If you live in a chilly region, a 40,000 BTU heater is enough to heat a 500-600 sq ft area. Your patio area and temperature will determine how many patio heaters you need. A standing propane patio heater is usually sufficient for a 500-600 sq ft yard. If you are wondering about your patio requirements, don’t worry, we have provided all the essential information to help you decide the amount of heater you need; make sure to read it thoroughly.
How Much Heat Does a Standard Propane Heater Emit?
A standard tall-standing propane patio heater usually emits 40,000 BTU or around. The BTU amount is traditionally provided in the patio heater’s description, and the amount of BTU capacity usually determines the energy consumption rate. However, there are tabletop propane patio heaters and some other styles that emit around 10,000 – 30,000 BTU & are suitable for gazebos or pergolas.
How to Calculate How Many Heaters I Need?
First, measure the area of your patio heater; you should multiply the width by the length to get the total size of your patio.
For warm zones:
Now, multiply 20 BTU by the area, and you’ll get the total BTU you need, then the number of patio heaters.
For example, your backyard is 500 sq ft, so we multiply it by 20 BTU and get (500×20)= 10,000 BTUs.
So, you will need a propane patio heater of 15,000 BTU or 1-2 electric patio heaters of 1500 watts.
For chilly areas:
Now, for the icy regions, the BTU amount won’t be the same; you will need to multiply 50-60 by the area of the patio.
So, by multiplying 500 square feet by 60, we get (500×60) = 30,000 BTU.
Now, you can clearly say you will need a patio heater that is 30,000–40,000 BTU. Propane standard patio heaters are usually around this amount.
Area and Required BTU Chart
We have provided a required BTU chart for different areas with extreme cold or chilly weather, for example, the northern regions. However, if you live in a warm region, it’s better to consider heaters with lower BTU ratings.
Area | Required BTU |
500 sq ft | 30,000 |
800 sq ft | 48,000 |
1000 sq ft | 60,000 |
15,000 sq ft | 90,000 |
Propane or Electric, Which Heater Produces More Heat?
Considering heat output, propane will always win over an electric patio heater, and the main reason is that, unlike electric patio heaters, propane heaters produce an open flame. One tall-standing standard propane patio heater alone has around 40,000 BTU, which is acceptable to tackle cold weather. In contrast, electric patio heaters are usually about 1500-2000 watts, and you will require more than one to confront extreme cold weather. So, it’s better to use gas heaters for outdoor purposes and electric ones for indoor or covered porches.
Where to Put My Patio Heater for Best Output?
The placement of the heating source significantly affects your experience with the heating appliances. Apart from maintaining a safe distance and clearance, knowing where you should have placed the patio heater is necessary to enjoy sufficient time. Here is our guide on where to put different-styled patio heaters;
Tall-standing patio heaters
May it be a propane or electric one, if it has a mushroom head and a tall standing, you can place it in the following three places;
- a) If you have a round seating arrangement, you can put it in the middle, in front of the table, to get radiating output
- b) For people using two or three chairs, put the patio heater in an angular place, middle of the chairs, close to the seating arrangements.
- c) Consumers having a long aisle in the backyard and a more significant patio area around more than 800 sq ft can put one heater in each 300 sq ft area, like standing lamps for covering up the whole place.
Table-top patio heater:
The table should be used only on the table and placed in the middle to have a warm & safe experience.
Wall-mounted patio heater:
- a) Place it on the walls around your patio seating places.
- b) Hang it under the pergola or gazebo ceiling if used under them.
- c) If you use it in the garage, put it on the wall.
Hanging-shaped patio heater:
- a) The best positioning is to hang it on the covered porch’s ceiling, and it’s great if it comes down over the table.
- b) You can also hang this lamp-shaped heater on the pergola or gazebo’s ceiling.
Projecting style:
This type of patio heater has a big flat-shaped light-looking heater on the head, and the rest of the body is like a standing heater. You can place them-
- a) In a trajectory position to the seating arrangement, they spread the heat radiantly to all the people sitting there.
Does Patio Heater Size Matter?
For smooth portability and heat radiance, the patio heater’s size matters. For instance, if your patio heater is around 6 feet tall, you will have a problem moving it or putting on a cover. Moreover, it will get top-heavy and increase the chance of toppling. Consequently, the patio heater’s heat will be on another level for you to experience.
How Much Electricity Bill Will I Have?
If you use a 2000-watt electric heater for home purposes for 8 hours per day, your total daily power consumption will be 16 kWh, and you would pay $19.6 per week in the United States. Using the 2000-watt patio heater for 8 hours daily in commercial locations will cost $2.176 and $65.28 weekly and monthly, respectively. The billing structure will be different and less if you use it in low power modes, such as 500 kWh, 1000 kWh, 1500 kWh, and so on.
You can check this article to learn more about electric patio heater bill calculation and how you can do it yourself.
How Many Patio Heaters will I Need for a Wedding?
For a completely outdoor wedding, you will need one propane heater in each 12 sq ft, and for semi-closed events, it’s okay with one heater in each 20-30 sq ft. And if it’s a fully tented event, you can use one heater in every 1500 sq feet area. To organize an outdoor event, consider the full size, the number of guests, and wind and temperature details.
What Size of Patio Heaters Do I Need?
The size of the patio heaters you need depends on the area you want to heat and your temperature. All you have to do is check the site and multiply the area by 60 BTU if you live in a highly chilly region and by 20 if you live in a relatively warm place.
Hope this guide helps. Please let us know your thoughts in comments below.
