The Best Electric Patio Heaters 2023

If you’ve ever dreamt of being outside long into the evening without spending hours building a fire in a fire pit or watching your gas heater guzzle propane, then electric heaters are for you.

Not only are they cost-effective (and the most eco-friendly patio heater), but outside electric heaters are also the most efficient. Why? Because they create radiant heat.

That means they heat only objects and people rather than the air around them. Meaning you need less power to provide the same kind of warmth as gas.

In other words, start browsing our list of outside electric heaters and figure out which will work with your patio, balcony, terrace or garden.

Our pick of the best electric patio heaters

• Blumfeldt Heat Guru Plus Radiant Heater – best overall
• Swan’s Al Fresco Wall Mounted Patio Heater – best wall hung heater
• Firefly Outdoor Freestanding Electric Quartz Bulb Garden Patio Heater – best free standing heater
• Firefly 1.8kW Wall Mounted Quartz Outdoor Indoor Patio – best budget heater
• ZMXZMQ 2200W Electric Hanging Heater – best patio ceiling lamp
• Artoreal Electric Patio Parasol Heater – best for umbrellas / parasols
• Mensa Under The Table Infrared Heater – safest choice
• Swan Al Fresco Bar Table Patio Heater – best electric table heater

Blumfeldt Heat Guru Plus Radiant Heater – Best overall outdoor electric heater

Weighing 9.5 kilos, it’s easy enough to move to adapt to your patio or balcony, whilst its height of 148cm allows it to deliver a pleasant warmth to its surroundings.

The big draw here is that, unlike so many other electric outdoor heaters that only heat 180 degrees, this little gem oscillates on the spot, spreading its warmth over a larger area.

No longer will your guests be fighting for the spot directly in the path of the heat. Instead, the Blumfeldt Heat Guru will spread radiant heat to everyone sitting nearby.

It has 3 heating levels, the highest of which is 2,000W – the highest you’ll find with any electric garden heater.

The carbon heater provides effective radiation with infrared technology, and it doesn’t glow a bright distracting light. You also have a timer shutdown of between 1 and 9 hours if you use it indoors and are concerned about safety.

It is splash-proof, so you won’t have to worry about every little sign of rain, but you will need to bring it in or put it safely away when not in use.

Swan’s Al Fresco Wall Mounted Patio Heater – Best wall hung electric heater

If you have a small patio or space and don’t want to drag out a portable patio heater every time you feel a chill, then The Swan’s Al Fresco Wall Mounted Patio Heater is for you.

Easily mounted onto a ceiling or wall of an outdoor structure or garden wall, the 1.8 metre power cord supply means you don’t have to have it right next to the plug.

It provides a powerful heat of up to 1,800W, giving you a wide area of warmth, whether horizontal or vertical. So if you don’t have the space, this wall-mounted patio heater is perfect for sticking on the side of a window or wall.

This is sold as an all-weather patio heater which is IP44 approved. All that means is that it can withstand splashes and light to medium rain.

We would always recommend that in lashes of rain and storms, all electricals should be brought inside or kept under cover, despite the fact this is advertised as being able to be outside throughout the year. Do it if you want, but don’t be surprised if, at this price range, it only lasts you a couple of years.

And the reason we can promise you that is that if you register this product for free, you get a 2 year warranty on the product, which is more than most of these exterior electric heaters are willing to promise.

Thankfully, because of the easy installation, you can bring it in and out of the shed or garage when you need it and just plug and play when you need it most.

You could probably keep it out for multiple months and just bring it in when you know you won’t be dining al fresco in the snow.

Firefly Outdoor Freestanding Electric Quartz Bulb Garden Patio Heater – Best free standing heater

These are perfect for larger patio gatherings, gazebos and parties because they are versatile enough to move around to where they can be the most effective.

The Quartz tubing provides multiple heat settings of 650W for summer evenings, 1350W for autumn afternoons and 2000W for those snuggly winter nights.

Made from grey steel, these are durable and long-lasting, if not particularly stylish, and the overheat protection means it’s family-friendly and safe.

As a side bonus, these provide a soft glow of light and heat. Of course, this is also technically a downside, depending on whether you have separate outdoor lighting already organised for your entertainment space.

Not the cheapest on the list, but you get two powerful heaters that will see you through even the worse weather and can be moved around easily.

Firefly 1.8kW Wall Mounted Quartz Outdoor Indoor Patio – Cheap electric patio heater

Does a cheap patio heater on electricity exist?

Yes. But you have to be willing to take accept that cheap electric goods may not always be the best long-term solution.

These Firefly Wall Mounted Patio Heaters have gotten some rave reviews, mostly because, for the price, they are the best you are going to get, and you get not one but two of them to cover a wider space.

The heat setting is 600W, 1200W and 1,800W, which isn’t as high as the free-standing fireflies, but you do get two of them, and one heater can heat up an area of 6.25m2 – so two will give that same area a warmth that may allow you stay in T-shirts through the night.

They are rain and splash-proof, but at this price, we recommend you keep the screwdriver handy and put them away if you are not using them over the whole winter or they are not in a sheltered space. It’s easy enough to install, however, and bring them down.

As the cheapest patio heaters on our list, care will be needed to keep these in tip-top shape.

They are fairly sizeable and not the prettiest in our reviews, but when you are toasty and warm, enjoying the night air, you can appreciate the nature around you rather than the wall-mounted heaters behind.

ZMXZMQ 2200W Electric Hanging Heater – Best electric patio ceiling lamp

If you are looking for style, look no further than this 2200W Electric Hanging Heater. The all-steel housing gives this an industrial style and feels that it works with almost any décor.

