Propane Fire Pit Cover Comparison: 2 Top Models

If you’ve landed on this page searching for a propane fire pit cover, you’ve probably already decided that a fire table beats a traditional wood-burning pit. Fair enough. No ash, no smoke drifting into your face, and you can turn it off and walk inside without waiting thirty minutes for embers to die. What you’re actually trying to decide is which fire table to buy. These two products represent genuinely different points on the price-to-permanence spectrum, and this article will tell you plainly which one makes more sense for your situation.

Both the Outland Living Series 403 44” Propane Fire Pit Table and the Napoleon St. Tropez Rectangle Patioflame Fire Table are covered in detail across our Fire Pits & Patio Heaters section if you want a broader look at the category. But if you want my read on these two specifically, read on.

At-a-Glance

The Outland Living 403 currently runs around $280 to $320 on Amazon depending on timing, and it’s the right table if you want a functional propane fire table without committing to a permanent installation or a significant budget line. The Napoleon St. Tropez sits at a considerably higher price point, around $750 to $900 at time of writing, and it earns that premium through electronic ignition, a rust-proof aluminum frame, and a natural gas conversion kit that comes in the box. One is furniture that happens to have fire in it. The other is a patio feature that happens to have furniture around it.

Neither has a cover included in the box. Worth knowing before you order: covers for these tables are sold separately, and sizing varies. The Outland 403’s 44-inch top takes a cover in the 44-46 inch square range. The Napoleon’s rectangular footprint requires a different shape entirely. I’ll address cover options specifically in the FAQ at the end.

| Feature | Outland Living 403 | Napoleon St. Tropez | |,|,|,| | Price (approx.) | $280-$320 | $750-$900 | | BTU Output | 50,000 | 40,000 | | Ignition | Manual (push-button) | Electronic | | Frame Material | Concrete-look composite | Rustic bronze aluminum | | Gas Type | Propane only | Propane + natural gas conversion | | Table Top | Tempered glass (functional) | Decorative glass ember bed | | Tank Storage | Concealed below tabletop | External or concealed depending on setup |

Why Choose the Outland Living Series 403

The 50,000 BTU output is the headline number here, and it earns its billing. At full output, this table heats a 15-foot radius, which is meaningful if you’re trying to take the edge off a cool evening for a group of six or eight sitting around it. The Napoleon, by comparison, puts out 40,000 BTU. Both are usable. But if heat output matters to you more than aesthetics, Outland wins that round.

The more practical case for this table is the dual-use design. The tempered glass tabletop sits over the burner, and when you drop the metal cover plate over the burner insert, the table functions as a full outdoor surface. You can set drinks on it, stack plates, rest a book. If you’ve been thinking about a fire pit with a coffee table configuration for your patio, this is essentially what the 403 delivers without requiring you to buy two separate pieces of furniture.

Setup and Connection

The pre-attached regulator hose connects directly to a standard 20-pound propane tank, which sits inside the table base out of sight. No adapter required, no trip to a specialty supplier. You’re looking at maybe 20-30 minutes of assembly out of the box. This matters if you move your setup seasonally or want the flexibility to relocate the table to a different part of your property. The concrete-look composite top is heavy enough that you won’t be moving this alone once it’s assembled, but it isn’t a permanent installation the way a mortared stone table would be.

One thing to account for honestly: propane burn rate at full output eats through a 20-pound tank in roughly 8 to 10 hours. If you’re running this three or four evenings a week through September and October, you’re refilling or exchanging tanks every two to three weeks. That’s a recurring cost worth factoring. At current exchange prices around $20 to $25 per 20-pound tank, you’re adding $40 to $50 per month to your operating costs during heavy use. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s not nothing either.

For more background on burner mechanics and what to expect from propane output ratings, the propane fire pit burner guide on this site covers the specifics well.

Who This Table Is For

If you want a fire table that functions as patio furniture, costs under $350, and doesn’t require any permanent gas line work, this is your table. It’s a solid, unfussy product. I’ve seen this exact table on three different patios this summer, which tells me it’s landing with people who actually use their outdoor spaces rather than just photograph them.

Why Choose the Napoleon St. Tropez

Napoleon built its reputation in grills, and the quality standards carry over. The rustic bronze aluminum frame won’t rust, won’t fade, and won’t develop the chalky surface oxidation you see on powder-coated steel frames after two or three hard winters. If your patio furniture is a long-term investment rather than something you replace every four years, the frame material alone justifies some of the price gap. (I’ve replaced two cheaper powder-coated steel tables in the last six years, so this is not a theoretical concern for me.)

