Head-to-head · Best Patio Heaters

Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater vs Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater

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

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 3.7). Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater is best for: Buyers who want more heat than a propane tower and are happy to burn wood pellets in a fixed spot. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #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 →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Patio Heaters

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
— Firebox window gives a visible fire glow

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
— 104 pounds and awkward to move even with handles and wheels

$699.99 · Buy at academy.com Full review →

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.

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater

At 72,000 BTU the Solo Stove Tower is rated above the 46,000 BTU Amazon Basics and the 40,000 BTU Hiland HLDS01, and it burns wood pellets where those two and the Ninja Fireside360 run on propane. It is also the heaviest of the group at 104 pounds, against 39.9 pounds for the Ninja Fireside360.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Amazon Basics 46,000 BTU Outdoor Propane Patio Heater	Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater
Heat Output	46,000 BTU	72,000 BTU
Fuel Type	Propane (20-pound tank)	Wood pellets
Ignition	Piezo	—
Dimensions	32.1 x 32.1 x 91.3 inches	80.5 x 19.8 x 23.3 inches (H x W x D)
Mobility	Wheels on base	—
Fuel Capacity	—	25 pounds
Weight	—	104 pounds
Material	—	304 stainless steel and cold rolled steel

← See the full ranking of best patio heaters