Best Patio Heaters (2026): 8 Propane, Electric and Natural Gas Picks for Every Patio Size

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A patio heater is what turns a deck or patio from a summer-only space into somewhere you can actually sit in October, host Thanksgiving drinks or watch the Christmas lights in December. The best patio heater for your home depends less on the brand than on three questions: how big the seating area is, whether it is under a roof, and which fuel you can supply (a propane tank, an outdoor outlet or a natural gas line). To enjoy the view from that patio all winter, see our smart bird feeder with camera picks.

This guide compares eight heaters across every main type: propane mushroom and pyramid towers, a tabletop patio heater, a directional swivel-arm heater, electric infrared wall and ceiling mounts, a freestanding electric lamp and a natural gas tower. Then we add what most roundups skip: a BTU and watts by patio size table, a propane vs electric vs natural gas running cost method using EIA figures, clearance and carbon monoxide safety, and propane tank tips. Looking for indoor heat instead? Our best space heaters guide covers bedroom and living room models; patio heaters are a different category built for open air. For heating a room indoors instead, see our oil-filled radiator heater guide.

Best patio heater comparison table

Every heat output, coverage figure and safety feature below comes from the Amazon product pages (listing bullets or the technical details table). Where a listing does not state something, we say “not stated” rather than guess. Prices and ratings are left out on purpose because they change daily in heating season; use the links to see the current price.

The 8 best patio heaters, reviewed from the listings

The picks below run from a budget-friendly tabletop patio heater to premium 240-volt infrared and natural gas models. Propane and natural gas heaters are combustion appliances made for open-air patios; the electric heaters produce no fumes and are the only type we suggest under a solid roof.

1. Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

2. Hykolity 48,000 BTU Pyramid Patio Heater with Cover

3. Cuisinart COH-514 Portable Tabletop Patio Heater, 11,000 BTU

4. Cuisinart Perfect Position 38,200 BTU Swivel-Arm Propane Patio Heater

5. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-238 1500W Carbon Infrared Patio Heater

6. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-239 3000W 240V Wall or Ceiling Infrared Patio Heater

7. BLACK+DECKER Outdoor 2-in-1 Patio Electric Heater (BHOF04)

8. Golden Flame XL-Series 45,000 BTU Natural Gas Patio Heater

What size is the best patio heater for your space? BTU and watts by patio size

Heating outdoors is not like heating a room: there are no walls to hold warm air, so a patio heater works by radiating heat onto people and furniture within a few feet. That means you size by the seating area you want to keep comfortable, not the whole yard. Use the table as a starting point, then size up one step for windy, exposed or very cold spots. The coverage figures in the right column come from our picks’ listings so you can compare.

Two conversions help when comparing fuel types: 1 kWh equals 3,412 BTU, so a 1,500-watt electric heater puts out about 5,100 BTU per hour and a 3,000-watt unit about 10,260 BTU (exactly what the DR-239 listing states). A 46,000 BTU propane tower releases roughly nine times as much heat as a 1,500 W heater. Electric infrared makes up some of the gap because it beams most of its energy straight at people instead of heating the air above them, but for big open patios propane and natural gas still win on raw heat.

Mounting height matters for electric models: follow the manual’s minimum distance from the ceiling and from people, angle the heater toward the seats and avoid mounting it directly above walkways where someone could brush it.

Propane vs electric vs natural gas patio heaters (and the cost to run each)

There is no single best patio heater fuel: the cheapest depends on your local prices and how often you sit outside. Here is how the three fuels compare, using a transparent method you can redo with your own local prices. For electricity we use the U.S. Energy Information Administration average residential price of 18.31 cents per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, July 2026 data). For propane we use the EIA heat content of about 91,500 BTU per gallon (EIA lists 91,452). Natural gas is billed in therms, and 1 therm is 100,000 BTU.

A worked monthly example: say you sit outside 3 hours a night, 4 nights a week, for 4 weeks (48 hours). A 46,000 BTU propane tower on high uses about 0.50 × 48 = 24 gallons, or about five 20-lb tanks. A 1,500 W infrared heater uses 1.5 × 48 = 72 kWh, about what a typical refrigerator uses in one to two months. A 45,000 BTU natural gas heater uses 0.45 × 48 = about 21.6 therms. Multiply each by your own local price to see which fuel is cheaper where you live; propane prices vary a lot by region and season, and EIA publishes a weekly heating oil and propane update you can check. Running on low cuts each number roughly in half. For a sense of how outdoor heating fits next to your indoor bill, see our average heating bill by state breakdown. And if snow buries the patio first, our best electric snow shovel and cordless snow blower guide covers decks and walkways.

Best propane patio heater: mushroom vs pyramid vs tabletop vs swivel arm

If you have settled on propane, the best patio heater shape matters as much as the BTU number. Here is how the four propane designs in this guide differ, so you can choose the best propane patio heater for the way you use your patio.

