How to Buy a Fire Pit

Outdoor Fire Pit Advantages

Fire pits are a great way to relax and unwind with family and friends. Offering soothing warmth and ambiance, they give your space a sense of intimacy while keeping cold weather at bay.

Multi-Season Space

Fire pits help extend your time outdoors, even in cooler weather. There’s no need to abandon your backyard until spring, light up the night and keep the party going.

Add Ambiance

Whether you want a romantic backdrop for two, or just a sense of calmness and serenity, the dancing flames will brighten and cozy up your space.

Affordable Investent

Not only are fire pits friendly to the wallet, but your DIY options will save you even more.

Little Maintenance Required

Gas firepits need their gas connections checked, and wood-burning pits only require basic soot and ash cleanout.

Fire Pit Fuel Types

Wood and gas are the standard and most popular choices for firepits, though a few specialty options have surfaced in recent years.

Wood

The old-fashioned, smoky aroma and pleasant crackle of a wood fire creates an ambiance that can’t be beaten, and the benefits of quick installation and minimal maintenance make these a popular choice. Traditional log firepits are the least expensive option and produce larger, hotter fires than their gas counterparts.

Gas burning fire pit next to a set of outdoor furniture

Gas

As opposed to wood, gas fire pits require less work. Since there’s no chopping wood and no matches, starting a fire can be as simple as turning on the gas valve and pushing a button. Propane models attach to a standard 20-pound propane tank that will need to be placed somewhere on your patio. Some units are built to house the tank within its structure while other brands carry a separate matching tank cover. Natural gas has the advantage of a cleaner installation since there is no tank to place, but it will require professional plumbing to run the natural gas line to your fire pit.

Small tabletop fire pit with people roasting marshmallows above

Other Fuel Types

Though wood and gas are the most common, alternative fuel types have risen in popularity lately and present their own advantages and disadvantages. Pellet fire pits are a more predictable, consistent, and safe option that gives you that wood-fueled experience without the hassle of logs. Ethanol fire pits are clean burning, meaning they require very little maintenance since there is no ash or other residue to clean up. Lastly, we have gel. Gel is an environmentally friendly fuel, but these fire pits produce less heat than some other fuel options.

Smokeless Fire Pits

Smokeless fire pits feature double-walled construction and a secondary combustion system to prevent heat from escaping. This means that very little smoke is produced, and wood or charcoal is burned to ash, eliminating any remaining smoke particles. So, smokeless fire pits work by keeping the fire hot so that the wood can burn as hot as possible to create as little smoke as possible.

Minimal Smoke

Specially designed air flow technology helps logs burn completely and greatly minimizes smoke.

Easy to Clean

The absence of smoke and minimal ash left behind make this a breeze to clean.

Take It Anywhere

Lightweight and portable designs mean you can take it on the road or enjoy it at home.

Fire Pit Types, Sizes, and Styles

Each fire pit style lends a different aesthetic to your outdoor space, and some have the added benefit of being practical even when not in use.

Fire pit on a gravel clearing with chairs around it

Fire Pits

Standard outdoor fire pits are usually rectangular, though they’re available in many different shapes and sizes. This style also includes a variety of materials and fuel types. These fire pits bring a familiar, classic aesthetic.

Group of people around a half-sphere fire bowl, roasting marshmallows

Fire Bowls

With rounded bodies and beautiful contours, fire bowls are a trendy choice, and their streamlined design will make for a striking statement piece in any space.

Fire Pit Tables

While these are the largest styles, they also are one of the most practical. Fire pit tables are tables with built-in fire pits and often come with a tabletop cover or tank storage for additional table space.

Person operating the hood lift on a fire pit grill, on the beach

Fire Pit Grills

With a wood-burning fire below and a cooking surface above, you can enjoy a cozy campfire, prepare a meal on the grates, or do both at the same time.

Flaming fire urn in an outdoor patio setting

Fire Urns

These luxury-styled urns are similar, taller versions of fire bowls. Most are propane-fueled and have a hidden access hatch to conceal your tank.

