Do you want to safely warm up your patio?
Then you need an electric patio heater!
In this post, you can learn more about outdoor electric heaters, how they work, and read several reviews on different types and models. Hopefully, this will help you choose your best electric patio heater.
What Are Electric Patio Heaters?
What Are Electric Patio Heaters?
An electric heater is a device that heats up using electrical power and increases the air temperature in the device’s immediate vicinity. Some are more powerful than others, allowing you to heat up a large area relatively fast.
How Does An Electric Heater Work?
An electric heater is a type of heating device that uses electricity to generate enough warmth to heat up space or air around it. Thus it raises the temperature in the room or in its immediate area, making any cold area more comfortable for you to dwell in.
Advantages Of Electric Patio Heaters
Electric heaters turn all the electrical power they receive into heat, which makes them the most effective type of heaters. They are also safe, considering they use no fuel so they don’t have any side effects that burning fuel brings (like odor and harmful emissions). This is particularly important in enclosed spaces.
Types Of Electrical Patio Heaters
These devices can be mounted on the walls, gazeebo beams, hung from ceilings, but there are also the tall free-standing models you can place on the floor and short standing models that can stand on tables. Some are even designed to be mounted on large umbrella stands.
What Are Electric Patio Heaters Used For?
As the name suggests, these are electricity-powered heaters you can put in your patio or gazebo, or garage, or a similar outdoor space. Depending on the model, you can place them in enclosed rooms, under roofs, or leave them out in the open (-but in that last case make sure they are weatherproof).
Best Electric Outdoor Patio Heaters Reviews
Best Infrared Wall-Mounted Electric Patio Heater
Bromic Smart Heat 6000W Infrared Patio Heater
Powerful Electric Heater
This device’s dual heating element operates at 6000W, which means it will keep people warm within 144 square feet. That makes it excellent for commercial use in restaurants or bars, and terraces that are enclosed or covered.
Stainless Steel Casing
This heater is made from durable stainless steel and coated with black ceramics that can endure high temperatures. It is corrosion-resistant, but it is not recommended to leave it exposed in the weather outdoor.
Stylish Design
The contemporary elegant design features a black sleek and uniform casing, with a black mesh over the frosted infrared tube heating elements. The heating parts emit an orange low-intensity glow that won’t hurt your eyes. With this neutral look, you can fit it into almost any ambient.
Efficient And Safe
This device is suitable for low-clearance installation, which means you don’t have to worry about combustible proximity above 12 inches. Unlike a gas heater, this electric heater emits no odor, no noise, and no harmful gas emissions, so it can be safely used in enclosed spaces.
Adjustable Installation
This electric heater can be mounted on a wall or a ceiling, and while installing it you can choose an angle at which you want it to be facing the room. It is also compatible with (and can be installed to) a simple on/off switch, dimmer or smart control system, which will optimize your control over the heating, though you will need to purchase that separately.
- elegant design
- stainless steel and ceramics
- low-intensity glow
- no external controls
- no remote control
- not weatherproof
Best Hanging Electric Patio Heater With Remote
Ener-G+ Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Electric Patio Heater
Electric Outdoor Heat Lamp
This electric infrared patio heater is weatherproof, meaning you can hang it outdoors and not need to worry about the weather elements. It is dust-proof and rain-proof, so it should be able to withstand pretty much any weather.
Remote Control
Ener-G+ electric heater comes with a practical wireless remote controller, which has 3 buttons that separately control the 3 individually activated infrared heating units on the lamp. They can be turned on or off regardless of each other, which means you can adjust the amount of heat you want from the lamp (700W, 800W or 1500W).
Safe To Use
This device is powered by electricity, so you don’t have to worry about odor or carbon monoxide emissions. It is safe to use around pets and people, including children. Because it is hung from the ceiling and controlled by remote, you don’t have to worry about it tipping over.
Lamp-Shaped Design
This heater comes to you in the shape of a black lamp, hung on a chain and covered on the top to shield the heating units from rain and dust. On the bottom is the 3-part heating unit, with 3 separately activated, replaceable bulbs.
Dimensions And Power Input
This device uses the standard household electrical supply, and the carbon-filament bulbs have a life expectancy of about 5000 hours. The lamp’s dimensions are 19.8 x 13.8 x 19.8 inches, and it weighs 7.7 pounds.
