Desk research, not testing. Look Into has not used these heaters or fire pits. Prices were read on 16 October 2026. Running costs use our Fire Pit Fuel Cost Index and the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
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Prices and specs last checked by Look Into on 16 October 2026 · next check 4 January 2027 · how we picked
The short version
- Cheapest to buy and run: a 2kW electric patio heater. £48.99 to buy and £1.32 a 2.5 hour evening at 26.32p per kWh. Buy plus 20 evenings: £75.31.
- Cheapest real fire: a wood fire pit. £49.99 to buy and £5.00 an evening. Buy plus 20 evenings: £149.99.
- Gas patio heaters and gas fire pits cost about the same to run, £7.83 an evening at 10kW, because they burn the same gas. Buy plus 20 evenings comes to £333 to £352.
- Heat is different: an electric heater warms the person it points at. A fire pit warms whoever sits round it. A gas patio heater gives out the most heat over a wide area.
- When neither is worth it: for a 20 minute drink outside, a coat and a blanket cost nothing.
Side by side
| Wood fire pit | Gas fire pit | Gas patio heater | Electric patio heater | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example product | VonHaus Geo Fire Pit | Outsunny Rattan Gas Fire Pit Table 14.5kW | REALGLOW Umbrella Gas Patio Heater 13kW | HARRIER 2000W Standing Patio Heater |
| Price (16 Oct 2026) | £49.99 | £121.49 | £139.99 | £48.99 |
| Fuel | Kiln-dried hardwood | 13kg propane | 13kg propane | Mains electricity |
| Cost per hour | £2.00 | £3.13 (10kW) | £3.13 (10kW), £4.07 full 13kW | £0.53 |
| Cost per 2.5h evening | £5.00 | £7.83 | £7.83, £10.17 on full | £1.32 |
| Heat output | 8.2kW of fuel energy at 2kg/h | Up to 14.5kW | Up to 13kW | 2kW |
| Heat type | Radiant all round, low down | Flame, low down, mostly visual | Radiant from above, wide circle | Radiant, aimed at one area |
| Start-up | 15 to 20 minutes to get going | Instant | Instant | Instant |
| Mess | Ash, embers, wood storage | None | None | None |
| Smoke | Yes, especially while lighting | Practically none | Practically none | None |
| Needs | Space and clearance | Bottle space | Bottle space, 2.2m height | An outdoor socket |
Buy plus 20 evenings
Twenty evenings of 2.5 hours each. Gas totals include £54.99 for the first Calor 13kg bottle (£107.49 new minus the £52.50 refill already counted in the fuel).
| Option | Purchase | First gas bottle extra | Running cost (20 × evening) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric patio heater (HARRIER 2000W) | £48.99 | 20 × £1.316 = £26.32 | £75.31 | |
| Wood fire pit (VonHaus Geo) | £49.99 | 20 × £5.00 = £100.00 | £149.99 | |
| Smokeless wood pit (Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0) | £249.99 | 20 × £5.00 = £100.00 | £349.99 | |
| Gas fire pit (Outsunny 14.5kW) at 10kW | £121.49 | £54.99 | 20 × £7.83 = £156.60 | £333.08 |
| Gas patio heater (REALGLOW 13kW) at 10kW | £139.99 | £54.99 | 20 × £7.83 = £156.60 | £351.58 |
| Gas patio heater on full 13kW | £139.99 | £54.99 | 20 × £10.17 = £203.40 | £398.38 |
Working
- Electric: 2kW × 2.5h = 5 kWh × 26.32p = £1.316 an evening - Gas at 10kW: 10 ÷ 12.9 kWh/kg = 0.7752kg/h × £4.0385/kg × 2.5h = £7.83 - Gas patio heater on full: 13 ÷ 12.9 = 1.0078kg/h × £4.0385 = £4.07 an hour, × 2.5h = £10.17 - 20 evenings at 10kW use 20 × 1.938kg = 38.8kg of gas, about three 13kg bottles
Where each one wins
The electric patio heater wins if you have an outdoor socket, sit in one spot (a table or a bench) and want the cheapest warmth. At £1.32 an evening it costs about a quarter of a wood fire. Do not expect it to warm a whole group.
