You want to sit outside for longer, even when the evening cools down. There are two popular solutions: a fire table with a flame in the middle of the seating area, or a patio heater that radiates warmth towards you. They look alike but do quite different things. In this article you'll read about the difference, which one suits your terrace, when to combine them and what to look out for before you choose.
In brief: a fire table is mainly about atmosphere, a patio heater mainly about warmth. Under a canopy, an electric heater is often the easiest option; on an open terrace with a lounge set, a fire table adds more cosiness. If you want both, combine them: the flame in the middle, the warmth from above or from the side. Always start with shelter from the wind.
The big difference: atmosphere or warmth
A patio heater is designed to keep you warm. An infrared heater warms whatever it points at, much like the sun on your face, and a gas heater gives off warmth all around. A fire table is designed for atmosphere: a flame in the middle that everyone sits around, with a top for glasses and nibbles. It also gives off heat, but mainly to whoever is sitting close by.
| Fire table | Patio heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Atmosphere and a table | Warmth |
| Warmth | Close to the flame | Aimed at the seating area |
| Atmosphere | Real flame in the middle | Little, sometimes a glow |
| Function as a table | Yes, with a lid also during the day | No, except for the table model |
| Fuel | Usually gas | Electric or gas |
| Under a canopy | Only if the manufacturer allows it | Electric wall and hanging models often do |
| In wind | The flame blows about; a glass surround helps | Infrared is barely affected by wind |
You can read about the types of patio heating itself, from infrared to gas and fire basket, in buying a patio heater: infrared, gas or fire basket? Everything about gas, bioethanol, size and height for fire tables is in buying a fire table: gas, bioethanol or wood?
Choice test: fire table, patio heater or both?
Answer four questions and see which direction suits you best.
Fire table, patio heater or both?
Why do you want to sit outside for longer?
- Cosy time together around a flame, with a drink
- I simply get cold quickly once the sun has gone
- Both: atmosphere and staying warm while sitting
Where do you usually sit?
- On an open terrace, in a lounge corner
- Under a canopy or against the wall of the house
- In a large lounge corner, partly covered
Do you have power near your seating area?
- No, and I don't want cables
- Yes, there is an outdoor socket or a connection
- Yes, and a gas bottle is no problem for me either
How often do you sit outside in spring and autumn?
- Now and then, when we have visitors
- Almost every evening when it's dry
- Often, and preferably for as long as possible
A fire table suits you. You want atmosphere and a spot where everyone can gather, and you don't need electricity. Grab a blanket for the cooler evenings.
A patio heater suits you. You mainly want to stay warm, and with power nearby an infrared heater on the wall or ceiling is the easiest option.
Both suit you. Place the fire table in the middle for atmosphere and hang a heater on the wall or under the canopy for warmth.
Which suits your terrace?
Under a canopy or against the wall of the house
An electric heater is the obvious choice here. A hanging model or a wall model takes up no floor space and directs the warmth onto the bench. A gas fire table under a roof is only an option if the manufacturer permits it and there is enough clear space above the flame; in an enclosed space, never.
An open terrace with a lounge set
This is where a fire table really comes into its own. It sits low in front of the bench, everyone looks at the flame, and you have a table for glasses and nibbles. In a windy spot, a glass surround around the burner helps.
An outdoor dining table
If you like eating outside, consider a fire table at dining-table height, or a patio heater above or beside the table. A table model is a halfway option: a small electric heater that you place on or next to the table.
A small balcony
Space is scarce on a balcony. A table or wall model electric heater is often the simplest option there, with no gas bottle. A small fire table can also work, provided your building's rules allow it and there is enough room around the flame.
Both: how to combine them
A fire table and a patio heater complement each other. The fire table provides the focal point and the atmosphere, the patio heater provides warmth on your back and shoulders. A few arrangements that work well:
| Arrangement | Fire table | Patio heater | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lounge corner under a canopy | In front of the bench, if permitted | Hanging above the bench | Distances from both manuals |
| Corner bench against the wall | Middle, in front of the corner | Wall model above the bench | Aim the heater at the seating |
| Open terrace | In the middle | Freestanding model behind the chairs | Keep cable or gas bottle out of the walkway |
| Dining table | At dining-table height | Hanging above the table | Don't hang it above the flame |
Not above the flame
Don't hang or place a patio heater directly above the flame of a fire table. The heat from the flame rises, and according to the manual the heater should hang freely. Place the two side by side, or aim the heater at the chairs rather than the table.
Gas or electric: running costs and hassle
A fire table usually runs on a gas bottle. A patio heater runs on electricity or gas. That determines what you need to arrange:
| Gas (fire table or gas heater) | Electric (infrared) | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Gas bottle, hose and pressure regulator | Outdoor socket or fixed connection |
| Hassle | Fetching, swapping and storing the bottle safely | Tidying the cable neatly out of the way |
| Consumption | Gas from the bottle, for each hour it burns | Electricity, for each hour it is on |
| Location | Outdoors | Also under a canopy, if the manufacturer allows it |
The wattage in the product information gives an idea of consumption: a 1,200-watt table model uses less than a 2,500-watt wall model, and a 10,000-watt gas heater uses more gas than a small fire table. So don't automatically pick the most powerful unit, but one that suits the size of your seating area.
