Best Patio Heaters of 2024

Best pyramid patio heater

Hiland HLDS01-GTCB

Best overall propane patio heater

Cuisinart Perfect Position Overhead Propane Patio Heater

Best budget propane patio heater

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

Best pellet patio heater

Timber Stoves Big Timber Pellet Patio Heater

Pros

• Powerful and even heating
• Sleek modern design

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavier than most heaters

Initially, I picked the Hiland HLDS01-GTCB pyramid patio heater as the best model I tested. With its pyramid shape and glass tube running the center length of the stainless steel heater, it has a more modern look than the pole and saucer style of a traditional patio heater or a commercial patio heater. Similar to staring at a campfire, watching the flame continuously rising through the glass tube is absolute entertainment. It throws heat, too.

Looking at all the points I measured within 4 feet, you'll see an average temperature increase of 4.59 degrees. Within 2 feet of the pyramid heater, averaging all points, you get a change of 7.49 degrees. Within 1 foot, this outdoor heater provided an average temperature increase of 11.72 degrees, which happens to be the highest average recorded. Some heaters reach higher temperatures at certain points, but this one has even heat distribution when you are near it. The Hiland also has an easy-to-use control system that lights effortlessly every time.

One downside to this model is that it's a little less of a portable patio heater than some others; it's heavy, and even though it has wheels, it's unnerving rolling the glass tube across a rough surface like concrete. If you try to carry it, the safety guards will come unset. The hinges the door rests on have also already started bending. While I like staring at the flame, this heater illuminates the surrounding area so much that you or your neighbors might find it too bright.

This 40,000 BTU standing heater is priced around the middle of the pack and comes with a one-year limited warranty. This isn't the hottest heater of the bunch, but it will warm you up if you can stay close to it, and I really liked its appearance.

$141 at Amazon

Best budget propane patio heater

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

As the name suggests, Amazon’s branded propane patio heater is basic. However, it was the simplest of all the heaters tested to assemble and only costs $141, making it a clear pick for the best budget patio heater. Amazon’s model is a traditional-style vertical patio heater, and it’s manufacturer-rated at 46,000 BTUs. 

This patio heater runs on a 20 lb. propane tank, like the ones used for grilling. Installing it into the base of the appliance is frustrating because there is no door. Instead, you lift the lower cylinder and rest it on the heater frame. It isn’t terrible, but it is annoying.

As for use, the Amazon Basics Patio Heater works as you’d expect. The electric ignitor got the burners lit, and the heat started rolling. The top heat deflector is smaller than most, and much heat is lost. Significant temperature drops occurred as I moved away. The heat was barely noticeable 4 feet away, with only a 1.23-degree difference from the ambient temperature.

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1,299 at BBQ Guys

Best pellet patio heater

Timber Stoves Big Timber Pellet Patio Heater

Pellet grills are common these days and so are propane patio heaters, but what happens when the two are combined? You get the Timber Stoves Big Timber Pellet Patio Heater. Rated at 90,000 BTUs, it blows away the rest of the competition on this list regarding sheer heating power, but it isn’t all good news.

Because this heater has no insulation except the seal around the glass and the heat source is at the bottom rather than the top, the heat is felt the entire length of the Big Timber. With most propane heaters, the heat only comes from the top of the device. The downside of the pellet heater’s design is that unless you purchase the safety cage for $599, people will need to be careful around the heater. The Big Timber does have a spark arrestor at the top.

The Big Timber uses standard wood heating pellets, which are cheaper than those used for grilling. The hopper holds 20 pounds of pellets and is rated for around two hours, which is accurate from my testing. Once the heater gets warmed up, there is minimal smoke, and the glow of the fire is a pleasant bonus. Also, the amount of ash produced from 20 pounds of pellets is surprisingly small.

While a pellet patio heater has downsides, such as pellets, ash and limited runtime, the amount of heat and relaxing light produced are big wins. In testing, the Big Timber had very even heat distribution across all heights with a 10.13 average differential from 1 foot and a drop to 3.48 at 4 feet.

