Gas Fire Pits
Best Gas Fire Pits for Patios, Backyards, and Camping
7 picks compared
9 min read
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The short answerFor most people the Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit is the standout pick, a 58,000 BTU firebowl that packs down with a cover and carry kit for the patio, the campsite, or a tailgate and lights clean on propane with no wood or ash. If you want light cooking, the Ciays 19 inch bowl adds a grill grate and folding legs at the same output, and the GasBRUH bowl lists the highest heat here at 60,000 BTU. For a fixed patio piece, the Ciays 28 inch table suits a balcony, the Aoxun 41 inch rectangle anchors a seating group, the KHOLH 44 inch rattan table matches lounge furniture with a glass wind guard, and the Ciays 43 inch ceramic-top table is the most finished. Choose by fuel type, BTU output, whether you want a portable bowl or a table, and the safety listing rather than looks alone.
?How we pickedWe compare published specifications, safety certifications and thousands of verified owner reviews, and we do not physically test every unit. Read the full process in our review methodology.
Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit, 19 inch, 58,000 BTU
★★★★★ 4.7 / 5 Best overall
This is the one we would reach for first because it covers the widest range of uses, running a 58,000 BTU firebowl that packs down with the included cover and carry kit for the deck, the campsite, or a tailgate. It runs on a standard propane tank you connect through the supplied hose, so there is no wood, no ash, and no sparks to chase around the yard.
Type Portable propane firebowlOutput 58,000 BTU, adjustable flameSize 19 inch bowlIn the box Cover, carry kit, lava rock
- Genuinely portable with a cover and carry kit for travel
- Strong 58,000 BTU output with an adjustable flame
- Runs clean on propane with no wood, ash, or sparks
- Needs a separate propane tank that you buy on its own
- The 19 inch bowl is a fire feature, not a full patio table
Best for: one fire pit that moves from patio to campsite
Ciays Large Propane Fire Pit, 19 inch, 58,000 BTU with Grill Grate
★★★★★ 4.5 / 5 Best portable value
This portable bowl matches the leading output while adding folding legs, a grill grate, hose hooks, and a propane tank holder, so more of what you need travels as one piece. The 58,000 BTU rating and carry strap make it a sensible choice for camping trips where you want warmth and the option to cook over the flame.
Type Portable propane firebowlOutput 58,000 BTUExtras Grill grate, folding legs, tank holderCarry Cover and carry strap included
- Folding legs and a tank holder keep the setup together
- Grill grate lets you cook over the same flame
- Carry strap and cover make it easy to pack
- Grate cooking is basic compared with a real grill
- Legs add height that some campers will not want
Best for: campers who want warmth plus light cooking
GasBRUH Portable Propane Fire Pit, 19 inch, 60,000 BTU with Grill Grate
★★★★★ 4.5 / 5 Highest output portable
GasBRUH lists the highest output in this group at 60,000 BTU, which is worth having when you want more radiant heat on a cold patio or an open campsite. It ships with a grill grate plus a cover and carry kit, so it works as both a portable fire feature and a spot to warm food over the flame.
Type Portable propane firebowlOutput 60,000 BTUSize 19 inch bowlIn the box Grill grate, cover, carry kit
- Top listed output in this group at 60,000 BTU
- Grill grate included for cooking over the flame
- Cover and carry kit make it travel ready
- Higher output burns through propane faster
- Still a compact bowl rather than a table
Best for: the most radiant heat from a portable bowl
Ciays 28 inch Propane Fire Pit Table, 50,000 BTU, CSA Certified
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5 Best compact table
If you want a table rather than a bowl, this 28 inch model gives you a small surface around the flame and a removable lid that turns it into a side table when the fire is off. It carries a CSA certification and includes lava rocks, and the 50,000 BTU output suits a smaller patio or balcony where space is tight.
