Should I choose propane or electric first?

Start with propane versus electric before anything else, since it's the decision that rules out the most options. If propane tanks aren't allowed where you live, or you want zero floor footprint from a mounted heater, electric is your answer regardless of budget. If neither restriction applies, propane generally offers more heat per dollar.

What size heater do I actually need?

Match the heater's rated coverage to your actual seating area, not your full patio square footage. A 10,000 to 11,000 BTU tabletop heater covers one table. A 40,000 to 48,000 BTU standing heater covers a 10 to 15 foot radius, enough for most single-family patios and decks in one unit.

Is a more expensive patio heater always better?

Not necessarily for basic heat output, since a $130 heater and a $300 heater can both put out similar BTU or wattage. The extra money in pricier models usually buys build quality, included accessories like a cover, or, for electric heaters, a slimmer commercial-grade housing and faster warmup.

How many heaters do I need for a large space?

For anything over roughly 300 square feet, two mid-size heaters placed at opposite ends of the space generally provide more even coverage than one large heater trying to reach across the whole area, since heat radius drops off well before it reaches the edges of a large space.

How to Choose a Patio Heater: A Decision Framework

A step-by-step framework for choosing a patio heater, covering propane versus electric, standing versus tabletop, BTU sizing, and the space and safety constraints that actually narrow the decision down to a short list.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Decide propane or electric

Check whether propane tanks are allowed in your space first, since apartment balconies and some condo associations prohibit them entirely. If propane is off the table, or you want a mounted heater with zero floor footprint, go electric. Otherwise, propane generally delivers more heat per dollar and doesn't need an outlet nearby.

Step 2: Match heater type to your space

A single table needs a tabletop heater like the Fire Sense 60262, 10,000 to 11,000 BTU focused on a few feet of radius. A full patio or deck needs a standing heater like the AZ Patio Heaters Tall Outdoor, 40,000 to 48,000 BTU covering 10 to 15 feet. A covered porch or balcony with limited floor space often does best with a wall or ceiling mounted electric unit.

Step 3: Size the BTU or wattage to your seating area

Don't size to your total patio square footage, size to where people actually sit. A 46,000 to 48,000 BTU standing heater covers roughly 175 to 315 square feet in open air, while a 1500W electric infrared heater covers a smaller, more directional area of roughly 10 by 10 feet.

Step 4: Check clearance and mounting requirements

Standing propane heaters need 3 to 5 feet of clearance in every direction and 4 to 5 feet of overhead clearance if used near a covered area. Mounted electric heaters need a confirmed ceiling height and, for permanent installs, a dedicated circuit. Confirm both against your actual space before buying.

Step 5: Decide if you need one heater or two

For spaces over roughly 300 square feet, plan on two mid-size heaters at opposite ends rather than one large unit in the center, since heat radius drops off before reaching the far edges of a large open space.

Step 6: Confirm safety features

Look for an auto-shutoff tilt valve on any tabletop or standing propane heater, and CSA or ETL certification on the listing. For electric heaters, confirm an IP rating appropriate for outdoor exposure, IP55 or higher for direct weather exposure.

Step 7: Budget for accessories

A cover is worth budgeting for separately if it isn't included, since most heaters are designed to stay outdoors between uses but benefit from weather protection when not running. A spare propane tank is also worth having on hand for longer events.

Every patio heater buying decision comes down to a handful of real constraints, not brand preference.

Propane or electric. Standing, tabletop, or mounted. How much of the space you actually need to cover, and how much floor or ceiling clearance you actually have.

Working through those in order narrows a crowded category down to a short list fast, usually two or three realistic options instead of dozens of similar-looking heaters.

This framework walks through that decision in the order it actually matters, starting with the constraint that eliminates the most options first.

Start With Propane or Electric

This is the highest-leverage decision in the whole process. If propane tanks aren't allowed in your space, whether by lease, condo association, or local fire code, electric is your only real option regardless of anything else. If you want a heater that mounts to a wall or ceiling with zero floor footprint, electric wins again.

Otherwise, propane standing and tabletop heaters generally deliver more heat per dollar and don't need an outlet within reach, which matters on a patio further from the house.

Match the Heater Type to Your Space

One table: a tabletop propane heater in the 10,000 to 11,000 BTU range, sized to sit on or beside the table itself.

A full patio or deck: a standing propane heater in the 40,000 to 48,000 BTU range, covering a 10 to 15 foot radius from one central unit.

A covered porch or balcony: a wall or ceiling mounted electric infrared heater, which avoids both the floor footprint issue and the combustion and ventilation concerns of an open flame under a roof.

Size to Your Seating Area, Not Your Total Square Footage

The most common sizing mistake is matching a heater to a patio's total square footage instead of where people actually sit. A 20 by 30 foot patio with one seating cluster in a corner doesn't need a heater rated for the whole 600 square feet, it needs one sized to that cluster.

Check Clearance Before You Buy

Standing propane heaters need real floor clearance, typically 3 to 5 feet in every direction, and 4 to 5 feet of overhead clearance if used anywhere near a covered space. Mounted electric heaters need a confirmed ceiling height that meets the manufacturer's minimum mounting distance. Both are easy to check against a listing's spec sheet before ordering, and both are frustrating to discover don't fit after the heater arrives.

Decide Between One Heater and Two

Past roughly 300 square feet of actual seating area, two mid-size heaters generally outperform one large heater trying to cover the same ground, since heat radius tapers off well before reaching the far edges of a large space.

Don't Skip Safety Features

An auto-shutoff tilt valve on a propane heater and CSA or ETL certification on the listing are the baseline to look for regardless of price. For electric heaters, an IP55 or higher rating is the mark of genuine outdoor weatherproofing rather than just water-resistant language.