Which outdoor patio heater is best for an Australian backyard?
Best overall: Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater (STAR2000). The Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater is our pick for a covered patio because its listing states IP55 protection and carbon-fibre heating that warms people and objects directly.
An adjustable wall bracket lets you aim its infrared heat at a seating area, and the remote operates four power settings and a 24-hour timer. For a heater you can move around, the runner-up is the Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater, and the budget pick is the Goldair 2400W 3-Bar Radiant Heater. The Devanti 1500W Strip Heater had no featured offer at the 5 October 2026 check; its offers were listed through MiniUni.
The trap most first-home buyers fall into is buying the cheapest mushroom gas heater they see at a big-box store, then discovering it eats a 9kg gas bottle every few weekends and blows useless in any wind. We went the other way. We studied what actually keeps people warm on a cold Melbourne or Hobart evening, cross-checked every pick against real Amazon Australia ratings, and built this guide around how Aussies actually use their outdoor spaces: covered patios, open decks, tiny apartment balconies and the occasional big backyard party.
This is not a list of heaters we were paid to like. It is a researched shortlist of six rated heaters, with the HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR) also listed for readers seeking an electric radiant outdoor heater with remote control and a timer. Each product card shows its current stock status. Below you will find a use-case for each, the flaws worth knowing about, running-cost maths in plain dollars, and a buyer's checklist so you never overpay again.
The quick answer: our top outdoor heater picks for 2026
Short on time? Here is the TL;DR. For a covered patio, buy a radiant electric strip. For a portable warm spot you can move, buy a freestanding infrared. For a big open garden with no power point, gas is the move, though none of our picks are gas.
- Best overall: Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater (STAR2000), 4.6 stars from 10 ratings on Amazon Australia. IP55, adjustable wall bracket and carbon-fibre heating.
- Runner-up: Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater, 4.0 stars from 185 ratings on Amazon Australia. Freestanding quartz heater on a stand that adjusts from 170 to 210cm, IPX4.
- Strip option, no featured offer: Devanti 1500W Strip Heater, 4.3 stars from 29 ratings on Amazon Australia at 5 October 2026. Three heat settings, remote control and a 24-hour timer. It had no featured offer at the 5 October 2026 check.
- Best budget: Goldair 2400W 3-Bar Radiant Heater, 4.1 stars from 9 ratings on Amazon Australia, two year warranty.
Every price here is what we saw on Amazon Australia at the time of research. Prices on outdoor heaters move with the seasons, so they spike in May and June and soften by spring. If a model is at the top of its range, it is worth waiting a few weeks.
How do these patio heaters compare at a glance?
The fastest way to choose a backyard heater is to match the heater type to your space. Every pick below is an outdoor electric heater, which is the type that suits most Australian homes. Electric strips and panels are for covered, undercover or partly enclosed areas where wind is not whipping through. Freestanding infrared units are for flexibility, so you can drag the warmth to wherever everyone is sitting. Gas is for open, large or power-less spaces. Below, each pick is sorted into the job it does best, with the real rating and price so you can weigh value honestly. Read the running-cost section before you spend, because the sticker price is rarely the real cost.
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Price band | Rating |
|---|
| Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater | A covered patio or alfresco | 2,000W carbon fibre radiant strip, IP55, wall or ceiling mount, about 60 cents an hour | Under $170 (5 October 2026) | 4.6 stars from 10 ratings on Amazon Australia |
| Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater | Moving the warmth around a deck | 2,000W freestanding quartz heater, adjustable stand, IPX4, about 60 cents an hour | Under $90 (5 October 2026) | 4.0 stars from 185 ratings on Amazon Australia |
| Devanti 1500W Strip Heater | A balcony or a single seating nook | 1,500W slim wall-mount bar with remote and timer, about 45 cents an hour | No featured offer (5 October 2026) | 4.3 stars from 29 ratings on Amazon Australia |
How we chose the best outdoor heaters
We are an Australian first-home-buyer site, not a US review mill, so our shortlist is built for Aussie homes, Aussie power prices and the Amazon Australia catalogue you can actually buy from. Here is exactly how we researched this guide.
- We start from listing availability. We checked stock and offers on Amazon Australia on 5 October 2026. The three original heaters still listed and the added Lenoxx, Maxkon TBH1000 and Heller HPH2000 had customer ratings; the separately listed HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR) had none. A listing without a featured offer stays on the page with a dated disclosure.
