A wood burning fire pit is a great addition to any backyard or camping trip, creating that warm, cozy ambience of a night out in nature, under the stars, wherever you are.
In our buyer’s guide, we’ll cover what to look for in a fire pit, factors to consider before you buy, and the best fire pits of 2024.
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Our Top Pick
Best Value
Premium Choice
Best Fire Pits for 2024
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Sunnydaze Northland Outdoor Fire Pit | 
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2. FIRESIDE OUTDOOR Pop-Up Fire Pit | 
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3. BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit | 
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4. Sunnydaze 30 inch Cosmic Round Outdoor Fire Pit | 
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5. WINWEND Outdoor Wood Burning Fire Pit | 
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6. GOOGNICE Outdoor Fire Pit |  | ||
7. Amagabeli Outdoor Fire Pit |  | ||
8. OT QOMOTOP Portable Outdoor Fire Pit |  | ||
9. Pleasant Hearth Sunderland Deep Round Bowl Fire Pit |  | ||
10. Campfire Defender Protect Preserve Pop-Up Fire Pit |  |
What to Consider When Buying a Fire Pit
- Wood burning laws and regulations – Depending on where you live, there may be laws and regulations that apply to your wood burning fire pit.
Generally speaking, you cannot use a fire pit on a covered porch, and some Home Owners Associations and municipalities may apply additional fines if your fire pit is not in compliance.
It’s always best to check what local laws and rules apply to your neighborhood and home before you make a purchase. - Location – It’s not advisable to have your fire pit located under low hanging branches, too close to your home (less than 10 feet from your home), in areas where wind may blow embers away, or under covers.
These are for outdoor use, so do not place your fire pit indoors. Again, it’s important to check local ordinances for more detailed guidance on where to place your fire pit to ensure it’s safe and compliant. - Style – There are so many different styles of outdoor fire pit that it can be hard to choose! Making it perfect for your outdoor bbq!
You may want one for camping that’s foldable and easily portable, one that’s sleek and modern to match your contemporary home, or one that’s rustic to create that authentic campfire feel. - Size – The bigger your fire pit, the bigger the fire you can create. The best sized fire pits are 36-44 inches wide, as this produces a good-sized fire while allowing everyone to gather fairly close.
Remember to make sure there is enough space around your fire pit for easy movement. - Material – Choose a fire pit that is designed for durability and wear, so that it lasts a long time and can withstand all seasons if it’s going to be permanently outdoors.
Cast aluminum is more rust-proof, copper can stain, and cast iron is very durable and traditional but heavy to move. - Features and accessories – Fire pits can be simple fire-proof bowls or can be versatile enough to give you a wide range of functionality.
Many come with accessories like spark guards, adjustable cooking grills, space for setting down drinks and snacks, and covers to protect them from harsh weather. - Safety features – Look for fire pits with good safety features like spark screens, sturdy legs, and durable materials. It’s important that your fire pit is especially safe from young children, from collapsing burning logs, and sits firmly on the ground.
Fire Pits Reviews
1. Sunnydaze Northland Outdoor Fire Pit
This 36-inch rectangular fire pit is compact while still giving you plenty of burn area. The minimalist, simple design keeps it looking neat and unfussy, and the alloy steel build is good quality although it may need an additional coat of fire treated paint to improve the rust resistance, especially in coastal areas.
One great feature is the spark and ember fire screen that keeps the fire fully enclosed. It has an easy-to-use hinge system that makes putting on another log or some more coal simple. This fire pit comes with a 1 year warranty.
Pros
- Rectangular design is neat and compact
- 36 x 27 x 25 inch burn area
- Minimalist contemporary design
- Ideal for BBQs and outdoor heating
- Hinged mesh screen for fire safety and easy loading
- Heavy duty and rust-resistant
- Full grill set included
- 1 year warranty
Cons
- May need fire treated paint to improve rust-resistance
2. FIRESIDE OUTDOOR Pop-Up Fire Pit
If you want a highly portable fire pit for camping, river trips, overlanding, RV camping and hiking, then this is a great option to consider. It is lightweight at just 8lbs, and sets up in just 60 seconds.
The fire-rated stainless steel mesh ensures brighter, hotter fires that are almost smokeless. It has 576 square inches of burn area and 3.5 inch sides that exceed BLM and Forest Service regulations for fire pans.
The fire pit holds up to 125 lbs of weight and the mesh prevents ash or embers from falling through.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fully portable with collapsible design
- Easy to assemble in 60 seconds
- 576 square inches of burn area
- 3.5 inch sides that exceed BLM and Forest Service regulations
- Holds up to 125 lbs of weight
- Ideal for camping, RV trips, etc.
