A fire pit transforms a back patio from a place you sit when the weather is good into a place you actually use most evenings from April to October. The difference is in the warmth and the visual focal point. The choice between gas and wood is not just aesthetic. The two fuels differ in cost, convenience, smoke, code restrictions, and the kind of evening they produce. This guide walks through the engineering and practical differences so you can match the pit to how you will actually use it.
How wood fire pits work
A wood fire pit is the simplest outdoor heating appliance. A metal or masonry bowl contains the fire. Air flows over the burning wood from below or around the rim. Heat radiates outward and rises by convection. Smoke and combustion gases exit upward.
Bowl materials matter. Carbon steel is cheap (60 to 150 dollars for a 1 meter bowl) but rusts through within 3 to 5 years of outdoor use. Cast iron is heavier and holds heat well, but also rusts unless seasoned and protected. Stainless steel (304 grade or better) lasts 15 plus years without significant corrosion and runs 200 to 600 dollars for the bowl. Cor-Ten weathering steel develops a stable rust patina that does not flake; lifespan is 15 to 25 years and the look is intentional.
Smokeless wood pits use a double-wall design with secondary air injection. The Solo Stove Bonfire and Yukon, Breeo X Series, and Tiki Patio Brand all use this approach. Primary combustion happens at the base of the fire. The double-wall channel preheats air and injects it at the top of the fire, igniting unburned smoke particles. The result is dramatically less smoke (still some at startup and shutdown), but the same warmth and ember experience.
Fuel cost depends on local firewood prices and your access. A cord of seasoned hardwood is 250 to 500 dollars delivered in 2026. One evening burn of 3 to 4 hours uses roughly 0.05 to 0.1 cord, so 15 to 50 dollars per use at retail prices. If you have a property with downed wood or trade firewood for labor, the cost is near zero.
How gas fire pits work
A gas fire pit burns propane or natural gas through a ring or burner under a layer of decorative lava rock, fire glass, or ceramic logs. Most modern designs use an electronic ignition (push-button spark) and a flame failure safeguard (a thermocouple that shuts off gas if the flame extinguishes).
Heat output is rated in BTU per hour. Common ranges:
- Tabletop or small fire bowls: 10,000 to 30,000 BTU per hour
- Mid-size fire pit tables: 40,000 to 60,000 BTU per hour
- Large fire pits and fire tables: 60,000 to 100,000 BTU per hour
A 50,000 BTU pit produces roughly the heat of a small wood fire. Above 70,000 BTU the marginal felt warmth drops while fuel cost climbs. Most users find 40,000 to 60,000 BTU is the sweet spot.
Propane (20-pound bottle) is the default fuel for portable pits. Natural gas plumbed from the house is cheaper per BTU and never runs out mid-evening, but requires a licensed gas line install. The conversion is straightforward (most pits ship with a conversion kit) but the plumbing must be permitted and inspected.
Burn time on propane: a single 20-pound tank holds 430,000 BTU usable. A 50,000 BTU per hour pit on high burns it in 8 to 9 hours. Most pits have a flame height adjustment, so real-world burn at medium might be 12 to 16 hours per tank.
Smoke, smell, and neighbor impact
Wood fires produce smoke. Even smokeless wood pits produce smoke during the first 10 to 20 minutes (startup) and the final 20 to 30 minutes (coal phase). In urban or suburban settings with neighbors close by, wood smoke causes complaints and can trigger nuisance ordinances. In rural settings it is a non-issue.
Wood fires also leave smoke residue on clothing and hair for a few hours after use. Some people enjoy this smell. Others find it intolerable. Test before committing.
Gas fires produce essentially no smoke and no smell beyond a faint propane note at startup. They are the right choice for tight urban patios, condo balconies (if allowed), townhouse decks, and HOA-governed neighborhoods.
Local code, HOA, and insurance
Wood burning is increasingly restricted in 2026. California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and most of the dry western US have seasonal burn bans during fire danger periods. HOAs in fire-prone neighborhoods often ban wood burning year round. Insurance carriers in California have started excluding coverage for wood fire pit damage.
Gas fire pits with shutoff valves are exempt from most open-burn restrictions because the flame can be killed instantly. They are usually allowed during fire bans, on covered patios, and in HOA neighborhoods.
