Coal & Char

Best Electric Patio Heaters

Infrared heaters for covered porches, garages and balconies — no tank, no combustion, and the only safe option under a roof.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

If your space has a roof over it, this is the page you want, and the Dr. Infrared portable is the straightforward buy. It plugs into an ordinary socket, it produces no combustion products at all, and it warms the people it is pointed at rather than trying to heat the air around them. For a covered porch, a balcony with a ceiling or a garage, that combination is not a preference — it is the correct product category.

The reason is carbon monoxide. Burning propane in a covered or partly enclosed space produces CO, which is odourless, and the CPSC reports that more than 200 people in the United States die every year from accidental non-fire CO poisoning associated with consumer products. Electric infrared has no combustion at all, so the question does not arise. We go through which heaters are safe where in carbon monoxide and outdoor heaters.

The honest trade-off is reach. Infrared warms what it points at, which is wonderful for a person in a chair and useless for an open lawn. There is also a running cost: a 3,000 watt bar running all evening is a real line on a bill, and electric is usually dearer per hour than propane. If the space is open to the sky, a propane heater has far more reach for the money — the full comparison is in propane vs electric.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which pit or heater we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, beginner-friendliness and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t cooked on every one of these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Infrared Indoor/Outdoor Space Heater

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Infrared Indoor/Outdoor Space Heater

Electric infrared solves the two things people actually hate about propane heaters: refilling tanks and the hard limit on where you can run one. It plugs into a socket, it produces no combustion products at all, and it can be used in a garage or a covered porch where a gas heater should not be. The honest trade is reach — infrared warms what it is pointed at, so it heats a person on a chair beautifully and an open lawn not at all.

Best overall
$107.09 · View on Amazon

$125.9915% off

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-239 3000W Wall/Ceiling Infrared Patio Heater

Dr. Infrared Heater DR-239 3000W Wall/Ceiling Infrared Patio Heater

The permanent-install answer: a 3,000 watt IP55-rated infrared bar that bolts to a wall or a pergola beam and heats the space under it on a switch. Mounted overhead it takes up no floor space, nothing can be knocked over, and there is no tank. That is close to ideal for a covered patio or a balcony. It needs a suitable circuit and a competent install, which is the real cost — the heater itself is not expensive for what it does.

Best permanent install
$293.20 · View on Amazon

$349.0016% off

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Mr. Heater 18,000 BTU Big Buddy Heater

Mr. Heater 18,000 BTU Big Buddy Heater

Double the Portable Buddy's output and the ability to run two 1 lb cylinders at once, which turns a two-hour heater into an all-evening one. It is the right size for a garage, a workshop, a large tent or a covered porch — still not an open patio. The same caveats apply and apply harder at 18,000 BTU: combustion heater, enclosed space, carbon monoxide alarm, every single time.

Best for an unheated garage
$144.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Mr. Heater 9,000 BTU Portable Buddy Radiant Propane Heater

Mr. Heater 9,000 BTU Portable Buddy Radiant Propane Heater

The Portable Buddy is the one radiant propane heater almost everyone in cold-weather outdoor hobbies already owns, and it runs on a 1 lb cylinder rather than a 20 lb tank — which is what makes it portable in the real sense. Nine thousand BTU is small next to a patio heater but enormous inside a tent, an ice shanty or a blind. Mr. Heater builds in a tip-over switch and an oxygen depletion sensor. Use a carbon monoxide alarm with it anyway, every time.

Best portable alternative
$89.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Hiland HLDS032-GTTSS Tabletop Pyramid Patio Heater (10,000 BTU)

Hiland HLDS032-GTTSS Tabletop Pyramid Patio Heater (10,000 BTU)

A tabletop version of the glass-tube pyramid, running on a 1 lb cylinder hidden in the base. Ten thousand BTU will take the edge off for two or three people sitting right at the table, and the visible flame does most of the work emotionally. It is the right answer for a bistro table, a balcony or a small deck where a six-foot heater would be absurd — and the wrong answer if you actually need to warm a group.

Best tabletop alternative
$149.38 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Infrared Indoor/Outdoor Space Heater

Electric infrared solves the two things people actually hate about propane heaters: refilling tanks and the hard limit on where you can run one. It plugs into a socket, it produces no combustion products at all, and it can be used in a garage or a covered porch where a gas heater should not be. The honest trade is reach — infrared warms what it is pointed at, so it heats a person on a chair beautifully and an open lawn not at all.

