5 Best Propane Fire Pits, Tested and Reviewed

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Best Overall Propane Fire Pit

Outdoor Patio Propane Gas Firepit

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According to our testers, this propane fire pit is the “agreed-upon favorite” in terms of aesthetics. They noted that “the clear rounded sea glass is pretty yet understated, and the woven brown material sets it apart from the others.”

It’s also larger than the others we tested, so it’s a bit of a statement piece for a patio or backyard, especially with its wicker base and heat-resistant bronze finish.

But good looks aren’t the only thing that sets this piece apart. It produces strong, consistent, deeply colorful flames and emits warmth up to 9 feet away (we tested this on a warm day, so take that with a grain of salt). Despite its intense max flame and excellent heat emission, this fire pit is one of the only options we tested that we’d recommend placing items on.

“Due to the wider lip of the table, we’d actually feel comfortable setting drinks on the edge of the table while on the lowest setting,” our testers said.

It’s also relatively easy to assemble, with our testers noting that the steps were fairly straightforward. “Our main complaint was that it came with a shoddy wrench and bolts only,” they said. “Being forced to use these tools over screws and a screwdriver really slowed us down.”

Attaching the propane to the hose was easy: You just screw the hose onto the propane tank, though our testing team did need to mess around with the wing nut to get the cylinder to fit snugly in the holder. Our testers reported no propane leakage after testing.

Operating the fire pit once assembled is easy as pie. It features electric ignition, and all you have to do is push down the ignitor button, then turn a knob to light it. This is the only one with a control panel inside the door, which our testers said is a little annoying, though the door itself is one of the sturdiest and easiest to operate of the pits they tested.

The Colebrooke fire pit comes with a protective cover for when it’s not in use. It’s essentially like a sleeve or slip—there are no zippers, snaps, or elastic. According to our testers, the seam aligns exactly with the table’s perimeter, so it fits perfectly.

It arrived on the doorstep intact and packaged neatly but with much waste. The large main box had some empty boxes inside it to take up room (rather than Styrofoam), so the fire pit components themselves did not shift and get damaged. We appreciate the more eco-conscious choice, as opposed to Styrofoam.

The fire pit is sizable but fairly light, partly due to the wicker construction. Because of its size, our testers think most buyers will need two people to move it safely. Overall, it feels durable but is relatively easy to move, and it looks great, our testers said.

“This table is a pretty good value, if a little bit on the high side,” they said. “We definitely think this is our best overall in terms of quality and value, but we wouldn’t mind seeing it just a tad cheaper.” If you catch this one on sale, it’s a no-brainer.

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Best Budget Propane Fire Pit

Legacy Heating Propane Fire Pit

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According to our testing team, the Legacy Heating Propane Fire Pit Table is of great economic value. It was one of their favorites aesthetically, and they appreciated the strong flame (almost too strong at times, they said). The electronic ignition was successful, and it was easy to move around and assemble. That’s a lot of positive qualities for a fire pit table under $200!

It’s available in several finishes—dark gray, mocha, mocha with wooden top, black, and silver—and features a wicker-like base. With Piezo electric ignition, it’s easy to start, though our testers noted a bit of fiddling with the knob. “To start it, you have to press the knob down for two minutes before turning the fire pit on (this only needs to be done when hooking up a new cylinder), then press down on the knob again and turn clockwise,” our testers explained. “The knob is a bit finicky and gets stuck; it requires you to push it in every time you want to make an adjustment, but sometimes it gets locked up.”

Delivery went well: The fire pit arrived at the doorstep and didn’t require a pallet or freight delivery. It was packed nicely to prevent damage, but it came with a lot of waste, including lots of Styrofoam, foam layers, and plastic bags. According to our testers, it was enough garbage to fill a commercial-sized garbage bag.

Our testers found assembly quite easy despite some unclear instructions. This was the first fire pit construction for testers Sydney and Annamarie, and they put it together in just 39 minutes. They noted that the diagrams were more helpful than the written instructions, and they were ultimately able to “accomplish it quickly and without issue.”

After screwing the hose onto the propane tank, they tested for leaks by spraying connections with soapy water and watching for bubbles as they turned the valve on. No leaks were noted for this Legacy Heating Propane Fire Pit Table—hoorah!

If you live alone or are often home alone, this could be the right fire pit for you, as it’s one of the lightest ones we tested. In fact, our testers said it’s potentially the only fire pit table we tested that could be moved safely by one person.

On the highest setting (on a warm day), the flames emit warmth up to 10 feet away—one of the longest ranges across products we tried. There’s a bit of noise when this pit runs on high, but not enough to be overtly distracting.