Apartment and condo balconies usually prohibit any open flame. Verify your lease or strata rules. A small propane tabletop bowl is sometimes allowed; a permanent installation never is.
Startup time and convenience
Gas pits light in under 10 seconds with a push button. No newspaper, kindling, matches, or attention required. Shut off is instant. This is the single biggest practical advantage. A gas pit gets used on weeknight evenings when nobody wants to spend 20 minutes laying a fire. A wood pit gets used on Saturday nights when there is time to enjoy the process.
Wood pits take 10 to 30 minutes to reach a good burn from cold. Tinder, kindling, and progressively larger wood. Once burning, they need feeding every 30 to 60 minutes. After use, the embers need 1 to 2 hours to safely die or you must dump them in a metal bucket with water.
For users who would use a fire pit 50 plus times per year, gas wins on convenience. For users who would use it 10 to 20 times per year on planned occasions, wood is fine.
Cost per evening
A 4 hour burn:
Gas (propane retail): 50,000 BTU per hour times 4 hours = 200,000 BTU. About 0.47 of a 20-pound tank, so 9 to 14 dollars in fuel.
Gas (natural gas, plumbed): 200,000 BTU at typical residential gas rates is 2 to 4 dollars.
Wood (retail firewood): roughly 0.1 cord per evening, 25 to 50 dollars.
Wood (self-sourced): near zero.
Smokeless wood pit: same fuel cost as standard wood, but slightly less wood used per evening because of more complete combustion (10 to 20 percent savings).
Combined recommendation
For frequent weeknight use, urban or suburban patios, fire-restricted regions, and quick lighting, choose a 50,000 to 60,000 BTU propane or natural gas fire pit.
For weekend cabin or rural use where smoke is a non-issue and authentic wood fire is the point, choose a Cor-Ten or stainless steel wood pit. Add a smokeless design (Solo Stove or Breeo) if your patio is in a tight space.
Skip cheap carbon steel wood pits at 80 to 150 dollars. They rust through quickly and look bad within two seasons.
For more outdoor space planning see our patio furniture materials guide and our outdoor cushion fabric Sunbrella comparison. Review methodology at /methodology.
Frequently asked questions
How much heat does a gas fire pit actually produce?+
Most consumer gas fire pits run 40,000 to 70,000 BTU per hour. That is roughly the heat output of a small wood fire. A 50,000 BTU gas pit warms a 3 meter radius effectively in calm conditions. Above 70,000 BTU you start paying high fuel costs without much extra felt warmth. Wood fires can hit 100,000 BTU at peak but average lower over the burn cycle.
Are gas fire pits allowed during fire bans?+
Usually yes, but check local rules. Most municipalities and state fire authorities exempt enclosed propane or natural gas appliances from open-burn bans because the flame can be shut off instantly. Wood fire pits and chimineas are typically banned during red flag and stage 2 fire restrictions. In drought-prone western US areas the rules tighten further. Verify with your local fire marshal before buying.
Can I roast marshmallows over a gas fire pit?+
Yes, but you should not cook food directly over decorative lava rock or fire glass. The propane combustion is clean, but the rock or glass collects residue from spilled fats and sugars that then carbonizes. Many gas pit makers sell a separate cooking grate accessory. If marshmallows and cooking are central to your fire pit use, a wood pit is a better fit.
What is the fuel cost difference?+
A 20-pound propane tank holds about 430,000 BTU and costs 20 to 30 dollars refilled. A 50,000 BTU per hour pit burns through one tank in roughly 8 to 9 hours, so about 3 dollars per hour of burn. Wood at firewood retail rates of 250 to 400 dollars per cord delivers heat at roughly 1 to 2 dollars per hour. Natural gas (if plumbed) runs around 0.50 to 1 dollar per hour at typical residential rates.
Do I need a permit to install a fire pit?+
Wood fire pits in most municipalities require no permit if they are portable and below a certain size (typically 1 meter diameter). Permanent built-in pits often require a permit. Gas fire pits with natural gas plumbing always require a permit and a licensed gas fitter. Propane gas pits with a portable tank usually need no permit. Check your city or county building department.
