Best Fire Pits for Your Backyard
A fire pit does something no other backyard purchase quite manages: it gives people a reason to stay outside. The right one becomes the center of your yard—a place people actually gather around long after dinner. The wrong one sits in the corner, rusting under a cover you only remember when company’s coming.
Our editors compared build quality, real-world smokiness, heat output, price, and availability across five major retailers. These are the five fire pits we’d buy—one per price point and retailer, so you can choose whatever fits your yard and your budget.
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We researched and compared fire pits across five price points and fuel types, stress-testing claims against real customer reviews—especially 1-star reviews, which reveal what manufacturers won’t put in the product description. For each pick we assessed build quality and material durability, smoke output under real conditions, heat delivery, ease of setup and cleanup, and long-term value.
Smoke performance got extra weight: a fire pit that drives everyone off the patio with smoke has failed at its one job. We also called out the honest tradeoffs—smokeless designs burn through wood faster, propane throws less heat than wood, budget steel rusts without a cover.
What to Know Before You Buy
Wood fire pits deliver the classic crackling ambiance, real warmth, and that campfire smell—but require wood storage, produce smoke, and need a full cooldown before you can leave. Propane fire pits are instant-on/off, smokeless, and maintenance-free—but the flame looks less natural and ongoing fuel costs add up.
Standard steel is the most affordable but will rust without a cover. 304 stainless steel (like Solo Stove) is rust-resistant and lasts decades. Cast iron retains heat longer than steel but is heavy and chips if dropped. For a long-term investment, stainless or cast iron is worth the premium.
A 20–24” pit is great for intimate settings (2–4 people). A 30–36” pit handles a full patio gathering. For propane, 40,000 BTU is sufficient for ambiance; 50,000+ provides meaningful warmth. For wood, a larger bowl means longer burns and more heat.
Keep any fire pit at least 10 ft from your house, fence, or overhead structure. Never use on a wood deck without a proper heat shield or fire pit pad. Always have a bucket of water or extinguisher nearby. Check local ordinances—some municipalities restrict open burning.
Our Top 5 Fire Pit Picks
Selected across 5 retailers. Prices current at time of publication — check retailer for live pricing.
The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is the rare product that actually delivers on its headline claim. The patented double-wall secondary combustion design pulls oxygen in through the base, superheats it, and jets it back through the top ring—burning off the smoke-producing gases before they escape. The result is a fire that’s genuinely near-smokeless. Built from 304 stainless steel with a collapsible base for portability and an easy ash removal base plate, this is the fire pit you buy when you want to stop fighting smoke and start enjoying the fire.
- Genuinely near-smokeless—secondary combustion is real
- Premium 304 stainless construction
- Beautiful to look at, easy to clean
- Stand keeps heat off deck surfaces
- Premium price point
- Wood-only—no propane option
- Burns through wood quickly at full heat
- Large logs need to be split smaller
For under $150, BALI OUTDOORS packs more into the box than anyone else at this price: a 32-inch steel bowl, spark screen with lid, log grate, and a poker tool all come included. The wide bowl accepts full-length logs without splitting, and the three decorative legs with heat-resistant paint finish give it a cleaner look than most budget options. Solid 4-star reviews at high volume. If you want a complete, functional fire pit setup without spending Solo Stove money, this is the one to buy.
- Most complete kit at this price (screen + grate + poker)
- Wide bowl fits full logs
- Easy assembly
- Solid 4-star reviews at volume
- Steel (not stainless) will rust without a cover
- Produces more smoke than premium options
- Legs can wobble on uneven ground
When you want instant-on ambiance without hauling wood or dealing with smoke, the Hampton Bay Aldrich is the propane fire pit table to beat at Home Depot. The 35-inch square table design pulls double duty—a convertible lid lets you use it as a side table when the burner is off. The 50,000 BTU propane burner with electronic ignition lights in seconds, the glass wind guard keeps the flame steady on breezy nights, and the included lava rocks give it a polished, finished look. CSA certified, same-day HD pickup available.
- Instant on/off propane—no wood hauling
- Doubles as a side table when off
- Glass wind guard keeps flame steady
- Same-day HD pickup available
- Propane ongoing fuel cost
- 50,000 BTU throws less heat than a wood fire
- Tank not included
- Lava rocks need occasional replacement
The standout feature here is the natural gas conversion kit compatibility—a detail that can save you hundreds in propane costs over the life of the pit. If you have a gas line nearby, running a dedicated line to this pit pays for itself in a single season. The 40,000 BTU LP burner with electronic push-button ignition and decorative concrete log set looks clean and requires zero maintenance. CSA certified, Lowe’s in-store pickup available, and easy returns if anything arrives damaged.
- Convertible to natural gas—huge long-term cost saving
- Electronic ignition
- Clean concrete log aesthetic
- Lowe’s in-store pickup and easy returns
- 40,000 BTU is moderate heat output
- Concrete log set is fixed, not adjustable
- Tank hidden but not fully concealed
The Colebrook earns its spot at Walmart by doing more than just being cheap—the decorative cutout design casts genuinely nice light patterns around the yard at night, and the removable ash pan makes cleanup dramatically easier than a standard bowl pit. The full kit includes a spark screen, log grate, poker, and foldable legs for off-season storage. The Better Homes & Gardens name means consistent QC and Walmart’s famously easy return policy as your safety net. A solid value pick for casual backyard use.
- Full kit included out of the box
- Decorative cutouts cast nice light patterns
- Removable ash pan makes cleanup easy
- Walmart’s easy return policy
- Smaller 28” bowl
- Steel rusts without a cover
- Legs fold but still bulky to store
- No propane option
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Fire Pit | Type | Size | Price | Retailer | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 Best Overall | Wood | 19.5” dia. | $374.99 | Amazon | Shop → |
| BALI OUTDOORS 32” Fire Pit Best Value | Wood | 32” dia. | $149.99 | Amazon | Shop → |
| Hampton Bay Aldrich 35” Propane Table | Propane | 35” sq. table | $349 | Home Depot | Shop → |
| Endless Summer 30” LP Gas Fire Pit | Propane / NG | 30” dia. | $329 | Lowe’s | Shop → |
| BH&G 28” Colebrook Steel Fire Pit | Wood | 28” dia. | $149 | Walmart | Shop → |
Fire Pit Questions, Answered
Not directly. The heat from a wood-burning fire pit will damage or char a wood deck. Use a fire pit pad (heat-resistant mat) or pavers as a base. Propane fire pits with a stand are generally safer on decks since the burner is elevated—but check the manufacturer’s clearance requirements before placing any fire pit on a wooden surface.
Let the fire burn down naturally, then spread the remaining embers with a poker and douse with water until you hear no more hissing. The steel or stone should be cool to the touch before you leave it unattended. Never use sand to smother a fire—it traps heat and can remain dangerously hot for hours after the flames appear to be out.
Yes—premium double-wall designs like the Solo Stove create a secondary combustion that burns off most of the smoke-producing gases before they escape. The result isn’t zero smoke, but it’s dramatically less than a conventional fire pit. The key is using dry, seasoned hardwood. Green or wet wood undermines the design regardless of how good the pit is.
Seasoned hardwoods burn hotter, longer, and cleaner than softwoods. Oak, hickory, maple, and ash are excellent choices. Avoid pine, cedar, and treated lumber—they produce excessive smoke and creosote buildup. Wood should be split and dried for at least 6 months before burning for the best results.
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