Buying guide
Fire Pit Buying Guide (2026)
How to choose a fire pit: wood against propane, smokeless designs, size, safety, and the costs nobody mentions.
Wood or propane: pick your evening first
Wood pits give the crackle, the smell, and the biggest heat, but they ask for dry logs, a lighter, and an ash clean-up. Propane pits light with a knob, burn with no smoke and no ash, and go out with a knob, but they need a tank and never smell like a wood fire. Smokeless wood pits sit between the two: real wood, far less smoke, and a clean-up that is still real. Decide which evening you want before comparing models, because the fuel decides the shortlist.
Size: match the pit to the group, not the catalogue
Two to four people need a 15 to 20 inch pit. Four to six people need a 19.5 to 25 inch pit. Six or more people need a 27 inch pit or larger. Measure the patio as well as the group: chairs need clear space around the pit, and the largest pits need a wide path to get into place. A pit that is too big for the patio is worse than one that is slightly small, because it crowds the seating and dominates the space.
Smokeless designs: what they do and what they do not
A smokeless pit has a double wall that feeds hot air over the flames, burning off most of the smoke once the fire is hot. It works, and the difference against an open bowl is large. What it does not do is remove smoke during start-up, or with damp wood. Buy dry, seasoned hardwood, build the fire properly, and give it a few minutes. A smokeless pit with wet wood smokes like any other pit.
Safety and placement
Place the pit on a flat, non-flammable surface, away from fences, furniture, and overhead cover. Use the stand that comes with the pit, and add a fire-resistant mat on a deck. Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby, never leave a burning pit unattended, and let it cool fully before covering or moving it. Check local rules before lighting: some areas restrict open fires, and some allow propane pits where wood fires are banned.
The costs nobody mentions
Firewood is the main running cost for a wood pit, and a large pit burns through it fast. A propane pit needs a tank bought separately, plus refills. Stands, covers, spark screens, and pokers change the real price of a pit, so check what each listing includes before comparing prices. A cover is not optional: a steel pit left wet will rust, and wet ash left inside will stain the base.
Questions, answered
Do I need a spark screen?
Yes, if your pit is an open bowl, and especially if children or pets are nearby. A screen keeps embers in and hands out. Smokeless pits with a deep firebox need one less, but a screen is still sensible on a windy evening. Some pits include one in the box, and others sell it separately.
Can I put a fire pit on a wooden deck?
Yes, with care: use the stand, add a fire-resistant mat, and check that the deck and local rules allow it. Keep the pit away from railings and walls, never leave it burning unattended, and let it cool fully before covering it. A propane pit is the safer choice on a deck, since it has no embers.
How do I clean a fire pit?
Let it cool fully, then lift out the ash pan or scoop the ash into a metal container. Wipe the body with a dry cloth and cover the pit. Never hose a hot pit, and never leave wet ash inside, since it holds moisture against the steel and speeds up rust.