Best outdoor heaters for keeping summer going all winter long

Backyard and outdoor socially distanced settings have been an easy and relatively safe way to entertain and catch up with friends, but as the cooler months loom on the horizon, figuring out a way to continue with outdoor entertaining will involve creative thinking — and a couple of space heaters.

Due to the rise of outdoor entertaining in response to the coronavirus pandemic, finding a great outdoor heater was a big challenge in 2020, but in the meantime, luckily, they've made more of these magic season-defying devices. Like your patio furniture or outdoor grill, a good space heater should be functional, durable, and able to last for the long haul -- especially if you plan to use it into the winter.

Fireplaces are romantic and all, they’re not very handy for outdoor settings. Rather, your best bet is to invest in a space heater. These units are designed to give off heat from varying power sources strong enough to warm a given area even in the open air.

Types of outdoor heaters to consider:

• Mushroom-style heaters: Named for their fungus-shaped top heater, these standing outdoor heaters were made for larger backyards and patios. A mushroom-style heater is contained within the burner at the top and the domed top pushes the heat downwards while dispersing it outwards.

• Pyramid-style propane heaters: These elegant-shaped standing heaters are slightly more aesthetically pleasing than their mushroom counterparts. Nearly as powerful as mushroom-style heaters, the pyramid-style propane heater features a larger flame that is much more stable than other standing options.

• Tabletop heaters: Tabletop heaters are a unique case: they’re quite large but they don’t offer the same level of heat as standing heaters do. That being said, if you’re looking for a smaller heater to simply extend your at-home al fresco dinners for two, you really won’t need much more than a small tabletop heater.

Electric heaters vs. propane heaters:

• Electric heaters: Generally speaking, electric heaters don’t offer the same level of heat as their propane counterparts—but on the other hand, they produce an infrared heat that is more immediate and warm against the skin. The heat from the electric variety doesn’t travel as far as propane, though, so if you’re planning on hosting socially distanced events this may not be the best option.

• Propane heaters: Propane heaters offer a type of heat that travels better than an electric heater—and warms the air rather than actually penetrating the skin. While they’re more durable than electric heaters, propane heaters require a propane attachment (hence the name), and also need annual maintenance to ensure safety and proper functionality.

Outdoor heater safety measures to keep in mind:

• Rain and wetness: Note that many electric heater models cannot get wet at all — not even a small splash from a glass of water or sprinkle of rain. Keep this in mind if your patio or backyard doesn’t have a proper covering or if you live in a particularly damp climate.

• Proper maintenance: Both electric and propane heaters should be properly maintained — but with propane models it’s particularly vital. Propane heaters should be maintenanced every year to ensure any carbon buildup is removed as it can actually cause a fire.

What are BTUs?

BTU, or British Thermal Units, is often the most important thing to consider when looking into buying an outdoor heater. This unit of measurement quantifies heating capacity, aka how strong your heater is and how big of an area it can effectively warm.

For scale, 5,000 BTU is recommended for a 100-150 sq ft. area, increasing linearly per square foot to 34,000 BTU for a 2,000-2,500 sq ft. area. (This list even includes a 48,000 BTU model.)

Now that you’ve been primed on the ins and outs of outdoor heaters — and why they may be the key to expanding your patio season into the winter — here are some of the top outdoor heaters that are still available to purchase online. Ranging from personal-sized tabletop heaters to larger mushroom-style heaters that can easily warm up a patio or backyard large enough for comfortable social distancing, these top-rated outdoor heaters will ensure your winter spent at home will be as warm and cozy as possible.