I sat on my back patio one November evening with three different heaters running and a thermometer in my lap. I was trying to figure out which type actually keeps you warm when the temperature drops to 40 degrees. The results surprised me, and they did not match what the product descriptions promised.
Outdoor heating is one of those categories where the marketing and the reality diverge sharply. A heater that claims a “20 foot heat radius” might warm you from 6 feet away if there is any breeze. A fire pit that looks impressive in photos might leave your front side roasting and your back side freezing. This article compares the main outdoor heating options based on what they actually do, not what the box says.
The Core Problem: Heating Outside Air
Before comparing options, you need to understand why outdoor heating is fundamentally different from indoor heating. Indoors, you heat the air in a sealed room. The walls and ceiling trap the warm air, and over time the whole space gets comfortable.
Outdoors, the heated air immediately drifts away. You cannot warm the outdoor air in any meaningful sense. Every outdoor heater works by transferring heat directly to your body through radiation, convection, or a combination of both. This is why the positioning of the heater relative to your body matters more than the heater’s raw power output.
Three Heat Transfer Types at Play
- Radiant heat travels in a straight line from the source to your skin and clothes. It does not warm the air in between. Think of how the sun feels on your face on a cold day. Propane patio heaters and electric infrared heaters work this way.
- Convective heat warms the air around the source, and that warm air rises. If you are close enough, you feel it. Fire pits produce mostly convective heat, which is why the warmth disappears so fast in wind.
- Conductive heat requires direct contact, like sitting on a warmed stone bench. This is rare in outdoor heating but some high end furniture incorporates it.
Every outdoor heater uses one or two of these methods. Understanding which method a heater uses tells you how it will perform in different conditions.
Quick Comparison Table
| Heating Type | Heat Radius | Fuel Cost Per Hour | Wind Resistance | Setup Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Propane patio heater (free standing) | 8 to 15 feet | 2 to 4 dollars | Moderate | Low | Large gatherings |
| Electric infrared (wall or ceiling mount) | 6 to 10 feet | 0.30 to 0.80 dollars | High | Medium | Covered patios |
| Electric infrared (freestanding) | 4 to 8 feet | 0.20 to 0.50 dollars | High | Low | Small seating areas |
| Wood fire pit | 4 to 6 feet | 0 to 2 dollars | Low | Medium | Ambiance and small groups |
| Gas fire pit (propane or natural gas) | 4 to 6 feet | 1.50 to 3 dollars | Low | Medium to High | Ambiance with convenience |
| Chimenea (wood burning) | 3 to 5 feet | 0 to 2 dollars | Moderate | Low | Small groups, sheltered spots |
| Tabletop propane heater | 3 to 5 feet | 1.50 to 2.50 dollars | Low | Low | Dining tables |
| Gel or ethanol fire bowl | 2 to 4 feet | 3 to 6 dollars | Very Low | Low | Decorative, minimal heat |
That table gives you the overview. The rest of this article explains why those numbers are what they are, and how to choose based on your specific situation.
Propane Patio Heaters: The Tower Heaters
These are the tall mushroom shaped heaters you see at restaurant patios and outdoor bars. They run on a 20 pound propane tank hidden in the base, and they produce 40,000 to 48,000 BTUs of heat.
How They Actually Perform
A full size propane heater produces a serious amount of heat, but the way that heat reaches you is more complicated than you might think. The burner heats a dome shaped reflector at the top, and that reflector directs radiant heat downward and outward in a circle. The heat you feel is mostly radiant, not convective.
In still air at 45 degrees, a 46,000 BTU propane heater will keep you comfortable at 8 to 10 feet away. At 12 to 15 feet, you feel warmth on the side facing the heater but your back stays cold. Beyond 15 feet, the effect is negligible.
In a 5 mph breeze, that comfortable radius shrinks to about 5 feet. In a 10 mph breeze, the heater barely works at all unless you are standing right next to it. The wind blows the radiant heat sideways and disrupts the convective column entirely.
Fuel Consumption
A 20 pound propane tank holds about 4.7 gallons of propane. At 46,000 BTUs on high, the heater burns roughly 1 pound of propane per hour, giving you about 20 hours of run time per tank. With propane at about 3 dollars per gallon for a refill, that works out to about 1.50 to 2 dollars per hour on high.
Most propane heaters have a variable control valve, so you can turn them down. On medium, you get about 30 hours per tank and the heat radius shrinks to about 6 feet. On low, you get 40 plus hours but the effective radius is only about 4 feet.
