By Timothy Dale and Bob Beacham | Updated Oct 4, 2023 11:27 AM
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Propane heaters are an incredibly effective way to quickly heat a medium to large living space, as they can increase the temperature faster than most residential electric heaters. These days, many models boast a near 99 percent efficiency, which allows you to enjoy them inside or outside of your home.
Finding the best propane heater for your purposes depends on how you will use it, where it will be used, the heat output you need, and the important safety features included. Take a look at some of the top products below to start your search for the best propane heater for your home.
Whether the need for a heater is to keep warm on the back deck at home or take it camping to stay warm out in the wilderness, safety needs to be the top priority. With this in mind, safety was a primary factor during the selection process for the best propane heaters.
In order to distinguish among the many propane heaters available on the market, we conducted extensive research into each product. This also helped to identify important product features and determine the basic specs of each item. Given that the purpose of a heater is to provide heat, the British thermal units (BTUs) of each product were also carefully considered alongside common safety features, like tip-over shutoff or oxygen-depletion sensors. (For more information about BTUs, see the section BTU Capacity that appears after our product reviews.)
Portability also factored into the selection process because a main advantage propane heaters have over electric heaters is their portability. If a product failed to deliver on this key trait, then it wasn’t likely to pass the selection. However, it should be noted that we considered the portability of tank-top propane heaters both while the heater was attached to the propane tank and after it was removed.
The following are some of the best propane heaters on the market in their respective categories. They were selected for quality and price, with a focus on the shopping considerations mentioned above.
The Mr. Heater Buddy has an attractive design with a sturdy, fold-down carrying handle that makes it easy to pick up and take wherever it’s needed. The heater has a choice of two heat outputs, either 4,000 or 9,000 BTUs, making it capable of heating up to 225 square feet of space. Reduce the temperature or reduce the intensity of the heat output in a smaller space.
Easily connect a 1-pound tank of propane using the swivel-out regulator, then swivel it back into place so that the heater remains as compact as possible. This heater is able to burn propane at a near 100 percent efficiency, which makes it an option for indoor applications. Its oxygen-depletion sensor (ODS) ensures that the oxygen level never drops to a dangerous point. Plus, it also has a tip-over safety mechanism.
Read our full review: Mr. Heater MH9BX Portable Buddy Heater
Get the Mr. Heater MH9BX propane heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Those who need to quickly and efficiently heat garage or workshop spaces may want to check out the budget-friendly Dyna-Glo propane convection heater. It has easy piezo electric push-button starting and produces anywhere from 15,000 to 25,000 BTUs. That’s sufficient for areas up to 600 square feet. Vents provide 360-degree heating.
At just 5.36 pounds and only 13 inches tall, it is portable and also very stable. It has a nonslip base and auto safety shutoff if the flame extinguishes, the heater gets wet, or the gas runs out. A regulator and 10 feet of hose is included. The Dyna-Glo propane convection heater is Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-safety certified for indoor and outdoor use.
Get the Dyna-Glo 25,000-BTU propane heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
This isn’t a heater that most will want to keep in a living room, unless the living room happens to be around 7,000 square feet in size, but it is an excellent option as a space heater in a large garage, barn, warehouse, or worksite because it can produce up to 300,000 BTUs. It also comes with a safety system that will shut the heater down if it detects that it’s overheating, and it has an adjustable thermostat control.
The forced-air propane heater must be plugged into an available electrical outlet to power the heavy-duty fan. While it weighs 32 pounds, it has a carrying handle and a built-in cord wrap that make transportation easier. This heater also has a continuous ignition that prevents dangerously delayed ignitions.
Get the Dyna-Glo Delux propane heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Those looking for an outdoor heater that’s attractive, easy to use, and powerful may want to consider the East Oak Pyrol. It is made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and aluminum with an eye-catching embossed design. Maximum output is 48,000 BTUs, providing a heating diameter of up to 15 feet. It’s easy to start, thanks to the pulse ignition, and reaches maximum temperature in as little as 5 minutes.
