If you’ve ever stood outside on a crisp evening, wrapping your jacket tighter while your patio guests are already gathered around the heater, you’ve probably asked yourself this: propane or electric? As someone who’s supplied both types of patio heaters for years, I’ve talked to hundreds of homeowners, restaurant owners, and small business owners who’re torn between the two. It’s not a black-and-white answer—there are real trade-offs, and the best pick depends on your space, your needs, and even how often you actually use the heater. Let’s break this down like I would with a customer browsing our lot, no jargon, just straight talk. Patio Heater
First, let’s talk about the big one: heat output. If you’re in a spot where the evenings get really cold—think the Northeast US, parts of Canada, or even mountain towns—propane heaters will win hands down. A standard 20-pound propane tank (the one you swap out at hardware stores) gives you about 10 hours of continuous heat at full blast, and the burners put out 30,000 to 40,000 BTUs. That’s enough to warm a 200 to 300 square foot area, perfect for a small patio or a couple of friends hanging out. Electric heaters? Most of the outdoor ones I’ve sold max out at 15,000 to 20,000 BTUs. That might sound like a lot, but it doesn’t translate to the same real-world heat—electric units rely on heating elements that take time to warm up, and they lose energy if there’s even a light breeze. I’ve had a customer last winter tell me his electric heater worked fine when it was 40 degrees out, but when it dropped to 28, it barely kept his patio table warm. Propane, on the other hand, is a combustion fuel, so it generates heat on demand, no waiting for elements to warm up, and that flame can cut through a light breeze better than electric radiation.
Then there’s installation. This is where electric heaters get a lot of hype for being “easy,” and sure, if you already have a grounded outdoor outlet within 10 feet of where you want the heater, that’s a non-issue. But wait—most outdoor outlets aren’t rated for heavy use, right? And if your patio is off a deck that’s far from the house, or you don’t have a dedicated outlet, you’re running an extension cord. I’ve seen people daisy-chain two 50-foot extension cords to reach a heater, and that’s a fire hazard—extension cords can overheat, especially if they’re not rated for the wattage of the heater. Propane heaters? You just hook up the tank, light the burner, and you’re done. No wiring, no permits, no electrician calls. That’s a huge win for renters, or anyone who doesn’t want to deal with modifying their outdoor space. I’ve had a lot of Airbnb hosts tell me propane is the only way to go because they can move the heater easily if they need to rearrange their patio, or take it with them if they move.
But let’s not ignore the downsides of propane. Safety is a big one, especially if you have kids or pets. A propane heater has an open flame—if a curious kid knocks over a drink, or a pet brushes against the burner, that’s a risk. Most modern propane heaters have automatic shutoff valves if they tip over, and shields around the flame, but it’s still something to keep in mind. Electric heaters, while they get hot to the touch, don’t have an open flame. Some of the newer infrared electric models are actually cool to the outside, so you can touch the casing without burning your hand. Also, propane tanks need to be stored properly—you can’t leave them in your garage if it’s too cold, and you have to make sure they’re turned off when not in use. I always tell customers to check their tank before every use, because a small leak can be a fire hazard.
Cost is another factor people ask about. Let’s do the math real quick. Propane’s price fluctuates, but over the past few years, a gallon of propane has been around $2 to $3, and a 20-pound tank holds about 4.5 gallons, so filling it costs $9 to $13. For 10 hours of heat, that’s about $1 an hour. Electric heaters? A 1500-watt heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour, and the average electric rate is 15 cents per kWh, so that’s 22 cents an hour. Wait, that’s way cheaper, right? But hold on—most electric heaters only work well in mild weather. If it’s above 50 degrees, sure, the low BTUs are enough, but once it drops below that, you’re going to need a bigger heater, which uses more electricity. Also, some cities have time-of-use rates, so if you run the heater during peak hours (like dinner time, when everyone is using electricity for their homes), you might end up paying twice as much. And don’t forget—if you have to run extension cords, you’re wasting energy, because cords lose power over distance. So while electric is cheaper per hour in theory, it’s not always that simple.
Portability is another big point. Propane patio heaters are way lighter and easier to move. Most of the standard freestanding propane heaters have wheels, so you can roll them from the patio to the backyard, or even store them in a shed when not in use. Electric heaters, especially the high-BTU ones, are heavier because they have all that wiring and the heating element. Also, if you have a small balcony or a patio that’s attached to your house, electric heaters might be smaller, but they’re tied to that outlet. I sold a heater last month to a college student who lives in an apartment—she has a tiny balcony, and she can’t drill anything into the walls, so she got a small electric tabletop heater that plugs into her patio outlet. That works for her, because she only uses it for a couple of hours in the spring when it’s cool, not in the deep winter.
Now, what about those times when one is better than the other? Let’s say you live in a warm climate—like Florida or Southern California—where the evenings only drop to 60 or 70 degrees. An electric heater is totally fine here. You don’t need a ton of heat, no wind to speak of, and you probably already have an outlet near your patio. It’s low-effort, no fuss, no open flame to worry about. But if you’re in a place where the winters are harsh, or you have a larger patio that needs more heat, propane is the way to go. I’ve had a restaurant owner tell me he switched all his patio heaters to propane last year because his electric units couldn’t keep up with the 30-degree nights in January, and he lost a lot of business because people couldn’t stay outside for dinner.
Wait, let’s also talk about environmental impact, because that’s a big question I get a lot. Propane is a fossil fuel, so it does emit carbon monoxide and other gases when it burns, though modern patio heaters have very low emissions—way below what’s considered safe for outdoor use. Electric heaters, on the other hand, only emit emissions if the electricity comes from a coal or gas power plant. If you have solar panels, electric is way cleaner. But if your electricity comes from a grid that’s mostly fossil fuels, the difference isn’t that big. Also, propane tanks are reusable—you can swap them out or refill them, so they’re less wasteful than electric heaters, which have to be thrown away when they break.
I’ve seen a lot of customers make the wrong choice because they only look at one factor. A guy last year bought a cheap electric heater because it was cheaper upfront, but he had to spend $100 running a new outdoor outlet, and by December, it was too weak to keep his family warm. He ended up returning it and buying a propane heater, and he told me he should have just gone with propane in the first place. On the flip side, a small business owner in Miami bought a propane heater for his small café patio, but he hated having to swap the tank every week, so he ended up switching to a permanent electric hookup once he figured out the electric rate was worth it for his mild climate.
So here’s the thing—neither is “better” for everyone. It all depends on your specific situation. If you’re in a cold area, have a larger space, want portability, and don’t mind a little extra safety precaution, propane is probably your best bet. If you’re in a warm area, have a small space, don’t want to deal with fuel swaps, and have easy access to a grounded outlet, electric works great.
Now, if you’re still not sure which one is right for you, or you want to check out the models we have in stock, feel free to reach out to our team to chat. We can help you figure out the BTU you need, the size that fits your space, and even talk through the pros and cons of each for your exact setup. Whether you’re a homeowner looking for a heater for your backyard, or a business owner needing heaters for your patio, we’ve got options that work for different needs and budgets. Don’t overthink it—just let us know what you’re looking for, and we can make it easy.
Patio Heater References: 1. U.S. Energy Information Administration – Patio Heater Fuel Use, 2. Consumer Reports – Outdoor Heater Safety and Performance, 3. Propane Education & Research Council – Patio Heater BTU Output Guidelines, 4. Electric Power Research Institute – Outdoor Electric Heater Energy Efficiency.
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