Feeling Cold? Warm Up With the Best Outdoor Fire Pits

In an ideal world, there will be someone on hand to assist you in finding the best fire pit for your specific needs. Although all the fire pits we have listed are of excellent quality, your own personal preference is the most important thing to consider when making a purchase. With that in mind, it is a good idea to know what you are looking for. 

To help you with the buying process, we have developed a comprehensive buying guide to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Things To Consider Before Buying an Outdoor Fire Pit

Before you purchase an outdoor fire pit, make sure you consider the following things. Think about the aspects most important to you so you can spend your time shopping more efficiently. You may want to consider some of the following:

Size 

How many people do you need to fit around the fire pit? Fire pits should be between 36 and 44 inches in diameter. The fire pit needs to be spacious enough to support a decent fire. It is also important to control the size of the fire. The right size fire pit will prevent a fire from getting out of hand and ensure that your family or guests can sit close enough to it without getting too hot.

You must also note that not all fire is built with wood. Gas fire pits are also an option that uses natural gas or propane gas. While wood burning fire pit is best for making smores on picnic day, natural gas fire is more aristocratic with automatic ignition systems. 

If you have a relatively small backyard or outdoor space, multifunctional fire pits are a viable option. These are most commonly combined with a BBQ or a garden table. These are fabulous space savers and possibly cheaper than buying the two items separately. Same with fire pit tables that are generally made from stone or metal. They sit higher off the ground than fire bowls, saving space while making the backyard look gorgeous.

Rust resistance

Unfortunately, no matter what material your fire pit is made from, it will begin to rust eventually. When purchasing a fire pit, you should choose one made of cast iron. Not only are these more durable, but they also retain heat for longer and heat up faster. They are also more rust-resistant than steel.

There are a few things you can do to reduce the onslaught of rust. It might be a good idea to also buy a UV and waterproof cover. Many of the pros recommend using any commonly-used food oil to cover the areas of the fire pit that are exposed during long periods of inactivity.

Style

You will find a variety of styles available for your fire pit, whatever your taste. If you are looking for a traditional round fire pit or square fire pit for your outdoor space, you will be spoilt for choice. If you want something a little more unique like bonfire, you will need to opt for propane fire pits. Fire pits come in various designs such as world globes, animal-carved or floral-patterned. Quite often, the ornamental fire pit is called a fire globe. Don’t worry—it does the exact same job as every other fire pit. You can even make your evening party shine by opting for backyard fire pit tables.

Most of the colors available correlate to the types of metals used to make the fire pit. These can vary from reddish-brown to cool steel. For more variety, you might want to consider buying a base and fire bowl separately, though these are probably not the best choice if you have children or pets. Complete fire pits are another sturdier option.

When thinking about style, you also want to think about your fire pit seating setup, as that could affect the fire pit you ultimately purchase. Check out how Project Build Stuff creates an easy DIY fire pit seating area and maximizes the pit's utility.

Safety

A gas fire pit is considered safer than a wood fire pit. As natural gas fire pits are considered an appliance, they can be closer to building structures with minimal supervision. On the other hand, wood fire pits often needs to be around 25 feet away from outdoor space or decks for the safety of people and property.

A fire pit spark guard is a must, especially if you have children. This is a cover that goes over the fire pit, giving a little extra control whilst still releasing the heat. The guard stops people from getting too close to the pit. When you are choosing a fire pit, you might want to incorporate the price of a fire pit spark guard into your budget. Prices vary but a spark cover can cost around $35, though many fire pits will come with one included.

Other safety items you will need include a bucket of water and something to create a safety circle for children. You can use chalk in the daylight or solar-powered lights in the evening. When choosing a fire pit, you must think about available outdoor space and allow for additional safety measures when necessary.

Fire Pit Price Range

The average price of an above-ground fire pit is $300. Designer or custom-designed backyard fire pits will cost more. Decide on a realistic budget before you buy and always check customer reviews. If you love spending quality time at your outdoor space, you may be willing to pay a little more for one that truly catches your eye rather than one that will simply suffice. 

How We Chose These Top-Rated Fire Pits

We check the biggest retailers in the fire pit field to ensure our recommendations are both informed and current. We ensure the every fire pit we suggest are popular and have great customer reviews. We also acknowledge value for money, durability, safety, and style. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision, which is why we take our research very seriously.  We stay up to date with the newest innovations, designs, and customer trends.