- We read the listings line by line. Wattage, IP weather rating, heating method, coverage area and mounting type were all copied from the manufacturer's own specification, never guessed.
- We cross-checked ratings and review counts across every pick before making any claim about which is highest rated or most reviewed, so the superlatives here are literally true within this list.
- We studied what ranks and what experts say. We looked at how Australian retailers, Bunnings buying guides and Reddit threads describe real-world performance, then weighted picks toward the heater types Aussies actually keep and use.
- We calculated running costs using a typical Australian electricity rate so you can compare the true cost of ownership, not just the shelf price.
We research and study products using public data, retailer listings and customer reviews. We do not run a physical lab, and we will never claim to have bench-tested a heater we have not. Where a pick has a known weakness, we say so plainly in its "Flaws but not dealbreakers" note.
We checked every listing on Amazon Australia. Sources: the Amazon Australia product listings and their buy boxes, the offer lists for listings without a featured offer, the Australian electrical equipment register (EESS), the makers' specifications on those listings, and owner reviews.
Best overall: Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater
If you have a roofed alfresco, pergola or carport and you want one heater to get right, this is it. The Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater is a slim radiant bar that bolts to a wall or ceiling, delivers heat in five to ten seconds and carries an IP55 weather rating, so a bit of wind-blown rain will not kill it. It was in stock on Amazon Australia with 11 ratings, and the listing states IP55 protection and carbon-fibre heating. Sold and shipped by AUSWAY; delivery to Sydney was quoted as 13 to 14 October at the 5 October 2026 check. We could not find a current Australian electrical registration for this model.
What makes a strip heater the smart choice for a covered patio is the physics. Infrared radiant heat warms the people and objects under it directly, the way the sun does, rather than trying to heat the open air that simply drifts away outdoors. Maxkon quotes an outdoor heating area of roughly 16 to 32 square metres and uses a carbon-fibre heating lamp rated for around 10,000 hours of life. The aluminium housing reflects heat downward instead of losing it out the back, which is part of why radiant strips feel efficient.
It has four power levels and a 24-hour timer, so you can dial it to a gentle background warmth or crank it for a cold July night, and the swivel bracket lets you aim the heat at the seating area. Because it mounts overhead, it frees up your floor and stays out of the way of kids and pets, a genuine advantage over a freestanding unit on a small deck. The adjustable wall bracket lets you direct the heat at a fixed seating area, with four power settings and a 24-hour timer controlled by the remote.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
This is a mounted heater, so you need a wall or ceiling and a nearby power point, and installation is on you. The listing notes the remote needs two AAA batteries that are not included, and one reviewer reported their remote stopping after a few weeks, though the heater itself kept working fine. It is a spot heater, not a whole-yard solution, so aim it where people sit rather than expecting it to warm an open lawn.
Also listed: Devanti 1500W Strip Heater
The Devanti 1500W Strip Heater is a wall-mounted radiant bar for a small balcony, courtyard or a single seating nook. It had 4.3 stars from 29 ratings on Amazon Australia. Its listing states three heat settings, a remote, an LED control panel and a 24-hour timer, giving you ways to adjust output and set a run time for a focused seating area.
At 1500W it draws less power than the bigger units, which keeps running costs down, and the three heat settings let you trim it to just-warm for a mild evening. Devanti quotes up to 99 per cent of energy converted to heat thanks to the aluminium reflector, and the swivel brackets let you angle the warmth toward where you sit. Weighing only 2.75kg, it is genuinely easy to mount, and several reviewers bought a pair for an alfresco and praised how fast they warm up. At the 5 October 2026 check this listing had no featured offer on Amazon Australia; it was available only through the offer list from other sellers. We could not find a current Australian electrical registration for this model.
This wall-mounted format is for a small balcony or a single seating nook, with remote control and a timer for adjusting a focused warm spot. One reviewer summed it up well: "very ideal for small spaces" and quick to warm a couple of metres in front of it. The three heat settings let you adjust output, while the remote and timer control how long it runs. Those are the listing's features to weigh for a fixed seating spot rather than a heater you want to carry between areas.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It carries an IP34 water-resistance rating rather than the higher IP55 of our top pick, so this one really wants to live under cover and be brought in for storms. At 1500W it is a small-space heater; reviewers are clear it warms about two metres in front and is "less efficient in spaces larger than" a small enclosed nook. It needs a wall and a power point, and the remote battery is not included.
