Cold weather doesn't mean you have to close your patio down, at least not if you have a sound heating system.
However, choosing a patio heater can be daunting. You need one that will withstand the elements, add heat immediately, and offer reliable warmth for your friends and family. Look no further than Sylvane's Best Patio Heater of 2024 list, which includes six tried-and-tested options to fit any need or space.
- Best Overall Patio Heater
- Best Electric Patio Heater
- Best Ceiling Mounted Patio Heater
- Best Under-Table Heater
- Best Patio Heater for Large Outdoor Spaces
- Best Heater for Small Patios
- Best Gas Patio Heater
- Best Fire Pit
- Best Budget Patio Heater
- Which Heater is Right for My Patio?
Best Overall Patio Heater
Big Ass Fans Vesper 3200W Electric Outdoor Patio Heater
If you live in a hot or humid area, then Big Ass Fans is probably a brand you already know and love. But what you might not know is that Big Ass Fans recently released one of the most intuitive and exciting patio heaters available on the market today.
With the Vesper Electric Heater by Big Ass Fans, even the coldest winter temperatures won't stop you from enjoying your favorite indoor and covered outdoor spaces. The Vesper features a sleek, low-profile design, quiet operation, and zero light emissions, making it perfect for sunrooms, yoga studios, and covered patios.
However, Vesper has some downsides. The first is that it is by no means a portable heater. In fact, it has to be hard-wired in one location and works best when installed on a wall or ceiling in an outdoor space. So, you're limited to the heating coverage area provided by the Vesper Heater's swivel joint (about 270 degrees of movement).
But once the Vesper is installed and fired up, it heats a wide coverage area of up to 80 square feet.
- Mounting Style: Wall or Ceiling Mounted
- Wiring Style: Hardwired for 120 or 240V
- Heater Technology: Radiant Infrared Heating | 10,000 BTUs
- Sizing: 50 to 80 sq. ft.
Best Electric Patio Heater
Westinghouse 1200 Watt Infrared Oscillating Electric Outdoor Heater
Sylvane customers love the Westinghouse 1200W infrared heater's portability, efficiency, and heat output, and we think you will, too.
This small freestanding heater is good for medium-sized indoor and outdoor spaces. It features automatic oscillation and timers, simple controls, and a long list of safety features.
- Mounting Style: Freestanding
- Wiring Style: Plug-In
- Heater Technology: Oscillating Infrared Heat | 5,100 BTUs
- Sizing: 50 sq. ft.
Best Ceiling Mounted Option
Bromic Platinum Smart-Heat 2300W Electric Outdoor Heater
Our favorite built-in heater option, the Bromic Platinum Smart-Heat, is a powerful, versatile patio heater with many features and capabilities.
The Bromic Platinum's 33-inch-wide element and 23,600 BTUs of infrared power can heat up to 65 square feet. It also features tinted Schott glass ceramic screens that minimize light while evenly diffusing heat. However, its high performance and hefty price tag could make it unsuitable for some customers.
- Mounting Style: Wall, Ceiling Mounted, or Built-In Installation
- Wiring Style: Hardwired for 240V
- Heater Technology: Radiant Infrared Heating | 23,6000 BTUs
- Sizing: 65 sq. ft.
Best Under-Table Heater
Ener-G+ Infrared Portable Under-Table Electric Heater
If you're looking for a powerful heater at an affordable price, the Ener-G+ Under-Table Electric Heater is what you'll want. This portable infrared heater is rated for indoor and outdoor use and uses infrared elements to heat people and objects.
- Mounting Style: Freestanding
- Wiring Style: Plug-In
- Heater Technology: Infrared Heat | 5,100 BTUs
- Sizing: 40 sq. ft.
Best Patio Heater for Large Outdoor Spaces
Big Ass Fans 240V Obsidian Electric Outdoor Patio Heater
Released alongside our number 1 pick of 2025 (the Big Ass Fans Vesper), the Big Ass Fans 240V Obsidian offers more power and a rugged design that will handle whatever conditions your chosen outdoor space cares to throw at it.
