Best patio heaters

The best patio heaters are pricey to run and don't kick out as much heat as you might expect, according to our research.

Still set on buying one? We've tested a selection of electric patio heaters with a couple of gas ones thrown in for comparison.

We chose to test electric patio heaters as they're considered more energy efficient than gas equivalents. Gas patio heaters waste a lot of energy heating up air rather than people. They also release the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when in use. 

Our test results show that in general, the most energy-guzzling patio heaters warm best, and that even the most efficient use a lot of energy. 

You'll save money — and stay warmer — if you put on extra layers rather than using an outdoor heater.

That said, there was one patio heater we tested that gave the most impressive balance of warming, convenience and energy efficiency. Read on to find out which one it is. You can also find out about the running costs and heating effectiveness of all the patio heaters we tested.

The best patio heaters

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Aldi Gardenline Electric Patio Heater

Only available at Aldi: £44.99 

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Cable length (from base): 30cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 210 x 50 x 50cm

Need to know: 9.3kg weight, three heat settings, adjustable height and head angle, IP34 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Amazon Basics Gas Patio Outdoor Heater

Only available at Amazon: £79.99

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Cable length (from base): No cable needed

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Max power output: 46,000 BTU (approximately 13.5kW)

Size (H x W x D): 226 x 45 x 45cm

Need to know: 18.1kg weight, continuous dial for heat setting, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, available in a range of colours

Argos Home Electric Patio Heater

Only available at Argos: £90

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Cable length (from base): 30cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 210 x 50 x 50cm

Need to know: Three heat settings, adjustable height and head angle, IP34 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Blumfeldt Hot Roddy Electric Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £94.99 at Wayfair, also available at Blumfeldt

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Cable length (from base): 30cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 211 x 52 x 52cm

Need to know: 8.2kg weight, three heat settings, adjustable height and head angle, IP34 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Burda Infrared Tower Heater

Only available at Burda: €755.46

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Cable length (from base): 170cm

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Max power output: 3kW

Size (H x W x D): 126 x 29 x 32cm

Need to know: 7.3kg weight, four heat settings, IP24 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, low glare – gives out heat with minimal visible light, available in a range of colours

Groundlevel Electric Patio Heater with Bluetooth and LED Lights

Cheapest price: £125 at Groundlevel, also available at Robert Dyas

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Cable length (from base): 175cm

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Max power output: 1.5kW

Size (H x W x D): 140 x 20 x 30cm

Need to know: 7.7kg weight, two heat settings, IP44 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, includes remote control to choose colour of LED light, built-in Bluetooth speaker

Heatlab Electric Infrared Slimline Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £299.99 at Amazon, Primrose, also available at More Gardening

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Cable length (from base): 170cm

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Max power output: 1.8kW

Size (H x W x D): 160 x 58 x 16cm

Need to know: 12kg weight, two heat settings, IP55 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Heatlab Streamline Rotating Electric Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £99.99 at Amazon, Primrose

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Cable length (from base): 150cm

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Max power output: 1.2kW

Size (H x W x D): 82 x 27 x 27cm

Need to know: 4kg weight, two heat settings, IPX4 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, rotating header head (can oscillate through 60 degrees)

Heatsure Standing Electric Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £38.99 at The Range (out of stock), also available at Amazon (out of stock), Robert Dyas (out of stock)

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Cable length (from base): 30cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 130 x 60 x 60cm

Need to know: 8.45kg weight, three heat settings, adjustable height and head angle, IPX4 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Kettler Kalos Copper Lantern Large Electric Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £199 at Garden Store, Kettler, also available at John Lewis

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Cable length (from base): 180cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 98 x 29 x 23cm

Need to know: 5.15kg weight, one heat setting, IP55 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, also available in small (73cm tall, 1.5kW) and medium (84cm tall, 1.8kW) sizes

La Hacienda Standing Electric Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £49.95 at Amazon, also available at The Range, Very (out of stock)

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Cable length (from base): 40cm

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Max power output: 2kW

Size (H x W x D): 202 x 50 x 50cm

Need to know: 9.5kg weight, two heat settings, IP24 rated, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped

Outsunny Outdoor Gas Patio Heater

Cheapest price: £169.99 at The Range, also available at Amazon, Robert Dyas 

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Cable length (from base): No cable needed

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Max power output: 11.2kW

Size (H x W x D): 190cm x 50cm x 50cm

Need to know: 13kg weight, continuous dial for heat setting, comes with dust cover, inbuilt safety switch that turns heater off if tipped, also available in black and/or 225cm tall model

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How we tested patio heaters

Heating

• We ran each patio heater on its lowest and highest setting. Three testers measured the distance at which they no longer felt warmed by the patio heater, and noted how warm they felt when within heating range. 
• Some models didn't heat further than a metre, with the better ones providing some warmth up to 3 metres away.
• We used an infrared camera to measure how hot the heating head got on each setting, and whether it had cooled after 10 minutes of being switched off.
• All heaters had cooled down completely after the cool down time. 

