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Looking for the best fire pit? Whether you are traveling or want to make memories in the backyard, these are the best fire pits for most budgets.

Mandy Slater | October 29, 2021 | Topic: Hardware

With the end of summer and the arrival of autumn, the night becomes colder and colder. What better way to extend the use of your backyard than buying a fire pit? The best fire pits call for family and friends to gather together, roast marshmallows or hot dogs, and tell stories into the night when the flames disappear into the dark sky.

With so many designs, features, and price points available, finding the best fire pit can be overwhelming. Many of the most acclaimed best fire pits are affordable, stylishly designed, and offer functionality and safety. You can't beat wood burning fire pits. We have selected some of the best fire pits that you can use to make a bonfire, cook, and even take it with you.

For several reasons, the Ohio Flame Liberty Fire Pit is our best overall fire pit. First, you can choose a bowl with a diameter of 24, 30, or 26 inches. You can also choose your base, which is angled, curved, hollow or standard shape. The Ohio Flame Fire Pit is manufactured in the United States using thick gauge American steel. The fire pit is very strong, weighing between 43-110 pounds, depending on the diameter of the bowl. The Ohio flame fire pit is welded together and requires no assembly or maintenance.

The best part of the Ohio Flame Pit is that they offer a lifetime warranty. The fire bowl guarantees that it will not rot, rust or deform during the lifetime of the owner. With use, the surface will darken and form patina, which is a protective finish that occurs through oxidation. The company hopes that its fire pit will last for generations. The initial price is $427 (more or less depending on the bowl diameter and base style), and the only future cost you should expect when buying the Ohio Flame Pit is the cost of wood or pellets used as fuel. The company also sells accessories, including fire kits, grate, spark screens and igniters.

If you like the idea of ​​a lifetime fire pit, but don’t want to spend more than $400, then the 24-inch Patriot fire pit is also a good choice. This Ohio Flame Fire Pit is priced at $325 and has the same lifetime warranty, but with a smaller footprint and price tag. No matter which Ohio flame fire pit you choose, you can look forward to spending a lifetime with your loved ones around the campfire.

No assembly or maintenance required

Customizable bowl size and base style

Solo Stove Bonfire is the perfect solution for travelers who want to take a fire pit with them, but it can also roast marshmallows with your kids in the backyard. Bonfire measures 19.5 inches in diameter, 14 inches in height, and weighs only 20 pounds. Solo Stove Bonfire is made of 304 stainless steel, which is anti-rust, but will oxidize if water enters. Even if it is small, you can still use logs up to 16 inches long to keep the fire going all night.

The 360-degree design around the inner rim allows for constant airflow, drawing air from the bottom to the top. This can cause secondary burns, which are hot, long-lasting, and almost smokeless. The small size of the Solo Stove Bonfire allows you to take it anywhere, and the optional bonfire stand means it can be used on heat-sensitive surfaces.

You can buy Solo Stove Bonfire for $348 on Amazon, which includes a suitcase. However, if you buy Solo Stove Bonfire directly from the manufacturer this fall, you can save $100 and get free shipping and returns! If you are looking for something to carry with you, consider the Solo Stove Ranger. The pyrotechnic pit costs $230, is 15 inches in diameter, 12.5 inches in height, and weighs only 15 pounds. Although Solo Stove provides a lifetime warranty, it is limited to manufacturer defects.

The heat is concentrated on the top

Warranty only for manufacturer defects

No handle, easy to dump ash

The Sunnydaze Northland Outdoor fire pit is a good choice for those looking for a backyard fire pit that doubles as a cooktop. The Northland Outdoor fire pit is 36 inches long, 27 inches wide, 25 inches high, and weighs 30 pounds. It sells for only $159 on Amazon and includes a grill for cooking, spark screen, fireplace poker and waterproof cover to protect it when not in use.

This fire pit is made of alloy steel and coated with anti-rust and high-temperature black paint to prevent rust. In order to maintain the black finish and limit rust, consider spraying high-temperature paint as needed. The spark screen is hinged, so you can easily add logs and cook to the included grill grate. The tall screen allows for a fire to keep sparks while your family and friends gather to listen to stories and stargazing. 

Some assembly is required, but the reviewer stated that it is quick and easy to do so. Be sure to use the enclosed cover to prevent water ingress and extend the life of the Sunnydaze Northland Outdoor fire pit. With more than 1,300 positive reviews, this cooking fire pit is versatile and perfect for grilling or roasting marshmallows in the backyard.

Painted coatings need to be reapplied regularly to prevent rust

The reticulated spark screen cannot withstand repeated high temperature use

The Inno Stage Smokeless Fire Bowl Pit is currently priced at $105.95 on Amazon. Based on reviews and prices, this is the best smoke-free pit for shoppers on a budget. The fire pit is 7 inches long, 15 inches wide, 12.5 inches high, and weighs only 16 pounds. You can use wood pellets in this smokeless fire pit, or cut regular-sized logs into small pieces to encourage the fire. It comes with a tote bag, so you can take the Inno Stage pyrotechnic pit wherever you want, even to the beach.

