Winter is here. Sipping on peppermint mochas, throwing on your favorite knit and planning your next ski trip — are all festive notions that cold weather is here. We can’t forget about the snow blowers and sleds, too.
While many choose to spend more time indoors during the fall and winter seasons, you don’t necessarily have to! Outdoor heaters are a great investment for your backyard oasis and can make all the difference when chilly temperatures come around.
Since the market for outdoor heaters is pretty up and down these days, we wanted to curate this list of the best options online.
Whether you’re looking for an electric outdoor heater, a heater with a propane tank or a small and portable option, we rounded up the best outdoor heaters to make your time spent outside that much more enjoyable.
Find options from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Frontgate and more.
What type of heater is best for outdoors?
No outdoor space is the same, so it makes sense that you’d be curious about which one would be best for your needs. Beyond personal preference, consider the size of your space, the climate of your location and how you’d like to use your heater. Will it be for your garage or placed on the patio while entertaining? Answering these questions can help narrow your search.
Here are different types of outdoor heaters to familiarize yourself with:
Propane Patio Heaters: As the name suggests, this type of heater uses propane gas to heat things up. It usually has a reflector at the top to channel hot air upward. Many people like these types of heaters because they’re portable and effective.
Electric Patio Heaters: These heaters are versatile in style and convenience. They can be hung from ceilings, wall mounted or placed on the floor. Considered an energy efficient option, they’re worth considering if you’re uncomfortable dealing with something like propane.
Table top heaters: If you have an outdoor workshop or simply want to sit on your patio for as long as the weather allows, these are good heaters to know about. They’re portable, might use propane or electricity, and come in a variety of styles.
Infrared Heaters: These heaters warm a space by emitting electromagnetic waves. We know, fancy. They’re a nice choice for spot heating but may not be the best if you want to heat up an entire sitting area.
What is the best heater for a covered porch?
The best heater for a covered porch will be dependent on your budget, the size of the space and where you’d like the heat to go.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of some of the best outdoor heaters for covered porches, as well as their drawbacks and benefits.
| Electric Patio Heaters | Electric heaters are generally safe, easy to set up and do a decent job at heating an enclosed space.They can be directed to place heat in a specific area or warm an entire room. Some sit on the floor, while others can be hung from the ceiling or mounted on the wall. They can, however, take time to heat up, which may lead to an increased electric bill. On the plus, there are energy saving models, which may reduce the amount of time you have to run them, saving money in the long run. |
| Outdoor Electric Fireplaces | These are a great option if you want the ambiance of a traditional fireplace without the soot and smoke. They typically do not use a high wattage of power. Are they as nice as a real fireplace? No. However, with a little time, they can make a smaller, enclosed space toasty. |
| Wall-Mounted Radiant Heaters | Although these can take some time to install, they are a great way to enjoy longer lasting heat outdoors. They have a built-in fan that circulates the warm air and they also save floor space. It should be noted that they can be noisy. |
| Halogen Heaters | These offer quick, focused heat. While not the best for large spaces, that can be a good option if you need to be kept warm while sitting at your patio table or in your favorite reading nook. |
| Ceiling-Mounted Heaters | These heaters provide overhead heat distribution. They tend to be more expensive to purchase and install. However, unlike floor heaters, they can efficiently warm an area without the furniture disrupting the air flow. |
What is the most environmentally friendly outdoor heater?
Electric infrared heaters tend to be the most eco-friendly outdoor heater. Along with producing minimal to no emissions while operating, they’re cleaner in comparison to natural gas and propane.
These types of heaters offer targeted heat, so they may not be great for larger spaces. However, if you’re looking for a greener style of heating while sitting outside, it’s a good type to consider.
Best Outdoor Heaters
Best Dual Use Outdoor Heater: Briza Infrared Patio Heater, $197, original price: $250
If you’re looking for an electric outdoor heater, consider the Briza Infrared Patio Heater that’s currently on sale for $210. The infrared rays emitted are easily absorbed by the items in your surroundings which gently increase the temperature in your space unlike other heaters that may unevenly distribute heat.
Frontgate’s Commercial Patio Heater has an output of 46,000 BTUs and will take the chill out of any cool evenings so you can relax and enjoy the outdoors in comfort. It’s designed with wheels for easy portability, a wide base for stability and uses a standard 20 pound LPG tank (not included).
The Permasteel electric patio heater is ideal for those who may not have a ton of surface area because it’s so thin. It also uses infrared heating which gravitates toward objects and people instead of the surrounding air. It’s on wheels so it’s easy to move, too.
