Infrared Patio Heater Guide: How Infrared Heat Works and When It's Worth It
Quick answer
An infrared heater warms people, tables and floors directly, the way sunlight does, instead of trying to heat the outdoor air. That is why it works outside where warm air would blow away. Electric infrared is best under a roof with no flame or fumes. Gas infrared puts out more heat for open, breezy and commercial spaces.
Almost every heater we sell is an infrared heater. The Bromic, Infratech, Sunpak and SunStar heaters on our site all use radiant infrared heat, whether they run on electricity, natural gas or propane. This guide explains how that heat works, the main types and design options you will see, and when an outdoor infrared heater is worth it for your home or business.
How an Infrared Heater Works
Infrared is a form of radiant energy, the same kind of warmth you feel from the sun on a cold, clear day. An infrared heater has a very hot element or burner that sends that energy out in straight lines. When it hits your skin, a chair or the floor, it turns into heat. The air in between barely warms at all.
1The element heats upA quartz element or gas burner glows hot in seconds.
2Infrared travels in straight linesHeat moves from the heater to whatever is in its path, like sunlight.
3People and surfaces absorb itSkin, chairs, the table and the floor warm up and hold that heat.
4The air stays coolA breeze passes through without carrying the warmth away.
5Height sets the spreadMost mounted heaters go 8 ft. or higher; the manual lists the range.
Radiant Infrared vs Warm Air
Radiant infrared heaters warm people and surfaces directly, while warm air heaters heat the air and rely on walls to hold it in. Outdoors there are no walls, so heated air rises and drifts away, which is why infrared is the standard for patios. Here is how the two compare side by side.
Radiant infrared heater
How it heatsWarms people, furniture and floors directly
Heat-up timeFull warmth in seconds
In a breezeKeeps working; the heat is in you, not the air
Best forPatios, pergolas, porches, restaurant terraces, garages
Things to considerNeeds a clear line to the seating and the right mount height; heat fades with distance
Warm air heater
How it heatsHeats the air, which then has to reach you
Heat-up timeSeveral minutes to warm a space
In a breezeWarm air blows away
Best forClosed rooms with walls and a ceiling
Things to considerWastes energy outdoors; warm air collects up high
Why Distance, Height and Wind Matter
Infrared heat is strongest close to the heater and spreads out as it travels, a bit like a flashlight beam. Mount it too high and the warmth thins out. Mount it too low and it can feel hot on your head. Each maker lists a mounting height range for every wall or ceiling model, usually starting around 8 ft. Wind does not stop infrared, but it cools the surfaces the heat lands on, so open and breezy patios need more output or more shelter. A heater aimed at the seating always beats one aimed at the middle of the patio.
Types of Outdoor Infrared Heaters
Every infrared heater uses a hot element or burner, but the temperature of that source changes how the heater looks and feels. Hotter sources give off shorter waves with a brighter glow and more intense heat. Cooler sources give off longer waves with a softer glow.
In plain English: short wave, medium wave and long wave describe how intense the heat feels. Short wave is like stepping into direct sun, medium wave is like standing near glowing campfire coals, and long wave is like sitting next to a sun-warmed stone wall.
Most intense heat
Softest heat
Short waveQuartz & Halogen Heaters
Feels likeDirect sun on your skin
GlowBright orange
Warm-upSeconds
ReachFarthest; best in a breeze
Medium waveCarbon Heaters
Feels likeGlowing campfire coals
GlowSoft amber
Warm-upAbout 30 seconds
ReachMedium; best up close
Long waveGlass & Ceramic Heaters
Feels likeA sun-warmed stone wall
GlowLow or none
Warm-upSlower
ReachShorter; gentle, even heat
Short wave · Electric
Quartz Electric Infrared Heaters
Pick it if: You want strong heat fast under a covered patio, pergola or porch.
- Bright orange glow
- Most need a 240V circuit
- Infratech elements last about 5,000 hours
Shop: Infratech · Bromic Tungsten · Bromic Cobalt
Low glare · Electric
Glass-Front Low-Glare Heaters
Pick it if: You want warmth over a dining table without a bright glow.
- Tinted glass hides the element
- Calm, low-light look
- Costs more than bare quartz
Shop: Bromic Platinum
Gas · Natural gas or propane
Gas Infrared Patio Heaters
Pick it if: Your patio is open or breezy, or you need heat across a big space.
- Glowing ceramic burner or mesh screen
- 23,000 to 43,000 BTU on our models
- Needs a gas line and a licensed installer
Shop: Sunpak · SunStar · Bromic gas
Pro tip: seeing carbon heaters online?
A carbon infrared heater uses a carbon fiber element with an amber glow and gentler, medium-wave heat. Most are small plug-in units sized for one or two people. To warm a whole seating area, a mounted quartz electric or gas infrared heater is the better fit.
Electric vs Gas Infrared: How They Compare
Both types heat with radiant infrared. The real choice is the fuel, and that comes down to where the heater goes and what power you already have.
Electric infrared
Gas infrared
Power
Hardwired 240V circuit for most mounted models
Natural gas line or propane, plus electric power for the ignition on many models
Output
About 1,500W to 6,000W per heater
About 23,000 to 43,000 BTU per heater on the models we carry
Glow
Orange quartz glow, or low glare with glass
Red glow from the burner or glass face
Wind
Best under a roof or with shelter
Better on open patios; SunStar rates its glass for 40 MPH wind
Placement
Wall or ceiling of covered patios, porches, garages
Wall or ceiling of open patios, decks, restaurant terraces
Clearance
Follow the ceiling and side clearances in the manual
Clearances vary by model; follow the manual and local gas code
Ranges come from the maker specs for the Infratech, Bromic, Sunpak and SunStar heaters we sell. Check the manual for your model.