The two-layer design separates the ash from the particles or wood. Just lift the upper plate and discard the ashes in the lower plate. The upper tray includes convenient handles, making emptying and transporting fast and easy. The double-wall design increases the airflow, and the bottom ventilation holes provide oxygen for the fire to burn for a long time and reduce smoke. This product is a good choice for those who don't have enough space for a fire pit at home or who hate that their clothes smell like a campfire for a long time after the fire is extinguished.

No need to assemble, Inno Stage can be used out of the box without a pyrotechnic pit. It requires a small amount of maintenance to extend the life of this budget fire pit. Please make sure the inside is clean and dry after each use to prevent rust. Eventually, after a lot of use, the high-temperature paint will peel off, but you can simply apply new paint or get a sprayed version to seal the metal and prevent rust. You can buy the stainless steel Inno Stage for a few dollars (currently $95.98 on Amazon), but if you want to limit oxidation and rust, high temperature paint is still recommended.

It comes with a suitcase

Can use logs or pellets

The GOOGNICE desktop fire pit is one of the best fire pits, suitable for those who need a grill and a cooler at the same time. This desktop fire pit is made of iron, with a steel frame and spark screen cover, and has been coated with an anti-rust coating. The fire pit is also equipped with fire poker. Although you can grill on this tabletop fire pit, you must purchase a grill separately. It also does not come with a lid.

This desktop fire pit is 31.5 inches long and 17.72 inches wide. It weighs 24.5 pounds and requires some assembly. Although some commenters stated that the setup is easy, others have difficulty putting all the screws in the pre-drilled holes. Through the desktop design, when you are not using it to cook or sit by the fire, you can also use this fire pit as a cooler to store drinks. To increase its versatility, you can use firewood, pellets or charcoal to make the fire burn well and hot.

The GOOGNICE tabletop fire pit is a great choice for people who want to design beautifully designed multifunctional pieces for their patio, backyard or deck-be sure to place it on a heat-resistant surface before starting a fire. 

It has no lid or grill for cooking

When choosing the best fire pit, we compared several features to find top products, including:

We compared several different fire pits in each category and used the above features to select a winner for each category.

Now that you have time to review some of the best fire pits you can buy, it's time to decide which one is right for you. First, you should consider what you want the fire pit to use. Whether it's for warmth, a place to gather with your family to make s'mores and memories, or a place to cook in the country you travel to, understanding what you expect the fire pit to achieve for you is the first step.

Consider the size, shape, and weight of the fire pit. A larger fire pit made of heavy materials such as cast iron does not mean that it can be easily moved to different areas in the yard. If you want something convenient to carry, a smaller fire pit that can be taken apart and placed in a suitcase may be the ideal choice.

Cost is also a consideration, not only the fire pit itself, but also accessories and fuel sources. It may be cheaper to buy wood or pellet fire pits, but the cost of wood and pellets may make the total cost higher than natural gas or propane fire pits. Propane is more expensive than natural gas, but it burns longer, so you may end up using less propane than natural gas. 

The best type of fire pit to buy depends on your needs for the fire pit. The size, shape, weight, material, and burning area you want can help you narrow the range of options available. Some fire pits strictly burn wood, while others also burn charcoal or particles. 

Considering your budget is another best way to help you decide which type of fire pit to buy.

When comparing steel or cast iron fire pits, cast iron wins out in terms of durability, retaining heat and heating faster than steel. Compared with steel fire pits, its rust resistance is also poor, although steel fire pits are lighter than cast iron fire pits. 

If you are looking for a fire pit that does not rust, a copper fire pit may be a good choice. Copper will not rust after long-term use, but it will actually produce patina. Although copper fire pits are more expensive than other materials, they generally have a longer service life and are therefore worth the higher initial upfront cost. 

Thick-gauge steel fire pits, such as those made by the Ohio Flame Company and those linked above, are also guaranteed not to rust, although it will oxidize on the surface to form a bronze finish and improve the durability of the fire pit.

Whether you should oil your fire pit depends on its material. If you buy a steel fire pit, you can apply a thin layer of vegetable oil on its surface to protect it from the elements. 

This will also prevent rust, but may not completely eliminate rust.

As with most products, there are alternatives worth considering. When selecting the best fire pits, these fire pits are the best competitors, but do not meet the criteria of the "best" category:

Ohio Flame Patriot 36-inch Fire Bowl Pit This Ohio Flame Fire Pit is the largest fire pit offered by the company and the most expensive. The brazier pit costs less than $845 and is made of 3/16-inch heavy-duty steel, which is weatherproof. Wood and liquefied petroleum gas are acceptable fuel sources for the fire pit.

Pop-up Fire Pit Pop-up fire pit is priced at $99.95 and weighs only 8 pounds. It is a simple fire pit that you can carry when you are adventurous. It was unsuccessful because it had a limited service life and was not equipped with a heat shield to protect the ground below. The reviewer also noticed dangerous sharp edges and large amounts of smoke when using the fire pit.

Sunnydaze Crossweave Outdoor Fire Pit Sunnydaze Crossweave is a 36-inch fire pit with poker, spark screen and storage cover. Like the characteristics of Sunnydaze Northland, Crossweave is made of painted alloy steel and requires some maintenance to extend its life. It is also more expensive than Northland, priced at $199 on Amazon, and lacks a grill grate, making it a versatile fire pit. The big brazier can hold a considerable amount of logs, allowing you to spend hours outdoors on cold nights, enjoying the warm stove and keeping you comfortable.

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