We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy The 4 Best Patio Heaters for Outdoor Entertaining, According to Our Tests Enjoy your outdoor space year-round with an electric or propane patio heater. By Julia Skinner Julia Skinner Julia Skinner is a food historian, educator, and founder of Root, an Atlanta-based company focused on fermentation and bringing historic food to the modern world. She has published several books on food and food history, including Our Fermented Lives (2022) and Afternoon Tea (2021). Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 22, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Favorite Patio Heater How We Tested Patio Heaters We Also Tested Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Rachel Christensen Whether it’s a mid-winter afternoon or a brisk fall night, the best patio heater can extend the life of your outdoor space. In addition to table linens, a dinnerware set, and unbreakable outdoor glassware, a patio heater is the finishing touch to an outdoor setup. (Not to mention, letting your guests get cold is an outdoor entertaining mistake.) We tested 41 propane and electric patio heaters, including portable tabletop versions and pyramid heaters for big outdoor spaces. Read on for our favorites, plus what to look for in the best patio heaters to stay toasty. Our Top Picks Best Patio Heater Overall: Arlmont & Co. Triplett Propane Patio Heater at Wayfair $290 Jump to Review Best Value Patio Heater: Amazon Basics Outdoor Patio Heater at Amazon $106 Jump to Review Best Splurge Patio Heater: Frontgate Commercial Patio Heater at Frontgate $375 Jump to Review Best Electric Patio Heater: EnerG+ 1,000-Watt Electric Patio Heater at Wayfair Jump to Review Best Patio Heater Overall Arlmont & Co. Triplett Propane Patio Heater PHOTO: Wayfair $290 at Wayfair $325 $259 at Home Depot Pros This powerful heater gets to work quickly to warm you up. Cons At 89 inches, the height may make assembly difficult for some people. This water-resistant heater warms up quickly and is easy to use once assembled. It comes with built-in safety features, like a tip-over shut-off safety switch. While assembling this tall tower was easy overall, some will need a step stool to complete the top. During our tests, we loved that this tower was sturdy and stayed put, even when bumped. We even put this tower out on a windy day, sure it would tip over, and it didn't budge. We found it easy to move thanks to the wheels. Made of iron and available in four finishes, its streamlined design would look great in any backyard. This patio heater easily gets our vote for the best overall pick. Dimensions: 89 x 23 x 23 inches | Heat Source: Propane | Heat Output: 42,000 BTU Food & Wine / Jennifer May Best Value Patio Heater Amazon Basics Outdoor Patio Heater PHOTO: Amazon $106 at Amazon Pros It’s a powerful patio heater that prioritizes safety features. Cons We had a few issues with assembly, as one piece came damaged and the wrench that came with it didn’t fit the screws. We felt this propane patio heater’s warmth up to nine feet away, which makes it an excellent choice for large spaces near a backyard grill and a great value overall. It comes with safety features that include an auto-shut-off valve as well as certification from ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). Yet, the instructions are printed on the heater, so first-time users or guests can easily figure out how to operate it. Wheels make moving it easy. Choose from six finishes, including stainless steel, dark bronze, and a cheery blue-green hue. Dimensions: 89 x 33 x 18 inches | Heat Source: Propane | Heat Output: 46,000 BTU This propane patio heater is budget-friendly and a great choice for large outdoor spaces. Food & Wine / Rachel Christensen Best Splurge Patio Heater Frontgate Commercial Patio Heater PHOTO: Frontgate $375 at Frontgate Pros This patio heater produces all-around heat, plus it’s easy to move and simple to use. Cons This patio heater does not come with a cover. The Frontgate Commercial Patio Heater is quick and easy to set up, and we find the price reasonable for its quality. While sleek, it’s sturdy, and it stands up to the elements well. In fact, you have the option to add sand to the bottom for extra stability. Another handy safety feature is a chain to hold the propane tank in place. We love that it produces a good amount of all-around heat, and has easy-to-use controls. Best of all, it comes with wheels so you can easily move it to wherever you need a little extra warmth. Our only complaint? We wish it came with a cover, as some other heaters do, to help it last even longer. Dimensions: 89 x 33 x 18 inches | Heat Source: Propane | Heat Output: 46,000 BTU Best Electric Patio Heater EnerG+ 1,000-Watt Electric Patio Heater PHOTO: Courtesy of Wayfair View on Wayfair View on Home Depot Pros It produces ample heat for small gatherings, and it feels sturdy. Cons It periodically shut off while on the highest setting. If you don't want to deal with propane, we have good news: Everything about this electric patio heater is easy. The controls on the unit are large and readable, but it also comes with a remote for user-friendly control. It has three heat settings, with an oscillating feature that helps push heat into your space more efficiently. We felt its heat from up to 3 feet away, so it's a good option to keep a patio sitting area warm. And while it's shorter than others on our list, we felt its heat while standing, too. We had issues with it shutting off on the highest setting, but turning it back on takes just a second. It never felt too hot to touch, and it stayed put even when bumped, which is good news for those with kids and pets. We like this electric heater’s compact, balcony-friendly size. Dimensions: 25.6 x 5.5 x 7.8 inches | Heat Source: Electric | Heat Output: 1,000 watts Our Favorite Patio Heater The Arlmont & Co. Triplett Propane Patio Heater did a great job of keeping us warm, but it's also portable, easy to use, and a great value. Choosing a patio heater means taking into account patio size, fuel, and