The Tip Over Problem
This is the biggest safety issue with propane tower heaters. A full size heater with a 20 pound tank in the base weighs about 70 to 90 pounds, but most of that weight is low in the base. The tall mast and the hot dome make the center of gravity higher than it looks. A strong gust of wind or a tipsy guest can knock one over.
Quality heaters have a tip over shutoff valve that stops gas flow if the unit tilts past 20 to 30 degrees. Cheap heaters sometimes lack this feature, and they are genuinely dangerous. Never buy a propane heater without a tip over switch.
You should also secure the heater. Many models come with mounting brackets that anchor the base to the deck or patio. If yours did not, you can buy universal anchor kits. In windy areas, this is not optional.
Pros and Cons
Pros: – High heat output for large spaces – Portable, can be moved around the patio – No installation required beyond assembling the unit – Works in open areas with no overhead cover
Cons: – Fuel cost adds up over a season – Tank refills are a chore, especially mid party – Heavy and awkward to move despite wheels – Wind significantly reduces performance – Storage is an issue in winter for the tank
Electric Infrared Heaters: The Quiet Option
Electric infrared heaters use quartz or carbon elements to produce radiant heat without any flame or combustion. They plug into a standard outlet (for smaller units) or hardwire into a 240 volt circuit (for larger ones). They are the most efficient outdoor heating option per dollar of energy consumed.
Wall and Ceiling Mounted Units
Mounted infrared heaters are my preferred option for covered patios. You mount them overhead or on a wall, angle them toward your seating area, and they produce instant radiant heat the moment you turn them on. There is no warmup time, no smell, no noise.
A typical mounted infrared heater produces 1,500 to 3,000 watts of heat. A 1,500 watt unit (the maximum you can run on a standard 15 amp outlet) produces about 5,100 BTUs. That sounds small compared to a propane heater’s 46,000 BTUs, but because the heat is directed straight at you from a few feet away, the effective warmth is comparable.
A 1,500 watt infrared heater mounted 7 to 8 feet above a seating area will keep 2 to 3 people comfortable at 45 degrees. A 3,000 watt unit on a 240 volt circuit will cover 4 to 6 people. The key is mounting height and angle. Too high and the heat dissipates before reaching you. Too low and it feels like a sunburn on your scalp.
Freestanding Infrared Heaters
Freestanding infrared heaters look like small versions of the propane towers but run on electricity. They are convenient because you can plug them in anywhere and position them as needed. The downside is lower power output (usually 1,200 to 1,500 watts) and a smaller heat radius.
These work well for a single person or a couple sitting close together. They are not going to heat a large patio. I keep one on my patio for evenings when it is just me and my wife, and it is perfect for that. For a party of 8, it would be useless.
Wind Performance
Infrared heaters excel in wind because they produce pure radiant heat. The heat travels in a straight line from the element to your body, and wind does not blow it away the way it blows away convective heat. This is the biggest advantage of infrared over propane and fire pits. On a breezy evening, an infrared heater outperforms a propane heater producing five times the BTUs.
Energy Cost
At the national average electricity rate of about 0.16 dollars per kilowatt hour, a 1,500 watt heater costs about 0.24 dollars per hour to run. A 3,000 watt unit costs about 0.48 dollars per hour. Compare that to 1.50 to 2 dollars per hour for a propane heater, and the savings are obvious.
The catch is that infrared heaters only work where you have power. If your patio has no electrical service, you are stuck with fuel burning options unless you run a new circuit.
Pros and Cons
Pros: – Lowest operating cost per hour – Instant heat, no warmup – Silent operation – Excellent wind resistance – No emissions, safe under any cover – Can be mounted permanently and controlled with a switch
Cons: – Requires electrical service at the patio – Lower total heat output than propane – Mounted units are not portable – Higher upfront cost per BTU than propane – 240 volt units require an electrician to install
Wood Burning Fire Pits
The fire pit is the oldest and most atmospheric outdoor heating option. Nothing else creates the same primal satisfaction of sitting around a fire. But as a practical heater, fire pits have serious limitations.
Heat Output and Distribution
A large wood fire in a fire pit produces an enormous amount of heat, often 50,000 to 100,000 BTUs. But that heat goes in every direction, and most of it goes straight up. The heat you feel is primarily radiant from the flames, and it is intense on the side of your body facing the fire and nonexistent on your back.
This is the fundamental problem with fire pits as heaters. You are warm in front and cold behind. Unless you build a fire pit with a heat reflecting wall behind it, or you arrange seating in a full circle, someone is always cold.
