Imagine gathering around a warm, crackling fire on a cool autumn night, sipping hot apple cider, and enjoying the company of friends and family. Now imagine being able to do that every night, right in your backyard! With an outdoor fire pit, you can.
Not all fire pits are the same. With so many different shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from, how can you be sure you’re making the right decision?
Not to worry – we’ve got you covered.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of outdoor fire pits available and help you decide which is the best fit for your needs. So read on and get ready to start planning your perfect backyard get-togethers!
Types of Fire Pits
Fire pits come in a wide range of styles, materials, and sizes, whether you want to install yours on the patio or on the outdoor dining table. We’ve prepped a helpful guide that makes it easy to choose by style.
Fire Tables
A fire pit table is similar to an outdoor coffee table, but it has a campfire in the middle. The tables are elevated on legs, and, like regular tables, these come in a vast array of styles. You can place drinks and snacks down on the flat surface surrounding the pit — just remember not to put them too close. Tables are often larger than other fire pit styles. They’re not as easy to move, but they’re perfect for kicking up your feet.
Fire Bowls
Fire bowls, like tables, can come in a huge range of sizes. Instead of having a table surface surrounding the pit, this style has a large container that holds the logs (for wood-burning fire pits) or glass beads (for gas-powered fire pits). It can be elevated on the legs to help heat dissipate, or it can sit directly on the ground. Bowls can be highly portable and easy to clean, depending on the size you choose.
Fire Rings
If you love the look of a fire pit but want something that feels more like a traditional campfire, consider a fire ring. Lightweight and easy to move, these round pits are typically made of metal and are shorter in height than tables, resting directly on the ground. They’re available with and without bottom bowls. Without the bowl, fire rings are meant to contain a campfire that you build directly on the ground. They keep the wood fire from spreading while also protecting you from embers and limiting accidental access by kids and pets. Use designs with bowls on their own or as inserts for larger fire tables and structures.
Pagoda and Fireplace Designs
Less pit and more mini metal gazebo, fire pagodas blend the warmth of a campfire and the charm of a large lantern on feet. Pagodas typically have raised platforms where you build the fire, protective roofs, and screened walls to keep sneaky embers from hitting your patio. These designs are highly portable and often feature eye-catching embellishments.
Fire Columns
Create a dramatic, elegant look with a fire column. These designs are taller and generally thinner than tables, and they often run on gas. They may have fire bowls sitting atop them, but some styles have recessed compartments that make the fire look as though it’s coming directly from the top of the column — almost like a grand torch. Thanks to their smaller footprint, these can be great space-savers on smaller patios. Fire columns often have side stone or masonry detailing.
Tabletop Pits
Perhaps the most petite and portable of all the pit styles, tabletop pits are more diminutive in size to fit atop your patio table. They don’t cast out as much heat as bowls and tables, but they provide all the same enchantment of dancing flames. If you have a smaller apartment patio or don’t want as much maintenance, a tabletop pit works well.