The East Oak Pyrol outdoor propane heater benefits from tilt protection if it goes past 45 degrees. It also has flame-out protection, which turns the gas off if the flame accidentally goes out. There’s also hypoxia protection, which is effectively the same as an oxygen-depletion sensor. Tall outdoor heaters like this can be affected by high winds, particularly if the gas bottle is nearly empty (and therefore much lighter), so a position with some shelter is recommended.
Get the East Oak propane heater at Amazon.
This innovative little camping heater can be filled with 110-gram or 230-gram butane, isobutane, or propane fuel canisters that fit neatly inside the base of the propane heater. However, it can also be connected directly to a 1-pound propane tank through a hose, which is sold separately.
This very portable heater is 8.3 inches in tall and 7.3 inches in diameter and can collapse to just 5.1 inches tall for easy storage. It weighs only 1 pound, making it easy to transport in the great outdoors. However, it can produce up to 9,000 BTUs for heating, cooking, or both. Simply set the propane heater into cook and heat mode to cook a meal while staying warm.
Get the Campy Gear propane heater at Amazon.
For many DIYers, the garage is the only covered space available for working on projects. Losing that space to cold weather is avoidable when DIYers can use a propane heater like this one from Mr. Heater to heat a space of up to 450 square feet. The heater has three radiant-heat output settings, including a low setting of 6,000 BTUs, a medium setting of 12,000 BTUs, and a high setting that reaches 18,000 BTUs.
The propane heater has a space in the back designed to accommodate a 20-pound propane tank so that you can move the entire unit around easily on the four attached swivel wheels. This product also has several safety systems, including a tip-over safety mechanism and an ODS sensor to automatically shut down the heater if the oxygen level gets too low.
Get the Mr. Heater MH18CH propane heater at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Northern Tool + Equipment.
The Amazon Basics outdoor propane patio heater is made with stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic, featuring a wide heating radius of 9 feet, so guests don’t need to huddle close for warmth. Control the heat output of this device with the simple temperature dial, allowing users to turn off the propane quickly or turn the heater up to an impressive 46,000 BTUs for the maximum heat output.
Despite weighing about 36 pounds, this propane heater can still be blown over in strong winds or knocked over by a passing person. When the heater detects that it is tilting to one side, it automatically turns off. The base of the propane heater is designed to hold a 20-pound liquid propane tank, and it also comes with a water box that can help weigh down the base and increase stability. However, the drawback of this heater is that it isn’t easy to pack into a car or truck to take camping.
Get the Amazon Basics propane heater at Amazon.
While this portable propane heater was specifically designed for the golf course, it also is suitable for keeping you warm at the campsite or when you’re out on the fishing boat. It’s fueled by a 1-pound propane tank that’s covered with a plastic adapter. The adapter can be used to hold the heater at the ideal distance for personal heating or it can be placed in a stable location, like a golf cart cup holder.
The heater produces a maximum of 4,000 BTUs, allowing users to heat up to 100 square feet. However, it also includes several safety features like an oxygen depletion system that will shut down if the oxygen level drops below a safe point. A wind-resistant screen protects the pilot light and the heat produced by the heater. This heater also has a safety tip-over switch that will shut the heater down when it detects that it has fallen over.
Get the Mr. Heater MH4GC propane heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Before choosing the best propane heater for your patio, garage, or home, take a look below to learn about some of the most important shopping considerations that can help you select a heater that suits your needs.
Propane heaters must have the pilot light ignited before the unit will produce any heat. Keep in mind that igniting the pilot light requires the gas to be turned on. These units typically have one of three different ignition methods: manual ignition, push-button ignition, and continuous ignition.
One of the main benefits of having a propane heater is that they are usually portable and can be connected to a small or large propane tank. It’s relatively easy to take a portable propane heater to another room, to the garage, or to the outdoors. However, if the heater will be used in one or two main locations, the product needs to be suited to those main areas.
