Best Fire Pit Tables: A Tested Roundup

A fire pit table sounds simple enough until you start pricing them. Then you find yourself looking at a $49 steel bowl on one tab and a $1,200 cast aluminum centerpiece on another, wondering what exactly you’re paying for and whether any of it matters. I’ve spent time with all four of the products in this roundup, and my goal here is to give you a clear answer to that question rather than a list of features lifted from product pages.

For more context on this category before you buy, the Fire Pits & Patio Heaters hub covers the full range of outdoor heat options, including patio heaters and permanent installations.

The short version: there’s a genuine best pick for most people, and I’ll name it. There’s also a budget option that’s honest about what it is, a premium option worth the money under specific conditions, and a tabletop unit that solves a problem most roundups don’t bother to address.

Top Picks

Outland Living Series 403 44” Propane Fire Pit Table (Best Overall)

Currently around $230 to $260 on Amazon depending on finish. The espresso colorway is the most widely available.

This is the one I’d buy if I were starting from scratch. It’s a 44-inch propane fire table with a concrete-look top that functions as an actual outdoor table when you drop the burner cover on. The 50,000 BTU output is real: at full flame it heats a 15-foot radius meaningfully, not just decoratively. I’ve used it on evenings in the low 40s without anyone reaching for a jacket.

Setup is straightforward. The regulator hose comes pre-attached and connects directly to a standard 20 lb propane tank, which sits in the cabinet below. Ignition is a turn-and-push knob. There’s no ash, no smoke, no sourcing dry wood the night before. If you’ve ever abandoned a wood-burning fire mid-evening because the smoke kept following you around the table, you’ll understand why that matters.

The tabletop surface, when covered, is large enough to hold drinks and a cutting board. This is genuinely functional as patio furniture, not just a seasonal decorative item. If you want a broader comparison of how fire pit tables work as furniture, the fire pit with coffee table article covers that angle in more detail.

A 20 lb propane tank runs roughly 8 to 10 hours at full output. At current propane prices (roughly $3 to $4 per gallon, and a 20 lb tank holds about 4.7 gallons), you’re looking at around $15 to $20 per fill at a tank exchange. That adds up over a season. It’s an operating cost, not a one-time expense, and you should price it into your thinking.

The other practical issue is weight. Once assembled, the concrete-look top is not something you reposition casually. Pick your spot.

Pros:

• 50,000 BTU with functional heat output at 15 feet
• Burner cover converts the unit to a full outdoor table
• Clean propane operation, no ash or smoke management

Cons:

• Propane is an ongoing cost, roughly $15-20 per tank
• Heavy once assembled, not practical to move regularly

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Napoleon St. Tropez Rectangle Patioflame Fire Table (Premium Pick)

At the time of writing, this runs around $650 to $750 on Amazon. It is significantly more expensive than the Outland Living table, and whether that gap is worth it depends on a few specific things.

Napoleon is a grilling brand with real credibility in outdoor cooking hardware. Their build quality shows here: the rustic bronze aluminum frame is lightweight enough to reposition without a second person, but it looks and feels like outdoor furniture rather than outdoor equipment. It won’t rust. After hard winters and wet springs, that matters more than it sounds.

The electronic ignition is cleaner than a knob-and-push: push a button, adjust flame height with a dial. The glass ember bed produces a fire that looks more finished than the Outland Living’s lava rock setup, which is a real aesthetic difference if you’re building a proper outdoor living space rather than just adding a heat source to an existing patio. If you’re comparing rectangular designs, the rectangular fire pit table article has additional format and sizing guidance.

The natural gas conversion kit is included, and this is where the long-term value argument gets interesting. If your property has or could have a natural gas line run to the patio, you eliminate propane tank management entirely. Natural gas costs roughly 40% to 60% less per BTU than propane at current rates. Over several seasons, that conversion pays back a meaningful portion of the premium price. If you’re building a permanent outdoor living area and plan to stay in the space for years, the math isn’t unreasonable.

The glass ember bed does require periodic cleaning. Debris and spider activity in the burner area are genuine maintenance items, not theoretical ones.

