Coal & Char

Best Gas Fire Pits for Patios

Picked for where it has to sit — concrete that stains, pavers that crack, and patios too small to give up a square yard of floor.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Buy the Outland Living 19-inch propane fire bowl. On a patio, the thing that matters is not how big the fire is — it is that there are no embers landing on your surface, no ash to scrub out of pavers, and a CSA listing to show an HOA. It is 58,000 BTU, it costs less than a hundred dollars most of the year, and the cover and carry kit are in the box.

This page is picked for the placement, not the spec sheet, because patios impose three constraints that a fire pit review normally ignores:

  • Pale concrete and light pavers stain, permanently, from ash wash and from Corten runoff. Porous stone does not come clean.
  • Pavers and slabs crack under sustained direct heat, and a wood fire sitting on a slab transfers far more heat down than a raised gas bowl does.
  • Small patios cannot spare the floor. On a courtyard, a 30-inch bowl in the middle means walking round it all evening.

The alternatives, by constraint. If the patio is small and the floor is already spoken for, the Ciays 28-inch tabletop unit puts 50,000 BTU on a table and takes no floor at all. If you want the fire to double as furniture, the Ciays 28-inch table is the cheapest here that states its CSA listing. If your patio is big and you want a real rectangular centerpiecethat seats six properly, the Endless Summer 44-by-32 is the one. And if you have decided you want a wood fire on a patio despite all of the above, the Sunnydaze Crossweave is the pick — with a mat under it, which we come back to below.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which pit or heater we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, beginner-friendliness and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t cooked on every one of these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit 19" (58,000 BTU)

Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit 19" (58,000 BTU)

The propane fire pit to buy if you are buying one. Fifty-eight thousand BTU is a serious flame for a 19-inch bowl, it comes with the cover and carry kit on this listing, and — the part that actually matters — it is CSA-listed, which is what campgrounds and HOAs with wood-fire bans check for. No wood, no ash, no smoke, on and off with a knob. The honest limits are that propane gives you less radiant heat than wood for the same visual flame, and a 20 lb tank is a separate purchase.

Best overall
$159.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Ciays 28 Inch Tabletop Propane Fire Pit (50,000 BTU) with Glass Wind Guard

Ciays 28 Inch Tabletop Propane Fire Pit (50,000 BTU) with Glass Wind Guard

The patio answer where floor space is the constraint rather than money: 50,000 BTU on a table top, with the glass wind guard and glass beads included per the listing. On a small patio a tabletop unit gives you flame and a bit of warmth without surrendering the only clear square yard you have. The wind guard is the detail that makes it usable — an unguarded tabletop flame blows out and relights all evening on an exposed patio.

Best for a small patio
$113.00 · View on Amazon

$119.996% off

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Ciays 28-Inch CSA-Listed Propane Fire Pit Table (50,000 BTU)

Ciays 28-Inch CSA-Listed Propane Fire Pit Table (50,000 BTU)

The cheapest fire pit table here that states a CSA listing on the listing itself, which is the thing worth paying for in this category — a 50,000 BTU burner hidden inside furniture is exactly where certification matters. Twenty-eight inches square with a lid means it works as an ordinary patio table when the burner is off, which is the real appeal of a fire table over a fire bowl. Build quality is what you would expect at this price: fine, not heirloom.

Best fire pit table
$149.89 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Endless Summer 44" x 32" Rectangular LP Gas Fire Pit Table (40,000 BTU)

Endless Summer 44" x 32" Rectangular LP Gas Fire Pit Table (40,000 BTU)

The rectangular format is the one to buy if the table has to work as a table. At 44 by 32 inches there is real surface on both sides of the burner, so six people can sit round it with plates and glasses rather than balancing things on a four-inch ledge. Forty thousand BTU is lower than the budget squares, which matters less than you would think on a long burner — it is spread over more linear flame. It is the most expensive fire table here and the only one that looks like it belongs with a dining set.

Best for a big patio
$326.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Outland Living Firebowl 870 Premium 19" Auto-Ignition

Outland Living Firebowl 870 Premium 19" Auto-Ignition

The 870 adds auto-ignition to Outland's standard 19-inch bowl, which sounds like a small thing until you have crouched over a fire pit in the wind with a lighter. Push and turn, it lights. Everything else — the bowl, the output, the CSA listing people actually need for campgrounds — is the familiar Outland package. It is worth the modest premium over the base model if the pit will be used often, and not worth it if it comes out twice a year.

