HoReCa patio heaters for restaurants, cafés and hotels
Electric infrared carbon-fibre heaters for professional terraces, restaurants, cafés, hotels and lounges. In HoReCa, comfort is designed around occupied zones: positioning, wind exposure, mounting height, available electrical power and how tables are used throughout the day all matter.
Comfort on a HoReCa terrace starts with the occupied tables
On a restaurant or café terrace, it is not efficient to treat the entire area like a single room. Radiant heating directs energy towards people, furniture and surfaces within the heater's range, allowing the terrace to be organised into independent comfort zones.
In practice, tables are not occupied evenly throughout opening hours. Correct positioning, direction towards the useful area and switching on only the sectors in use can matter just as much as the heater's nominal power.
Zone heating
Direct heat towards the tables and sectors that are actually in use.
Rapid response
The carbon-fibre heating element provides rapid thermal comfort after start-up.
No cylinders
No stored fuel or gas cylinders are required between terrace tables.
Flexible control
Power levels, remote control, timer or thermostat vary by model.
Carbon-fibre heating element and heater construction
For commercial use, wattage alone is not enough. The heating element, reflector, materials, protection and control influence how the heater can be integrated into a terrace used every day.
High-density carbon fibre
The carbon-fibre heating element is designed for rapid thermal response. The reflector helps direct radiation towards the useful area, while power-level adjustment allows operation to be adapted to real terrace conditions.
Reflector and distribution
Energy is directed towards the comfort zone instead of unnecessarily heating the entire air volume.
Construction for frequent use
Aluminium, steel, stainless steel and glass are used depending on the model and the structural role of each component.
Protection and control
The IP rating and control functions must match the location: exposed outdoor area, covered terrace or protected zone.
Installed power and indicative coverage for HoReCa terraces
For HoReCa, installed power must be matched to the useful area, heater positioning, wind and available electrical supply.
Examples for 2.5 kW Veito heaters
The number of heaters should be chosen together with the terrace shape and their positioning. As an indicative reference, two 2.5 kW heaters can serve an area of around 4 × 5 m, while four heaters can comfortably cover around 5 × 6 m when correctly positioned towards the occupied area.
These values are indicative and can vary depending on wind, the number of open sides, mounting height and heater orientation. In commercial projects, the electrical installation must be checked and sized appropriately by authorised personnel.
Wind and open sides
An exposed terrace may require more power or positioning the heater closer to the occupied area.
Mounting height
Distance from the tables influences perceived intensity, angle and the effective heated area.
Table positioning
Heaters should be directed towards occupied zones; table layout matters just as much as total area.
Blade S, Nevada and CH2500RW for different scenarios
Exposed outdoor areas and covered terraces should not be treated the same.
Veito Blade S 2500W
Slim construction, aluminium and IP55 protection. Suitable for professional terraces where design and outdoor exposure matter.
Veito Nevada 2500
IP55 model available with or without a stand, useful when positioning must adapt to the terrace layout.
Veito CH2500RW
2500 W model for fixed installation, especially suitable for protected areas and covered terraces.
Veito heaters for HoReCa projects
Compare fixed-installation and stand versions and choose the protection rating that suits the location.
In HoReCa, efficiency means comfort exactly where the area is occupied
What matters is how long the heater runs, which zone it serves and how quickly the power can be adapted when terrace occupancy changes.
Heat only the sectors of the terrace that are in use
In a restaurant, café or hotel, tables are not occupied evenly. Radiant heating allows zones to be switched on progressively and avoids unnecessary operation in sectors without guests.
Restaurant
Table areas can be heated separately depending on occupancy, exposure and position relative to the façade.
Café
Rapid thermal response suits peak periods, variable opening hours and seasonal use.
Hotel & lounge
Comfort, heater design and discreet integration become just as important as nominal power.
High efficiency should be analysed together with real-world use
Nominal power is easy to calculate; the difference is made by how energy is used and how well it is directed towards the occupied area.
Why directional radiation matters
An electric heater converts electrical energy into heat, but for a professional terrace it is not enough to look only at the heater's efficiency. It matters whether the energy reaches the people or is dissipated into a volume of air that is constantly changing.