Our main callout with this fire pit is that the wind resistance is poor. So much so, in fact, that “when it’s on high, it’d be a little difficult to adjust the knob while the flame was blowing in your direction,” our testers said.

One thing our testers really loved about the Legacy Heating fire pit is the deep orange flames, which they called “very impressive and imposing.”

“The flames of this fire pit burn as one cohesive unit, rather than a bunch of smaller flames in a circle, which is the case with some others,” they said. “This gives you much more of that ‘bonfire’ feel.”

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Best Propane Fire Pit for Camping

Outland Living Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit

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This portable fire pit could be your next piece of luxurious camping gear. It is a great alternative to wood campfires, especially if your campsite is in a fire-ban zone. The package comes with a steel exterior, a stainless steel burner, a chrome valve knob, lava rocks, and a cover. You can purchase a weather-resistant carrying bag separately. Because the fire pit is so small and requires minimal assembly, the packaging is basic and minimal.

Speaking of assembly, the Outland Living Fire Bowl scored extremely high on the assembly test because it was “ridiculously easy,” according to our testers. It took less than 10 minutes because most of it was already assembled in the box—you just need to attach the legs and place the lava racks in the bowl. (Side note: Our testers had an entire bag of rocks left over to supplement in the future, which they thought was a great value-add.)

To get fuel flowing, all you’ll need to do is screw the 10-foot-long hose to the propane cylinder and manually ignite the flame. This fire pit has an excess flow safety valve (EFV) that restricts the gas supply if gas is flowing too quickly through the hose. “The propane tank needs to be turned on very slowly; otherwise, it will trip the ESV,” our testers said, noting that they ran into some trouble with this.

On the highest setting, you can feel it from about 11 feet away. This fire pit won first place in the heat emission test, which checks out because it has the highest BTU rating of all the pits we tested: 58,000. The propane tank flow is fairly noisy, even at the lowest setting, which can be slightly annoying but isn’t a deal breaker, in our opinion. No leakage occurred anywhere in the flow during our testing.

Because it’s a portable fire pit, it’s easy to move. One person can easily handle it—just watch out for tumbling lava rocks.

On the aesthetics front, our testers said, “The little fire-shaped cutouts around the perimeter are a wholesome detail, and the shiny black exterior makes it look quality.”

Tester Annamarie concluded that spending more than $200 on this “seems a little steep, but then again, campers are serious about their supplies, and this would certainly fill the bill for that type.” If you’re not going to use this in a setting that necessitates portability, then you’re better off buying a permanent fixture for less (like our budget pick from Legacy Heating).

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Best Propane Fire Pit with Accessories

Tiki Brand Propane Gas Fire Pit

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Looking for something specific to suit your existing outdoor seating or structure? The Tiki Brand Customizable Propane Fire Pit could be your ticket to a tastefully personalized fire feature. According to our testers, the base of this fire pit will probably appeal to a specific taste. It’s more modern-looking, with a streamlined profile and an all-black colorway with rounded edges. The conical body is the main piece, with the option to add a tabletop, vertical heater attachment, and/or glass surround.

Hooking up the propane was as simple as screwing the hose onto the tank, but with a nice touch: There’s a sliding track for the tank. “This experience, though easy for all the models, was made even easier for the Tiki thanks to the sliding propane holder,” our testers said.

Assembly was a bit of a pain, mostly because the diagrams are printed darkly, so it’s hard to see the details. Also, the parts on this fire pit aren’t labeled, and the corresponding numbers for the parts in the manual are long and confusing. They are seven-digit numbers that had our testers flipping back and forth in the manual a lot. Still, they managed to put it together in just one hour.

Once assembled, the manual suggests “seasoning” lava rocks for 30 minutes on the highest setting and keeping people 15 feet away from the pit during this time in case the rocks pop.

On the highest setting, the flames are a bright orange color but small compared to some of the other products our team tested. Our testers noted that the flames all seem to emit directly from the vent in the center of the fire pit and remain very contained. On the lowest level, the flame is nearly nonexistent, but you can still see the heat coming off of the fire pit, they said. Even so, the heat is felt up to 8.5 feet away (on a warm day). No gas leaks were noted during testing. Our testers said the flame is slightly reactive to the wind but not in a way that makes it feel dangerous.

One of our favorite features on this Tiki fire pit is the regulator gauge. It shows how much propane is left in the tank, with color-coded “refill” (red), “low gas” (yellow), and “gas” (green) marks. There will be no more guesswork about when to refill the propane tank.