The effective heat radius is about 4 to 6 feet. Beyond that, the radiant heat drops off dramatically. A propane tower heater at the same distance would keep you warmer.
Wind and Smoke
Fire pits are the worst option in wind. A breeze blows the flames sideways, reduces the heat output, and sends smoke directly into someone’s face. Fire pit smoke is not just annoying, it is a health irritant. If you have neighbors close by, they will not appreciate a smoky fire on a still evening.
Smokeless fire pit designs exist, and they do reduce smoke significantly by improving combustion airflow. They do not eliminate it entirely, and they cost two to three times more than a basic fire pit. They are worth the money if you use your fire pit frequently.
Fuel Cost and Convenience
Wood is the cheapest fuel if you have access to it. If you buy firewood by the bundle at a store, the cost is comparable to propane. If you buy by the cord from a local supplier, wood is significantly cheaper per BTU than any other option.
The convenience factor is the real downside. You need to store wood, keep it dry, start the fire, tend it, and clean up ashes. A propane heater turns on with a knob. A fire pit requires 15 minutes of effort before you get heat, and another 15 minutes of cleanup afterward.
Pros and Cons
Pros: – Highest ambiance and visual appeal – Cheapest fuel if you have wood access – No utility hookup required – Serves as a cooking surface with a grill grate – Large heat output in still air
Cons: – Smoky and messy – Worst performance in wind – Uneven heating, cold back side – Requires tending and cleanup – Cannot be used under any cover – Burn bans restrict use in many areas during dry seasons
Gas Fire Pits
Gas fire pits combine the visual appeal of a fire pit with the convenience of gas fuel. They run on either propane tanks or natural gas lines, and they produce a controlled flame over decorative media like lava rock, fire glass, or ceramic logs.
Heat Output
Gas fire pits produce less heat than wood fire pits, typically 30,000 to 60,000 BTUs for a residential unit. The flame is smaller and more controlled, which means less radiant heat reaches you. The heat radius is about 3 to 5 feet, similar to a wood fire pit but with less intensity.
The advantage is consistency. The flame stays the same size, produces the same heat, and does not need tending. You turn it on, you turn it off. No ash, no smoke, no splitting wood.
Natural Gas vs Propane
If your patio has a natural gas line, a natural gas fire pit is the most convenient and cheapest option over time. Natural gas costs about half as much as propane per BTU, and you never need to refill a tank. The installation cost is higher because you need to run a gas line, but once installed, it is effortless.
Propane gas fire pits use the same 20 or 30 pound tanks as patio heaters. They are portable and do not require a gas line, but you deal with tank refills.
The Table Integration Factor
Many gas fire pits are built into coffee tables or dining tables. This is a popular option because the fire becomes a focal point of the furniture. As a heater, a fire table is mediocre. The flame is lower, farther from your body, and partly blocked by the table surface. It provides warmth but not as much as a dedicated heater.
I have a fire table on my patio, and I use it for ambiance more than heat. On a 50 degree evening, it takes the chill off if you are sitting right next to it. At 40 degrees, you need a supplemental heater.
Pros and Cons
Pros: – Clean, no smoke or ash – Instant on and off – Beautiful visual feature – Natural gas option eliminates refills – Works as a furniture centerpiece
Cons: – Lower heat output than wood – Higher upfront cost than wood fire pit – Flame can blow out in wind (propane models) – Heat radius is small – Installation complexity for natural gas
Chimeneas
Chimeneas are freestanding, front loading fireplaces with a chimney. Originally made of clay, modern versions are also cast in iron and steel. They are popular for small patios because they take up less space than a fire pit and direct smoke upward through the chimney.
How They Heat
A chimenea radiates heat from its body and through the front opening. The chimney draws smoke upward, which means you sit around the front and sides rather than in a full circle. The cast iron or steel body absorbs heat from the fire and radiates it outward, which gives you some warmth on the sides and back of the unit.
The heat radius is about 3 to 5 feet, similar to a fire pit, but the heat is more concentrated in one direction. This makes a chimenea better for a small group sitting in a semicircle than for a large gathering.
Clay vs Metal
Traditional clay chimeneas look beautiful but are fragile. They crack if you build too hot a fire, they crack if they get rained on while hot, and they crack if water freezes in them during winter. If you buy a clay chimenea, you must seal it annually and store it inside during freezing weather.
