Fire Pits and Heaters: The Complete Buying Guide

On this page (9 sections)

1. Which patio heaters or fire pits fit your plans?
2. What patio heater types should you compare?
3. What fire pit fuel should you choose?
4. Where can you place a heater or fire pit?
5. How do you plan a fire pit area?
6. How should you use and care for these products?
7. How much fire glass does a burner need?
8. Explore fire pits and heaters by topic
9. How do you narrow down the final choice?

Choose patio heaters for adjustable warmth without an open fire, or a fire pit for a visible flame and gathering point. Your fuel, outdoor layout, local rules and clearance needs should guide the choice.

Patio heaters and fire pits solve different problems. A glass wind guards may help shield its flame from breezes.

A heater directs warmth toward a seating area, while a fire pit creates a central flame that people gather around.

This guide compares the main heater and fire pit types, explains placement and care, and points you to focused guides for specific setups.

Which patio heaters or fire pits fit your plans?

Choose a patio heater if you want warmth without tending a fire, and choose a fire pit if a flame and shared focal point matter more. Your best fit also depends on whether the site allows combustion and whether you have room for safe clearances.

A patio heater or fire pit is a choice between the kind of warmth and the kind of experience you want. Our patio heater or fire pit comparison walks through that decision in more detail.

What patio heater types should you compare?

Patio heaters come in propane and electric models, with portable and mounted designs. Compare where you can place one and how it gets power before choosing a heat output.

Are propane patio heaters right for your space?

Propane heaters can work in open outdoor areas where you can place the tank and heater safely. Many freestanding models use a portable tank, while table and compact designs may have different fuel arrangements.

A freestanding tower can be moved into position, but it needs a stable base and the maker's specified clearances. Check how the tank is secured and whether the heater includes a shutoff feature.

This Amazon Basics heater is 91.3 in tall and uses a 20 lb liquid propane tank, which is not included. Its stated 46,000 BTU output and 9 ft heating radius can help you assess whether its intended coverage suits your layout.

Choose a propane model when tank use fits your outdoor setup. Keep it outdoors, follow the manual's combustible-material clearances, and don't move it while operating or hot.

Compare more options in our best patio heater guide, or review gas patio heaters if propane is your preferred fuel.

When does an electric infrared heater make sense?

Electric infrared heaters suit setups where a compatible outlet and an approved mounting spot are available. Some are designed for wall or ceiling mounting, while others stand on the floor.

The DR. INFRARED HEATER DR-238 is described for indoor and outdoor use and operates on 120 V power.

Its mounting brackets and remote are included, but you still need to follow the instructions for the exact location and clearances.

Choose electric infrared when the outlet and mounting plan work together. Check that the cord reaches without creating a trip hazard, and confirm weather exposure is allowed for your installation.

For more buying details, see electric patio heaters and our guide to patio heater types.

What fire pit fuel should you choose?

Choose wood for a traditional fire and propane for easier flame control. Fuel affects the tending, cleanup, storage and installation your fire pit requires.

What should you know about a wood-burning fire pit?

Wood-burning fire pits need dry firewood, a safe place for ash and careful ember control. They may be restricted by local burn bans or property rules, so check those before lighting a fire.

The Sunnydaze Crossweave is 36 in across, with a 31 in bowl that is 11 in deep. For help comparing construction options, see fire pit materials.

It has no drainage holes, so empty rainwater and use its cover between fires; set it on stone, brick, gravel or a fire-safe pad.

A spark screen can help contain embers, but it doesn't remove the need to supervise a fire. Keep people and combustibles at a safe distance, and have a way to extinguish the fire ready.

For a broader comparison, see outdoor fire pits and wood-burning fire pits. If your site is a deck, review the guidance for a wood-burning fire pit for a deck before buying.

When is a propane fire pit a better fit?

A propane fire pit can suit people who want a visible flame without storing or feeding firewood. If cooking is part of the plan, check whether grilling on a propane fire pit is approved for your model.

It still needs an approved fuel setup and must be used according to the fire pit instructions.

The TIKI Patio fire pit burns natural cut firewood or TIKI Wood Packs, so it is not a propane model. For another wood-burning style, compare fire pits and chimineas.

Its 4 ft heat radius and 25 in gathering size give you useful dimensions to compare with your seating layout.

For a comparison of two other wood-burning fire pit sizes, see Solo Stove Bonfire vs Yukon.

Propane fire pits can be built into tables or made as portable units. Compare propane fire pits and fire pit table and chair sets for different layouts.

Check tank access and the maker's fuel instructions before setup. If you have a propane fire pit table, follow the specific refill steps for a propane fire pit table.

How do smokeless fire pits work?

Smokeless fire pits use airflow design to help reduce smoke, but smokeless doesn't mean smoke-free. For a masonry pit, see 36-inch smokeless fire pit insert sizing.

Wind, fuel condition and how the fire is managed can still affect what you see and smell.