If you mainly want to stay warm, a fire table won't make you happy. If you mainly want cosiness, a patio heater won't give you the flame. Decide first what you'd miss on a chilly evening.
Shelter first, then warmth
Whether you choose a fire table or a patio heater, in a draughty spot a lot of warmth gets carried away by the wind. A windbreak or side wall, a spot against the house wall, an outdoor rug for warm feet and a blanket make more difference than you might think. You can find ideas in windbreaks and privacy screens and an outdoor rug for the terrace.
Five examples compared
Below are two fire tables and three patio heaters, each for a different situation. The specifications come from the product information; you can see the current price and shop on the cards.
| Product | Type | Fuel | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Cocooning Cocoon Table | Fire table | Gas | Lounge, 76 x 76 cm |
| Happy Cocooning Lounge & Dining | Fire table | Gas | Lounge, 76 x 80 cm |
| Eurom Golden 2000 Ultra RCD | Patio heater | Electric, 2,000 W | Hanging |
| Sunred Dark 1200 | Patio heater | Electric, 1,200 W | On table |
| Sunred Propus | Patio heater | Gas, 10,000 W | Freestanding |
Happy Cocooning Cocoon Table: concrete fire table
A square fire table measuring 76 by 76 cm and 46 cm high, with an anthracite concrete top. A sturdy lounge table for an open terrace, with the flame in the middle.
Cocoon Table square anthracite
Happy Cocooning Lounge & Dining: low and wide
A low fire table measuring 76 by 80 cm and 30 cm high, made of black composite. According to the product information, 19,500 watts.
Lounge & Dining square black
Eurom Golden 2000 Ultra RCD: hanging under a canopy
A hanging 2,000-watt infrared heater with six settings and a remote control. According to the product information, IP65 rated and a heating range of 20 m². A sensible choice above a lounge set under a canopy.
Sunred Dark 1200: small, table-top
A 1,200-watt table model, 60 cm high, with two settings. According to the product information, a heating range of 12 m². Handy for a balcony or a seating area for two.
Sunred Propus: gas, no socket needed
A freestanding 10,000-watt gas patio heater, 137 cm high and movable on wheels. According to the product information, it has a tip-over safety switch and a heating range of 50 m². For outdoor use only.
Also worth a look:
Sunred Dark 2500: wall model
View heater →
Eurom Flameheater: gas with a visible flame
View heater →
Cosi Cosiflow Straight: 120 x 80 cm
View fire table →How to choose quickly
- Mainly atmosphere, open terrace: a fire table
- Mainly warmth, under a canopy: an electric heater
- No power and plenty of space: a gas heater or a gas fire table
- Small balcony: a table or wall model
- Atmosphere and warmth: both, side by side
Common mistakes
Buying a fire table to keep warm
A fire table mainly warms whoever is sitting close by. If you feel the cold quickly, choose a patio heater or combine the two.
Gas under an enclosed canopy
A gas fire table and a gas heater belong outdoors. Never in an enclosed space, a conservatory or a tent.
Hanging the heater above the flame
Don't hang a patio heater directly above a fire table. Place them side by side.
Forgetting where the power comes from
An electric heater needs a socket or connection that can handle its wattage. An extension cable running across the terrace is not a solution.
Checklist
- You know whether you mainly want atmosphere, mainly warmth or both
- You know whether you're sitting under a roof or outdoors
- There is power at the seating area, or you deliberately opt for gas
- The size and height suit your lounge set or dining table
- You keep to the distances in the manuals
- The seating area is sheltered from the wind
Compare fire tables from Cosi and Happy Cocooning, or the patio heating from Sunred and Eurom.
Frequently asked questions
Which gives more warmth: a fire table or a patio heater?
A patio heater. It is designed to produce heat, and an infrared heater directs that warmth to where you sit. A fire table mainly provides ambience and warmth close to the flame. If you want to sit really warm on a cold evening, choose a patio heater or combine the two.
Can you use a fire table and a patio heater together?
Yes, and many people do. The fire table stands in the centre of the seating area for ambience, while a wall or hanging model provides warmth from above or from the side. Do keep to the distances both manufacturers specify, and don't place the patio heater directly above the fire table's flame.
Which is better under a canopy?
Under a canopy, an electric infrared heater mounted on the wall or ceiling is usually the easiest choice, provided the manufacturer allows that location. A gas fire table and a gas patio heater belong outdoors, with plenty of clear space above the flame. Read the manual for both before installing them under a roof.
Which costs more to run?
That depends on how often and how long you use them, and on the price of electricity and gas. An electric heater uses electricity for as long as it is switched on; a gas fire table and a gas patio heater use gas from the cylinder. The power rating in the product information gives an indication: the higher it is, the more you use per hour.
What suits a small balcony?
On a small balcony, a tabletop or wall-mounted electric patio heater is often the easiest option: it takes up little space and needs no gas cylinder. A small gas fire table can also work, if the owners' association or tenancy rules allow it and there is enough space above and around the flame.
