The 10 Best Heater for Screened Porch 2023 (Reviews & Buyer’s Guide)

A screened porch is an awesome arena for relaxation with family and friends. However, in some cases, the cold may hinder such blissful moments.

Thankfully, there are ways you can make your porch as comfortable as the indoors of your home. One way you can do this is by purchasing a good porch heater. Even if you have fully furnished space, you’ll still need a heater to keep your porch warm.

Still, it’s crucial you understand what porch heaters are and how to identify the best quality models. We’ve scoured the market to handpick the ten best heaters for your screened porch to ensure the best product for your home. This guide also addresses specific pain points and answers critical questions on this subject.

The Top 3 Best Heaters for Screened Porch

1. The Overall Best Heater for Screened Porch in 2023 — Hiland Bronze Glass Tube Heater

This 89-inch tall heater is a fantastic addition to your porch and will keep you warm during cold weather. It has an output of 40,000 BTU, and you can have it for less than $400. Additionally, it’s CSA-certified and has a wheeled base to move it around.

2. The Best Budget Heater for Screened Porch — Heat Storm WiFi Infrared Wall Heater

This is a good quality smart heater that comes at an affordable price. You can acquire this functional heater for your screened porch for just less than a hundred bucks. Apart from having WiFi support to control its heat settings, it’s also CSA certified for safety.

3. The Best Portable Heater for Screened Porch — Outland Living 410 Series 36-Inch Fire Pit Table

Keep your porch warm with this 42,500 BTU propane fire pit. This tabletop heater features an outstanding quality design, offering the best of beautiful aesthetics and great functionality. To cap it all, the heater costs less than $800 and is durable.

A Brief Overview of Heaters for Screened Porch

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the ensuing lockdown, many Americans were forced to spend a remarkable amount of time indoors. Even though most people preferred the outdoors, the pandemic didn’t leave much room for that.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus was more likely to be spread outdoors, necessitating the need for a lockdown. This prompted people to think of ideas on how to still enjoy the outdoors without exposing themselves to the virus.

Outdoor heaters are one way to spend time in your porch, backyard, or other outdoor space, without exposing yourself to the cold or virus. If you have a screened porch in your home, you should get an excellent outdoor heater to go with it.

Patio heaters work differently from outdoor fire pits. The former is designed to generate heat using different fuel sources — some work with electricity, natural gas, or propane gas. The most common, however, are the propane gas heaters.

Finally, you can use your outdoor heaters over a screened porch, but it’s essential you look at the manufacturer’s instructions on their heater applications.

10 Best Heaters for Screened Porch: Detailed Reviews

The best heaters for screened porch highlighted in our review have gone through several quality tests. We believe these products are among the best you can get for your porch today as they’ve passed the test for safety, functionality, and efficiency.

However, we also recommend that you go through customer feedback on Amazon, Reddit, and Quora to hear what others think of them before settling for one. Without further ado, let’s look into them individually.

1. Hiland Bronze Glass Tube Heater: The Overall Best Heater for Screened Porch in 2023

The Hiland porch heater looks very appealing and is also one of the functional heaters you can get today. It’s powered from its propane tank, which is kept hidden in the base, and you won’t see any tubes sticking out. Remarkably, the Hiland Bronze Glass porch heater can produce up to 40,000 BTU from its two-piece quartz glass tube.

The porch heater is 89 inches tall and has a floor-standing design. Moreover, it has a pyramid shape that keeps it standing balanced all through, so you don’t need to worry about your heater falling off. The heater also has other features like its automatic shut-off valve for safety. This shut-off feature will immediately kick in should the porch heater accidentally fall.

Furthermore, you’ll appreciate this heater’s classy and beautiful design, as it’s sure to complement your porch space. Suffice to say, this is one quality porch heater designed to last. The cherry on the cake is that it won’t significantly weigh on your electricity bills since it’s powered by more economical gas.

Caution:

• Don’t have this heater too close to the ceiling of your covered porch.
• It’s not advisable to use heaters generally in a poorly ventilated area to avoid fire incidents, suffocation, or poisoning from carbon monoxide.

