The 10 Best Wood-Burning Fire Pits of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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Add ambiance and warmth to your backyard bonfire or BBQ.
Hannah Freedman
Fact checked by Emily Estep
Wood-burning fire pits are a great way to recreate a campfire in the comfort of your own home. Not only do they add warmth on cool days, but also create an ambiance that elevates the experience of outdoor gatherings with friends or family.
“First, does your location even allow for backyard burning? Often, air quality concerns and weather conditions can put a freeze on these activities,” says Andy Bozzo, co-founder of Tablet Command. “Check your local fire department's website to make sure it's okay to burn. If it's hot and windy, DO NOT tempt fate, especially if you live in fire-prone areas.”
To determine the best wood-burning fire pits on the market, we tested 24 different models and evaluated them on setup, heating performance, smoke control, design, and overall value. In addition to Bozzo, we also spoke to fire safety experts such as Josh Ruby, a firefighter and owner of Maryland CPR and Safety, and Gary McCoy, a Lowe’s store manager.
Best Overall Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Frontgate Classic Copper Fire Pit
What Stands Out
This firepit is both functional and decorative.
What Could Be Improved
This firepit is not easy to move, so it’s not a portable option.
We really liked how this fire pit manages to be both stylish and functional. The raised copper basin and elegant iron gate elevate this product to being a piece of home decor in addition to a vessel that keeps you warm. The fire pit has been tested against extreme heat and weather, so you can keep it outside safely when not in use and not worry about the materials significantly wearing down over time. In fact, when examining the fire pit, we felt that the materials seemed sturdy enough to last for years to come.
This firepit is quite large, measuring 40 inches wide and capable of holding logs up to 2 feet long. We liked that the wide basin allowed us to customize the size of the fire we wanted (we used five logs but found there was room for many more). Plus, the firepit was big enough to fit at least five Adirondack chairs around it with plenty more room for other guests. Just take note that this fire pit should not be placed on a wooden deck or other flammable surfaces.
Price at time of publish: $649
Material: Copper basin and powder-coated iron base | Diameter: 40 inches | Weight: 66 pounds
Real Simple / Jodi Espinosa
Best Budget Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Better Homes & Gardens Round Lattice Wood Burning Fire Pit with Cover
What Stands Out
The fire pit has a screen cover for extra protection and safety.
What Could Be Improved
It doesn’t have a cooking grate for BBQ meals.
A ready-made fire pit like the Better Homes & Gardens Lattice Wood-Burning Fire Pit is ideal for cool evenings around a bonfire. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Real Simple’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) Its attractive steel and lattice design suits any backyard or patio while its large pit can fit around five to six logs with extra space to spare. This pit also has a protective screen to cover the fire and keep people and pets safe while it’s in use. If you need to move it to another location, you can use the metal ring at the top to carry it easily. Just keep in mind that it weighs almost 30 pounds.
We put the fire pit together without extra help in under half an hour. The instructions were clear, and all the parts fit easily except for some screws. While we would have liked it if the package included a tool kit (especially a screwdriver), this was only a slight downside. It also does not have a cooking grate for grilling food, though you can buy one separately to enjoy toasted smores or an outdoor meal.
Price at the time of publish: $124
Material: Steel | Diameter: 35 inches | Weight: 28.6 pounds
Best Smokeless Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Solo Stove Yukon 2.0
What Stands Out
This fire pit is suitable for those who are sensitive to smoke.
What Could Be Improved
This is a smaller fire pit and won’t fit as much wood.
People who are sensitive to smoke will delight in this smokeless option from Solo Stove. It’s important to know that smokeless fire pits do still produce some smoke, but it’s significantly less than your average wood-burning fire pit. Our testing revealed that the Yukon 2.0 lived up to its promise—we could barely see smoke while the fire was going, nor could we smell it. We attributed this success to the way the mechanism is designed, which includes plenty of ventilation holes for airflow.
We also liked that this fire pit comes with a removable ash pan, making cleaning much easier. Although this Solo Stove model is priced higher than other fire pits on the market, we think it’s definitely worth the cost, especially considering the high-quality materials and design.
