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A small gathering of folks warm their hands around a glowing patio heater. Credit: Bruno Vincent / Getty Images

The Best Patio Heaters of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A small gathering of folks warm their hands around a glowing patio heater. Credit: Bruno Vincent / Getty Images

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Product image of Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater with Wheels

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater with Wheels

The Amazon Basics propane patio heater is one of the best-selling heaters online, with a simple design that’s easy to use and throws a ton of heat. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Safety shutoff valve
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • None that we could find
Product image of Sunjoy 47,000 BTU Avanti Propane Heater

Sunjoy 47,000 BTU Avanti Propane Heater

This heater is easy to assemble, weighs less than 30 pounds, and you can have it ignited and pumping out heat in no time at all. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Uses propane, which is pricey
Product image of Hiland Pyramid Patio Propane Heater w/Wheels

Hiland Pyramid Patio Propane Heater w/Wheels

This one produces heat via a flame that runs up a quartz glass tube, which looks amazing, providing a real centerpiece for your patio area. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and use
  • Looks cool

Cons

  • Less heat than others
  • Heavy
Product image of Bromic Heating 6000W BH0420033

Bromic Heating 6000W BH0420033

The Bromic Tungsten Electric Infrared heater is a 6000W radiant heater that uses electricity to produce warmth in your outdoor space. Read More

Pros

  • Wall-mountable
  • No gas or swapping tanks required
  • Strong heat output

Cons

  • Expensive
Product image of Muskoka Lifestyle Products SunWave MUS1522

Muskoka Lifestyle Products SunWave MUS1522

This heater can toss heat extremely efficiently and be wall-mounted so it doesn’t take up any of your outdoor space. Read More

Pros

  • Wall-mountable
  • Functional

Cons

  • None that we could find

If you’ve got an outdoor space, you want to make the most of it. With an efficient propane or electric patio heater, you can make that space more comfortable right through fall and into early winter with some comfortable outdoor heating. The best patio heaters are easy to set up, toss a lot of heat, last for hours at a time, and are easy to fit into your space without disrupting the entire flow.

We spent hours digging through thousands of user reviews for patio heaters to find the best-selling and top-picked ones online. The heaters here are the ones we recommend for most people; whether you want a freestanding gas patio heater that works with standard propane tanks or a wall-mounted electric heater that can run off electricity, we’ve got a heater for you.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater with Wheels
Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater with Wheels

The Amazon Basics propane patio heater is one of the best-selling heaters online, with a simple design that’s easy to use and throws a ton of heat. It can be assembled with just simple hand tools in less than an hour, uses standard 20-pound propane tanks (like your grill), and has a shutoff safety feature valve for if it tilts too far in any direction.

Reviewers were particularly impressed with how sturdy the unit was, given its reasonable price. It’s mostly made of metal, so you won’t want to toss it around, but it has small wheels to help you move it into place and can toss heat for about 8 to 10 feet in any direction. The only other note we saw was people being surprised at how tall it is in person. It’s a full 89 inches tall (so just over seven feet), but if you have the space for it, it’s a great outdoor heater to choose.

Pros

  • Easy to use

  • Safety shutoff valve

  • Sturdy

Cons

  • None that we could find

Product image of Sunjoy 47,000 BTU Avanti Propane Heater
Sunjoy 47,000 BTU Avanti Propane Heater

The Sunjoy Avanti is a 47,000 BTU propane heater. Like the other mushroom-style propane heaters, it’s a relatively simple design that uses standard 20-pound propane tanks. It’s easy to assemble, weighs less than 30 pounds, and you can have it ignited and pumping out heat in no time at all. It also features an automatic shutoff for if it tilts, and the igniter is positioned near the top so that shorter children can’t play with it.

Reviewers praised the Sunjoy’s heat output, with most saying it comfortably threw heat at least six to nine feet and would last for 6 to 10 hours on a single tank. If you have an outdoor space you want to use well into fall and winter, this will get the job done as long as you don’t mind the cost of propane tanks.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble

  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Uses propane, which is pricey

Product image of Hiland Pyramid Patio Propane Heater w/Wheels
Hiland Pyramid Patio Propane Heater w/Wheels

The Hiland Pyramid patio propane heater is designed as a pyramid-style heater that hooks up to a standard 20-pound propane tank. It produces heat via a flame that runs up a quartz glass tube, which looks amazing, providing a real centerpiece for your patio area. It’s as much a design statement as a functional heater.

Reviewers did comment consistently that this threw out less heat than the more prosaic mushroom heaters, since it lacks the dome-shaped top to direct heat back down. That meant its heating radius was a bit smaller, and you’re trading some efficiency for looks here. Otherwise, people found it to be relatively easy to assemble, very easy to use, and sturdily made. It’s a bit heavier than the other patio heaters we’ve looked at, but still under 75 pounds, so simple enough to get into position.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and use

  • Looks cool

Cons

  • Less heat than others

  • Heavy

Product image of Bromic Heating 6000W BH0420033
Bromic Heating 6000W BH0420033

The Bromic Tungsten Electric Infrared heater is a 6000W radiant heater that uses electricity to produce warmth in your outdoor space. As you’d expect from an electric heater, it’ll require a corded power source—in this case a high-voltage 220/240V supply, similar to the kind you would run for an electric dryer.

If you can accommodate that, or have an electrician run one, this is a heater worth considering. Though it’s more expensive than the simple propane heaters, it’s wall-mountable and doesn’t require any kind of gas or swapping tanks. Reviewers praised its 6,000 watts of heat output, especially since it can be installed to focus it in one area instead of all around you. If that’s more than you need, you can buy smaller units (down to 2,000 watts), though those will toss less heat.

Overall, if you don’t like the idea of using propane tanks to provide heat, this is an excellent alternative for the right setup.

Pros

  • Wall-mountable

  • No gas or swapping tanks required

  • Strong heat output

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Muskoka Lifestyle Products SunWave MUS1522
Muskoka Lifestyle Products SunWave MUS1522

The Muskoka SunWave Commercial Ultra Quartz is another electric radiant heater model that’s perfect for your patio, garage, or deck space. Like the other electric heaters we looked at, this unit will require a 220/240V hookup, but it can toss heat extremely efficiently and be wall-mounted so it doesn’t take up any of your outdoor space.

The unit itself is relatively small at just over three feet wide, but reviewers praised how well it functioned. If you have a space that needs heat consistently and you don’t want to deal with the hassle of swapping propane tanks, this could be an excellent gas-free alternative.

Pros

  • Wall-mountable

  • Functional

Cons

  • None that we could find

Meet the tester

TJ Donegan

TJ Donegan

Former Director, Content Development

@TJDonegan

TJ is the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed. He is a Massachusetts native and has covered electronics, cameras, TVs, smartphones, parenting, and more for Reviewed. He is from the self-styled "Cranberry Capitol of the World," which is, in fact, a real thing.

See all of TJ Donegan's reviews

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