdict

Hiland HLDS01-GTHG can provide you with enough warmth.

Most Durable (Propane Patio Heaters): Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze

Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze
Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze
Pros
  • Straightforward to maneuver

  • Quick to operate

  • Easy to follow the manual

Cons
  • It takes time to assemble

Where you live has strong winds frequently, right? And does the structure of your patio require a floor standing machine?

In these cases, don't worry because I am here to offer an appropriate solution. This model is made from commercial-grade steel, which is tested to pass safety standards. It is durable enough to resist damages from strong winds, heavy rains, snows, and fire.

Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze Specifications

Height

89’’

BTU Output

46,000 BTU

Run Time

10 hours

Highlight Features

Heavy duty commercial grade steel, wheels, 20 pound LPG propane tank,

Verdict

The high-durable level of the Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze is a long-term investment.

Best for Large Area (Propane Patio Heaters): Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S

Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S
Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S
Pros
  • Durable

  • Effortless to move

  • Sleek design

Cons
  • Not ideal to use in a covered patio

  • A bit hard to assemble and change the tank

First, you need to know this thing. BTU is the amount of energy that a heater will produce.

While a small portable patio heater produces 10.000-35.000 BTU's, the bigger ones can create 35.000-50.000 BTU's.

The heat output of Legacy heating is 47.000 BTUs, which can warm a big patio. Thus, this is a perfect choice for parties with a lot of people on cold days. Although this product can be affected by weather, it still works well on a patio with strong winds and even a constant inflow of cold air.

Legacy Heating CAPH-7-S Specifications

Height

88 inches

BTU Output

47,000 BTUs

Highlight Features

Hammered Black powder coating, wheels, 20lb Propane tank

Verdict

Do you want to warm plenty of people in a large space? Legacy heating is an ideal solution.

Best Overall (Electric Patio Heaters): Dr. Infrared heater

Dr. Infrared heater
Dr. Infrared heater
Pros
  • Healthy

  • Durable

  • Weatherproof

  • Easy to install

Cons
  • Not detailed instruction

No matter which solution you will heat, this overall product can meet your requirements.

This is an electric-powered patio heater and an infrared patio heater, so you can safely use both indoors and outdoors. It has 3 heat output settings, which allow you to adjust the highest modes (1200W-1500W) to generate more power for warming up an outdoor area. When changing 900W, it's incredibly safe to use in an enclosed environment.

This infrared doesn't take time to heat your entire room. Instead, it directly produces a steady stream of heat particles to warm you. Thus, when turning on, you will feel warmer immediately without waiting.

Moreover, you can put this heater in your bedroom where it requires a high level of quietness. This model creates radiate light instead of fan producing noise.

Depending on the design of your patio, you can install it on the wall or the ceiling because the package includes a wall and ceiling mounting bracket. In the event of the ceiling, there is no need to worry about a high patio ceiling. You can control your model through a remote.

Dr. Infrared heater Specifications

Dimension

35 x 8 x 4 inches

No of Heaters


Heat Output Setting

900W, 1200W, 1500W

Highlight Features

Suitable for indoor and outdoor installations, clean, instant and odorless Infrared heat, remote, wall and ceiling mounting bracket, durable and weatherproof aluminum

Verdict

Dr.Infrared heater is a perfect product at a reasonable price.

Best for Large Area (Electric Patio Heaters): DONYER POWER Electric patio heater

DONYER POWER Electric patio heater
DONYER POWER Electric patio heater
Pros
  • Easy to install and carry

  • Lightweight

  • Durable

  • Energy-efficient

  • Weatherproof

Cons
  • Short power cable

Do not judge a book by its cover.

The design of DONYER POWER is small, but its capacity is high. At the highest setting mode, it can produce the power up to 1500W. And a 1500 watts heater can emit 5100 BTUs to heat a 150 square feet patio. Though it creates plenty of heat, this thing won't hurt children and pets.

What's more, its 360° all-round heating feature can provide evenly heat in all directions. No matter where you sit or stand in your patio, you can feel the warmth.

Perhaps most of you know that it's ideal to use halogen heaters in outdoor areas like patio because it can generate a high level of heat. DONYER POWER Electric patio heater is one of them.

DONYER POWER Electric patio heater Specifications

Dimension

17"x 17" x 13"

No of Heaters


Heat Output Setting

600W, 1500W

Highlight Features

Halogen heating pipes, 360°all round heating, use for indoor and outdoor activities

Verdict

This is the best solution to warm a large patio.

Quietest Model (Electric Patio Heaters): sundate outdoor heater

sundate outdoor heater
sundate outdoor heater
Pros
  • Easy to operate and assemble

  • Safe

  • Weatherproof

  • Suitable to use both indoors and outdoors

Cons
  • Not clear assembly instructions

The patio is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, read books, and enjoy the view around your house. Don't let the noise produced from a heater disturb this fantastic moment. In this case, you should consider the quietest sundate outdoor heater.

Unlike traditional heaters with moving parts, this infrared space heater radiates light instead of producing noise from fans. So, it is a wonderful solution for noise-sensitive environments like when reading.

sundate outdoor heater Specifications

Dimension

27 x 5.3 x 5.3 inches

No of Heaters


Heat Output Setting

500/1000/1500W

Highlight Features

Adapting a carbon fire tube as a heating element, remote control, waterproof switch, LED display,

Verdict

Do you want to enjoy the quiet and warm atmosphere in your patio? sundate is a big help.

