Here are the best patio heaters, researched and tested by The Spruce. This budget-friendly patio heater gets attention for its affordability, as well as the quality of materials and construction. It is made of aluminum, plastic, and steel that is powder-coated for durability and design. The heater also includes safety features, notably a shutoff that engages if the unit tips over. This is a propane heater, so you need to purchase separate propane to use it. Fortunately, propane is sold in most hardware stores and even some gas stations and grocery stores. Just keep in mind it adds to the overall cost. Price at time of publish: $132 (varies by color) We should note that every heater we tested, including this product, is recommended for temperatures no cooler than the mid-40s Fahrenheit; when we tested outdoors, on a bright, sunny day in mid-October, the temperature was unseasonably cold, in the mid-30s, and accompanied by a moderate breeze. “The wind was a fierce competitor to this heater,” our tester acknowledged. “With every slight breeze I could no longer feel any heat from this heater.” We acknowledge that the weather conditions may have impacted the unit’s effectiveness, which included a minute and a half to feel any heat (the manufacturer claims that the radiant infrared unit generates heat immediately), and a lack of heat beyond 3 feet away (the manufacturer claims a 44-square-foot range). However, we still recommend this product for its ease of assembly (which took only 6 minutes from out of box to operation), simplicity (a single on-off toggle switch and one heat setting), its IP rating of 65 (meaning it’s considered dust-tight and reasonably protected against water), and most of all, its 360-degree heat distribution, which effectively warmed folks sitting a short distance away from the unit. Owing to the product’s 8-inch height, we recommend that you position it on an elevated surface, such as a patio table, to heat everyone from the waist up. “If you set it in the center of a group of chairs for warming people while they were seated outdoors, I could see the appeal,” our tester said. Price at time of publish: $90 The gas-line hookup, which extends the height of the heater an additional 15 inches from the base, presents considerable challenges, however. You need to position the heater near a gas source, which may require costly professional installation. Make sure to check with your local building codes. Also, making use of gas adds to your utility bill. Price at time of publish: $264 The unit only extends 4 inches from the wall, so it shouldn’t take up a lot of space. You can choose from 900, 1,200, and 1,500 watts of power. You can also set a timer to have it turn off automatically, so you don’t have to worry about whether you left it on if you leave the house. Price at time of publish: $127 The round design ensures that it provides total-surround heat, limited to its dedicated space. To increase that, you could hang multiple heaters, although that does become expensive when you consider the cost of the heater and running extra electrical lines. Price at time of publish: $155 In examining this product on an unseasonably cold, 35-degree morning outside our Des Moines Lab, we used an IR thermometer to record testers’ surface body temperatures. This unit raised our tester’s temperature by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit in just 5 minutes. This felt just fine to our tester, who believed it would adequately warm four or six people sitting around it. “The heat feels warmish when I am sitting within 18 inches of it,” our tester agreed. The unit’s over two-feet height struck us as tall, but necessary to provide a substantial heating surface while remaining compact enough to withstand stiff breezes without falling over. “If the table was bumped it would fall over,” our tester noted, “but it should stay up through wind and minor bumps.” As with many units we tested, this product includes a safety that shuts it off when it’s tipped over. Price at time of publish: $170 We liked the unit’s 4.5-foot height. “The tower is tall, so it would heat people from toes to top of head when sitting,” our tester remarked. We also liked that we didn’t have to get up from our comfy patio or deck seats to turn on the unit, thanks to its simple two-button remote. (The ON button activates the 500-watt low setting; a second click toggles the heat to the medium 1,000-watt setting; and a third click throttles the heat to the 1,500-watt high; the OFF button turns the system off.) But we would have preferred that the design include a dedicated spot to store or clip the remote. “It has a shelf that you put the remote on,” our tester reported, “but I fear that would get knocked over.” The unit itself shouldn’t get knocked over by light to medium breezes, thanks to its 18-pound weight. Assembling the base, and snaking the power cord through the shaft took took our tester more than 20 minutes, more time than most products we tested. The package comes with all the hardware, including screws, washers, and an Allen key; you need a Phillips screwdriver, which is not included. Assembly wasn’t difficult, our tester reported, but noted that the diagrams didn’t prevent her from assembling the unit backwards. Price at time of publish: $291 Operating instructions are printed directly on the heater, which is fueled by a standard propane tank, held in place with a chain. Even though the user manual warns of the heater’s reduced efficiency once the temperature falls below 40 degrees, our tester found no issue with its heating effectiveness on an autumn evening when the temperature sank to an unseasonable reading of 31 degrees Fahrenheit. “Even with that temp, it did a good job of keeping me warm when I stood underneath it,” she reported. (With a stated output of 46,000 BTU, it should.) We noted that although the manufacturer-supplied information doesn’t list an effective heat range, we found it to be around 4 feet. But again, this was on a night when the temperature was well below the recommended low range. The Frontgate is an elegant product, in silver and mocha tones, with controls that have a solid feel to them. “Nothing seems flimsy,” our tester agreed. And while similar products seemed to confound other testers with setup and assembly, this one didn’t. “The setup time quoted on the instructions was just at 1 hour,” she told us, “and I was able to do it in just under that.” Removing the plastic seal from the metal shield seemed to take the longest. Assembly tools are included with the packaging, so no rummaging around for tools is necessary. On the downside, we noted a lack of safety features, such as automatic shutoff, which seem to come standard with most patio heaters we tested. Also, the height of this product would seem to require a cover, which isn’t included either. And you can pay more for other products. However, we recommend the Frontgate Commercial Patio Heater as a product that is versatile enough to suit your outdoor gathering, wherever you decide to locate it. Price at time of publish: $339

Range

Most patio heaters provide heat in a space around 9 feet in diameter. As expected, smaller units don’t reach as far, while large units can reach farther. Consider the size and layout of the space you want to heat. If your landscape includes something close to a wall, a wall-mounted or directional unit might be best. For eating areas, an overhead unit over the table can work great.

Heat Output

The actual heat of the patio heater is measured in British thermal units (BTUs). The higher the number, the more heat the unit gives off. A good patio heater can typically produce a maximum of 30,000-50,000 BTU per hour. Propane and natural gas heaters tend to give off more heat but may not last as long as their electric-powered counterparts.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was researched and written by Katie Melynn, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. To research this list, she looked for patio heaters that would provide plenty of heat, be easy to use and power, and look great doing it. She made special mention of any safety features. She also consulted Tim Bakke, an accomplished design expert. Senior Editor Ira Lacher also contributed to this article, adapting tester insights to several products featured in this roundup.

Propane: Many heaters are powered by 20-pound liquid propane tanks. The fuel is quite affordable, but you have to refill your tank, which typically entails taking a trip to a local convenience store, gas station, or home improvement store.Natural gas: This is another option, but it’s only practical if you already have a natural gas line installed in your home. Even if so, you may require additional lines, which a professional should do and which can be costly. Also, adding another appliance to your gas line can add to your utility bill.Electric: Generally, these are the most convenient patio heater models. Most simply plug into standard 120-volt outlets, although some may require adding a dedicated line to your hardwiring. Also, frequent use of an electric patio heater may increase your electric bill.