2. Heat Storm WiFi Infrared Wall Heater: The Best Budget Heater for Screened Porch

This electrically powered wall heater with up to 100 watts capacity and 3,400 BTU will do your screened porch a lot of good in generating warmth. The Heat Storm heater comes in an impressive design and is very easy to operate. For one, it’s a smart heater with a WiFi feature, so you can easily control the device from your smartphone. Add to that the fact that it evenly spreads heat across your porch.

Even when you turn off your heater, you’ll still feel the warmth. Moreover, the Heat Storm WiFi heater isn’t only one of the best electric space heaters for a screened porch but also excellent for indoor use as well. All you need is to decide on a suitable wall to install the device, and you’re good to go. This feature makes it double as one of the safest options as you won’t need to worry about it accidentally falling off.

Even in cases where it falls, you’re still protected — the manufacturers included a safety feature to prevent any fire incidents should the heater fall off. The Heat Storm WiFi heater will immediately turn itself off when this happens.

Also, the grills of the heater are safe to touch even when the device is turned on, eliminating the risk of burns. This is because the heat it emits doesn’t affect or heat the material and would only spread the heat around the porch.

Caution:

• When you leave your porch, remember to turn off the heater. Don’t leave appliances on.
• Hang your porch heater high up where kids can’t reach it.

3. Outland Living 410 Series 36-Inch Fire Pit Table: The Best Portable Heater for Screened Porch

Boasting a durable design and beautiful aesthetics, the Outland Living heater is another great product you can get for your screened porch. The award-winning heater packs a 42,500 BTU burner made from quality stainless steel material. It also features a push-button spark ignition system for easy use.

Additionally, it has a chrome manual control valve that produces a smokeless flame with a very appealing flame pattern, enlisting it among the most preferred heaters for screened porch in terms of appearance.

The Outland Living heater has an aluminum frame design covered in a slate grey Ultraviolet Light High-Density Polyethylene (UV HDPE) wicker. The heater is powered with propane gas, and its heat is produced through its black tempered glass, which is long-lasting.

The tabletop heater can be placed comfortably on a table surface in your porch and is well balanced. As such, it gives off the look of a centerpiece, complementing your décor. In summary, the Outland Living heater has relatively high efficiency and is built to spread heat evenly across your porch.

Caution:

• Safely handle and store the gas tank.
• Keep your kids away from the heater.

4. Duraflame Infrared Quartz Set Heater

Ranking among the best infrared heaters for screened porch, this device is ideal for your outdoor environment, keeping your space warm with its wide heating range. It has a heat output of 5,200 BTU, which provides enough heat, especially if you have a large porch. Its high efficiency allows it to maintain air humidity in your living space, ensuring the temperature doesn’t drop below a particular range.

This heater offers an excellent means of supplementing your primary heating source so it can cover a distance of over 1,000 square feet. Notably, the heater is suitable for heating larger spaces than most infrared heaters. Also, you’ll appreciate its unique design, which makes it a perfect substitute for a traditional fireplace heater.

It’s constructed to fit into your fireplace with its burning embers. So you can place it on the floor, and it will fit your fireplace perfectly.

That’s not all; the flame effect provides a beautiful ambiance to your porch space. The heater also has an electric log set, making it perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Finally, the Duraflame Infrared heater has an ideal heating system that makes the heat spread evenly across your screened porch.

Caution:

• Keep the heater away from any flammable object.
• Have a fire extinguisher nearby.

5. FDW Outdoor Heater

Producing an impressive amount of heat with its 41,000 BTU heating system, the FDW outdoor porch heater is an absolute steal at less than $100. This gas-powered heater is equipped with a propane tank designed to last a couple of weeks, depending on how often you use it.

The 20-pound propane tank is made to fit perfectly in the base, so it doesn’t stick out. You also have various options to choose from, ranging from bronze to mocha. Add to that the ease of assembling the parts—it takes approximately less than an hour—and you have yourself a well-rounded porch heater.

Although the FDW outdoor heater is floor standing, you have an option of attaching it to your deck with the screws provided. This awesome porch heater also comes with an automatic shut-off valve to prevent accidents when it tilts over and when the gas is exhausted. Additionally, it’s made with a stainless steel burner, ensuring durability.

Caution:

• Give the heater enough support to prevent it from tilting over.
• After changing gas containers, check the hose, valve, and tank for leaks.

