Best Patio Heaters 2021
A selection of the best types of heaters to warm your patio all year round
Your garden and patio don’t have to be a wasted space when the cooler months start to draw in.
But depending on the time of year and the corresponding temperatures, it can be a little more difficult to truly appreciate your outdoor space.
Have a look through our outdoor heating ideas and make the most of your evening, whether you want to splash out on a new stand-up heater or just get friends bundled up under blankets.
Electric Patio Heaters
Winter is officially here, meaning your outdoor heating devices should be dusted off and switched back on.
By far, the most popular option is Electric Patio Heaters. There’s a whole variety of options, from heat lamps you hang from parasols and walls to radiators you plug in for heat.
Electric heaters are cheap to run, as the electricity from your mains in the house is clean energy used to heat patios and gardens. Electric heaters use 85% less energy than gas patio heaters. A typical outdoor electric heater, such as the Shadow 2kW XT Heater, uses approximately 36p/kW/hour to run and is the safest and most effective way of heating an outdoor area.
Unfortunately, this means you generally need an outdoor plug or a long lead, which isn’t always possible in larger spaces.
Gas Patio Heaters
There’s a reason why restaurants and bars have these everywhere: they are cost-efficient and, more importantly, warm.
The mushroom heat lamps are the most recognisable of all the outdoor gas heaters. The most commonly used gas heaters are LPG burners, which are found in Pubs, bar gardens and smoking areas, such as our popular Athena+ gas patio heater.
But where there’s gas, there are ways to create flames. From heater patio towers to gas fire pit tables to portable camping gas heaters, these are by far the most versatile in shape and size.
Environmental studies have shown that outdoor heaters are only 1% to 2% efficient. That said, gas patio heaters have modernised over the last few years and are more environmentally friendly than ever.
You need to invest in some form of natural gas or propane container, and if you run out, you’ll be left out in the cold. However, they are great for heating large gardens and spaces.
Fire Pits – large and small
Who doesn’t love to stare out at the stars, a roaring fire glowing in the dark, the smell of marshmallows toasting in the air?
Fire pits require a wide open space, as you have to be careful with the fire’s fumes, but they are by far one of the cheapest garden heating ideas because they are just metal and wood.
That’s not to say that cheap is always best; smokeless fire pits are probably one of the many wonders of this century.
There are small portable fire pits that take little to no space and heat two of you nicely on a cool spring evening. Or maybe you want giant deep bowl fire pits that you can place in the middle of a garden and not need a jumper in winter.
Fire may be the most primitive garden heating idea, but the old ways are sometimes the best.
Infrared Patio Lamps
From the dawn of man to the new century, we introduce you to the wonders of the Infrared Patio Lamps.
Although these technically fall under electric heaters, they deserve their own section because they do it better than their plain old boring electric cousins.
Infra-red waves produce the same heat as the sun. As such, they can offer instant warmth at different settings, making them cost-efficient and great for larger spaces. They still don’t have as much oomph as propane gas heaters, but they come close.
While some can give a red glow, many of the more modern versions have a red-golden light that is less ‘red light district’ and more ‘tanning in St Tropez’.
Although, just to be clear, you cannot get a tan using infrared patio heaters.
Underfloor Heating For Decking and Patios
Not for the faint of heart (or wallet) this option is probably one of the most difficult garden heating ideas, but a great investment if you plan on spending lots of time outside.
You’ll need a professional to install this system for you, but with warmth that can melt snow, there will never be a bad time to be outside.
Jumpers and Blankets
We know this may seem basic, but let’s be honest: not everyone can afford fancy equipment and smokeless wood and coal for their custom-made fire pit table.
Sometimes, it’s not cold enough to turn on the stand-up heater. Sometimes, it can be as simple as making sure all your guests are dressed in a few extra layers and maybe draping a few blankets over the chairs for everyone to use as they need them.
If your patio is covered, bring out a few rugs. You’ll be surprised how these little cosy touches will keep your entertainment area warmer for everyone.
No, really, it’s called Hygge, and it’s the Danish art of cosy outdoor living.
