Best Rattan Patio Heater on the Market (Reviews) in 2023
Are you looking for a patio heater but finding the typical, industrial look unappealing? A rattan patio heater may be a good fit for your outdoor space.
In this guide, you’ll find out all about rattan patio heaters, and have a look through the top 5 models on the market.
No time to read? These are the best rattan patio heaters on the market
1. HOMCOM Rattan Heater — fuel-efficient, easy to assembly, and the base serves as a table.
2. Firefly Rattan Patio Heater — best rattan patio heater if you prefer an electric model.
3. Enders Rattan Patio Heater — simple assembly and a cone-shaped rattan base.
4. Palm Springs Rattan Wicker Patio Heater — powerful, 13kW heater with a table-top, but the instruction manual is vague.
5. Glow Warm 13 kW Rattan Patio Heater — tall, freestanding rattan patio gas heater with an unobtrusive, bullet-shaped base.
How We Chose and Tested Each Rattan Patio Heater On this List
To help you find the best rattan patio heater, we put each of our picks through a thorough selection process. Here are some criteria we used in choosing these models:
- Functionality — each rattan patio heater here can serve its intended purpose of keeping you, and your guests warm. That said, powerful as these heaters are, you’ll still need layers if you’re using one when it’s really cold out. While these heaters can take away the chill, they simply won’t replace being outdoors.
- Safety — every model we picked comes with industry-standard safety features.
- Aesthetics — you’re choosing rattan for a reason; most likely, to match your patio furniture, or simply because you love the look of it. So, we made sure that all our picks have some visual appeal to them.
- Durability — the last thing you want is a flimsy patio heater that starts falling apart a year after you buy it. That’s why all the models below are well-built, and come from reputable manufacturers.
Best Rattan Patio Heater Models on the Market in 2024
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to — here are the 5 best rattan patio heaters for the money.
1. HOMCOM Rattan Heater
The HOMCOM Rattan gas patio heater is an excellent solution for those chilly evenings during summer, fall, and spring. The heater has a stainless steel metal frame with powder coating, and a rattan base cabinet that houses the gas bottle.
This heater looks especially lovely when placed next to your garden rattan furniture. We also loved that the gas bottle cabinet incorporates a table-top to place your morning coffee while enjoying the garden in the comfort of your heater. The heat output is adjustable, and the top reflector makes sure the heat efficiently distributed.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 81 x 221 cm
- Weight: 21.7 kg
- Power source: propane or butane only
- Output: 12kW
- Material: Rattan/Powder-coated stainless steel
- Bottle housing dimensions: 5 X 35.5cm
- Safety: not mentioned
What do people say about it? The HOMCOM Rattan patio heater is sturdy, stable and easy to assemble. The integral side table feature is also quite popular. The heat output is strong, and one customer noted that one bottle of gas lasted an entire summer. Apparently, it is a bit hard to light, but disperses a great deal of heat once it is on. Some customers complained about missing, or incorrect parts after delivery.
The regulator is not included in the package; however, this is clearly stated in the product description, so it’s hard to fault the vendor.
Pros:
- The extra function as a side table is convenient
- Easy assembly
- Strong heat output
Cons:
- A regulator is not included with the purchase
- A little hard to light
- No mention of safety features
To summarise
Overall, the HOMCOM rattan gas patio heater is a reliable and sturdy. Its lovely rattan base gives the heater a sense of belonging amidst your patio decor.
2. Firefly Rattan Patio Heater
Next on our list is an entry from the well-known Firefly — a rattan table top patio heater that’s actually electric, unlike the rest of our picks. The attractive cone-shaped rattan base fits snuggly on any table, offering you and your guests instant, infrared heat. If your patio table is also made from rattan, this patio heater will be a perfect match.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 160 x 60cm
- Power source: Electricity
- Heat output: 2.1 kW
- Material: Stainless steel/Rattan
- Cable length: 3 metres
What do people say about it? Most buyers are satisfied with both the sturdiness and the heat output. That said, some have complained about missing instructions. Others have also mentioned the high price point.
