Fire pits are fast becoming a popular upgrade to backyard get togethers. With the right ambience, you can enjoy time with family and friends, a few beverages, and of course… S’Mores.

Whether you plan on having a dozen people over for a bar-be-que, or you just want to sip a glass of wine by the fire after a hard day at work, a fire pit is the perfect way to enjoy your backyard.

Here, we show you our favorite fire pits, as tested by us, as well as what you should look for in choosing one and how to get the most out of it.

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Quick Answer: The 7 Top Rated Fire Pits For 2018

1. Sunnydaze Large Cauldron Outdoor Fire Pit
2. Outland Living Espresso Brown Fire Table
3. Landmann Barrone Fire Pit
4. Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace
5. Sorbus Portable Outdoor Fireplace
6. Outland Living Firebowl Gas Fire Pit
7. Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit

Let’s get to it, here are our 3 best backyard fire pits. There are several types and sizes to choose from so give them a look and choose the best that matches your backyard and your personal style.

Best Outdoor Fire Pits

	Sunnydaze Cauldron Outdoor Fire Pit	Outland Living Fire Table	Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace
Size:	34” x 34” x 23”	44” x 32” x 23”	30” x 30” x 24”
Weight:	28 Pounds	96 Pounds	60 Pounds
Fuel:	Wood	Propane	Propane
Rating:	4.5 / 5.0	4.8 / 5.0	4.2 / 5.0

Fire Pit Reviews

#1 Sunnydaze Large Cauldron Outdoor Fire Pit

This Sunnydaze Outdoor Fire Pit is our Editors Choice for the best fire pit and features a large cauldron design, offering a beautiful ambience in the yard. If you are looking for a large center-piece, this Cauldron Outdoor Fire Pit will fit the bill.

Because it uses only firewood, you can safely and easily transport it wherever you need it, whether it is another place in the yard, over to the neighbors, or even to your camp site. It is made of thick steel that has been painted with a high-temperature black paint.

The Sunnydaze Large Cauldron Outdoor Fire Pit offers a superior fire, with a grate in the bottom to allow oxygen to circulate around the wood.

It also comes with a spark screen to keep embers safely in the cauldron as well a fire poker to move the logs for a better fire experience.

You can use this fire pit as soon as you take it out of the box… as long as you have fire wood, of course. It is covered by a 1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty.

#2 Outland Living Espresso Brown Fire Table

Want to give your backyard a centerpiece that isn’t the traditional fire pit? The Outland Living Fire Table is rectangular, offering a unique look to any yard.

The aluminum frame offers support and durability while the table itself is built from Ultraviolet Light High Density Polyethylene that is resistant to heat as well as the elements.

The 5-Gallon propane tank needed for this Fire Table is easily concealed beneath the table itself for a clean look.

The Outland Living Fire Table burns at 35,000 BTU and is CSA approved. This means that even if there is a fire ban in place, you may be able to use this fire table anyway.

The coffee-brown whicker easily matches other outdoor décor you may have, blending in to your backyard’s ambience. It has even won numerous international design awards. If you are looking for the best propane fire pit table that is as functional as well as beautiful, this is it.

#3 Landmann Barrone Fire Pit

This Landmann Barrone Fire Pit offers unique styling with its antique bronze finish. The crosshatch design on the sides not only give it decorative styling but also allow for the fire to project beautiful designs all around, adding to the ambience you are trying to create with a new fire pit.

With four legs that stand strong and sturdy, you don’t need to have any safety concerns. The screen keeps ashes and cinders safely contained and the cover keeps it out of the elements when not in use.

This is a larger than average fire pit. It will look good in larger yards and with plenty of people around it.

It also comes with a poker and a built-in grate to keep wood off the bottom of the pit. Keeping the wood elevated allows for air circulation and a better fire pit experience. If you want the best wood burning fire pit with a unique design, this is it.

#4 Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace

The propane tank running the Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace is easily concealed beneath it and offers a unique look with a tile border and lava rocks to accent the fire.

This outdoor propane fire pit is durably constructed with weather-resistant steel and offers a flame at 30,000 BTU. As a propane outdoor fireplace, you won’t need to tend to ashes, or clean it up every few days.

A clean-burning fire pit, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the best fire pit table in its price range! You won’t need any tools to assemble the Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace and it comes backed with a 1-Year Limited Warranty.

Make sure your propane tank is filled and ready for when this beautiful outdoor fireplace arrives so you can enjoy it right away.

