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Garden patio heaters are a must if you want to make the most of your outdoor space when the evenings cool down. But with so many different types, what’s the best of the best? And where do you even begin in picking outdoor patio heaters?
That’s where we come in. We give you a list of some of the best outdoor heaters and why.
Our top picks of the best patio heaters
- Briza Infrared Electric Patio Heater – Best Electric Patio Heater
- East Oak 48,000 BTU Gas Patio Heater – Best Gas Patio Heater
- Portable Outdoor Electric Heater – Best Small Patio Heater
- Cosiest 2- Piece Propane Fire Table – Best Gas Fire Table
- Ikuby Outdoor Fire Pit with Grill – Best Fire Pit Heater
- Wiosi Medium Clay Chiminea Outdoor Fireplace – Best Chimeneas
1. Briza Infrared Electric Patio Heater – Best electric patio heater
The Briza heater offers dual mounting options, easy remote control, safety features, carbon infrared technology, 4-season protection, 3 heat levels, and a built-in timer for convenient, efficient heating indoors or outdoors.
Now there’s a reason why we are putting down this infrared electric heater on this list.
Generally, electric patio heaters tend to be less powerful than gas ones. But for the price, this is one of the better outdoor electric heaters that’ll keep your patio area warm and keep you cosy at night.
It’s portable, and comes with three different mounting methods, so whether you want to use the tripod stand, wall mount it or hang it from the ceiling this is the one for you.
With 3 power settings, a built in timer and overheat protection which will automatically turn off, giving it a neat safety feature to prevent fires or accidents.
Electric heaters are one of the cleanest energy sources to warm your garden, so your conscience will be clean too.
Pros
- 3 heat settings, 500W, 1000W and 1500W
- Adjustable height of 110cm – 215cm
- Free standing and easy to move
- Can be used inside or outside
- Provides warms and light
- Eco-friendly patio heater
Cons
- No covers, so bring it in when cool or get waterproof covers
2. East Oak 48,000 BTU Gas Patio Heater – Best Gas Patio Heater
This 48,000 BTU outdoor heater heats an 18-foot diameter, is durable with double-layer heating mesh, features easy assembly, safety protections, and a patented round table design for added convenience.
The East Oak is probably not for you if you have a little balcony on a top-floor condo. This heater is a hefty piece of equipment weighing 32lbs, but can be put together in 30 minutes or less.
But that’s why you get a gas heater. You get one because you have a larger space and you want lots of heat. But that’s not enough. We want a heater that is easy to set up, easy to move, well-priced, and can heat anything from 10 to 50 square meters space.
And with a maximum power of 48,000 BTU and adjustable heating, this East Oak propane patio heater is exactly what you’ll find in restaurants and bars for a reason.
It has wheels and handles, so it’s easy to move, but they have also added a safeguarding tip-over feature that switches off the gas if it falls on its side.
Pros
- Adjustable heating
- Reasonably Price for a mushroom heater
- Heats up to 18 square foot of space
- 360 degrees dispersal of heat
- Sleek modern no-fuss steel
- Easy to move with wheels
- Tipover safety feature
- Able to be placed in all types of flat surfaces, wood decking, PVC decking, brick, or stone
Cons
- Not the prettiest garden accessory
- Not for small balconies
3. Portable Outdoor Electric Heater – Best Small Patio Heater
Outdoor Heaters for Patio, 1500W Portable Heater with Overheat Protection
This 1500W garage heater quickly heats 200 sq. ft. with PTC ceramic technology. It features 3 modes, overheat protection, quiet operation, and a portable design for use in various spaces.
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This 1500W garage heater quickly heats 200 sq. ft. with PTC ceramic technology. It features 3 modes, overheat protection, quiet operation, and a portable design for use in various spaces.
If you only have a small space to heat and don’t want a huge mushroom propane gas heater in your way, then we don’t blame you. There are a lot of great small portable patio heaters in the market.
The AgiiMan is not just small, light, portable, and easy to use but also the one of the cheapest patio heater on our list. Being electric you will need a plug socket close to plug it in, and when you do you’ll get three modes to choose from. Fan mode without heat, warm a 750W and high heat at 1500W.
With adjustable angle, and variable heat control thanks to the highly efficient PTC heating element. It’s even safe to heat greenhouses and outhouses, and you can bring with it camping. Such a versatile patio heater; you’ll never need another.