The electronic ignition is a genuine convenience improvement over the push-button piezo lighter on the Outland. You turn a knob, the flame appears. No crouching down with a long lighter because the piezo failed in damp weather. Adjustable flame height from low to high means you can run it as ambient atmosphere at low output rather than being stuck choosing between full blast and off. On cool but not cold evenings, that matters.

The Natural Gas Conversion Argument

This is the Napoleon’s strongest long-term value argument. The table ships ready for propane, but the natural gas conversion kit is in the box. If you have, or plan to run, a natural gas line to your patio, converting this table eliminates the tank cost and the refill logistics entirely. A licensed plumber can make the connection in under an hour. At that point, your operating cost drops to whatever your gas utility charges per therm, which at current residential rates is a small fraction of propane exchange pricing.

If your patio setup is permanent, if you’re building an outdoor living space rather than furnishing a deck, the economics of that conversion shift the calculus considerably. The rectangular form factor also pairs naturally with the kind of modular outdoor seating that surrounds a rectangular fire pit table configuration. Napoleon clearly designed this to anchor a room rather than sit in the middle of one.

What You’re Accepting at This Price

The glass ember bed is decorative, not functional as a table surface. You’re not resting anything on it. Cleaning it occasionally when debris or condensation discolors the glass is a minor maintenance task, but it’s a different use case than the Outland’s dual-purpose top. At $750 to $900, this is a patio centerpiece, not a table with a fire feature. If that’s the right framing for your space, it works well. If you needed something that functions as a surface, the Napoleon isn’t the right answer regardless of budget.

Verdict

Buy the Outland Living Series 403 if you want a functional, high-output fire table under $350, you’re not ready for a permanent gas line, and you want a surface you can actually use as a table. It’s not as refined as the Napoleon, but it does more practical work for the money.

Buy the Napoleon St. Tropez if you’re building a permanent outdoor living space, you’re likely to convert to natural gas within the next few years, and the frame quality and electronic ignition matter to you at the price difference. The premium is real, but so is what you’re getting.

If you’re still exploring the broader category before committing, the full fire pit and patio heater guides on this site are worth a scan, particularly if you’re weighing fire table options against wall-mounted patio heaters or other overhead heat sources for a covered patio.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size cover fits the Outland Living Series 403 fire table?

The Outland 403 has a 44-inch square tabletop footprint. A cover in the 44 to 46-inch square range fits correctly. Look for a cover with a water-resistant outer layer and a breathable, non-scratching inner lining. Waterproof-only covers can trap condensation underneath and accelerate surface oxidation on the base. Prices for a decent fit cover run $30 to $50.

Does the Napoleon St. Tropez come with a cover?

No. Napoleon does not include a cover with the St. Tropez at the standard retail price. Because this is a rectangular table, you’ll need to match the specific dimensions before ordering. Measure the full assembled footprint including any overhang on the frame before purchasing. Universal rectangular covers sized around 48 by 28 inches often work, but verify against your assembled dimensions. Napoleon-branded covers for this table, where available, run around $80 to $100.

Can I leave either fire table outside year-round?

The Napoleon’s aluminum frame handles outdoor exposure better than the Outland’s composite base over multiple winters. That said, neither manufacturer recommends leaving a fire table fully uncovered and unprotected through extended freeze-thaw cycles. A properly fitted propane fire pit cover, stored over winter or during extended non-use periods, will significantly extend the life of any fire table surface, regulator connections, and the burner assembly.

How long does a 20-pound propane tank last on the Outland 403?

At full 50,000 BTU output, roughly 8 to 10 hours. At medium output, closer to 12 to 15 hours. Most people run these tables at 60 to 70 percent output on a typical cool evening, so real-world usage lands in the 10 to 12 hour range per tank. Keep a spare tank if you’re hosting.

Is natural gas conversion on the Napoleon St. Tropez a DIY project?

The conversion kit is included, but connecting to a natural gas line is not a DIY project in most jurisdictions. Most states require a licensed plumber or gas fitter to make the final connection to any residential gas supply. The conversion on the table itself, meaning swapping the regulator and orifice fitting, is straightforward mechanical work. Factor in a plumber’s service call, typically $150 to $250 depending on your area, when calculating the full cost of the natural gas setup.