Hey! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
When you’re out camping or relaxing in your garden on a cool summer’s evening, the last thing you’ll want to experience is the chilly bite of cold.
That windy chill can put a dampener on the whole thing, especially when you just want to unwind and enjoy the company of family and friends.
However, you might not want to install a permanent fire pit in your garden, or be able to take the heavy piece of kit with you every time you go camping. So how can you stay warm while camping without having to build a fire?
This is where a portable propane heater can come in handy! These are lightweight pieces of kit that you can transport easily. This will be perfect if you’re looking to stay warm when going on a camping trip without worrying about taking up lots of space in your RV.
But with so many different types of portable propane heaters on the market, how can you be sure that you’ve found the best portable propane heater for your needs?
We’ve done all of the hard work for you so that you don’t have to. We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of products to find the best of the best that the market has to offer.
We made sure to use a strict list of criteria to help us select the products that we’ve reviewed in more detail down below. So let’s take a look at the best portable propane heaters!
Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy Indoor Safe Propane Heater
The Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy Indoor Safe Propane Heater easily earns our spot of top pick.
This particular portable propane heater comes with a range of great features for you to use. It is also available at a more budget friendly price, making it more affordable than most competitive products.
What we really loved about this particular heater is that it is suitable for use indoors and outdoors. This will make it more versatile than models that can only be used outside. This heater is best suited for smaller areas, as it can heat up to 95 square feet.
Another fantastic thing about this portable propane heater is that it comes with a range of safety features to give you added peace of mind. It features a low oxygen sensor, and will automatically switch off when this is low to prevent any hazardous carbon monoxide.
This heater also comes with an automatic switch off feature in the event that the heater gets accidentally tipped over, too.
Pros
- Indoor safe – can be used safely indoors and outdoors
- Easy to use – features simple on and off switches so that you can use the model safely
- Safety features – comes with an automatic switch off function in the event that oxygen is low or the unit gets tipped over
Cons
- Propane cylinder – you will need to ensure that you buy the right sized cylinders for use with the propane heater
Also available at…
Mr. Heater MH18B Propane Heater
Searching for a highly efficient portable propane heater?
Then this Mr. Heater MH18B Propane Heater is just the thing you need. This particular heater gives you an impressive heat output so as to keep you nice and toasty when you need it most.
What we really liked about this heater is that it comes with an adjustable heat setting. You can choose between the low, medium, and high settings to suit your needs.
This will allow you to adjust the heating output between 4,000, 9,000, or 18,000 depending on how hot you need the heater to be.
You won’t have to worry about this portable propane heater putting your health at risk. It comes with a range of safety features to give you more peace of mind.
This portable propane heater will automatically switch off in the event that it gets tipped over. It also features a low oxygen sensor to switch off if this is low to keep you safe.
Pros
- Adjustable heat settings – choose between 3 different heat settings to suit your needs
- Safety features included – will automatically switch off if the heater gets knocked over or if oxygen is low
- Lightweight – designed to be lightweight for excellent portability
Cons
- Fan – doesn’t come with an included fan as standard
Also available at…
Dura Heat TT-360 Propane 360 Degree Tank Top Heater
Looking for an efficient outdoor portable propane heater to keep you warm while you work outside?
Then the Dura Heat TT-360 Propane 360 Degree Tank Top Heater is an excellent choice for your needs. This particular portable propane heater has been designed with outdoor use in mind. It is capable of heating up to 1,000 square feet.
A feature that we really loved about this portable propane heater when we tested it was that it was super easy to use.
It features a quick connection, which will make it super easy to change the propane tank as needed. Perfect if you’re looking for an easy to use portable propane heater!
This particular propane heater comes with a safety shut off feature to give you extra peace of mind. In the event where the heater gets tipped over and doesn’t have a stable, even surface in mind, then it will automatically switch off.
Pros
- Outdoor use – designed to heat up to 1,000 square feet
- Easy to use – features a quick connection so that it’s easy to switch the propane tank
- Safety features – will automatically turn off if tipped over
Cons
- Stable surface – needs a flat, stable surface in order to work
Also available at…
Mr. Heater MH9BX Portable Propane Heater
The Mr. Heater MH9BX Portable Propane Heater is another excellent choice for a portable propane heater. This particular portable propane heater features a lightweight design so as to be easy to transport.
It is also available at a more affordable price than some competitive products, which will make it suitable for a range of budgets.
A feature that we really liked about this portable propane heater is that it comes with adjustable heat settings.
You can easily adjust the temperature between 4,000 and 9,000 BTU. It is also capable of heating up to 225 square feet, so you won’t be left out in the cold for long.
This particular portable propane heater comes with a range of safety features to give you more peace of mind.
It is able to detect low oxygen levels, and will turn off in this event to prevent unwanted carbon monoxide from causing a potential health hazard. It also features an auto shut off feature if the heater gets tipped over.
Pros
- Adjustable heat – choose between 2 different heat settings
- Safety features – will automatically switch off in the event that the heater gets tipped over
- Budget friendly – available at a competitive price compared to competitive products
Cons
- Heat output – some customers felt the heater was too hot even on the lowest setting
Also available at…
BALI OUTDOORS Portable Patio Heater
Trying to find an excellent portable propane heater for outdoor use? Then this BALI OUTDOORS Portable Patio Heater is the perfect portable propane heater for your needs.
This particular model features a lightweight design, which makes it easy to transport as needed. Perfect if portability is your. main concern!
You won’t be left out in the cold if you choose this particular portable propane heater. It is capable of emitting up to 10,000 BTUs, which will be more than enough to keep all of your family and friends toasty.
What we really liked about this portable propane heater when we tested it was that it was super easy to assemble. This makes it super easy to set up so you can use it to keep you toasty.
