Electric Patio Heaters: The Complete 2026 Buying Guide

This electric patio heater buying guide covers the three specs that decide everything. Then it compares the Bromic lineup honestly. So pick the electric patio heater by numbers, not by looks.

An electric patio heater is the quietest way to add real warmth to a covered patio. There is no flame, no fumes and no gas line. Instead, radiant heat warms people and furniture rather than the air. However, the difference between a heater you love and one you return usually comes down to three decisions. You make them before you buy: wattage, voltage, and mounting position. This guide walks through all three. After that, it compares the lines we carry, so you can match a model to your space.

How infrared electric heaters actually work

A modern infrared electric heater does not try to heat the air. That is the difference to the propane mushroom heaters you see outside bars. Instead, its element emits radiant energy. That energy converts to heat when it hits solid objects such as skin, clothing or tabletops. As a result, these heaters work under a roof. Wind also bothers them far less than convection heaters. In short, they feel like sunshine rather than a hair dryer. This is also why placement matters so much. Radiant heat travels in straight lines, so the heater must "see" the people it is warming.

Electric patio heater specs: the three 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 to 3,400W) covers a dining table for four to six in a covered patio. Open or breezy spaces need more wattage, mounted closer. For larger areas, two or three smaller heaters over the seating zones almost always work better than one oversized unit in the middle. For a deeper dive, see our patio heater sizing guide.

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

Here is the spec that surprises most buyers. Almost all serious electric patio heaters are hardwired 208 to 240V appliances, like an oven or an EV charger. They do not come with a plug. In addition, they need a dedicated circuit installed by an electrician. So budget for that in your project. If running a new circuit is not an option, there are two honest alternatives: a plug-in portable like the Eclipse Portable, or a freestanding gas unit. A 120V "patio heater" is not one of them, because it only produces space-heater warmth outdoors.

3. Mounting height and clearances

Every model specifies a mounting height window. For mid-wattage electric units, it is typically in the 7 to 9 ft range. Each model also lists minimum clearances to the ceiling and combustibles. Mount too high, and the heat dissipates before it reaches anyone. Mount too low, and the zone directly underneath gets uncomfortably hot. So 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 are an authorized Bromic dealer. Their electric range covers three distinct use cases:

• Tungsten Smart-Heat Electric (2,000 to 6,000W): the industrial workhorse. It has a 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 to 4,500W): the design flagship. Its slim, seamless housing disappears into modern architecture, in black or white. You pay a premium over Tungsten for the same class of output, because what you are buying is the look.
• Eclipse Smart-Heat Pendant: heat and dimmable light in one circular pendant. It is the statement piece for dining areas. Note that it requires its own controller, sold separately.

Don't forget the controller

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

Where electric is the wrong answer

We sell both technologies, so we will 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 is gas territory. For example, a Tungsten Smart-Heat Gas throws significantly more heat into moving air. Electric wins under cover and in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. It also wins anywhere fumes and open flames are a problem, as well as 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. However, no radiant heater is fully glow-free.

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

What do they cost to run? Wattage times your electricity rate. For example, a 3,400W heater at a typical US rate of $0.17/kWh costs roughly $0.58 per hour at full power. On a dimmer, it costs less.