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The best patio heaters to keep you cosy outdoors year-round
We've got the best gas and electric models for every type of outdoor space
Best portable electric patio heater
Heat Outdoors Shadow Sidekick 1.2kW Portable Infrared Heater
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While we like to stay optimistic about summer, hoping for sunny, cloudless days spent basking in the garden, it’s good to also prepare for Britain’s altogether-more-unpredictable reality. And with the best patio heaters, you can still stay warm outdoors, even on those chillier nights.
As well as saving you carrying out armfuls of blankets, patio heaters also offer a safer alternative to traditional fire pits, which can be a cause for concern when you have children or pets running around.
The type of outdoor heater you buy will depend on your space, budget and personal preference. In our list, you'll find a range of electric and gas heaters for every need and every garden furniture set-up, and you'll find a guide to what to consider before you shop (including the benefits of electric vs. gas heaters) under our reviews.
How we chose the best patio heaters
The Good Housekeeping Institute's homes writer, Megan Geall, has reviewed hundreds of home and garden products, including the best electric heaters, and used all those learnings and protocols to inform her choices.
She considered ease of use, range of settings, design and value for money. She discounted products that had multiple negative reviews and opted for ones from well-trusted, market leading brands.
The best electric patio heaters
Argos Home Electric Table Top Heater
Argos Home Electric Table Top Heater
Designed to provide 360-degree warmth, this tabletop heater should keep you cosy during small alfresco dinners and BBQs. Its fast-action halogen tubes and three heat settings should banish any shivers once switched on, and it can be controlled via a remote for added convenience.
The cable is only 1.6 metres long, so your table will need to be relatively close to a power outlet. Its tabletop size means it won’t heat large areas either.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Size | H45.3 x W45.3 x D93.5cm |
| Heat settings | Three |
| Claimed heating coverage | Unspecified |
Dunelm Blaze Free Standing Patio Heater
Dunelm Blaze Free Standing Patio Heater
Freestanding patio heaters are great for cosy up under when you need a little extra warmth. Standing at 110cm tall, it has three temperature settings and a tip-over safety switch for peace of mind.
Boasting 1600W of power, the heater claims to provide warmth for up to 10 metres squared and operates via remote control for ease.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Size | H 110 x W 28 x D 28cm |
| Heat settings | Three |
| Claimed heating coverage | 10 metres-squared |
Heat Outdoors Shadow Sidekick 1.2kW Portable Infrared Heater
Heat Outdoors Shadow Sidekick 1.2kW Portable Infrared Heater
With a carry handle for easy transportation and a lightweight design, this sleek black heater would be a smart pick if there’s more than one entertaining area in your garden. You’ll just need a power source within 1.8 metres of its intended spot(s).
The hexagonal grill cover provides 360-degree heat, while the six temperature settings give plenty of scope to maximise your snugness. And at 66cm tall (the height of most tables), it should still be relatively discreet.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Size | H66 x W38 x D20cm |
| Heat settings | Six |
| Claimed heating coverage | Unspecified |
Heat Lab Halogen Bulb Electric Infrared Table Top Heater
Heat Lab Halogen Bulb Electric Infrared Table Top Heater
Another tabletop design, this heater’s rattan weave base should coordinate well with most garden furniture. It’s a multi-tasker too; the halogen heating element is also a bulb, which means you can enjoy plenty of warmth and light. Three heat settings give you scope to tailor it too.
In fact, on its highest setting (2100W), this heater is one of the most powerful on our list, so you should have no worries entertaining late into the evening. A three-metre cable offers decent flexibility too.
There isn’t an anti-tilt safety switch (which turns the heater off if it tips), but the heavy base should keep it stable.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Size | H106 x 41.5cm diameter |
| Heat settings | Three |
| Claimed heating coverage | Nine metres-squared |
The best gas patio heaters
Heat Outdoors Athena Plus Flame Gas Patio Heater
Heat Outdoors Athena Plus Flame Gas Patio Heater
This tall, pyramid-style heater may be pricey, but it packs a punch. As well as boasting a 10.5-kilowatt gas burner, the top is designed to reflect heat back towards you, boosting its overall efficiency and helping you stay toasty even on chilly evenings.
The heat output is adjustable thanks to a variable dial and it should automatically shut off if tipped over – although at 28-kilograms, you likely won’t have to worry about this. The wheels should still make it easy to move, too.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Propane or LPG gas |
|---|---|
| Size | H2280 x 50cm diameter |
| Heat settings | Variable |
| Claimed heating coverage | Unspecified |
| BTU | Unspecified |
You’ll need to assemble this patio heater before you can start cosy-ing up around it, but it comes with instructions and the claim that it will be up and ready for use in under 90 minutes.
Once the gas canister is attached, ignition is simple – just push the button to light the flame. And while it doesn’t feature an automatic tilt shut off, there are brackets included so you can secure the heater in place to prevent any topples.
Key specifications
| Fuel type | Propane |
|---|---|
| Size | H225 x 49cm diameter |
| Heat settings | Variable |
| Claimed heating coverage | Unspecified |
| BTU | Unspecified |
What to know when shopping for a patio heater
Before deciding on the right heater for your patio, there are a few things to consider, including type, size, and power. We’ve listed these below to make shopping even easier.
Electric vs. Gas
When choosing between an electric or gas-powered outdoor patio heater, you should think about the following as both have their pros and cons.
- Electric patio heaters are easy to set up, move around and most are safe to use in enclosed spaces like gazebos, conservatories and garages. However, they must be placed near an outlet, which is not always convenient, and you’ll have to pay for the energy consumption.
- Gas patio heaters do not require electricity, so they don’t need to be near a power outlet, giving you more freedom to move the heater around your garden and further from your home. They are typically heavier though, and you’ll need to buy gas bottles to power the burners.
Size
Consider the size of the model when shopping for outdoor patio heaters. Some are tall and freestanding, but if you're moving it around, you may want something smaller that can be easily carried. Lastly, if you’re only heating yourself or a small group, a tabletop heater may do the trick.
Power
The higher an electric heater’s wattage, the more warmth you’ll likely get. It’s also worth looking at the claimed coverage to work out whether it's powerful enough to heat the space you need.
For gas heaters, consider the BTU (British Thermal Unit) instead, which is another way of looking at a heater’s power. A commonly cited rule of thumb is to multiply the square footage of the space you want to heat by 20. Like watts, the higher the BTU, the more effective a heater will be at warming your outdoor space.
Also, keep in mind it may be worth investing in multiple smaller patio heaters for targeted areas of heat instead of one big heater.
Why you should trust Good Housekeeping
Our homes writer, Megan Geall, has reviewed hundreds of products across the homes and garden categories and has spent time visiting exhibitions and product launches in these sectors to find the best buys on the market.
She’s used her knowledge and expertise as a consumer journalist to select a range of patio heaters that tick the boxes across a range of budgets, styles and uses.
Jamie Ueda (she/her) is a contributing writer and analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she has tested coffee and espresso machines, baking gadgets, dinnerware, ice cream makers, and other kitchen products since 2021. She has completed Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) coursework to further her expertise in coffee evaluation and brewing science.
With a background in engineering and design, she spent more than a decade developing consumer products in senior roles at both mid-sized companies and global brands before bringing that expertise to product testing and reviews. Her work has appeared in Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
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