Hot Tubs
Hot tubs come in all shapes and sizes, from the ones you blow up for a few weeks in the summer to large installations that take the water straight from the mains.
These days, you don’t have to be rich to have one of these in your garden; you just need the space and an appreciation for bubbles.
It may seem odd, but Hot Tubs are one of the best ways to heat your garden in winter. The water temperature can reach as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sure, it can get a little cold running back and forth to your tub, but it’s a small price to pay.
It’s not always the cheapest option to run or install, but it’s a great long-term investment if you’re willing to get close and personal with your guests and loved ones.
Heated Pools
We had to have this one on here because we had hot tubs. And what’s a hot tub, if not a tiny little heated pool?
If you have the space and cash to get a heated pool, then we’re not sure why you are even reading this. Get a pool, and enjoy it heated in winter and wondrous cool in the summer.
We’re a little bit jealous.
Somebody Warm and a Hot Drink
Try it sometimes. Put a blanket on the floor, turn off the lights, and lie down with someone close to enjoy the nature around you.
Maybe it’s Goldie, your favourite Labrador, or maybe it’s a sibling or a partner, but there’s something incredibly cosy about sharing a small space with someone you love.
Add a flask of something hot (tea, coffee, mulled wine; we won’t judge), and it’s the perfect recipe for a wondrous night.
Chimineas
What do you do when you get cold inside? You put a few logs in the chimney. What do you do when you’re cold outside? You put a few logs in the Chiminea.
These clay pots are wonderfully effective at retaining and dispersing heat, and they make a great garden feature wherever they are placed.
They do require a little maintenance, and coal and wood aren’t the cleanest sources of energy, but Chimineas look beautiful and are well within the budget of the most avid garden entertainers.
What is the best outdoor heating?
Depending on the space you have to heat, you may need different types of outdoor heaters. Electric heaters are generally great for small patios and balconies, while fire pits and gas heaters work great for larger gardens and areas.
How do you heat an outdoor area?
You can use the many outdoor heaters now available to buy online. From gas heaters to fire heaters to electric heaters, there are as many options out there as there are outdoor spaces.
You may only need a small patio heater as many of these heaters are now fit for purpose for the space available, even if all you have is the space for an outside wall heater or a large fire pit for the bottom of the garden.
Do outdoor patio heaters work?
Yes! You have to get one that works for your space, but outdoor patio heaters have allowed people from all over the world, including Norway, Canada, and New Zealand, to enjoy the outdoors all year round.
Do outdoor patio heaters work in winter?
Although many outdoor patio heaters are designed to elongate those cool spring, summer and autumn evenings, plenty of Winter outdoor heaters are available. It all depends on how cold it gets and the kind of shelter you have – but if Canadian pubs can have heated outdoor patios in the snow, so can you. Budget is the only thing that will limit you. (Doesn’t it always?)
How do I keep my patio warm in winter?
You can buy one of the many garden heaters available, from wall-mounted infra-red electric heaters to gas fire pit tables. The garden should be enjoyed year-round, and regardless of your space, there’s a heater you can use.
Are electric patio heaters better than gas?
They are better for the environment as they run off your mains and are cheaper to run than gas. Generally, however, outdoor propane heaters tend to be warmer, able to spread heat to a larger area, and more energy efficient.
What size outdoor heater do I need?
It depends on the square footage of your patio or garden and whether you have an ample open space or a sheltered nook. More importantly, it depends on the weather conditions – if you want to heat the peaks of Scotland, you’ll need something a little more powerful than the sea breeze of Brighton Beach.
Generally, try heating your seating area. It’s the most cost-effective way to determine the patio heater size and strength.
If you have only 6 square meters to heat in a shelter of two walls, you’ll only need something running at 30,000 BTUs, while a large open garden space may need 50,000 BTUs or a fire pit.
Can outdoor heaters be left out in the rain?
Generally speaking, you should invest in a good outdoor cover for any of your outdoor heaters, whether that’s a propane gas heater or a chiminea. Metal and rain, even if it’s a cast iron fire pit, tend to rust, and ceramics crack. To prolong the life of your outdoor heater, either cover it with a waterproof tarp or simply tuck it into the shed or garage when it’s no longer needed.