The adjustable chain makes it easy to carry, change the height, or completely move location if need be.

With an IP44 certified it is weather and dust resistant. It’s ideal for indoor and outdoor use, such as gazebos, patios, balconies, workshops, garages etc…

However, this ceiling lamp is usually best placed right over the outdoor dining table, providing your guest with a subtle warm heat.

Will it heat up a large space on its own? Well, it’s certainly powerful enough that 10 people around a table will enjoy dinner in comfort.

If you are looking for something that gives more widespread or directional heat, you may want to partner this with a free-standing heat lamp.

That said, in a covered patio area or a gazebo, one of these lightweight hanging heat lamps should easily heat 20 to 40 square meters, so you really only need an extra lamp if you don’t plan on putting this in a sheltered spot.

As with all electrical heat lamps, this emits zero carbon emissions and no odours, chemicals or fumes. This is as an environmentally garden heater as you’ll get, mostly because the two halogen tubes provide efficient heating with a lifespan of 5,000 hours.

Plus, it looks nice. What’s not to love?

Artoreal Electric Patio Parasol Heater – Bet heater for umbrellas

Say you know exactly where everyone is going to be hanging out. Say that spot is on the table outside, with the parasol or umbrella sitting unused.

Wouldn’t it be great if that parasol wasn’t wasted space? Wouldn’t it be great if it could offer wonderful heat in the winter instead of providing cooling shade in the summer?

Let us introduce you to the range of Electric Patio Parasol and Umbrella heaters.

These three foldable heating panels each operate independently of each other, so you don’t have to use them all at once if you’re only sitting on half the table or just some of your guests are feeling the chill.

The arms can enclose any size pole of 1 to 2 inches in diameter and require no tools to install, though the power cord varies from 1.8 meters to 2.4 meters, so make sure you have any extension leads you need to use it.

The good news is that because the heat is right above you, and each element has three heat settings (500W, 1000W and 1500W) what you get is three good heaters that make for one powerful heat.

That heat is focused on the table and surroundings, so anyone outside that 10 to 14 square meters won’t feel quite as cosy.

Mensa Under The Table Infrared Heater – Best electric patio heater for the safety conscious

When heating your outdoor space, the first question that has to pop into your mind is: how safe is it? You’ve probably ruled out a fire because it’s the most dangerous. You’ve then decided that gas flames also pose a risk.

So you’ve settled on Electric heaters. There are many safe electric heaters that can be placed out of the way of small hands and small fur babies. But most heaters will emit… heat. It’s in the name.

All except one. Mensa Heating have an innovative safe touch technology which means that if you place your hand or knee right on the element, you wouldn’t feel so much as a flutter.

Lightweight, portable and stylish, these Mensa Infrared Heaters are meant to be placed under the table to warm up what matters most – people.

Their position under the table heats the lower body and legs. And as infrared travels through the air to heat people and objects directly, anyone sitting 180 degrees from these will remain warm.

It doesn’t heat a huge area, only 4m2, so it’s for those looking for comfortable outdoor dining options.

Swan Al Fresco Bar Table Patio Heater – Best electric table patio heater

This is a little bit more of an unusual option, but take a moment to appreciate this beautiful piece of outdoor heating.

What you have here is a stylish tempered glass top table set over an anodized aluminium alloy frame that provides heat in two directions.

110cm tall with a 60cm diameter table, this is the perfect size for a small gathering of friends as you wander around, nipping at the nachos.

The heat is not as powerful as some of the other electric heaters on this list, with only two power settings of 800W and 1600W.

But that’s ok because infrared heating is meant to heat up the lower part and the core of the bodies around them – keeping them warm. You also don’t want much higher heat for fear of burns, especially is sitting nearby.

And that’s not the only safety feature. A 360-degree tip-over safety switch ensures you and your guest are always safe as it automatically tuns over if it’s ever knocked over or blown over.

If you’ve ever dreamt of having your own little Parisian cafe on your balcony or a small patio, this is the perfect solution to prolong your evenings.

Who doesn’t love items that have more than one use?

So what is the best electric outdoor heater?

If you are still asking this question, then you haven’t had a chance to look at all the options yet.

The best electrical heater is the one that fits your space. If you have a small balcony, maybe the Mensa under the table is all you need. If you have a larger space, then you can’t beat the Blumfeldt Heat Guru Plus radiant heater.

Are electric patio heaters any good?

They can be, as long as you pick ones with infrared technology. This radiant heat will ensure that only people and objects get the full effect of the heat, meaning the heat isn’t being wasted trying to heat up the air around it.

What’s best – gas or electric patio heater?

Electric heaters may be a bigger investment to start with, but they only cost around 15% of the cost of running a gas heater.

They are also more environmentally friendly and less wasteful, though (granted) not always as powerful. That said, at a button switch, you get instant heat rather than waiting for the gas heater to warm the air around it.

Find out more in our eco-friendly patio heaters post, where we find out which is best for heat and the environment.

Do electric patio heaters work in the winter?

It depends on the patio heater. A winter electric patio heater with quartz infrared technology must emit a minimum of 2000W of heat to warm a space of at least 10 square meters, possibly double that if in a more sheltered spot, gazebo or pergola.

Do patio heaters use a lot of electricity?

The average patio heater will use up to around 15KW of energy an hour. Depending on where you live, this might change how much running costs. On average, in the UK, most electric patio heaters will cost around 15p to 18p an hour.

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