Best budget: Goldair 2400W 3-Bar Radiant Heater
If you want no fuss radiant warmth from a trusted Australian brand and a generous warranty, the Goldair 2400W 3-Bar Radiant Heater is a smart, simple buy. It had 4.1 stars from 9 ratings on Amazon Australia. It comes with a two-year warranty and quartz-style radiant bars for instant heat.
At 2400W it shares the highest listed wattage in this guide with the HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR), with integrated carry handles so you can move it between a covered patio, a garage or a draughty room. A safety tilt switch cuts power if it tips, and Goldair points out that radiant heaters like this are "particularly effective in draughty environments" because they heat objects and people rather than the moving air. For a first-home buyer who wants a cheap, reliable, brand-backed heater without overthinking it, it is hard to beat. We found it on the Australian electrical register (record E2025020826).
The honest framing is that this is a portable radiant bar heater that happens to work well in semi-sheltered outdoor spots, rather than a purpose-built weatherproof patio unit. It does not carry a high IP weather rating, so it belongs under cover. But the two year warranty, the low price and the strong 2400W output make it a sensible all rounder for the patio and garage double duty most homes need.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It is primarily an indoor and semi-sheltered heater, so keep it well under cover and out of the weather. It had 4.1 stars from 9 ratings on Amazon Australia, a smaller rating count than the Devanti 1500W. There is no fancy remote or app here; this is a plug-in, turn-the-dial heater, which is exactly the point for buyers who want simplicity. For a flame look in an indoor lounge, our electric fireplace guide compares three plug-in heaters with current Australian electrical registrations.
Runner-up: Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater
The Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater is a freestanding quartz heater on a stand that adjusts from 170 to 210 centimetres, with a 45-degree adjustable head, a pull-chain switch, a tip-over switch and an IPX4 splash-proof rating for covered outdoor areas, according to its listing. It had 4.0 stars from 185 ratings on Amazon Australia, the largest rating count among the listings checked for this guide. The listing gives no model code, so we could not check it against the Australian electrical register.
This suits readers seeking an electric radiant outdoor heater with remote control and timed operation. The listing states three temperature settings, a timer adjustable from 1 to 24 hours, a slimline all-black design and corrosion resistance for most environments. It gives a three-year residential warranty and a two-year commercial warranty. The warranty duration differs for residential and commercial use, and there were no Amazon Australia ratings to weigh alongside the listed features.
What should you look for when buying an outdoor patio heater?
The single most important decision is electric versus gas, and it comes down to your space. Get that right and the rest is detail.
Electric or gas: which is right for my patio?
Choose electric for any covered, undercover or partly enclosed area. Electric radiant heaters run silently, never need refills, are barely affected by light wind and cost only cents an hour. Choose gas for open gardens, large decks or anywhere without a power point, because gas burns hotter and needs no electricity, but it must be used in open, well-ventilated air and you will buy cylinders to refill it.
What wattage or output do I need?
For electric, a 2000 to 2400W unit suits most patios and small alfrescos, while 1500W is fine for a balcony or single seating nook. As a rough guide, a radiant electric heater warms the people within a few metres of it rather than a whole room, so match the number of heaters to the number of seating zones, not the total floor area.
Does the IP weather rating matter?
Yes, if the heater will face any weather. The IP rating tells you how well it resists dust and water: IP44 handles splashes, while IP55 stands up to wind-driven rain and dust far better. For a heater mounted in an exposed spot, pay up for the higher rating. For one that lives fully under cover, a lower rating is fine.
Mounted or freestanding?
A strip needs something to mount to, so if your seating area is open to the sky an outdoor umbrella or a pergola has to come first. Wall and ceiling-mounted strips free up floor space, stay clear of kids and pets, and look tidy in a permanent alfresco, but they need installation and a fixed power point. Freestanding units are flexible and renter friendly, you can move them to follow the warmth, but they take up floor space and can tip, so look for an anti tilt cut off.
What safety features should I insist on?
For any freestanding heater, an anti-tilt or tip-over switch that cuts power if it falls is essential, especially around children and pets. Overheating protection is a bonus. For gas, look for a flame failure device and tip over cut off, and only ever run it outdoors in open air.
How much does it cost to run an outdoor heater in Australia?
This is the number that actually decides value, and it is simple to work out. A 2000W (2kW) electric heater run for one hour uses 2 kilowatt-hours of electricity. At a typical Australian rate of around 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, that is roughly 60 cents an hour. A 2400W unit costs closer to 72 cents an hour, and a 1500W heater around 45 cents an hour. So an evening of three hours on a 2000W heater costs you three times the hourly figure above.