What’s good

  • No tank to refill and no combustion products at all
  • Safe to use in a garage or covered porch where gas heaters are not
  • Warms people directly rather than heating the air around them
  • Cheap to buy and simple to run

Trade-offs

  • Needs a power outlet within reach
  • Heats only what it points at — useless for an open circle
  • Electric running cost is higher per hour than propane in most areas
  • Wattage and coverage area are not published on this listing
TypePortable electric infrared heater
FuelElectric — no tank, no combustion
UseIndoor and outdoor, per the listing
WattageNot published on this listing

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#2Best permanent install

Dr. Infrared Heater DR-239 3000W Wall/Ceiling Infrared Patio Heater

The permanent-install answer: a 3,000 watt IP55-rated infrared bar that bolts to a wall or a pergola beam and heats the space under it on a switch. Mounted overhead it takes up no floor space, nothing can be knocked over, and there is no tank. That is close to ideal for a covered patio or a balcony. It needs a suitable circuit and a competent install, which is the real cost — the heater itself is not expensive for what it does.

What’s good

  • 3,000 W mounted overhead — no floor space, nothing to knock over
  • IP55 weatherproof rating stated on the listing
  • No tank, no combustion, no refuelling
  • Heats the area beneath it consistently

Trade-offs

  • Needs a suitable circuit and a proper electrical install
  • Fixed in place — it heats one spot forever
  • Listing states 208-240V, so check your supply before buying
  • Running cost is real at 3,000 W
TypeWall or ceiling mounted electric infrared heater
Power3,000 W (per the listing)
Weather ratingIP55 (per the listing)
ModelDR-239
MountingWall or ceiling, per the listing

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#3Best for an unheated garage

Mr. Heater 18,000 BTU Big Buddy Heater

Double the Portable Buddy's output and the ability to run two 1 lb cylinders at once, which turns a two-hour heater into an all-evening one. It is the right size for a garage, a workshop, a large tent or a covered porch — still not an open patio. The same caveats apply and apply harder at 18,000 BTU: combustion heater, enclosed space, carbon monoxide alarm, every single time.

What’s good

  • 18,000 BTU covers a garage or a large tent properly
  • Runs two 1 lb cylinders, or a 20 lb tank with the right hose
  • Variable output rather than one fixed setting
  • Same proven Mr. Heater safety features

Trade-offs

  • Still a combustion heater — a CO alarm is mandatory, not optional
  • Hose and filter for a 20 lb tank are extra
  • Heavy and bulky next to the Portable Buddy
  • Not a substitute for a patio heater in open air
TypePortable radiant propane heater
Heat output18,000 BTU (per the listing)
FuelTwo 1 lb cylinders, or 20 lb tank with a hose (hose not included)
ModelBig Buddy

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#4Best portable alternative

Mr. Heater 9,000 BTU Portable Buddy Radiant Propane Heater

The Portable Buddy is the one radiant propane heater almost everyone in cold-weather outdoor hobbies already owns, and it runs on a 1 lb cylinder rather than a 20 lb tank — which is what makes it portable in the real sense. Nine thousand BTU is small next to a patio heater but enormous inside a tent, an ice shanty or a blind. Mr. Heater builds in a tip-over switch and an oxygen depletion sensor. Use a carbon monoxide alarm with it anyway, every time.

What’s good

  • Runs on a 1 lb cylinder — genuinely carryable
  • Tip-over shutoff and oxygen depletion sensor built in
  • 9,000 BTU is a lot of heat in a small enclosed space
  • The long-standing default in cold-weather outdoor hobbies

Trade-offs

  • Far too small to warm an open patio
  • 1 lb cylinders are expensive per hour of heat
  • Still a combustion heater: use a CO alarm, always
  • Not rated for use in every enclosed space — read the manual
TypePortable radiant propane heater
Heat output9,000 BTU (per the listing)
Fuel1 lb propane cylinder
SafetyTip-over switch and oxygen depletion sensor, per the maker
SeriesMidnight Series

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#5Best tabletop alternative

Hiland HLDS032-GTTSS Tabletop Pyramid Patio Heater (10,000 BTU)

A tabletop version of the glass-tube pyramid, running on a 1 lb cylinder hidden in the base. Ten thousand BTU will take the edge off for two or three people sitting right at the table, and the visible flame does most of the work emotionally. It is the right answer for a bistro table, a balcony or a small deck where a six-foot heater would be absurd — and the wrong answer if you actually need to warm a group.