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All of the heaters arrived packed in boxes and required assembly. We have now completed two rounds of product testing in order to bring you a comprehensive list of the best patio heaters. The difficulty level was roughly on par with assembling Ikea furniture: some manuals occasionally needed a little interpretation. 

Of the traditional-style pole heaters, there was so little variation between the products -- from assembly to operation to looks -- that they might as well have all come from the same factory. Nothing about the assembly process stood out except that it highlighted the similarities between all of the traditional models, and the Cuisinart model had a few more steps to complete its build. I was happy to see that Amazon sent not one but two cheap wrenches to aid my efforts. The excitement was short-lived because the pyramid-style heaters were a little trickier.

None of the tested heaters will overheat you at long distances, but getting close to one will certainly warm you up. Some manufacturers claim the heater will warm up to 8 feet away from the heater, and the results prove that to be true -- sort of. For the heaters that produced enough heat to be felt at that distance, it was only half a degree warmer than the ambient temperature. Temperature measurements were set at four elevations relative to the heater's cap and 11 equal distances from the heater for 44 measurement points. Because a patio heater isn't necessarily made to warm at a distance, the useful range for most of them is about 4 feet. 

I measured each unit by recording temperatures with a one-dimensional, horizontal array of 11 thermocouples that I moved to four elevations. The thermocouples, starting 1 foot away from the burner, are each placed in 1-foot intervals. For test equality, the elevation of the thermocouples is determined by the height of the unit being tested: 10, 20, 30 and 40 inches below the unit's cap. I then compared the temperature at each location to the ambient temperature (also recorded by a thermocouple removed from the reach of the heater's effect). Testing is standardized for consistency and conducted during the same time of day to achieve accurate comparisons.

Coverage area

Most outdoor patio heaters will heat an area to a radius of at least 10 feet, but some can blast warmth a bit farther. Determine how much or little space you need to heat regularly. If the area you want to heat extends farther than 10 feet from the heater, you might consider purchasing two heaters.

Style: Pole or pyramid

The two main styles are traditional pole heaters and more modern pyramid-style patio heaters. This is more a matter of taste, but it's worth noting that the pyramid heaters we tested were slightly more difficult to assemble.

Cost and value

Reliable patio heaters start around $150 and go up from there. The more powerful patio heaters with sleek design elements will cost closer to $400 or $500.

Real-world application

After crunching the data, the Hiland heater emerged as a strong contender. It was one of the hottest models I tested, and when you combine that with the cool visuals of a flame darting up a glass tube, it seemed like a no-brainer.

Then I added an extra step to the test: sitting outside beside each heater on a cooler evening. That revealed something that the thermocouples didn't: The traditional pole-style heaters give off a much more concentrated heat. When I was sitting next to one, I felt comfortably warm. While the glass tube of the Hiland heater still performs pretty well -- and looks neat -- having the heat dispersed along the length of the tube simply didn't warm me up as thoroughly. 

As I mentioned earlier, a lot of the heaters were similar. When I tested them, it was clear that the Hiland and Amazon model 62516 -- despite being nearly identical pyramid-style tube heaters -- weren't alike. The Hiland was one of the best-performing; the Amazon 62516 was one of the worst. Upon inspection, the reason was clear: The only difference was in the regulator controls. That simple variation made all the difference, and it proved true among several of the identical pole heater models, too. 

When all of these heaters appear so similar, it may also be tempting to choose one based on additional accessories. The model from HomeLabs had one that stood out: a table attached to the heater. I wouldn't recommend putting your cold beer on a table attached to a heater.

How much propane do patio heaters use?

While it varies by model, you should expect about 10 hours of patio heater use from a 20-pound propane tank. 

Can you use a patio heater in a covered area?

Yes, but some clearance guidelines must be followed to ensure safe use. Those specifications will vary based on the design and power of your patio heater, so be sure to consult the manual before igniting in a covered or enclosed space.

Do patio heaters work well?

A patio heater is limited in how large of an outdoor area it can heat. That said, a good patio heater can raise the temperature as much as 25 degrees in its immediate area.