Highly-Rated Patio Heaters To Consider To Enjoy Your Outdoor Living Space For Longer

There's nothing quite like stepping outside on your patio or deck at the end of the day and unwinding with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. It offers a nice change of pace for when you're sick of sitting at home but don't necessarily want to go out. The ambiance is always great, especially if you have stylish outdoor furniture that is a pleasure to sit on or plants that bloom at night that scent the air and make the entire experience cozy. However, all that is set to change when summer rolls into fall and the temperature starts dipping at night. But that doesn't mean you totally have to retire your outdoor space. Instead, you can prolong your time outdoors by investing in a trusty patio heater. 

These devices will keep you toasty even when temperatures creep down to coat-wearing weather. However, not all of these appliances are created equally, and some will keep you warmer for longer than others. To ensure you get the best one for your outdoor space, we rounded up some of the most highly rated space heaters. All of these are above 4 stars with a minimum of 20 reviews. You can't go wrong with one of these top contenders. 

What better way to stay warm than by sitting next to a fire? Channel a fireplace outdoors by investing in a pellet patio heater, which uses wood pellets instead of a propane tank. They're also relatively easy to clean since the compressed pellets don't create as much ash as regular wood. 

If this is up your alley, then a great one to try is the Lil' Timber Pellet Heater from Wood Pellet Products. Clocking in at $849, it costs a pretty penny, but it's also made in the U.S., is a sturdy 65 pounds due to being made of stainless steel, and heats a 10 foot space. It has 5 stars out of 35 reviews, all of them glowing. Reviewers loved that it created no smoke, was much warmer than traditional propane heaters, and could even be used in 0 degree weather and still feel warm outside. One reviewer shared that after an icy storm, they were able to use the heater to melt away the ice on their front patio. "I ended up out front drinking a glass of wine and enjoying the fire on an otherwise dreary day," they said.

When choosing an outdoor electric patio heater, focus on sourcing an infrared one. These devices radiate infrared heat, which doesn't warm the air, but warms your body as you absorb it. It's similar to the heat you feel from the sun. Because of this, they create instant warmth and are more energy efficient than propane heaters since they don't have to warm the air around you first. It's also great for people who live in windy areas, since a breeze can't blow away the infrared rays. 

If you like the sound of this option, there are so many great infrared heaters to warm up your space. However, a top-rated one is the Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater, which is freestanding and oscillating, from Home Depot for $179.99. This makes it easy to move around your outdoor space and will also help warm the people sitting with you since it moves from side to side. It comes with a remote control, allowing you to change the temperature and settings without having to get up from your chair. It also has four different timer settings, lowering your risk of fire in case you forget to turn it off. This particular option got 4.3 stars out of 52 reviews, with buyers being pleased with its oscillating feature and saying it does the job of warming up a small space. However, you have to be within a few feet of it to feel its heat, so you need to place it relatively close to your table to feel toasty.

Natural gas heaters are usually rather large and tall, and if they don't come on wheels, they have to be bolted into the deck or patio, making them non-movable. However, this option is best used for those sitting in an open patio or deck rather than an enclosed patio or gazebo. That's because the gas will create carbon monoxide, so you need plenty of ventilation in order not to inhale the gas.

A great option for this is the Fire Sense Stainless Steel Natural Gas Patio Heater from Balkene Home, which is $279.99. It's made of stainless steel and has an output of 45,000 BTUs, which will keep you nice and toasty in the dead of winter. It received a 4.6 rating out of 53 reviews, with buyers really enjoying the permanent gas line hook up and the large radius of heat it pumps out. "WOW, much more convenient than Propane, and takes up much less space that propane. They heat a little hotter than my old propane heaters, which is great," one reviewer posted. "I have three set up and it's like a spring day even when 33 degrees outside!"

Do you want something that's super easy with a small footprint? Then you can't go wrong with a tabletop heater. Much like a portable space heater at home, this compact device can be placed directly on the patio table and heat everyone surrounding it. However, some are weaker than others, so you want to choose one that has a relatively large radius. One such option is the Fire Sense Tabletop Heater, which heat can heat up an area of 100 square feet. 

Clocking in at $199.99 at Target, this heater has 4.6 stars from 72 reviews. It uses propane to create energy, so you will have to change the tank whenever it runs low. It also won't be as energy efficient as the other options on this list, but for the value and quality, it's still a good choice to consider. It will pump out about 10,000 BTUs, and the tank will last for three hours, so this is a better option for those who don't spend long nights on the deck. However, if you want longer uses between refills, you can also hook it up to a bigger tank. "Glad I bought this to extend our ability to eat outdoors during the late fall," one reviewer posted. "Found that it is comfortable to eat outside from 50 degrees upwards. Below that, we can do it but need to add some blankets for the legs. Doesn't work too well when it's windy, but that is to be expected. We also like the easy portability to be able to use it in different areas."

If you would prefer not to have any gadgets in your way, then consider going the wall-mounted route. This particular Fire Sense product uses infrared technology, and it runs off electricity rather than propane or gas. This makes it a little easier to use since all you have to do is plug it into an outlet with its 6-foot cord. It will cover 9 feet in front of it, keeping a table of family and friends toasty throughout the evening. Simply install it on your exterior wall with the provided bracket and enjoy its warmth. 

The Fire Sense wall mounted infrared electric patio heater costs $147.92 at Home Depot, and it received 4 stars out of 73 reviews. Buyers liked how easy it was to use — simply plug and go — and were satisfied with the amount of heat it output. "We were totally amazed at how effective it is at great distance. We had a roaring fire in our patio fireplace that we had to sit directly in front of not to freeze. When we turned on the electric patio heater it warmed the entire 10 by 12 foot seating area, allowing us to move back from the smokey fire," one reviewer shared. "It warms like being in the sun so the cold breezes are just a momentary inconvenience." However, the reviewer noted that the only downside is that it takes up a lot of energy, so they weren't able to run a second appliance on that circuit while it was in use.