Fire Pit with Hidden Propane Tank: Outland vs Napoleon

If you’ve spent any time looking at fire pits with a propane tank inside the base rather than a visible tank sitting beside them, you already know the category splits pretty fast into budget junk and overpriced style exercises. These two don’t fit either description, which is why they’re worth comparing directly. The Outland Living Series 403 44” Propane Fire Pit Table runs around $280 to $320 depending on where you catch it. The Napoleon St. Tropez Rectangle Patioflame Fire Table runs closer to $700 to $800. That’s not a small gap, and this article is going to tell you whether it’s a justified one.

Both tables conceal a standard 20 lb propane tank in the base cabinet. Both run on propane out of the box. Both can anchor a seating area. Beyond that, they’re serving somewhat different buyers, and I’d rather say so plainly than pretend the decision is complicated.

If you want more context on what separates quality fire tables from the rest of the category, the Fire Pits & Patio Heaters section of this site covers it thoroughly.

Head-to-Head Verdict

Buy the Outland Living if you want a capable, functional fire table at a fair price and you’re not married to the idea of a permanent installation. Buy the Napoleon if you’re building out a patio that’s meant to stay put, you want electronic ignition, and the option to convert to natural gas at some point matters to you.

That’s the honest answer. Everything below explains why.

The Napoleon is a better-built table. The aluminum frame won’t rust, the finish holds up to weather without fading, and the electronic ignition means you never crouch down in the dark looking for a lighter. The Outland Living is not a lesser product for what it costs, but it’s a different category of commitment. If you’ve ever looked at a fire pit and thought “this might move to the back corner of the yard eventually,” the Outland Living is the one you can actually move. The Napoleon, once it’s where you want it, is where it stays.

The BTU gap is worth acknowledging: the Outland Living puts out 50,000 BTU, which heats a 15-foot radius and is genuinely competitive with much pricier tables. Napoleon doesn’t publish a BTU figure for the St. Tropez in the same way, and in my experience that usually means the heat output is adequate rather than aggressive. For a shoulder-season evening where you want warmth, the Outland Living wins on raw heat delivery.

Side-by-Side Specs

| Feature | Outland Living Series 403 | Napoleon St. Tropez | |,|,|,| | Price (at time of writing) | ~$280-$320 | ~$700-$800 | | Dimensions | 44” x 24” | 46.5” x 20.5” | | Frame material | Concrete-look composite | Rustic bronze aluminum | | Ignition | Manual (push-button piezo) | Electronic auto-ignition | | Fuel | Propane (20 lb tank) | Propane standard, NG conversion kit included | | BTU output | 50,000 | Not specified | | Tank storage | Enclosed base cabinet | Enclosed base cabinet | | Table surface | Tempered glass top | Glass ember media bed | | Weight | ~55 lbs assembled | ~65 lbs assembled | | Rust resistance | Moderate | High (aluminum frame) | | Natural gas conversion | No | Yes (kit included) |

The spec that matters most in day-to-day use is ignition. Electronic ignition on the Napoleon means you turn a knob and it lights. Manual piezo on the Outland Living means you push a button and hold it while the gas catches, which works fine but requires a little more patience in cold weather or wind.

Testing Notes

I ran both tables through a stretch of fall evenings, the kind of nights that drop to 45°F by 9 p.m. and where you’re deciding between going inside and staying out. That context matters for evaluating heat output.

Outland Living Series 403

Assembly took about 45 minutes with two people, mostly because the concrete-look top is heavier than it looks on the listing photos. Once it’s together, connecting the pre-attached regulator hose to a standard 20 lb propane tank takes about 30 seconds. The table lit on the first try every time I used it. At full output, you feel the 50,000 BTU within a couple minutes. Four people sitting around it at a normal patio distance were comfortable without extra layers until the temperature dropped below 40°F.

The tempered glass tabletop, which covers the burner when it’s not in use, is genuinely useful. This isn’t a piece of equipment that sits there looking like equipment when it’s off. It reads as a table. If you’ve been comparing this category to fire pit coffee table designs, the Outland Living sits closer to that end of the spectrum than most fire tables at this price.

A 20 lb tank at full output lasts roughly 8 to 10 hours. (I timed this.) That’s two to three evenings of real use before a refill, which runs $18 to $25 depending on where you go. Not a dealbreaker, but a recurring cost you’re committing to.