Type Propane fire pit tableOutput 50,000 BTUSize 28 inch, compact footprintGood to know CSA certified, removable lid and lava rocks
- Small footprint fits balconies and tight patios
- Removable lid makes it a side table when off
- CSA certification and lava rocks included
- Little usable tabletop around the flame
- Lower output than the portable bowls
Best for: a small patio or balcony fire table
Aoxun 41 inch Rectangle Propane Fire Pit Table, 50,000 BTU
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5 Best rectangular table
The rectangular 41 inch shape gives you more edge to set drinks around than a round bowl, which makes it a better fit as the centerpiece of a seating group. It comes with a removable lid and lava rocks, runs at 50,000 BTU, and the low black frame is meant to sit among patio furniture rather than stand alone.
Type Propane fire pit tableOutput 50,000 BTUShape 41 inch rectangle, low profileGood to know Removable lid and lava rocks included
- Rectangular edge gives room to set drinks
- Low profile suits a seating group
- Lid and lava rocks come in the box
- Heavier and harder to move than a bowl
- No wind guard included
Best for: the centerpiece of a patio seating group
KHOLH 44 inch Propane Fire Pit Table, 60,000 BTU with Glass Wind Guard
★★★★★ 4.3 / 5 Best furniture-style table
This 44 inch table leans into the patio-furniture look with a woven rattan frame and a glass wind guard that shields the flame on breezy evenings. It shares the highest listed output here at 60,000 BTU, so it puts out real warmth while reading as part of an outdoor lounge set rather than a standalone appliance.
Type Propane fire pit tableOutput 60,000 BTUStyle 44 inch rectangular, rattan frameGood to know Glass wind guard included
- Rattan frame blends into outdoor furniture
- Glass wind guard steadies the flame in a breeze
- High 60,000 BTU output for its class
- Rattan needs more care and a cover outdoors
- Large footprint wants a dedicated spot
Best for: a lounge-style patio that wants a matching look
Ciays 43 inch Propane Fire Pit Table, 50,000 BTU, Ceramic Top and Wind Guard
★★★★★ 4.5 / 5 Best premium table
This 43 inch table is the most finished of the group, pairing a ceramic tabletop with a glass wind guard, a lid, and decorative glass rock for a cleaner, more built-in look. It is CSA certified at 50,000 BTU, so the extra style comes with the same safety listing as the plainer tables here.
Type Propane fire pit tableOutput 50,000 BTUSurface 43 inch ceramic tabletopGood to know Glass wind guard, lid, glass rock, CSA certified
- Ceramic top gives a more built-in, finished look
- Glass wind guard and lid included
- CSA certified for the class
- Ceramic surface needs care against knocks
- Heaviest table here to reposition
Best for: a polished, near built-in patio centerpiece
A gas fire pit gives you the warmth and glow of an open fire without the smoke, ash, and flying sparks of burning wood, and it lights at the turn of a knob. The picks below split into two clear groups: portable propane bowls you can carry from the deck to a campsite, and heavier fire pit tables built to anchor a patio seating area. Match the group to how you actually spend time outside, then let fuel type, BTU output, and safety listings settle the choice.
Portable propane, fire pit table, or built in
The first decision is the form. A portable propane bowl, like the Outland or the GasBRUH, runs from a tank you carry and packs down with a cover and strap, so it suits camping, tailgating, and small decks where the pit needs to move or store away. A fire pit table, such as the Aoxun or the ceramic-top Ciays, stays put and doubles as a low table for a seating group, trading portability for a finished patio look. A built in natural gas pit is the third route: it taps a fixed gas line so it never runs out, but it stays in one spot and usually needs professional installation. Every pit here is a propane model, which is why they set up fast and go where you do.
BTU output and real heat
BTU is the measure of heat output, and the picks here run from 50,000 to 60,000 BTU. The portable bowls sit at the top, with the GasBRUH listed at 60,000 BTU and the Outland and Ciays bowls at 58,000 BTU, which concentrates strong warmth in a small circle for cold or breezy spots. The fire pit tables run at 50,000 BTU and spread a gentler heat across a wider ring of seats, which is usually what you want around a lounge set. More BTU is not automatically better, since higher output empties a propane tank faster, so size the heat to your space rather than chasing the biggest number.