Small fire bowls on columns, next to a pool

Fire and Water Bowls

For a truly spectacular focal point, fire and water bowls provide the warmth of a fire pit and the ambiance of a waterfall, so you get the best of both worlds.

Portable fire pit on a deck with a family surrounding it

Portable Fire Pits

Portable fire pits go where you go! Their small, lightweight design and pellet or wood-burning fuel types make them excellent travel companions.

Small polygonal tabletop fire pit next to a matching succulent planter

Tabletop Fire Pits

These smaller models are designed to be centerpieces for outdoor dining tables, or anywhere else that you might like a bit of light, warmth, and ambiance.

Fire Pit Materials

The material of your firepit will make a big difference in terms of longevity, maintenance, and overall cost. BBQGuys offers more than 20 different types of materials to choose from, so let’s take a look at some of the most popular choices available.

Powder-Coated Steel

Powder-coated steel is steel that has been coated with a layer of powdered paint. It's a popular method for adding color and protection to metal surfaces, providing durability and resistance to corrosion. It's a budget-friendly option, though it may have a shorter lifespan compared to more robust materials.

Cast Aluminum

Cast aluminum stands up to any weather without rusting. While it’s not as light as regular aluminum, it’s still easily portable enough to move around your patio.

Rectangular faux stone fire pit, on fire

Faux Stone & Concrete

While these are heavier than other materials, they are the most durable options on the market, meaning it will last you season after season in any weather.

GFRC

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete is composed of specially formulated cement, glass fibers, aggregates, and polymers, and uses special alkaline resistant glass fibers and polymers instead of steel for reinforcement. This creates a final product that is thin and hollow in construction, so it weighs a fraction of a traditional pre-cast concrete fire pit.

Ignition Type

The ignition type is what is used to light the burner on a gas fire pit. Different methods are more popular than others, so it’s important to know the difference when making your choice.

Single Spark

These ignitions feature an electrode which creates a spark when the ignition button or knob is activated, igniting the fuel mixture. Some fire pits come with Push Button Spark Ignition.

Continuous Spark

In this two-part system, a spark is created with an electrode that is connected to an ignition rod. This ignition rod is placed next to the gas flow at the burner and the sparks are repeatedly emitted while the ignition is activated.

Match Light

Match light ignitions are lit manually with a long match placed next to the burner while the fuel source is on.

Fire Pit Safety

It’s important to always maintain proper safety practices when operating a firepit. Be sure to read the owner’s manual and maintain the recommended clearance to combustibles. Our Fire Pit Safety Guide where we will take you through more of the proper protocols for safely enjoying your fire pit.

Fire Pit Warranties

Fire pits can last an exceptionally long time when properly cared for, but even the best fire pits have the occasional issue. Check out our Fire Pit Warranty Chart for more information about the varying warranties of different brands.

Gas Fire Pit Decor

Don’t forget the finishing touches! Fire pit décor refers to anything you can put inside the pit, as well as ornamentation usually placed on top of or used with filler. It’s a great way to add some extra pizzazz to your gas fire pit. Choose one or mix and match for a truly unique look. Types of décors include fire glass, geometric shapes, stone branches, or shaped glass to help you create beautiful and diverse firescapes. Check out our Fire Glass Buying Guide for more information.

DIY Fire Pits

For a fire pit that’s truly unique to your taste and your space, getting a DIY fire pit kit is a great option. You have the advantage of making it any size you want, and you can customize your materials to match your patio. Our article on How to Build a Gas Fire Pit will go into more detail about what you’ll need for your journey.

Whether you're roasting marshmallows over a wood-burning fire, or simply enjoying each other's company, any fire pit you choose will serve as a welcoming gathering place for your backyard. For more information about adding a fire pit to your space, give our experts a call at 1-877-743-2269. We have over 20 years of experience in outdoor heating to answer all your questions.

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How to Buy a Fire Pit | Fire Pit Buying Guide