As we move into the fall season, a fire pit becomes more and more appealing. Sitting out in the backyard with a fire late into the crisp fall evenings is a little slice of paradise. Having a good fire pit in your outdoor space means you can sit around the warm glow with friends and family and roast marshmallows while looking at the night sky. If it sounds romantic, that’s because it is.
If you’re shopping for your first fire pit or looking for a replacement for the one that’s spent a little too long in the sun and rain, our list includes a variety of styles and sizes, so you can find an ideal fit for your yard and can stay cozy across multiple seasons.
Factors to consider
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Ease of ignition
Check how the fire pit ignites, and if it requires wood, or if it has smart features like igniting via an app.
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Ease of cleaning
Consider how easy the fire pit is to clean, including if it has a removable ash pan.
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Portability
Consider if you plan to move the fire pit around your yard, or if you want it stationed in one place.
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Cooking accessories
Decide if you want to use your fire pit for cooking, and which models include cooking tools.
What is the best overall fire pit?
Fire pits, which are essentially outdoor fireplaces, differ widely in size, weight and price. You can find inexpensive $50 models and high-performance pits that’ll set you back hundreds of dollars. You can even spend $1,500 or more on a fancy propane fire pit. Lots of them also come with extras like a cooking grate, so if you’re feeling extra outdoorsy, you can grab your cast-iron cookware and make your dinner over the embers in your backyard fire pit instead of in the kitchen. As we test fire pits, we take all of these factors into account. And after years of testing numerous fire pits, our CNET experts determined the Pit Boss Pellet Fire Pit is the best overall fire pit of 2023.
The Pit Boss takes the pole position of all the other products we’ve tested due to its efficiency and sleek design. Not only is the Pit Boss smokeless, but the pellets burn more evenly than wood, making your experience that much more top-notch. The other models on this list are all also from established outdoor brands, and they’re either bestsellers, highly ranked or worthy challengers for the best fire pit. We tested many backyard fire pits to determine their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the quality of the tools that come with them, whether that’s a cooking grate or just a fire poker. Here’s our thoughts on the best fire pits that can suit all of your particular needs.
Best fire pits of 2023
Size 23 in. x 23 in. x 18 in.Weight 40 lbs.Type PelletSmokeless YesPrice $268
Using a pellet fire pit instead of wood is a different experience. The smell can be different, especially if you throw in some pellets designed for smoking meats, and the fire feels more intense. The Pit Boss pellet fire pit kept me warm even from 6 feet away on a brisk November morning and the pellets lasted a good long while before they needed a refill. Like a lot of modern fire pits the Pit Boss uses a design to catch the smoke and recirculate it so you mainly get fire rather than smoke. Lighting it was easy, though pellet pits can take an external accelerant to get going. I used a small spray of barbecue lighter fluid on mine and it worked perfectly. It does release more smoke as you start it, but that goes away as the fire heats up.
Size 19 in. x 19 in. x 11 in.Weight 23 lbs.Type GlassSmokeless YesPrice $108
While most of our selections are wood-burning fire pits, there is something to be said for propane choices. This 19-inch fire pit from Outdoor Living fits neatly on a table or the ground and is perfect for people who already use propane for their grills or patio heaters.
The Firebowl has a nice long hose to keep your gas tank away from the open flame, so it is safe to use. It gives off a significant amount of heat; because it is gas, heat can be adjusted as needed. A fire pit that can start the evening on a low setting for the ambiance and finish it with a roaring fire to keep the chill away is a luxury that wood burners don’t offer. The Firebowl also comes with lava rocks, perfect for creating the illusion of a bonfire, as they add carbon to the flame, making it yellow instead of blue. They also help keep the heat going, even if you turn the gas off to conserve it. One big advantage of a gas fire pit is instant heat. There’s no waiting for the fire to get going; it’s just the heat you want when you want it.
Size 27.5 in. x 27.5 in. x 14.75 in.Weight 68 lbs.Type Wood BurningSmokeless YesPrice $599
To say the Breeo X Series 24 is built to take a beating is an understatement. Manufactured in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the X Series is constructed from a mix of corten (weathering) steel and 304 stainless steel. As a result, the X Series doesn’t require a rain cover or weather shelter. In fact, after six months of exposure to the elements, the outer wall of the fire pit develops a natural patina that protects it from corrosion.
Size 13 in. x 27 in. x 15.8 in.Weight 1.24 lbs.Type Firewood or charcoalSmokeless YesPrice $300
The FirePit Plus, made by Brooklyn-based BioLite, weighs under 20 pounds and is built for portability. Measuring 27 by 13 by 15.8 inches, it’s relatively long and narrow, making it really good for patio use. However, it holds a little more wood than you’d think, with room for up to four cordwood logs. You can either use it as a standard fire pit or as a backyard grill and it was upgraded in 2021 with an enamel coating for easier cleaning and a higher-capacity battery for its built-in fan. It can also work as a patio heater. In fire pit mode, you lower the fuel rack to the bottom of the pit. To use it as a free-standing grill, so you can cook over hot wood coals or charcoal briquettes if you prefer, raise the rack to its highest position. BioLite offers a bundle with a grill grate that sits over everything. The grill lit up fast, in less than 5 minutes, and was fully burning in less than 10.