On the flip side, one of our least favorite features on this pit is the door—or the lack thereof. Instead of a door with hinges, a portion of the siding is magnetized and removable, and it must be taken off when adjusting the propane take. “It’s incredibly cumbersome to take on and off, and considering you have to do this multiple times each use, this is definitely a con,” our testers said.

The Tiki fire pit is also quite difficult to move despite it having transport wheels. It weighs more than 90 pounds, so don’t plan on moving it regularly or very far. That said, its weight and bulk are probably a good thing in the end, our tester said because they indicate sturdiness.

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Best Splurge Propane Fire Pit

Orren Ellis Belle Propane Fire Pit Table

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Priced at about $780, the Orren Ellis Belle Concrete Propane Gas Fire Pit Table isn’t a budget pick. But its sleek design, appealing aesthetic, and sturdy build quality make it a worthwhile purchase.

This fire pit is on the larger side and was delivered in two boxes: one for the completely pre-assembled fire table and one for the tank/table cover. It doesn’t require you to be home to collect it in person; our tester’s was delivered when she was away, and she could use a dolly to move it into her garage. It was packed well in secure Styrofoam, and no damage had occurred. Also in the package was 1 AAA battery, user guide, troubleshooting sheet, two care and use flyers, a waterproof table cover, and a tank stand with leveling feet and bolt to secure the tank.

Assembly was ultra-easy, seeing as the fire pit arrived pre-assembled. “Because there was zero assembly needed on the table itself, I knew this was for me,” our tester said. “I’ve never used propane in my life, so a friend sourced a tank and walked me through Propane 101. He had me screw the hose to the tank and warned that I should tighten the connection even more, then said goodbye.”

“The lighting of the pit was up to me, and naturally, I was a bit nervous,” she said, “but the directions were clear, both in the user guide and on the faceplate of the controls as well. I did the soap test from the connector and all along the hose, and no leakage occurred.”

The manufacturer says this unit cannot be placed on decks, so our tester placed it on her lawn on top of a grill mat so it wouldn’t sink into the ground. Planning the location was tricky, she said, because the fuel needs to be 5 feet from the pit, with the fuel line attached.

The unit has a tank stand and concrete cover that doubles as a table. The fuel line must go under the stand and then attach to the tank. Our tester put the stand and cover on two pavers and adjusted the stand legs to account for the slope in the landscape. Then, she ran the line between the pavers and covered it with a no-trip strip that she could cross over with the lawn mower without damaging the hose.

“Adjusting all of this took a few tries and was a little difficult by myself because the stand also locks the tank in place on one side,” she said, noting that attaching the hose was the easiest part.

Our tester found herself worrying about the longevity of this fire pit because the manufacturer says to keep it out of extreme weather conditions and store it indoors during winter. However, besides the fact that sometimes you just want a fire in the winter, it’s too bulky and heavy to move indoors for inclement weather.

The unit itself is very attractive with a thin concrete veneer and shiny metal insert, our tester said, though the included lava rocks sort of dim the vibe. Our tester opted to fill the pit with fire glass she bought separately. So far, the tabletop seems durable, and none of the metal components have rusted. Our tester has covered it with the included waterproof cover when not in use.

It took our tester three tries to light the fire pit, but the electric ignition has worked fine since getting the hang of it. On the low setting, the flames were just an inch or two high, and the heat could be felt up to 3 feet away. On the high setting, the flames whipped every which way on a day with wind gusts up to 14 miles per hour. Our tester said heat emitted up to 7 feet away, but mostly at face level.

Overall, our tester likes this fire table because it “looks great, doesn’t require any assembly, and pumps out the heat.” We’ll report back after seeing how winter conditions affect the functionality.

What to Look for When Buying a Propane Fire Pit

A propane fire pit should not be just an aesthetic addition to your outdoor living space. It should also be functional, easy to use, and safe. Before you press “buy now” on that pit you’ve been eyeing, factor these considerations into your search.

Delivery and Setup

This is a bigger deal than one might think initially. Sure, these prefabricated fire pits come with owner’s manuals and instruction guides, but some are still plain hard to put together. Not to mention, delivery can be an issue for some of the larger options that require a pallet, signature, or in-person receipt.

You’ve got to consider getting it to the location you want it, too. If it’s a particularly heavy or complex item, you may want to look into white-glove delivery options, where the manufacturer partners with a shipping/handling company that can bring it to your desired location in your yard and put it together. Try to look at the owner’s manual and instructions online before committing to a purchase; also, read customer reviews and search for ones that mention delivery and assembly.

Construction and Durability

Construction materials are a major concern with propane fire pits. If they’re cheaply built, they might be a pain to assemble and could have safety issues. You’ll also want them to hold up to various weather conditions since they’ll be outdoors. Look for materials like steel and concrete to signify a durable build.