Cons
- Heat shield is an additional extra
3. BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit
This fire pit has a practical and simple design, making it great for grilling, outdoor heating, and adding style to your yard. It comes with a grill that swivels 360-degrees and is fully height adjustable for easy grilling, and it has an outer ledge for drinks and grilling supplies.
The base is sturdy and fixed to four well-grounded legs, and the steel construction is durable and rust-resistant. It also includes a fire poker and log rack.
Although it is more expensive than competitors, the quality of the materials, size, design and features of this fire pit make it worth considering.
Pros
- Designed for grilling and outdoor heating
- Height-adjustable grill swivels 360-degrees
- Outer ledge for drinks and grilling supplies
- Sturdy design and high-quality steel construction
- Easy to assemble
- Fire poker and log rack included
- 32-inch diameter
Cons
- Expensive
- Should be covered in harsh weather or not in use
4. Sunnydaze 30 inch Cosmic Round Outdoor Fire Pit
Large enough to grill a few burgers and steaks but small enough to gather around, this cozy and characterful rounded outdoor fire pit is a good fit for most backyards.
It comes with a spark screen, cooking grate and fire bowl, and is made from heavy-duty, rust-resistant alloy steel. It's easy to assemble, has attractive stars-and-moons air vents for promoting good air circulation, and comes with a 1 year warranty.
Pros
- Heavy-duty, rust-resistant alloy steel
- Easy to assemble
- 29.5-inch diameter
- Portable
- Full fire pit kit including grill and spark screen
- Easy to assemble
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Size may be a bit small for some yards
- May need sand/a rack to keep hottest embers off the bottom
5. WINWEND Outdoor Wood Burning Fire Pit
This squared-off outdoor fire pit has a good 32-inch diameter, and is made from durable alloy steel and iron with a solid and sturdy frame. The design includes a ledge for drinks or resting your feet, and the safety mesh fully encloses the fire to prevent sparks and burning debris from spilling out.
It’s easy to install and comes with a free cover to protect the pit when it’s not in use. It can be used as a brazier or grill, and you can convert it to use as an ice bucket too!
Pros
- Multi-use – grill, brazier or ice bucket
- 32-inch diameter
- Durable alloy steel build
- Square design with ledge
- Fully-enclosed spark screen
- Free cover
Cons
- Sides of the table do heat up considerably
6. GOOGNICE Outdoor Fire Pit
Another good quality square fire pit is this option from Aoboco. It’s multi-functional for outdoor heating and grilling, and the ceramic tile fire pit holds plenty of firewood at 35 inches.
It comes with a mesh lid to contain sparks and embers, and the iron construction is designed to be long-lasting and rust-resistant
Pros
- Good capacity
- 35-inch fire pit
- Cast iron build
- Sturdy
- Easy to assemble
- Mesh cover to contain embers and sparks
- Portable
Cons
- Not recommended for seaside areas
- Needs to be kept covered when not in use
7. Amagabeli Outdoor Fire Pit
If you’re looking for good capacity and a compact design, this round charcoal and wood burner is a great option. Although it only has a 16-inch diameter, it’s extra deep at 23 inches, providing a lot of air circulation and heat from the drum.
It has a built-in mesh to protect you from sparks and embers, and the high-quality iron construction ensures stability and durability over the seasons.
This fire pit is attractive too, with an antique bronze finish and classic design. It can be used for camping, as a brazier or patio heater, or as a small BBQ grill.
Pros
- Portable and compact
- Offers plenty of heat due to deep design and aeration
- Long-lasting fires
- Durable iron construction
- Rust-proof
- Attractive antique brass finish
- Built-in spark screen
- Quality guarantee
Cons
- Small surface area for BBQs
- No spark lid on top
8. OT QOMOTOP Portable Outdoor Fire Pit
This 24-inch fire pit is a must-have for camping, RV trips, and overlanding. It’s fully portable, made of lightweight aluminum (weighs just 10.6lbs), and comes with a carry bag that makes it easy to transport wherever you’re off to.
The pop-up design means it can be assembled in just 60 seconds, and the wind guards and heat shield help prevent sparks and embers from falling or being blown out.
You can use wood or charcoal on this fire pit, and it’s ideal for grilling and outdoor heating. The stainless steel mesh ensures good air circulation and fairly smokeless burning, and the robust, engineered design keeps it stable.
Pros
- Good 24 x 24-inch burn area
- Lightweight aluminum design at 10.6lbs
- Fully portable for camping and RV trips
- Removable ash pocket
- Easy to assemble in 60 seconds
- Heat shield and stainless steel fire mesh
- Comes with a carry bag for easy transport
Cons
- More expensive than competitors
9. Pleasant Hearth Sunderland Deep Round Bowl Fire Pit
With a simple and stylish design, this black stainless steel fire pit is great for your backyard. It has a round, 36-inch diameter and is 12 inches deep, so it can carry plenty of logs or coal.
