The Best 4Aggregated review·6 sources·updated October 10, 2026·checked September 15, 2026

Best Patio Heaters

Top 4 patio heaters reviewed and ranked.

This guide aggregates 6 published reviews across 4 products; the thinnest-sourced pick rests on 1. How we rank.

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Quick answer

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater is our top pick for patio heaters — an averaged 4.1/5 across 1 published review at about $699.99. Runner-up: Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit (~$449.99).

Read the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater review →$699.99 · Buy at academy.com

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review

#	Product	Rating	Price	Best for
1	Solo Stove Tower Patio HeaterTop Pick	4.1 1 source	$699.99	Buyers who want more heat than a propane tower and are happy to burn wood pellets in a fixed spot	$699.99 · Buy at academy.com
2	Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit	4.0 1 source	$449.99	Buyers who want a propane fire pit that also throws heat sideways for people standing or in high chairs	$449.99 · Buy at sharkninja.com
3	Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater	3.7 1 source	$157.49	Buyers who want a standard propane tower heater at a low price and do not mind basic looks	$157.49 · Check Price on Amazon
4	Hiland HLDS01	3.6 1 sourceall derived	—	Buyers wanting aesthetic appeal with functional heating	Buy at capitalgrills.com

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

At a glance4 products ▾

1Solo Stove Tower Patio HeaterTop Pick

4.1

1 source

$699.99Best for: Buyers who want more heat than a propane tower and are happy to burn wood pellets in a fixed spot

$699.99 · Buy at academy.com

2Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit

4.0

1 source

$449.99Best for: Buyers who want a propane fire pit that also throws heat sideways for people standing or in high chairs

$449.99 · Buy at sharkninja.com

3Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

3.7

1 source

$157.49Best for: Buyers who want a standard propane tower heater at a low price and do not mind basic looks

$157.49 · Check Price on Amazon

4Hiland HLDS01

3.6

1 sourceall derived

Best for: Buyers wanting aesthetic appeal with functional heating

Buy at capitalgrills.com

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

Reviews aggregated from

BobvilaTom's GuideOutdoorspaceaccentsGadgetjunglepro

The full ranking

How we rank →

#1 · Top Pick

★ Premium Pick

Best for: Buyers who want more heat than a propane tower and are happy to burn wood pellets in a fixed spot

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater

4.1

1 source$699.99as of Oct 10

The Solo Stove Tower is a wood-pellet patio heater rated at 72,000 BTU. Bob Vila's tester measured warmth as far as 6 feet away, against a 4.5-foot comfort zone from a 48,000 BTU Hampton Bay propane heater, and got up to 3 hours of burn from the 25-pound gravity-fed hopper. It weighs 104 pounds, has no heat control, and needs a cover that is sold separately.

Strengths

— 72,000 BTU output; Bob Vila felt heat as far as 6 feet away
— 25-pound gravity-fed hopper burns for up to 3 hours without tending

Watch-outs

— No way to turn the heat down: it runs at full flame until the pellets are shut off
— Takes 10 to 15 minutes to produce noticeable heat, per Bob Vila

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— 72,000 BTU output; Bob Vila felt heat as far as 6 feet away
— 25-pound gravity-fed hopper burns for up to 3 hours without tending

Watch-outs

— No way to turn the heat down: it runs at full flame until the pellets are shut off
— Takes 10 to 15 minutes to produce noticeable heat, per Bob Vila

$699.99 · Buy at academy.com Full review →vs. Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit →

Best for: Buyers who want a propane fire pit that also throws heat sideways for people standing or in high chairs

Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit

4.0

1 source$449.99as of Oct 10

The Ninja Fireside360 is a propane fire pit with a separate 360-degree heater ring, rated at up to 80,000 BTU. Tom's Guide found it close to ready out of the box and praised heat that pushes outward on every side, but the heater sits high, so people in low chairs get cold legs, and it occasionally failed to light.

