Do you want to know if a portable outdoor heater is the right heater type for you?
You can easily check that out!
All you need to do is read my post about portable outside heaters. Here I will introduce you to the list of best portable outdoor heaters, but before I start with the reviews, I want to share with you a couple of information about portable patio heaters in general.
Basic Information About Portable Outdoor Heaters
What Makes One Heater Portable?
A portable patio heater is a heater you can take with you on a trip. This means it is small in size, in weight and it comes with a portable power source. If you love to go camping, you will need a portable heater so this post is the right place for you. But, even if you aren’t a camping person, you can easily use a portable heater on your patio. The good thing is that you can move it around without trouble or worrying about the cords.
Different Types Of Portable Outdoor Heaters
There are different types of heaters and the most common ones are portable propane patio heaters, gas heaters, and electric heaters. The propane and gas heaters are those types of heaters you can only use outside due to the smoke they produce. The electric heaters with portable features are battery-powered heaters. That means there isn’t a cord in the picture so you can move them around. The good thing about portable outdoor electric heaters is that you can use them inside and outside since they don’t produce smoke.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Portable Heaters
There are many advantages of portable heaters, but the most important one is the fact that you can carry it with you. That means you can always stay warm, no matter if you are outside in the woods or relaxing on your patio. But, you have to be aware that portable heaters aren’t as strong as other heaters on the market. They are small, light and they can only keep you warm if the temperature around you isn’t very low. Also, you have to keep in mind that using that type of heater needs a power source so you have to have enough fuel to keep the heater going.
Best 5 Portable Outdoor Heater Reviews
Best Propane Heater Outdoor For Camping
Mr. Heater Portable Propane Heater MH18B
Unusual Heater Design
This propane heater is made for outdoors and you can carry it with you on a camping trip. It has a rather unusual design, especially when you take a look at other models on this list. There are two color combinations you can choose from, the red and black and completely black combination. The heater is made in a combination of metal and plastic, the metal parts are the heating head and the safety grid while the rest of the heater comes with a plastic cover.
Heats Up Large Area
The heater doesn’t come with the propane tank and once you put it in the heater you can’t see it thanks to special tank storage located at the back of the heater. This special portable propane patio heater comes with 4,00 to 18,000 BTUs and you can heat up a large space up to 450 sq.ft. with it. You can set the temperature to low, medium and high heat on this heater with a simple control knob.
Comes With Detectors
This is probably the only propane heater you can use inside, but only in big rooms and only when you are near it. That is important because this heater comes with a low oxygen level detector that lights up when the level is low. That means you have to get out of the room and ventilate. The good thing is that besides that detector, the heater comes with an auto shut-off feature that turns of the heater the moment the detector lights up. It is safe for indoors, but I wouldn’t recommend it because accidents can happen.
- 4,000- to 18,000-BTUs
- low oxygen detector
- comes with handle
- auto shut-off feature
Best Outdoor Portable Propane Patio Heater
Texsport Portable Outdoor Propane Heater
Two-Part Construction
This portable outdoor heater is made by Texsport and it is a very small heater that can keep you warm no matter where you are. The heater is made of two parts, the heating head and the plastic base for the propane tank that acts as the power source. The heating head is made of stainless steel and it has one burner that produces around 2,900 BTUs. The plastic base is made to fit standard propane tanks and it comes with 4 small legs that keep the entire construction stable.
Made For Two Propane Tank Sizes
This small heater is a great choice for camping or any other outdoor activities because you can adjust the size of the propane tank to the activity you are planning to do. You can use the 16.4 oz and 14.1 oz tanks. That means you can plan the duration of the activity and take the bigger/smaller propane tank with you according to the activity. The only thing you have to worry is that the tank size matches the plastic base.
Small But Safe For Everyone
The model might be small, but that doesn’t mean it is not safe. It comes with many safety features. Probably the most important one is the auto shut-off valve. That valve will stop the propane from leaking if the flame goes out. The second safety feature is the safety grid. That small grid keeps the burner away from your hands so you won’t get burnt. But, that doesn’t mean you should touch the grid because it will become hot after some time.
- 2, 890 BTUs
- durable stainless steel burner
- fold-away plastic base
Best Portable Tabletop Patio Heater
Hiland HLDS032-B Portable Tabletop Patio Heater
Stainless Steel Design
This portable outdoor heater is made mostly for patios because it comes in a tabletop design. It comes with a heavy weight plate which makes it very stable, but only on straight surfaces. The heater comes in a silver stainless steel color which makes it easy to blend in almost every patio decor. The best part about this heater is that it comes with a small door for the propane tank. That way the tank stays hidden inside the heater.
