The Ultimate Fire Pit Buying Guide

fire pit

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Fire Pit

I firmly believe that no backyard can be complete without a fire pit. Some of my favorite memories have come from sitting around a fire on the beach, in my backyard, on vacation, etc. There’s something so relaxing about lounging around with friends and family around a fire pit. They’re perfect for warm summer nights and cold winters as well. At Patio Productions, we are experts in providing awesome fire pits. One of the best parts about fire pits is that they’re so accessible for the average homeowner.

We’ve covered this in previous blog posts and feel it’s important to mention it again. It’s important to have a focal point when designing your backyard. It makes it feel complete and usually opens up the space. One of the best focal points is a fire pit!  Building a DIY firepit in your backyard is easier than you would think. If you’re not super handy, plenty of other options are available. We’ll start this guide by giving a quick rundown of the different types of backyard fire pit options that are available.

1. Fire Pit

The standard fire pit is a classic addition to any home that can come in so many different shapes and sizes. They can be as basic as a DIY fire pit in the corner of your yard and as extravagant as a full stone fireplace. The best part about building your own is that you can make it into any shape or size you want. If you’ve got a big area with lots of space and want to be able to host a larger group of people, you can make a bigger fire pit! It’s easy to add some patio furniture surrounding the pit so you’ve got a custom seating area. On the flip side, if you’re dealing with a smaller space, you can tone down your fire pit and make it a cozy go to spot for a few close friends.

Here’s an awesome guide on how to build your own fire pit!

There are a lot of material options when it comes to the standard fire pit. Based on the material that you use, the price will vary. Of course, the higher-end material will be more expensive. The materials that we see the most are stone, brick, concrete, stainless steel, and cast iron. These metals hold up well under high heat and are also rust-resistant! For the standard fire pit, the most common fuel source is wood, but there are other options that use propane, natural gas, and charcoal. Another route you can take is full on electric fire pit! With that option, you lose a little bit of the charm of a natural fire.

2. Fire Columns

Other than your standard fire pit, fire columns are a cool spin on a traditional outdoor feature. Unlike fire pits, fire columns almost always use natural gas or propane for fuel. A wood burning fire column is just a little too impractical. We mentioned focal pieces earlier, and fire columns are a perfect example of this. They’re unique and definitely catch your eye when you see them. The amount of different styles is great too! There are modern examples and traditional examples with everything in between.

Fire columns are usually pretty slim, which makes them great for smaller patios or backyards. I’m sure you’ve seen something similar at outdoor restaurants. Fire columns are usually made with stone, wood, or metal on the outside, while the inside is always metal. Unlike fire pits, fire columns are not the most ideal choice for making s’mores. Propane and marshmallows aren’t super tasty together. Besides that downside, we love fire columns because of their unique and sleek appearance.

3. Fire Bowl

While the fire bowl is similar to a fire pit, the bowl is a little more portable than the pit option. This is ideal if you are in a situation where you have a landlord. The big issue is that fire pits are often very permanent features of your backyard. If you have a landlord that doesn’t want you messing around with your yard too much, the fire bowl is a great option! As with most fire features, it comes in many styles.

Another aspect we love about the fire bowl is that since it’s so portable, it’s easier to store away when the weather gets really nasty. This will ensure that it has a long life. Fire bowls almost always use natural gas or propane as a fuel source. There are some that are wood burning but we recommend that you keep a close eye on them. If using a wood burning fire bowl, it’s not a bad idea to use a screen to contain rogue sparks and embers. You do not want to be the neighbor that catches their house on fire.

The Pebble Fire Bowl

4. Fire Tables

The fire table is something you don’t see as often as some other fire features, which is a bummer because these things are super cool! Fire tables are form and function wrapped into one. The fire provides warmth (duh), and the table is a great place to put your feet up or rest some drinks. There are a crazy amount of different styles to choose from so you’re guaranteed to find a table that will fit in with your patio design.

Fire tables are almost always fueled by gas or propane. A wood burning fire table is a little sketchy and a lot to handle. It might take away from the relaxing nature of lounging around a fire. The fire table is portable and relatively easy to move as with the fire bowl and column. If you’ve got a smaller patio space, the fire table is perfect because it’s easy to move and store away. In a previous blog post about saving space, we mentioned that you want to look for dual-purpose patio furniture. The fire table is even better than dual purpose because it can also act as an awesome focal point for your backyard or patio!

5. Chiminea

The Chiminea is a cool little fire feature that’s slowly growing in popularity. It’s Spanish for chimney and these are common in Mexico and the southwest states. Traditionally, chimineas were made from fired clay and used for cooking and heating homes. Today, chimineas are made using more modern materials, but the premise remains the same. The tall pipe moves the smoke upwards and the heat comes from the front.

