An infrared heater warms you directly rather than heating the air around you. The principle works on your patio as well as in your living room, but these settings call for two different types of heater. Where you need warmth determines which to choose.
This guide starts with where you need warmth. It gives you an overview of infrared heating outdoors and indoors, with links to detailed guides for your space.
In brief
The more open your space, the more directed the warmth needs to be. An outdoor infrared heater can serve your patio, balcony, conservatory or workshop. A radiant heating panel is designed for indoor spaces.
What is an infrared heater?
An infrared heater transfers heat in the same way as the sun. Radiant energy becomes heat when it reaches a surface: your skin, your clothes, the floor or your furniture. Very little heat is transferred to the air in between.
The difference between these products is the temperature of the heat source. For an introduction to the principles, see What is infrared heating?.
| Outdoor infrared heater | Radiant heating panel | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | High-temperature element with a reflector | Large surface at a moderate temperature |
| Heat delivery | Directed and intense | Gentle and even |
| Suitable for | Areas exposed to wind and cold air | Indoor spaces |
Start with the space: where will you use your infrared heater?
When choosing an infrared heater, the first consideration is not the brand or power. It is how exposed your space is. Where wind and cold air pass through, heat needs to be focused and intense to reach you effectively. Indoors, gentle heat distributed across a broad surface is enough.
| Space | Recommended heater type | Opranic |
|---|---|---|
| Open patio | Freestanding infrared heater positioned near your seating area | S70R, S50R |
| Terrace beneath a roof, pergola or awning | Wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted infrared heater | PRO V70R |
| Balcony | Freestanding or wall-mounted heater, depending on your available space | S50R, PRO V70R |
| Conservatory or glazed balcony | Freestanding infrared heater | S50R, S70R |
| Workshop, garage or summer house | Freestanding infrared heater positioned near your work area | S50R, S70R |
| Restaurant or outdoor dining area | Multiple wall-mounted heaters with central control | PRO V70, PRO V70R |
| Living room, study or bathroom | Radiant heating panel with a room thermostat | P5, P6 Hybrid, P7 |
Infrared heaters for patios and terraces
Warm air quickly disperses on an open terrace. An infrared heater directs radiant warmth towards your seating area, so you feel the heat where you need it. Switch it on when you sit down and off when you go inside.
3–5 s
to full heat
2,300 W
with five power levels
approx. 11 m²
in a sheltered position, S70R
IP65
resistant to rain and dust
Position the freestanding Opranic S70R beside your seating area. The wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted Opranic PRO V70R delivers the same power and is installed at a height of 1.8 to 2.5 metres, angled towards where you sit. For advice on choosing the right power and position, see the outdoor heater buying guide.
If you want a lower, lighter patio heater that is easier to carry between seating areas, choose the Opranic S50R. Switch it off, unplug it and let it cool before moving it. It uses standard Unibody construction and a standard reflector, while the S70R has premium Unibody construction and a premium reflector. Ease of moving is the S50R’s main advantage.
Infrared heating for conservatories and glazed balconies
An uninsulated conservatory sits between indoors and outdoors. The glass keeps the wind out, but heat still escapes, so heating all the air is rarely worthwhile. For more detail, see the guide to heating a glazed balcony.
Heat your seating area, only while you use it.
Good to know
For enclosed rooms, EU Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2024/1103 requires electronic temperature control, among other functions. Opranic S50R and S70R meet the regulation’s requirements for portable radiant heaters. PRO V70R is designed for outdoor use, covered patios and open-sided verandas. In an enclosed room, it must be controlled by a room thermostat with the functions required by the regulation.
If you regularly use the same seating area, consider the Opranic S70R infrared heater; Opranic S50R is the lower, lighter alternative. Both have five power levels, a remote control and a timer adjustable from one to nine hours. S70R has a five-year warranty and S50R a two-year warranty. The heating tubes have a two-year warranty.
Infrared heating for workshops, garages and garden buildings
Workshops and garages often have uninsulated walls, with doors left open at times. Heating the air in these spaces is slow and costly.
An infrared heater directed at your work area delivers warmth within seconds. You only pay for heating while you work.
You can move a freestanding S50R or S70R to where you are working once it has been switched off, unplugged and allowed to cool. Follow the clearances specified in the manual. For S70R, leave at least 100 cm in front and on either side, and 50 cm behind and above.
Choosing an infrared heater for your balcony
On your balcony, available space guides the choice. Opranic S50R is lower and lighter, and can be carried with one hand once switched off, unplugged and cool. Opranic V50R mounts on the wall or ceiling, keeping floor space clear. Both are compact options with a two-year warranty. For a seating area you use regularly, Opranic S70R offers a step up, with a five-year warranty and two-year cover for the heating tube. Observe the specified safety clearances for each model.
