Best of
The 10 Best Patio Heaters of 2026
Our picks for the best patio heaters: propane towers, pyramid heaters, a wood chiminea, infrared heaters, and tabletop options for every patio setup.
Our top picks at a glance
Best Overall
Amazon Basics Amazon Basics Patio HeaterHomeowners who want the standard propane tower experience: big heat circle, easy assembly, and no premium-brand markup.
Best Retail Pick
Hampton Bay Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Patio HeaterShoppers who want to see the heater in a store before buying and need the highest BTU rating in this guide.
Best Ambiance
Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors ChimineaBuyers who want real firelight and crackle, not just heat, and who enjoy tending a wood fire.
The Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU tower is the best patio heater for most people: it heats a 9-foot circle, lights with piezo ignition, and costs less than name-brand towers with the same output. For wind-exposed or covered patios, the Dr Infrared DR-238 infrared heater is the smarter pick because it warms people directly instead of heating air that blows away.
The picks, ranked
Best Overall
Amazon Basics Amazon Basics Patio Heater
46,000 BTU propane tower with wheels and piezo ignition.
Strengths
- 46,000 BTU output heats a roughly 9-foot diameter area
- Piezo ignition lights the burner without matches or lighters
- Wheels make it easy to roll into storage between uses
- Costs less than name-brand towers with the same BTU rating
Limitations
- Propane tank not included and must be stored safely
- Open flame design loses efficiency in wind
- Tall standing design needs stable, level ground
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Strong heat output
- Quick push-button ignition
- Tilt safety shut-off
Common complaints
- Struggles and can tip in wind without anchoring
- Very tall and bulky
- Some report regulator leaks or missing parts
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Heat output | 46,000 BTU |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane (20 lb tank, not included) |
| Heating area | 9-foot diameter |
| Ignition | Piezo electric |
| Mobility | Built-in wheels |
Best for: Homeowners who want the standard propane tower experience: big heat circle, easy assembly, and no premium-brand markup.
Skip if: You have no place to store a propane tank, or your patio has no wind protection for an open flame heater.
Best Retail Pick
Hampton Bay Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Patio Heater
48,000 BTU tower sold through The Home Depot.
Strengths
- 48,000 BTU is the highest documented output in this guide
- Sold at The Home Depot with in-store availability and returns
- Standard tower design with emitter screen and reflector
- Replacement parts and support through a major retailer
Limitations
- Standard tower look is purely functional
- Same propane logistics as every tower heater
- Heavier to move than wheeled models without a dolly
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Impressive heat once lit
- Straightforward assembly
- Wheels on newer models help moving
Common complaints
- Less effective in wind
- Some report the flame going out on high
- Instructions could be clearer
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Heat output | 48,000 BTU |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane (20 lb tank, not included) |
| Height | 87 inches |
| Retailer | The Home Depot |
| Design | Standing tower with emitter screen |
Best for: Shoppers who want to see the heater in a store before buying and need the highest BTU rating in this guide.
Skip if: You prefer buying online only, or you want a heater with a distinctive design rather than the standard tower look.
Best Ambiance
Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea
Wood-burning cast iron chiminea with 360-degree spark screen.
Strengths
- Real wood fire provides ambiance no gas heater matches
- 360-degree mesh spark screen gives fire views from all sides
- Cast iron body retains and radiates heat after the fire dies down
- No propane tanks, gas lines, or electricity required
Limitations
- Heats a smaller radius than 46,000-plus BTU propane towers
- Requires firewood, fire tending, and ash cleanup
- Smoke output bothers neighbors in close quarters
- Check local burn restrictions before buying
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Warm, cozy fire for small patios
- Easy assembly
- Good value
Common complaints
- Surface rust appears if left uncovered
- Spark screen can wear out
- Some hardware feels light
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Fuel | Wood logs |
|---|---|
| Body | Cast iron |
| Fire view | 360-degree mesh spark screen |
| Chimney | Tall stack directs smoke upward |
| Power needed | None |
Best for: Buyers who want real firelight and crackle, not just heat, and who enjoy tending a wood fire.