We’ve all sat around the fire, hoping the smoke drifts toward someone else. With the chiminea, you’ll never have to worry about smoke in your eyes again! They’re also one of the safest options available because of the enclosed nature of this fire feature. My favorite part about the chiminea is that most of the ones available are wood burning. Of course, you can still find gas and propane options, but nothing beats a wood burning fireplace.

Fire Pit vs. Patio Heaters

After cruising through the 5 most common types of fire pits, you’re probably wondering, what about patio heaters? There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. We’ll start with the patio heater. One of the best features of the patio heater is the ease of use! They’re powered by gas or propane and the tanks are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. The patio heaters are portable (although heavy) and can be moved anywhere on your patio. Finally, you don’t have to worry about live fire, which can be a little intimidating for some people, especially if you have little kids!

One of the biggest drawbacks of patio heaters is that they don’t give off that much heat unless you’re right next to them. They also take a little longer to heat up than fire does. Aesthetically, it’s really the consumers call! Plenty of patio heaters are super cool looking if you do a little searching.

Onto fire pits! Of course, fire pits are inherently more dangerous than patio heaters, that’s for sure. However, fire pits have some serious advantages. They can be just as portable as heat lamps, depending on the kind of fire pit you buy. They also heat up much more quickly than patio heaters. It’s also a little nicer to hang out around a fire and talk than to huddle around a patio heater. When it comes to aesthetics and enjoying your time using whatever form of heating you choose, fire pits come out on top every time. There’s just nothing that beats the feeling of hanging out around a fire.

Now that we’ve covered the 5 basic options for backyard fire features and patio heaters, it’s time to move on to general information that’s important to know if you’re thinking about dabbling in a fire pit!

How hot does a firepit get?

So, a firepit’s temperature depends on the fire’s fuel source and container. There’s a pretty wide range of temperatures that you can attain from using a firepit.  The temperature of firepits is measured in BTU’s, which stands for British Thermal Units. As a point of reference, most fireplaces/firepits are anywhere from 30,000 – 100,000 BTU’s. The higher the BTU, the more warmth that you’ll feel from the fire.

When it comes to fuel sources, there are three main options. Bioethanol, propane, and wood. There are benefits to each source, we’ll go over what you should expect when using each fuel source.

Bioethanol

From ModernBlaze, we found an awesome guide that focuses on the specific details of bioethanol fires.

Ethanol

  • Playful, scattered bright orange flames
  • Pourable liquid used to continuously refill burner pan
  • 4,000-8,500 BTUs/Hr.
  • Biodegradable – Made from produced by the fermentation of sugars originating from plant forestry products
  • 1 quart of fuel burns for up to 5 hours – May vary depending on the size of the fuel tray
  • Takes 10-15 minutes of warm-up time until the flame has reached its full potential

You’ll notice that while bioethanol is biodegradable and can burn for an extended period of time, it’s not effective as a heat source. The 4,000-8,500 BTUs/hour is pretty insignificant and ends up being a flame that’s more entertaining than anything. 10-15 minutes of warm-up time doesn’t really matter because it won’t ever be enough to keep you warm.

Propane

There are a good amount of benefits to going with propane as a fuel source. For starters, it’s easy to control the amount of fuel your fire is receiving and there is almost no clean up to deal with. It’s also relatively safe because of the contained nature of the fire. Propane fire pits are often portable as well.

Regarding heating, there is a wide range of options available for propane firepits. The most basic ones start heating at about 10,000 BTUs. These aren’t going to keep you super warm, but it will be a noticeable upgrade from bioethanol. The average heat output will range from 30,000 – 50,000 BTUs, which is definitely enough to keep you warm in the evenings. You’ll find commercial propane firepits running at around 70,000 BTUs on the higher side.

Wood

Using wood as a heat source is my personal favorite, but of course, it’s not right for everyone. It’s harder to maintain and keep the fire at the correct heat level. It’s also a little messier and dangerous than propane or bioethanol. However, you can create some pretty hot and intense fires using wood as a fuel source.

For a standard wood burning fire, you’re looking at at least 60,000 BTUs, with many going over 100,000. If you decide to build a bonfire, as you would expect, you will generate some serious heat.

Wood Burning Laws

First things first, you can’t use fireplaces on covered patios or porches. Not only is it unsafe, but I feel that you and your guests would be smoked out in minutes. Definitely a no go! Additionally, using a fire pit in a place with low hanging branches or lots of wind is a recipe for disaster. The next step is understanding the rules and regulations that are in place by your homeowners association, landlord, or county. In many states, it’s too dry and dangerous to have open wood-burning fires. If you’re really craving a night around the fire with your friends, you can usually call the local fire department and they’ll talk you through the correct safety measures to take.

