Ownership
Patio heater covers
The least interesting purchase in outdoor heating and close to the highest return. A heater that lives under a cover is a heater that still lights in October.
Buy to your heater's measured height and widest diameter, not to a claimed model list. Look for 600D fabric, a full-length zipper and a way to secure the hem. That combination is what separates a cover that lasts several winters from one that shreds in the first gale.
Why this is worth a page
Because it is the cheapest intervention in the entire category and it prevents the two most common ownership failures on this site. A heater that sits out uncovered through a wet winter is the heater that will not stay lit in spring, because the thermocouple and burner assembly have spent five months in the weather.
It also decides whether you own a heater at all. The most common reason a tower gets abandoned is not failure, it is that storing a seven-foot appliance indoors is annoying — so a cover that lets it stay outside is the thing that keeps it in service. It is the same argument that makes a tower viable instead of renting one every time.
Measuring, which is the whole job
Cover sizing goes wrong because people shop by heater name rather than by dimension. Three measurements settle it:
- Total height with the unit assembled and standing as it will be stored. Most towers are 87 to 90 inches, which is why covers cluster around that figure.
- Widest diameter, which on a mushroom heater is the reflector at the top — typically around 33 inches — and on a pyramid is the body, usually near 23 inches square.
- Base diameter, which decides whether the hem reaches the ground and can be secured. Around 19 inches is typical.
A cover slightly too large is fine and will flap. A cover slightly too small does not go on, which is why the tape measure matters more than the brand list.
What the fabric numbers mean
600D is the specification you will see repeatedly. The D is denier, a measure of yarn thickness — higher means a heavier, more abrasion-resistant fabric. 600D is the practical floor for something that spends a winter outdoors in wind; lighter fabrics exist and tear at the seams and grommets.
Water resistance is usually delivered by a backing or coating rather than by the polyester itself, and makers describe it inconsistently. Where a listing states a coating we quote it; where it does not, we say so rather than assuming. Neither of the covers here publishes a hydrostatic head figure, which is the number that would actually let you compare them, so we are not going to pretend to rank them on waterproofing.
Quick picks
Ranked for fit, not for hype. Output is the maker’s published figure; reach is computed from it or from the maker’s own radius claim, and the table says which. Tap a row for the full write-up, or go straight to the listing.
| # | Product | Best for | Output | Reach | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Easy-Going pyramid coverRust in the burner assembly is what kills patio heaters, not use. A cover is the cheapest thing on this site and it is the one that decides whether the heater works next October. | A pyramid heater left outdoors | n/a | n/a | $25.99 · Check on Amazon |
| 2 |  Zettum dome coverThe domed cut is the point: a mushroom heater's reflector is wider than its base, and a straight-sided cover simply will not go over it. | A mushroom-style tower | n/a | n/a | $24.99 · Check on Amazon |
Reach marked “claimed” is the maker’s own published figure. Reach without that label is ours, computed from published output at 20 BTU per square foot for an open patio. Neither is a measurement we took.
Top pick · A pyramid heater left outdoors
Easy-Going Pyramid Torch Patio Heater Cover, 90 x 23 x 23 in
Rust in the burner assembly is what kills patio heaters, not use. A cover is the cheapest thing on this site and it is the one that decides whether the heater works next October.
- Fuel
- Accessory
- Output
- Not published
- Reach (computed)
- Not published
- Cost per hour
- n/a
What works
- The published dimensions match the shape. 90 in tall with a 23 in square footprint is the standard pyramid envelope, which is the measurement that actually decides whether a cover fits
- Measure your heater first. Pyramid heights vary by several inches between brands and a cover that is short is a cover that does nothing
- Cheap enough that replacing it every few seasons is not a decision
What does not
- No fabric weight is published. 600D is the sensible floor for something that spends a winter outdoors, and this listing does not state what it uses — so treat longevity as unknown rather than assured
- Never cover a heater that is still warm. It is the one instruction on the label people ignore
- A cover on an uncovered patio still needs anchoring against wind or it becomes a sail
| Published specification | |
|---|---|
| Fits | Pyramid and torch heaters up to 90 in tall, 23 x 23 in footprint |
| Colors | Black, camel and gray listed |
| Fabric weight | Not published |
| Maker’s coverage claim | None published — the reach figure above is ours |
| Safety listing | Not applicable — a cover, not an appliance |
Who it is for
Anyone whose pyramid heater lives outdoors between uses, which is nearly everyone.