Skip if: You want push-button heat, you have fire restrictions in your area, or you dislike smoke and ash cleanup.
Best Electric
Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater
1500W carbon infrared heater, wall or ceiling mountable.
Strengths
- Infrared heat warms people and objects, not the air, so wind does not steal it
- IP55 rating handles outdoor moisture on covered patios
- Wall or ceiling mount frees all floor space
- No fuel, no flame, no refills: plugs into a standard outlet
Limitations
- 1500W heats a seating zone, not a whole patio like 48,000 BTU towers
- Requires an outdoor-rated outlet within cord reach
- Line-of-sight heating: blocked by furniture or bodies in between
| Power | 1500W |
|---|---|
| Heating type | Carbon infrared, radiant |
| Weather rating | IP55 |
| Mounting | Wall or ceiling mount |
| Fuel | None (electric) |
Best for: Covered patios and garages where you want instant, wind-proof radiant heat without fuel.
Skip if: Your patio is uncovered and fully exposed to rain, or you need to heat a wide open area rather than a seating zone.
Best Premium Electric
Bromic Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric
Premium 3000W electric infrared for design-conscious patios.
The Tungsten Smart-Heat delivers 3000W of high-intensity infrared in a matte black industrial design, double the DR-238's power for upscale covered patios.
Strengths
- 3000W of high-intensity infrared heat, double the DR-238
- Sleek industrial design in matte black
- Wall or ceiling mountable with adjustable brackets
- No fuel, no flame, no maintenance beyond occasional cleaning
Limitations
- Premium pricing, well above standard electric heaters
- Requires a 240V circuit for the 3000W model
- Heats a zone, not a whole patio
| Power | 3000W |
|---|---|
| Heating type | High-intensity electric infrared |
| Mounting | Wall or ceiling mount |
| Design | Matte black industrial |
| Fuel | None (electric) |
Best for: Upscale patios and restaurants that want powerful, beautiful electric heat.
Skip if: The budget matters more than design; this is the premium tier.
Best Bronze Tower
Fire Sense Hammer Tone Bronze Patio Heater
46,000 BTU tower in a bronze finish that looks better than steel.
46,000 BTU of standard tower heat in a hammer tone bronze finish that looks more premium than plain steel, with piezo ignition and a 9-foot heat circle.
Strengths
- 46,000 BTU output matches the class standard
- Hammer tone bronze finish looks more premium than plain steel
- Piezo ignition for match-free lighting
- Well-established brand with parts availability
Limitations
- Same propane logistics as every tower heater
- Open flame design loses efficiency in wind
- Heavier to move without built-in wheels
| Heat output | 46,000 BTU |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane (20 lb tank, not included) |
| Finish | Hammer tone bronze |
| Ignition | Piezo electric |
| Heating area | 9-foot diameter |
Best for: Buyers who want standard tower performance with a warmer finish.
Skip if: You need wheels for storage or the absolute lowest tower price.
Best Tabletop
AZ Patio Heaters HLDS01 Tabletop Patio Heater
11,000 BTU tabletop tower for intimate seating.
The HLDS01 puts 11,000 BTU on the table itself with small propane canisters, warming a dining table zone where a full tower would be absurd.
Strengths
- Compact tabletop design fits on patio tables
- 11,000 BTU is plenty for a dining table zone
- Uses small 1 lb propane canisters, no big tank
- Stainless steel emitter for durability
Limitations
- Heats a table, not a patio
- Small canisters run out faster than 20 lb tanks
- Needs a stable table surface
| Heat output | 11,000 BTU |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane (1 lb canister) |
| Design | Tabletop tower |
| Emitter | Stainless steel |
| Ignition | Piezo electric |
Best for: Small tables and balconies where a full tower is overkill.
Skip if: You need to heat a whole patio; this warms one table.
Best Pyramid Flame
East Oak Pyramid Patio Heater
48,000 BTU pyramid with a dancing glass-tube flame.