Pros
- Adjustable heat
- The whole thing is easy to store
- Compact and portable electric heater
- Ideal for small spaces
- Powerful, directed heat
Cons
- It’s a very directional heat – you do need to have it close by to feel the heat. Good for small patios, sheltered spaces, tents or 2 people sitting nearby.
4. Cosiest 2- Piece Propane Fire Table – Best Gas Fire Table
This portable propane fire table offers a chic, low-profile design with a modern gray faux stone finish. Featuring push-button ignition, adjustable flames, and a hidden tank cover that doubles as a side table.
If you want to warm a large space, you must find some big flames, which means getting yourself a deep bowl fire pit (see below), or this Cosiest Propane Fire Table set.
We assume you don’t want to deal with smoke and smell, so this propane gas heater will do the job, with a large flaming giving you 360-degree heat to your garden and patio.
It’s sleek and stylish concrete, low-profile design makes it the centrepiece of any outdoor patio or deck. It’s certainly not the cheapest patio heater on the market, but it gives you. an alternative compared to the standard mushroom style gas heaters out there.
Pros
- Stylish and far more beautiful than the mushroom gas models
- Large flame gives powerful 360 degree heat
- Powerful heat allow you to warm cold winter garden
- Multiple lower setting gives you ambient light in the summer
- Gas tank cover doubles as a side table
- Adjustable flames with push button ignition
Cons
- On the higher end of the price scale
- No wheels and not easy to move
- Super heavy
5.Ikuby Outdoor Fire Pit with Grill – Best Fire it heater
Safe and durable 35" fire pit with a deep fire bowl, mesh spark guard, airflow design, and heavy-duty steel construction. Features a hanging door, cooking grid, and stylish industrial design.
If you want to go back to basics, a fire pit is an effective and beautiful way to warm your garden at night. You can even get smokeless wood and coal if you don’t mind paying a little extra, so your clothes and hair stay smell free.
With its globe design the Ikuby fire pit with added grill provides you with a sturdy design that will burn 4 to 6 logs comfortably. The deep bowl setting allows for good airflow and a powerful fire to heat a good party of people.
It comes encased in a protective mesh so stray sparks don’t catch stuff on fire, while providing 360 degree heat, keeping everyone in the vicinity warm.
If only the crackling embers of wood would do, this is the best fire pit in the market in terms of value, classic design, and size options.
Pros
- Deep Bowl allows for good airflow for larger fires
- Attractive globe design
- Completely covered in mesh makes it safer for families
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Where there’s fire, there’s smoke
- It’s a pit with fire – needless to say, keep dogs and children away
6. Wiosi Medium Clay Chiminea Outdoor Fireplace – Best chimeneas
There’s a whole load of different types you could pick, so deciding on the best Chimineas is like asking what’s the best fireplace. It all depends on your personal style and budget.
Still, we think that the this clay Chimenea is a good option if you are looking for something classically stylish and reasonably priced.
And you have to bear the price in mind because we went with a choice in an affordable price range. We actually have a best Chimeneas page with more options if you want more choices.
It is a mass-produced item, so it won’t have the charm of hand-made cast iron. It’s made of clay which gives it a rustic charm – so if you don’t put it away under cover in wet or cold weather, the finish may crack. So get a good sealer and a cover to protect it.
Still, it’s certainly striking as a centrepiece and provides plenty of front-facing heat. Better yet, it won’t smoke out your patio too much.
Pros
- Stylish centre-piece for your garden
- Large open front-facing for maximum heat
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- This needs to be put under cover when not in use
- Can’t use as a BBQ
FAQs
Which patio heaters are the best?
That depends on the space you have to warm up. If you need less than 15 square feet, go for the freestanding electric heater. If you have a larger space, find yourself the best gas heater. A nice fire pit or Chimenea is for you if budget is an issue.
Do patio heaters really work
They do as long as you pick the right one. No patio heater will be completely weatherproof, but as long as you make sure you get the right heater for the space, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your garden, even when it starts to frost.
What’s best gas or electric patio heater?
It all depends on what you need. We are big fans of electric heaters because they are cheaper to run, cheaper to buy, more eco-friendly, and easier to store. And while it's true that gas heaters generally provide more heat, technological advances mean you can find a great electric heater with the same, if not higher, BTU than your average mushroom patio heater.
Do patio heaters work in the winter?
Most patio heaters will be built to take the chill out of a cool autumn evening or make the most out of a rainy spring. But seeing as Canada has outdoor seating spaces for restaurants in the snow, and Norwegian spend most of the winter socialising outdoors with friends, that should tell you that there are plenty of good patio heaters that will keep you warm through the winter.