Radiant carbon-fibre technology allows thermal energy to be directed towards tables, people and surfaces. Outdoors and in semi-open spaces, this is essential because warm air produced by convection can be quickly replaced by air currents.
For daily operation, consumption can be estimated simply: total installed power multiplied by actual operating time. For example, four 2.5 kW heaters represent 10 kW installed power, but if only two zones operate for one hour, actual consumption will differ from a scenario in which all four heaters run continuously.
Heater positioning directly affects terrace comfort
In HoReCa, angle, mounting height, table position and wind exposure can influence the result just as much as nominal power. The heater should be directed towards the occupied area, not simply mounted wherever space is available.
Direct heat towards the area where guests are seated
Correct installation keeps radiation directed towards tables and seating areas. Distance, angle and height must be matched to the furniture, circulation routes and the actual terrace layout.
Wall mounting
A clean solution for stable zones, with the floor kept free and constant direction towards the same table area.
Ceiling / pergola
Discreet integration in covered spaces, with heater orientation set according to height and the comfort zone.
Mobile stand
Suitable when tables are frequently rearranged or when the terrace has seasonal zones and flexibility is required.
Restaurant, café, hotel or lounge: the same power can serve different roles
Consistent comfort at the table
The priority is even direction towards table areas without heaters blocking staff circulation.
Rapid response and flexibility
The system can be switched on for short periods and by zones, according to customer flow and weather.
Design and integration
In premium locations, heater appearance, position and integration into the design become important criteria.
How heating design changes by type of venue
In a full-service restaurant, tables usually have stable positions and it is important that heaters do not interfere with waiter routes. Here, fixed installation and clear zoning may be the best solution.
In a café, the terrace may have a more dynamic flow, with short occupancy periods and tables moved more frequently. In this case, the flexibility of a stand model can be more important than in a traditional restaurant.
In a premium hotel or lounge, heater design becomes part of the interior concept. Slim models with premium finishes, such as Blade S, may be preferred when the heater remains visible in the architecture of the space.
For large terraces, design should start from zones and electrical circuits, not only from the total number of heaters. A 15–20 kW installation should be planned together with the electrical supply, protection devices and control method.
Remote control, timer and thermostat simplify daily HoReCa operation
In a restaurant, hotel or lounge, staff should be able to adjust heating quickly without direct access to the heater and without unnecessary operation when a zone is not occupied.
Quick adjustment directly from the service area
The remote control allows switching on, switching off and changing the power level without physical access to the heater, which is very useful when it is mounted high or above tables.
Remote control
Staff can adjust the heater quickly without interrupting service or physically reaching the unit.
Timer
Limits operating time and helps avoid unnecessary heating after an area becomes free or at the end of opening hours.
Thermostat
Especially useful in protected or semi-enclosed spaces where ambient temperature can be measured and maintained more consistently.
Continue with the guide that matches your project
How infrared heating works
Technology, electric vs gas, indoor/outdoor and comparison of the main models.
OutdoorVeito heaters for outdoor use
Protection, exposure, wind, positioning and heater selection for open spaces.
ResidentialPatio heaters for home
Solutions for terraces, pergolas, verandas and residential relaxation areas.
Heating HoReCa terraces
Which Veito model is suitable for a restaurant terrace?
For outdoor use, Blade S and Nevada 2500 can be considered, both with IP55 protection. CH2500RW may also be suitable for protected terraces. The final choice depends on positioning and real conditions.
Is it enough to calculate only the area in m²?
No. Wind, open sides, mounting height, heater orientation and distance from people all influence the result.
Can I divide the terrace into several heating zones?
Yes. For HoReCa this is often a logical approach because only occupied zones can operate, depending on how the installation is designed.
How much electrical power do four 2500 W heaters represent?
Four 2500 W units total 10 kW installed power. The electrical installation must be checked and sized accordingly.
Fixed installation or stand?
Fixed installation suits a stable layout. A stand offers flexibility when tables or service areas are reconfigured.
Why does the IP rating matter?
The protection rating must match the installation environment. An exposed outdoor space has different requirements from a fully covered terrace.
Choose terrace heating by space, not only by power.
Compare Veito models, define the occupied zones and check the electrical supply before installing a multi-heater system.