Fire Pits

Fire Pit Types: Fuel Source

Propane Fire Pits

A propane fire pit runs on a standard 20 lb propane tank, the same size used by most gas grills. Propane is the most flexible fire pit fuel choice: no gas line connection required, the tank stores easily, and the fire starts and stops with a dial or ignition button. Propane fire pits produce no smoke and no ash, making them practical for covered patios, decks, and any location where smoke management matters. The trade-off is ongoing fuel costs and the need to monitor tank levels and keep a replacement on hand. Most propane fire pits conceal the tank inside the base or in a side compartment.

Gas Fire Pits

A gas fire pit connects to a home's natural gas line or an LP gas supply, providing an unlimited, on-demand fuel source without tank swaps. Natural gas fire pits are the most convenient option for a permanent outdoor installation, as a gas line can be extended to the patio. Connection requires a licensed plumber or gas technician; once installed, the fire pit operates as simply as a gas stove burner. Natural gas burns cleaner and at a lower cost per BTU than propane in most US utility markets. For portable or relocatable setups, propane is the more practical choice.

Wood Burning Fire Pits

A wood-burning outdoor fire pit provides the authentic campfire experience: real crackling wood, natural smoke and scent, and the ritual of building and tending a fire. Wood fire pits are the most atmospheric option and the most cost-effective to run if firewood is locally available. They produce significant smoke, which makes them best suited to open yards with good air circulation, away from covered structures, neighbors' windows, and areas where smoke buildup would be uncomfortable. Wood fire pits also require ash cleanup after each use and produce sparks that require a spark screen for safety.

Smokeless Fire Pits

A smokeless fire pit uses a secondary combustion design to burn off the smoke-producing gases that a traditional wood fire releases. Cool air enters through vents at the base of the fire pit, heats as it rises through the walls, and re-enters the fire chamber near the top rim as preheated air. This secondary air injection burns the smoke before it escapes, dramatically reducing visible smoke and the odor that lingers on clothing and hair. Smokeless fire pits still require wood as fuel and produce some ash, but the reduced smoke makes them significantly more comfortable for use in tighter outdoor spaces, covered patios, and neighborhoods where smoke complaints are a concern. Most quality smokeless fire pits are made from stainless steel or powder-coated steel and are designed as portable, standalone units rather than permanently installed pieces.

Fire Pit Formats

Standalone Bowl and Ring Fire Pits

A round fire pit bowl on a base is the most traditional standalone outdoor fire pit format: an open bowl of 24" to 36" in diameter mounted on legs or a pedestal, designed for wood-burning or gas-conversion kits. The open bowl format provides the widest fire view and the most radiant heat for surrounding seating. A fire pit ring is a steel insert that sits inside a built-in stone or brick fire pit enclosure, providing a finished liner that protects the surrounding material and is replaceable when worn. Fire pit rings are measured by their inner and outer diameters; the ring must fit the enclosure's interior diameter precisely.

Fire Pit Tables

A fire pit table combines a gas or propane burner in the center of a table frame with a functional tabletop that surrounds the fire element. The fire burns in a recessed burner pan filled with decorative fire glass or lava rocks; a cover plate converts the burner area to a flat tabletop surface when the fire is not in use. Fire pit tables are the most versatile format in this category: they serve as a dining or coffee table in the outdoor seating arrangement during the day and as a fire feature in the evening. Most fire pit tables run on propane and are available in bar height, counter height, and standard table height to suit any seating configuration.

Chimineas

A chiminea is a front-loading, vertical fire structure with a narrow chimney that draws smoke upward and away from the seating area. Traditional chimineas are cast iron or clay; contemporary versions are available in powder-coated steel. The enclosed front-opening design contains sparks more effectively than an open fire pit bowl, making a chiminea a practical choice for wood burning in locations where spark containment matters. The vertical chimney draws air through the fire efficiently, producing less smoke than a similarly sized open bowl fire pit when properly seasoned wood is used.

Portable Fire Pits

A portable outdoor fire pit is designed to be moved, packed, and transported: lightweight construction, compact folded dimensions, and carrying cases are standard features of this category. Most portable fire pits are wood-burning or propane. The smokeless fire pit design overlaps significantly with the portable category: most smokeless fire pits are also portable. For patios and decks where a permanent fire pit installation is not possible or desired, a portable fire pit provides all the atmosphere without any permanent modification to the space.

Fire Pit Shapes

Round fire pits are the most common shape: the circular form has no corners, allows seating to be arranged in a natural circle around the fire, and provides equal warmth distribution to all surrounding seats. Most standard round fire pits range from 24" to 48" in diameter. 

Square fire pits suit contemporary and modern patio aesthetics where clean angles and geometric forms are preferred over organic curves. A square fire pit table aligns naturally with the square or rectangular profiles of most patio furniture arrangements. Square fire pit bowls range from 24" to 36" per side in most standard sizes.

Fire Pit Safety and Placement

Place any outdoor fire pit on a non-combustible surface, such as concrete, brick, stone, or gravel. Never place a wood-burning fire pit on a wood deck without a fire pit pad or ember-catching mat beneath it. Maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet between a fire pit and any structure, overhang, fence, or combustible material. For propane and gas fire pits, confirm all fittings and connections are leak-tested before the first use and annually thereafter. Use a spark screen with all wood-burning fire pits to prevent embers from landing on surrounding surfaces, furniture, or guests. Keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby whenever a wood fire pit is in use.

Fire Pit Grill Grates

Some wood-burning fire pits include or are compatible with a cooking grate that sits over the fire bowl, enabling grilling and fire cooking in addition to the fire pit's decorative and warmth functions. A fire pit grate should be sized to the inner diameter of the fire pit bowl and rated for cooking use rather than decorative use only. For fire pit tables and propane fire pits, grill grates are not compatible with the burner design and should not be used.

Pair a Fire Pit with the Right Seating

For Adirondack chairs arranged around an outdoor fire pit, see our Adirondack chairs for the classic fire pit seating arrangement.

For a complete outdoor seating group to surround a fire pit table, browse our outdoor sofas and sectionals and pair with a fire pit table as the lounge centerpiece.

For the full outdoor seating range including accent chairs and benches suited to fire pit areas, see our outdoor seating and patio chairs collection.