Coal & Char

Best Propane and Gas Fire Pits

Propane fire bowls and gas fire pit tables — the answer where wood fires are banned, and the BTU figures that actually matter.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

The Outland Living 19-inch propane fire bowl is the one to buy. Fifty-eight thousand BTU, cover and carry kit in the box, CSA-listed — which is the detail campgrounds and HOAs with wood-fire bans actually check for — and it costs less than a hundred dollars most of the year. If you want the fire to double as furniture, the Ciays 28-inch table is the cheapest one here that states its CSA listing on the listing itself.

Gas fire pits exist for three reasons and it is worth being clear about which one applies to you. Permission: lots of campgrounds, condo boards and drought-season county rules allow a propane flame where they ban an open wood fire. Convenience: a knob, no lighting, no ash, no smoke-in-the-eyes, and the thing is out the instant you turn it off. And furniture: a fire table is a patio table with a flame in the middle, which is a different object from a fire bowl.

What they are not is the warmest option. A 58,000 BTU propane bowl looks impressive on paper and still throws less radiant heat than a well-built wood fire of the same diameter, because a lot of the energy goes straight up. If raw warmth is what you are after, read propane vs wood before you buy, or look at the patio heaters, which are built to heat people rather than to be looked at.

One thing nobody mentions until the box arrives: almost every propane fire pit and fire table on the market needs a 20 lb propane tank you buy separately. Budget for it. Prices below are live from Amazon and dated.

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
$95.99 · View on Amazon

$159.9940% off

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
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 budget fire table
$129.99 · View on Amazon

$154.9216% off

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
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
$132.95 · View on Amazon

$199.9934% off

Price as of October 7, 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 six people
$326.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Endless Summer 30" Tabletop Steel Propane Gas Fire Table

Endless Summer 30" Tabletop Steel Propane Gas Fire Table

A low 30-inch gas table at close to fire-bowl money, and the sensible pick for a small patio or a balcony where a full-height fire table would dominate. It sits at coffee-table height, which is where a fire actually wants to be if people are in lounge chairs rather than dining chairs. Steel rather than resin or tile keeps the price down and the ledge hot, so treat the surround as decoration rather than a place to set a glass.

Best low-profile table
$139.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Camplux FP19MB Portable Propane Fire Pit (19")

Camplux FP19MB Portable Propane Fire Pit (19")

Camplux's 19-inch propane bowl is the obvious cross-shop against the Outland, built for the same RV-and-campsite job at a similar price. There is very little between them on paper; choose on whatever is in stock and cheaper on the day, with one tiebreaker — if a campground specifically asks to see a CSA listing, check the listing you are buying states it, because that is the detail that varies between cheap propane bowls.

Best RV alternative
$129.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of October 7, 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 budget fire 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.

#3Best 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.

#4Best for six people

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 low-profile table

Endless Summer 30" Tabletop Steel Propane Gas Fire Table

A low 30-inch gas table at close to fire-bowl money, and the sensible pick for a small patio or a balcony where a full-height fire table would dominate. It sits at coffee-table height, which is where a fire actually wants to be if people are in lounge chairs rather than dining chairs. Steel rather than resin or tile keeps the price down and the ledge hot, so treat the surround as decoration rather than a place to set a glass.

What’s good

  • Coffee-table height suits lounge chairs better than a dining-height table
  • 30 inches without the footprint of a full fire table
  • Among the cheapest branded gas tables available
  • Steel construction with very little to go wrong

Trade-offs

  • Steel surround gets hot — not a drinks ledge
  • BTU rating is not published on this listing
  • No lid stated
  • Low profile means more wind interference with the flame
TypeLow-profile propane gas fire table
Size30" (per the listing)
MaterialSteel
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 RV alternative

Camplux FP19MB Portable Propane Fire Pit (19")

Camplux's 19-inch propane bowl is the obvious cross-shop against the Outland, built for the same RV-and-campsite job at a similar price. There is very little between them on paper; choose on whatever is in stock and cheaper on the day, with one tiebreaker — if a campground specifically asks to see a CSA listing, check the listing you are buying states it, because that is the detail that varies between cheap propane bowls.