The best outdoor propane heaters have enough heating power to deal with the rapid dissipation of heat that will naturally occur in a wide-open space. For those who want a great camping heater, a large outdoor option might be best. An alternative is a handheld propane heater that will keep you warm instead of heating the entire area. Some users may prefer to have a wall-mounted propane heater to save floor space and to keep the heater out of reach from kids and pets.
Propane heaters intended for indoor use need to ensure that they are not putting hazardous fumes into the air, and these heaters need to have a large number of safety features to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and reduce the risk of fires.
Portability is one of the features that sets propane heaters apart from electric or natural gas heaters, but not all propane heaters can really make the claim that they are portable. Some propane heaters that have built-in fans or other electronic components will typically need to be plugged into a power source, despite their main fuel being propane.
If portability is a key personal factor, then a propane heater that doesn’t need an electrical power source is often a better choice. A smaller size and a carrying handle will make it easier to pick up and move around. However, if a larger heater is needed for commercial or industrial applications, there are powerful propane heaters that sit on a set of wheels. The wheels make it easier to move the heater around a space.
Whenever using any type of heating device, it’s critical to be certain that all the necessary precautions are being followed to ensure that no one is at risk. This includes the proper storage of propane tanks and adequate ventilation when the heater is in use. There are other safety features to consider like overheating protection, a tip-over mechanism, and an oxygen-depletion sensor.
The heat output of a propane heater is normally measured in BTUs, with each BTU equal to the heat it would take to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The BTU rating of a propane heater can range widely from as low as 3,000 BTUs to higher than 300,000 BTUs. The best BTU output for a heater will depend on how and where it will be used. For example, outdoor heaters naturally require a higher heat output.
Before deciding on a product, measure the room that needs to be heated. To help figure out which heater is best suited to a particular need, most manufacturers list the BTU output and include the approximate square footage that is appropriate for the heater. For example, a heater with a maximum of 10,000 BTUs may heat a space of approximately 250 square feet, while a unit that has a maximum of 18,000 BTUs will have no problem with 450 square feet.
Size is a factor that can impact where the heater will be used, how it is set up, and whether it’s portable or stationary. A small heater can often be picked up and carried around without a problem. Always check with the manufacturer, but smaller units also usually can be used both indoors and outdoors without producing harmful fumes, as these smaller heaters tend to burn fuel at a slower pace.
Large propane heaters can take up a lot of space, which can become a safety hazard if they are too close to flammable objects in the room. Their size also may affect the placement in the room, or it may limit the product to outdoor use. However, a larger propane heater is able to hold an equally large propane tank so it won’t need to be replaced as frequently as the fuel in a small heater.
There are many advantages to owning a propane heater. One of the defining features is that these heaters are typically fueled by a portable container of propane, giving users the freedom to carry them from room to room or even take them out into the middle of the woods when camping. Unless the heater has a built-in fan unit, users won’t have to be tethered to a power outlet with this heater.
There is also the benefit of cost savings with a propane heater. This is because the average cost of electricity is higher than the average cost of propane. With a propane heater, there is a wide range of heat-output options that can increase well beyond the capabilities of an electric or natural gas heater, allowing users to rapidly heat up large outdoor spaces.
If you still have questions about propane heaters, read below to find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
If the propane heater is not being used in a well-ventilated location, it can begin to give off carbon monoxide, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in a matter of minutes. If you are using the heater in a larger enclosed space like a garage, make sure that you have a carbon monoxide detector installed to warn you of any danger.
No, it is generally considered to be a bad idea to have a lit propane heater in your bedroom because it will quickly burn up the oxygen in an enclosed room and begin to produce carbon monoxide. Alternatively, you may fall asleep while the heater is on, which is how the majority of fires caused by heaters tend to start.
Yes, propane heaters need proper ventilation to ensure that you don’t get carbon monoxide poisoning. If you are using the heater in your home, make sure that there is a source of fresh air, like an open window, and have at least one carbon monoxide detector nearby so that you know if you need to turn the heater off and leave the area.
Light a propane heater by following these simple steps:
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series, including This Old House and Bob Vila’s Home Again, he popularized and became synonymous with “do it yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
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