6. hOmeLabs Gas Heater

hOmeLabs is one of the best brands for home appliances, and this company doesn’t compromise on quality. This easily installable porch heater from hOmeLabs is about 87 inches tall and can stand balanced with its solid construction. Even during strong winds, it won’t tilt over.

It has a 41,000BTU heating output, and this goes through its stainless steel rust-less burner with its double-layer mesh for protection. The heater is powered with either propane or butane gas.

The design is quite impressive and highly functional, featuring a round table where you can easily place your beverages. The round table is detachable, so you can remove it if you don’t need it.

The base of the heater is built with a reservoir that allows you to fill it up with sand or water to keep the heater balanced. This will hold it firmly to your surface so it won’t fall. It also features two built-in wheels for easy mobility.

Additionally, there’s a safety shut-off feature to prevent fire, and the heater has a one-step ignition system to light it quickly. You can also control the heating temperature using its variable heat control knob.

Caution:

• Avoid changing gas when guests are around.
• Keep pets away from the heater.

7. Star Porch Electric Heater with Remote

The Star Porch Heater is a wall-mounted device that runs on electricity to provide sufficient heat outdoors. It’s one of the safest options as you can keep it out of children’s reach. In terms of output, the heater features a 5,100 BTU heating capacity and can provide enough heat for a room area of up to 15 square feet.

You can also use the Star Porch heater alongside other heaters if you plan on heating a much larger space. This high-quality device is easy to use in that it features a simple on and off button that you can easily operate, eliminating the hassle that comes with complex operations.

More fascinating is that you don’t need to always go over to the wall to control it since it has a remote control. You can also easily adjust the heating position by loosening two knobs to adjust its vertical angle even in its mounted state. In terms of safety, this product is IP55 certified, which means that it’s protected against rain and other weather conditions.

Caution:

• Keep a safe distance when hanging on the wall away from the reach of children.
• Use only as the manufacturer instructs.

8. Hampton Bay Stainless Steel Heater

This porch heater is one of the best options for an enormous porch with a whopping 48,000 BTU heating capacity. A floor-standing heater with a height of 7 feet, this umbrella heater packs a hidden 20-pound propane tank. Moreover, the heater is easy to lift, weighing just 33 pounds, enabling swift movement to more comfortable locations on your screened porch every now and then.

The Hampton Bay heater is produced with high-quality stainless steel and won’t rust. This means it can withstand any weather condition, making it an excellent option for your already protected screened porch.

The heater has a control knob that allows you to adjust its heat output and an anti-tilt switch to automatically shut off the heater if it tilts over. Summarily, this high-quality heater from Hampton Bay is one of the most convenient heating systems on the market today.

Caution:

• Avoid moving the heater by yourself.
• Ensure there’s enough ventilation when using the heater on your porch.

9. Dr. Infrared Heater

The Dr. Infrared Heater is an ideal choice for your screened porch if you seek both functionality and ease of operation. Namely, it has a remote control that makes it easy to operate the heater.

You can mount it in several ways, ranging from a tripod to the ceiling and wall. However, most people prefer having this heater over the ceiling because it spreads the heat evenly across the porch.

The Dr. Infrared heater offers clean and odorless heat in your living space. This product is also durable and made from one of the best quality aluminum materials. This means it won’t rust as most metal materials do. Additionally, its IPX4 rating implies it’s protected from rain and condensation.

Another noteworthy feature of this heater is that it’s noiseless, featuring an ultra-quiet technology that most infrared heaters lack. Finally, the Dr. heater features three heating modes, and you can adjust the heat level to your preferred choice.

Caution:

• Don’t move the heater while it’s still on.

10. Briza Infrared Heater

This infrared heater comes with a tripod stand, meaning you can install it as a floor-standing heater. You also have the option of hanging over the wall or your porch ceiling.

The Briza Infrared Porch Heater’s stand can extend to a height of 7 feet, and it has a very flat base. Thankfully, you won’t need to support it with sand or water.

Notable among its features is its carbon infrared technology that produces even heat across your living space. Nearby surfaces readily absorb the heat it produces, increasing your porch’s overall temperature in the process.

The heater has a protected heating element in the form of a metal sheath, and its auto shut-off valve will protect against any fire should the heater tip over. You can also control the heat using its three-level control feature, and it also has a timer control.

