Best Patio Heater for Windy Patios: The Most Reliable Heaters for Open Patios

It depends on your setup, but two styles usually win. On open patios, a tall propane “mushroom top” heater (like the Hiland or Amazon Basics) tends to feel warmer because the reflector pushes heat down toward people. On covered patios, infrared is the wind-proof move — a wall-mounted DR-238 or a tripod unit can warm people directly instead of trying to heat air that’s getting blown away.

They can work, but they’re usually more sensitive to wind than dome-top propane heaters. The flame looks great, but the heat can feel less concentrated where people sit — especially if you’re not close. If your patio is breezy and you want maximum practical warmth, a classic mushroom-top style is often the safer bet. If you want ambiance and you can tuck it into a sheltered corner, pyramid styles make more sense.

Outdoors, higher BTUs help, but they don’t magically beat wind. For typical freestanding propane heaters, 40,000–50,000 BTU is a common “sweet spot” for noticeable warmth in a small-to-medium seating area. If your patio is large or you’re in colder temps, a higher-output option (like the Hykolity pick) can help — but placement and wind breaks still matter a lot.

Put it slightly upwind of where people sit, so the breeze carries warmth into the seating area instead of peeling it away. If possible, use your house wall, a fence, railing panels, or outdoor curtains as a partial wind break behind the seating. Small moves make a big difference — shifting the heater a couple feet or rotating seating can turn a ‘meh’ night into a comfortable one.

For fully open patios, propane is usually better because it puts out more total heat and isn’t limited by 1500W household circuits. For covered patios, electric infrared is often better because it heats people and surfaces directly and doesn’t care as much about moving air. That’s why a wall-mounted infrared unit (DR-238) can feel dramatically warmer than an open-flame heater in the same breezy weather.

Sometimes, but don’t treat accessories like a cure-all. A wind guard can help reduce flame disruption and keep heat a bit more consistent, especially on propane towers, but the biggest gains usually come from base stability (weighting the base properly) and smarter placement. If you’re constantly battling gusts, adding a simple wind break (screen, curtain, panel) near your seating often helps more than add-ons.

It depends on the heater and your clearance/ventilation. Some people do, but you must follow the manufacturer’s clearance requirements and keep the space well-ventilated. If your patio is truly covered or semi-enclosed, an electric infrared heater is often the safer, cleaner choice. If you’re unsure, don’t guess — check the manual and keep a generous buffer from ceilings, beams, and anything combustible.

Wind is the usual culprit, but layout can make it worse. If the heater is downwind of your seating, the warmth gets carried away from you. Another common issue is sitting too far out — most heaters have a much smaller ‘real comfort zone’ than the marketing suggests. Try moving the heater slightly upwind, clustering chairs closer, and using a wall or screen to block cross-breezes.