Energy use

• We measured the kilowatt hours of energy used on the low and high settings.
• For gas patio heaters, we weighed the gas canister before and after use to measure the kilograms used.
• We used these figures  to calculate the running cost per hour for each heater.
• Energy use made up a significant proportion of our final ratings because it's a key factor if you're considering buying a patio heater.
• Gas models have significantly higher running costs than electric patio heaters, which is partially why we recommend steering clear of them.
• We used the RS PRO energy meter, £28, from RS Components. If you're interested in measuring your patio heater or other appliances around your home, you can buy similar meters starting from around £18 from popular retailers such as Amazon and Screwfix.

Stability

• We used a force gauge to measure how difficult it was to tip over each patio heater.
• We found that gas patio heaters are more stable than electric ones, mostly because the gas canister adds extra weight to the heater's base.

Ease of use

• We scored each patio heater on how easy it was to assemble, the quality of instructions and the length of the cable from the base.
• Some electric patio heater cables were ridiculously short from the base, making plugging in difficult.

Build quality

• We scored each patio heater on the quality of the parts.
• We found that some heaters had sharp, unfinished metal edges and misaligned holes, which made assembly tricky.

Five things we learnt testing patio heaters

1. Overall, we weren't that impressed Most patio heaters only made us feel warm from up to 2 metres away on their top settings. Gas was better for further distances, but comparatively expensive to run.
2. Lower heat settings aren't much use We found that the lowest settings on all patio heaters only warmed us up if we were sitting right next to them.
3. Electric patio heaters are much cheaper to run than gas equivalents They're also more environmentally friendly.
4. There were big differences in how easy patio heaters are to assemble Some arrive fully assembled, while some are shipped flat packed. Finish and build quality also varied dramatically.
5. Useful cable length varied dramatically Some cables were attached at the base, whereas some were attached to the heater head. For the latter, this meant only 30-40cm of usable cable length directly from the base, making it more difficult to plug them in.

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Types of patio heater

Gas patio heaters

Gas heaters are the type of outdoor heater you normally find in a pub garden or restaurant terrace. They rely on propane gas cylinders or a fixed gas pipe supply.

Pros

• Sometimes cheaper to buy upfront
• Some have an attractive open-flame design
• Produce more heat than most types of heater
• Will start warming up an area as soon as they're turned on 

Cons

• Significantly more expensive to run than electric heaters
• They heat by convection (meaning they heat the air around them), so more energy is wasted to the atmosphere
• They release more CO2 into the atmosphere than electric heaters - this makes them less eco-friendly and more attractive to bugs

Electric patio heaters

Electric patio heaters can be freestanding, attached to walls or hung from awnings or ceilings, and they all need to be plugged into the mains. 

This type of heater works predominantly by infrared radiation, which means they warm objects directly rather than the air around them.

Pros

• Consume far less energy than gas heaters, so will be much cheaper to run
• Heat is radiated in a certain direction, so less is wasted into the atmosphere
• Infrared electric heaters have the most minimal heat wastage of all types of patio heater
• More eco-friendly as they don't directly emit CO2 

Cons

• Can sometimes take a while to heat up
• Run on electricity, so you'll need a mains socket nearby
• Will stop working in a power outage
• The electrical cord can be a trip hazard

Solid-fuel patio heaters

Fire pits and chimineas are both types of solid-fuel heater. They rely on the burning of wood, charcoal, pellets or other materials to emit warmth. 

Pros

• Can be decorative and aesthetic - good for creating ambiance
• Some models have multiple functions including a grill feature and table top
• Usually less expensive than other types of heater, plus you can build your own cheaper version

Cons

• Most models will emit smoke, which can be an irritant and leave clothes smelling smoky
• They release more CO2 into the atmosphere at point of use than electric heaters
• Will require a constant supply of burning materials, as well as a regular clean
• Can be difficult to extinguish quickly or control the size of the flame

Patio heater designs

Freestanding heaters often resemble lamps, steel pyramids or towers. Gas heaters are freestanding and some electric heaters are also designed this way.