Size 45.30 in. x 45.30 in. x 34.40 in.Weight 61.7 lbs.Type Wood BurningSmokeless NoPrice $350
Roasting marshmallows over a fire pit is a tried and tested “good time,” I think we can all agree. But what if we want to take it to the next level? This cowboy fire pit from Pit Boss lets you cook hotdogs, burgers, and chicken legs over a fully open flame as if you were hanging out in the wild west.
Size 19.5 in. x 19.5 in. x 14 in.Weight 23.3 lbs.Type Wood BurningSmokeless YesPrice $240
Solo Stove fire pits are among the best smokeless fire pits out there, and while they work great and their stainless steel construction gives them a sleek appearance, the original models had one flaw: They weren’t so easy to clean up. However, that changed with the arrival of the new Solo Stove 2.0 fire pits, which are available in the same three sizes — Ranger 2.0 (small), Bonfire 2.0 (medium) and Yukon 2.0 (large) — and have a removable ash pan, a feature missing from the 1.0 models.
Size 5.1 in x 5.1 in. x 6.8 in.Weight 1.4 lbs.Type Wood BurningSmokeless YesPrice $80
Factors to consider when choosing a fire pit
Before buying a fire pit and making a new addition to your backyard, you should consider material, style, fuel type, location, cost and safety. To help guide your buying decision process, take a look at the following considerations so you know you’re buying a fire pit that suits all your needs and your budget.
Safety regulations and codes
First things first: Are you even allowed to have a fire pit? If you own a home, check with your home owner’s association or city codes to make sure you’re allowed to have a fire pit, and if so, read about where it should be located and other restrictions for burning wood in your area.
If you live in a rental or apartment complex, check with your building administrators or landlords for any restrictions or regulations regarding outdoor fire pits.
There are often specific rules about placement for safety, such as siting a fire pit at least 10 feet away from buildings and fences, or having a water source nearby. Some counties and states may even require an inspection by local fire officials or may regulate fuel type.
Size
Fire pits range from small portable models to larger permanent styles. Choose a size that fits within your backyard or patio space, keeping in mind how much space you’ll need for circulation and seating around the fire pit. Models can range from 24 inches to more than 58 inches in diameter, and for movement and safety, you’ll want to keep your pit five to seven feet away from your home and other objects.
Budget
Fire pits can range greatly in price. You can find inexpensive, $50 models and high-performance pits that’ll set you back hundreds of dollars. You can even spend $1,500 or more on a fancy propane fire pit. For custom and built-in models, you’ll likely need to budget $1,000 to $5,000 or even more.
How we test fire pits
Wood-burning fire pits
To test each fire pit, we used the same fuel, Simple Simon Premium Hardwood sourced from a local Lowe’s. For a consistent amount, we selected three split log lengths roughly 15 inches long. We then stacked the logs together so at least some portion of each was touching the others.
To ignite each pit, we used Diamond Strike-a-Fire fire starters that were available at our neighborhood Kroger supermarket. One of these starter matches should be all that’s required to get a fire pit’s fire burning. We then logged how long it took to establish a fully sustained fire.
A good fire pit will fully ignite in five to 10 minutes. A pit with poor airflow and design will take a lot longer, or even flame out after 15 minutes no matter how well you’ve stacked your wood. Additionally, we made note of how much smoke escaped each pit. Ideally, a fire pit will generate a lot of flame and little smoke. A quality fire pit will also burn fuel efficiently, leaving little solid material remaining once its fire burns out naturally.
Gas fire pits
Gas fire pits are easier to test as they don’t require any lighting time. The first checks we do involve safety: Are all of the gas fittings secure and in good working order? Is the hose the recommended length to ensure the propane tank doesn’t get hot? These checks are the most important to keep everyone safe.
Next, we marked lines at 2-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7 feet. We then sat three people around the firepit at those distances to gauge how comfortable the heat was from the firepit. BTU is the standard unit of measure for heat, but knowing that doesn’t tell you how warm it makes you while you’re sitting at it.
Pellet fire pits
Like the wood-burning fire pit, we used the same fuel for each of the pits we tested. I used a two-gallon bucket filled with Traeger signature blend wood pellets as the fuel and two shot glasses of Kingsford lighter fluid as the accelerant. We then timed how long the fire took to reach full flame and how long it took from ignition to the flame going out.
Pellet fire pits will ignite much quicker than a standard log flame and will continue to burn evenly until they go out. Neither pellet nor wood was more expensive to test as the wood burns longer, but the pellet is cheaper to buy in bulk.
Other fire pits we tested
The Pop-Up Fire Pit is very portable but makes a lot of smoke.
Pop-Up Fire Pit: The most portable fire pit idea in this roundup is the Pop-Up Pit. Its collapsible design lets you assemble it and break it down quickly. It also uses a heat shield so it won’t scorch the ground below. The pit offers a large (2-foot-square) burning surface for your fire, too. Since its frame is constructed from stainless steel, the Pop-Up Pit is rust-resistant. However, because the pit is so large and has low walls, it creates a lot of smoke.