safety features, but we would recommend this heater to most people. How We Tested Patio Heaters This patio heater was easy to assemble outside. Food & Wine / Dera Burreson We tested 27 electric heaters and 14 propane heaters in a real-world setting. We observed the below metrics and performance categories in our tests: Ease of Use: We looked for quality of construction and safety features, as well as how effectively they heat, fuel efficiency, easy assembly, and user-friendliness.Heat Range: We measured how far we could stand from the heaters and still feel their heat.Temperature Control: For electric heaters, we recorded temperatures at their high, medium, and low settings.Stability and Safety: We also tested them for stability by gently kicking or pushing them. Finally, we noted how well they stood up to the elements during our testing period. Food & Wine / Jennifer May Other Patio Heaters We Tested Strong Contenders Cuisinart Perfect Position Overhead Propane Patio Heater ($396 at Amazon) If you’re looking for a patio heater you can easily reposition, the swivel arm and wheels of this propane model could be worth the investment. It heats well and is very fuel efficient, as even after several uses, our propane tank was still on “full.” It’s also very stable. Bali Outdoors Portable Patio Heater ($110 at Amazon) Weighing just 14 pounds and standing 20 inches tall, this propane heater is a good portable option. We found it was easy to assemble with clear instructions. One disadvantage of it being lightweight: it can tip over on a windy day. But, it has an automatic shut-off feature for when this happens. EnerG+ Electric Tabletop Patio Heater ($225 at Wayfair) This stainless steel model could take the place of a table in a bistro set, but it’s much more effective as a heater if you’re sitting close to it. For this reason, we recommend it for no more than three people. Also worth noting is its sturdiness: it didn’t budge when we sat down or kicked the stand. East Oak Outdoor Patio Heater ($180 at Amazon) We liked this propane heater for a few reasons. Assembling it was simple, it heats up fast, and it’s easy to move thanks to a light build and wheels. We felt its heat up to six feet away, though its height kept our lower halves from feeling as warm. Thermo Tiki Outdoor Propane Patio Heater ($230 at Amazon) Like the East Oak heater, this propane heater from Thermo Tiki emitted heat up to six feet away, with considerably less heat lower to the ground. Still, we like this model for its sleek design, which wobbled only slightly when bumped into. What Didn’t Make the List Testing dozens of patio heaters, several stood out to us, but we had to exclude several others that didn’t measure up in some way. For example, we liked the Living Accents Freestanding Propane Patio Heater ($313 at Walmart) for its easy setup and sturdy build, yet it emitted heat only half as far as our top-performing propane models. We noted these same pros and cons with the AZ Patio Heaters Quartz Glass Tube Propane Patio Heater ($360 at Home Depot), in addition to a frustrating assembly. One of the few patio heaters under $100, the Hiland HIL-1500DI Electric Patio Heater ($70 at Amazon) seems like a good value, but we only felt its warmth when standing under it; poor quality and difficult assembly (we had to drill holes into it) knocked it off our list. Factors to Consider Electric vs. Propane Propane tends to be more powerful, producing hotter heat. (There's a reason propane powers many fire pits and gas grills). Electric heaters, however, don't require you to refill a propane tank. Consider which is more practical and important for you, as both options have benefits. Patio Size A larger patio will require a more powerful heater, while the same heater might overpower a small space. Check the number of BTUs each unit produces: the more BTUs, the more heat it emits. Safety Features Priority number one actually isn’t your warmth – it’s your safety. Make sure to check the safety features of the unit, such as automatic shut-off or a stable base that can prevent tipping over. If kids and pets will be nearby, making sure the unit's surface stays relatively cool, or that the heating element is safely out of reach, is also important. Frequently Asked Questions Is a propane heater or an electric heater cheaper to run? "In my experience, electric (infrared and halogen) heaters cost less to run,” says De'Von Dixon, a contractor in Atlanta. “But it is completely dependent on utility costs in your area and the voltage required for the individual unit. Purchase prices of electric heaters are usually lower than propane, but it varies unit by unit." Which is more efficient, propane or electric? According to Dixon, you can find efficient versions of both propane and electric heaters: "Propane heaters tend to have larger heat outputs, but both propane and electric can suffice in heating your patio." Can you use a patio heater in a garage or under a covered patio? It's important to consider safety, including fire risk and adequate ventilation, when choosing where to set up your heater, according to Dixon. "Electric heaters can be used in a garage or under a covered patio. Propane heaters should only be used in places with adequate ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. All heaters should be placed away from flammable materials," he says. What safety features should readers look for when purchasing a heater? Modern patio heaters have a range of features to keep you safe and warm. "Good safety features to check for when purchasing a patio heater are an anti-tilt base, auto safety shut-offs, no naked flames, and a CSA safety rating," says Dixon. Our Expertise Julia Skinner, Ph.D., is a writer, culinary educator, an avid gardener and outdoors person, and author of Our Fermented Lives. She writes about and teaches fermentation, cooking, and wild foods through her business, Root, and through her newsletter. De'Von Dixon is an Atlanta-based general contractor and founder of Dixon Construction Services. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit