Have you ever gone camping in the winter?
If you have, you know that having a gas heater, specifically a portable propane heater is required to stay warm during the night.
In this guide, we are going to explore a few different types of portable propane heaters that could be good for your next camping trip, but if you need a portable source of heat, they may be a great option to consider.
Top 10 Best Portable Propane Heater Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Features | Rating (1-5) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy 3800-BTU Indoor Safe Propane Heater | Lasts 5.5 hours Durable design Warms well Safety shutoff | 3 | $$ |
 | Mr. Heater MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Compact | Easy to start Two heat settings Durable design Safety features | 3.5 | $$$ |
 | Texsport Bulk Tank Double Propane Heater | Durable steel frame Heat really quickly Can angle heaters Tanks last six hours | 4 | $$ |
 | Outland Firebowl 823 Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit, 19-Inch Diameter 58,000 BTU | Long hose Clean burning Beautiful exterior design No campfire smoke smell | 4 | $$$$ |
 | Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Heater | Heats quickly Can adjust heat Easy to use Circulates heat well | 4 | $$$$$ |
 | DeWalt DXH65FAV FALP Heater, 35 to 65K BTU | Heats up quickly Easy to maneuver Easy to set up Ideal for camping | 4.5 | $$$$$ |
 | Texsport Deluxe Bulk Tank Infared Propane Heater | Heats quickly Great for tailgate party or camping Easy to use Fuel lasts a long time | 4.5 | $ |
 | Texsport Sportsmate Portable Propane Heater | Very portable design Stable base Great for small areas Easy to use | 4.5 | $ |
 | Mr. Heater MH15T Single Tank Top Outdoor Propane Heater | Easy to use Efficient heater Heat is adjustable No assembly required | 4.5 | $ |
 | AmazonBasics Havana Bronze Commercial Patio Heater | Easy to adjust heat Easy to assemble Sturdy base Aesthetically pleasing design | 5 | $$ |
What Type of Portable Propane Heaters Are There?
When it comes to portable propane heaters, there are effectively three types that you can purchase. The heaters fit into each category based on the type of heating technology that they use. The first is a forced air heater, which is designed to quickly distribute heat by blowing air. It is ideal for heating a garage or a large space, but it may not be great for camping because the fan will need to be plugged in to function.
A convection heater is designed to heat the area that is right around the heater, which means that it is ideal for small spaces such as tents. Radiant heaters do not heat a space, instead, it heats the objects within a space and the heat radiates off of the objects, warming the air in the process.
Benefits of the Best Portable Propane Heaters
A portable propane heater is one of the most versatile heat sources available, especially if you need it for a patio or an outdoor setting. You can easily move this type of propane heater wherever you need, and it will be able to keep you and the surrounding area warm. You don’t need to worry about an electric plug to use the heater, so when you go camping at a primitive site, you can still stay nice and warm.
Downsides of Portable Propane Heaters
As with any purchase, there are a few downsides to a portable propane heater, but the main one is that you will need to purchase propane. They do not heat up the area immediately, and these heaters are highly flammable, which means you need to monitor them, especially when it is windy outside. Also, many of these portable heaters do not have ventilation, which means that they cannot be used indoors.
10. Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy 3800-BTU Indoor Safe Propane Heater, Medium
The first propane heater, which is the Mr. Heater F215100, is a small model that is extremely portable. In fact, the compact size of the device also makes it easy to store, especially when you fold down the handle. This unit utilizes a one pound cylinder of propane, which does not come with the purchase of this product.
You can use this propane heater indoors, but it is not advised that you use it near a motorized vehicle. It can heat a room that is up to 95 square feet in size, but it works for an area of that size outdoors as well. There is also a low oxygen sensor on the unit that is designed to automatically turn the heater off so that it doesn’t flare up as well as an accidental tip over sensor for your protection.
Pros:
- Lasts 5.5 hours
- Durable design
- Warms well
- Safety shutoff
Cons:
- No heat settings
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9. Mr. Heater MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Compact Propane Space Heater – Fold-down Handle High Temperature Wire Guard Swivel Regulator Low-oxygen Safety Shut Off
The next portable propane heater that we are going to review is another Mr. Heater model, but the Mh9BX is a bit larger than the first product that we reviewed. This model is designed to be used indoors as well as out, so it comes with an air filter to ensure that you are not breathing in propane fumes as the heater heats your space for you. In fact, this propane heater can heat a room up to 200 square feet with ease.
This heater also has a few built-in safety features so that your home or camper is never in danger if the propane heater gets knocked over or if the pilot light goes out because of a strong wind. In addition, there are two heat settings on this unit; one is designed to use 4,000 BTUs, while the other uses 9,000 BTUs.
Pros:
- Easy to start
- Two heat settings
- Durable design
- Safety features
Cons:
- A bit large
8. Texsport Bulk Tank Double Propane Heater
This Texsport portable propane heater is the first one on our list that connects to a bulk propane take. This double heater design is perfect for the great outdoors because it can keep you twice as warm a single heater. Each one of the burners can burn up to 10,000 BTUs, so with both of the heat of them functioning at full capacity, you will stay warm for hours.
This propane heater is designed with ceramic burner pads as well so that the heat radiates off of them and warms a larger area. If the flam happens to go out because of the wind, there is an automatic shut off feature built into the design of this heater to ensure that you are not breathing gas.
Pros:
- Durable steel frame
- Heat really quickly
- Can angle heaters
- Tanks last six hours
Cons:
- Wind can blow out flame on low setting
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7. Outland Firebowl 883 Mega Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit with Soft Cover, 24-Inch Diameter 58,000 BTU
This propane heater is a little bit different than the other that we have looked at so far. It is designed like a fire pit, so you can sit around it to warm up on a cold night at a campsite. The 58,000 BTUs that it uses an hour creates a smokeless flame that does not need to be refueled with wood. In fact, it is actually an option that CSA allows campers to use when there is a campfire ban in effect.
