The best patio heaters can extend the outdoor living season while offering customers top designs. As the weather turns colder and customers seek a heat source, Sarah Wilson, contributor at GardeningEtc.com, selects her pick of the best patio heaters…

When customers want to enjoy the garden but the temperature’s not high enough, the best patio heaters let them enjoy the evenings for longer into autumn and winter. 

The best patio heaters can be a focal point in a garden as well as being functional. There’s a great choice of heaters out there, including floorstanding, tabletop and pendant versions. We’ve picked both electricity and gas designs to offer customers an option when it comes to their preferred fuel. 

 

 

1. KETTLER KALOS PLUSH FLOORSTANDING ELECTRIC PATIO HEATER, John Lewis, £179

Looking like a floor lamp, this heater has bags of style and, as it’s electric, there’s no fuel to store. The cable is 1.8 metres in length. As well as functioning as a heater, this design provides LED light, too. The base is made from cast iron and is weighted, and there’s a safety tilt cut-off mechanism. The heater also comes with bracket to fix the base to the ground.

SPECIFICATIONS

Best for: Faff-free heating

Fuel: Electricity

Materials: Aluminium and iron

Dimensions: H215 x Dia.74cm

REASONS TO BUY

- Sleek lines

- Handsome design 

- Easy to use

REASONS TO AVOID

- Partial self-assembly 

- Requires inside storage when not in use

 

 

2. FIREFLY TABLE TOP PATIO HEATER, Primrose.co.uk, £119

Put this design at the centre of any outdoor dining table. A tabletop patio heater can be a space saver. With a stainless steel base, this design could be the perfect complement to existing garden furniture creating a co-ordinated finish. We like the fact that this electric design has a 3m cable for ease of positioning. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Best for : Sizing down 

Fuel: Electricity 

Materials: Aluminium alloy, stainless steel and rattan 

Dimensions: H88 x Dia. 53.5cm

REASONS TO BUY

- Space-saving option

- Three heat settings 

- 3m cable

REASONS TO AVOID

- Requires a big enough table

 

3. AMAZONBASICS HAVANA BRONZE COMMERCIAL PATIO HEATER, Amazon, £119.99

Exterior warmth at a pocket-friendly price. If your customers don’t mind using gas cylinders as a fuel source, this design can save money. On wheels, this patio heater can be moved without the worry about cables. There’s a base reservoir system with this design. Fill it with sand or water to create weight low down. For safety, there’s a shut-off tilt valve that turns it off should it tip over in high winds.

SPECIFICATIONS

Best for: Smaller budgets 

Fuel: Gas 

Materials: Steel 

Dimensions: H226.1 x W101.6 x D83.8cm

REASONS TO BUY

- Budget buy 

- On wheels 

- Safety auto shut-off tilt valve

REASONS TO AVOID

- Requires purchase and storage of  gas cylinders

 

 

4. HEATSAIL DOME FREESTANDING PATIO HEATER FLOOR LAMP, CUCKOOLAND.COM, £2,995

Make a statement with a striking contemporary model. This contemporary design will make a statement and complement a modern garden design. With a hood that’s 100 x 50cm and a curvaceous stand, this design’s definitely attention grabbing as well as functional. It comes with a remote control to adjust the heat and light, and customers can even have waterproof Bluetooth speakers in the base of this design – although they don’t come as standard.

SPECIFICATIONS

Best for: Contemporary garden designs 

Fuel: Electricity 

Materials: Stainless steel and aluminium

Dimensions: H235.3 x W225.5cm

REASONS TO BUY

- Can stay outside year round 

- Remote control 

- Wheels on base 

- Provides light as well as heat

REASONS TO AVOID

- High budget option

 

 

5. KETTLER KALOS PLUSH HANGING PENDANT ELECTRIC PATIO HEATER, John Lewis, £179

Keep the outside space clutter free with a hanging heater. Getting the heat from a pendant is a space-efficient solution to cool evenings, leaving the patio and the tabletop free of extras. As it’s fitted with an LED light this design will provide atmospheric lighting for a table or seating group as well as heat. Stay seated and control this attractive contemporary heater with the remote. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Best for : Sleek results 

Fuel: Electricity 

Materials : Aluminium and iron 

Dimensions : H24 x Dia. 60cm

REASONS TO BUY

- Space saver 

- LED light

- Remote control 

- 1.8m cable

REASONS TO AVOID

- Needs somewhere to hang from