Pros:
- Several safety features
- Regulator included
Cons:
- Hard to ignite
To summarise
Whilst most of the rattan heaters on our list are gas-fuelled, we thought we’d include this electric model from Firefly as a safer, fuel efficient alternative. Not only is it perfect for smaller dinner gatherings, but you’ll also find it heavy and robust to be stable outdoors. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that electricity and water don’t mix well, so keep this heater away from rain and snow.
3. Enders Rattan Patio Heater
Enders is a well-trusted brand in the outdoor furniture market, making this rattan base patio heater a reliable choice for your garden setting. We were quite impressed with both its visual appeal and quality.
The base, column, and bottle housing are made of powder-coated stainless steel, with artificial rattan covering the housing. For your safety, the Enders rattan patio heater has a tilt-over safety stop and a flame-failure safety control. The heater comes with wheels for easy movement to the desired location.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: n/a
- Power source: Liquid propane gas
- Heat output: n/a
- Material: rattan/steel
What do people say about it? The Enders rattan patio heater is very durable, and produces sufficient heat. One customer notes that they will highly recommend the Enders patio heater as it has lasted them for years. The assembly of the unit takes roughly 1 hour.
Pros:
- Weather-proof
- Durable
Cons:
- Nothing obvious
To summarise
Between Enders’ reputation as a trustworthy brand, and the heater’s excellent reviews, the Enders seems like a reliable choice. The heater has a lovely, simplistic design, and its output is apparently quite strong. Crucially, Enders offers proven durability – an essential quality for an outdoor device.
4. Palm Springs Rattan Wicker Patio Heater
This elegant Palm Springs rattan patio heater conveniently stores the gas bottle in a wicker cupboard, and provides a less ‘industrial’ look than most other gas heaters.
The canister housing provides a flat table-top surface, so you have a place to rest your drinks, or a book, while enjoying the warmth radiating from the aluminium top reflector. The heat is adjustable with a maximum output of 13kW.
It is easy to use, and we were thrilled to see that it comes with a click-on gas regulator. You turn the gas off, then push the button, and the regulator will lift off. The regulator is included in the purchase.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 218 cm / Rattan table-top 65 x 65 cm
- Power source: propane or butane
- Heat output: adjustable – up to 13 kW.
- Material: Stainless steel / rattan
What do people say about it? Overall, the consensus is that the Palm Springs rattan patio heater is a fantastic heater that looks more expensive than it is. It’s sturdy, and provides a powerful heat output, though a bit of patience is needed to get it lit. The table-top surface on top of the canister housing is a convenient little nuance, which makes the heater a talking point. The instruction manual is very vague though, so the assembly is up to you to figure out.
Pros:
- Convenient table-top design.
- Comes with a wheel kit.
Cons:
- Vague instruction manual.
- No mentioning of safety
To summarise
The Palm Springs rattan patio heater can easily withstand wet weather and provides strong, stable heat. As with anything, it will last longer if you care for it, so we highly urge you to buy a rattan patio heater cover, or make sure you have a place to store it indoors.
We think you’ll love the convenience afforded by the wheels that come with this Palm springs rattan patio heater. And, if you’re like us, you’ll enjoy the addition of the flat table-top. Overall, this is a very decent buy.
5. Glow Warm 13 kW Rattan Patio Heater
This 224 cm-tall rattan-base Glow Warm rattan gas patio heater is a large, meant to provide you with comfortable, yet powerful heat from its top reflector.
The base housing the gas canister are made of steel with a rattan covering. The Glow Warm patio heater is light-weight and comes with a set of wheels, so you can easily move it around and store it. To make your life even simpler, the heater has a battery operated ignition button.
Specifications:
- Height: 224 cm
- Diameter: 85cm
- Power source: Gas-fuelled
- Heat output: 13 kW
What do people say about it? Overall, the Glow Warm rattan patio heater comes highly recommended. It requires a bit of time to assemble – roughly 1 hour – but the assembly is simple enough for most. Note that it needs AAA batteries for the ignition button – something that’s not mentioned in the manual. It produces powerful heat, and most folks who bought the Glow Warm patio heater are pleased with their purchase.