Run that 2000W heater for a full 24 hours and you use about 48 kilowatt hours at 30 cents per kilowatt hour, but almost nobody runs a patio heater around the clock; you switch it on for the hours you are outside. This is exactly why radiant infrared is the efficient choice outdoors: it warms you instantly the moment it is on, so you only pay for the heat you actually use, rather than waiting for it to warm the open air. Gas running costs depend on cylinder prices and how hard you run the burner, and a 9kg bottle on a big gas heater can empty over a handful of long evenings, which is why electric usually wins on cost for covered spaces.
How should you care for and store your patio heater?
A patio heater that is looked after will last many winters; one left out in the weather will rust and fail. Answer-first: cover it or store it when not in use, and keep the heating elements and reflectors clean.
- Use a weatherproof cover. Even an IP55 heater benefits from a fitted cover during storms and over summer when it is not in use. A cover keeps dust off the reflector and water out of the controls.
- Store electric units under cover. Lower-IP heaters like the Goldair budget pick and the Devanti 1500W strip should come inside or into a garage during heavy rain and over the off-season.
- Keep reflectors and elements clean. Wipe the aluminium reflector gently when cool, because a clean reflector throws more heat. Never spray water on a hot or powered heater.
- For gas heaters, check connections. Inspect the hose, regulator and seals for leaks before each season, store the cylinder upright and disconnected, and never store gas indoors.
- Mind the clearances. Keep flammable items, furniture and fabric well clear of the heat output, and never drape anything over a heater to dry it.
What accessories will you also want for your outdoor heating setup?
A heater is one piece of a comfortable winter alfresco. These extras make the space genuinely usable on cold nights, and they pair naturally with any pick above.
- A weatherproof heater cover to protect your investment over storms and summer. Browse covers on Amazon Australia.
- An outdoor-rated extension lead so you can position a freestanding heater away from the wall safely. See options on Amazon Australia.
- A fitted propane cylinder and regulator if you go gas, sized to your heater. Check Amazon Australia.
- Outdoor cushions and a throw rug to trap the warmth where you sit. Find them on Amazon Australia.
- Outdoor string or solar lights to set the mood once the heater is on. Shop Amazon Australia.
- A weatherproof outdoor rug to make a cold deck feel like a room. See Amazon Australia.
- A patio heater wheel kit for moving heavier freestanding units between zones. Browse Amazon Australia.
What about the heaters we did not pick?
A few popular names came up in our research that we chose to leave off, and it is worth knowing why. Premium Australian brands like HEATSTRIP, Bromic and Bonaire make genuinely excellent radiant strip heaters, and you will see them recommended across retailer guides. We considered the HEATSTRIP Nano, which is a fine unit, but at the time of research it had too few Amazon Australia ratings to recommend with confidence over our verified picks, and the high-end Bromic and Bonaire units cost far more than the Maxkon strip that does the core job for a first-home buyer. The HEATSTRIP Classic 3200W is the unit Google itself puts at the top of this search, and Rinnai sells the Airo 1800W, so if you want a premium radiant strip with a local warranty behind it those two are where to look. Excelair, Thermastrip and Nordic show up alongside them in the shopping results at similar money. We link to none of these models and earn nothing on them; the HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR) is a separate model, listed above with its own card.
We also passed on the classic mushroom-style and pyramid gas heaters that dominate the big-box stores. They look the part and throw a lot of heat, but they guzzle gas, struggle in wind and are overkill for the covered patios most Australians actually heat. The cheapest no-brand tabletop electric heaters were tempting on price, but many had a single review or no rating at all, which fails our basic trust test. Our rated picks are the ones that balance real ratings, sensible prices and the right heater type for genuine Aussie outdoor spaces, and the HEATSTRIP Classic above is listed alongside them without ratings yet.
Frequently asked questions about outdoor patio heaters
What is the best heater for an outdoor patio?
For a covered or undercover patio, an electric radiant infrared strip heater is generally best, because it warms people directly, runs silently and is barely affected by wind. Our top pick is the Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater. For an open garden with no power point, a gas heater is the better fit.
Which patio heater gives off the most heat?
Gas patio heaters typically produce more raw heat output than electric units, which is why they suit large open areas. The Goldair 2400W 3-Bar Radiant Heater (GIR300) and HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR) share the highest listed electric wattage here, at 2400W. For covered spaces, though, a focused electric radiant heater often feels warmer where you sit because it heats you directly rather than the open air.
