Best Patio Heaters in the UK

The advantages of halogen heat are obvious. It saves you the hassle of fiddling with gas cylinders, it can be used anywhere within the mains access, and more often than not, these heaters are lighter and slimmer than most gas-powered model. The Firefly patio heater is just one of those models in point.

Starting off with the design, this heater looks pretty awesome. Featuring an oval heating head supported by a long leg resting on a massive round stand, it will look great placed next to your favourite armchair. The warm red-orange glow of the heating elements matches the all-black construction perfectly and can set a relaxing, calming, or even romantic atmosphere in the evening.

Looks aside, the unit is also fairly sturdy. All made of steel, it is impact-resistant and not prone to bends, damages, dents, and deformations. Besides, a seemingly fragile construction is not that lightweight and weighs 9 kg. In a combo with a wide round base, it stands pretty stably and not so easy to tip over. However, if it does fall, you can have peace of mind because the unit is fitted with an automatic switch that will turn the heater off.

When it comes to heating performance, the Firefly is no slouch as well. Accommodating three halogen tubes with quartz heating elements, the unit packs 2,000 watts of power, which is enough to create an efficient flow of personal warmth. Given this and a slim design, you can easily put this heater next to your garden table, bench, or chair. Besides, the model offers a perfectly adjustable heat. Not only will you be able to choose from three heat settings (at 650watts, 1350 watts, and 2000 watts accordingly) to meet various environmental conditions but also you can vary the heater height from 174 cm to 210 cm and regulate the heating head tilt within the range of 45 degrees to tailor heat flow to your personal needs or direct the heat to where necessary.

Those who have families with smaller kids and pets constantly sneaking around, more likely than not, will stick to electric models when choosing an outdoor heater for home use, due to safety reasons. Yet, while less related to fire risks, most electric models still heat up from the outside exposing little fidgets to burns. If you want to completely avoid that problem, we recommend considering this electric patio heater from Mensa.

What makes this model confidently stand out from the crowd straight away is that its exterior doesn’t heat up and remains comfortable to the touch no matter how long it has been working. The heater utilises the patent-pending SafeTouch™ technology that keeps the heater safely cool from the outside. So, you can turn it on and rest assured your kiddies or pets won’t get in contact with hot surfaces even if they accidentally run into the unit. Aside from that, the unit has a tip-over switch that will immediately cut down the power. 

Coming down to the specs, at 550 watts, the Mensa is a mid-range heater capable of efficiently warming up the area within the radius of only 4 sq.m. Hence, it is not the best option for vast open areas. However, it will show its best as a personal outdoor heater if you place it next or under the table. Using infrared heat, it will maintain your lower body and legs comfortably toastie. As such, the appliance is good for family evenings on the porch as well as for camping trips and some gatherings in a semi-closed patio or gazebo.

Unlike other electric models on our list, the Mensa heater has a single operating mode, with no added adjustable settings. Yet, given lower power consumption, this aspect is not a deal-breaker since it won’t impact your electricity bills too much.

Are you in the market for a patio heater that can be installed pretty much anywhere, irrespective of the electricity access? If so, turn your eyes to this gas heater from Amazon basics which offers cordless convenience.

As the name suggests, this model is powered by gas, which means you'll need to stock up on some LPG tans in advance. While this might seem a hassle at first, the independence from the electricity you get makes it truly worth it - you won't need to be thinking about access to power outlets nor will you need to be fiddling with extension cords and tangling cables to connect the unit to the mains. Once you place it and install an LPG tank, it'll be ready for use.

Speaking of the unit operation, it is as easy as it gets. The heater comes with all the connection hardware preinstalled, so all you'll be left to do is simply hook the connection valve to the gas tank. Meanwhile, the built-in piezo ignition system will ensure a quick and easy startup at the push of a button, and the included temperature adjustment knob will let you customise the heat output.

The biggest benefit of all gas heaters is an impressively high hating performance, and this Amazon Basics heater is not an exception. In fact, given its price, it's quite impressive with its heat output reaching 46,000 BTUs - enough to efficiently heat areas up to 1,150 square feet, which is 5 times more than what you'd get using any standard electric patio heater. What's more, due to its design, it exudes radiant warmth which spreads smoothly and evenly to achieve consistent surrounding temperature. As such, this model is a great choice for firepits, home gardens, and backyards. It is also suitable for commercial use in open terraces of cafes, restaurants, and hotels.

The Luxeva patio heater is yet another electric model using infrared heat. However, it is different from many other rivals and you’ll notice it once you use it for the very first time. Heating up objects and not the surrounding air, infrared heaters are energy-efficient and can also serve as personal heaters. At the same time, though, to feel really warm and comfy, you often need to sit or stand next to the unit with the heat directed at you, which is not very convenient in some circumstances and settings. With the Luxeva heater, you won’t have that problem.

Unlike many of its counterparts, the model uses infrared carbon technology that boasts energy efficiency of 98% and ensures maximised heat output. A special carbon fibre heating element provides immediate heat as soon as you turn it on and effectively spreads the warmth around to make you feel comfortable even when at a certain distance from the heater. At 2000 watts, the heating element packs quite a punch and is capable of heating up pretty large areas fast and consistently maintaining the desired temperature. In the meantime, heat-sensitive thermostat with variable temperature settings will let you precisely adjust the heat to the surrounding environment and your personal needs.

As powerful as it is, the Luxeva heater has a sleek tower design that looks aesthetically pleasing. An oversized tubular heating element is installed behind the fine steel mesh that adds a metal accent to the stylish black body of the unit. The device will seamlessly blend with any contemporary environment and settings. Despite being nearly 1 m high, it won’t stick out like a sore thumb and will rather look like a piece of decor.

If you have a smaller pergola, gazebo, or balcony, a free-standing outdoor heater might be simply too bulky for it. This is where a hanging model like the one from Donyer Power will come into play. Designed to hang from a ceiling, this model is space-wise and will let you accommodate more furniture items and other essentials. Besides, it can be safely used both outdoors and indoors that makes it fairly versatile.

The good thing is that the model comes fully pre-assembled and you just need to mount it on the ceiling. Plus, all the mounting hardware along with clear and easy-to-follow instructions comes included in the set. So, it won’t take you long to hang it. As for the place of installation, whether you are about to use it in a conservatory, garage, or workshop, plan to install it in a wooden gazebo or want to hang it under a canvas umbrella, you are good to go. Just stick to a 50 cm safe distance from fabric or wood to avoid the risk of inflammation since some heat still goes up anyway.

As far as the heating performance goes, the unit packs 2,000 watts of power and exudes quite an intensive heat. Though not enough to heat you up on freezing days, it will keep you comfy outdoors on cooler spring and summer evenings and add the desired warmth to a whole range of non-heated or poorly heated premises. Besides, at that wattage, it won’t add too much to your energy bills, especially provided that you can adjust the heat from low (750 watts) to high (2,000 watts) to optimise the consumption and maintain a nice warmth at the same time.

One more benefit is that the unit heats up almost immediately and is very easy to control by using a pull-down rope. Pull the rope once to start it on low heat, pull it twice for high heat, and pull it three times to shut the heater down.