Gas vs Electric Patio Heaters: Which Should You Buy?

We sell both, so we have no horse in this race: gas and electric patio heaters are both excellent — in different places. Nine times out of ten, one question settles the choice: is your space covered or open? Here's the full comparison behind that shortcut.

Electric vs propane patio heater: the quick answer

Choose electric for covered, screened or enclosed patios: no flame, no emissions and minimal clearances, but it needs a dedicated 208–240V circuit. Choose gas (propane or natural gas) for open, breezy spaces: roughly 3–4× more heat per head, but it needs ventilation and generous clearances.

Heat output: gas hits harder

A single Tungsten Gas head produces roughly 3–4× the heat energy of a mid-size electric unit. In an open or breezy space, where moving air constantly carries warmth away, that raw output is the difference between “cozy” and “why is this thing even on.” That's why restaurant terraces run gas almost universally. Under a roof, the calculus flips: the space holds heat, and a 2,300–4,500W electric unit is plenty — while a gas unit may actually be too much, and its clearance requirements often rule it out anyway.

Installation: the hidden cost driver

• Electric (hardwired): needs a dedicated 208–240V circuit from an electrician. No venting, minimal clearances, legal under cover. See our electric buying guide for the details.
• Natural gas: needs a plumbed gas line — the most expensive install, but then fuel is cheap and you never swap a tank.
• Propane (portable): zero installation. A freestanding unit like the Tungsten Portable rolls where you need it and runs off a standard 20 lb tank hidden in its base. The trade-off: you're managing tanks (roughly 8–10 hours of high-output heat each).

Running costs, honestly

At typical US energy prices, natural gas delivers the cheapest heat per hour, electricity sits in the middle, and propane costs the most per hour of the three. But the differences are modest in absolute terms — for a few evenings a week, all three cost less than the drinks you'll enjoy under them. Buy for your space and installation reality first, fuel price last.

Safety and siting

Gas units burn fuel: they need generous clearances, real ventilation, and they're out of the question in enclosed or screened rooms. Electric radiant units have no flame or emissions — that's what makes them the only choice for enclosed patios and three-season rooms. Both technologies are safe when mounted per the manufacturer's diagrams, which we publish on every product page.

The decision in four scenarios

• Covered patio or pergola: electric — Tungsten Electric for value, Platinum for looks.
• Open, breezy terrace with structure to mount to: gas — Tungsten Smart-Heat Gas in natural gas if a line exists, propane if not.
• Open space, no structure: portable propane. No install, full flexibility.
• Enclosed or screened room: electric only. Gas is unsafe there — no exceptions.

Mixing both is normal

Larger projects often land on a hybrid: gas over the open dining terrace, electric under the covered lounge. Since both can share a control system planned up front, tell your electrician and plumber about the whole plan in one conversation.