The 5 Best Electric Patio Heaters of 2023, According to Testing

The Bottom Line

The EnerG+ Electric Patio Heater was the best electric patio heater we tested. At a mid-range price, we appreciated the easy-to-use remote control and consistent heating. We found it’s best for keeping a group of four toasty without taking up too much space.

Our Testing Process

To come up with our list of the best electric patio heaters, we put top models to the test in our Des Moines, Iowa testing lab. After our initial insights, we took the best-performing patio heaters and tested them in our own backyards over the course of six months to evaluate how they held up in the real world. We rated each patio heater for setup, heating performance, ease of use, safety, and value. 

After the electric patio heaters arrived, we timed ourselves unboxing and assembling each unit, noting how difficult it was to put together, how clear the instructions were, and if we needed to provide any tools.

Once the patio heater was ready for use, we evaluated the heating performance by taking our surface body temperature before and after five minutes of sitting 3 feet away from the unit. For patio heaters with multiple heat settings, we cycled through each setting and recorded the results. Next, we left the heaters on their highest setting and measured the maximum distance we could feel warmth from the heater.

To test the safety, we took the temperature of the heater itself at three different areas of the unit both while operating and five minutes after turning it off, noting how hot the surface was if accidentally touched. We also purposely bumped into the heater to determine if it knocked over easily.

Lastly, we set up the patio heaters in our own backyards to use them in our everyday lives to test long-term durability, noting any signs of wear or change in quality.

What to Know About Electric Patio Heaters Before Shopping

Heat Range and Output

The heat output of a patio heater is often measured in BTUs, short for British Thermal Units. This refers to the strength of heat output over a period of time, typically an hour. Most electric patio heaters range around 5,000 BTUs, which should be suitable for a small patio. If you want a stronger heat output, you’ll need to pick a gas-powered model. 

Heat range refers to how far you can feel the heat from the unit. Most electric patio heaters we tested listed their heat range from 5 to 15 feet. We felt heat the furthest from our splurge pick, the SereneLife Infrared Outdoor Electric Space Heater.

It’s important to note that the heat you feel from an electric patio heater largely depends on the weather conditions and placement of the heater. If you place the unit under a covered patio or in an area with high walls, the heat is easier to trap, and you will feel warmer.

“In your best scenario, you might change the feeling of the outside temperature five to 10 degrees,” says Eric Kahn, founder of Alfresco Heating. Because of this, you won’t find any patio heater effective in very cold conditions. We found the electric patio heaters best to use in 50°F to 60°F weather.

Certification

When shopping for patio heaters, you’ll notice that the devices typically include third-party safety certifications. It’s rare to find a patio heater without a safety certification, and we recommend making sure the model you purchase has one before use. Each of our top picks was either ETL- or UL-certified.

It’s also important to look for a device’s IP rating, which refers to the level of protection against foreign objects. IP ratings include two numbers. The first digit refers to the level of protection against solids like dust, dirt, or tools. The second digit refers to protection against moisture. The ratings range from 0 (no protection) to 6 (total protection for solids) or 9 (total protection for liquids) and if a value is X, it means that it was either not rated or the protection is 0. 

An IP rating ending in 4 is the minimum recommended protection for keeping a patio heater outdoors. Each of our top picks were certified and provided IP ratings, except the West Elm Standing Heater, which we could not find an IP rating clearly labeled.

Features

Auto Shut-off

Safety should be top of mind when operating a patio heater, and many models offer additional features for safer operations, including auto shut-off. The type of auto shut-off the device offers is important to note, as there are two different types.

If a patio heater has tip-over auto shut-off, that means the device will shut off if it falls. This works by detecting when the unit tilts or is no longer on a flat surface, turning the unit off. While this adds extra protection, you should still stay nearby during operation in case of a fall. Electric patio heaters do not cool off immediately and can be a fire hazard if they fall.

Many electric patio heaters also offer overheating protection and turn off when the unit gets too hot. Even if your patio heater has this feature, you should always be cautious as a few of the units we tested were still very hot to the touch during operation.

Adjustable Temperature

Some patio heaters, like the Star Patio Electric Tabletop Patio Heater, only offer one heat output. With these units, once you turn the heater on and it warms up, it will push out the same amount of heat at all times. With that in mind, you may want to consider choosing a unit with adjustable heat settings, especially if you’ll be at varying distances from the heater. Our best overall pick from EnerG+ has three heat settings (low, medium, and max), and we found medium the most comfortable to sit 2 to 3 feet away from.