Read the guide to infrared heating on balconies for advice on choosing between stand-mounted heaters, portable heaters and fixed installation.
Restaurants and outdoor dining
For your outdoor dining area, several heaters need to operate under a single control system. Opranic PRO V70 delivers a fixed output of 1,800 W, with central switching through an external timer, occupancy sensor or building management system.
Each heater draws 8 A, which may allow you to install more heaters on your existing electrical supply. A qualified electrician will determine how many heaters each circuit can accommodate.
If you want to adjust the output by remote control, choose Opranic PRO V70R. It offers 2,300 W, five power levels, a timer adjustable from one to nine hours and Auto-restart mode for central on/off switching. PRO V70 has a fixed output and no remote control. Choose the model that suits how you intend to control your installation.
Why outdoor use demands more from an infrared heater
Indoors, a heater operates in a sheltered room with still air. Outdoors, it must deliver warmth through wind, rain and cold, year after year. That creates three engineering requirements.
Warmth must reach you in windy conditions
This requires a high-temperature element and a reflector that directs radiant heat towards your seating area rather than dispersing it.
The construction must withstand water exposure
IP65 means the enclosure is dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction. The electronics, wiring and seals must maintain that protection day after day.
Materials must withstand rapid temperature changes
When an element heats from below freezing to its full operating temperature in seconds, it places considerable stress on the grille, reflector and enclosure. That is why the enclosure is aluminium and the grille is stainless steel.
Opranic has worked with infrared heating since 2009. That outdoor heating experience also informs its heating panels, with the same standards for materials, safety and certification.
Infrared panels for indoor heating
For indoor heating, a panel is the right choice. Mounted on your wall or ceiling, it takes up no floor space and is controlled by a room thermostat.
How much power do you need?
As a guide, allow around 100 W per square metre in a well-insulated room. A 20 m² room would therefore need about 2,000 W, spread across two or more panels. Older homes with poorer insulation need more power.
Wall or ceiling mounting, and how close to furniture?
The panel needs an unobstructed path to radiate heat into your room. Its position and distance from walls, furniture and people determine how evenly the warmth is distributed.
How much electricity does a panel use, and what does it cost?
A panel converts virtually all the electricity it uses into heat. Consumption depends on its power and how many hours it runs. A 450 W panel running for four hours a day costs approximately 0.68 EUR per day at an assumed electricity price of 0.38 EUR per kWh.
Thermostat control
Without a thermostat, the panel runs continuously at full power. With a thermostat and a timed schedule, it runs only when needed.
Infrared heating: benefits and considerations
Benefits
- +Warmth within seconds, directed towards your seating area
- +An infrared heater provides warmth on your patio, where heated air quickly disperses.
- +Provides warmth in an uninsulated conservatory, where a conventional radiator mainly warms air that quickly escapes outdoors
- +Keep your home’s background temperature lower and warm only the area you’re using.
- +No fan, no noise and no air movement
- +Easy to install, with running costs incurred only when the heater is on.
Points to consider
- iRadiant heat warms the areas it reaches, so direct the heater towards your seating area
- iInfrared heating warms specific areas. A heat pump costs less to run if you need to heat your whole home around the clock
- iHeating panels used indoors need a separate thermostat
Conclusion
Infrared heating delivers warmth where you are, when you need it: on your patio, in your conservatory, workshop or bathroom, or at your desk. Use infrared warmth to heat the space you’re in, rather than raising the temperature throughout your home.
What does an infrared heater cost to run?
Power in kW × hours of use × electricity price per kWh = cost.
| Example | Power | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| S70R or PRO V70R at full power | 2.3 kW | approximately 0.87 EUR |
| S70R or PRO V70R at the lowest setting | 0.92 kW | approximately 0.35 EUR |
| 450 W infrared panel | 0.45 kW | approximately 0.17 EUR |
These examples use an electricity price of 0.38 EUR per kWh. Use your own electricity tariff to calculate your exact cost.
Further reading: all our guides in one place
If you would like to explore a topic in more detail, you will find a dedicated guide below.
Outdoors
Understanding infrared heating
Frequently asked questions about using infrared heaters indoors and outdoors
Summary
Start with where you need warmth. For your patio, balcony, conservatory or workshop, choose an infrared heater designed for outdoor use, either freestanding or wall-mounted. For indoor rooms, a radiant panel with a thermostat is a suitable option.
Sources: Opranic product data sheets for S70R, PRO V70 and PRO V70R; Regulation (EU) 2024/1103. Calculation examples use assumed values. Reviewed in October 2026.