Best Outdoor Patio Heater: Frontgate Sundry Patio Heater, $1,040, original price: $1,299
If you’re willing to spend a little extra cash, consider this Sundry propane patio heater from Frontgate. The burner and reflector are crafted with durable stainless steel and aluminum set in a glass tube to help evenly diffuse the heat. It puts out 50,000 BTUs and warms up to 6 feet. The 25% off sale kicks in at checkout.
Skip the roasting chestnuts and just relax. This fireplace electric heater makes it easy. It can warm up to 1,000 square feet with its infrared heat and does a hot job at setting the mood. One of our favorite features is that it can be operated with a remote control, has an electronic timer function and caster rollers for easy transport. Another perk of the faux fireplace? It can be enjoyed with or without the heat, which means you can use even in the summer months for extra ambiance.
This portable electric heater comes in handy if you’re working outside or camping. Its compact design makes it easy to transport and the adjustable, two heat settings is a cinch to figure out. It has an out air outlet, a simple functional control dial and only weighs under 4 pounds. According to some happy customers on Amazon, the tip over switch may be on the delicate side. However, for the price, it may still be a hot option (see what we did there?) for you. Capable of heating a 165 square foot space, it’s most ideal for a smaller area.
Review: “Wow! This is a well built, sturdy, compact heater. I was pleasantly surprised at how much heat it provides. I especially like the built-in fan feature, which moves the heat throughout the room. This will be a great heater to warm up my basement.”
This is the perfect outdoor heating solution for portable patio heating, garage heating, workshop heating, or job site heating. This tripod-heater combination package saves you money and gives you ultimate flexibility with your heating needs. By installing the tradesman heater onto the Tripod, you can bring your heater anywhere. The rubber feet on the bottom give optimal stability, too.
The UIXE 41,000 BTU patio heater is unique in shape and adopts double-layer tempered glass structure, which can, of course, withstand high temperature flames. The internal high-quality metal structure frame makes the heater more durable.
This indoor and outdoor infrared heater offers safe, clean, instant and odorless carbon infrared heat, providing you with maximum comfort during chillier climates. It also offers three heat output settings 900W, 1200W and 1500W to meet your needs and is made with durable and weather proof anodized aluminum for years of outdoor use.
This stylish and affordable outdoor heater comes with wheels for easy transport and has 46,000 BTUs. Coming in powder coated and stainless steel, it’s available in three colors and has some nice safety features. One is its water box to weigh the heater down. The next is the tilt safety auto-shut off valve. The 20 pound liquid propane gas tank needed to operate it is not included, which we’re not thrilled about. However, more than 8,000 customers on Amazon giving it five stars don’t seem to mind.
Review: “I liked that I was able to spend time outdoors on my gazebo while it was cold out. This heater kept all of us nice and cozy.”
If you don’t have a ton of space or would rather not invest a ton of money quite yet, a small, portable heater is the way to go. This tabletop, propane option from Amazon only weighs 14 pounds (and uses a one pound tank) so it’s lightweight and super easy to carry. It will keep you warm for about 2 hours but if you need more time to stay warm, you can always buy a converter to connect a 20 pound propane tank.
The Mr. Heater portable, outdoor space heater is great for outdoor enthusiasts. It can increase temperatures in enclosed spaces up to 225 square feet so it’s ideal for tents, campers, garages, barns, a hunting blind or tailgating. It has a high and low setting, a folding carry handle and just one knob to control it all.
No need to leave your comfortable outdoor seating when you have the EnerG+ Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater. It comes with a remote, plus a lot more. It has an IP44 certified weatherproof rating, as well as a carbon coil bulb that can burn up to 5,000 hours. Three different settings allows you to switch between 500, 1,000 and 1,500 watts of oscillating heat, and of course it has tip over protection.
The weather may be changing but it can still feel like summer — sort of — when you relax outside with this handy outdoor heater. The waterproof electric heater mounts to the wall and can be programed to go on and off whenever you want. Once you’ve installed it, use the remote to control the heat from the convenience of your seat. Its advanced infrared tech gently circulates the warm air, keeping you toasty as you entertain guests on your inclosed patio or do work in the garage.
Mood lighting plus heat? We’ll take it, especially if it’s as aesthetically pleasing at this West Elm Outdoor Heater Lamp. It has 51,000 BTUs and a heat range of 86 square feet, so you and all your loved ones can enjoy its warmth. Best of all, it’s lightweight, so you can move it with ease whenever you want to switch up decor.
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