Karen Silas
Fire pits & gas or electric infrared heaters are a must to heat your outdoor space this spring. The best 2022 garden and patio heaters, including tabletop heaters, gas tower heaters, hanging & standing heaters, bioethanol fireplaces & bar table heaters.
If there's one permanent lesson the pandemic and those lockdowns taught us, it's to take advantage of every corner of our homes. So this spring, we're all making the most of our indoor and outdoor spaces, too. You may be wondering, how do I keep my garden or patio warm on cold days and evenings? Enter: the outdoor patio heater.
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If you're wondering what the best patio or garden heaters to buy are, the top options are electric heaters, gas heaters and fire pits (even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have one!)
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Electric heaters are easy and energy-efficient - this one has three heat settings (650W, 1350W and 2000W), adjustable height and a tilting heating element to heat up to 15 square metres
Neo 2KW Electric Patio Heater, £49.99, Amazon
With a host of outdoor heaters available these days, there are plenty of options that will add instant warmth to your patio or garden.
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There are certainly plenty of functional-looking models on the market, but if you’re looking for something that’s not just effective, but will also add a chic touch to the decor of your patio or garden, we've taken a look at the best outdoor heaters with great reviews that look and work great, too.
Which are the best patio heaters?
The short answer is: It depends! With so many aspects to consider when deciding which to buy, you first need to decide what your priorities and needs are, from energy efficiency to how much space you need to heat and of course what your decor inspiration is, from rustic to modern, relaxed or formal. There are even patio heaters with built-in Bluetooth speakers and lights for the ultimate garden party vibe.
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Star Electric Heater with LED Light & Bluetooth Speaker, £99.99, Amazon
This electric heater also provides light and your favourite music played from your bluetooth device.
What is the most efficient patio heater?
If you're looking for energy efficiency and a greener way of heating your patio or garden, an electric outdoor heater is your best bet. Infrared electric outdoor heaters are generally about 90% energy efficient, while gas outdoor heaters run at about 75% efficient – and with electric patio heaters, you don't have to worry about the CO2 emissions that come along with gas heater usage.
Also keep in mind that wood-burning fire pits emit smoke into the environment – and might irritate your neighbours.
This eBay gas patio heater will certainly warm up your outdoor space with 3.5 - 8kW adjustable heat.
Enders Elegance Gas Patio Heater, £149.99, eBay
Can you use a patio heater on decking?
Electric and gas heaters are safe on decks but do not use a fire pit on decking unless it has been specifically designated to be used on wood, vinyl or other types of surfaces. (For example, Wayfair has a section dedicated to fire pits that are safe for use on wooden decking.) And be sure you take extra safety measures, for example using a heat-resistant base pad and spark screen.
Also, remember that outdoor heaters should not be used in enclosed spaces like garages or basements, and should be kept away from flammable materials at all times.
What is the best outdoor electric heater?
Electric outdoor heaters are low-fuss and eco-friendly, consuming less energy. You also don't have to worry about fuel so there's no additional cost there, and they are super simple – just plug the heater in and your outdoor space is ready to go! They come in hanging designs as well as tabletop electric heaters and floor-lamp styles.
We love the chic look of this 3kW electric heater with a built-in LED light
Nova Outdoor Living Helios Apollo Electric Patio Heater, was £899 now £495, ATMLiving.com
Best standing electric patio heaters
2-in-1 Electric 2KW Patio Heater - Standing & Wall Mounted, was £99.99 now £39.99, Wowcher
This Wowcher bargain certainly is a hot one! Grab a 2-in-1 heater for less than £40.
Swan Stand Patio Heater, £99.99, Swan
From the stylish Swan outdoor heater collection is this device with three power heat settings from 650W to 2000W, and adjustable height from 1.57m up to 1.9m tall.
Nedis Patio Heater, £35, eBay
One of eBay's bestselling electric patio heaters is this 1500W lamp-style which stands at 200cm with three settings and safety features including a tip-over switch and overheat protection.
KETTLER Kalos Terrace Freestanding Patio Heater, £299, John Lewis
Sleek and minimalist, this lamp-style Kettler heater provides 2000W of heat and can be switched on and off either by remote control or manual switch.
Heatlab Freestanding Garden Patio Heaters, set of 2, £114.99, Amazon
If you have more room to work with, this set of two multifunctional heaters is a worthy investment. Providing optimal heat and light, they're perfect for garden gatherings that go on well into the night.
Best hanging patio heaters
Blumfeldt Venice Electric Patio Heater, £157.99, Wayfair
Blumfeldt is a popular garden brand – you can also shop the Blumfeldt store on Amazon - and the Venice hanging heater plays double duty, providing both heat and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Trotec Hanging Heater, £66, eBay
This simple hanging heater, which comes with a fixing kit for easy installation, has earned a five-star rating on eBay. The 1500W mushroom-shaped heater has three heat settings and remote control.
Heatlab vintage style hanging heater, £79.99 now £53.33, Primrose
With less than 18p an hour running cost and a retail price under £80, the Heatlab heater is a stylish AND budget-friendly choice.
Outsunny hanging heater, was £119.99 now £89.99, Amazon
This 2500W hanging heater is one of Amazon's highest-rated, earning a 4.7-star average.
KETTLER Kalos Terrace Hanging Pendant Electric Patio Heater, £199, John Lewis
The Kalos has a traditional copper lantern look but is actually an electric heater with a power output of 1500W.
