Best Fire Pits

These three stand out in the product table above for different budgets and needs.

Best overall: the Pilot Rock Fire Pit Rings, around $645, is our first choice from the table.

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Best value: the TIKI Reunion 27.5-Inch Smokeless Outdoor Wood Burning Fire Pit, around $412, is the lowest priced of these three.

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Also great: the COSIEST 35-inch Square Outdoor Sandstone Fire Pit w Wind, around $600, is another strong option with a different set of features.

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Wood-burning fire pits deliver the classic crackling fire experience with real flame height and that distinct campfire smell, but they also produce smoke that shifts with the wind, need regular ash cleanup, and require a steady wood supply. Many municipalities restrict or ban open wood fires in certain zones, which is worth checking before buying.

Propane fire pits light instantly, produce no smoke or ash, and can be shut off in seconds, making them far more practical for regular use and for areas with wood-burning restrictions. The tradeoff is a smaller, more contained flame and the ongoing cost of propane tank refills. Natural gas fire pits connect directly to a home's gas line for essentially unlimited fuel with no tanks to refill, but installation requires a professional gas line hookup, which adds meaningful upfront cost.

For gas fire pits, BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating indicates actual heat output, and higher is not automatically better if the pit is oversized for your space. A fire pit rated around 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs suits most backyard seating areas, while ratings above that are more appropriate for larger open patios or commercial spaces.

Diameter and Seating Distance

A wider fire pit spreads heat across a larger seating circle but also demands more clearance from furniture and structures. Matching diameter to your actual seating arrangement, rather than buying the largest option available, keeps the heat concentrated where people are actually sitting.

Cast iron and steel fire pit bowls handle direct flame well but can rust over time without a protective coating or regular maintenance, particularly in humid or rainy climates. Copper develops an attractive patina and resists corrosion naturally, at a higher price point than steel. Concrete and stone fire pit surrounds tolerate heat well and add a more permanent, built-in look, though they are heavier and less portable than a metal bowl.

Whatever the material, checking whether a fire pit is rated for direct high heat versus simply heat-resistant surface coating matters, since a bowl not built for sustained flame can crack or warp faster than expected.

Most fire safety guidelines call for at least 10 feet of clearance from structures, fences, and overhanging branches, though local codes vary and should be checked directly rather than assumed. Placing a fire pit on a non-flammable surface, such as pavers, gravel, or concrete, rather than directly on grass or a wood deck, reduces fire risk significantly.

A spark screen is worth adding for wood-burning pits specifically, since it contains popping embers that can otherwise land on nearby furniture, dry grass, or clothing.

Portable fire pits can be moved around the yard, taken camping, or stored away during the off-season, and generally cost less upfront than a built-in installation. Built-in fire pits, typically constructed from stone or concrete block, offer a more permanent, integrated look and often higher heat output, but represent a bigger investment and cannot be relocated once installed.

A fitted cover protects a fire pit from rain, snow, and debris between uses, and matters more than it sounds for metal bowls, since standing water left inside a bowl over winter is one of the fastest ways to accelerate rust. A cooking grate turns a basic fire pit into a functional outdoor cooking surface, which is worth considering upfront if that use case matters, since not every fire pit is designed to accommodate one.

For wood-burning models, a log rack or dedicated firewood storage kept close to the pit but outside the required safety clearance keeps wood dry and reduces trips back and forth during use. A spark screen, mentioned earlier for safety, does double duty by also keeping ash from blowing onto nearby seating on breezy nights.

How much clearance does a fire pit need from a house or fence?

A common guideline is at least 10 feet from structures and flammable materials, though local fire codes can require more. Always confirm specific requirements for your area before placement.

Are propane fire pits as warm as wood-burning ones?

They can be, depending on BTU output, but the flame is typically smaller and more contained than an open wood fire, which some people find produces less overall ambient heat even at a comparable BTU rating.

Do I need a permit for a fire pit?

It depends on your municipality and whether the pit is portable or a permanent built-in installation. Portable fire pits usually need no permit, while permanent installations sometimes do.

What BTU rating is good for a backyard fire pit?

Around 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs suits most standard backyard seating areas. Larger open spaces may call for a higher rating to maintain noticeable warmth.

Can a fire pit be used on a wood deck?

Generally not recommended without a certified heat-resistant pad underneath, since direct heat exposure can scorch or ignite wood decking even from an enclosed fire pit.

Style and material finish are the easiest part of choosing among the best fire pits. Fuel type dictates the daily experience, from cleanup to convenience to local legality, which makes it the first choice to settle, not the last.

Once fuel type and size are settled, the remaining choices, bowl shape, surrounding material, and finish, come down mostly to personal taste and how the piece fits the rest of the patio, since none of those affect the core function nearly as much as the decisions covered above.