Round Fire Pits Propane: Outland vs Napoleon

Propane fire pit tables have gotten crowded enough as a category that picking one requires actual criteria, not just a budget and a size preference. Two products keep coming up in serious outdoor living discussions: the Outland Living Series 403 44” Propane Fire Pit Table and the Napoleon St. Tropez Rectangle Patioflame Fire Table. They’re both round propane fire pits in the broad sense of “table with fire in the middle,” but they’re solving different problems for different buyers. This comparison will tell you which one is actually worth your money based on what you plan to do with it. If you’re still orienting yourself in the category, the Fire Pits & Patio Heaters hub is a reasonable place to start.

At-a-Glance

| | Outland Living Series 403 | Napoleon St. Tropez | |,|,|,| | Price | Mid-range (currently around $280-$320 on Amazon) | Premium (currently around $700-$800 on Amazon) | | BTU Output | 50,000 BTU | 40,000 BTU | | Ignition | Push-button | Electronic auto-ignition | | Frame Material | Concrete-look composite | Rustic bronze aluminum | | Natural Gas Conversion | No | Yes (kit included) | | Tabletop Function | Yes, with burner cover | Yes, with cover | | Tank Storage | External 20 lb tank | External 20 lb tank | | Shape | Square/round tabletop | Rectangular |

The BTU difference is worth flagging immediately. Fifty thousand BTUs from the Outland Living will heat roughly a 15-foot radius, which covers most patio configurations. The Napoleon’s 40,000 BTUs are adequate but noticeably less aggressive on a cold night. If you’re sitting outside in October in a hard-winter climate, that gap matters.

The price gap matters more. At roughly two and a half times the cost of the Outland Living, the Napoleon needs to deliver something substantially better. Whether it does depends entirely on how you’re using the space.

Why Choose the Outland Living Series 403

The Outland Living 403 is, straightforwardly, the better value for anyone who wants a fire pit table that functions as actual patio furniture. The tempered glass tabletop with the burner cover installed looks and functions like a normal outdoor table. Four people can sit around it for dinner, and when dinner is done, the cover comes off and you have a fire feature. Most fire pit tables require you to commit to one mode or the other in terms of layout. This one genuinely doesn’t.

Output and Setup

The 50,000 BTU output is the headline spec, and it delivers. The pre-attached regulator hose connects directly to a standard 20 lb propane tank with no fussing. If you’ve ever bought a fire pit that required sourcing a specific regulator or adapter before you could light it the first day, you understand why “pre-attached” is a feature worth calling out (I’ve made that mistake twice). Assembly is straightforward and the tank stores underneath or adjacent, depending on your configuration.

The push-button ignition works reliably. It’s not the electronic auto-ignition of the Napoleon, but it’s not matchsticks either.

The Real Limitation

Propane cost is the ongoing math you need to do before buying either of these tables. At full output, a 20 lb tank lasts roughly 8 to 10 hours. That’s fine for occasional weekend use but adds up if you’re running it three evenings a week through fall. There’s no natural gas conversion path for the Outland Living 403, so you’re committed to propane indefinitely. If you’re building a permanent outdoor living space and running a gas line is within your project scope, this becomes a real disadvantage over time.

The other practical issue is weight. The concrete-look composite top is heavy. Once this table is assembled and positioned, you are not moving it casually. Choose the location with some thought, because relocating it means either disassembling it or having another person and a plan. This isn’t a complaint about the product exactly, just a physical reality to account for.

For readers comparing against wood burning fire pit table options, the propane convenience argument is strong. No ash management, no smoke drift, instant off. The Outland Living 403 captures most of those advantages at a price point that leaves room in the budget for a few tanks of propane.

Who This Is For

Anyone who wants a fire pit that earns its floor space by being useful as a table when the fire isn’t running. Renters, people with smaller patios where every piece of furniture needs to justify itself, and buyers who want a strong BTU output without a premium price. At around $280 to $320 at the time of writing, the Outland Living Series 403 is the easiest recommendation in this category for most people.

Why Choose the Napoleon St. Tropez

The Napoleon St. Tropez is a more expensive product that is also, in several specific ways, a better product. The question is whether those differences are worth $400 to $500 more.

Build Quality and Material

The rustic bronze aluminum frame is legitimately premium. It’s lightweight compared to the Outland Living’s composite top, which means the Napoleon is easier to move if your patio layout changes. More importantly, aluminum at this quality level won’t rust or fade across seasons of hard weather. Wet springs and freeze-thaw cycles are not kind to outdoor furniture, and the Napoleon’s frame will look the same in year five as it did in year one, assuming you cover it. Speaking of which, a propane fire pit cover is worth buying for either of these tables if they’re staying outside year-round.

The rectangular form factor suits certain patio layouts better than a square or round table. If you have a long, narrow space, or you’re pairing the fire table with a sectional that runs along one side, the rectangular fire pit table shape fits more naturally than a square configuration.

Electronic Ignition and Natural Gas Conversion

The electronic auto-ignition is genuinely better than a push-button, especially in wind. If you’ve ever crouched over a push-button igniter trying to shield it while cold, and then stood up too fast, you know what I mean. The flame height is also adjustable with more precision on the Napoleon.

The natural gas conversion kit is the strongest long-term argument for the Napoleon. If you’re willing to run a gas line to your patio, you eliminate the 20 lb tank cycle entirely. Over several years of regular use, the fuel cost savings and the elimination of the logistics of propane tank management can meaningfully offset the premium purchase price. This isn’t a marginal consideration for permanent outdoor installations.

The Limitations

The glass ember bed requires cleaning, which is a minor annoyance that becomes slightly less minor if the table is uncovered after a rain. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something to factor into maintenance expectations.

The price is the central objection. Around $700 to $800 at the time of writing, the Napoleon St. Tropez is a meaningful investment. For a rental space, a temporary setup, or a buyer who isn’t certain they’ll use a fire table regularly, that price is hard to justify when the Outland Living performs well at half the cost.

Who This Is For

Buyers with a permanent outdoor living space, some willingness to run a gas line, and a preference for furniture-grade quality that holds up over years without much intervention. If you’re designing a patio that you expect to be the same patio in ten years, the Napoleon is the more durable, more functional choice. If you’re also considering heating the space beyond what a fire table provides, it’s worth looking at what a wall mounted patio heater can add to a permanent outdoor setup.

Verdict

Buy the Outland Living Series 403 if you want a fire pit table that functions as real outdoor furniture, delivers strong heat output, and doesn’t require a large upfront investment. For most buyers, it’s the right choice.

Buy the Napoleon St. Tropez if you’re building a permanent outdoor space, you’re willing to convert to natural gas, and you want a frame that will hold up over many seasons without degradation. The premium is real, but it’s not arbitrary.

The thing these two tables share is the core appeal of propane fire features: no smoke management, no ash cleanup, instant on and off. Both do that well. The Fire Pits & Patio Heaters hub covers additional options if neither of these fits your space exactly, including alternatives to a fire pit with coffee table configuration if that’s closer to what you’re actually looking for.

If I had to pick one for my own use and the gas line question was off the table (it is, where my patio sits), I’d buy the Outland Living without much deliberation. The BTU advantage over the Napoleon, the table function, and the $400 price difference make it the easier call for most outdoor setups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

At full output, a 20 lb tank typically lasts 8 to 10 hours. Running a lower flame height extends that range. If you’re using the fire table three or four evenings a week through fall, budget for roughly two tanks per month at moderate use.

Can I convert the Outland Living Series 403 to natural gas?

No. The Outland Living 403 is propane-only with no natural gas conversion option. If natural gas conversion is a priority because you have or plan to install a dedicated gas line, the Napoleon St. Tropez is the better fit because it includes a conversion kit.

Do fire pit tables produce enough heat to actually warm people sitting around them?

At 50,000 BTU, the Outland Living 403 produces meaningful radiant heat in roughly a 15-foot radius. In mild fall weather with no wind, that’s adequate for four to six people seated around the table. In temperatures below 40°F or in significant wind, you’ll feel it but it won’t fully compensate. Think of it as a supplement to a jacket, not a replacement for one.

Is the Napoleon St. Tropez worth the price over a mid-range fire table?

If you’re treating the table as a permanent outdoor installation and converting to natural gas, yes. The aluminum build quality, electronic ignition, and fuel flexibility make the premium defensible over a multi-year horizon. If you’re buying for occasional use or aren’t certain you’ll use it regularly, the Outland Living Series 403 delivers most of the functional experience for roughly half the price.

Do I need a cover for a propane fire pit table left outdoors?

A cover is strongly recommended regardless of which table you buy. Water in the burner assembly and fire glass causes maintenance problems over time, and UV exposure degrades most finishes faster than weather alone would. A cover rated for outdoor use extends the life of either table significantly. See the propane fire pit cover guide for specific cover recommendations.