Head-to-head · Best Patio Heaters

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater vs Hiland HLDS01

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.7 vs 3.6). Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater is best for: Buyers who want a standard propane tower heater at a low price and do not mind basic looks. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Patio Heaters

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
— Clearly labeled parts; about an hour to assemble

Watch-outs

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

$157.49 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Patio Heaters

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
— Features a 40,000 BTU output

Watch-outs

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

Buy at capitalgrills.com Full review →

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.

How they stack up

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater

The Amazon Basics heater is a conventional propane tower with a 46,000 BTU rating, above the 40,000 BTU Hiland HLDS01 but without the Hiland's quartz glass flame tube. The pellet-fed Solo Stove Tower is rated at 72,000 BTU and the Ninja Fireside360 at 80,000 BTU.

Hiland HLDS01

The Hiland HLDS01 is rated at 40,000 BTU and shows its flame in a quartz glass tube, which the 46,000 BTU Amazon Basics tower does not have. The Solo Stove Tower (72,000 BTU, wood pellets) and the Ninja Fireside360 (up to 80,000 BTU, propane) carry higher heat ratings.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater	Hiland HLDS01
Heat Output	46,000 BTU	40,000 BTU
Fuel Type	Propane (20-pound tank)	propane
Ignition	Piezo	—
Dimensions	32.1 x 32.1 x 91.3 inches	19 x 19 x 91 inches
Mobility	Wheels on base	—
Safety Features	—	anti-tilt and thermocouple safety devices
Weight	—	65 pounds

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