• Mushroom (umbrella) tower, like the Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU: a reflector hood pushes heat down and out in a circle. The widest coverage per tank and usually the best value. Place it in the middle of a seating circle.
• Pyramid glass-tube tower, like the Hykolity 48,000 BTU: the flame is visible inside a quartz or glass tube. More ambience, heat spreads more sideways and less downward, and the units are heavier.
• Tabletop patio heater, like the Cuisinart COH-514: a small mushroom at table height, roughly 10,000 to 12,000 BTU, for two to four people. Light and portable, but 1-lb cylinders run out fast.
• Swivel-arm directional, like the Cuisinart Perfect Position: aims heat at a sofa or bar instead of in a circle, and hides the tank in the base. Heavier and more permanent.

All four need a stable, level surface, a clear zone overhead and around the reflector, and open air. If you plan to roll a heater between spots, wheels and a fillable base (water or sand) matter more than a few thousand extra BTUs.

Best electric patio heater: wall, ceiling or freestanding?

The best electric patio heater is the one you can power safely where you sit. A 1,500-watt heater draws about 12.5 amps at 120 volts, which is most of a standard 15-amp circuit, so plug it directly into an outdoor-rated GFCI outlet with a weatherproof cover and avoid sharing that circuit with string lights or a hot tub. Most heater manuals advise against extension cords; if yours allows one, use only a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cord of the gauge the manual specifies.

• Wall or ceiling mount (Dr. Infrared DR-238 and DR-239): out of the way, no tip-over risk, ideal for covered porches and pergolas with a solid roof. Respect the manual’s minimum clearances from the ceiling, walls and people.
• Freestanding lamp (BLACK+DECKER BHOF04): movable and needs no installation, but needs a level spot away from walkways and a cord path nobody trips over.
• 120 V vs 240 V: 120 V plug-in heaters top out at about 1,500 W. For 3,000 W and more in a single fixture you need a 240 V circuit, which is an electrician job but gives you double the heat per fixture.

Electric infrared also pairs well with low-power comfort: a throw over the knees adds warmth for a fraction of the energy. Our best heated blankets guide covers electric throws, but check that any blanket you use outside is kept dry and is plugged into a GFCI outlet, as its manual directs. Still planning the outdoor space itself? Our cost to build a deck guide covers wood vs. composite.

Best patio heater for covered porch, pergola or gazebo

This is the most common safety mistake with patio heaters. Propane and natural gas heaters burn fuel and release carbon monoxide and heat. Outdoors in open air, that disperses. Under a low roof, inside a screened or enclosed porch, a sunroom, a gazebo with side curtains, a tent or a garage, it can build up. The National Fire Protection Association describes carbon monoxide as an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as propane and natural gas burn incompletely, and says gas grills should only be used outside. Treat a propane or natural gas patio heater the same way: never inside a home, garage or enclosed space. So for any covered space, the best patio heater for covered porch use is electric infrared.

If your roof is high and the sides are fully open, some propane and natural gas heater manuals allow use under an overhang with a stated minimum ceiling clearance. If yours does, follow those numbers exactly; if the manual says outdoor use only in an open area, take that literally. When in doubt, choose a wall or ceiling infrared heater like the DR-238 (120 V) or DR-239 (240 V), mounted at the distances its manual gives. Also make sure your home has carbon monoxide alarms in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level, as NFPA recommends, especially if a patio sits next to open windows or doors.

Patio heater clearance and safety rules

Every heater’s manual lists its own minimum clearances to combustibles (above the reflector, to the sides and to walls). Even the best patio heater is only as safe as where you put it. Those numbers are the rule; the checklist below covers the habits that keep any patio heater safe.

• Open air only for flame heaters. Never use a propane or natural gas patio heater indoors, in a garage, tent, enclosed porch, sunroom or under a low or solid roof unless the manual explicitly allows it with stated clearances.
• Watch what is overhead. Umbrellas, awnings, pergola slats, tree branches, string lights and hanging plants can scorch or melt above a tall heater. Check the manual’s overhead clearance before you place it.
• Keep a clear zone. NFPA’s general heating advice is to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heating equipment; follow the larger distance if your manual says so. Keep pets and kids away from hot reflectors and glass tubes.
• Level, stable and weighted. Fill water or sand bases as directed, use the tank chain, avoid soft lawns and slopes, and do not use a tall heater in strong wind.
• Never move a lit heater. Turn it off, let it cool, then move it. Let it cool fully before covering it.
• Turn it off when you go inside. Close the propane tank valve too, not just the heater knob.
• Electric heaters: use an outdoor GFCI outlet, keep the cord dry and out of walkways, and mount wall or ceiling models with the brackets and distances in the manual.
• Gas lines: natural gas connections and 240 V circuits are jobs for licensed pros, and may need a permit where you live.