Pros
- Easy to assemble – simply follow the included instructions to help you build the heater when it arrives
- Lightweight design – has been designed to be more portable than competitive products
- Impressive heat output – capable of emitting up to 10,000 BTUs
Cons
- Outdoor only – can only be used in outdoor environments
Also available at…
Buyer’s Guide
Searching for the best portable propane heater can be a real challenge. There are so many different factors to consider. If you’ve never had to purchase a portable propane heater before, then it can be confusing knowing where to start.
How can you know what factors to look for in a portable propane heater if you’ve never had to think about it before?
We’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to help you. We’ve collated all of the essential information that you need to make a fully informed decision when it comes to finding the best portable propane heater for your needs.
So as long as your chosen model bears the below factors in mind, you can rest assured that it will be ideal for what you need it for.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about portable propane heaters down below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Lightweight
When it comes to finding the best portable propane heater, one of the most important factors for you to consider is choosing a model that is lightweight.
This will aid you in terms of portability. A portable propane heater that features a lightweight design is going to be much easier to transport than a heavy model.
Ultimately, the lighter the portable propane heater is, the easier it will be to transport as needed. A lightweight model will also be especially handy if you take it with you when camping. It will mean that you don’t have to lug a heavy heater along with you from your vehicle to the campsite.
In terms of weight, it will also be worth thinking about your chosen portable propane heater’s size. The larger the heater is, the more it will weigh.
It will also take up more space in your trunk than a smaller, more lightweight model will. By opting for a lightweight model, you can ensure that you will find a versatile portable propane heater that will be ideal for your needs.
Safety Features
When it comes to anything flammable and heated, your safety will be paramount. There’s no point in opting for a cheaper portable propane heater if it puts the safety of yourself, your family, and your friends at risk! So it will be important to think about what safety features your chosen portable propane heater comes with.
A handy safety feature to look for is a model that can automatically shut off the gas in the event that it accidentally gets tipped over.
This will prevent any flammable hazards from occurring, so you won’t have to worry about any tents catching fire while you sleep. It is also an excellent feature for giving you additional peace of mind.
It will also be important to remember that the heater will be extremely hot when it is on. So it will be worth looking for a model that is able to come with a screen shield to keep you and your loved ones protected.
will be especially useful if you have any young children around who may be tempted to touch the portable propane heater when it is in operation.
Another useful safety feature to look for is a model that will automatically switch off when it notices that the oxygen content in the room with you is low. This will help to prevent a build up or carbon monoxide which can be deadly.
Heat Output
Once you’ve got the basics such as safety features and portability sorted, you will need to think about the heat output of your chosen portable propane heater.
If you are using an indoor model, you will need to think about the size of the space that you are trying to heat.
Ideally you should opt for a portable propane heater that is capable of heating up as large a space as possible.
This will then be able to keep you and your family and friends warm while you need the heater. You also won’t have to wait for ages before the heater starts to warm up the space you are in.
It will be worth looking to see how many British Thermal Units (BTU) your heater is able to output. The larger the BTU rating, the more heat the portable propane heater will be able to give off. This will get you warmer quicker.
You should also consider choosing a model that allows you to vary the level of heat that you use. This will allow you to get the right level of toastiness, without being too hot or too cold at any one time.
Easy To Use
It will be crucial to opt for a model that has been designed to be super easy to use. This will make your life much easier in the long run, as you can simply set the heater to work without having to worry about adjusting any complicated settings.
Make sure that your chosen portable heater comes with a comprehensive list of instructions for you to use. This will ensure that you don’t have to fuss around with any complicated settings before you work out how the portable propane heater works.
It will also be essential to ensure that the propane canisters are easy to change when these need to be replaced. This will allow you to quickly and efficiently switch the canisters so that you can stay nice and warm.
Indoor Vs Outdoor Use
Another important factor to consider is whether you need your portable propane heater for indoor or outdoor use. This is because you can’t use outdoor heaters in an indoor environment. So you will need to ensure that your chosen portable propane heater is suitable for the purpose that you have in mind.
Remember that if you are opting for an indoor portable propane heater, you will need to ensure that sufficient ventilation is in place.
This is because if there is no ventilation in place, the heater won’t have all the oxygen it needs to work properly. It can also cause a build up of carbon monoxide which will be fatal indoors.
Budget
Lastly, you will need to consider how much budget you have to play with. It may be tempting to opt for a cheaper model, however, there’s no guarantee that it will be suitable for your needs.
Cheaper models are often made with cheaper components, so it won’t be able to last you for as long as you need it to.
It will be better to consider which features will be essential for your needs. This will allow you to decide which models will be better for your intended purpose. You can then choose the best portable propane heater that you can reasonably afford.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most Efficient Portable Propane Heater?
The best, most efficient portable propane heaters are:
Is It Safe To Use A Propane Heater Indoors?
As long as you opt for a model that has specifically designed with indoor use in mind, it will be perfectly safe to use a propane heater indoors.
There are certain types of propane heater that have been designed for use indoors, and these are perfectly fine to use as instructed. These models typically come with certain safety features to ensure that they are safe for use indoors.
If you have opted for an outdoor portable propane heater, you should avoid using these indoors. These won’t have the same safety features as the indoor models, such as automatically turning off the gas should the heater become accidentally tipped over.
Do You Need Ventilation When Using A Propane Heater?
In order to get the proper use out of your portable propane heater, it is recommended that you make sure that it is properly ventilated. This is because the propane heater will need the oxygen so that it can breathe properly.
If you ensure that your propane heater has the proper ventilation, you can also prevent any carbon monoxide from building up and causing a potential health hazard.