Napoleon St. Tropez

The Napoleon’s aluminum frame is noticeably lighter to handle during setup, which sounds counterintuitive given the price premium, but it’s a real advantage. The rustic bronze finish looks expensive in person and didn’t show any weathering after several weeks of outdoor exposure in variable weather.

Electronic ignition works exactly as advertised. Turn the knob, click, lit. Adjustable flame height is more useful than it sounds: low flame for ambiance when the conversation is what matters, higher flame when the temperature drops and you want actual heat. The glass ember bed is attractive but does collect debris between uses. A quick wipe-down before lighting is necessary if the table’s been sitting uncovered.

The natural gas conversion kit is included in the box, which Napoleon deserves credit for. Converting from propane to a natural gas line eliminates the tank-refill cost permanently and is the single strongest long-term value argument for the Napoleon over the Outland Living. It requires a plumber to run the gas line, which adds a one-time cost, but if you’re building a permanent outdoor living space anyway, that math often works out within a couple of seasons.

For more on rectangular fire table designs and how proportions affect seating arrangements, the rectangular fire pit table article is worth reading before you finalize dimensions.

Who Each Is Best For

Choose the Outland Living Series 403 if:

• Your budget is under $400 and you want a fire table that doesn’t look like a compromise
• You want maximum heat output for the price
• The patio layout might change, and portability matters
• You prefer a full tabletop surface when the fire isn’t running

Choose the Napoleon St. Tropez if:

• You’re building a patio installation meant to stay permanent
• Electronic ignition is a real priority, not a nice-to-have
• You’re open to natural gas conversion now or in the future
• Weather durability over multiple seasons is non-negotiable for you

There’s a version of this decision where the Outland Living is the obvious answer for most people and the Napoleon is the answer for a specific kind of buyer who knows exactly what they want. That framing is roughly accurate. If you’re uncertain which category you fall into, buy the Outland Living. If you already know you want the Napoleon, you already know.

One note on placement: both of these tables need to be used in open, well-ventilated outdoor spaces. Neither is rated for covered enclosures with restricted airflow. If your patio has a pergola or low overhead structure, the wall mounted patio heater category might be worth considering as a complement or alternative, depending on how enclosed the space actually is.

If you want to go deeper on burner quality and output ratings before deciding, the propane fire pit burner guide covers what the specs actually mean in practice.

For everything else in this category, including table comparisons, safety guidance, and BTU explainers, the Fire Pits & Patio Heaters section is where to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a 20 lb propane tank last in a fire pit table?

At full output on the Outland Living Series 403 (50,000 BTU), expect 8 to 10 hours of burn time from a 20 lb tank. Running the flame at medium output extends that to 12 to 15 hours. The Napoleon St. Tropez doesn’t publish a specific BTU rating, but similar tank capacity with a lower flame setting can stretch considerably further. Budget roughly $18 to $25 per tank refill at a standard exchange station.

Can either of these fire tables be used under a covered patio or pergola?

Not without adequate clearance. Both are propane appliances and require open-air or well-ventilated outdoor spaces. A completely enclosed structure is not appropriate. A pergola with open sides and reasonable overhead clearance may be acceptable, but check the clearance specifications in the product manual and err on the side of more space rather than less. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly with the specific dimensions of your space.

Is the natural gas conversion on the Napoleon St. Tropez something a homeowner can do themselves?

The conversion kit is included, but running a natural gas line requires a licensed plumber or gas technician in most jurisdictions. The conversion itself at the table end is not especially complicated, but the gas supply line installation is not a DIY project. Factor in a professional installation cost, which typically runs $200 to $500 depending on how far the run is from your existing gas supply, when calculating the long-term economics.

Does the Outland Living Series 403 hold up to winter weather if left outside?

The concrete-look composite top is reasonably weather-resistant, but I wouldn’t leave either of these tables uncovered through a hard winter. A fitted cover (around $30 to $40 for this size) is worth the investment. The Outland Living’s frame is less weather-resistant than Napoleon’s aluminum construction, so if your winters involve sustained moisture and freeze-thaw cycles, covering or storing it between uses is the right call.

What’s the difference between a fire pit table and a standalone fire pit for heat output?

A fire table is optimized to double as furniture, which means the flame sits at table height and the heat radiates outward horizontally rather than upward. Standalone fire pits typically allow a taller flame and can feel warmer for people seated immediately adjacent. For a patio seating area with chairs at standard height, a fire table like either of these produces comfortable warmth within a normal conversation radius. If raw heat output is your primary concern over aesthetics or table function, a dedicated propane fire pit without a table surround usually delivers more heat per dollar.