Cast iron and steel chimeneas are indestructible by comparison. They rust if left unprotected, but a coat of high temperature paint every couple of years keeps them in good shape. They also produce more heat than clay because metal conducts and radiates better.
Pros and Cons
Pros: – Compact footprint for small patios – Chimney directs smoke upward – Cast iron versions produce good radiant heat – Attractive traditional design – Can burn wood or charcoal
Cons: – Small heat radius – Clay versions are fragile – Front loading design limits seating – Heavy (cast iron models) – Needs a fireproof base
Tabletop Heaters and Decorative Fire Bowls
These are the smallest outdoor heating options, and I want to be honest about them. They are primarily decorative. A tabletop propane heater or an ethanol fire bowl produces some warmth, but only if your hands are within a foot or two of the flame.
Tabletop Propane Heaters
These run on small 1 pound propane cylinders and produce about 10,000 to 11,000 BTUs. At a dining table, they provide a little warmth to the people seated closest. They will not keep you warm at 40 degrees. At 55 degrees on a still evening, they take the edge off.
They are useful as supplemental heat alongside a primary heater. I would not rely on one as a sole heat source below 55 degrees.
Ethanol and Gel Fire Bowls
These use liquid ethanol fuel or gel cans to produce a small decorative flame. The heat output is minimal, maybe 2,000 to 4,000 BTUs. They are beautiful on a dining table and create ambiance, but calling them heaters is generous. The fuel is also expensive per BTU, making them the most costly heating option per degree of warmth.
Use these for atmosphere, not for warmth.
Making the Right Choice for Your Situation
For a Large Open Patio With No Cover
You need a propane patio heater. Nothing else produces enough heat to warm a large open area. Buy one with a tip over switch, anchor it to the patio, and keep a spare propane tank on hand. For very large patios, two heaters positioned at opposite ends of the seating area work better than one.
For a Covered Patio
Electric infrared heaters mounted to the ceiling or wall are the best choice. They are safe under a roof, efficient, wind resistant, and produce instant heat. If you entertain large groups, combine two or three 1,500 watt units or one 3,000 to 4,000 watt 240 volt unit. Run a dedicated circuit so you do not trip breakers.
For Ambiance Over Pure Heat
A gas fire pit or fire table gives you the visual appeal of a fire without the mess of wood. If you want the real fire experience and do not mind the work, a wood fire pit or chimenea is the way to go. Just understand that you are buying atmosphere more than efficient heating.
For Small Spaces and Budgets
A freestanding infrared heater is the most cost effective option for a small patio or balcony. It plugs into any outlet, costs pennies per hour to run, and produces enough heat for 2 to 3 people. A chimenea is another good small space option if you prefer real fire.
For Windy Locations
Electric infrared is the clear winner. No other heater type maintains its performance in wind. If you live in a coastal or mountainous area with constant breeze, do not waste money on propane or fire pits. Invest in infrared.
Combining Heat Sources
The best outdoor heating setups I have seen use multiple sources. A common and effective combination is a gas fire table for ambiance and a mounted infrared heater for actual warmth. The fire table creates the mood, and the infrared heater keeps people comfortable. Another good combination is two propane heaters positioned to warm opposite sides of a seating area, eliminating the cold back problem.
The key is to think about your heating as a system rather than a single device. One heater, no matter how powerful, will always leave someone cold. Two or three smaller sources positioned strategically will keep everyone comfortable.
Safety Considerations
Whatever you choose, follow basic safety rules.
- Keep all combustible materials at least 3 feet from any heater
- Never use a propane or wood heater under a solid roof or awning
- Install carbon monoxide detectors near enclosed or semi enclosed patios if you use propane
- Let propane and wood heaters cool completely before covering or storing
- Check gas connections on propane and natural gas heaters monthly with a soapy water solution
- Keep a fire extinguisher rated for Class B fires near any fuel burning heater
- Never leave any outdoor heater running unattended
My Setup After Years of Testing
I ended up with a three part system on my patio. I have a 3,000 watt infrared heater mounted on the wall above my seating area, a gas fire table in the center, and a portable infrared heater I can move to wherever someone is cold. This setup handles everything from a quiet evening for two to a party of ten, and the total operating cost on a typical evening is under a dollar.
The biggest lesson I learned from testing all these options is that more BTUs do not automatically mean more warmth. Placement, wind protection, and matching the heater type to your space matter more than raw power. Buy the right type of heater for your situation, position it correctly, and you will actually enjoy your patio in November instead of retreating inside after twenty minutes.
