Patio Heaters vs Fire Pits: Best Way to Heat Your Garden This Winter

The evenings are darker now, and the air has a proper chill. But your garden doesn’t have to close until spring.

With the right heat source, you can stay outside for hours. Dinner on the patio. Drinks after work. A catch-up with friends under the stars.

So which should you choose? A patio heater or a fire pit? Both keep you warm, but they work in very different ways. This guide compares them side by side. By the end, you’ll know exactly which suits your garden.

Quick answer: Choose a patio heater for instant, even warmth over a dining table or covered seating area. Choose a fire pit for real flames, a social focal point and the option to cook. Many gardens use both: a heater for dining, a fire pit for relaxing afterwards.

How a patio heater works

Most patio heaters run on bottled gas. The burner sits near the top, under a wide reflector. That reflector pushes heat down and out in a circle.

The big benefit is speed. Turn it on and you feel the warmth within minutes. There’s no fire to build, no smoke and no ash. When you’re done, simply turn it off.

a. Freestanding patio heaters

These are the tall heaters you see outside cafés and pubs. Most give between 10kW and 13kW of heat. That’s enough to warm a table of six. Browse our patio heaters, including the Outsunny 13kW models with tip-over protection.

b. Flame heaters

Flame heaters add a dancing flame inside a glass tube. You get the warmth of a heater with some of the charm of a fire. The Lifestyle Tahiti II and Emporio are popular choices.

c. Tabletop patio heaters

Short on space? A tabletop heater sits right on your garden table. It’s ideal for bistro sets, balconies and smaller patios. The Chantico Tabletop Flame Heater is a popular choice. Prefer a real fire on the table? Our tabletop fire pits bring a small, cosy flame to the centre of your table.

How a fire pit works

A fire pit gives off radiant heat from an open flame. The heat stays low, right at seat level. You feel it most when you’re gathered close around it.

It also does something a heater can’t. It becomes the heart of the evening. People pull up chairs, chat and watch the flames for hours.

a. Wood, gas or bioethanol?

Fire pits come in three main fuels. Wood fire pits give the classic crackle and smell of real logs. Gas fire pits light at the turn of a dial, with no ash to clear. Bioethanol fire pits burn a clean liquid fuel, with no smoke and no gas bottle to hide.

b. Fire bowls

Fire bowls are wide, shallow and easy to use. Many are made from Corten steel, which weathers to a rich rust finish. Explore our fire bowls, including the BonFeu BonBowl and Barbecook Jack.

c. Fire baskets and braziers

A fire basket raises the fire off the ground. Air flows in from all sides, so logs burn hotter and cleaner. See our fire baskets and braziers, such as the BonFeu BonVes range.

d. Smokeless fire pits

Worried about smoke drifting over the fence? Smokeless fire pits use a double-walled design. Hot air feeds back into the flames and burns off most of the smoke. Browse our smokeless fire pits or read our guide to low-smoke wood-burning fire pits.

e. Fire pit tables

Want flames and a table in one? A fire pit table gives you a place for drinks and a fire in the middle. Most run on gas, so they light instantly. Shop our fire pit tables and read our complete guide to gas fire tables.

Patio heaters vs fire pits: side by side

 

Which gives out more heat?

It depends on where you’re sitting. A good patio heater warms a wide circle evenly. Everyone around the table gets their fair share.

A fire pit feels hotter up close. But the warmth fades as you move back. Your front gets toasty while your back stays cool.

So for a dining table of six, a patio heater wins. For a cosy circle of chairs, a fire pit is hard to beat.

Wind matters too. A breezy garden carries heat away from both. Place a patio heater out of the wind where you can. Tuck a fire pit near a wall or hedge for shelter, leaving a safe gap. Our wind guards and spark screens help keep the flames steady and embers in the bowl.

Running costs

A gas patio heater uses fuel based on its output. As a rough guide, a 13kW heater on full burns just under 1kg of propane an hour. So a 13kg bottle gives around 13 to 14 hours on full. Turn it down and it lasts much longer.

A wood fire pit costs whatever your logs cost. Choose kiln-dried logs for a hotter, cleaner burn. A typical evening uses a few armfuls, depending on the size of your bowl.

Gas fire tables sit in between. You control the flame height, so you only burn what you need.

One winter tip: choose propane over butane. Butane struggles to vaporise when temperatures drop towards freezing. Propane keeps working on cold, frosty nights, so your heater stays reliable all season.

Ambience and style

Heat is only part of the story. The look and feel of your garden matters just as much.

A fire pit brings real flames, a gentle crackle and that woodsmoke smell. It turns an ordinary evening into an occasion. Corten steel bowls also look great in daylight as a sculptural feature.

Patio heaters have come a long way too. Flame heaters add a glowing column of fire. Sleek black and stainless steel finishes suit modern patios. Gas fire tables offer the best of both, with a flame you can dial up or down.

Which suits your space?

a. Small patio or courtyard

A tabletop patio heater or compact fire basket works well here. Both give real warmth without crowding the space.

b. Covered pergola or terrace

A patio heater is the natural fit. Follow the manufacturer’s clearance guidance and keep the area well ventilated. Wood fire pits belong in the open air, never under a roof.

c. Open lawn or large patio

This is where a fire pit shines. Add a heat base plate to protect your paving or grass from heat marks.

d. You love to cook outdoors

Choose one of our fire pits with grills. The BonFeu BonBiza doubles as a plancha, for example. Already own a fire pit? Add a grill or griddle plate from our cooking accessories, like the Barbecook Jack griddle.

Why not have both?

Plenty of our customers do exactly that. A patio heater keeps the dining table warm through dinner. Then everyone moves to the fire pit for drinks.

This layered approach makes your garden usable from October right through to March. It also means nobody gets left out in the cold.

Looking after them over winter

A little care keeps both looking great for years. Cover your patio heater whenever it’s not in use. It keeps rain, dust and leaves off the burner. Fire pits benefit from a cover too. Find the right fit in our covers and lids range.

Corten steel fire pits are built to weather. They develop a deep, rusty patina over time. Our guide to Corten steel weathering explains what to expect. A fitted cover also stops rainwater collecting in the bowl.

Store gas bottles upright, outdoors and away from direct heat. Check the hose and regulator at the start of each season. A quick check means your heater is ready the moment you need it. Using a gas fire pit? A gas tank cover hides the bottle neatly and doubles as a side table.

For everything else, from pokers to log holders, browse all fire pit accessories.

Frequently asked questions

1. Are patio heaters worth it in the UK?

Yes, if you like to eat or entertain outside. They add months to your outdoor season and give heat at the turn of a dial.

2. Is a fire pit warmer than a patio heater?

Up close, a fire pit often feels warmer. A patio heater spreads heat more evenly across a group.

3. Can I use a patio heater under a gazebo or pergola?

Many heaters suit partly covered spaces with good airflow. Always check the manufacturer’s guidance on clearance and ventilation first.

4. Am I allowed a fire pit in my garden?

In most cases, yes. Our guide to fire pit rules in the UK covers what to consider.

Find your perfect garden heat

Whether you want instant warmth or real flames, we have you covered. Browse our patio heaters and fire pits, all with free delivery to mainland UK. Not sure which to pick? Get in touch, and our team will help you choose.

Need warmth elsewhere this winter? We also stock greenhouse heaters to protect your plants, plus a range of indoor heating for the home.