What’s good

  • Visible flame column at tabletop scale
  • Runs on a 1 lb cylinder concealed in the base — no 20 lb tank
  • Stainless and glass rather than painted steel
  • Small enough to leave on a table between uses

Trade-offs

  • 10,000 BTU warms the people at the table and nobody else
  • 1 lb cylinders run out quickly and cost more per hour
  • Glass tube is fragile and exposed
  • Light enough to be blown over — do not leave it out in wind
TypeTabletop glass-tube propane patio heater
Heat output10,000 BTU (per the listing)
MaterialStainless steel with glass flame tube
Fuel1 lb propane cylinder
ModelHLDS032-GTTSS

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

How to choose an electric patio heater

Portable or mounted.A portable infrared unit on a stand plugs into a normal outlet, moves with you and costs the least. A wall or ceiling mounted bar takes no floor space, cannot be knocked over, and heats one fixed area forever — which is exactly right under a pergola or a covered patio where the seating never moves. The mounted option needs a proper electrical install, and the 3,000 watt model here states 208 to 240 volts on its listing, so check your supply before ordering.

Understand what infrared does.It heats objects and people directly rather than warming air, which is why it works outdoors at all — heated air blows away, radiant heat does not. The practical consequence is that it is strongly directional. Three people facing the heater are comfortable; the person round the corner feels nothing. Plan the aim before you plan the wattage.

Check the weather rating if it lives outside. The mounted picks here state an IP55 weatherproof rating, which is the kind of specification that matters for something bolted under an eave. A portable unit brought in after use needs less, but it still should not be rained on.

Two fuel-burning alternatives for unheated spaces.The Mr. Heater Buddy family is included here because they are the standard answer in garages, workshops, hunting blinds and ice shelters where there is no outlet to use. They are radiant propane heaters with a tip-over switch and an oxygen depletion sensor, and they are excellent at that job. They are also combustion heaters in enclosed spaces, which means a carbon monoxide alarm goes with them — every time, not just when you remember.

Budget the running cost honestly.Electric infrared costs more per hour than propane in most places. What you buy for that is no tank, no refuelling trips, no combustion products and the ability to use the thing under a roof. For a covered porch used a few evenings a week, that is a fair trade. For an open patio hosting twenty people, it is not — go back to the patio heater hub and look at the gas options.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best electric patio heater?

The Dr. Infrared portable infrared heater for most covered spaces — it plugs into an ordinary outlet, produces no combustion products, and warms people directly rather than trying to heat outdoor air. For a permanent installation under a pergola or covered patio, the DR-239 3,000 W wall or ceiling mounted bar with its IP55 rating is the better long-term answer.

Are electric patio heaters any good outdoors?

Infrared models are, because they heat objects and people directly rather than warming air that simply blows away. The limitation is that they are strongly directional: people facing the heater are comfortable, people round the corner feel nothing. Convection-style electric heaters, by contrast, are close to useless in open air.

Can you use an electric patio heater under a covered patio?

Yes — that is exactly where they belong. Electric infrared produces no combustion products at all, so there is no carbon monoxide risk, which is the thing that rules propane heaters out under a roof. Check the model's weather rating if it will be permanently mounted outdoors; the mounted picks here state IP55.

Are electric patio heaters expensive to run?

Usually more per hour than propane, and a 3,000 watt unit running all evening is a real cost. What you get for it is no tank to refill, no refuelling trips, no combustion products and the ability to run the heater in a covered space. For a few evenings a week on a porch that is a fair trade; for hosting a crowd on an open patio it is not.

Is a Mr. Heater Buddy safe indoors?

It is designed with a tip-over switch and an oxygen depletion sensor for exactly this use, and it is the standard choice in garages, workshops, blinds and ice shelters. It is still a combustion heater, so a carbon monoxide alarm is required alongside it in any enclosed space — the CPSC recommends battery-operated CO alarms or alarms with battery backup. Read the model's manual for its specific restrictions.

Sources

  • CPSC — Carbon Monoxide Information Center — The US Consumer Product Safety Commission on carbon monoxide: “More than 200 people in the United States die every year from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products,” and its standing recommendation to “Install battery-operated CO alarms or CO alarms with battery backup on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas” (accessed October 7, 2026)
  • FTC Consumer Advice — Online Shopping — FTC guidance for buying online: “before you buy something online, shop around and check out sellers and products,” note the exact manufacturer or model number when comparison shopping, and pay by credit card so a bad order can be disputed (accessed October 7, 2026)

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