Patio Heat and Fire Pits
Patio Heater vs Fire Pit: Which Keeps You Warmer Outside?
Quick answer
For real warmth at a dining table, a patio heater wins: a 48,000 BTU mushroom heater like the Fire Sense 61130 radiates heat down over an 18 ft circle for $131.24. A propane fire pit table is mostly ambiance, because its flame sends heat upward. For a warm seated circle, a wood fire pit beats both.
Fire Sense 61130 Standing Propane Patio Heater, 48,000 BTU
$131.24Radiates heat down over an 18 ft circle.
Best for: warming a dining set outdoors
Check price on Amazon
Endless Summer 44 x 32 in. Rectangular Propane Fire Pit Table
$333.99A flame over fire glass that doubles as a coffee table.
Best for: a fire feature that doubles as a coffee table
Check price on AmazonA patio heater burns propane under a reflector hood mounted high on a pole, which bounces radiant heat down onto the people below. A fire pit table burns propane through fire glass or lava rock at table height, so you see a flame, but most of the heat rises straight up. They look like substitutes and behave like different tools: one is a heater, the other is a centerpiece that also gives off some warmth.
Prices overlap: the Fire Sense 61130 Standing Propane Patio Heater, 48,000 BTU is $131.24 and the Endless Summer 44 x 32 in. Rectangular Propane Fire Pit Table is $333.99. If you want both flame and genuine body heat, the combination unit covered below is worth a look. Size the heat you need with the patio heater BTU calculator.
On this page
- How does a patio heater compare with a fire pit table?
- Which should you choose, a patio heater or a fire pit?
- Does a propane fire pit table actually keep you warm?
- Is there a fire pit table with a patio heater built in?
- How big an area does a patio heater or fire pit warm?
- Which patio heaters and fire pits are worth buying?
How does a patio heater compare with a fire pit table?
| Factor | Patio heater | Fire pit table |
|---|---|---|
| Example | Fire Sense 61130, $131.24 | Endless Summer 44 x 32 fire table, $333.99 |
| Burner input | 48,000 BTU | 40,000 BTU |
| Where heat goes | Radiated down from an 86 in. tall reflector | Mostly upward from the flame; some sideways at seat height |
| Listed coverage | Up to 18 ft diameter | Not published |
| Propane on high | About 2.2 lb per hour, about $1.85; about 9 hours per 20 lb tank (listing says about 10) | About 1.9 lb per hour, about $1.55; about 11 hours per tank |
| Footprint | 18 in. base, 33 in. reflector, 40 lb | 44 by 31.8 by 23 in. |
| Ambiance | Glowing heater head, no flame view | Open flame over white fire glass |
| Doubles as | Nothing | A full table with the center insert |
| Best layout | Dining tables and standing groups | Lounge seating and conversation areas |
| Safety features | Tilt shutoff valve, ETL approved | Hidden control panel, cover included |
| Wind | Breeze carries warm air away | Flame can gutter or blow out |
Cost examples use propane at $3.50 per gallon (4.24 lb per gallon, about 83 cents per pound) and 21,548 BTU per pound; swap in your local price.
Which should you choose, a patio heater or a fire pit?
Choose a patio heater if
- You want to stay warm at a dining table on cold evenings.
- People stand and mingle rather than sit in a circle.
- You need heat over a known area: the Fire Sense 61130 Standing Propane Patio Heater, 48,000 BTU lists an 18 ft diameter.
- You have a covered patio, in which case an electric infrared heater is the safer route; see electric vs propane patio heater.
Choose a fire pit or fire table if
- The goal is a gathering point with a flame to look at.
- You want furniture that works as a table when the fire is off, like the Endless Summer 44 x 32 in. Rectangular Propane Fire Pit Table.
- Your evenings are cool rather than cold.
- You want real heat from a flame, which means wood: a Solo Stove Basecamp 24 in. Fire Pit with Stand radiates far more at seat height than gas over glass.
Does a propane fire pit table actually keep you warm?
A little, and mostly for the people closest to it. Owners of gas fire tables commonly report that they take the chill off hands and knees on a cool night but do not keep a group warm once temperatures drop into the 40s F. The reason is physics: hot combustion gases rise, and fire glass or lava rock gives off only modest radiant heat sideways. A patio heater aims its output down at head and shoulder height, and a wood fire builds a bed of coals that radiates strongly in every direction.
If you already own a fire table and find it chilly, add a heater rather than replacing it. A standing heater a few feet behind the seating does the warming while the table sets the mood.