#5 Sorbus Portable Outdoor Fireplace

The Sorbus Portable Outdoor Fireplace is easy to take with you on camping trips, to the lake, and more. It is a reasonable size to make it easy to move around.

You even have a carrying bag to move around and keep it protected when not in use. You can choose to use traditional fire wood or logs, or you can even fill it with charcoal and turn it into the best outdoor grill you’ve ever had.

This 22” Outdoor Fireplace features a unique design. The curved legs fold down and lock into place for stability and the bowl is rounded giving it a very elegant look and the best portable fire pit on our list.

You won’t need to complain about assembling it or even cleaning it, as both are a breeze. It comes with the charcoal grid, a poker, as well as a mesh screen. It is made of steel and painted black with tempered paint.

#6 Outland Living Firebowl 863 Cypress Portable Gas Fire Pit

This Cypress Portable Gas Fire Put by Outland Living offers a beautiful appearance and one of the best outdoor fire pits on our list that will make for a backyard focal point.

The 58,000 BTU heat output is also CSA approved, meaning it can be used most places where there is a fire ban in effect. Be sure to confirm before using it.

The ambience you create with such a beautiful outdoor piece that is both functional and appealing is not to be missed.

This is one of the biggest gas fire pits available that is also portable. Bring it to the family picnic or even set it up by the lake shore quickly and easily. It even comes with a carrying kit as well as cover.

The propane stabilizer ring helps you get the most out of your fire pit experience. The decorative rocks give it a unique and classy look. Simply provide the 5-gallon propane tank and attach to the 10 foot hose that comes included.

#7 Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit

This wood burning fire pit by Landmann features cutouts around the bowl which gives a unique look with flames dancing in all directions.

View the fire in a whole new way. You can also use the Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit as a grill using the included cooking grate. The black finish helps set it off while still being easy to clean. It is durably constructed of heavy-duty steel.

The screen and poker come included with the Big Sky Fire Pit. All you need to provide is the fire wood to start enjoying this beautiful outdoor piece.

The handle can be used to move the fire pit easily and safely, featuring a safety ring with full-circle handle. The deep bowl helps to keep a steady fire going all night long.

This is a beautiful option for those who want to enjoy a roaring fire in the best wood fire pit!

How to Choose the Best Fire Pit

• Style
• Type of Fuel
• Size
• Accessories
• Permanent or Portable
• Materials
• FAQs For Fire Pits
• Fire Pit Tips

The top 7 fire pits we featured above still have many differences and it is important to focus on the features you want and need in your new outdoor accessory. The following 6 features are important to look at when choosing your fire pit.

Style

There are fire pits that look like cauldrons, some that look like a chimney and some that look like a table, such as the Outland Living Fire Table featured above.

If you already have an established décor in your backyard, you want to find something that will fit with it. If you don’t have a certain look, maybe your new fire pit can help you find one.

Fuel Source: Wood or Propane?

The fire pits above are all either propane or wood. Each type has their pros and cons and it is important to choose a fire pit fuel source that matches with your needs.

Wood

A wood fire gives a fire and warmth you can very rarely duplicate with other fuel types. However, you will also need to clean out ashes and keep fire wood on hand.

Propane

A propane fire pit can give a beautiful flame without ashes, without smoke, and without the need for a screen to stop sparks. Since there are no ashes, there is no clean up and no worries about having to take time to start the fire.

Size

If you don’t have much room in the yard to place a fire pit, you want to go with something a little smaller.

The same goes for if you plan on taking it to the campground or lake as you won’t want to be lugging around something heavy and bulky.

However, if you have much more space and don’t want your fire pit to look small by comparison, a larger fire pit focal point may be best.

Accessories

Some fire pits come with accessories that make them easier to use or maintain. For example, it may come with a carry bag or protective cover, or even a poker for wood burning ones.

There are other accessories the manufacturer of the fire pit may offer for an additional charge.

Design: Permanent or Portable?

Most fire pits can be moved around at will, but some are easier to move than others. The Sorbus fire pit featured above is specifically made to be portable, which can be helpful if you plan on moving it several times.

Larger fire pits will take considerably more effort to move. This can be either a good thing, if you want it to stay in one place, or a bad thing if you plan on taking it anywhere with you.

Materials

Most fire pits, whether wood-burning or propane, are made of steel. However, they can have other features, mostly for looks.