The airflow system ensures good ventilation and little smoke, and it comes with a mesh cover to fully enclose the fire and prevent sparks and falling embers.
It’s well-styled, can be used for grilling, and weighs around 28.6lbs. The outer ring makes moving this fire pit around your backyard easy.
Pros
- Stylish, simple design
- Large 36-inch round fire bowl
- 12 inches deep for good charcoal or wood capacity
- Can be used for grilling or outdoor heating
- Good airflow system for long lasting, hot fires
Cons
- May need additional coats of fire-treated paint
- Build quality is not quite as good as competitors
If you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight portable fire pit for camping, hiking and overlanding, then this is a great option to consider. Basic but well-constructed, this pop-up fire pit weighs just 3.2lbs.
The stripped down design means you don’t get a lot of features, but it still delivers a hot, clean burn with 80% less smoke. It comes with a collapsible frame, fire mesh and carry bag, and offers 24 x 24 inches of burn area.
It is simple but rugged, with a weight capacity of 125lbs, and ember guards can be purchased separately to make it compliant with forestry regulations.
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight at 3.2lbs
- Ultra-portable with carry bag
- Hot, clean burn with 80% less smoke
- 24 x 24 inches of burn area
- Rugged and basic pop-up design
Cons
- Does Not Meet BLM & USFS fire pan regulations
- Ember guards/heat shield sold separately
Best Outdoor Fire Pits for 2024
Best Fire Pit - Our Top Pick
Our choice as the best outdoor fire pit for 2024 is the Sunnydaze Northland Outdoor Fire Pit! It’s affordable as well as offering great quality and plenty of features, giving you a great showpiece for your backyard.
The hinged door makes it easy to use as a grill and add firewood, and it doesn’t weigh too much so it’s pretty portable too. The heavy-duty design is built to last, and features a durable steel body, heat-resistant high-temperature paint finish, and a chrome cooking grate. It also comes with a full grilling kit and a 1 year warranty.
Best Value Fire Pit
For value-for-money, there’s no better bet than the FIRESIDE OUTDOOR Pop-Up Fire Pit. Ideal for camping, BBQs by the river, RV trips and overlanding, it’s compact, practical and fully portable.
Weighing just 8lbs and having a practical carry bag, it’s easy to take with you wherever you go. The 24 x 24 inch burn area is ideal for grilling, s’mores and outdoor warmth, and the design maximizes airflow to produce good heat with little smoke.
The fire mesh comes with a 50 fire, 1 year guarantee, and the unit actually exceeds BLM and Forest Service regulations for fire pans.
Best Premium Fire Pit
If you’re looking for an extra special fire pit for your backyard, then the BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit is worth spending your money on!
As our premium pick, it costs a little more than the others, but has a lot of great features to show for it, including a high-quality, 360-degree rotating, height-adjustable cooking grate, outer ledge for drinks and grill accessories, log rack, and fire poker.
The design is sleek and simple, made from high-quality, durable steel, and rounded for close gatherings around the flames.
Fire Pit Frequently Asked Questions
Are Fire Pits Dangerous?
Fire in any form has its dangers, but having a fire pit is no more dangerous than lighting a grill or a campfire. Remember to secure it from small children and pets.
Take appropriate precautions when using your fire pit, and don’t leave it burning while unsupervised. It’s also a good idea to look at a fire pit that has a spark screen and other safety features.
What Can You Burn in a Fire Pit?
Only burn wood or charcoal in your fire pit – don’t use it for burning trash or yard waste as this is illegal in most areas. Burning plastics and other waste can also release dangerous chemicals into the air.
What is the Best Wood for Fire Pits?
Denser woods are the best woods for fire pits, as they tend to burn for longer and give off the most heat. Good species to burn include Black Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Yew, Coast Live Oak, Walnut, Avocado and Ash.
Wood should be seasoned for 6 months before burning, it should be cut to lengths that easily fit into your fire pit, and should be stored covered and off the ground to prevent rot and limit pests.
If you want to do your own wood chopping, check out our review on the best splitting mauls available online.
Gather Friends and Family Around the Best Fire Pit of 2024!
For more outdoor ideas for your garden, check out our best outdoor ceiling fan reviews. Fire has a magical quality, bringing us closer together to share, cook, and have fun under the night sky.
When looking for a fire pit, be aware of your local municipal and HOA regulations for outdoor fires, and place it out of the way of flammable materials.
Some fire pits are more portable than others, so consider different options for camping or RV trips to models for patio use. We hope this guide helped you find the best fire pit for your needs, and that you enjoy it for many years to come!
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