Price at time of publish: $450
Material: Stainless steel | Diameter: 27 inches | Weight: 38 pounds
Real Simple / Jennifer May
Best Steel Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Real Flame Anson Wood Burning Fire Pit
What Stands Out
This hefty fire pit can withstand the outdoor elements.
What Could Be Improved
It’s heavy and may be challenging to move.
Steel is considered to be one of the strongest metals, so you can expect this firepit to last for several years. The Real Flame Anson Fire Pit is powder-coated to protect it from wear caused by the outdoors, making it rust-resistant and UV-resistant. We were able to fit ten logs in the pit, which produced a heat distribution that felt perfect from every side. We also liked how deep the fire bowl was as well as the included accessories: a poker, a grate, a spark screen that worked very well, and a vinyl cover to put over the pit when not in use. The latter is not a common accessory that’s included with purchase, adding to this fire pit’s overall value.
We didn’t have any issues with smoke during use and particularly loved the pit’s contemporary design. The one complaint we had is that the base and the bowl are not connected. And considering it’s so heavy, it takes more than one person to move if need be. Still, this pit would be a welcome addition to any backyard and is a worthwhile investment.
Price at time of publish: $326
Material: Powder-coated stainless steel | Diameter: 31.75 inches | Weight: 59 pounds
Best Small Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Tiki Patio Smokeless Fire Pit
What Stands Out
Despite its small size, it has impressive heating performance.
What Could Be Improved
It could be more portable.
This fire pit is great for people who have limited outdoor space but don’t want to sacrifice the ambiance that an outdoor fire pit brings. Although comparatively small, this fire pit is powerful, able to heat up to a 4-foot radius around it. You can use the included pellets, which produce a smokeless fire for 30 minutes, or wood. We found that the timing listed on the pellet bag was exact, producing a fire that roared for about 15 minutes then slowly died down for the remaining 15. When using wood, the pit was able to heat up to a 5-foot radius.
The Tiki Smokeless Fire Pit comes with a lid to further cover it from the conditions of the outdoors, a feature we really appreciated during testing. While this fire pit is above the median price for an average outdoor fire pit, we think it’s worth the extra money. Plus, we loved the design of this fire pit and believe it could complement any backyard with its high quality materials.
Price at time of publish: $395
Material: Powder-coated stainless steel | Diameter: 24.75 inches | Weight: 43 pounds
Best Tabletop Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Solo Stove Mesa
What Stands Out
This pick is small and portable enough for convenient tabletop entertaining.
What Could Be Improved
It doesn’t produce enough heat to keep you warm on frigid days.
Don’t have space for a fire pit? Solo Stove says no problem. As long as your outdoor space has a table, you and your loved ones can gather around a fire. This super cool product is just over six inches tall and weighs less than 1.5 pounds, so you very easily take it inside (in the included nylon bag) for safe storage. The Mesa can burn pellets (sold separately) or even small pieces of firewood.
We were surprised by how much heat it produced for such a small mechanism. However, don’t expect it to be able to adequately heat a group of people in bitterly cold conditions—it’s ideal for a crisp fall day around 50 degrees when you just need a bit of extra warmth and a nice ambiance.
The pellets produced only about 10 minutes of a fire, although you can add more pellets during burning and the fire will continue going. Just make sure to add one by one or the fire will go out completely. When using wood, we found that it did produce smoke, but not an overwhelming amount.
Price at time of publish: $90
Material: Stainless steel, ceramic | Diameter: 5.1 inches | Weight: 1.4 pounds
Easiest to Use Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Blue Sky Outdoor Living Living Peak Smokeless Patio Fire Pit
What Stands Out
It takes only two minutes to put it together.
What Could Be Improved
Portability could be an issue because the fire pit doesn’t have handles.