Remote Control

Remote controls aren’t a necessary feature in a patio heater, but they’re useful nonetheless. Most remote controls allow you to turn the unit on and off as well as change the temperature without going near the unit. Our best overall pick, the EnerG+ Electric Patio Heater, offers a remote, which we found useful during testing.

Safety

While electric patio heaters are more convenient to use than propane or natural gas heaters, there are still safety precautions to take while operating. Always make sure to stay near the patio heater while it’s turned on. While a standalone unit may be sturdy, there’s always a risk of it tipping over and creating a fire hazard. Be mindful of cords when choosing where to place your electric patio heater and prioritize spots where the cord is out of walkways.

If there are pets or children in your home, be sure to monitor them around any patio heater. While many units have protective cages to prevent you from touching a hot grill, the body of the units can still get hot to the touch. When we took the temperatures of the grills, the hottest we found topped over 600°F—definitely hot enough to cause a burn. And make sure the unit is completely cooled before moving it; We found multiple patio heaters were still warm to the touch five minutes after turning them off.

Other Electric Patio Heaters We Tested

Heat Storm Tripod Infrared 1500 Watt Electric Patio Heater at Wayfair

When testing the Heat Strom Tripod Electric Patio Heater, we were impressed with the heat output overall; we could feel the heat from 6 feet away. We also liked that you can change the height to fit your needs, though it can only be adjusted with a wrench, not during operation. The biggest flaw we found was the three-legged stand, which we found could be knocked over fairly easily. While the heater offers tip-over protection, it doesn’t have a guard to protect the heater grill from touching any fire hazards when tipped over.

Westinghouse WES31-15110BLK Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater at Amazon

The Westinghouse Infrared Electric Outdoor Heater doesn’t have many bells and whistles, especially for its price point. Similarly priced models offered multiple heat settings and a remote, unlike this option. Plus, we found the single heat setting to be inconsistent during testing. And at only waist-high, it didn’t provide warmth to anyone in a standing position.

AZ Patio Heaters Ground Electric Patio Heater 

At first, we were excited at how small and portable this option from AZ Patio Heaters was. However, we had issues during assembly as there were no instructions and some pieces weren’t drilled correctly. And once we turned it on, the metal housing on this unit became extremely hot. It doesn’t have any warning labels either, and since it sits on the ground, we think it poses a safety risk for children and pets.

Your Questions, Answered

How many BTUs should a patio heater have?

The recommended BTUs for a patio heater largely depends on the size of your patio and the weather you’ll be using it in. A patio that’s only 100 square feet won’t need a super powerful heater and may only need an output of 5,000 BTUs. However, the best electric patio heaters for large patios (up to 1,000 square feet) will range up to 20,000 BTUs. Our best overall pick, the EnerG+ Electric Patio Heater, provides 5,100 BTUs, which is ideal for smaller patios.

Electric patio heaters are less powerful than propane or natural gas models, so if you need to heat a larger area, you may consider choosing a gas-powered heater instead.

What size patio heater is best?

Typically, smaller patio heaters will not be as powerful as larger patio heaters, so the size you choose comes down to the space you have and the amount of heat you need. You may also consider the portability and storage of the patio heater, especially if you will need to store it indoors over the winter. 

While we didn’t test any wall-mounted units, if you have a small patio, they might be something to consider to save floor space. “Wall-mounted heaters can be attached to a masonry wall or a structure such as a pergola, gazebo, or fence,” says Amber Scott Freda, interior designer and owner of Amber Freda Home & Garden Design.

Are patio heaters safe to use in an enclosed area?

Propane and natural gas patio heaters require ventilation and should not be used in covered patios or garages. On the other hand, electric patio heaters are safe to use in an enclosed area. Always make sure to check the product’s instruction manual to ensure it’s approved for covered use. We tested many of the smaller units in our garages and enclosed patios and thought the Star Patio Electric Tabletop Patio Heater was one of the best electric patio heaters for an enclosed space.

Who We Are

Jessica Comstock is an associate commerce editor at Better Homes & Gardens who writes about the best products for your home. To write this article, she spoke with Eric Kahn, founder of Alfresco Heaters and Amber Scott Freda, an interior designer and owner of Amber Freda Home & Garden Design, for their insights and experiences working with patio heaters.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products and we let you know that we got it for free to remain as transparent as possible about our picks.

Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.