One big reason we love the Obsidian is that, unlike many outdoor heaters, it is built to withstand the elements and doesn't have to be installed in a sheltered or covered area. The Obsidian is water and dust-resistant, with an IP65 rating.
This heater is available in a 38- or 42-inch model and can heat up to 160 square feet. It is great for large commercial or residential outdoor spaces, such as patios, porches, garages, and entryways.
- Mounting Style: Wall or Ceiling Mounted
- Wiring Style: Hardwired for 240V
- Heater Technology: Radiant Infrared Heating | Up to 20,250 BTUs
- Sizing: Up to 160 sq. ft.
Best Pick for Small Spaces
Ener-G+ 110V Wall Mounted Infrared Outdoor Heater
Rated for outdoor use in spaces up to 60 square feet, the Ener-G+ 110V Wall Mounted Infrared Outdoor Heater is perfect for warming covered patios, garages and other small spaces. It features radiant heat that warms people and objects, not the air.
This model has a remote control that can swap between two heat settings, and a carbon lamp filament with a 5,000 hour life expectancy. We especially like the range of the mounting arm, which can extend straight forward, on a swivelling range, or be pushed flush with the wall.
- Mounting Style: Wall Mounted
- Wiring Style: Plug-In
- Heater Technology: Radiant Infrared Heater | 5,100 BTUs
- Sizing: 60 sq. ft.
Best Gas Heater
Hanover 48,000 BTU Steel Umbrella Propane Patio Heater
The Hanover 48,000 BTU Steel Umbrella Propane Patio Heater is perfect for reviving cold fall and winter evenings. This 7-foot outdoor propane patio heater offers powerful 48,000 BTU heating to warm a 360-degree, 16-foot radius. Adjust the temperature to your preference with the temperature knob and light with the push button ignition button.
Other features include the bronze and stainless steel design with a handy circular table space, gas hose and regulator hookups, tank storage, and more.
- Mounting Style: Freestanding
- Powered By: Propane Gas
- Heater Technology: Propane Forced Air Heating | 48,000 BTUs
- Sizing: 360-degree, 16-foot radius
Best Fire Pit
Endless Summer Marc Rectangular LP Outdoor Gas Fire Pit Table
When is a fire pit, not a fire pit? When it's a fire pit table, of course!
This rectangular propane fire pit table from Endless Summer is probably one of the most useful patio heaters today, with a powerful heating output of up to 40,000 BTUs and the ability to transform into a patio table when not in use.
You and your family can sit around the Marc Fire Pit Table and enjoy a nice meal, warm up on a cold winter night, or do both simultaneously, thanks to the convenient wide table lip that runs around the pit's perimeter.
- Mounting Style: Freestanding
- Powered By: Propane Gas
- Heater Technology: Propane Forced Air Heating | 40,000 BTUs
Best Budget Pick
Ener-G+ 1200 Watt Infrared Portable Outdoor Oscillating Electric Patio Heater
If getting the most bang for your buck is your top priority, then the Ener-G+ 1200 Watt Infrared Portable Outdoor Oscillating Electric Patio Heater is exactly what you'll want.
This small and affordable oscillating heater punches well above its weight class, outputting more than 5,000 BTRUs of radiant heat in a 40-square-foot area, with multiple safety and operating features to choose from.
It features two heat settings, tip-over and overheat protection, and P55-rated water resistance. It is also lightweight and portable, with a 6-foot power cord for maximum convenience.
- Mounting Style: Freestanding
- Wiring Style: Plug-In
- Heater Technology: Radiant Infrared Heater | 5,100 BTUs
- Sizing: 40 sq. ft.
Which Heater is Right for My Patio?
Picking the right heater for your patio is very important. Pick one that is too large or small, and you'll waste electricity, not feel the full warming effects you paid good money for, or even worse, feel uncomfortably hot.
Before pulling the trigger on a patio heater purchase, make sure that the BTU and space sizing fit your desired space, and that the installation/power options
If you still need help selecting the right patio heater for your space, call our product experts at 1-800-934-9194 for more product recommendations and support.
