A 48,000 BTU propane tower can push the air around it to roughly 10 to 15 degrees warmer within a 6-foot radius. That is the number that matters, not the marketing photos of people lounging in t-shirts in November. Most patio heaters heat a circle, not a yard, and once you accept that, picking the right one gets a lot simpler.
I have run propane towers through three winters on an uncovered deck in Ohio and swapped to electric infrared on a covered porch. The gap in performance and hassle between heater types is bigger than the price tags suggest. Here is what holds up.
The three types, and who each one is for
Propane is the high-output workhorse. A standard 20-pound tank feeds a 40,000 to 48,000 BTU tower for about 9 to 10 hours. It heats fast, works anywhere with no wiring, and tips over in wind if you skip the water-weighted base. The catch: you are buying and hauling tanks, and a cold tank in 25-degree weather can struggle to vaporize fuel, so the flame sputters.
Electric infrared heats objects and people directly instead of warming the air, so wind matters less than you would expect. A wall or ceiling-mounted 1,500-watt unit is the cleanest setup for a covered patio. No fuel, no flame, no tipping. It needs an outlet, and it will not warm a wide open backyard.
Natural gas is the cheapest to run if you already have a gas line, around 30 to 40 cents an hour, but installation runs $300 to $600 with a plumber and ties the heater to one spot forever.
Comparison: 2026 patio heater picks
| Model | Type | Heat Output | Best For | Running Cost/hr | Price Range | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Tower | Propane | 48,000 BTU | Open decks, backyards | ~$0.80 | $150 to $200 | | Dr. Infrared DR-238 | Electric infrared | 1,500 W | Covered porches | ~$0.20 | $130 to $170 | | Mr. Heater MH18B "Big Buddy" | Propane (portable) | 18,000 BTU | Small patios, camping | ~$0.45 | $90 to $130 | | Bromic Tungsten Smart-Heat | Natural gas | 40,000 BTU | Permanent install | ~$0.35 | $1,000+ | | Heat Storm Mounted Infrared | Electric infrared | 1,500 W | Wall-mounted, tight spaces | ~$0.20 | $100 to $150 |
My verdict
For most homeowners with an uncovered deck or backyard, the Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU propane tower is the pick. It throws enough heat to actually feel in cold air, the parts are cheap to replace, and you are not paying an electrician. Fill the base with sand or water so a gust does not put it on the ground.
If your space is covered and you have an outlet within reach, go electric infrared instead. The Dr. Infrared DR-238 at around $150 costs a quarter of the propane tower to run and never needs a refill. The non-obvious win: infrared keeps warming you even when a breeze cuts through, because it is heating your skin and clothes directly rather than trying to hold a pocket of warm air that the wind just steals.
Skip natural gas unless you are renovating anyway and want a permanent fixture. The $1,000-plus entry cost takes years of running savings to pay back.
Practical setup notes
Wind is the enemy of every propane unit. A tower rated for a 9-foot diameter drops to maybe 5 feet of useful heat in a 10 mph breeze, so position it on the sheltered side of your house or near a privacy screen.
Pair a heater with the rest of your outdoor setup and the whole space gets used more. A warm corner with good lighting feels finished, so it is worth sorting out outdoor string lights at the same time. And before the cold sets in, give the surface a once-over: a clean deck is safer underfoot, and a power washer for deck cleaning clears the algae that turns slick the moment temperatures drop.
One last thing people miss: store the propane tank outside, never in a garage or shed. A small leak in an enclosed space is a real hazard, and a tank left in a hot garage in summer can vent pressure. Stand it upright against an exterior wall, valve closed, and it will be ready when the first cold night hits.
