Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater review

The Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater is a popular portable patio heater and one of our picks for the best patio heaters. Made by Fire Sense – one of the leading patio heater brands in the United States – it offers a winning blend of power and portability.

If you already own a Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater, this smaller table-top version has a similar look and feel to match. The Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater will sit comfortably on a glass-top outdoor table or picnic table, and provide enough warmth for everyone sitting around it.

Fueled with a small one-pound propane tank, it can produce up to 10,000 BTU of heat – each BTU (British Thermal Unit) is the energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. 

Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater review: Price

There are two finishes to choose from with the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater: the hammered bronze model retails for $139.99 directly from the Fire Sense online shop, and the stainless steel is $149.99.

Both are, however, substantially cheaper through online retailers such as Amazon or Walmart, where the bronze model can be found for less than $100, and the stainless steel version is around $15 more. A copper version is also available at Wayfair.

Bear in mind that AZ Patio Heaters also offers a slightly cheaper table top alternative: the Hiland HLDS032. More information can be found in our Fire Sense vs AZ Patio Heaters guide, which compares similar products from these two very popular brands.

Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater review: Features

With stainless steel burners and a state-of-the-art reflector grill, the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater is designed to maximize heat output. Fire Sense claims it can raise the temperature around it by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Similar to its larger cousin, the Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater, this portable heater uses a Piezo electronic ignition switch. A one-pound propane tank (not included) will provide approximately three hours of heat.

For peace of mind, the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater  includes several useful safety features, including a grill guard, oxygen depletion sensor and auto shut-off tilt valve. This is particularly reassuring when using it camping or on a picnic site when it could get kicked over.

Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater review: User Reviews

Wayfair customers give the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater 4.5 out of 5 stars from 275 reviews, and Walmart customers rate it similarly highly, with 4.6 out of 5 from over 100 reviews. Amazon customers are more critical, giving the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater 3.8 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews.

Most users agreed that the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater  is easy to assemble and operate, and that it gives out a decent heat output for its size – although you do need to be in close proximity to feel the full benefit. It comes widely recommended for small patios and decking areas.

Most reviewers noted that, in their experience, three hours is an overly optimistic run-time on a one-pound tank of propane, with some reporting that their canister ran out in as little as one hour. This makes this heater expensive to run. 

To counterbalance this, many spoke of hooking up the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater to a much larger 20-pound tank using an adapter hose, although this solution is of course less suitable if you plan to transport the heater out and about.

Should you buy the Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater?

The Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater is a great piece of kit, but you need to consider how you will use it. If you regularly plan to take it on camping trips or picnics as well as keeping you warm on the patio at home, it's a great choice.

The balance of portability and power is key. If you only plan to use it while sitting around your patio table, a less powerful electric heater such as the Hiland Parasol Electric Patio Heater is cheaper to run, and more eco-friendly. 

If you don't need the portability, and need to heat a larger area, for as little as $50 more you get around five times more power by upgrading to its larger cousin, the Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater. But if space is at a premium, being able to place the unit on top of your patio table could make all the difference.

Not for you? Check out other options like the Avenlur 42000 BTU Pyramid Patio Heater or go for something different altogether with one of the best fire pits.