During testing, we fell in love with the Blue Sky Outdoor Living Peak Smokeless Patio Fire Kit. It’s smokeless, so we didn’t inhale harmful smoke or smell like a campfire after using it. It also burned firewood efficiently, meaning we didn't need to fiddle with the logs to keep it going—we spent more time enjoying the experience and less tending to the flames. We also found that the fire pit produced minimal ash, making clean-up easy. Plus, it has an ash catch tray and a steel grate to reduce cleaning time.
This fire pit has two parts, making it one of the easiest picks to put together—it took two minutes to assemble. You can use firewood, wood pellets, or both to feed the fire. Once we got the flames going, the fire could reach up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, so we could see the pit’s potential on chilly days when you want to be warm. But, the pit’s lack of handles might make it hard to move around.
Price at the time of publish: $244
Material: Steel | Diameter: 15.76 inches | Weight: 14.8 pounds
Most Durable Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Titan Great Outdoors Corten Steel Dual Flame Smokeless Octagon Fire Pit
What Stands Out
This fire pit is extremely heavy.
What Could Be Improved
Its rust color might not suit all decor styles.
Corrosion-resistant steel construction makes this rustic fire pit from Titan an ultra-heavyweight pick for late-night bonfires and backyard BBQs. In fact, it was so heavy that two people had to carry it from our front porch to our back patio, which doesn't come as a surprise, as it weighs around 87 pounds.
Despite this slight drawback, the fire pit was overall convenient, as it came pre-assembled and ready to use. During testing, there was a lot of smoke initially, but as the fire continued to burn, smoke levels reduced dramatically. While there was hardly any smoky smell in the beginning, by the third time we used the fire pit it had a strong scent. Also, it has a 16-inch opening, making it challenging to adjust the logs while the fire was burning.
This model doesn't have extra accessories like a grate or ashtray—instead, it has a hole at the bottom that allows the ash to drain out. Unless you have a tray that you could put below (or don’t mind extra cleanup), this fire pit is better suited for a backyard rather than a deck. Overall, we loved this fire pit for its durability, but we weren’t big fans of its aesthetic. Unfortunately, its rust color can look rundown instead of rustic.
Price at the time of publish: $270
Material: Steel | Diameter: 24 inches | Weight: 87 pounds
Real Simple / Mandy Wood
Best Wood-Burning Fire Pit for Grilling: Yaheetech 32" Outdoor Fire Pit
What Stands Out
This is a large yet portable fire pit.
What Could Be Improved
Be cautious when putting in wood, as the fire can become large.
This wood-burning firepit from Yaheetech offers an incredible value for the price. In addition to being able to create a fire in your outdoor space, you can also grill on it at your next barbecue. The two removable grates and the mesh cover make this possible. We loved using this fire pit—it looked attractive in our backyard and functioned well throughout testing. It can hold about eight pieces of firewood, produce an expected amount of smoke when lit, and is easy to control once the fire starts going. However, we could easily see how the fire could get out of control when putting in too much wood.
The Yaheetech Square Fire Pit also comes with a poker that doubles as a tool to lift up the cover of the fireplace. You can have this live in your backyard or take it with you on a camping trip since it’s relatively low in weight. With all that this fire pit has to offer, we didn’t expect it to be priced so low. As such, we recommend this fire pit to people looking for an affordable, portable pick.
Price at time of publish: $98
Material: Iron | Diameter: 32 inches | Weight: 22 pounds
Real Simple / Ashley Bayley
Best Stylish Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Barebones Living Cowboy Fire Pit Grill
What Stands Out
This elegant pick is perfect for outdoor entertaining.
What Could Be Improved
This fire pit is not as durable against outdoor conditions.
This versatile fire pit is a masterwork of design, differing from other picks in more ways than one. First, its sleek and modern design makes it far more attractive than most wood-burning fire pits on the market. In fact, we wouldn’t want to use this fire pit every day because it’s so chic and elegant. This fire pit also comes with attachments that make it easy to cook food, including a half grate that you can conveniently maneuver up and down without getting your hands super close to the fire.