Best auto-ignition
$199.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Sunnydaze Crossweave 36" Wood Burning Fire Pit

Sunnydaze Crossweave 36" Wood Burning Fire Pit

A big, plain, honest 36-inch fire bowl — no double wall, no secondary burn, no clever airflow. It will smoke, and that is the deal: you get nearly twice the fire area of a 19-inch smokeless pit for a fraction of the price, and a wide shallow bowl like this is the easiest thing in the world to light, feed and clean out. If your seating is spread out and your budget is real, raw diameter buys more warmth than engineering does.

Best if you insist on wood
$199.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 27, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit 19" (58,000 BTU)

The propane fire pit to buy if you are buying one. Fifty-eight thousand BTU is a serious flame for a 19-inch bowl, it comes with the cover and carry kit on this listing, and — the part that actually matters — it is CSA-listed, which is what campgrounds and HOAs with wood-fire bans check for. No wood, no ash, no smoke, on and off with a knob. The honest limits are that propane gives you less radiant heat than wood for the same visual flame, and a 20 lb tank is a separate purchase.

What’s good

  • 58,000 BTU is a large flame for a portable pit
  • Cover and carry kit included on this listing
  • Instant on and off — no lighting, no ash, no waiting
  • The usual answer where open wood fires are not permitted

Trade-offs

  • 20 lb propane tank is not included
  • Less radiant warmth than a wood fire of the same apparent size
  • Lava rock gets dusty and needs occasional replacing
  • Wind affects a gas flame far more than a wood fire
TypePortable propane fire bowl
Diameter19" (per the listing)
Heat output58,000 BTU (per the listing)
FuelPropane — 20 lb tank not included
IncludedCover and carry kit, per the listing

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#2Best for a small patio

Ciays 28 Inch Tabletop Propane Fire Pit (50,000 BTU) with Glass Wind Guard

The patio answer where floor space is the constraint rather than money: 50,000 BTU on a table top, with the glass wind guard and glass beads included per the listing. On a small patio a tabletop unit gives you flame and a bit of warmth without surrendering the only clear square yard you have. The wind guard is the detail that makes it usable — an unguarded tabletop flame blows out and relights all evening on an exposed patio.

What’s good

  • 50,000 BTU per the listing, on a table top
  • Glass wind guard and glass beads included
  • Takes no floor space on a crowded patio
  • Cheapest route to a gas flame on a patio

Trade-offs

  • Occupies the table instead of the floor
  • Less usable radiant warmth than a floor-standing bowl
  • Needs a tank sited somewhere nearby
  • Material and weight are not published
TypeTabletop propane fire pit
Output50,000 BTU (per the listing)
Size28" (per the listing)
IncludedGlass wind guard and glass beads (per the listing)
MaterialNot published

Specs read from the product listing, on October 13, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#3Best fire pit table

Ciays 28-Inch CSA-Listed Propane Fire Pit Table (50,000 BTU)

The cheapest fire pit table here that states a CSA listing on the listing itself, which is the thing worth paying for in this category — a 50,000 BTU burner hidden inside furniture is exactly where certification matters. Twenty-eight inches square with a lid means it works as an ordinary patio table when the burner is off, which is the real appeal of a fire table over a fire bowl. Build quality is what you would expect at this price: fine, not heirloom.

What’s good

  • CSA listing stated on the listing — unusual at this price
  • 50,000 BTU is plenty for a 28-inch table
  • Lid turns it back into a usable patio table
  • Tank hides inside the base on this design

Trade-offs

  • Thin steel and a painted finish — cover it
  • 28 inches is small if you want food and drinks round the flame
  • Fire glass or lava rock quantity included is not published
  • Assembly is required and the instructions are basic
TypeSquare propane fire pit table
Size28" (per the listing)
Heat output50,000 BTU (per the listing)
CertificationCSA-listed, per the listing
Lid includedYes, per the listing

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#4Best for a big patio

Endless Summer 44" x 32" Rectangular LP Gas Fire Pit Table (40,000 BTU)

The rectangular format is the one to buy if the table has to work as a table. At 44 by 32 inches there is real surface on both sides of the burner, so six people can sit round it with plates and glasses rather than balancing things on a four-inch ledge. Forty thousand BTU is lower than the budget squares, which matters less than you would think on a long burner — it is spread over more linear flame. It is the most expensive fire table here and the only one that looks like it belongs with a dining set.