What’s good

  • Direct alternative to the Outland at a comparable price
  • 19-inch bowl is the easy size to stow in an RV bay
  • Gas means no ash, no sparks and instant shutdown
  • Light enough to carry one-handed when empty

Trade-offs

  • BTU rating is not published on this listing
  • Tank, regulator storage and lava rock top-ups are all on you
  • Smaller support network than Outland if a part fails
  • Check the listing for a CSA statement before relying on it at a campground
TypePortable propane fire bowl
Diameter19" (per the listing)
ModelFP19MB
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.

Go deeper in Gas Fire Pits

Narrower picks, model reviews and guides for exactly what you’re shopping for.

How to choose a gas fire pit

Bowl or table? A fire bowl is portable, cheaper, and the right answer for a campsite, an RV or a patio where the fire is the only thing you want. A fire table is a piece of furniture with a burner in it, and it earns its extra cost only if the ledge around the flame is wide enough to actually set a glass down. On the budget square tables that ledge is narrow; on the 44-by-32-inch rectangular format there is real surface on both sides of the burner. Our full comparison is in best fire pit tables.

Read the BTU figure, then discount it. The ratings here run from 40,000 to 58,000 BTU, and the higher number is not reliably the warmer pit. A long linear burner spreads 40,000 BTU over more flame than a round burner concentrates 50,000 into, and wind cuts both far more than it affects a wood fire. Treat BTU as a rough indicator of flame size, not as a promise about how warm your chair will be. Plenty of listings in this category never publish a BTU figure at all, and our spec tables say so rather than guessing.

Check for a CSA listing if you need one.This is the single most practical specification in the category and the one that varies most between cheap propane bowls. Campgrounds, RV parks and some HOAs will ask. If the listing you are reading does not state it, do not assume it — we say which of our picks state it and which don’t, because that is a fact about the listing, not about the product.

Budget for the tank and the media. The 20 lb tank is almost never included. Lava rock or fire glass usually is, but the quantity is rarely published, and lava rock gets dusty and wants replacing every couple of seasons. Add a cover to that list if the pit lives outdoors: a burner assembly full of rainwater is a far more annoying problem than a rusty steel bowl.

Finally, be honest about whether gas is really what you want. If the fire itself is the point — the smell, the sound, the ritual of building it — a propane flame will quietly disappoint you no matter how many BTU it is rated for. In that case go back to the wood fire pits and solve the smoke problem with a smokeless design instead.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best propane fire pit?

The Outland Living 19-inch portable propane fire pit. It is rated 58,000 BTU, ships with a cover and carry kit, and is CSA-listed — the detail campgrounds and HOAs with wood-fire bans actually check for. It usually sits under a hundred dollars, which is remarkable for the specification.

Do propane fire pits give off much heat?

Less than a wood fire of the same diameter, despite the impressive BTU numbers. A lot of the energy from a gas burner goes straight up rather than radiating sideways at your chair, and wind affects a gas flame far more than it affects a bed of embers. Buy propane for convenience, permission and cleanliness, not because you expect it to be the warmest thing on the patio.

Does a propane fire pit come with a tank?

Almost never. Essentially every propane fire bowl and fire table on the market expects you to supply a standard 20 lb propane tank, and the cheaper tabletop heaters run on 1 lb cylinders instead. Budget for the tank, and check whether the model hides it in the base or leaves it standing next to the pit.

Are propane fire pits allowed where wood fires are banned?

Often, but it depends on the specific rule and the specific unit. Campgrounds, RV parks and HOAs commonly allow a CSA-listed propane appliance during a ban on open wood fires, because there are no flying embers. Check the wording of your local rule, and make sure the listing for the unit you buy actually states its certification rather than assuming it.

Is a fire pit table worth it over a fire bowl?

Only if the ledge around the burner is wide enough to use. A fire table costs more and is not portable; what it buys is a surface people can put drinks and plates on. On the small square budget tables that ledge is narrow enough to be decorative. On the 44-by-32-inch rectangular format there is genuine table either side of the flame, and that is where the format earns its money.

Sources

  • 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)
  • CPSC — Carbon Monoxide Information Center — The US Consumer Product Safety Commission on carbon monoxide: “More than 200 people in the United States die every year from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products,” and its standing recommendation to “Install battery-operated CO alarms or CO alarms with battery backup on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas” (accessed October 7, 2026)

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