

✔️ Gas fire pits use propane or natural gas to generate a “clean” fire, with no embers, ash or cleanup. The drawbacks are the ash cleanup, the fuel maintenance and the potential for smokiness, as well as the potential fire hazard from embers. You should opt for a wood-burning fire if you love that campfire smell, are interested in cooking outdoors or want to generate a lot of heat. Some also have internal fans to keep the fire going. Many are designed to give off less smoke, and many have ashtrays in the base for convenient cleanup.

However, they’re generally safer and more convenient than bonfires because the vessel tends to be deep enough to prevent embers from flying everywhere. ✔️ Wood-burning fire pits use wood logs, wood pellets, charcoal or some combination thereof, and you build your fire the way you would an open bonfire. The primary decision you need to make when shopping for a fire pit is whether you want a wood-burning or gas pit. With fire pits, we considered the build quality and durability of each model, as well as their fuel type, size and safety features. The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have spent decades testing the best outdoor living and cooking gadgets, including pellet grills and smokers, gas grills and so much more. They're great for keeping guests warm and helping to fire up a batch of s’mores.Īll the interest in fire pits has brought many manufacturers into the space, not to mention countless artisans whose hand-crafted fire pits double as works of art. Adding a fire pit is also the perfect way to extend your outdoor entertaining season - it could even last year-round, if winters in your area aren’t too harsh. “A fire pit is an easy addition to a yard and can work with any price point, making it a universally loved feature,” says Blythe Yost, CEO and co-founder of Tilly, an online landscape design company. In recent years, our experts have watched the fire pit market go from smoldering to flaming to red-hot. We also added more insights from our most recent tests, new picks from CB2, Stahl and Teamson, and additional questions to consider before you buy. Take your budget into account when deciding which fire pit is right for you.We updated this guide in July 2022 to ensure all products vetted by the Home Improvement Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and correctly priced. While you can find models for less than $300, other more luxury options can cost upwards of $4,000.
TOP RATED FIRE PIT TABLES PORTABLE
A smaller, portable fire pit works well for those with smaller backyards or who want to take it to the beach or campsite. Size: It's important to determine how much space you have for your fire pit.
