Best Electric Patio Heaters (2026): Infrared for Covered Patios

For a covered patio you will use all through the cool season, the Bromic Tungsten Smart-Heat 4000W. Bromic lists dual quartz elements, 130 sq ft of coverage, a stainless body with a high-temperature finish, IPX4 water ingress protection, 220 to 240V operation at about 16.6 amps and minimum clearances of 72 inches for wall mounting and 96 inches for ceiling mounting. Smart-control compatibility allows remote on and off and dimming.

The Dr. Infrared DR-239 delivers 3000 W, which Dr. Heater lists as 10,260 BTU, of carbon infrared heat with IP55 weather protection, wall and ceiling brackets, a remote, overheat protection, ETL listing and a NEMA 6-15P plug for a 240V receptacle. Other established infrared brands include Infratech W-Series and Bromic Platinum Smart-Heat Electric for recessed, architectural installs.

Yes, they are the best tool for them. Infrared heat travels in a line and warms whatever it hits, so it does not depend on heating the air, which blows away outdoors. It also has no combustion, so it produces no carbon monoxide under a roof, and wall or ceiling mounting keeps it off the floor. The Fire Sense 02117 listing describes its heat as a "9-foot blanket of heat, not affected by wind," and while any breeze will cool you, radiant heat holds up far better than a propane flame in moving air.

What infrared cannot do is heat around corners: aim heaters at the seating, not the middle of the floor, and mount at the height the manual requires. Propane towers still win on open patios with no power; compare in electric vs propane patio heater and best patio heaters.

Watts convert to heat at 3.412 BTU per hour each. Amps equal watts divided by volts. Heaters count as continuous loads, so circuits are sized with headroom: the National Electrical Code uses 125% of the heater's current for continuous loads. Your electrician chooses the breaker and wire; the heater manual governs.

For any hardwired or 240V heater, yes: hire a licensed electrician, and expect a permit in many areas. A 240V heater needs its own circuit, outdoor-rated wiring and boxes, GFCI or other protection as code requires, and mounting that meets the clearances in the manual. The Dr. Infrared DR-239 ships with a NEMA 6-15P plug, which still needs a dedicated 240V receptacle with a weatherproof in-use cover installed by an electrician. The Fire Sense 02117 plugs into a standard 120V outlet, but Fire Sense states it requires a dedicated 15 amp circuit, so do not share the circuit with other loads and do not run it through extension cords or power strips. Ask for each heater on its own switch or smart control so it is easy to shut off when the patio empties.

This planning table uses Bromic's 130 sq ft rating for a 4000 W unit and assumes an enclosed-on-one-side covered patio in mild wind. Concentrated seating may need fewer heaters; open sides and cold climates need more.

An IP (ingress protection) rating tells you how well a device resists dust and water. The first digit covers solids, the second covers water. IPX4, listed for the Bromic Tungsten, means protection against splashing water from any direction, with no rating claimed for dust. IP55, listed for the Dr. Infrared DR-239, means dust protected and resistant to low-pressure water jets. Neither rating means a heater can sit in driving rain or be hosed down, so mount under the roof line, away from direct weather, and follow the manual's location rules. Salt air near the coast is harder on heaters than rain, so wipe stainless housings with the power off as the manual directs and inspect mounting hardware each season. Complete the space with outdoor string lights, patio furniture sets and the expert patio evening setup.