The steel may be painted with a heat-resistant paint, could be powder coated, or even have a decorative look with tile or even the fire-resistant brown wicker look of the Outdoor Living Fire Table.

FAQs For Outdoor Fire Pits

Even if this isn’t the first time you’ve purchased a fire pit, you may have some questions about buying one or using one. Here, we answer the top five questions people have about fire pits. Curious? Let’s answer them for you.

Q: What are the differences between a fire pit, a fire ring, and an outdoor fireplace?

A fire pit allows for the fire to be off the ground, in a bowl or table, and can be viewed from any side. If you don’t need a complete fire pit but still need to contain the fire, such as when camping, a fire ring can be placed around it but directly on the ground, so your fire is created on the ground. And outdoor fireplace features a door to add or move the fire with the poker and can give your backyard a more sophisticated centerpiece.

Q: What are the differences between wood, propane, natural gas, and LGP?

The 7 fire pits we review here for you are either wood or propane, as they are the most common options, and usually easiest to use. A natural gas fire pit usually needs to be permanently fixed to a location so gas lines can be run. LGP, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is usually a mix of both propane and butane, but can be other gases as well. You can buy LGP at most hardware stores and it can allow your fire pit to run on a much smaller canister than a 5-gallon propane tank.

Q: What is best to burn in my wood burning fire pit?

There are several types of suitable wood that can be used in a wood burning fire pit. The one we recommend is Pinon. It can also be referred to as Pinion or Pinyon wood. It is a pine wood that not only smells fantastic but it keeps mosquitoes away, which is definitely a positive effect when trying to sit outside and enjoy your fire pit. Never use treated lumber as it can release harmful gases when burned.

Q: How do I make using my fire pit as safe as possible?

For wood burning fire pits, you always want to use a screen to keep ashes and embers contained. Propane fire pits should be adjusted to a smaller flame to keep it from getting out of control. However, you want to keep any kind of fire pit away from your home, trees and shrubs, and away from high-traffic areas

Q: How should I put out the fire?

Never use water to put out a wood fire and the sudden change in temperature can cause the fire pit to crack or warp. If you don’t want to wait for the fire to burn out naturally, you can add sand to the pit. However, you will have to remove the sand before the next use.

Propane fire pits can be turned off by either a control panel or by shutting off access to the propane tank. Even with propane, you want to make sure the fire pit is cool before leaving it unattended. If the fire, with either propane or wood, gets out of control, you will need to have a fire extinguisher on hand to put it out quickly.

Tips For Using Your Fire Pit

Now that you’ve decided on which fire pit you’d like, you may want to follow some of our tips to get the most out of it. We have 5 tips for you.

Tip #1: Finding the Right Location

If you have a large yard, you may have options as to where you want it placed. Be sure you put any fire pit in a location that is away from traffic, but is still easy to get to. You also want it placed on either a concrete pad or a dirt area with no grass, shrubs, or trees around. If you want to place seating around the fire pit, make sure there is enough room for the type of seating you intend for.

Tip #2: Create Ambience

The best way to create a relaxing ambience around your fire pit is with comfortable seating. You may also want to allow the flames to dance off of other features in your yard, accenting them. Be sure to invite friends and family over as well, since enjoying the fire with others can create its own ambience.

Tip #3: Always Keep Safety in Mind

Make sure people aren’t sitting too close to the fire, and make sure you always have a fire extinguisher on hand. Wood burning fire pits should have a screen on them unless using the fire to cook your food or heat up your marshmallows. Always place additional fuel, whether it is a propane tank or a pile of wood, well away from the fire pit.

Tip #4: Choose the Right Size

If your yard is small, it can be a little overwhelming if you choose a larger fire pit. Then again, a small fire pit would look out of place in a large yard. If you already have a “look” in your yard, make sure the fire pit you choose matches the theme as well. If you don’t plan on using it often, you may also want to choose a smaller fire pit.

Tip #5: Take Your Time

When choosing the right fire pit, take your time to look at the features so you get one you are truly happy with. When it arrives, take your time to put it together properly and to read all directions for use. Also, take your time when sitting down to enjoy your new fire pit to get the most out of it.

Ready to Relax in Your Own Backyard?

A fire pit is one of the most popular ways to relax these days whether it is just you and the spouse, or you are entertaining dozens, and whether it is in your own backyard or at a campsite. Have fun choosing your new fire pit and then enjoy it for years to come in comfort.

I hope this guide was helpful in picking the best best outdoor fire pit to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a fire pit I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.