The 10 Best Tabletop Outdoor Heaters

The Blue Rhino Northgate makes up one quarter of the Endless Summer line of electric lamps, which plug directly into any standard, grounded outlet, and bring a touch of old-world class to any patio, without having to worry about any tanks or flames.

If it's absolutely frigid out, but you're too busy to go inside and seek shelter, put the Dura Heat LP18 on the workbench and it'll feel like the sun is on your face. It draws from two individual LP bottles that pump out up to 18,000 BTUs, blowing away the competition.

The pyramid-styled AZ Patio Quartz warms up brisk nights in the backyard by sending mesmerizing flames up through the middle of a glass cylinder for about an hour on a 1-lb LP gas bottle. But double-check that the tube is properly installed, in order to prevent disaster.

If your table's deep in the woods, put the Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy on it and prepare to defrost your hands after a long, cold day. It's so powerful that it can even serve as a makeshift grill, just ensure that you have great ventilation if you use it in a tent or cabin.

The inverse of most options we found, the Ener-G+ Freestanding consists of an infrared radiator underneath a tempered-glass pane, resulting in a tabletop that's warm, but not hot to the touch — and it may even inspire you to do away with your old furniture entirely.

The Endless Summer Fireplace is an effective, propane-driven appliance that adds an elegant touch to any outdoor space. Its heats a pile of fire-glass rocks, which in turn radiate heat in every direction, including to the base — so don't touch it and burn yourself.

It doesn't get much simpler than The Real Hot Pot, a dense, clay vessel that's basically just a high-temp flowerpot. It uses almost anything you want for fuel, such as wood pellets, gel canisters, or even votive candles. But look out: it gets deceptively hot to the touch.

The 28" Two Harbors Fire Pit is a great centerpiece for a group of friends huddled on a chilly evening. It works best on top of an umbrella hole to accommodate its fuel intake, and it spews flames several inches high, so make certain it's nowhere near anything flammable.

The AZ Patio Electric is awfully similar to a standard table lamp, except its bulb draws a whopping 1,500 watts in order to keep you warm without burning any fuel, making it considerably safe, with no carbon monoxide risks or touchy, pressurized gases.

The Napoleon SkyFire is essentially a miniature version of the most popular outdoor space heater ever made. It's probably the most effective option, but do your best to use it on a flat, level surface, because it's slightly top-heavy.