Strengths

— Heater ring pushes warmth outward on all sides, per Tom's Guide
— Close to ready out of the box: battery, ceramic rocks, propane tank

Watch-outs

— Sometimes hard to light, most often the heater rather than the flame
— Premium price

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Heater ring pushes warmth outward on all sides, per Tom's Guide
— Close to ready out of the box: battery, ceramic rocks, propane tank

Watch-outs

— Sometimes hard to light, most often the heater rather than the flame
— Premium price

$449.99 · Buy at sharkninja.com Full review →vs. Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater →

Best for: Buyers who want a standard propane tower heater at a low price and do not mind basic looks

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

3.7

1 source$157.49as of Oct 11

Amazon Basics' 46,000 BTU propane tower is a plain mushroom-top heater on wheels. Bob Vila's reviewer used one through a fall, winter and spring and stayed comfortable within 6 feet of it with temperatures in the low 40s. After more than a year it began struggling to stay lit until the thermocouple was cleaned, and no cover is included.

Strengths

— 46,000 BTU output; comfortable within 6 feet in the low 40s in Bob Vila's use
— Wheels on the base

Watch-outs

— After more than a year it struggled to stay lit until the thermocouple was cleaned, per Bob Vila
— No cover included

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— 46,000 BTU output; comfortable within 6 feet in the low 40s in Bob Vila's use
— Wheels on the base

Watch-outs

— After more than a year it struggled to stay lit until the thermocouple was cleaned, per Bob Vila
— No cover included

$157.49 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater →

Best for: Buyers wanting aesthetic appeal with functional heating

Hiland HLDS01

3.6

1 sourceall derived

The Hiland HLDS01 Propane Patio Heater offers a visually striking quartz glass tube design with a 40,000 BTU output. Reviewers noted its ease of assembly and variable temperature control, though some found the pilot light hard to see. The unit comes with CSA approval and includes safety features like tilt-over shutoff. It is best suited for users seeking both visual appeal and functional heating for patios and decks.

Strengths

— Produces a spectacular flame effect with quartz glass tube design
— Includes tilt-over shutoff protection for safety

Watch-outs

— Pilot light can be difficult to see under certain lighting conditions

▾Why it's ranked here

Strengths

— Produces a spectacular flame effect with quartz glass tube design
— Includes tilt-over shutoff protection for safety

Watch-outs

— Pilot light can be difficult to see under certain lighting conditions

Buy at capitalgrills.com Full review →vs. Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater →

Reviews aggregated from

BobvilaTom's GuideOutdoorspaceaccentsGadgetjunglepro

Spec comparison

4 products

Spec	Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater	Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit	Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater	Hiland HLDS01
Heat Output	72,000 BTU	Up to 80,000 BTU	46,000 BTU	40,000 BTU
Fuel Type	Wood pellets	Propane	Propane (20-pound tank)	propane
Dimensions	80.5 x 19.8 x 23.3 inches (H x W x D)	21.8 x 21.8 x 28.8 inches	32.1 x 32.1 x 91.3 inches	19 x 19 x 91 inches
Weight	104 pounds	39.9 pounds (advertised)	—	65 pounds

Spec	Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater	Ninja Fireside360 Outdoor Heater and Fire Pit
Heat Output	72,000 BTU	Up to 80,000 BTU
Fuel Type	Wood pellets	Propane
Dimensions	80.5 x 19.8 x 23.3 inches (H x W x D)	21.8 x 21.8 x 28.8 inches
Weight	104 pounds	39.9 pounds (advertised)

Frequently asked questions

What's the top pick among patio heaters right now?

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater is the top pick for patio heaters — 4.1/5 averaged from 1 published reviews. The Solo Stove Tower is a wood-pellet patio heater rated at 72,000 BTU. Bob Vila's tester measured warmth as far as 6 feet away, against a 4.5-foot comfort zone from a 48,000 BTU Hampton Bay propane heater, and got up to 3 hours of burn from the 25-pound gravity-fed hopper. It weighs 104 pounds, has no heat control, and needs a cover that is sold separately.

When was this guide last updated?

This guide was last re-checked in October 2026. Prices, links, and source ratings are re-verified on a rolling basis, and the ranking updates when the underlying scores change.