What’s good

  • 44 x 32 inches gives genuine usable table surface either side of the burner
  • Linear burner looks better on a rectangle than a round burner does
  • White fire glass included per the listing
  • Ceramic tile top is cooler to the touch than painted steel

Trade-offs

  • Most expensive fire table in the registry
  • 40,000 BTU is a lower rating than the cheaper square tables
  • Big and heavy — this is a permanent piece of furniture
  • Tile tops can chip if something heavy is dropped on them
TypeRectangular LP gas fire pit table
Size44" x 32" (per the listing)
Heat output40,000 BTU (per the listing)
IncludedWhite fire glass, per the listing
FuelLiquid propane — tank not included

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#5Best auto-ignition

Outland Living Firebowl 870 Premium 19" Auto-Ignition

The 870 adds auto-ignition to Outland's standard 19-inch bowl, which sounds like a small thing until you have crouched over a fire pit in the wind with a lighter. Push and turn, it lights. Everything else — the bowl, the output, the CSA listing people actually need for campgrounds — is the familiar Outland package. It is worth the modest premium over the base model if the pit will be used often, and not worth it if it comes out twice a year.

What’s good

  • Auto-ignition — no lighter, no crouching in the wind
  • The well-proven Outland 19-inch bowl underneath
  • Smokeless by nature: it is gas
  • Still portable and still campground-friendly

Trade-offs

  • Ignition module is one more thing that can fail
  • Costs more than the manual-light version of the same pit
  • Tank not included
  • Lava rock included quantity is not published
TypePortable propane fire bowl, auto-ignition
Diameter19" (per the listing)
IgnitionAuto-ignition, per the listing
FuelPropane — 20 lb tank not included
Heat outputNot published on this listing

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#6Best if you insist on wood

Sunnydaze Crossweave 36" Wood Burning Fire Pit

A big, plain, honest 36-inch fire bowl — no double wall, no secondary burn, no clever airflow. It will smoke, and that is the deal: you get nearly twice the fire area of a 19-inch smokeless pit for a fraction of the price, and a wide shallow bowl like this is the easiest thing in the world to light, feed and clean out. If your seating is spread out and your budget is real, raw diameter buys more warmth than engineering does.

What’s good

  • 36 inches — by far the most fire area per dollar here
  • Nothing to go wrong: it is a bowl with legs
  • Easy to light, easy to feed, easy to shovel out
  • Takes full-length splits without any cutting

Trade-offs

  • Not smokeless — you will move your chair at some point
  • Painted steel needs a cover if it lives outdoors
  • Big enough that siting it needs real clearance
  • Spark screen sold separately — worth adding
TypeOpen wood-burning fire pit bowl
Diameter36" (per the listing)
MaterialSteel
SmokelessNo — single-wall open bowl

Specs read from the product listing, on October 7, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

Why gas is the right default on a patio

We recommend wood fires on most of this site, so it is worth being clear why a patio is the case where gas usually wins.

No embers.A wood fire throws sparks, and on a patio those sparks land on your surface, your cushions and your decking. A gas flame produces none. This is the single biggest reason HOAs, condo boards and campgrounds that ban open wood fires allow certified propane appliances — and why a smokeless pit, which reduces smoke but still throws embers, does not satisfy those rules.

No ash. Ash plus rain makes a gray alkaline wash that runs across pavers and into the joints, and on pale concrete it leaves a mark you will be looking at next summer. There is no ash from a gas pit at all.

No staining material. Corten weathering steel is a wonderful material and it bleeds rust-colored runoff in its first rains. On a dark slate patio nobody notices; on pale concrete it is permanent. Stainless and painted steel do not do this.

Short sessions work.A gas pit lights with a knob and goes out instantly, so you can have a fire for forty minutes on a Tuesday. A wood fire needs lighting, establishing and then properly extinguishing — which realistically means it is a weekend thing.

Protecting the surface

Whatever you buy, two cheap things do most of the work.

A mat. A multi-layer fireproof mat under the pit stops heat transfer into the slab and catches anything that falls. This matters far more under a wood fire than a raised gas bowl, and it is essential on anything combustible. Our fire pits for decks page covers the decking case in full, and the same mats apply to pavers you care about.

A cover.A gas pit’s burner and its glass wind guard are the expensive parts, and water sitting in a burner pan over winter is what ruins them. Twenty dollars of fabric, as our cover picksset out — and buy the right shape, because a round cover on a square table leaves the corners exposed, which is where water pools.

One more, free: do not site the pit against the house wall. Heat marks render and siding, and you need clearance for airflow and for getting round it. Smokey Bear’s clearance guidance for open fires is a cleared 10-foot area, 15 feet from vegetation and low-hanging branches, and vertical clearance of at least three times the flame height. A certified gas pit relaxes the ember part of that, not the common sense.