The fire bowl itself is crafted from a very durable steel material that was coated with a protective powder finish so that it lasts for years of use. It comes with a control to regulate the fire, a weather resistant cover, and a decorative rock set so that you can make your fire pit look more traditional.
Pros:
- Long hose
- Clean burning
- Beautiful exterior design
- No campfire smoke smell
Cons:
- Flame could be larger
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6. Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Heater
The next heater on this list is one that is designed to operate indoors without any electricity. It is designed to be mounted to a wall if you want a permanent heating solution, or you can use it freestanding, which makes it perfectly portable to use in a garage or a shed where it may be a bit chilly during the winter months.
It produces 30,000 BTUs of heat an hour, so you will be quite comfortable with this unit. In fact, it can heat up to 750 square feet with ease. The heat can be controlled with the five heat settings that are available on this unit, and there is also an oxygen sensor that automatically turns off the gas if the flame goes out.
Pros:
- Heats quickly
- Can adjust heat
- Easy to use
- Circulates heat well
Cons:
- Heat tends to go upwards
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5. DEWALT 45K BTU PORTABLE RADIANT HEATER
The DeWalt Portable Radiant heater has a much different design than the ones that we have looked at so far. It is actually shaped like a hand truck, which means that it has a stable base when it is being used, but it can easily be tilted over onto the wheels to move it when you need. The wheels are a true convenience considering that the unit is a little over 30 pounds of steel, which would be cumbersome to move.
This is a radiant heater, which means that it heats things nearby so that the heat can radiate from those objects and warm the area. There is a steel frame surrounding the heat plates that are designed to heat quickly and disperse the heat quickly.
Pros:
- Heats up quickly
- Easy to maneuver
- Easy to set up
- Ideal for camping
Cons:
- Does not work well in wind
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4. Texsport Deluxe Bulk Tank Infrared Propane Heater
The TexSport Deluxe is very similar to the other propane heater that we looked at from this company insofar as design and functionality, the main difference is that this unit has one large burner instead of two, so it is designed to heat a smaller area. The burner is still able to emit 10,000 BTUs an hour, and the burner has a ceramic design that is durable and able to radiate heat quite well.
This unit does use a bulk tank, which means that it will last much longer in cold weather. It also has an automatic shut off that is designed to protect you in the event that the flame goes out and the gas is still on. This propane heater is not designed to be used indoors.
Pros:
- Heats quickly
- Great for tailgate party or camping
- Easy to use
- Fuel lasts a long time
Cons:
- Not for indoor use
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3. Texsport Sportsmate Portable Propane Heater
The next propane heater that we are going to look at is the Texsport Sportsmate, which is a smaller propane heater that is perfect for tailgate parties and golfing on a brisk fall day. This unit uses a small cylinder of propane that is designed to sit upright in at the included base.
This ensures that the gas is stable while the heater is being used, which ensures your safety. There is also an automatic shut off that is designed to ensure that the gas does not continue to feed the heater when the flame goes out.
The burner burns at up to 3,000 BTUs, which may not seem like a lot compared to some of the larger models on this list, but it is more than sufficient, and the stainless steel burner helps to radiate the heat and warm the area as well.
Pros:
- Very portable design
- Stable base
- Great for small areas
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Can be difficult to ignite
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2. Mr. Heater MH15T Single Tank Top Outdoor Propane Heater
The Mr. Heater MH15T is another propane heater that is designed to be positioned on top of the large, bulk tank. This means that it is also designed to be used in an outside setting like a campsite or a patio. The unit can give off 8,000 to 15,000 BTUs, and the heat can be adjusted is you need. The propane tank does not come with the unit when you purchase it.
The heater part of this device has a full metal design that not only gives off heat, but it radiates it from the metal so that it can heat the surrounding area more efficiently. It also has a wire cover over the heater to protect you from the burner. In addition, there is also an automatic shut off safety precaution that will activate in the event that the flame is extinguished.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Efficient heater
- Heat is adjustable
- No assembly required
Cons:
- No self-ignition option
1. AmazonBasics Havana Bronze Commercial Patio Heater
The final portable propane heater that we are going to review in this guide is the AmazonBasics Havana Patio Heater. It is ideal for a gathering on your patio when the sun goes down and the air becomes a little more brisk. It has a simple, one step ignition system that only requires a button press, and the temperature is easy to adjust as well.
The base of the heater is quite sturdy; in fact, you can add water or sand to it to ensure that it never gets knocked over. The base also has wheels so that you can easily move it around your patio or campsite if you need. One of the reasons that this propane heater is considered one of the best is because it is designed like a patio lamp, so it adds style to your décor as well as keeps you warm.
Pros:
- Easy to adjust heat
- Easy to assemble
- Sturdy base
- Aesthetically pleasing design
Cons:
- Heat unit hisses
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Editors Choice of Best Portable Propane Heater
All of the portable propane heaters that we have looked at in this guide are great options if you need a heat source that you can take with you, but if we were to choose one that stands out above the rest, it would be the AmazonBasics Havana Bronze Commercial Patio Heater.
It is a heater that is designed to heat a large area, and it has a design that makes it look attractive on a patio and a base that ensures that the unit is secure. In addition, the heater has wheels, so you can move it to another location with ease.
If there’s more practical things you’d like to add to your life such as a portable propane heater, make sure to have a look at these log splitters. A lot more practical and safe than the traditional log splitting ways.