CSA Approved Product
This Hiland portable stainless steel patio heater comes with CSA approval so you can be sure it is made with a certain quality and it will last you a long time. Besides the heavy weight base, this portable propane patio heater comes with Thermocouple that keeps the heat under control. Just like the model above, this one comes with a safety grid that is located all around the burner.
1lb Propane Tank
This outside portable propane heater uses a propane tank as the fuel source, but you won’t get one with it. You have to buy it separately and you have to make sure that you get the right size. The size you need is a 1lb propane tank. With one tank you can heat up the place for a couple of hours so make sure you have spare tanks around you if you want to spend more than 3 hours on your patio. If you want, you can connect it to a bigger (20lb tank) with 5′ adapter hose, but you have to buy it separately just like the tank.
- tabletop design
- CSA approved
- Thermocouple and Anti-Tilt
- lasts 2-3 hours on high
Best Portable Outdoor Heater For Sporting Events
Mr. Heater Outdoor Propane Heater MHC15T
Carry It With You
This small portable outdoor heater is very similar to the heater I mentioned in the first review. That makes it one of the smallest on the list, but that doesn’t mean it is not strong. The entire heater is made of metal, but this one doesn’t come with the base as the model above so you have to keep it on a straight surface at all times if you don’t want it to fall over. Its dimensions are 9 x 8 x 11.2 inches, and it weighs 3 pounds so you can carry it with you without trouble.
Uses Variable BTUs
This small propane heater is strong, as I have already mentioned, thanks to the fact that you can connect it to different cylinders. You can do that with tanks from 4 to 20 lbs and with that, you can get from 8,000 up to 15,000 BTUs. But, the bad thing about this small portable outdoor heater is that you can’t use it inside, only outside. That is the downside of every propane heater on the market.
Use It As Heater And More
This mini heater can also be used as a cooking device. You can do that thanks to its special construction that allows you to put the heater upward and sideways. When the heater is upward, you can use it for cooking and when you put it sideway, you can use it as a heater. The entire construction is made of metal, but I am not sure it has anti-rust feature so make sure the device is always dry.
- sturdy construction
- can connect to different tanks
- 8,000-15,000 BTUs
- cooking feature
Best Portable Infrared Outdoor Heater
Stansport Portable Outdoor Infrared Propane Heater
Convenient Design
The next portable outdoor heater I want to share with you has a similar design to the first model I reviewed. The heater consists out of two parts, the heating head and the plastic base. But, what is different is the fact that this heating head comes with a handle so you can carry the heater without fear of getting burnt. The handle is located right above the heating head. Also, the head comes with a metal dish that helps you focus the heat in a wanted direction.
Adjustable Temperature Control
This outdoor portable space heater is convenient because it allows you to control the temperature. You can’t control it by the degree, but you can set the heat to low, medium and high. Keep in mind that if you set the heater to high, it will use the fuel faster. The total heat produces by this heater is 3,100 BTUs. That is not much but it is an average BTU for this type of heater.
Numerous Safety Features
Besides base for the tank that keeps the entire construction stable, this heater has few other safety features. One of them is an electric ignition which allows you to turn on the heater without matches. It is the safest and the fastest way to turn on the heater. The last safety feature I want to mention is the handle that makes sure you can touch the heater without burning your hands. Although it is a safe heater, it is not recommended for indoor use as it is a propane heater and it produces smoke.
- handle for carrying
- 3,100 BTUs
- low, medium, high heat
- plastic base for the tank
- electronic ignition
Conclusion: What Are Best Portable Outdoor Patio Heaters?
In my opinion, there are two models that stand out from the list. The first model is the first one out of Mr. Heater outdoor propane heaters and that is Mr. Heater MH18B heater. I would recommend this one because it has impressive features like the low oxygen detector. That is a pretty rare feature for a propane heater. The second I would recommend is the Texsport portable outdoor propane heater. I would recommend this model because it comes with a base that prevents the heater from falling down.
If you are interested in knowing more about propane heaters, read my post about the best outdoor propane heater models. But, if you are more interested in tabletop heater offer, read my post about most popular tabletop outdoor heaters. If you want to learn more about the heaters because you don’t know which type is the best one for you, read my post about best outdoor heaters for sale.