Pros:

• Electronic ignition with adjustable flame height
• Aluminum construction, no rust or fading over time
• Natural gas conversion included, strong long-term operating cost argument

Cons:

• $650 to $750 is a significant price premium over mid-range options
• Glass ember bed needs cleaning maintenance

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Gas One 22” Wood Burning Fire Pit with Mesh Lid and Poker (Budget Pick)

Under $50. Often under $45. This is the lowest barrier entry point in the roundup, and I want to be clear about what that means.

This is a 22-inch steel bowl with a mesh spark screen lid and a poker. It burns wood. It produces traditional campfire smoke, which means it will follow the wind, and if the wind is blowing toward your guests, your guests will smell like campfire. That’s not a design flaw in this specific unit. That’s wood combustion.

If you’ve looked at smokeless pit designs like the Solo Stove Bonfire (currently around $300) or the Breeo X Series (around $400), the performance gap is real. Double-wall construction with secondary combustion genuinely reduces smoke output significantly. For $50, you don’t get that engineering, and the Gas One doesn’t pretend otherwise. The wood burning fire pit table article covers wood-burning options in more depth if that’s the direction you’re leaning.

What you do get: a 22-inch bowl that accommodates split logs without further cutting, a mesh lid that reduces flying ember risk on wooden decks (a real concern with wood-burning pits), and a product that works adequately for occasional backyard fires without committing real money. For someone who wants to try a fire pit before investing in a gas table or a premium smokeless design, this is a reasonable first step.

The steel will rust. Without a cover or dry storage, expect visible rust within two seasons in wet climates, possibly sooner. A decent fire pit cover runs $20 to $30 and extends the life considerably, which I’d include in your budget calculation from the start.

Pros:

• Under $50, lowest barrier to entry
• Mesh spark screen included, reduces ember risk
• 22-inch bowl fits standard split logs

Cons:

• Steel will rust within 2 to 3 seasons without proper storage
• Produces traditional campfire smoke, noticeably more than double-wall designs like the Solo Stove Bonfire

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Bond Manufacturing 50857N Lara TableFire Firebowl (Best for Small Spaces)

Currently around $55 to $70. This is a tabletop propane fire bowl, and it solves a specific problem the other three products in this roundup don’t address: what do you do when you have a balcony or a small urban patio where a full fire table won’t fit?

The Lara connects to a standard 1 lb propane cylinder, which means no 20 lb tank, no gas line, no significant footprint. It sits on an existing table surface. The burner cover converts it to a side table or centerpiece when you’re not running it. For apartment patios, condo balconies, or any space where you’re measuring in square feet rather than square yards, this is the product that actually fits the situation.

(I’ll say this plainly, because product pages tend not to: this is an ambiance product. The flame is small. You will not heat your outdoor space with this unit. If warmth is your primary goal, look at a patio infrared heater instead, which can provide directional heat without requiring any fire at all.)

The 1 lb propane cylinders run roughly $5 to $8 each at hardware stores and last about 1.5 to 2 hours at standard flame. That’s an expensive per-hour rate compared to a large tank setup. If you find yourself using this regularly, you can purchase a 1 lb refillable cylinder and adapter hose for around $25 to $30, which drops the per-hour cost considerably.

Pros:

• Fits balconies and small patios where full fire tables won’t work
• Connects to 1 lb propane cylinders, no large tank needed
• Burner cover functions as a side table surface

Cons:

• Minimal heat output, ambiance only
• 1 lb cylinders are expensive per hour unless you use a refillable adapter

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Buying Guide

Gas vs. Wood: The Honest Trade-off

Gas fire tables (propane or natural gas) give you instant ignition, no ash, no smoke, and adjustable flame height. Wood-burning pits give you real fire character, crackling sound, and zero fuel cost if you have wood on your property or access to cheap cord wood. The Gas One in this roundup represents the wood-burning entry point. The Outland Living and Napoleon represent the gas table category.

What gas tables don’t replicate is the sensory experience of a wood fire. If that matters to you, it matters. If it doesn’t, gas is easier to operate in every practical way.

