Patio Heater Cost by Type Guide
The type layer prints apart by frame: Frame A prices electric, gas, and halogen heaters one at a time, while Frame B prices five patio configurations as whole projects.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
The heater-type layer, priced apart
| Frame | Line, as published | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Frame A | electric heater, per heater | $437-$532 |
| Frame A | gas heater, per heater | $692-$846 |
| Frame A | halogen heater, per heater | $464-$565 |
| Frame B | configuration, per project | $250-$14,000 |
Every figure here is a published line inside its own frame, never averaged into one band. Heater type is the first attribute Frame A names; configuration is the first attribute Frame B names. The project whole prices on the patio heater hub; the cost-component layer on the breakdown guide.
Frame A by-type lines, as reported
| Type line, as published | Unit band | Installed band, per heater |
|---|---|---|
| Electric patio heater | $210.78-$259.09 | $437-$532 |
| Gas patio heater | $463.29-$569.48 | $692-$846 |
| Halogen patio heater | $237.33-$291.73 | $464-$565 |
Frame A's by-type table prints each type twice: once as a unit line and once as an installed average for one heater. The gas type carries the highest per-heater top of the three, at $846; the electric type prints the lowest installed band; the halogen band sits just above the electric band. A basic-labor line is named on each calculator, inside each installed total.
Frame B by-configuration lines, as reported
| Configuration line, as published | Reading | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Single portable unit | total project | $250-$600 |
| Electric wall-mount pair, installed | total project | $800-$2,000 |
| Natural-gas system | total project | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Infrared system | total project | $2,200-$5,000 |
| Restaurant patio, 4-6 units | total project | $5,200-$14,000 |
Frame B answers the type question with configurations, not fuel types: one portable unit, a wall-mount pair, two full systems, and a multi-unit restaurant patio. Each band counts the whole named configuration as one project. No single-heater line prints in Frame B, and none is derived from a configuration band here.
Reading the same fuel on both frames, as reported
| Reading, as published | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Gas heater, per heater | Frame A | $692-$846 |
| Natural-gas system, total project | Frame B | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Electric heater, per heater | Frame A | $437-$532 |
| Electric wall-mount pair, total project | Frame B | $800-$2,000 |
The same fuel word appears on both frames and means a different count on each. On Frame A, gas and electric name one heater; on Frame B, the same words name a system or a pair counted as one project. A reader comparing the two readings is comparing a count of one against a count of a whole patio, and this guide keeps those readings on separate lines.
Reading a type quote, by frame
A type line answers the heater question: electric, gas, or halogen on Frame A, or a named configuration on Frame B. A quote names its type or configuration in its first line and its frame beside it, and its per-heater reading apart from any whole-project reading.
- Type or configuration named beside every band
- Per-heater lines read apart from total-project lines
- Each frame's type reading read on its own frame only
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electric patio heater cost, as published?
Frame A prints the electric unit at $210.78 to $259.09 and the electric type installed at $437 to $532 per heater. Frame B prints an electric wall-mount pair at $800 to $2,000 as a total project -- a pair counted whole, not a per-heater reading.
What does a gas patio heater cost, as reported?
Frame A prints the gas unit at $463.29 to $569.48 and the gas type installed at $692 to $846 per heater, the highest per-heater band of the three Frame A types. Frame B prints a natural-gas system at $2,000 to $5,000 as a total project.
What does a halogen patio heater cost, as reported?
Frame A prints the halogen unit at $237.33 to $291.73 and the halogen type installed at $464 to $565 per heater. Frame B prints no halogen line; its reading is by configuration, from a portable unit at $250 to $600 to an infrared system at $2,200 to $5,000.
Does Frame B split its price by heater fuel type, as reported?
No. Frame B prints configurations: a portable unit, an electric wall-mount pair, a natural-gas system, an infrared system, and a restaurant patio of four to six units. The fuel-type split -- electric, gas, halogen -- is Frame A's reading only.
Can a Frame A type band and a Frame B configuration band be combined?
No. Frame A counts one heater at a time and Frame B counts a whole configuration as one project. The frames and their type readings are never blended, and neither band is converted into the other.