48,000 BTU of tower-class heat plus a visible dancing flame in the glass tube. The pyramid shape is stable, distinctive, and rolls on wheels.
Strengths
- 48,000 BTU output matches the highest tower ratings
- Glass tube shows a real dancing flame, doubling as ambiance
- Pyramid shape is more stable and distinctive than standard towers
- Wheels for moving into storage
Limitations
- Glass tube needs careful handling and occasional cleaning
- Same propane logistics as standard towers
- Taller profile catches more wind than infrared
| Heat output | 48,000 BTU |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane (20 lb tank, not included) |
| Design | Pyramid with glass flame tube |
| Ignition | Piezo electric |
| Mobility | Built-in wheels |
Best for: Buyers who want tower heat plus a visible flame feature.
Skip if: You prefer the simplest tower design or need maximum wind resistance.
Best Tabletop Fire Pit
Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit
Smokeless tabletop fire pit for pellets or wood.
The Mesa brings Solo Stove's low-smoke burn to the tabletop with wood pellets or small wood, in stainless steel built to last. Ambiance first, heat second.
Strengths
- Signature smokeless burn design minimizes smoke
- Runs on wood pellets or small wood pieces
- Stainless steel construction built to last
- Compact tabletop size for patios and camping
Limitations
- Heats hands and faces, not a patio zone
- Needs pellets or wood and produces some ash
- Premium price for its size
| Fuel | Wood pellets or small wood |
|---|---|
| Design | Tabletop smokeless fire pit |
| Body | Stainless steel |
| Smoke | Low-smoke secondary burn |
| Power needed | None |
Best for: Tabletop ambiance with real flame and minimal smoke.
Skip if: You need serious heat output; this is ambiance first.
Best Natural Gas
Hilands Natural Gas Patio Heater
Tower heat plumbed to your home's gas line: no tanks ever.
Plumbed to your home's gas line, the Hilands tower ends tank swaps forever with unlimited fuel and lower running costs. Fixed in place, but free of logistics.
Strengths
- Connects to a home natural gas line: unlimited fuel, no tank swaps
- Standard tower heat output for whole-patio coverage
- Lower running cost than propane in most markets
- Fixed installation means no storage logistics
Limitations
- Requires a plumbed natural gas line and professional hookup
- Not portable: it lives where the gas line is
- Higher upfront installation effort than propane towers
| Fuel | Natural gas (plumbed line) |
|---|---|
| Design | Standing tower |
| Ignition | Piezo electric |
| Portability | Fixed installation |
| Tank needed | No |
Best for: Homes with an existing natural gas line who never want to swap a tank again.
Skip if: You have no gas line or need a portable heater.
How we chose
We weighted documented heat output (BTU for gas, watts for electric), heating method (convection towers vs radiant infrared vs wood fire), fuel logistics (propane storage vs plug-in vs firewood), and wind resistance, since open-flame towers lose efficiency in wind while infrared does not. Safety certifications and retailer documentation completed the picture.
Questions, answered
How much area does a 46,000 BTU patio heater cover?
Manufacturers document roughly a 9-foot diameter heating circle for 46,000 BTU towers in calm conditions. Wind shrinks the effective area significantly; infrared heaters hold their zone better in breeze.
Propane tower vs infrared: which is cheaper to run?
It depends on local propane and electricity prices, but the physics favor infrared for spot heating: a 1500W infrared heater converts nearly all its electricity to radiant heat aimed at people, while a propane tower heats air that drifts. For whole-patio coverage, propane's 46,000-plus BTU output wins.
Are patio heaters safe on a wooden deck?
Propane towers and chimineas need clearance from railings, furniture, and overhangs; check the manufacturer's documented clearances. Electric infrared heaters with no open flame are the lowest-risk option on wood decks.
Do I need a cover for my patio heater?
Yes for propane towers left outside: the emitter screen and reflector corrode slower under a cover. The DR-238's IP55 rating handles moisture, but a covered mounting spot still extends its life.