How much does it cost to run a 2000 watt heater for 24 hours?
A 2000W heater uses 2 kilowatt-hours per hour, so over 24 hours it uses about 48 kilowatt-hours. At a typical Australian rate of around 30 cents per kilowatt hour, that is a lot of electricity for one heater to use in a day. In practice you only run a patio heater for the hours you are outside, so a three hour evening uses closer to 6 kilowatt hours.
Are outdoor patio heaters worth it?
For most Australian households, yes. A patio heater extends the use of your outdoor space across autumn and winter, turning a cold deck into usable living area for the price of cents an hour to run. The key is matching the heater type to your space: electric for covered areas, gas for open ones. Buy the wrong type and it will feel like wasted money.
Is infrared or a gas heater more efficient outdoors?
For covered spaces, electric infrared is usually more efficient because it converts almost all its energy into radiant heat that warms people directly, with no fuel waste and no warm-up period. Gas loses efficiency outdoors as heat escapes into the open air, but it wins where there is no power supply or where you need to heat a large open area quickly.
Can you use an outdoor heater under a covered patio?
Electric radiant heaters are designed for exactly this and are ideal under a covered patio or pergola. Gas heaters, however, should only be used in open, well-ventilated air and never under a low or enclosed roof, because they produce combustion by-products that need to disperse. Always check the manufacturer's clearance and ventilation requirements.
Which brand of outdoor heater is best in Australia?
HEATSTRIP and Bromic are the premium Australian radiant strip brands and Rinnai sells the Airo range, and all three are the names retailers push. On Amazon Australia the value brands are Maxkon, Devanti and Goldair, and our best overall is the Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater (STAR2000), with 4.6 stars from 10 ratings on Amazon Australia. The HEATSTRIP Classic with remote 2400W (THH2400AR) is also listed in this guide. Buy the premium brand for a permanent alfresco, the value brand for a first patio.
Do outdoor heaters work in the wind?
Radiant infrared heaters do, because they warm people and surfaces directly rather than warming the air, so a breeze cannot blow the heat away before it reaches you. Convection heaters and gas mushroom heaters do not, because the warm air they make is exactly what the wind removes. That is the whole reason our picks are radiant strips and infrared units rather than the mushroom heaters sold at the big-box stores.
How many watts do you need for a backyard heater?
For an outdoor electric heater, 2,000 to 2,400W suits most patios and small alfrescos and 1,500W is enough for a balcony or one seating nook. Count seating zones rather than floor area, because a radiant heater warms the people within a few metres of it and not the whole yard. Two 1,500W units over two zones beat one 2,400W unit in the middle, and cost about 90 cents an hour together.
What are the best rated outdoor heaters?
Ratings in this guide rest on very different numbers of reviews. The Lenoxx 2000W Free-Standing Patio Heater has the largest base, 4.0 stars from 185 ratings on Amazon Australia. Our best overall, the Maxkon 2000W Carbon Fibre Strip Heater, shows 4.6 stars from 10 ratings, and the Maxkon 1000W TBH1000 shows 5.0 stars from only 2 ratings, too few to settle its score.
What is the safest outdoor heater?
Around kids and pets, a mounted electric strip is the safer layout, because it stays out of their way. A freestanding heater needs a tip over switch that cuts power if it falls, and a gas heater belongs only in open air with a flame failure device. The Goldair, Heller and HEATSTRIP models here were found on the Australian electrical register.
Do outdoor heaters use a lot of electricity?
Use scales with wattage. A 2000W heater uses 2 kilowatt hours for every hour it runs, or about 48 kilowatt hours over a full day, but a patio heater usually runs only for the hours you are outside. Check that figure against your own electricity rate, and choose the lowest wattage that warms your seating zone, such as 1500W for a balcony.
How much should you budget for outdoor heating in a backyard renovation?
Budget for three things: the heater, any installation, and the power it uses. Use the product cards to compare heater prices, and note that high end Bromic and Bonaire units cost far more than the Maxkon strip. A mounted strip needs a wall or ceiling and a fixed power point, and a 2000W heater uses 2 kilowatt hours for each hour it runs.
Complete your outdoor setup
A heater is the centrepiece of a winter-ready backyard, but it works best as part of a complete outdoor space. If you are building out your alfresco or deck, these NestPath guides pair naturally with your new heater.
About the author
Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au