Wall-mounted heaters are electric heaters that can be fixed to a wall. They're unobtrusive and don't take up floor space, but they still need to be placed somewhere they can plug into the mains.

Parasol heaters are electric heaters built to fit on the inside of a garden umbrella. Here, they're protected from any wind and they can be a close yet safe distance from people sitting at a table below.

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Patio heaters: key questions answered

Can you buy an environmentally friendly patio heater?

No. Although some patio heaters are advertised as 'environmentally friendly', sadly a truly eco heater doesn't yet exist.

Gas heaters are one of the worst in terms of energy efficiency. They produce significantly more CO2 when in use than electric heaters.

The European Parliament MEPs voted to endorse banning them in 2008 (this vote didn't create a law, but it was a show of support for the concept of banning gas patio heaters).   

Electric patio heaters that heat by infrared radiation reduce the environmental impact significantly in comparison and are, from this angle, the better option.

Of course, electricity drawn from the grid stems from a mix of carbon-free and carbon sources, and wasted electricity will still have an environmental impact, depending on your tariff.

How much will it cost to run a patio heater?

• Electric patio heaters we tested cost £0.63-1.52 per hour to run on their maximum settings. This is based on an electricity unit price of 33.2p/kWh.
• Gas patio heaters we tested cost £6.67-8.89 per hour to run on their maximum settings. The running cost of gas, of course, depends on the price you pay for a patio gas canister. Our running costs are based on the average price of 10 propane patio gas canisters (10-13kg) sold at popular retailers. 

How much do I need to spend on a patio heater?

• A fire pit or chimenea will typically have the lowest upfront cost This is usually between £20 and £100.
• Cheaper electric patio heaters can start from around £50 Cheaper gas models typically cost a bit more.
• Most mid-range gas and electric heaters cost between £200 and £600 At this price you have more choice, whether you want a freestanding heater, a wall-mounted model or something or a hanging lamp.
• Premium patio heaters will cost more than £600 Premium gas models usually have stylish designs. If you want multiple heaters to cover a large space, it's likely to cost you well over £1,000. 

Can an indoor heater be used outside?

Technically yes, but you'll be disappointed.

Most indoor heaters work by convection, which means they heat the air around them. This works well inside in an insulated environment, but when you're outdoors, you'll waste a lot of energy and not feel much benefit.

Electric patio heaters specialise in radiant heating, which means they warm objects directly rather than the air around them. 

Do patio heaters attract bugs?

The simple answer is yes, but for a few different reasons.

Certain bugs, including most flying insects, chase light stimuli and will flock to a bright patio heater. Other insects that are instinctively repelled by light, such as earthworms, will flee them.

The carbon dioxide produced by gas patio heaters also attracts some insects — most unpleasantly, mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide emissions. Electric heaters, on the other hand, don't emit CO2, so they don't attract mosquitoes.

You can invest in pest control, such as a fly zapper, to attract and eliminate insects if necessary, so this isn't an insurmountable problem.

What size patio heater do I need?

British Thermal Units (BTU) are essentially a measurement of how much energy it takes to heat up something. Knowing this, or the heater's power in kilowatts, is a good first step to help you work out if it's suitable to heat your space. 

You should be able to find one of these numbers on the packaging, the product itself or in the instruction manual. 

Once you know your heater's BTU, you'll then need to work out the square footage of the area you want to heat. By multiplying the square footage by 20, you'll get the rough number of BTU you'll need to adequately heat it.

How well heat is dispersed around the space will be affected by the shape of your garden and the weather, such as wind. Additionally, in our tests we found most of the electric patio heaters only kept us warm from up to few meters away.

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Best patio heater features to look for 

• Safety additions Grates, covers, emitter screens and a sturdy base are great if you've got pets or small children. 
• Automatic turn-off feature This switches off the heater if it topples over. All patio heaters we've tested have this feature and they all worked.
• Wireless or Bluetooth control Enables you to control the heater through a phone or smart hub. 
• Durable materials This is most important for heaters that will be kept outside all year round. Look for materials such as stainless steel or aluminium. 
• Rotating heaters These distribute the heat around a larger space, although you might find yourself feeling cold when it's rotated away.