Patio Heaters Buyer's Guide

When the cold months roll in, it can be tough to find the same enjoyment from the outdoors you had in the summer. The right patio heater can change that feeling. A patio heater can warm up your outdoor area through the holidays and into the breezy spring nights.

The market for patio heaters is big. There are a lot of options to pick from, and within those options, there are even more options! What kind of patio heater do you want: freestanding or wall-mounted? What fuel will it use? How many BTUs should it put out? The choices, while great, can be overwhelming. This guide will answer all the questions you have. When you're done, you will know which patio heater best suits your home or business.

Types of Patio Heaters

To start, you must know about the main types of patio heaters: tabletop, wall-mounted, and freestanding. There are also pole-mounted patio heaters, but many can be wall-mounted so we will consider those as such. The primary differences in these patio heater types are size and appearance.

Tabletop - These are great for warming up everyone sitting at the patio. Tabletop heaters stand on the table, providing heat for everyone around it. Because they are only designed to heat the seating area around a single table, output is lower than a freestanding heater. They are great for home use, and many use electric power. With easy installation, plug your tabletop heater in and enjoy.

Wall-mounted - These are perfect in restaurant settings and great at home. Freestanding and tabletop heaters are sturdy enough to stay put but light enough to move. Wall-mounted heaters stay where you install them. There's no accidental tipping over or need for lugging it into a safe space during a storm. Installing wall-mounted heaters can be difficult, though. You have to wire it into the electrical system or install a gas line. The complexity of installation varies from home to home.