The Best Heaters to Keep You and Your Patio Cozy All Winter Long

Enjoying a glass of wine on the patio after a hard day's work shouldn't just be confined to the warmer months. So much of our time is spent indoors lately, so sitting back in the fresh, cool air of your backyard garden is a welcome respite. As long as you have a warming patio heater.

There are two types of outdoor patio heaters: electric and propane. Electric heaters need an outlet and use infrared technology that mimics the the sun. These produce the same kind of wavelengths emitted by our own bodies and even wood fires. They are low maintenance; all you have to do is plug them in and leave them alone, and, most of the time, they are portable enough to follow you around the patio.

Propane heaters typically emit more heat, but do come with more maintenance. Stand-alone propane heaters like the classic mushroom stand may be cheaper and portable, but they require a propane tank. Wall mount versions will need to be plumbed into your main gas line. They also require frequent cleaning, especially at the end of the winter months, to remove carbon buildup and debris.

The first step in finding the right heater is to decide how much time you want to wait and how much money you want to invest. Sometimes picking up the local option at the hardware store will be the best kind of instant gratification, and they can easily be replaced next season. (In many places around the country, the demand for heaters has surpassed the supply this year.) Often times the cheaper versions are made in the same factory as more expensive ones, so the quality change is not drastic. Whether you are looking for a more long-term patio investment or a quick fix, we've gathered some of the most highly rated on the market.