Propane tank tips for patio heaters

• Know what a “20-lb tank” holds. It holds about 20 pounds of propane, roughly 4.7 gallons. At 46,000 to 48,000 BTU that is about 9 hours on high; on a medium setting, expect noticeably longer.
• Check the level by weight. The tare weight (TW) is stamped on the collar. Weigh the tank on a bathroom scale: a full tank weighs about TW plus 20 pounds. A quick alternative is to pour warm water down the side and feel for the cool line where the propane level sits.
• Leak-test every connection. Brush soapy water on the regulator connection and open the valve: growing bubbles mean a leak. Tighten and retest, and never use a flame to check.
• Store tanks outdoors and upright. Never store propane cylinders indoors, in a garage or basement, or near a heat source. Keep spares upright in a shaded, ventilated spot away from doors and windows.
• Check the date. In the US, small DOT cylinders like 20-lb tanks must be requalified 12 years after the manufacture date stamped on the collar before they can be refilled. Exchange services handle this for you.
• Keep a spare for parties. Swapping a tank mid-evening is easier than ending the night early. Some heaters, like the Hykolity and Cuisinart COH-400, have side doors or hidden bases that make swaps quicker.
• Tabletop heaters and 1-lb cylinders: they run about 2 hours on high at 11,000 BTU. For longer use, an adapter hose to a 20-lb tank (sold separately for the Cuisinart) cuts waste and cost.

How to choose the best patio heater: a quick checklist

• Is your seating under a roof? This one question narrows the best patio heater choice fastest. Yes: choose electric infrared. No: any fuel works.
• What fuel can you supply? No outlet near the seats: propane. An outdoor outlet: 1,500 W electric. A gas line: natural gas. A 240 V circuit (or willingness to add one): 3,000 W infrared.
• How big is the seating area? Use the size table above and add capacity for wind.
• How often will you use it? A few times a season: propane is simplest. Several nights a week: electric or natural gas avoids tank runs.
• Safety features: look for tilt or tip-over shut-off on freestanding heaters, a weighted base, and an ETL or UL listing on electric heaters.
• Storage: tall towers need a cover and a spot to wait out summer; wall-mount infrared stays put.

For holiday hosting, a heater plus good lighting makes the patio feel like a room. Plan your strings with our best outdoor Christmas lights picks and see the cost to run Christmas lights if you are adding them to the same circuit as an electric heater. Prefer a real wood or gas flame to gather around? Compare our best fire pits before you decide.

How we chose the best patio heaters (not tested)

We did not test these heaters hands-on, so treat this as a research-based shortlist for finding the best patio heater for your space. We started from popular patio heater listings on Amazon, chose models that cover every main type (propane mushroom, pyramid, tabletop and directional, electric infrared wall and ceiling mounts at 120 V and 240 V, freestanding electric and natural gas), and read each product page for heat output, coverage, fuel and power requirements, safety features, size and weight. Where a listing did not state something, we said so.

We wrote the sizing, fuel comparison, cost-to-run, clearance and propane sections ourselves, using EIA figures for electricity prices and propane heat content and NFPA guidance for carbon monoxide and heating safety. No brand paid for placement, and we left out prices and ratings because they change.

Helpful resources: NFPA: Carbon monoxide safety, NFPA: Heating safety, EIA: Average price of electricity by state, EIA: British thermal units (Btu) and fuel heat content and EIA: Heating oil and propane update.

Best patio heater FAQ

What is the best patio heater?

For most open patios, the best patio heater is a 40,000 to 48,000 BTU propane tower such as the Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU model, which lists a 9-foot heat radius, tilt shut-off and a water-weighted base. For covered porches choose an electric infrared heater like the Dr. Infrared DR-238, and if you have a gas line, a natural gas heater like the Golden Flame XL-Series.

What is the best propane patio heater?

The Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU mushroom heater is the best propane patio heater for wide, even coverage on an open patio. Choose the Hykolity 48,000 BTU pyramid if you want a visible flame (it lists 8 to 10 hours per 20-lb tank), or the Cuisinart Perfect Position 38,200 BTU swivel-arm model to aim heat at a sofa or bar.

What is the best electric patio heater?

The Dr. Infrared DR-238 is the best electric patio heater for most homes: a 120 V plug-in with 900, 1,200 and 1,500 W settings, IP55 rating, remote and wall and ceiling brackets. For bigger covered spaces, the 3,000 W DR-239 needs a 240 V circuit, and the BLACK+DECKER BHOF04 is a freestanding 1,500 W option.

What is the best patio heater for covered porch use?

Electric infrared. Propane and natural gas heaters burn fuel and can release carbon monoxide, so they belong in open air. A wall or ceiling infrared heater such as the Dr. Infrared DR-238 (120 V) or DR-239 (240 V), mounted at the clearances in its manual, is the best patio heater for covered porch, pergola and gazebo spaces.

Is a tabletop patio heater worth it?

Yes, for small spaces. A tabletop patio heater like the Cuisinart COH-514 lists 11,000 BTU for up to 30 square feet, enough for two to four people at a bistro table or balcony. It burns about 0.12 gallons of propane per hour, so a 1-lb cylinder lasts about 2 hours on high; an adapter hose to a 20-lb tank lasts far longer.

How much does it cost to run a patio heater?

For propane, divide BTU by 91,500 to get gallons per hour: a 46,000 BTU heater uses about 0.5 gallons per hour on high. For electric, multiply kilowatts by your rate: a 1,500 W heater costs about 27.5 cents per hour at the EIA US average of 18.31 cents per kWh. For natural gas, divide BTU by 100,000 to get therms per hour.

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