As the weather turns cooler, a backyard fire pit offers a warm, cozy way to extend the outdoor living season. But with so many options, how do you decide what type of fire pit is right for you?
Pop into your local home improvement store and you’ll be greeted with plenty of grab-and-go wood-burning, propane or natural gas fire pits, some starting around $100 and some costing thousands. And then there are custom options. Here’s what to know if you’re on the hunt for the perfect centerpiece for your outdoor seating area — and products for every budget and style.
Fire pits and bowls
Typically, fire pits run 2 or 3 feet in diameter and are made from a laundry list of materials: steel, aluminum, copper, faux stone, concrete and polyresin, among others. Maurilio Garcia with Jacksons Home & Garden says the choice is really up to the homeowner and that there’s no special consideration for the Dallas area, other than knowing that copper will form a patina.
Fire-pit heating elements involve wood, propane or gas, so consider what’s important to you. Do you want the rustic snap, crackle and pop of a hot, large wood-burning fire, complete with the scent of hickory or piñon wafting through the air? Or would you prefer a propane or natural gas fire pit to turn on and off with the click of a button?
Jacksons Home & Garden has a variety of fire pits and tables for sale in its Dallas store. If you’re perusing options online, one inexpensive, easy-to-assemble choice is the wood-burning Piedmont steel fire pit from Hampton Bay ($149), available at Home Depot and adaptable for heating or grilling. There are also DIY kits that come ready to assemble with all of the pieces and instructions needed to build your own professional-looking fire pit, usually a little larger than a typical bowl. These kits from Lowe’s run from about $150 to $575.
Other fire pit and bowl options include:
- Bond bronze portable steel fire pit from Lowe’s, propane; $139
- X Series smokeless fire pit from Breeo, wood burning; $399 to $1,599
- Bryndle Root style from Frontgate, propane; $1,275
- Cazo 360 fire-and-water bowl from Fire Pit Outfitter, propane or natural gas; $4,742 to $6,054
Some styles have a cover you can buy that will turn your fire pit into an outdoor coffee table. If you’re really limited on space, check out tabletop fire bowls from Solo Stove, ranging from $60 to $100.
Fire tables
Fire tables come in all kinds of shapes and sizes — but they are generally on a pedestal or more elongated than a typical fire pit, and a generous edge creates a spot for placing a beverage. In many cases, fire tables are less about heat and more about the ambience they create. You can choose from faux-wicker finishes, modern concrete and many other designs.
When Garcia works with Jacksons customers looking for a mood-setting fire table, he often begins by getting a good understanding of their plans. “I ask them if they want something permanent, or if they are looking for something they can move to a different location later down the line,” he says. “If that’s the case, then we’ll recommend a fire table. You can get that in natural gas or propane, but if you’re going to want to move the table around, go with propane; you can set the table anywhere you want. Come in with measurements for the area where you want to fit in the fire table — that way we can make sure we get the right size.”
For the most part, people go with a typical propane tank, which attaches just like it does on a gas grill. If you have a Texas-sized patio, go for at least 50,000 BTUs (a measurement of heat). You’ll want to make sure your table has a hidden compartment, often located in the base, for the propane tank.
If you don’t want to deal with hiding or refilling tanks, consider natural gas. Just be sure to hire an expert to run a buried supply line, usually at about $25 a linear foot. After that initial installation, it significantly cheaper than propane.
Highly rated options include this $559 Outland Living fire table available on Amazon. It has a push-button ignition and a powder-coated aluminum frame, and the table is made with weather-resistant wicker.
Here are more fire tables to consider:
- Better Homes & Gardens Brookbury fire table from Walmart, propane; $346
- Trinity concrete fire table from Pottery Barn, propane; $1,300 to $1,999
- Oriflamme round fire table from All Backyard Fun, propane or natural gas; $1,795 to $2,245
- Rectangle fire table from West Elm, propane; $3,599
Custom fire pits and tables
Investing in a custom-made fire pit for your backyard gives you the opportunity to incorporate the stone on your patio or on the exterior of your home for a cohesive look.
Home and garden centers can help with the hardware for a custom fire pit but often refer customers to professional masons for the stonework. “We handle ordering the actual fire ring or the H-burner, or the kit to connect to the plumbing,” Garcia says.
He refers customers to Dallas-based M.M. Moore Fine Gardens & Masonry, a full-service garden design studio and construction firm that offers custom stone and brick masonry. “They know how to handle all types of colors, stones and finishes, and can get you what need,” Garcia explains.
Rick Baker with M.M. Moore says most of the custom fire pits his company builds are natural gas. “Propane would require hiding or burying the tank,” he notes, and a natural gas line provides a cleaner look you’ll likely want if you’re investing in a custom design.
As you would expect, a custom option will be the most expensive, Baker says. “A custom natural stone fire pit is going to be anywhere from $8,000 to $25,000, depending on size, materials, drainage and [the specifics of the gas line to] run it.”
Safety considerations with a fire pit
Before making a purchase, be sure and check with your homeowner’s association, apartment complex and/or municipality to ensure that a fire pit is permitted. Also make sure your pick is safe for use on your patio or deck material, or remember to purchase a heat barrier to place underneath.