The heating levels have three different capacities of 900 watts, 1,200 watts, and 1,500 watts. This way, you can set the heater to go off between one to nine hours. Last but not least, this heater is very easy to use and comes with a remote control for easy access.

Caution:

• Ensure you follow the rules and guidelines on fire safety.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions before operating the heater.

How to Choose the Best Heater for Screened Porch: Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the right heater for your porch can be dicey as there are certain factors you need to consider when making this decision. Navigating through the plethora of options and designs on the market can be overwhelming, to say the least, much more for someone inexperienced in this field.

To make your buying journey easier and enable you to select the perfect outdoor heater for your screened porch, we’ve put together this comprehensive buyer’s guide, highlighting all the necessary factors to consider. Let’s examine them individually.

1. Mode of Operation

When choosing your porch heater, you need to consider what you need it for. The size or design won’t matter if you don’t see its purpose. For some, space is essential, and they would decide based on the amount of space they can save, probably to install other furniture on their porch.

If you have a small porch, you may want to consider a table-top heater. This should be sufficient because you only need heat across a small or enclosed area. Also, your décor choice can influence your decision.

Others would want their outdoor heater to be the center of attraction on their screened porch. In that case, a fire pit may be a perfect fit for this. Overall, the choice of porch heaters will depend on personal preference.

2. Cost

The prices of porch heaters vary depending on their size, design, and functionality. Some heaters are very affordable, while some are on the high side.

For instance, if you opt for table-top heaters, they’re usually within the range of $50 to $200. On the other hand, the floor-standing heaters are more expensive, costing over $200, with some standing at $1000+. In most cases, the expensive models are those heaters that utilize natural gas.

The wall mount heaters are within the same price range as the floor standing heaters. However, some models are very cheap, and you may not even spend up to $100 on them. The expensive models usually have more functionalities and are more powerful heaters.

It’s important you set your budget before deciding which option to go for. You can still get value for your money even if you can’t afford the more expensive heaters. However, it’s better to spend more on quality because not only are the costly models efficient, but they also prove to have better performance and are long-lasting.

3. Power

The heating capacity of an outdoor heater determines if it’s sufficient to warm your porch. The heat power is measured in BTUs, short for British Thermal Units. A higher BTU implies more heat. However, some manufacturers provide more information by describing how much space their product can heat.

You should also consider that the heat required for your porch is determined not only by distance but also by the outside temperature, especially if you live in a colder clime.

Apart from BTUs, it would be best to consider the heater’s wattage. This helps you compare the power capacity of different heaters. We also recommend you look through customer reviews to know the actual capacity because some manufacturers may provide misleading figures.

4. Safety

The safety of your home should be a priority when choosing models. If you opt for a floor-standing heater, you should consider the balance — if the heater falls over, there could be a fire risk.

Manufacturers are wary of this, explaining the inclusion of an automatic shut-off feature in most models. However, it’s still essential that you look out for this particular feature when buying your porch heater.

Still, it’s not out of place to provide some support for your porch heaters, especially the floor standing variants, to prevent any incidents. Some models will recommend you support the heater with sand or water to anchor the heater.

Another safety measure to consider applies to gas- and wood-powered porch heaters. You should always have them in open spaces since they can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, when inhaled.

Since these outdoor heater options also introduce the risk of a fire incident, electric heaters may be an ideal option for your screened porch. However, you should ensure it’s not placed close to any flammable object.

6. Aesthetics

You may also want to consider the design of the heater. You may not appreciate a functional heater if it doesn’t offer the visual appeal you desire.

Some people like open flame heaters because of the aesthetics they provide. Appearance matters, especially if you have a well-designed porch; it’s only appropriate to have a heater that complements your décor. The floor-standing heaters are usually more functional than appealing, but some models add aesthetic appeal.

7. Ease of Use

You should opt for models that are easy to operate for your convenience. Some models may have more complex operations, and maintenance can be a burden. However, the simpler models make the work easier.

For instance, you’ll rarely have trouble operating electric heaters, as most only require you to turn on a switch. However, for gas heaters, you’ll need to refill them when the tank is empty.

Wood heaters are even more tedious as it takes more time and effort to get them running. Also, some models are easily installable in minutes following purchase, while some require technical know-how to assemble — something you should consider.

What Powers Outdoor Heaters?