The wood fire pit wins if you want a fire as the reason to go outside, have room for 3m of clearance, and your neighbours do not mind some smoke. It is the cheapest way to warm a circle of people.
The gas patio heater wins for a big group on a patio or a pub-style garden, where you want heat over a wide area without smoke. Expect to pay about £7.83 to £10.17 an evening.
The gas fire pit wins on looks and no smoke. It costs as much to run as a gas patio heater but gives off its heat low down and spread out, so you are mainly paying for the flame.
Neither is worth it for short spells outside, or if you would be heating an open garden on a windy night. Wind carries off heat from all of them, and infrared heaters lose the least.
Smoke, neighbours and UK rules
- Wood fire pits are the only option here that smokes. The gov.uk Smoke Control Area rules are written around building chimneys, and the same page says garden bonfires are allowed. Fire pits are not named. Repeated smoke into a neighbour's home can still be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
- Gas produces no visible smoke, but propane is for open air only. Never use a gas patio heater or fire pit indoors, under a closed gazebo or in a conservatory.
- Electric heaters need a socket rated for outdoor use. The HARRIER listing gives an IPX4 rating, which covers splashes, so bring it in when it rains.
- Flats and rentals: many leases ban bottled gas and open fires on balconies. Check yours before buying either.
- Ready to Burn: if you buy bagged logs in England, sellers must certify bags under 2 cubic metres as 20% moisture or less.
FAQ
Is a fire pit or patio heater cheaper to run?
An electric patio heater is cheapest at about £1.32 for 2.5 hours at the October 2026 price cap. A wood fire pit costs about £5.00, and gas patio heaters and gas fire pits cost about £7.83 at 10kW.
How much does a gas patio heater cost to run per hour?
About £3.13 an hour at 10kW and £4.07 on full 13kW, using a £52.50 Calor 13kg refill checked on 16 October 2026.
How much does an electric patio heater cost to run?
A 2kW heater costs 52.6p an hour at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026). That is £1.32 for 2.5 hours.
Which is warmer, a fire pit or a patio heater?
A 13kW gas patio heater puts out the most heat over a wide circle. A wood fire pit warms the people sitting round it. A 2kW electric heater warms one area.
Do patio heaters use a lot of gas?
A 13kW heater on full uses about 1kg of propane an hour, so a 13kg bottle lasts about 13 hours.
Is it worth buying a patio heater?
Only if you sit outside often. An electric one pays for itself quickly against gas, because it costs £6.51 less per evening than a gas heater at 10kW.
Method
Product prices read on Amazon UK on 16 October 2026: REALGLOW Umbrella Gas Patio Heater 13kW (£139.99, 333 ratings), HARRIER 2000W Standing Patio Heater (£48.99, 343 ratings), plus the fire pits priced in our best fire pits guide. Fuel prices and burn rates as in the Fire Pit Fuel Cost Index. Electricity at the Ofgem cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Use our appliance running cost calculator for your own tariff.
Next check: when the January 2027 price cap starts (1 January 2027).
The practical recommendation
For most UK households: if you sit outside at a table, a 2kW electric patio heater is by far the cheapest warmth at about £1.32 an evening. If you want a fire to gather round, a £49.99 wood fire pit on Ready to Burn logs costs about £5.00 an evening. Gas, whether a heater or a fire pit, costs the most to run at about £7.83 an evening, so pay for it only if you need wide heat with no smoke.
Sources: Calor patio gas bottles · REALGLOW 13kW, Amazon UK · HARRIER 2000W, Amazon UK · Forest Research calorific values · gov.uk Smoke Control Area rules