What it is not for
A mushroom-style tower with a wide reflector, which needs the [domed shape](/troubleshooting/off-season-storage) instead.
Sources for this entry
2 · A mushroom-style tower
Zettum Patio Heater Cover, 600D, 89 in H x 33 in Dome
The domed cut is the point: a mushroom heater's reflector is wider than its base, and a straight-sided cover simply will not go over it.
- Fuel
- Accessory
- Output
- Not published
- Reach (computed)
- Not published
- Cost per hour
- n/a
What works
- Sized around the reflector rather than the pole, which is the whole reason a mushroom heater needs its own cover shape
- The listing names the brands it was cut for, which is more useful than a generic dimension list
- Same 600D weight and zipper closure as the pyramid cover — the right specification for the job
What does not
- 89 in is not tall enough for every tower on the market; the Hiland HLDS01 is 87 in and fits, but measure yours
- Storing a heater under a cover outdoors is second best. Indoors, cylinder detached, is first
- Water-resistant, not waterproof, like every cover at this price
| Published specification | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 89 in height, 33 in dome, 19 in base |
| Material | 600D with a zipper |
| Stated fit | East Oak, Hampton Bay, Fire Sense and similar per the listing |
| Maker’s coverage claim | None published — the reach figure above is ours |
| Safety listing | Not applicable — a cover, not an appliance |
Who it is for
Anyone with a mushroom-reflector tower that stays on the patio year-round.
What it is not for
Pyramid heaters, which are straight-sided and need the other shape.
Sources for this entry
What we would skip
A list with no losers is a list nobody edited. These are the choices we would actively steer you away from, and why.
A cover chosen only from a claimed model list
Listings routinely name a dozen brands they claim to fit. Some of those are real and some are keyword padding, and neither is checkable. Measure your heater's height and widest diameter and buy to those numbers instead.
A cover sealed tight to the ground with no ventilation
The failure nobody expects. A fully sealed cover traps moisture against the unit and you get corrosion under a cover that looks like it is doing its job. This is why a cover is not a substitute for drying the unit before covering it.
Covering a heater that is still warm
Obvious once stated and still a common way to ruin a cover and start a fire. A propane unit holds heat in the emitter and reflector for a long time after the flame is out. Wait until it is cold to the touch.
The two ways covers fail
Wind. A seven-foot cover is a sail. The failure is almost always at a seam or a grommet rather than in the middle of the fabric, and it happens in the first serious gale of the season. A cover with a drawstring hem and a securing strap survives; one that just hangs does not.
Trapped moisture. The counterintuitive one. A cover that seals completely against the ground holds damp air around the unit, and metal parts corrode under a cover that is doing exactly what you asked. Dry the heater before covering it, and prefer a cover that reaches the ground without sealing to it.
Both failures argue for the same habit: cover it, but do not treat the cover as a substitute for proper off-season storage — particularly for the cylinder, which does not belong under the cover at all.
Fitting it so it survives the winter
Most covers that fail were fitted badly rather than made badly. The sequence matters more than the product.
- Let it cool completely. A propane emitter and reflector hold heat long after the flame is out. This is both a fire risk and the fastest way to melt a polyester cover.
- Dry it first. Wipe the reflector, the burner housing and the base. A cover over a wet heater is a humidity chamber, and this is the single most common cause of corrosion under a cover.
- Disconnect and remove the cylinder. It stores separately, outdoors and upright. It does not belong inside the cover, and this is also the point at which you should check the hose and regulator for perishing.
- Ballast the base if it takes water. A heater with a fillable base is far harder to blow over, and a covered heater catches more wind rather than less.
- Zip fully and secure the hem. Every drawstring pulled tight, every strap used. The failure is at the fixings, not in the middle of the fabric.
- Check it after the first gale. Five minutes in November that saves the cover and the heater.
What to check when you take it off
The start of the season is when a cover proves whether it worked, and it is the right moment to catch the problems that otherwise become an October failure.