Best tabletop patio heaters
La Hacienda Copper Electric Tabletop Patio Heater, £195, Homebase
We love this lamp-style design available at Homebase with a trendy copper finish.
Blumfeldt Loras table heater, £179.99, Amazon
When it comes to style, the Blumfeldt Loras table heater is super chic with an elegant fabric lampshade.
Best wall-mounted heaters
Wall-mounted infrared heater, was £89.99 now £60, Primrose
Primrose has a huge selection of patio heaters ranging in price from £79.99 to the ultimate patio heater – the £2,300 Term Tower Palm, which heats large spaces of up to 44 sqm. The indoor-outdoor heater above provides both heat and light, has three heat settings (700W, 1400W and 2000W) and a remote control.
Outsunny Electric Mounted Heater, £119.99, Wayfair
This 1500W halogen heater which has earned a 4.8 out of 5-star rating on Wayfair, can be either mounted on the wall or can be installed hanging from the ceiling.
Electric Wall Mounted Patio Heater, £50, Dunelm
The infrared technology provides rapid instant heat and features 2000W with 3 heat settings
Swan Wall Mounted Patio Heater, £109.99, Swan
An 1800W heater with remote control that can be mounted to the wall or ceiling.
Best parasol patio heaters
Infrared Parasol Outdoor Heater, £49.99, Amazon
If you'd like to install a heater underneath a parasol in your patio or garden, this infrared outdoor space heater has three heating panels that fold toward the umbrella pole for easy storage. It has three power settings – from 650W to 2000W – and is designed to heat a space of up to about 4.5 metres.
La Hacienda Heatmaster Parasol Electric Heater, £159.99, Argos
You can attach this 1800w patio heater, which has two heat settings, to either a parasol or a tripod.
Dakota Fields Comburg Electric Patio Heater, was £165.99 now £139.99, Wayfair
Designed for either commercial or domestic use, this parasol heater has three cosy heat settings.
What is the best outdoor gas heater?
Gas heaters, particularly the tower style, are popular at outdoor pubs and restaurants for example because they heat up large spaces evenly. They come in some very cool designs and have a clean-burning cosy flame effect, not unlike a fire pit. For gas heaters one thing to keep in mind is the expense and effort to buy fuel to power it.
REALGLOW Heatmaster 15KW Flame Patio Heater, £289.99 Amazon
For a change from the tower design, a commercial-grade 15 kW column-style gas patio heater which will heat a large area of up to 30 m2.
Dealourus Outdoor Patio Pyramid Heater, £399.99, Amazon
This highly-rated gas heater with temperature control and striking central flame can be used with propane, butane or LPG fuel and heats up to a 10m2 area.
Best small or under table patio heaters
Mensa Heating Imus Under Table Infrared Heater, £199 each, Amazon
For something a little more discreet, Mensa offers an infrared heater that will easily fit underneath your outdoor table. It's lightweight, portable and completely safe to touch when turned on for ultimate convenience.
Herschel Havana Portable Electric Patio Heater, was £169.99 now £149.99 each, Nisbets.co.uk
A compact 800" option that's 65cm tall and heats up in just 5-10 seconds.
What is the best outdoor bioethanol fireplace?
Maybe you are less concerned about heat and are looking for something simple that gives a warm vibe to your small patio or terrace. A bioethanol fireplace just might be the perfect solution for you! These smaller fireplaces, which can be used indoors or outdoors, run off bioethanol fuel – simply ignite with a lighter or match for a clean-burning, natural and cosy flame.
Elan Garden tabletop ethanol fireplace, £63.99, Amazon
A chic option that has an up to three-hour burn time.
PURLINE AMALTEA Bioethanol Fireplace, £49.99, Amazon
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An enamelled black steel bio chimney in a modern design that resembles the branches of a tree to fit right in with your garden's natural surroundings.
What is the best outdoor fire pit or chiminea?
Fire pits are a good choice if you want to create a rustic ambiance and aren't worried about bothering the neighbours. They also make for a fabulous focal point for your gathering place. If you're worried about smoke, a fire pit doesn't have to use wood – you can look for fire pit-style designs built for gas or propane as well.
Metal firepit with wooden legs, was £225 now £150, MADE.com
This dreamy firepit from MADE.com combines style and function for a garden piece that'll have your guests talking.
Fire pit table, £59.98, Amazon
This fire pit table does triple duty as a fire pit, BBQ and even an ice cooler!
Hand Forged Crown Fire Pit by Bexsimon Ltd, £1,300, NotOnTheHighStreet
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Give your outdoor space a Game of Thrones vibe with this spectacular made-to-order crown fire pit.
La Hacienda Steel Chimenea - Bronze, £60, Argos
The La Hacienda chimineas and fire pits are some of the most popular at Argos.
Dakota Fields Stanyon Steel Wood Burning Fire Pit, £135, Wayfair
This fire pit is one of the highest-rated of Wayfair's big selection, earning an impressive 4.8 stars out of five. Fuelled by wood, it's low maintenance, durable and compact.
Round Fire Pit by All Things Brighton Beautiful, £224.95, NotOnTheHighStreet
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Made from 100% carbon steel, this round fire pit will add a rustic-chic touch to your outdoor space.
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Panama La Hacienda Log Burner, £73.20, Amazon
Amazon's #1 bestselling chiminea is this pewter-effect La Hacienda style featuring a durable steel body and cast iron legs.
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page. This article has been updated with amended price details.