The TIKI Patio model uses internal airflow to help reduce smoke and ash, and its removable ash pan supports cleanup after the fire is completely cool. For alternatives, compare smokeless fire pits and the Solo Stove Bonfire vs Ranger size and use differences.

Where can you place a heater or fire pit?

Place any heater or fire pit only where its instructions and local rules allow it. Clearance, surface and overhead space matter, especially near walls, railings, roofs, plants and furniture.

A fire pit needs a level, heat-safe base and room for people to sit beyond the flame and hot surfaces. A patio heater also needs a stable position and its required distance from combustible materials.

Before buying, measure the area and mark the intended footprint. Include chairs, walking paths, the heater's base or the fire pit's outer edge, and the space needed to tend or refuel it.

Decks and balconies need extra care. Rules vary by building and jurisdiction, so check them before assuming a fire feature is allowed.

Read whether a smokeless fire pit can be used on a deck and the guide to the best fire pit for a balcony.

A fire-safe mat can help protect some surfaces, but it doesn't make every location suitable. Compare a fire pit mat for a wood deck, a mat for grass or a general fire pit mat based on your surface and the maker's instructions.

How do you plan a fire pit area?

Plan the area around the fire pit's size, seating distance, traffic flow and fuel. Leave enough open space to approach and tend the fire safely without crossing a crowded seating area.

Place chairs so people can get in and out without passing over the fire pit. Keep fuel, cushions and other combustibles away from the hot zone, and choose a surface that suits the fire pit instructions.

A built fire pit requires careful site planning and local code checks. Review how to build a fire pit before deciding whether a permanent feature suits your yard, and use our backyard fire pit area plan to think through seating and placement.

For a compact flame on a table, compare an outdoor tabletop fire pit with a full-size model. Use only the fuel specified by the maker; see tabletop fire pit fuel safety.

Match the dimensions to the furniture and leave the clearances the instructions require.

How should you use and care for these products?

Follow the manual for installation, lighting, operation and shutdown. Never leave a burning fire or operating heater unattended, and keep children and pets away from hot surfaces.

For a wood fire, use only the fuel the maker permits, keep the fire manageable and have an approved way to put it out. Our guide explains how to use a fire pit and how to put out a fire pit.

Wait until a fire pit is fully cool before emptying ash or fitting a cover. A cover helps protect against weather between uses, but it must go on only when the pit is cool and dry.

If you need a separate cover, compare fire pit covers. For repair or replacement, our guide to patio heater replacement parts can help you identify parts to check for your model.

How much fire glass does a burner need?

The right amount of fire glass depends on the burner pan's usable area and approved fill depth. Don't estimate from the outside dimensions of a table or fire pit.

Measure the burner area, then check the fire feature instructions for the type and depth of media it allows. Keep burner ports clear and don't use glass that isn't approved for that burner.

Fire glass is decorative media for compatible gas fire features, not a substitute for fuel or burner parts. Compare fire glass for fire pits after confirming the burner maker's requirements.

Explore fire pits and heaters by topic

• How to Build a Propane Fire Pit

How do you narrow down the final choice?

Pick the product that fits your fuel, space and care routine. A heater is a practical choice for adjustable warmth; a fire pit fits a plan built around a shared flame.

Choose a propane heater if you have safe tank storage and an open outdoor spot. Choose an electric infrared heater if you have a suitable outlet and mounting location.

Choose a wood-burning fire pit if local rules permit it and you are ready to handle firewood, ash and embers. Choose a propane fire pit when its fuel setup and instructions fit your site.

Before you buy, measure the placement area, confirm clearances and check local rules. For a compact wood fire, compare the best wood-burning fire pits; for a deck, start with the best fire pit for a deck.

Frequently asked questions

Are patio heaters or fire pits better for warmth?

Patio heaters suit people who want adjustable heat without tending a flame, while fire pits add a visible fire and a place to gather. The warmth you feel depends on the heater or fire pit, wind, distance and layout.

Check clearances and local rules before choosing either.

Can you use a fire pit on a deck?

A deck is not automatically a safe place for a fire pit. Check the fire pit maker's instructions, your deck material, required clearances and local fire rules.

A mat may help protect the surface, but it does not replace the required distance from walls, railings or overhead structures.

How much fire glass do I need?

The amount depends on the burner pan's shape, its dimensions and the depth of glass the fire feature calls for. Measure the usable area and check the burner maker's instructions before buying.

Don't cover burner ports or exceed the approved fill depth.

Can a patio heater be used indoors?

Use a heater indoors only if its manufacturer identifies it for indoor use and the instructions allow your setup. Outdoor propane heaters need outdoor ventilation and should not be used inside.

Electric infrared models vary, so check the specific model's approved locations and mounting clearances.

What should you check before buying a patio heater?

Start with the area you want to warm, available fuel or power, mounting options and clearance from combustible materials. Then check controls, stability, weather exposure and storage needs.

For gas models, confirm the required tank and safe operating setup; for electric models, plan for a suitable outlet.