fire pit
Fire Pit Buying Guide 2026: Find the Best Fire Pit for Your Space
Aug
Find the best fire pit for your outdoor space with our buying guide, fully updated for 2026. We walk you through fuel, materials, size, placement, features and costs so you can choose what fits your patio and how you use it.
Welcome to our fire pit buying guide, fully updated for 2026. Choosing the best fire pit for your outdoor space comes down to five decisions: fuel, material, shape, placement and features. We sell and support these products every day, and we’ll explain the trade-offs in each step. You might want a backyard fire pit for weekend marshmallows or a gas fire table for the patio. You might also be weighing a smokeless fire pit. Start with how you want to use it.
Jump to a Step
- The Short Answer: Our Favorite Fire Pits by Situation
- Step 1: Decide Your Fuel Type
- What About Smokeless Fire Pits?
- Step 2: Choose Your Fire Pit Material
- Step 3: Shape & Size
- Step 4: Placement, Installation & Safety
- Step 5: Features & Accessories Worth Having
- What Does a Good Fire Pit Cost in 2026?
- Fire Pit Buying FAQ
- Find the Best Fire Pit for Your Outdoor Space
The Short Answer: Our Favorite Fire Pits by Situation
Our favorite fire pits suit different uses. If you’re comparing the best fire pits of 2026, these are the starting points we suggest:
- Top pick for entertaining patios: a propane fire pit table. See our ranked best propane fire pit tables for 2026.
- Best for permanent outdoor rooms: a plumbed-in natural gas fire pit offers unlimited burn time with zero tank swaps.
- Best for the classic campfire: a heavy-gauge wood burning fire pit with a spark screen.
- Best gas experience with zero smoke: any gas burner. Even the best smokeless fire pit produces less smoke, not none.
- Best by the pool: a concrete or copper fire bowl.
Step 1: Decide Your Fuel Type
Choose your fuel first. It determines how you build and tend the fire, what maintenance you do and where you can put the pit.
| Fuel | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | The authentic campfire ritual | Smoke, ash, firewood supply |
| Propane | Flexibility, no gas line needed | Tank swaps and refills |
| Natural gas | Permanent installations | Requires a plumbed gas line |
Wood-burning for a campfire feel
A wood-burning fire gives you crackling logs, the smell of wood smoke and coals for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. You’ll also haul firewood, clean out ash and move when smoke changes direction. Local burn regulations may restrict open wood fires. Check those rules before you buy.
Propane for easy lighting
A propane fire pit for your patio lights instantly and gives you an adjustable flame without installation. The propane tank typically hides inside the base. Propane pits are popular for entertaining because guests don’t have to move away from smoke, and there’s no cool-down wait at the end of the night. A standard 20 lb propane tank runs roughly 8–9 hours at full output on a typical burner. You’ll get longer at a lower flame.
Natural gas for a permanent layout
If your layout is permanent, a gas line removes the need to replenish fuel. Most quality burners come in either propane or natural gas configurations. Many propane models also offer a natural gas conversion later.
Dual-fuel flexibility
Some manufacturers offer dual-fuel or convertible designs. They cost more up front, but you can start with propane and connect natural gas when you remodel the patio.
What About Smokeless Fire Pits?
How do smokeless fire pits work?
Smokeless fire pits use double-wall stainless steel construction to direct airflow. Air heats inside the wall cavity and re-ignites smoke particles at the rim. That secondary burn produces a nearly smokeless wood fire. Our guide to how a smokeless fire pit works explains the process in more detail.
Are smokeless fire pits worth it?
They handle smoke far better than an open bonfire. The secondary smokeless burn is real, and in tested fire pits the smokeless performance holds up once the fire is hot. But smokeless means less smoke, not none. Wet wood, a fresh log or a gust of wind still sends smoke around the fire. Whichever of the smokeless options you choose, it is still a wood-burning fire pit. You still have firewood, ash and burn bans to consider.
We carry The Outdoor Plus designer smokeless series: the Helix, the Orbit, the Gravity and the Artemis smokeless fire pit. These pair a secondary-burn insert with GFRC concrete and Corten sculpture bodies. GFRC means glass-fiber reinforced concrete. Corten is steel that develops a rust patina. If smoke is the reason you’re moving away from wood entirely, a gas burner solves it completely.
Step 2: Choose Your Fire Pit Material
Steel and corten for durability
Powder-coated and corten steel are common choices for modern fire pits. They handle high heat and weather, and corten’s rust patina improves with each season. Browse our metal and steel fire pits if durability for your money is a priority.
Copper and cast iron for looks and warmth
Copper develops a changing patina, and hammered-copper bowls are showpieces. Cast iron holds and radiates heat well. Both need a little more care. Use a fire pit cover between uses to keep them in good condition.
Concrete and stone for a permanent look
GFRC gives you the substance and texture of stone at a manageable weight. Finishes range from smooth modern gray to wood-grain patterns. Concrete fire pit designs look like a permanent part of your space, even when they’re freestanding.
Step 3: Shape & Size
Round for conversation
A round fire pit for a seating circle radiates heat evenly in every direction. Its shape naturally brings chairs into a circle, so people can sit facing one another.
Square and rectangular for modern layouts
Square fire pit designs fit symmetrical seating arrangements. Rectangular fire pits work with straight sofas and dining setups. Long linear burners give you the most visible flame for their heat output in BTU.
Tables, bowls or pits?
Think about height and use as well as footprint. A fire pit table with a usable ledge gives you room for drinks and dinner. A low bowl gives you the clearest view of the flame, while a classic pit keeps things simple. Our comparison of fire pits, fire bowls and fire tables shows all three with photos.
