If it comes from Solo Stove, we cover it at Family Handyman because, frankly, we’re obsessed with fire pits. Plus, we’ve covered everything about Solo Stove, from the Pi Prime Pizza Oven to the new Mesa Torches and more. We were stoked to test out the Solo Stove Patio Heater to see what it’s all about.

We tested this back in October, which is arguably the most perfect month for fire pit hangouts. If you have a smokeless fire pit in your backyard, you’ve probably noticed that they don’t put out a ton of heat. That’s because their smokeless design funnels fumes and smoke (and heat) upward instead of outward, into your face. So, if you’re looking for a patio heater that you can use in addition to your fire pit or on its own, the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater may be what you’re after. Here’s how it worked out for us.

What is the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater?

Mary Henn/Family Handyman

The Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater is a pellet-fueled heater that warms your outdoor space. Just like the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 fire pit, the Tower Patio Heater is also smokeless. It has about a 10-foot heating radius, so it’s perfect for small to mid-sized patios during colder months.

The Tower Patio Heater’s hopper box holds about 25 pounds of pellets, and a full hopper box should produce about three hours of warmth. Quick note: Something I’ve learned about pellets while testing this patio heater and other Solo Stove products that are pellet-fueled is that there is a difference between the pellets you use in a smoker and pellets made for wood stoves and heaters. Namely, pellets made for pellet heaters like the Tower Patio Heater are less expensive and produce more heat.

That said, if you’ve been searching for a patio heater that doesn’t use propane, then this Solo Stove pellet heater may be just the thing you’re looking for. Pellets are generally easier to store and lighter than firewood, plus they’re typically less expensive than propane and don’t pose the same combustion risks.

This pellet-fueled patio heater is perfect for warming your outdoor space.

Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater Features

Mary Henn/Family Handyman

The Tower Patio Heater measures in at 80-1/2 inches tall, nearly 20 inches wide and about 23-1/2 inches deep. At 104 pounds, it’s relatively lightweight for its size. The body of the heater is primarily matte black, while the sides of the heater’s base and the very top of the deflector are chrome. Honestly, it’s one of the best-looking patio heaters I’ve seen.

I also love that the front of the heater has a perforated door that allows you to see into the base of the heater as the pellets are burning. This design feature provides an added touch of ambiance, as you can see the fire as you sit around and enjoy its warmth.

Because we plan to leave our patio heater outside most of the time, I will say it would be nice to have some added protection against the elements. Solo Stove does make a Tower Shelter, but it’s sold separately. I would highly recommend getting it to protect your Tower Patio Heater.

Additionally, Solo Stove does not advise placing the Tower Heater on any combustible surface (wood, plastic, grass, etc.). You should also keep it at least 3 feet from any combustible materials (i.e., a wood fence). That said, the Tower Patio Heater is truly designed for patios with a concrete or stone surface, not a wooden deck.

How We Tested It

Mary Henn/Family Handyman

The Solo Stove Patio Tower Heater arrives at your door in two large boxes. One houses the base of the heater, and the other holds the tubing that makes up the heater’s tower. They are heavy, so you may need assistance lifting and moving the boxes from your front door to your backyard (or wherever you plan to assemble the heater).

Packaging

I’ve said this before about Solo Stove packaging, but I wish the brand added a bit more protection and padding to their products, as I have received a couple of dented products now. Well, two products specifically: The patio heater and the Bonfire 2.0. Granted, I have received dozens of Solo Stove products that arrived in perfect condition, so the issue doesn’t seem to happen too frequently. However, Solo Stove products aren’t cheap—and I expect products to arrive without any defects or markings.

If your Solo Stove Patio Heater arrives defective, you should reach out to customer service, as the product has a lifetime warranty and is guaranteed to arrive free of factory defects. Because the most noticeable dent on the main body of the heater was covered by the hopper lid, I did not worry about reaching out to customer service, as it’s barely noticeable with the lid closed and doesn’t interfere at all with the heater’s use. However, during my second and third use of the heater, I noticed that the top of it was dented and part of the tower was chipped.

Assembly

But enough about that, let’s talk assembly. While you might be able to get the Solo Stove Patio Heater built with one person, I wouldn’t recommend it. When it comes time to assemble the tower, it’s nice (necessary, in my opinion) to have an extra set of hands to hold the tower in place while screws are being inserted and tightened. Overall, assembly with two people wasn’t difficult. Although, there were a few things that made assembly more challenging than it needed to be.

