Reprinted with permission from: Deck Design Upgrades
Here is a general comparison of the types of outdoor fireplaces and patio heaters.
| Type | Fuel | Characteristics | Cost (approx.) |
| patio heater | Natural gas Propane |
-freestanding and tabletop -stainless steel |
$250-$1200 |
| outdoor fireplace | Wood Charcoal Briquettes |
-enclosed fire -chimney vents smoke, ash and embers |
$400-$550 |
| outdoor fire pit | Wood Charcoal Briquettes |
-not enclosed, open fire (but may have spark screen) -can be used as a BBQ -made from copper, steel, cast iron |
$150-$300 |
| portable fire pit | Wood Charcoal Briquettes |
-same as the outdoor fire pit but mounted on wheels -can be moved in and out of storage easily |
$100-$300 |
| chimenea | Wood Charcoal Briquettes |
-classic Mexican outdoor fireplace -pot-belly style -made of fired clay, copper or cast iron |
$250-$300 |
| fire ring | Wood Charcoal Briquettes |
-bottomless cast iron ring that contains fire | $100 |
| overhead infrared patio heater | Natural gas Electric |
-mounts to a wall, pole or overhead | $1000-2000 |
More resources
Yardiac.com has compiled a useful Patio Heater Review if you are looking for more information.