Sizing a fire pit to a patio

The rule is to size to the seating circle, not the patio — but on a patio you also have to leave room to walk. A useful way to think about it:

  • Courtyard or balcony: a tabletop unit. It takes no floor, and the floor is what you are short of.
  • Small to average patio: a 19 to 21-inch bowl, or a 28-inch fire table that also works as a table. Anything larger dominates.
  • Large patio: a 44-inch rectangular table, which seats six properly and reads as furniture rather than an appliance.

Our sizing guide works the seating circle out in detail. For gas specifically, remember that BTU is not warmth at your chair— a fire table puts the flame at table height behind a wind guard and sends most of its energy upward, so a 50,000 BTU table is a social object more than a heater. If what you actually want is to be warm on a patio in October, a patio heater does that far better for the money.

Where to put the tank

The detail that spoils more patios than anything else on this page. A propane bowl needs a 20 lb tank somewhere, and a tank sitting next to a nice fire bowl on a nice patio looks exactly like a tank sitting next to a nice fire bowl.

Fire pit tablesgenerally hide the tank in the base, which is a large part of what you are paying for. Portable bowls like the Outland come with a hose that runs to a tank you place yourself — behind a planter, under a side table, or in the corner. Decide where it goes before you buy, because “we will sort that out later” is how a tank ends up in the middle of the patio with a hose across the walkway.

Cylinder or gas line?

Every pit on this page runs on a 20-pound cylinder, which is why none of them needed a plumber. If the patio is being built or rebuilt anyway, a piped supply is worth pricing: natural gas vs propane fire pit compares the two on install cost, running cost, cold-weather output and what happens to portability when the fire is plumbed in.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best fire pit for a patio?

The Outland Living 19-inch propane bowl for most patios — CSA-listed, 58,000 BTU, with no embers to land on your surface and no ash to wash into the joints. For a small patio where floor space is the constraint, the Ciays 28-inch tabletop unit takes no floor at all; for a large patio, the Endless Summer 44-by-32 rectangular table seats six properly.

Will a fire pit damage a concrete patio?

Two ways, and both are avoidable. Sustained direct heat can crack slabs and pavers, which a multi-layer fireproof mat under the pit largely prevents. Staining is the bigger issue on pale concrete: ash plus rain leaves a gray alkaline mark, and Corten weathering steel bleeds rust-colored runoff in its first rains that porous stone does not release. A raised gas bowl produces neither.

Is a gas fire pit better than wood for a patio?

Usually yes, for placement reasons rather than fire quality. Gas produces no embers to land on your surface or cushions, no ash to stain pavers, and lights and extinguishes instantly so a short session is practical. It is also the reason HOAs and condo boards that ban open wood fires frequently allow a certified propane appliance — where a smokeless wood pit, which still throws embers, does not qualify.

What size fire pit do I need for a small patio?

On a courtyard or balcony, a tabletop unit, because the floor is exactly what you are short of. On a small to average patio a 19 to 21-inch bowl or a 28-inch fire table is right — anything larger means walking around it all evening. Size to the seating circle, then check you can still get past it.

Do gas fire pits give off much heat on a patio?

Less than the BTU rating implies, especially fire tables. The flame sits at table height behind a wind guard and most of the energy goes straight up past everyone, so a 50,000 BTU fire table is a social centerpiece more than a heater. If being warm on a cold patio is the actual goal, a patio heater does it far better for the money.

Where do you put the propane tank for a patio fire pit?

Decide before you buy. Fire pit tables generally hide a 20 lb tank in the base, which is a real part of their value. Portable bowls come with a hose to a tank you site yourself — behind a planter, under a side table or in a corner, and never with the hose across a walkway. Leaving it to sort out later is how a tank ends up in the middle of the patio.

Sources

  • Smokey Bear — Campfire Safety — The official “Drown, Stir, Drown, Feel” method for extinguishing an outdoor fire — “Pour lots of water on the fire until the hissing sound stops, drowning all the embers,” stir the water into the embers with a shovel, keep adding water until all material is cool, then “Hover the back of your hand over the ashes to feel that the embers are cool.” The same page gives the siting rules: clear “at least a 10-foot diameter around the site,” “stay at least 15 feet from tents, vegetation, and low-hanging branches,” and “ensure you have vertical clearance at least 3 times the height of the flames” (accessed October 7, 2026)
  • FTC Consumer Advice — Online Shopping — FTC guidance for buying online: “before you buy something online, shop around and check out sellers and products,” note the exact manufacturer or model number when comparison shopping, and pay by credit card so a bad order can be disputed (accessed October 7, 2026)

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