- Spiders and nests in the burner assembly. Genuinely the most common cause of a heater that will not light after a winter outside — an obstructed venturi starves the burner. The full fault tree.
- Surface rust on fixings, which is normal and cosmetic, versus corrosion on the burner or thermocouple, which is not.
- A perished hose or regulator. Rubber degrades in UV and cold. If it is cracked at the ferrule, replace it before the season rather than during it.
- Water pooled in the base. Drain it, or the first freeze does the damage instead.
What a cover does not do
- It does not protect the cylinder. A propane cylinder should be disconnected and stored outdoors and upright, not left connected under a cover.
- It does not stop a heater blowing over. A covered tower is if anything slightly more prone to catching wind. Ballast is a separate problem.
- It does not replace drying. Covering a wet heater is how you get corrosion.
- It does not help a wall-mounted unit much, where the published IP rating is doing that job instead.
Covers for the other shapes
Towers get all the attention because they are the ones standing in the open, but the rest of the category needs covering too and the requirements differ.
- Tabletop units are small enough to bring indoors, which is genuinely the better answer. If they stay out, the priority is keeping water out of the burner rather than covering the whole unit.
- Wall and ceiling mounted units mostly do not need a cover at all — the published IP rating is doing that job. A cover on a mounted heater can trap moisture against a wall, which is worse than leaving it exposed.
- Fire pits and fire tables need covers more than heaters do, because they collect water in the bowl. A cover that sheds water off rather than pooling it is the thing to look for, and the burner assembly on a gas pit is the part that actually matters.
- Cylinders are never covered. They live outdoors, upright, disconnected — see off-season storage.
The short version
Measure the height and the widest diameter. Buy 600D with a full-length zipper and a securable hem in the shape that matches your heater. Dry the unit and let it cool completely before covering it. That is a purchase that costs very little and buys several extra seasons out of a heater.
Common questions
What size patio heater cover do I need?
Measure the assembled height and the widest diameter rather than shopping by model name. Most towers are 87 to 90 inches tall; mushroom heaters are widest at the reflector, around 33 inches, and pyramids around 23 inches square.
What does 600D mean on a patio heater cover?
Denier — a measure of yarn thickness, where higher means heavier and more abrasion resistant. 600D is the practical minimum for a cover that spends a winter outside; lighter fabrics tend to tear at seams and grommets.
Can I leave a patio heater outside with a cover on?
Yes, and for most people it is the only realistic way to own a seven-foot tower. Dry the unit first, let it cool completely, and disconnect and separately store the propane cylinder — it does not belong under the cover.
Why did my patio heater rust under its cover?
Almost always trapped moisture. A cover sealed tight to the ground holds damp air against the metal. Dry the heater before covering it, and prefer a cover that reaches the ground without sealing against it.
Why will my heater not light after being covered all winter?
Most often an obstructed burner rather than anything the cover did. Spiders nest in the venturi tube over winter and starve the burner of air, which is one of the most common spring failures in the category. Check and clear the burner assembly before assuming a part has failed.
Should I store my patio heater indoors instead of covering it?
Indoors is better for the unit if you have the space, but a seven-foot tower rarely fits anywhere convenient, and a heater that is annoying to store is one that quietly stops being used. A good cover outdoors is the realistic answer for most people. The cylinder is different — it stores outdoors, upright, never in a garage or basement.
Do wall-mounted heaters need covers?
Much less so. On a mounted unit the published IP rating is doing that job — IP35 for rain, IP55 for rain arriving sideways. A cover matters most for free-standing units that stand out in the open all winter.
Read next
Storing a patio heater for the off-season
The off-season routine, where the cylinder goes, and which cover shape fits which heater.
Patio heater will not stay lit
The ordered diagnostic for a heater that lights and dies, ending in the part that fixes it.
How to stop a patio heater blowing over
Ballast, anchors and placement — the three fixes, in the order they matter.
Propane patio heaters, with the cylinder arithmetic
Four propane heaters compared on published BTU, computed reach and real cylinder runtime.
Patio heater replacement parts
The four parts that account for nearly every dead heater, with symptoms and measuring advice.