Best for Small Area (Electric Patio Heaters): Hiland HLI-1P

Hiland HLI-1P
Hiland HLI-1P
Pros
  • Possible to use both indoor and outdoor

  • Weatherproof

  • Safe

  • Well made

  • No assembly required

Cons
  • Too bright light

Don't buy a big heater with a large capacity for a small patio because this thing can increase your electric bill unnecessarily.

With 1500 watts, producing 5100 BTUs, this heater is strong enough to heat a small patio about 150 square feet in the center heat.

Hiland HLI-1P Specifications

Dimension

40 x 40 x 6 inches

No of Heaters


Heat Output Setting

1500 Watts

Highlight Features

Indoor and outdoor use, stainless steel material, variable temperature control

Verdict

Owners of small patios should invest in this heater.

How To Choose The Best Outdoor Heater for Patio?

Types of Outdoor Heaters

Propane outdoor heater

It's effortless to add a propane heater to your patio because it doesn't require professional installation. What you have to do is only to put them together, attach the gas tank, and turn on.

In spite of its convenience, the cost is high in the long run; especially, you have to replace the gas tank regularly.

What you like:

  • Fast to heat up

  • Portable

What you don't like:

  • It's not suitable in a covered and enclosed space.

Electric outdoor heater

The electric outdoor heaters are usually the hanging and wall-mounted designs, but it doesn't require complicated installation. You just have to plug it in and enjoy the warmth from the heater. Compared to the gas and wood models, the electric outdoor heater costs you more in the long run.

What you like

  • Straightforward to use and maintain

  • Safe to use in a covered or an enclosed space

What you don't like

  • Must be used close to the outlet

  • Slow to heat up

Note:

In fact, there are two extra choices of outdoor heaters: natural gas and wood models. However, I won't recommend them in this article. While the natural gas outdoor heater needs professional installation, it's a bit hard for beginners to control the fire pit.

Designs of The Best Outdoor Heater for Patio

Floor-standing patio heaters

These heaters are the most common ones. They are usually the tall and thin gas heaters, producing a significant amount of heat.

These designs are used in restaurants and coffee shops with patios. Depending on the different types of fuel, sizes, and power, the price range varies.

Hanging and wall-mounted heaters

These models are an excellent choice for those who need to save floor space for more guests and more pieces of furniture. The heater can release enough heat to keep you warm as long as you install it in a proper position.

The price range of these types of heaters also varies. And it takes you a lot of time for installation. Of course, you can shorten this time if you have a useful skill. However, don't worry; it is not so complicated that you must find the help of professionals. Instead, you can completely do it on your own.

Tabletop heaters

This is the smallest one among others, so its capacity is limited. However, this reasonable model suits people with a tight budget and small space. Tabletop heaters are in the form of electric models. With a few others, they are gas devices.

They are small enough to put on a table, so this is a great solution for people who love sitting around a table and chatting on the patio.

How to Use

Answer the following questions:

  • What are the size and shape of your patio?

  • Will you organize parties or enjoy yourself in your patio?

  • How many people need to be warm in the patio?

If you have a small patio and everyone usually sticks close to a table or a specific area, I strongly recommend you use a tabletop heater. This electric outdoor heater can warm a covered and enclosed space.

Power

The power of a heater is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). The higher BTUs is, the more heat your model emits. Most manufacturers will let you know how far a heat can go. In fact, this feature can be affected by the temperature outside. You can take a look at what other customers say about in their reviews. They will let you know how much power a heater can provide in different types of weather and climates.

Safety

Which risk can you get from a heater?

If you don't weigh your floor-standing patio heater, it can't put up with mostly windy days. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE. To avoid these unexpected accidents, you had better invest in a model with an auto-shutoff feature. It will automatically turn off your heater when it gets a fall accidentally. Or, at least, you must find an effective method to anchor your model down.

You should read the manual, which provides you with caution in how to use it. This way can reduce safety risks significantly.

Weather

This feature will influence the amount of heat you need. If where you live drizzles regularly, a weatherproof electric heater is useful. In the event of high-powered winds, you should choose a wall-mounted heater instead of a floor-standing model.

Aesthetics

Many people don't care about anything but the functions of a heater. Meanwhile, others want to use an outdoor heater as decor to add to their patio. If you are one of them, consider a beautiful design.

Which Brands Make The Best Outdoor Heater for Patio?

Fire Sense

Fire sense is famous for an array of high-quality patio heaters in different designs. Moreover, all of them work efficiently; especially even beginners can use them.

Dr Infrared Heater

Dr Infrared heater products are an amazing combination between the energy efficiency of infrared heating and the comfort of convection heating. So, they can offer warmth throughout your house and help you save a lot of money on your electric bill.

FAQs

Can you put a patio heater under a covered porch?

Yes. But, remember to angle it on an open side. This helps your model work efficiently and offer enough lighting and warmth.

What is the best outdoor heating?

The electric heater is the best way to use outdoor because it won't be affected by the weather conditions on rain or wind days too much.

Do outdoor patio heaters really work?

How do you heat an outdoor patio?

You can use one of the following things to heat your outdoor patio, such as a fire pit, an outdoor fireplace, a gas fire table, a large portable heater, a hanging heater.

Do patio heaters work in the winter?

Yes, they do. The patio heater emits enough powerful radiant heat to offer warmth during the winter. And this type of heater works well in windy days with cold air.

Say no with cold air!

I’m Harry Ramos, who's crazy about all things green. I’m here to share some experience in my gardening adventure and how to choose the best products for your garden. Let's dig in, get our hands dirty, and celebrate the simple, earthy pleasures of the garden together!


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