Best Patio Heaters (2026): Propane vs Electric and Heat Radius

For an open patio or deck, a 46,000 to 48,000 BTU propane tower is still the most heat per dollar. The Fire Sense 61130 and the Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU heater both list an 18 foot heat diameter. The Hiland HLDS01-SSHST adds stainless construction, wheels and a built-in drink table, from a brand that sells replacement burners and parts.

For a covered patio or pergola with a solid roof, electric infrared is safer and simpler: no tanks, no combustion and heat that a breeze cannot blow away as easily. The Dr. Infrared Heater DR-239 3000W Wall or Ceiling Patio Heater and Bromic Tungsten Smart-Heat 4000W Electric Patio Heater mount on walls or ceilings; see best electric patio heaters. For glow as much as heat, the Hiland HLDS01-CGTHG Quartz Glass Tube Pyramid Patio Heater puts a visible flame in a quartz glass tube.

Propane wins on open patios: more output, no wiring, and you can move it. Electric wins under roofs and where you use heat often, because it has no combustion, no tanks and a lower cost per hour. The catch with electric is power: a 1500 W plug-in heater like the Fire Sense 02117 Offset Pole Electric Infrared Patio Heater needs a dedicated 15 amp circuit per its maker, and 3000 to 4000 W wall heaters need a 240V circuit. Infrared electric heat also warms a smaller zone, so it suits a seating group rather than a whole deck. The full comparison is in electric vs propane patio heater.

Heat radius is the manufacturer's rated coverage in calm air, and real comfort falls off quickly past it, especially in wind. Here is what the heaters on this page publish.

In calm air, plan one 46,000 to 48,000 BTU tower for each 18 foot circle, roughly 250 sq ft. A 12 by 16 foot patio (192 sq ft) needs one. A 20 by 20 foot patio (400 sq ft) needs two, placed on opposite sides of the seating. Add a heater or move to a sheltered spot if the area is windy, and expect less comfort on very cold nights: radiant heat makes people feel warmer, it does not turn an open deck into a heated room. For a dining table of four, a single tower at the edge of the table works; for a small bistro set, an 11,000 BTU tabletop heater like the Hiland HLDS032-B Tabletop Propane Patio Heater is enough. Run your exact numbers in the patio heater BTU calculator.

A 20 lb propane tank holds about 4.7 gallons, roughly 430,000 BTU. Hours = 430,000 divided by the heater's BTU per hour. The cost columns use stated assumptions so you can swap in your local prices: propane at $3.50 per gallon (91,500 BTU per gallon) and electricity at $0.17 per kWh.

A patio heater gives directed, controllable warmth for dining and conversation, with no smoke, sparks or ash, and it works where open fires are banned. A fire pit gives a gathering point and ambiance, but its heat is uneven and depends on wind and fuel. Many patios use both: a heater near the dining table, a fire pit in the lounge area. See patio heater vs fire pit and best fire pits, then finish the space with patio furniture sets and the intermediate patio evening setup.