Your best bet is to research before committing to a fire pit purchase. Once you have everything figured out, go for it!

Location

Location is everything when deciding where to put your fire pit, and there are many factors to consider when picking a spot. First of all, you want an ample open space so you have plenty of room for the fire pit and seating. It’s best if this is away from bushes and low branches. You want to be able to have a decent-sized fire without worrying about sparks and embers landing on bushes or trees. Next, make sure that the location you choose isn’t too breezy. Again, you have to be careful of sparks and embers.

Once you have a good idea of the location you want, put down some string or chalk so you have a way to visualize the size estimate of your fire pit. Ideally, you want about 7 feet of space around the seating area of the fire pit. This should allow enough room for outdoor furniture and traffic. A quick additional tip, leave some room behind the furniture so that if people get too hot, they have room to back up. There are a few more tips and tricks from the Landscaping Network about placing your fire pit.

Cost

The cost of a fire pit can change dramatically based on what you want. A DIY fire pit can be done on a very tight budget, especially if you have materials on hand. A cheaper fire pit starts at around $600.00 and can reach several thousand depending on customization and labor cost. Most of the more inexpensive options are portable, which is nice if you don’t plan on staying for an extended amount of time. While the other option is much more expensive, it will also most likely increase your home’s value.

Tavola Fire Table 

Other costs that you have to consider are fuel. Shockingly, wood isn’t actually free and can be more expensive than you think. Buying small amounts of wood from grocery stores is never a good idea and you might not have the time or resources to cut down and split a tree yourself. The next best option is buying a cord of wood. There are two common cords that you can buy. The face cord is 4 feet tall by 8 feet long, 16 inches deep. A full cord is 4 feet tall by 8 feet long and 4 feet deep. A full cord of wood averages out to $120-$180. During the winter months and in other places in the country, a cord of wood can be anywhere from $320-$500. (For a face cord, half those prices). Granted, a full cord of wood should last you a while, depending on how often you use your fire pit.

After purchasing wood, you’ll have to factor in the cost of building or buying a place to store it. This can also be a DIY project which should definitely reduce your cost. A place to store the wood is important because starting a fire with wet wood is not an easy task!

If you want to go the propane route, it’ll be a little easier to calculate your costs and probably less of a headache than dealing with all that wood! If you’re worried about a propane tank making your beautiful patio look a little sketchy, we have some awesome (and tasteful) propane tank covers!

Reclaimed Wood Contemporary Tank Cover/End Table

Fire Pit Accessories

The first thing you’ll need is tools. A few things to get you started are a poker, tongs, wood handlers, cooking grates, and marshmallow skewers! We highly recommend you pick up at least a few of these things because you don’t want to be stuck without them when you actually have a fire going and can’t leave! Another good thing to have is a metal screen. It’s unnecessary, but if you’re worried about sparks and embers, it’s nice peace of mind to have a screen in place.

A carrier for your wood is nice because it will make your life a lot easier if you need to get more wood for the fire. If you don’t have a carrier, your next best option is loading up your arms. Finally, a fireplace cover is nice to have to protect your fire feature from the elements. It’s not cool to invest so much time and money into a fire pit only to have it take a beating from a few nasty storms.

Safety Tips:

When dealing with fire, it’s always important to be very cautious! There’s nothing worse than a bad burn to ruin a good night. We found this awesome safety list from FireSafeKid.org that has some awesome tips. It is meant for campfires, but we found all the information to be relevant to fire pits as well!

  • Scrape away grass and needles within a diameter of ten feet.
  • Build your campfire or cooking fire downwind
  • Have water nearby before building a campfire.
  • Never use a flammable liquid (especially gasoline) to start a fire or hot coals.
  • Adults should always supervise children around fires; never leave a fire unattended!
  • While using campfires and grills, wear snug-fitting, tightly-woven, or short-sleeved garments;
  • Avoid sandals or open-toed shoes while cooking.
  • Make certain that everyone knows how to put out a clothing fire: “STOP, DROP and ROLL!”
  • An extinguisher of some type (shovel, bucket of water or fire extinguisher), is an important tool to have on hand.

    1 thought on “The Ultimate Fire Pit Buying Guide”

    1. Thanks for pointing out that we should choose a big, open space for the fire pit. My husband and I are interested in having a fire pit installed in our backyard. We’ll make sure to leave plenty of space for seating around the fire.

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