Size to your seating area
Match the fire feature to the seating around it. Seats should sit 5–7 feet from the flame, with 3 feet of walkway behind them. Our guide to arranging fire pit seating shows how those measurements work with Adirondack circles and built-in benches.
Step 4: Placement, Installation & Safety
Portable fire pit vs. built-in
A freestanding or portable fire pit can move when you change your layout or move house. A built-in with a masonry fire pit surround gives you a permanent outdoor room. For ideas about placing an outdoor fire on a deck, patio, lawn or beside a pool, see our backyard fire pit placement ideas.
If you’re looking for the best portable propane fire pit for camping, keep the category in mind. Camping units and small tabletop fire pit units are a different, CSA-rated category of gear from the residential patio fire pit designs in this guide.
Clearances
Follow the manufacturer’s listed clearances from structures, fences and overhanging branches. These are typically 10+ feet for wood and less for gas. On decks, choose gas and add a heat pad. Verify overhead clearance under any roof or pergola.
Local regulations
Many municipalities restrict open wood burning or require permits. Gas appliances are usually exempt from burn bans. Spend five minutes on your city’s website before buying so you know which rules apply.
Step 5: Features & Accessories Worth Having
Adjustable flame control
On gas models, a key valve or push-button ignition with flame adjustment lets you turn the flame up for atmosphere or down for conversation. Premium burners with electronic ignition systems add control through an app or switch.
Wind guards and spark screens
A tempered glass wind guard keeps a gas flame steady and protects fingers. Use a spark screen over wood to contain embers before they reach dry grass or cushions.
Covers and care kit
A fitted fire pit cover is the least expensive way to help your pit last longer. For wood burners, add a fire poker and an ash rake. A proper fire starter will start a fire faster and cleaner than newspaper every time. For gas owners, fire glass or lava rock protects the burner and adds sparkle.
Cooking capability
Choose wood if you’re looking for the best fire pit for cooking. Grill grates and swing arms turn a bonfire into a grill for hot dogs, foil packets and cast-iron cooking. Keep food off gas burners. Drippings clog the ports and stain the fire glass or lava rock.
What Does a Good Fire Pit Cost in 2026?
Big-box steel bowls run $150–$500 and typically last a few seasons. Designer smokeless sculptures like ours run $2,400–$7,000. Hand-built gas fire pits and fire tables, the category we specialize in, start at $1,946 and run to $6,000+. Hammered copper and oversized linear designs cost more than that. The higher price buys certified burner systems and GFRC or thick-gauge metal construction. Warranties are measured in years rather than seasons.
Fire Pit Buying FAQ
How do you clean a fire pit?
For wood, shovel out the ash once it’s cool. Rinse the bowl, dry it and cover it. For gas, brush debris off the fire glass or lava rock and wipe the burner ports each season. Each spring, check for spider nests in the venturi, the tube where gas and air mix. These nests commonly cause a weak, inconsistent fire.
Are smokeless fire pits safe?
Yes, when used like any wood fire. Place yours on a non-combustible surface, away from structures, and never leave it smoldering. The walls run extremely hot. Keep kids and pets at the same distance you would from any open fire.
Which shape throws the most heat?
Round pits spread warmth evenly around the circle. Linear burners concentrate it along two sides. For maximum warmth per person, choose a round wood or gas fire pit with seating pulled to 5–6 feet.
Propane or natural gas: can I switch later?
Often yes. Many burners are conversion-ready. Confirm on the product page or ask us before ordering. Always have a licensed pro handle gas plumbing.
What round wood burning fire pit over 25 inches will last outside?
Our wood burning fire pits by The Outdoor Plus are handmade in the USA with the full manufacturer warranty. The 36-inch Gravity has double steel walls and comes in Corten or brushed stainless steel. The Orbit is a 42-inch Corten disc. The 42-inch Artemis is a glass-fiber concrete bowl with a Corten or stainless steel insert. Corten develops a protective rust finish, but early runoff can mark pale paving. Stainless steel stays bright with a wipe-down. Use a fitted cover between fires. Never douse hot Corten or concrete with water. Give these wood burners open sky above and a non-combustible surface below.
For a permanent natural gas fire pit, what matters more, the body or the burner?
Both matter. The burner determines heat, while the body determines the look and how long it lasts. Our gas burners are stainless steel. American Fyre Designs says around 65,000 BTU serves a close seating circle, while 100,000 suits bigger groups and open patios. The Legend has a 36-inch burner rated at 65,000 BTU. The Legend Long has a 48-inch burner rated at 100,000 BTU. Bodies are GFRC concrete or heavy powder coated steel, both handcrafted in the USA. A licensed installer sizes your gas line for the burner’s BTU rating and makes the connection. With natural gas, you have no tank to refill.
Does a deep fire pit give off less heat than a low one?
A tall wall around a wood fire can hide the flame and hold heat inside the pit. A low bowl gives you a clearer view of the flame. The Coastline stands 16 inches tall and directs radiant heat toward ankle to knee level. Its valve lets you adjust the flame from a glow to real warmth. The Legend Long stands 14.5 inches tall and spreads 100,000 BTU along a 48-inch burner to warm a long row of seating. A big pit sends plenty of heat upward. Under a roof, it needs a genuinely open structure with overhead clearance determined by the manual and local code.
Find the Best Fire Pit for Your Outdoor Space
Traditional fire pits, smokeless stoves, bowls and tables each suit different needs. The best fire pit matches your fuel preference, backyard patio and time around the fire. Choose gas for easy outdoor living, wood for tending logs or a table for drinks beside the flame. Explore our full collection of outdoor fire pits: 290+ gas, propane, natural gas and wood burning models for backyard use from dealer-only brands. We offer free shipping on most brands (exceptions apply), no sales tax (except WY), full manufacturer warranties and fire-feature experts a phone call away.