BTU Output and Actual Heat

50,000 BTU, which the Outland Living Series 403 delivers, is adequate for a circle of chairs on a cool evening. It won’t heat a large open patio in genuinely cold weather, but it’s a useful supplemental heat source from September through early November in most northern climates. The Napoleon St. Tropez runs at a similar output range.

The Bond tabletop unit produces negligible heat output. That’s not a complaint about the product; it’s a category distinction.

Propane Tank Logistics

Both the Outland Living and Napoleon tables use standard 20 lb propane tanks, which store in the cabinet beneath the table. Tank exchange programs at hardware and grocery stores run $18 to $25 per swap at current prices. If you’re running either table regularly, budget for two tanks so you’re not caught mid-evening on an empty one.

Natural gas conversion, available on the Napoleon via the included kit, requires a licensed gas line installation if you don’t already have one. That installation typically runs $300 to $500 depending on the run length, which needs to factor into your cost comparison honestly.

Material and Longevity

Aluminum frames (Napoleon) won’t rust and hold finish well through freeze-thaw cycles. Steel frames (Gas One, Bond) will rust without maintenance. Concrete-look composite tops (Outland Living) are heavy and durable but can chip under hard impact. Powder-coated steel tops fade less than painted finishes over time.

If you’re weighing different sizes or shapes, our coverage of the Latitude Run Outdoor Fire Pit Table covers some additional format considerations worth reading before you commit to dimensions.

For all the products in this category across different price points and styles, the outdoor heating and fire pit hub is the best starting point.

My Actual Recommendation

The Outland Living Series 403 is the right purchase for most people. It’s priced fairly, it heats an actual gathering space, it functions as patio furniture year-round, and the propane setup is about as low-friction as this category gets. The Napoleon is worth the premium if you’re building a permanent outdoor room and intend to run natural gas. The Gas One is fine for what it is, as long as you go in knowing what it is. The Bond is the right answer for a balcony situation where nothing else in this list would fit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much propane does a fire pit table use per hour?

At full output, most propane fire tables in the 40,000 to 50,000 BTU range consume roughly 1 to 2 lbs of propane per hour. A standard 20 lb tank gives you approximately 8 to 10 hours of run time at full flame, somewhat more if you keep the flame at a moderate setting. At current tank exchange prices of $18 to $25, that works out to roughly $2 to $3 per hour of use.

Can I convert a propane fire table to natural gas?

Some fire tables are designed with conversion in mind. The Napoleon St. Tropez comes with the natural gas conversion kit included. The Outland Living Series 403 is not designed for natural gas conversion and should not be modified. If natural gas connection is important to you, verify before purchasing that the specific model you’re buying supports it, and plan for a licensed gas line installation if you don’t have an existing outdoor connection.

Are fire pit tables safe on a wood deck?

Propane fire tables produce no ash and no flying embers, which makes them significantly safer on wood decks than wood-burning pits. The Gas One includes a mesh spark screen that reduces (but doesn’t eliminate) ember risk. That said, any open flame on a wood deck warrants attention to clearances above and around the unit, and you should check local ordinances, which vary by municipality.

Do fire pit tables put out enough heat to actually stay warm?

A 50,000 BTU propane fire table like the Outland Living Series 403 provides meaningful warmth within roughly 8 to 12 feet on a mild evening, say in the 45 to 55 degree range. In genuinely cold conditions, or if your seating area is spread out, it will take the edge off rather than replace a coat. The Bond tabletop unit produces almost no usable heat and should not be purchased with warmth as a primary goal.

What’s the difference between a fire pit table and a regular fire pit?

A fire pit table integrates the burner into a table-height frame with a surrounding surface. When the burner cover is in place, it functions as a standard outdoor table for drinks, food, or decor. A traditional fire pit, like the Gas One bowl in this roundup, is a standalone burning vessel without a surrounding table surface. Fire pit tables are generally taller (around 24 to 28 inches), more furniture-integrated, and almost always gas-powered, while freestanding pits come in both wood-burning and gas versions.