Pros:
- Strong heat output.
- Wheel kit provided.
Cons:
- Assembly time is a bit long.
To summarise
The Glow Warm rattan patio heater is a bit of an underdog. It is modest, but well-designed to fit your patio furniture despite its gargantuan size. The heater also produces a great deal of heat, impressing almost anyone who purchased and reviewed it.
What Is a Rattan Patio Heater?
Rattan patio heaters feature an up-scaling in the design, typically with a base covered in rattan. This nuance makes them look less industrial, and make them a more elegant fit for patio decor. Function-wise, a rattan heater is no different from any other patio heater.
What Is Rattan?
Rattan is a naturally growing plant that makes an excellent weaving material. It is native to the world’s tropical regions, and once grew in abundance in certain parts of Asia, Australia, and Africa with over 600 different species.
Rattan is similar to bamboo, with a strong and durable fibrous nature. Thanks to its light weight, Rattan is a popular furniture material, while various types of Rattan are also used to make baskets and other woven goods. Certain kinds of Rattan are edible, yet others are even robust enough to build houses in rural areas.
When well cared for, Rattan plants are highly renewable. They can grow at the incredible speed of up to two centimetres per day, which is more than half a metre every month! The plant is full-grown after two years, while other hardwoods can take 25 years before they are grown and usable.
Rattan supports many farms, especially across Southeast Asia, where it’s popular to grow and harvest. It provides local people in small communities with a regular income in an uncomplicated and labour-intensive industry. Sadly, the recent high demand in has jeopardised the sustainability of rattan cultivation. If the stem of the plant gets cut before it’s mature, the plant is unable to regrow, and is lost.
In its natural habitat, Rattan sustains surrounding plants, yet also relies on other vegetation to survive. Rattan is vital to the ecosystem, and so it’s essential that the rainforest where it grows is preserved.
For these reasons, synthetic materials are created to mirror Rattan without endangering natural ecosystems.
RELATED READING: Best Garden Patio Heater
Rattan Gas Heater Safety and Maintenance Tips
Since all these rattan heaters are gas-fuelled, we thought we’d include a few quick, pertinent safety tips for you.
Using a gas heater is generally considered safe, and they always come with one or more safety mechanisms. Standard safety measures include:
- Tilt-over safety stop
- Anti-tilt weight plates, and
- Flame failure shut-off
That said, these devices are not a replacement for good sense and a safety-minded approach to operation.
Patio heaters are designed for outdoor use, preferably in semi-open spaces with adequate ventilation. This helps to avoid a build-up of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal in the worst cast scenario. To this end, never use a gas patio heater indoors (it’s also a fire hazard), or in a garage when the doors are shut.
Likewise, make sure you keep a reasonable distance between the heater and ceiling and walls to avoid overheating.
It is also essential to keep the heater’s valve compartment, and burners, clean. You may not consider insects to be much of a hazard to your patio heater, but these pesky creatures can get into the burner or similar openings, and spin webs, or build nests. In the worst case scenario, this could lead to problems with the gas flow.
So, keep the patio heater clean, and make frequent inspections of the entire unit (just make sure the heater is cold before starting the inspection and cleaning).
RELATED READING: Best Electric Patio Heater
Does a Rattan Patio Heater Need a Cover?
Yes, it does. Rattan is a hardy material, which can be left outside. That said, like anything else exposed to the elements, your rattan patio heater will see some damage, no matter how good its quality. Instead of dragging the device in and out every day and night, simply shield it with a decent cover.
Parting Words
Rattan patio heaters are a great, stylish way to spruce up your patio decor while keeping warm. We hope that our guide will help you choose a safe, reliable heater for your home. If there’s anything we missed, or if you’d like to share a personal experience with any of these models, kindly leave our readers a comment below.