Now that you know what to look for when buying the best heater for a screened porch, it’s only ideal that we educate you on the types of heaters in the market.

There are two major types — indoor and outdoor heaters. However, for outdoor heaters, which apply to a screened porch, you have a range of options to select from. The outdoor heaters are usually grouped based on their fuel options. There are four of them — natural gas, propane, electric, and wood heaters.

1. Natural Gas

This type of heater usually costs more than the other outdoor heaters. Natural gas heaters require professional help when installing and connecting to your gas line. However, even though they may be expensive to install initially, it saves costs in the long run compared to other heating options.

In addition, natural gas heaters are the easiest to maintain. The problem with this heater type is that they aren’t ideal for a screened porch and are also not movable since it’s attached to the natural gas line.

2. Propane

The propane heaters are easier to install and aren’t connected to your gas line, as with the natural gas variants. Instead, you’ll need to refill a propane gas tank to power it.

Installation is usually straightforward and doesn’t require any help from professionals. They’re also relatively easy to operate. However, they’re more expensive to maintain than natural gas options. Additionally, you need to constantly refill the gas tank depending on how often you use it.

There’s a good side to it, though — they’re more flexible as you can quickly move the heater to any comfortable position on your porch. However, they’re not 100% recommended for use in enclosed or covered spaces.

3. Electricity

The electric heater is a much more convenient option and is considered among the best heaters for screened porch. It usually has an electric power outlet, so you can plug and turn it on.

Most models are either ceiling or wall-mounted heaters. They’re also easily installable, requiring little to no help.

The electric heaters take power from your home electricity, which usually costs more. You’ll be paying more on energy bills using electric heaters. However, they’re easy to maintain and the safest for enclosed spaces.

4. Wood

Wooden heaters are the most difficult to maintain but are suitable if you seek a heater that doesn’t eat into your energy or gas bills. You can always add more wood to keep the fire on, but the work comes when you have to clean out the ash continuously.

It’s always very difficult to ignite, and you can’t control the amount of heat it gives. Moreover, sourcing wood may be expensive and also challenging. Generally, most people prefer a fire pit because of its appeal.

Design Options for Outdoor Heaters

Design matters when you consider the size of your screened porch and desired visual appeal. Let’s look through the various design options available.

Floor Standing

Floor standing heaters are among the most popular options sold today, especially gas heaters. They’re built to a certain height and, most times, very tall. The height usually varies depending on the manufacturer.

Ceiling and Wall-Mounted Heaters

You’ll find this option more in electric heaters due to their portability. They’re the best space savers and the safest options. They usually vary in size and may require help installing.

Tabletop Heaters

The tabletop heaters are ideal for small spaces where you don’t need a large capacity heater. They’re usually the best portable heater for screened porch if that’s what you are looking for. Remarkably, you can have them as a centerpiece on your table.

This model can come in either propane gas heaters or electric heaters. However, most models are electric.

Fire Pits and Chimineas

This type makes use of wood most of the time. They’re affordable but costly to maintain. Moreover, they’re suitable for outdoor use but not for screened porches.

Best Heater for Screened Porch: FAQs

Do outdoor heaters really work?

Yes, outdoor heaters work provided they’re of good quality. Their effectiveness also depends on their heating capacity as well as the size of your screened porch. The BTU measures heating capacity and should be on your checklist when selecting a porch heater.

What’s the best heater for a screened porch?

Electric heaters work best for a screened porch. They’re the safest options for enclosed spaces compared to other options. However, propane gas-powered options have also proven excellent.

Does an electric heater consume a lot of power?

The amount of power your heater uses will depend on the wattage. If it has a high wattage, it will utilize a lot of energy.

How long does a porch heater tank last?

This will depend on the model as they all vary. However, if you use a 20-pound propane gas tank, which holds up to 4.7 gallons of gas, it should last for 10 hours. You should always have a spare tank in case you exhaust your gas.

Final Thoughts

You have lots of options when getting a heater for a screened porch. It would help if you remembered to choose right, so you don’t end up with the wrong product.

If you have a small space, you can always go for the table-top heaters that come in beautiful centerpiece designs. Suffice to say, a good and effective porch heater ensures your outdoors (porch inclusive) is just as comfortable as the inside of your home. We hope our comprehensive reviews and buyer’s guide provide all the information you need to make an informed choice.

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