Running cost works differently, too. A 4,000W electric heater costs about 73 cents an hour at the US Energy Information Administration 2026 forecast of about 18.2 cents per kWh. Gas cost depends on your gas or propane price and the BTU rating. A gas patio heater should also be connected by a licensed gas professional. Shop our electric patio heaters, natural gas patio heaters or propane patio heaters to compare.
Infrared Heater Brands We Carry
Each of these brands makes radiant infrared heaters for homes and businesses. Here is how their design and fuel options differ.
Electric and gas
Bromic Infrared Heaters
Bromic makes both types: Tungsten and Cobalt quartz electric heaters, the low-glare Platinum series in electric and gas, and the Eclipse heater with a built-in light. The Tungsten 500 gas heater puts out 43,000 BTU and covers up to 215 sq. ft.
Best for: Matching electric and gas heaters, low-glare dining areas and heat with light.
Electric only
Infratech Infrared Heaters
Infratech builds quartz electric heaters in the USA with a 3-year warranty, and they are easy to match to your home with powder coat colors and stainless steel. Choose the C and CD series for surface mounting, the W and WD series for flush mounting, the slim SL series, or the decorative Motif collection in 304 or 316 marine grade stainless.
Best for: Covered patios that need strong, clean electric heat with a built-in or decorative look.
Gas only
Sunpak Infrared Heaters
Sunpak gas infrared heaters are made in Yorba Linda, California. The S34 puts out 34,000 BTU and warms about 144 sq. ft., and the two-stage TSR and TSH models drop to 25,000 BTU on Low.
Best for: Natural gas or propane heat on covered patios, homes and commercial spaces.
Gas only
SunStar Infrared Heaters
SunStar heaters are built in Charlotte, North Carolina. A tinted glass face shields the ceramic burner from wind up to 40 MPH, which makes them a strong pick for open decks and coastal sites.
Best for: Windy, open or coastal patios that need gas heat.
Not sure between the two biggest names? Read our Bromic vs Infratech comparison.
When an Outdoor Infrared Heater Is Worth It
For most patios, the answer is yes. An outdoor heater that uses infrared heat warms people faster and wastes less energy than one that tries to heat the open air. It is less of a fit in a few cases.
Worth it when
- You have a covered patio, porch, pergola or screened room
- You want heat the moment you switch it on
- You want an easy wall or ceiling mount that keeps the floor clear
- You run a restaurant patio and need even heat at every table
- You want to heat a garage or workshop without fumes (electric)
Think twice when
- The patio is fully open to strong, steady wind
- There is no wall, beam or ceiling to mount on and no power or gas nearby
- You need to heat a closed room all day (use an indoor heater)
- You cannot meet the mounting height in the manual
For restaurants and bars, see our commercial patio heaters. For homes, start with our picks for the best electric patio heaters or the best heaters for covered patios, porches and pergolas, and check the patio heater clearance guide before you order.
Controls, Switches and Parts
How you control an infrared heater matters almost as much as the heater. A simple wall switch is the easy option: it turns the heater on and off. A dimmer or multi-stage control lets you lower the output once everyone is warm, which saves energy. Infratech and Bromic both offer app and home automation control options, and the Sunpak TSR adds a wireless remote.
On / off switchInfratech Duplex SwitchTurns one or two heaters on and off from the wall. The simplest setup.View options
DimmerInfratech Input RegulatorTurns the heat up or down. This version sits in a weatherproof box on an outdoor wall.View options
Zone panelInfratech Relay PanelRuns several heaters as separate zones, a common setup for restaurants and big patios.View options
App controlBromic Smart-Heat AppSwitch heaters and zones on, off or up and down from your phone.View options
- Infratech switches and controls
- Bromic controllers, poles and accessories
- Patio heater mounting brackets
- Patio heater covers and parts
Wiring an Infratech heater? Our Infratech wiring and controls guide walks through breakers, switches and zoning.
Ready to compare models? Browse every infrared patio heater we carry, or narrow it down with our wall and ceiling heaters and gas patio heater collections.
Not sure which infrared heater fits?
Tell us the size of the area, the ceiling height, and whether you have 240V power or a gas line nearby. We will match you with the right heaters and controls.
Get expert helpShop all patio heatersFrequently Asked Questions
Are infrared patio heaters worth it?
Yes, for most covered and partly sheltered patios. Infrared warms people directly, heats up in seconds and wastes less energy than heating open air. On a fully open, windy site, choose a high-output gas heater or add shelter.
Do infrared heaters work outside in the wind?
Yes. Wind does not stop infrared energy, but it cools the people and surfaces it warms. A breeze is fine; strong, steady wind calls for more output, a closer mount or a wind-rated gas heater like SunStar.
Is electric or gas infrared better?
Electric is best under a roof, with no flame or fumes and a simple 240V hookup. Gas puts out more heat per unit and suits open patios and large commercial spaces where a gas line is available.
Do infrared heaters heat the air?
Very little. They warm people, furniture and floors, which then give off some warmth of their own. That is why they work outdoors where heated air would blow away.
How high should an infrared patio heater be mounted?
Follow the range in the manual for your model. Most mounted heaters start around 8 ft. off the floor, and higher output models need more height.
Is infrared heat safe?
Yes, when installed to the maker's instructions. Infrared from a patio heater is the same kind of radiant warmth you feel from the sun. Keep the listed clearances to ceilings, walls and fabrics.