Namely, the instructions and parts weren’t as clearly written or labeled in some places as they could have been. The instructions had some addendums, which helped, and the entire assembly process didn’t take very long. In other words, you should be able to use the heater within a couple of hours of opening the boxes.

Starting a Fire

Once the Tower Patio Heater was assembled, I filled the hopper box with pellets and opened the door within the hopper box to allow the pellets to flow through to the burn chamber. Once the burn chamber was filled with pellets, I closed the hopper box and lit a fire starter within the burn chamber. The pellets within the burn chamber caught fire almost immediately.

Once the fire has had time to build, you’ll start to notice heat coming from the top of the tower. If you fill the hopper box completely, the pellets can be fed into the burn chamber continuously for a longer burn. While the Tower Patio Heater is said to have a heating radius of 10 feet, I found that the heat was most felt sitting within 5 feet of the tower.

I do question whether the heat deflector at the top of the tower could be wider to ensure that less heat escapes out above the tower. However, I found it to be quite cozy under the heater, and I loved being able to watch the fire burn through the door in front of the burn chamber. I also appreciated the smokeless, odorless heat that the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater emits. It was pleasant to have the heat and visual charm of the fire without expensive propane and added fumes.

Pros

• Pellet-fueled
• Smokeless
• Burns fuel for three hours at a time
• 10-foot heating radius
• Relatively lightweight and easy to slide across patio space
• Looks great and adds ambiance to any backyard patio scape
• Lifetime warranty
• Free shipping
• Free 30-day returns

Cons

• Pricey
• Can’t be used on combustible (i.e., wood or plastic composite) surfaces

Mary Henn/Family Handyman

FAQ

How much is the Solo Stove Tower?

The Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater retails for $760, but Solo Stove runs frequent sales and regularly has the heater marked down.

How do you light the Solo Stove Tower?

To ignite the Solo Stove patio heater, you’ll light the pellets in the burn chamber behind the front door of the heater’s base. You’ll light the pellets just as you would in a fire pit or any other pellet-burning device. I recommend using a fire starter to get the pellets burning easier and faster.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Other reviewers weigh in on the Tower Patio Heater on the Solo Stove site—here’s what they had to say.

Verified buyer Arrian B. says the heater is easy to start. They write, “Light a starter cube, open the gate and it fires right up. Definitely puts out the heat.”

Seth C. says it makes cold North Dakota temperatures on his patios enjoyable for a longer period of time. “It took 2 of them, but the ambient temperature of my patio in Northwest North Dakota has increased to the point I can use it a month later in the fall and a month earlier in the spring. Warmer than the propane ones that we’ve had in the past,” they write.

Kim A. loves it, too. She writes, “It makes a big difference when it is in the 20’s. We had our Yukon and the Tower going and it was comfortable.”

Why You Should Trust Us

I’m a national award-winning writer and journalist specializing in outdoor trends, interior design, home decor and gardening. As a shopping editor and writer at Family Handyman, I’m well-versed in researching products and recommending the best options to suit various needs.

In fact, I’ve personally tested more than 100 products, from outdoor gear and DIY gadgets to mattresses and vacuums. For this article, I drew upon my extensive knowledge of heaters and my deep understanding of Solo Stove (check out my reviews of their Mesa heat deflector, Adirondack chair and Mesa torch).

Final Verdict

If you’ve been looking for a patio heater that uses an alternative fuel source to propane, then the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater is one to consider. While it is an investment upfront, you may find that a pellet heater saves you money in the long run over a propane heater. Depending on what type of pellets you buy, they’re likely going to be cheaper than the cost of propane. Additionally, if you’re looking to avoid propane for other reasons, a pellet heater is an excellent option.

Again, I love the way the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater looks. I love that it’s sleek, yet rustic—and Solo Stove does say that the heater will change color over time. The black will change to dark gray, and the stainless steel will bronze as the heater ages and the outside of it oxidizes. I, personally, like that rustic charm—and the fact that you can see the fire burning on a chilly night for the coziest autumn and winter vibes. Add in a cup of hot cider and a blanket, and you can create the patio setup of your dreams.

Where to Buy the Solo Stove Tower Patio Heater

Solo Stove's patio heater lets you watch the fire that warms you for ultimate cozy vibes.

The Tower Patio Heater retails for $760 at Solo Stove, and the Tower Shelter retails for $90, which is a great Solo Stove accessory to include. The best place to shop the patio heater is directly from the retailer to ensure free shipping, a lifetime warranty and customer service assistance if needed.