We like that this fireplace comes with a remote to control all the settings, with no control panel on the unit to take away from the authentic look. If you’re looking for more ambience than heat, this little portable flame heater may be the right choice. A flame patio heater heats your patio or garden with real fire, which shoots through a tube, while the heat gets reflected downward. It still produces heat and acts as a source of warm, comfortable light at your dining or coffee table. However, this is a sturdy piece of furniture that should not tip over easily, and it comes with a wall anchor kit to secure it.

Although there are six settings ranging from 72-99 degrees, we didn’t notice much of a difference between them. Most reviews praise the gentle, easily adjusted heat, as well as the cosy background created by the flame. Although it doesn’t have a traditional mantel, it is designed to support a TV (up to 150 pounds) and provides ample storage. While testing, we were surprised at how strong the heat felt—we could feel its warmth more than 7 feet away. We've noted no issues in its performance or appearance, even after using the flames pretty consistently every night (about four hours each time), and the heat (2-8 hours each night) during colder temperatures.It can be used with or without heat, and although the heat can be felt up to 11 feet away, we didn’t feel it to be as powerful as we’d hoped. It has an ignition button powered by AA batteries, so you don’t need to rely on matches or lighters to start the fire. She has tested products at home and in the lab, including combination fan heaters, outdoor solar lights, garden hoses, and snow shovels. If you know how many watts the heater draws per hour, you can determine how much it costs to run it.

This patio heater runs on standard 27mm propane cylinders but can accommodate a 13kg propane gas bottle. Incredibly realistic, three-dimensional flames and smoke that are difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

The BU KO Patio Heater is a popular choice with a heat output that’s comparable to other such patio heaters, at 13kW. It is CE-approved and has a tilt-over safety stop, as well as netting to keep probing fingers away from the flames.