Solo Stove Ranger: Squat, cylindrical, compact and made from stainless steel, the Solo Stove Ranger appears simple at first glance. Tucked away inside this pit, though, is the same sophisticated airflow system that its larger sibling, the Solo Stove Yukon, has. The system is designed to enable fire in the pit to burn hotter and consume more of its wood fuel.
We can confirm that the Ranger delivers on these promises. It starts fast, with its logs aflame in just 5 minutes, and it burns for hours. The fires we started in the Ranger also burned with incredible ferocity. The flames inside the pit focused into an impressive rolling vortex. Despite the conflagration, the Ranger emitted very little smoke.
The Ranger does have a few drawbacks. Its compact size means it can’t accept standard 15-inch firewood logs. It’s also not the best for large groups or families. More than two people roasting marshmallows at once quickly becomes a crowd.
The Kingso 22-inch fire pit is small and has poor airflow.
Kingso Outdoor Fire Pit (22-inch): Though it’s a bestseller on Amazon, we don’t recommend purchasing the Kingso Outdoor Fire Pit. Its small size (22 inches in diameter) feels cramped. And since airflow throughout the small fire pit unit is poor, we consistently had difficulty both starting fires and keeping them lit inside this pit. It doesn’t come with a protective cover, either.
The Hampton Bay Windgate 40-inch Dia Fire Pit is massive and built from heavy steel. Unfortunately, it suffers from poor airflow so its flames often die out.
Hampton Bay Windgate 40-inch diameter round steel wood-burning fire pit: The Hampton Bay Windgate is by far the largest fire pit in this group. It has a massive 40-inch-diameter fire bowl, roomy enough for big groups to gather around. As the pit weighs in at a substantial 60 pounds and is constructed from heavy-duty steel, it takes a lot of effort to set up the pit where you want it. Unfortunately, the Windgate steel fire pit suffers from poor ventilation. As a result, fires we started in the pit consistently died out in 15 to 20 minutes. That makes it difficult to recommend this wood-burning pit model.
A good fire pit will ignite in minutes and stay lit for hours.
Fire pit FAQ
What is the best type of fire pit to buy?
The type of fire pit you should purchase depends on two main considerations. First is how much money you plan to spend. For instance, inexpensive pits are almost always basic cast-iron models that lack fancy smokeless airflow systems. The second factor to think about is how you’d like to use your pit. Simple pits provide the heat, sights and sounds of a crackling fire. They’re also fine for making s’mores and the odd hot dog. For more advanced cooking capabilities you’ll have to spend more for a pit also designed to operate as a true outdoor grill.
Which fire pits give off the most heat?
While all fire pits generate heat, some tend to create more than others. Ordinary pits, which are also the cheapest, can put out a good amount of heat. Unfortunately they typically create a lot of smoke as well. Smokeless fire pits do reach higher temperatures since they’re designed to foster a high degree of airflow as they burn. However, in my experience, Solo Stove fire pits channel much of their heat upward. Breeo pits, on the other hand, tend to push more heat outward so you often feel their warmth more.
Which smokeless fire pit is the best?
From a pure smokeless performance standpoint, Solo Stove fire pits are the best. They’re the easiest to start and keep lit. They also produce the least amount of smoke and generate the most intense, eye-catching flames. That said, since Solo Stove pits push much of their heat upward, they’re not ideal for keeping seated groups comfortable on cold winter nights. And they’re not designed for cooking elaborate outdoor meals either.
Can you put a fire pit on grass?
Yes, you can put a fire pit on grass — but you need to take a few precautions. For one, you’ll want to make sure the grassy area you choose is level, so the pit doesn’t tip over. You’ll also want to avoid damaging your grass: The high temperatures coming from a fire pit cause heat stress to your grass, which can discolor or kill it. The best way to protect your grass from damage is to put a barrier between the fire pit and the grass. You can simply put some patio slabs underneath the fire pit, or buy a heat shield or a fire-resistant mat. Whatever solution you go with, you should make sure to move the fire pit around frequently, so as not to damage grass in one location.
What types of ignitions are there for fire pits?
Fire pit ignition systems range from simple ones using a match to complex ones using electronics and an app. At one end of the spectrum are match-lit fire pits, with which you start the gas and light a match to get it started, and that’s it. The next step up is a spark ignition system, which features a battery-operated sparker, so you just push a button to get the flame going. Moving up another notch is a flame-sensing fire pit, which has a spark ignition but also a flame sensor that can stop gas flow once flames die down for extra safety. At the far end of the spectrum are electronic ignition kits, which also are flame-sensing, and have an automated ignition process that can be controlled with a timer, a switch, a remote, or a phone app. These are the most expensive, and often require you to have electricity at your fire pit.
Can I cook on my gas fire pit?
Cooking on a gas fire pit that isn’t specifically built for cooking is not recommended, the only exception being toasting marshmallows, since they only touch the flame and not the pit itself. However, some fire pits do sell accessories that you can add for safe cooking, and others are designed with cooking in mind.