Is there a fire pit table with a patio heater built in?
Yes. The Endless Summer DualHeat Donovan 38 in. Fire Pit Table and Patio Heater ($419.99) combines a 30,000 BTU fire bowl with an 11,000 BTU infrared heater mounted below the mantel, 41,000 BTU in total, and runs them separately or together. Endless Summer describes the lower heater as providing true body warmth, which targets the exact weakness of a standard fire table: legs and feet stay cold. It hides a 20 lb tank inside, includes a table insert, and is recommended for non-combustible floors in well-ventilated, non-enclosed areas. At about 1.9 lb of propane per hour with both burners on high, a tank lasts roughly 10 hours.
How big an area does a patio heater or fire pit warm?
An 18 ft diameter circle, as listed for the Fire Sense 61130, covers about 250 sq ft in still air, enough for a table of six with room to spare. Wind shrinks that fast. Smaller tabletop heaters like the Hiland HLDS032-B Tabletop Propane Patio Heater (11,000 BTU) warm a bistro table, not a patio. Fire pits are sized by the seating circle instead of heat area: a 24 inch pit suits five to seven people and a 36 inch pit like the Sunnydaze Crossweave 36 in. Wood-Burning Fire Pit suits six to eight. Use the fire pit size calculator for seating layout and the patio heater BTU calculator for heat.
Which patio heaters and fire pits are worth buying?
A heater, a fire table, the combination unit and a wood pit for real radiant warmth.
Fire Sense 61130 Standing Propane Patio Heater, 48,000 BTU
$131.24A 48,000 BTU mushroom heater listed for an 18 ft heat diameter, with piezo ignition, a tilt shutoff valve, wheels and roughly 10 hours per 20 lb tank.
Best for: warming an outdoor dining set
Check price on Amazon Endless Summer 44 x 32 in. Rectangular Propane Fire Pit Table
$333.99A 40,000 BTU rectangular fire table with white fire glass, a hidden control panel, a center insert for full table use and a cover.
Best for: a flame centerpiece for lounge seating
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Endless Summer DualHeat Donovan 38 in. Fire Pit Table and Patio Heater
$419.99A 30,000 BTU fire bowl with an 11,000 BTU infrared heater below the mantel, a hidden tank compartment and independent controls.
Best for: cold nights around a gas fire table
Check price on Amazon
Solo Stove Basecamp 24 in. Fire Pit with Stand
$399.99A 24.6 inch stainless smokeless wood pit with 360 degree airflow, a removable ash pan and a stand, sized for five to seven people.
Best for: a real wood fire where burning is allowed
Check price on AmazonHow we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
Is a patio heater or a fire pit better for a covered patio?
Usually neither propane option. Most propane patio heater and fire table manuals require generous overhead clearance and open air, and wood fire pits do not belong under a roof. For a covered patio, a wall or ceiling mounted electric infrared heater such as the Dr. Infrared DR-239 is the safer fit, installed on a proper 240 V circuit by a licensed electrician.
Do propane fire pits give off much heat?
Less than most buyers expect. A propane fire pit table rated around 40,000 BTU warms hands and knees of people sitting close, but most of its heat rises with the flame. Owners commonly describe gas fire tables as ambiance first. For more warmth, add a patio heater nearby or choose a combination unit with a built-in infrared heater like the Endless Summer DualHeat Donovan.
How long does a 20 lb propane tank last in a patio heater?
A 20 lb tank holds about 431,000 BTU. A 48,000 BTU heater on high burns it in about 9 hours, and Fire Sense lists roughly 10 hours for its 61130. A 40,000 BTU fire table lasts about 11 hours on high. Running at a lower setting stretches that further. Keep a spare tank and a propane scale so the heat does not quit mid-evening.
Can I use a patio heater and a fire pit together?
Yes, and it is often the best answer: the fire pit creates the gathering spot and the heater supplies warmth. Keep each unit's clearances from the other, from furniture and from overhead structures, and never place a patio heater where its reflector sits over a flame. Run separate 20 lb tanks rather than splitting one, and shut both off before leaving the patio.
Which is safer around kids and pets, a patio heater or a fire pit?
Both need supervision. Tall patio heaters can tip if bumped or caught by wind, so choose models with a tilt shutoff and weigh the base down. Fire pits put open flame and hot metal at child height, and wood pits throw sparks. Gas fire tables with hidden controls reduce tampering. Set a no-go zone around any heat source and never leave it running unattended.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.