Skip to main content
Home & Garden

Do patio heaters really keep decks warm in winter?

Cold, snow, wind? We’re game

With a poppy art style, the image shows an outdoor heater against a porch background. Credit: Reviewed / Getty / Neyya

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

As winter approaches, you may be wondering how you can keep deck season going without turning into an ice cube. Outdoor heaters have remained popular since the pandemic, but do patio heaters work?

As temperatures drop, outdoor heating keeps your exterior spaces cozy. Unless you live in a state where winter plummets below 0°F, the best outdoor heaters and outdoor fire pits will keep outdoor spaces accessible far longer than they would be without.

Many outdoor heaters use infrared, electric heat, while others use propane. Still others use the classic method of burning wood.

We consulted the experts on what you need to know about using patio heaters outside in the winter months.

Do patio heaters work? Pick the right one

Metal outdoor patio heater with lit flame inside.
Credit: Reviewed / Getty Images / skyNext

While an open flame can be more desirable due to its visible heat source, the pricey install and safety hazards could be discouraging.

When it comes to keeping your patio or deck warm, there are so many choices—which patio heater is best for you will depend on your needs.

Outdoor heating systems include small plug-in space heaters, industrial strength systems, and even tall stand-alone units. Gas, electric, propane, and wood all have their strengths and weaknesses.

Electric is usually safer

An electric heater sits on a green background.
Credit: Reviewed / Bromic

It's electric! Radiant electric heat is usually safer than propane or wood burning fire pits.

According to Bryan Molina, vice president of operations at AEI Corporation, which supplies and manufactures a variety of outdoor heating systems, infrared electric heating systems are nice, because the longer you stand near the heat, the warmer you feel.

Infrared electric heaters heat surfaces directly with radiant infrared light. On the other hand, convection heaters circulate air across a heating element, heating the air in the room. Infrared heaters are generally the most efficient outdoor heaters, as they warm you, instead of having to warm all the air in your backyard.

Both electric outdoor heaters and indoor space heaters use these technologies. Because they emit heat without a flame, electric heaters are usually considered a safer bet than an open flame, but can still present a fire risk.

Electric heaters can be expensive to purchase and operate, depending on make and model, and an electric outlet and cord is required—unless an electrician installs the system. For many, a safe system like the Bromic Smart Heat Tungsten Electric Radiant Infrared Heater is still the best bet, never requiring you to burn gas or wood on your home's porch.

Buy at Amazon

Propane warms the air

A tall propane heater on an orange background.
Credit: Reviewed / Amazon

This classic heater design makes a great gathering point.

In natural gas and propane systems, fire gives off heat directly, warming the air in the room. People often go for these because they want a cozy flame.

If an area is not already plumbed for natural gas, installing a line can be pricey. Systems that use tanks, like the Amazon Basics Propane Heater, circumvent this. However, though propane is inexpensive, replacing or refilling tanks requires some doing.

A flame can pose safety issues, and National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) emphasizes that proper ventilation in an outdoor space is necessary when using natural gas and propane. Without it, you risk the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure.

Buy at Amazon

Fire creates a cozy mood

A long piped Solo Stove pellet burning Tower Patio Heater sits on a yellow background.
Credit: Reviewed / Solo Stove

Fire is undeniably cozy, especially when it's in a chic Solo Stove.

Many people want the natural feel of wood burning fire pits, chimineas, or tower heaters like Solo Stove's Tower Patio Heater, which burns wood pellets. These are often affordable options, but sparks from burning wood present a safety hazard—and cut wood can sometimes be difficult to find and expensive.

In general, NFPA recommends reading any instructions associated with an outdoor heating product carefully and to always “keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.”

Buy at Solo Stove

Plan before you buy a patio heater

Group of friends gathered in outdoor space around open fire.
Credit: Getty Images / Anchiy

Working with a limited amount of space? No worries. Find an appropriately sized heat source that works for you.

When you go to shop for a patio heater, consider your space and how many people you'll be hosting.

David Wright Vetter, NFPA technical committee member says, “My rule of thumb is typically one heater per conversation. I have found that if you have a larger deck or patio, you will want one heater for every spot that people gather in that space. For example, if there is a patio set where people want to sit after dark, have a heater in the center, such as a fire pit, or have a heater behind or between a couple of the chairs.”

“You will need between 40-70 BTUs for every square foot of space you wish to heat, the low range being in warmer climates and the higher number for colder climates,” he says. “It’s very easy math. For example, multiply how long the patio is by how wide the patio is. Length (in feet) by width (in feet) equals the area (in square feet).”

“Multiply the area times 40. So, for a mid-size 25-foot by 30-foot patio it would look like (25x30) = 750 square feet. Then, (750x40) = 30,000 BTUs needed. Most patio heaters produce between 30,000 and 45,000 BTUs.”

Pick the outdoor heater that's compatible with your space

Fire pit with burning logs inside.
Credit: Getty Images / Mila Naumova

Luckily for lovers of the great outdoors, heating options are abundant–enjoy your patio through all four seasons.

Outdoor heaters install in different ways.

Lots of propane heaters—like our favorite heater from Amazon—are built to be freestanding units or stand-alone towers. On the other hand, many of the best electric patio heaters install flush-mounted into the wall, ceiling, or eaves. Our top electric heater, the Bromic Smart Heat Tungsten Electric Radiant Infrared Heater installs this way.

You can also find tabletop designs that will work with patio furniture you own, of even fun patio furniture replacements like the Rectangular Fire Table from Yardbird that have built-in heaters.

Molina notes, “There are many reasons and scenarios of why a consumer would choose one over the other. For example, limitations on the source power, mounting height clearances, and cost of installation, to name a few.”

Whatever will work best for your home, we have the picks on the best patio heaters and best fire pits to keep your yard feeling cozy all winter.

Buy at Amazon

Buy at Yardbird

Related content

  • Wood stove in cozy living room.

    feature

    6 safety tips for maintaining your fireplace or woodstove
  • Outdoor fire pits are lined up in a yard.

    best-right-now

    The Best Fire Pits of 2024

Up next