During testing, the wood burned evenly, and we also found the fire pit to be sturdy overall. We would recommend this to people who like to entertain outdoors, particularly those who will use it for both grilling and creating a fire. If you plan to use it just as a fire pit, they didn’t think the high price was worth it. Plus, unless you have the space to store it or an adequate cover, it will rust when exposed to wet conditions.
Price at time of publish: $350
Material: Steel | Diameter: 23 inches | Weight: 30 pounds
Final Verdict
Overall, we recommend the Frontgate Classic Copper Fire Pit for its striking good looks, weather-resistant materials, and its ability to hold a lot of logs. You can create a fire as small or as big as you like and there’s enough room around the pit for multiple chairs, making it great for gatherings.
Our Testing Process
We tested 24 wood-burning fire pits and evaluated them on setup, heating performance, design, smoke control, and value. We first set up the fire pits and assessed how easy assembly was, including how long it took to put the fire pit together. We then set up a fire following the manufacturer’s instructions, using standard-sized firewood that measured 16 inches long. Once we started the fire using the pit’s ignition system, we burned the fire for an hour three times over the period of the month. During this time, we noted how easy it was to produce a flame and maintain it, how well the pit maintained sparks and embers, and if the additional tools included proved to be helpful.
For low-smoke or smokeless fire pits, we recorded how much smoke was detected. For fire pits with a grill grate, we made sure that the included grill grates fit properly and then cooked a hot dog or hamburger on them. Finally, we cleaned the fire pit and noted if it was easy or difficult. We took all this information to come up with the best wood-burning fire pits.
More Wood-Burning Fire Pits to Consider
Hampton Bay Piedmont Fire Pit: We have owned several fire pits over the last nine years in a range of prices and styles, and found this one to be the best so far. We would recommend this fire pit for its style and sturdiness but didn’t like that rust started to form after leaving it outside.
BioLite FirePit+ Wood & Charcoal Burning Fire Pit: This fire pit is the only pick with Bluetooth compatibility to remotely control the flame. It also has a rechargeable battery pack that can power a built-in fan for more than 30 hours to reduce smoke. While we liked these features, during testing, we found that the fire didn't burn as long and that the Bluetooth feature was unnecessary unless you wanted to tend the flames via the app.
Breeo Smokeless Fire Pit: The value of this fire pit is spot on for its size, good looks, the amount of heat it produces, and low smoke output, so much so that its even safe for those sensitive to smoke, like people with asthma. Still, it’s on the very high end price-wise.
How to Shop for Wood-Burning Fire Pits Like a Pro
Smoke vs. Smokeless
Smokeless fire pits may be confusing to people who are unfamiliar with the term. Just because a fire pit is deemed smokeless doesn’t mean that it will produce no smoke. You should expect some smoke, but it should be significantly less than a regular wood-burning fire pit. This is all due to the design of the fire pit.
“A smokeless wood-burning fire pit uses a technology (which varies by product) that redirects airflow to keep smoke away from you and your guests,” says McCoy. The smokeless fire pits we tested did just this. We saw and smelled less smoke from the smokeless models during testing, as compared to traditional wood-burning fire pits. We also found that our clothes and hair didn’t smell like smoke either after the fire finished burning. A smokeless fire pit is great for someone who doesn’t want to deal with the effects of being close to smoke or people who are sensitive to smoke.
Materials
McCoy told us that powder-coated steel is the best material for wood-burning fire pits. “Powder-coated steel allows for the longest usable life of the product, preventing rust and decay,” he says. Stainless steel is the second-best material, but whether it rusts and corrodes over time depends on the type of stainless steel, which isn’t usually made known to the consumer.
Steel and iron that has no protective coating, will rust when exposed to water. If you don’t mind adequately covering or storing your wood-burning fire pit inside during inclement weather, you can get away with owning a stainless steel, iron, or steel wood-burning fire pit. However, if you don’t want to deal with that hassle, go with something made of powder-coated steel.
