Electric Patio Heaters: The Complete 2026 Buying Guide

An electric patio heater is the quietest way to add real warmth to a covered patio: no flame, no fumes, no gas line — just radiant heat that warms people and furniture instead of the air. But the difference between a heater you love and one you return usually comes down to three decisions made before you buy: wattage, voltage, and mounting position. This guide walks through all three, then compares the lines we carry so you can match a model to your space.

How infrared electric heaters actually work

Unlike the propane mushroom heaters you see outside bars, a modern infrared electric heater doesn't try to heat the air. Its element emits radiant energy that converts to heat when it hits solid objects — skin, clothing, tabletops. That's why they work under a roof, why wind bothers them far less than convection heaters, and why they feel like sunshine rather than a hair dryer. It's also why placement matters so much: radiant heat travels in straight lines, so the heater must "see" the people it's warming.

The three specs that decide everything

1. Wattage

Residential electric patio heaters run from about 2,000W to 6,000W per unit. As a rough starting point, one mid-size heater (2,300–3,400W) comfortably covers a dining table for four to six in a covered patio; open or breezy spaces need more wattage, mounted closer. Larger areas are almost always better served by two or three smaller heaters positioned over the seating zones than by one oversized unit in the middle. For a deeper dive, see our patio heater sizing guide.

2. Voltage: hardwired 240V vs. plug-in

Here's the spec that surprises most buyers: almost all serious electric patio heaters are hardwired 208–240V appliances, like an oven or an EV charger. They don't come with a plug, and they need a dedicated circuit installed by an electrician. Budget for that in your project. If running a new circuit isn't an option, a plug-in portable like the Eclipse Portable or a freestanding gas unit is the honest alternative — not a 120V "patio heater" that produces space-heater warmth outdoors.

3. Mounting height and clearances

Every model specifies a mounting height window (typically in the 7–9 ft range for mid-wattage electric units) and minimum clearances to the ceiling and combustibles. Mount too high and the heat dissipates before it reaches anyone; too low and the zone directly underneath gets uncomfortably hot. Check the spec sheet on each product page — we publish the manufacturer's dimension diagrams with every heater we sell.

The Bromic electric lineup, honestly compared

We're an authorized Bromic dealer, and their electric range covers three distinct use cases:

• Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric (2,000–6,000W) — the industrial workhorse. Black honeycomb fascia, the widest wattage range in the lineup, and the lowest price of entry. If you want maximum heat per dollar under a roof or pergola, start here.
• Platinum Smart-Heat Electric (2,300–4,500W) — the design flagship. A slim, seamless housing that disappears into modern architecture, in black or white. You pay a premium over Tungsten for the same class of output; what you're buying is the look.
• Eclipse Smart-Heat Pendant — heat and dimmable light in one circular pendant. It's the statement piece for dining areas; note it requires its own controller, sold separately.

Don't forget the controller

Bromic's hardwired heaters ship without a switch — by design, so you can choose between a simple on/off controller and a variable dimmer. Most owners who skip the dimmer wish they hadn't: outdoor evenings vary a lot, and running a 4,000W heater at 60% is the difference between pleasant and roasting. Order the control with the heater and your electrician can rough in everything in one visit.

Where electric is the wrong answer

We sell both technologies, so we'll be straight with you: on a fully open, windy terrace with no mounting structure, a wall of electric heaters is an expensive way to be mildly warm. That's gas territory — a Tungsten Smart-Heat Gas throws significantly more heat into moving air. Electric wins under cover, in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, anywhere fumes and open flames are a problem, and in municipalities where gas lines outdoors are a permitting headache.

Quick answers

Do electric patio heaters glow? Yes — mid-intensity elements emit a visible warm glow. Bromic's ranges are engineered for a softer, low-glare glow, but no radiant heater is fully glow-free.

Are they safe under a roof? That's their home turf, provided you respect the model's ceiling clearances.

What do they cost to run? Wattage × your electricity rate. A 3,400W heater at a typical US rate of $0.17/kWh costs roughly $0.58 per hour at full power — less on a dimmer.