Power and Settings

A key factor in your buying decision should be the BTU rating. Our team recommends a propane fire pit capable of producing 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs. Depending on your environment (e.g., gets very cold or not so cold), you may want more or less power. Additionally, consider how many heat settings the fire pit has. It’s nice to be able to fine-tune your flame.

Ignition

Electronic ignition is ideal and the norm these days. Manual ignition, where you need a flame, such as a lighter or match, is not as common anymore. Electric ignition saves you the minor inconvenience of finding a flame, but electric ignitions can wear out over time.

Size and Weight

Check and double-check the dimensions of a fire pit before purchasing it. You must ensure it fits in your space and has enough room to meet safety standards. You’ll generally want several feet between the flame and any structures or walls. More room is never a bad idea when it comes to fire.

If you plan on ever moving the fire pit, such as from the front yard to the back yard or vice versa, it’s a good idea to look for one with portability features, such as mounted transport wheels (and one that’s not too heavy for you to move).

Appearance and Accessories

Finally—and this is the fun part—your fire pit should match the aesthetic of your outdoor space! Shop around for different finishes, colors, and features to find the right fit. Accessories, such as vertical heating attachments and wind guards, can elevate the experience, too.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our product testing team at Family Handyman consists of experts in home goods. Not only does our team live and breathe home renovations, home improvement, and DIY projects, but our testing team actually tried the products featured in this guide. In addition to having expertise in home goods, Family Handyman staff members and contributors are seasoned shopping pros. Our writers have years of experience reviewing and writing about products, and our editors are keen on finding the best deals for our readers.

Other Products We Tested

The five featured fire pits above are our favorites after an extensive testing period, but we also tested and researched several other propane fire pits. Here’s a look at the ones that didn’t quite make the cut this time and why.

Ciays Propane Fire Pit

While this fire pit features a “super simple and easy” propane hookup, our testers ultimately found it a hassle to set up. “About halfway through setup, it became apparent that pieces were not aligning properly,” our tester continued. “The metal sides kept warping and snapping into different positions, and the holes would not match up. We had to retroactively loosen up screws from previous steps so that we could actually fit the screws into the holes for the following steps.”

Once assembled, our testers noted that the fire pit produces large and colorful flames, which is nice, but the fire pops a lot, probably due to the metal warping against the heat.

Hampton Bay Crossridge Gas Fire Pit Table

Assembly-wise, this fire pit was the easiest for our testers to assemble, though the delivery was somewhat of a mess. Specifically, our testers opened it up to find that lava rocks had spilled everywhere. “The tape on the box of rocks lifted off, so they were scattered throughout the entire box,” they said. Because of this, most items were coated in a thin layer of dust.”

Our testers also experienced some issues with the pieces not aligning correctly and a smell of burning rubber when using the included safety screen. They love the concept and, partially, the aesthetics but don’t think it’s worth the price.

How We Found the Best Propane Fire Pits

Our product testing team received seven fire pits and conducted 10 tests on each. We ran each featured fire pit through this series of tests to rate the following features:

• Packaging, shipping, and delivery
• Dimensions, weight, and portability
• Assembly
• Hose length
• Construction materials and durability
• Safety features
• Hookup and ignition
• Heating power and efficacy
• Warmth emission
• Accessories
• Wind resistance

By the end of our testing period, our team had collected nearly 300 data points and detailed notes regarding safety, performance, and ease of use. After the initial testing period, these fire pits were shipped out to long-term testers who regularly used them and reported back with new findings. We’ll update this guide with new testing material as it develops.

FAQ

How long will a 20 lb. propane tank run a fire pit?

A 20-pound propane tank can run for quite some time, but the exact hours it will run your fire pit depends on the fire pit output, BTU rating, and weather conditions including temperature and wind. According to Heat Authority, 20 pounds of propane can run a fire pit at 30 to 40 thousand BTUs for 10 to 12 hours.

Can you roast marshmallows over a propane fire pit?

Yes, you can roast marshmallows over a propane fire pit, similar to cooking food in a natural gas oven or stove. Just be careful not to drip any melted marshmallow into the fire glass or rocks in the fire pit, as it would be a sticky mess to clean up.

How much ventilation does a propane fire pit need?

Gas fire pits require venting to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide. Check the specifications in the owner’s manual of the fire pit you purchase for exact information, as the requirements vary depending on BTU ranges and other factors. The good news is that any prefabricated propane fire pit will arrive properly ventilated, unlike a DIY fire pit.