AEI Corporation

If you're running a restaurant, bar, hotel, or resort, you already know the value of outdoor patio space. But what happens to that space when the temperatures drop? Cold nights can empty even the most popular patios, leaving money on the table. Luckily, there's a simple way to fix that: commercial patio heaters.

At AEI, we help hospitality businesses turn chilly evenings into profitable nights. With our restaurant patio heaters, you can extend your outdoor seating season and keep guests comfortable year-round. And now, with our revenue boost calculator, it’s easier than ever to estimate how much more money your business could make by heating your patio.

Why Patio Heaters Matter for Hospitality

Hospitality businesses, like restaurants, thrive on atmosphere and capacity. Patios offer a great way to serve more customers without expanding your indoor footprint. But when it's cold out, people just won’t sit outside—even if your food and drinks are amazing.

That’s where propane, natural gas, and electric patio heaters come in. These infrared heaters let you keep your outdoor areas warm and inviting, helping you:

• Serve more guests
• Maximize your space
• Improve the customer experience
• Keep business steady through cooler months

And yes, patio heaters help boost your revenue, by allowing you to serve more customers at the same time, even in cold weather.

How More Much Can You Make? Use Our Revenue Boost Calculator To Estimate

We get it. Adding heaters is an investment, and you want to know what you’ll get in return. That’s why we created the AEI Revenue Boost Calculator. This tool helps you estimate just how much more revenue you can make by turning your patio into a year-round or close to year-round seating area.

Here's how it works:

Just plug in a few details that you already know about your business:

• Number of patio seats: How many outdoor seats do you currently have or plan to add if expanding or building an outdoor patio
• Occupancy rate: The average percentage of those seats that are filled (typical rates range from 50% to 70%)
• Table turnover rate: How many times each table is used during a shift
• Average spending per person: Your average customer tab
• Extra number of nights: The number of chilly nights you could use your patio if you had heaters

Once you enter those numbers, the calculator shows your estimated annual revenue increase. It’s simple math, but powerful planning. 

From Miami to Minneapolis: Heating Needs by Region

Depending on your location, the number of additional patio nights will vary. Here's how different regions in the U.S. might benefit from installing patio heaters:

• Warm Climates (e.g., Southern California, Florida, Arizona): You might only need heating for about 30 to 60 nights a year. These areas can use patio heaters during cooler evenings in the fall and early spring to extend comfort without heavy usage.
• Moderate Climates (e.g., North Carolina, Tennessee, Northern California, parts of Texas): These regions may require heating for 60 to 120 nights annually. Think October through March, when nights dip into cooler temperatures but patios can still be functional with the right equipment.
• Cold Climates (e.g., New York, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, or high elevation locations): Heating could be essential for up to 250 nights per year. In these areas, restaurants can transform their patio spaces into semi-permanent revenue sources even during extended cold seasons.

These examples show how patio heaters can serve businesses all across the country. Whether you're in a tropical, temperate, or snowy region, heaters can help you capitalize on more nights of service.

Take the Next Step: Free Design Assistance

Choosing the right heaters for your patio doesn’t have to be complicated. At AEI, we offer complimentary design assistance for all hospitality businesses. Reach out to us to schedule your patio heating design consultation today.

Our experts will review the layout of your patio space and help you:

• Choose the best fuel type for your heater/s (propane, electric, or natural gas)
• Choose the best heater type for your location (mushroom or horizontal heaters)
• Determine how many heaters you’ll need for proper coverage
• Select the right size, color, and mounting style
• Make sure everything meets local codes and safety standards

Eliminate the guesswork of finding the perfect heaters to fit your patio space. Use our professional guidance based on decades of experience.

Ready to “Heat Up” Your Profits?

If you’re ready to take your patio from seasonal to year-round, AEI is here to help. Visit our hospitality page to try our revenue boost calculator and explore our wide selection of commercial patio heaters.

Don’t let cold weather cool down your business. Let AEI help you warm up your patio—and your profits. Connect with us today.

Have a Question?

Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.