Head-to-head · Best Patio Heaters

Hiland HLDS01 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.

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The short answer

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 3.6). 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 #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 →

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 →

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

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.

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	Hiland HLDS01	Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater
Heat Output	40,000 BTU	72,000 BTU
Fuel Type	propane	Wood pellets
Dimensions	19 x 19 x 91 inches	80.5 x 19.8 x 23.3 inches (H x W x D)
Safety Features	anti-tilt and thermocouple safety devices	—
Weight	65 pounds	104 pounds
Fuel Capacity	—	25 pounds
Material	—	304 stainless steel and cold rolled steel

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