Patio Heaters

The rule of thumb for outdoor heat: budget ~40,000 BTU or ~3,000 watts for every 100 sq ft of open patio. A 300 sq ft dining area needs roughly 120,000 BTU of gas heaters (one large pendant + one accent) OR 9,000 watts of electric infrared (three ceiling-mounted units).

Enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces need LESS heat because wind isn't stealing warmth. Cut the numbers roughly in half if you have a pergola with side panels or a screened porch. Over-heating an enclosed space wastes energy and can force everyone inside.

Wall-mount and ceiling-mount units disappear visually and don't take patio floor space — best for tight patios where every square foot is furniture. Pendant heaters hang from pergolas or covered pavilions and give the widest heat throw. Freestanding "mushroom" heaters are the easy install but the least efficient and least attractive.

Standard clearances: 3 feet from any wall or ceiling for gas units, 2 feet for electric infrared. Always face heaters INWARD toward the seating area, not out toward the yard — reflected heat is the whole point.

Infratech is the dominant electric-infrared brand in North America — used in restaurants and high-end residential. Available in stainless, black, biscuit, and copper finishes. Sunpak is the workhorse natural gas / propane brand — reliable, straightforward, priced right for a serious residential install. Sunglo is Sunpak's competitor at a slightly higher price point with a different aesthetic. Bromic is the design-forward option — the sleekest silhouettes and the strongest heat throw per unit, at a premium price.