Materials and a weather cover
Because most gas fire pits live outdoors, the frame material and your habit of covering it decide how long one lasts. Powder-coated steel bodies, like the black tables here, resist rust well when kept dry, while a woven rattan frame such as the KHOLH looks the part of patio furniture but wants more shelter and a cover. A ceramic tabletop, as on the 43 inch Ciays, gives the most finished surface but should be guarded against knocks. Whatever the material, a cover keeps rain and grit out of the burner and off the lava rock or glass, which is the single cheapest thing you can do to protect the ignition and the finish over the seasons.
Safety and following local rules honestly
A gas fire pit is still an open flame, so treat it like one. Give it clearance overhead and on every side, keep it level, and never run it in an enclosed space or leave it unattended. Look for a safety listing such as the CSA certification carried by the Ciays tables, and follow the maker instructions for hooking up and storing the propane tank. Just as important, check your own local rules before you buy: some towns, decks, and rental agreements restrict open flame or gas appliances, and a fire ban can apply to gas as well as wood. We would rather point you to confirm those rules than pretend a fire pit is safe everywhere, because the honest answer is that it depends on where you live and where you place it.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a propane and a natural gas fire pit?
A propane fire pit runs from a refillable tank you connect with a hose, so it can move around and works anywhere you can stand the tank. A natural gas fire pit taps into a fixed gas line at the house, so it never runs out mid evening but stays in one place and usually needs a plumber to install. Most of the picks here are propane models, which is why they travel and set up quickly.
How many BTU do I need for backyard heat?
Higher BTU means more heat, and the picks here run from 50,000 to 60,000 BTU. The portable bowls at 58,000 to 60,000 BTU throw the strongest warmth for their size, which suits open or breezy spots, while the 50,000 BTU tables spread a gentler heat over a wider seating area. For a small patio or balcony the 50,000 BTU tables are plenty.
Can you cook over a gas fire pit?
Only on models that ship with a grill grate, such as the Ciays and GasBRUH portable bowls in this guide. Even then it is best for simple jobs like warming food or toasting, not a substitute for a proper grill. Fire pit tables with lava rock or glass are built for ambience and heat, not cooking, so never place food directly on those surfaces.
Are gas fire pits safe to use on a covered patio or deck?
Gas fire pits still produce an open flame and real heat, so they need clearance overhead and on all sides, and they should never run in a fully enclosed space. Follow the maker instructions for clearances, keep the unit level, and check your local rules, because some areas restrict open flame on wood decks or under low covers. When in doubt, place it in the open.
Do these fire pits produce smoke or sparks?
Because they burn propane rather than wood, gas fire pits give off far less smoke and no flying embers, which is a large part of their appeal. That said, no flame is entirely without fumes, so use them outdoors with fresh air around them. The lack of sparks makes them easier to sit close to than a wood fire, but they still demand the same respect as any open flame.
What is a wind guard and do I need one?
A wind guard is a clear glass surround that sits around the flame to keep a breeze from blowing it out or scattering the heat. The KHOLH and the Ciays 43 inch table here include one. If your patio catches wind, a guard makes the flame steadier and the table more usable on cool evenings, though it is not essential in a sheltered spot.
Do I need a cover for a gas fire pit?
Yes, if it lives outdoors. A cover keeps rain, leaves, and grit out of the burner and off the lava rock or glass, which protects the ignition and finish. Several portable picks here include a cover, while most tables sell one separately. Storing the propane tank properly and keeping the burner dry are the simplest ways to make any gas fire pit last.
How did we choose the fire pits in this guide?
We compared fuel type, BTU output, whether each unit is a portable bowl or a fixed table, included extras like grill grates, lids, and wind guards, and safety listings such as CSA certification, then matched those to real uses from camping to patio seating. Every product shown is a real listing, and these are our chosen picks based on published specifications, not hands-on lab claims.
The bottom lineSo which one?
The Outland Living Portable Propane Fire Pit is our top choice for a versatile 58,000 BTU bowl that carries from patio to campsite and lights clean with no smoke or sparks, with the Ciays 19 inch bowl close behind for anyone who wants a grill grate and folding legs at the same output. If you would rather have a fixed patio piece, the fire pit tables from Aoxun, KHOLH, and Ciays turn the flame into the centerpiece of a seating group. Let fuel type, BTU output, the portable-versus-table question, and a safety listing lead the decision, and always confirm your local rules before you light one.