- lamp-shaped
- weatherproof
- 3 individual heating units
- remote control
- needs to be hung
- for small spaces
Best Free Standing Infrared Electric Heater
Fire Sense Telescoping Infrared Heater
Telescopic Heater Design
The Fire Sense outdoor heater is a 1500-watt infrared heating unit, covered with glass and metal mesh, mounted on a telescopic stainless steel pole, which is weatherproof. The dimensions of the device are 33 x 22 x 87 inches, and it weighs 51 pounds.
Heating Power
This device is better suited for small spaces, as its warming distance is short. The device heats up a 9-foot square that is unaffected by wind, and it is powered through a 12-foot long cord.
Practicality And Mobility
This patio heater has a telescopic stand, which you can adjust to a height that suits you best. On the side of the base of the stand, there are wheels that make transport easy, but only when you tilt the device, so they will not cause the heater to slide without your intention. It also switches off automatically when tipped over.
Efficiency
This electric freestanding heater operates at a power of 1500W and the heated space in front of it covers about a 9-foot square, and it warms up quickly to its full power. The heating unit bulb has an expected life duration of about 5000 hours.
Comfortable Use
The heating unit is covered with glass, which reduces the glare, and the heating head is mounted on the pole in such a way that you can adjust the angle of the head up or down, depending on how you want the heating unit facing the room. You can use the switch to turn the device on or off.
- free standing
- tip-over protection
- long power cord
- adjustable stand
- 1 heating unit
- no remote
- heavy for transport
- low heating output
Best Tabletop Outdoor Electric Patio Heater
Hiland HIL-1821 Tabletop Electric Patio Heater
Tabletop Lamp Heater
Made from stainless steel, this electric tabletop heater is shaped like a lamp. The simple design makes it suitable for home and commercial use alike, whether it is necessary to heat up an indoor or outdoor space.
Safe To Use
This heater is electric, which means it is safe to use in enclosed spaces, but it is also waterproof, which makes it safe for outdoor use as well. It has variable temperature control and a safety switch that turns it off when tilting.
Heating Power
Hiland electric heater offers 1500 watts worth of power, which can warm up a space of about 50 square feet. The instant heat technology enables it to heat up in a matter of seconds and start warming your room or area.
Dimensions And Material
This device has a weighted base, for increased stability against falling or tipping over. It is 38 inches tall, and 24 inches wide, and it weighs 16 pounds. That means you can easily transport it from one table to another, or store it away.
2 Switches
The device has 2 separate switches that control the 2 heating bulbs. By turning them both on, you get the device’s full power, which is 1500W. This heater’s power cord is 96 inches long.
- stable
- shaped like a table lamp
- anti-tilt safety switch
- waterproof
- no remote
- short power cord
Best Outdoor Electric Commercial Wall Mounted Patio Heater
Sundate Outdoor Electric Patio Heater
Heating Power
This electric heater has carbon fiber tubes for the heating element, which instantly and effectively produce heat within seconds, without any noise. You can choose between three power settings: 500W, 1000W, and 1500W.
Safe and Easy To Use
Sundate heater has several convenient safety features, like anti-overheat protection. There is also the 24-hour timer that you can set to turn off the device, and it is displayed on the LCD display along with the chosen power setting. You can adjust both with the remote control that comes with the device.
Elegant Design
The heater sits in silver aluminum casing with black plastic accents. It would be better if it was stainless steel, but considering it is made to be mounted on a wall, the lightweight construction might just be an advantage.
Cheap Electric Patio Heater
This device costs less than other models in this post, but the quality does not seem to be compromised by the low price. On the contrary, the brand’s customer support will be at your service should you encounter a problem.
Outdoor And Indoor Suitability
Sundate patio heater is suited for both indoor and outdoor use, but it does require to be mounted on a wall or a beam. The on/off switch and the display are waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about the weather damaging your device.
- remote control
- waterproof
- 3 heat settings
- overheat protection
- timer and display
- customer service
- aluminum + plastic casing
- partial assembly required
Conclusion: Which Electric Outdoor Patio Heaters Are Best?
In my view, the best outdoor electric patio heaters are the Ener-G+ Indoor/Outdoor Ceiling Electric Patio Heater and the Sundate Outdoor Electric Patio Heater. The Ener-G+ heater is shaped like a ceiling lamp and weatherproof, with 3 separate heating bulbs. The Sundate Heater is wall-mounted and waterproof, with 3 power settings and a timer option. The Sundate also had an LCD display that shows the timer and the power setting.
For more information about outdoor patio heaters, read this post on outdoor heaters. If you would like to look at some other types of outdoor heaters, you can read about outdoor gas heaters and outdoor heat lamps. You might also want to take a look at this post about commercial outdoor heaters.