Weight
Even if you plan to leave your fire pit outside, it’s still important to know what you’re getting into in terms of weight. You might need to take your fire pit inside due to inclement weather, want to eventually move it to another spot in your backyard, or want to take it with you on a camping trip. Our top picks ranged from 22 to 66 pounds, although some can weigh more than that. A handful of our fire pits were so heavy that we needed an extra set of hands to just put it together. Keep this in mind before you buy.
Questions You Might Ask
Do smokeless fire pits really produce no smoke?
No. Smokeless fire pits can be misleading because when you have any fire, there will be smoke. The difference between a smokeless fire pit and a regular one is simply that there will be less. This is due to the design of the ventilation. When using a smokeless fire pit, you should be able to see less smoke, smell less smoke, and your hair and clothes shouldn’t smell like it after the fact.
Where is the best place to put my wood-burning fire pit?
According to McCoy, wood-burning fire pits should be placed at least 10 feet from your house and other structures. You should also allow for 20 feet of overhead clearance to avoid burning tree branches. “Additionally, different areas have different regulations, so be sure to check your local laws and ordinances when choosing where to place your new fire pit,” he says. “Regardless, you should never place your fire pit under a covered patio and always on even ground.”
Make sure to verify where you can safely place your wood-burning fire pit before you buy. More often than not, brands advise not putting a wood-burning fire pit on a deck made of wood, or any flammable materials. You can buy pads and mats to put underneath your wood-burning fire pit for added safety, but make sure it’s compatible with your product before you buy. An accessory that McCoy highly recommends getting is a mesh screen, which keeps sparks and embers contained and helps prevent accidents.
Is there any maintenance for wood-burning fire pits?
Yes. McCoy told us that the biggest mistake he sees people making with wood-burning fire pits is not knowing that they require routine maintenance due to the ash produced in burning.
“Because gas fire pits are so popular and require less maintenance (due to the absence of ash), many consumers assume the same when it comes to wood-burning fire pits. However, that’s far from the truth,” he says. “Instead, you need to clean these regularly by removing the ash after each fire (and once the ashes are completely cool). You should also take out any large pieces of wood that remain after a fire.” If you’re not down to do this dirty work, a wood-burning fire pit may not be worth the investment.
How safe are wood-burning fire pits?
“While wood-burning fire pits are generally safe, they can pose moderate risks to air quality depending on the weather, and can also be a significant contributor to wildfires if not handled properly," says Andy Bozzo, a fire safety expert and co-founder of Tablet Command. He advises homeowners to take proper precautions when using a fire pit.
Before gathering the family around the fire, evaluate and check a few safety essentials. First, check that your locality allows backyard burning and that air quality concerns and weather conditions are safe for a fire. If it’s hot, windy, or you live in a fire-prone area we recommend skipping out on a fire pit until conditions are more favorable.
He also recommends tuning into local weather alerts and warnings. “If your local news is calling for Red Flag warnings, cease any burning and use of all power equipment near ground fuels like grasses and shrubs,” Bozzo says. “Make sure you're able to quickly extinguish a fire and stop its spread by having a water source nearby like garden hoses or large buckets of water."
“Remember, fire embers can burn even after we think a backyard fire has been put out," he says. "If this occurs, mix ash, dirt, and water, and turn over that burn pile several times to ensure the fire is indeed out.”
Josh Ruby, a firefighter and owner of Maryland CPR and Safety, notes the importance of placing your fire pit on a level and noncombustible surfaces such as concrete or stone. “Ensure there is enough clearance from flammable materials, such as buildings, trees, shrubs, and overhanging structures," he says. "You should check the manufacturer's guidelines for specific clearance requirements.”
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple and updated by Nor’adila Hepburn, a contributing writer for Real Simple. We researched the best wood-burning fire pits and tested 24 of the most popular options in real-world conditions, evaluating them on setup, heating performance, design, smoke control, and value. For deeper insight, we also spoke to Gary McCoy, Lowe’s Store Manager serving the Charlotte, North Carolina market, and fire safety experts Andy Bozzo, co-founder of Tablet Command, and Josh Ruby, a firefighter and owner of Maryland CPR and Safety.
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