Nine products below were checked on Amazon on October 11, 2026. Three older picks (Legacy Heating, FDW and a Fire Sense variant) are gone from Amazon. This page is the buying guide, and our best outdoor patio heaters guide has the head-to-head list. Specs come from Amazon listings. Gas heaters must follow the maker manual and local fire code.
A patio heater can add months to the outdoor season. The wrong one in the wrong place can be a hazard. This guide covers the types, the safe way to use them and nine products to look at. For a head-to-head list, see our best outdoor patio heaters page.
Table of Contents
Types of Patio Heaters
- Propane towers. Strong, portable, need a 20 pound tank. Good for open yards.
- Natural gas heaters. Hardwired to a gas line, built into a patio. Need a pro.
- Electric infrared. Plug in or hardwire, mount on a wall, ceiling or umbrella. No fumes.
- Fire pits and tables. Look great and warm you at close range. See gas fire pits and bowls and wood fire pits and bowls.
- Chimeneas. Wood-burning. Smoke and sparks need care.
Looking ahead, patio heating is moving from bulky towers to hidden and electric options. Ceiling-mounted infrared units, fire tables and heated pergolas keep an outdoor room usable into fall. The catch is that gas heaters burn fuel in open air that is not always open, and more local rules now limit them on covered patios, balconies and in restaurants.
9 Products on Amazon
Prices and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 11, 2026.
Price on Amazon: $157.49 | 4.4 stars from 11,079 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU heater has over 11,000 ratings at 4.4 stars. It is a propane tower on wheels with a water-tank base, per the listing. It is the best-documented tower here.
Price on Amazon: $157.49 | 3.7 stars from 220 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Fire Sense 01775 is a 50,000 BTU propane tower in stainless steel with electronic ignition and wheels, per the listing. Its rating is 3.7 stars from 220 ratings, so read recent reviews.
Price on Amazon: $203.59 | 4.2 stars from 188 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Hiland HLI-1P is an electric umbrella heater, 1,500 watts, water-proof (IP certified) and with variable heat, per the listing. It is quiet and has no fumes.
Price on Amazon: $129.00 | 4.0 stars from 70 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The DONYER POWER is a 1,500 watt electric heater that mounts on the ceiling, indoors or out, per the listing. It has 70 ratings at 4.0 stars.
Price on Amazon: $167.31 | 4.8 stars from 1,344 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Heininger 5995 is a 58,000 BTU portable propane fire pit with a 4.8 rating from over 1,300 ratings. It gives a flame and radiant heat at close range, not a wide heating zone.
Price on Amazon: $259.99 | 4.1 stars from 1,284 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The AZ Patio is a 38 inch propane fire pit table with fire glass and CSA certification, per the listing. It has over 1,200 ratings.
Price on Amazon: $105.99 | 4.6 stars from 1,656 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Landmann Big Sky is a wood-burning fire pit with a 4.6 rating from over 1,600 ratings. Wood smoke is an air quality concern for neighbors, so check local rules.
Price on Amazon: $98.99 | 4.2 stars from 911 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Deckmate Sonora is a wood-burning chimenea with a spark-resistant screen, per the listing. It has over 900 ratings.
Price on Amazon: $2,657.00 | 4.3 stars from 19 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Bromic Platinum is a natural gas, hardwired heater that needs a pro install. It costs far more than any other pick, and it has only 19 ratings.
The risk to watch is the half-closed porch. A propane heater under a roof or in a screened room can build up carbon monoxide, and a heater too close to a wall, an awning or a tablecloth is a fire risk. Expect more warnings and more bans in multi-family buildings. Read the clearance rules, keep the heater on level ground and never use it in a garage or tent.
How Much Heat Do You Need?
Outdoor heat disappears in the wind, so be modest in your goals. Most propane towers of 40,000 to 50,000 BTU warm a circle about 10 to 15 feet across in still air. An electric 1,500 watt heater warms a small area of one or two chairs. In a cold wind, nothing keeps a big yard warm.
A propane heater burns about 21,500 BTU per pound. A 46,000 BTU unit at full burn uses about 2.1 pounds an hour, so a 20 pound tank gives about 9 hours. For a fuel option, see propane heaters.
Safety Rules
- Open air only. Gas heaters make carbon monoxide. Do not use one in a garage, tent, closed porch or room.
- Clearance. Keep it clear of walls, awnings, trees, umbrellas and tablecloths. Check the manual for overhead and side distances.
- Level and stable. Use a flat, hard surface, and keep it away from foot traffic.
- Leak check. Brush soapy water on the connections. Bubbles mean a leak.
- Tank. Store it upright and outdoors. Never store it in a house.
- Turn off. Shut the gas at the tank when you finish.
- Fires. Keep a fire extinguisher near the patio.
Cost of Running
Propane cost varies by the price in your area. An electric 1,500 watt heater costs about 25 cents an hour at 17 cents per kilowatt-hour. Gas towers cost more per hour but heat more space.
FAQ
Are patio heaters safe?
They are when used outdoors in open air with the right clearance and a level base.
Can you use a patio heater on a covered patio?
Not a gas one, unless the maker and local code allow it. Electric heaters are the safer choice under a roof.
How long does a propane tank last?
About 9 hours for a 46,000 BTU heater on a 20 pound tank at full burn.
Are fire pits as good as heaters?
They give warmth at close range and a nice look, but not a wide heating zone. See outdoor gas fireplaces for a bigger fixture.
Final Word
For an open yard, the Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU tower is the best-documented choice. For a covered patio, pick an electric heater like the Hiland or the DONYER.
What happens next: expect more electric infrared heaters that need no fuel and more smart controls. For an open yard, a propane heater is still the strong choice. For a covered patio, electric is the safer pick.
Related Guides
Keep going with best outdoor patio heaters, outdoor gas fireplaces, gas fire pits and bowls, wood fire pits and bowls and propane heaters.
