Why I Love My Portable Propane Fire Pit
I travel the country full-time in my truck and trailer. I have always been into camping, ever since I went camping with my grandparents in their RV motorhome.
A part of camping to me has always been the fires. The beautiful, cozy fire at the end of the day when you sit down to relax with some soda and snacks.
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A wood-burning fire pit makes a lot of smoke, and this smoke ends up making clothes, chairs, and my trailer smell like smoke for days. My clothes even need a wash after getting smoked.
Since I travel full-time in my trailer, I don’t have access to showers every day, so I needed a way to have a camping fire without the smoke.
Then I found out about portable propane fire pits that don’t create smoke.
Propane fire pits use propane to make a flame, and since I have a trailer, propane is something I am used to dealing with, and have to refill regularly anyway.
See Also: Best Portable Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pits For Camping
After getting a propane fire pit, I have had more evening fires than I had as a child. And the best thing about it is, you would never be able to tell.
I don’t smell like smoke, and I don’t have to collect or buy firewood, I don’t have to worry about some wind resurrecting my fire in the middle of the night.
I can just sit down by the fire and enjoy myself and turn it off with a dial when it’s time for bed.
Sorry for getting off-track with stories about my life, but what I am trying to tell you is how great propane fire pits are, and how much I appreciate mine.
Since I have some experience with portable fire pits now, I decided to review the top choices on the market to help you find the best one.
I did a lot of research before I purchased mine (which is in this review).
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You can put these fire pits anywhere you want.
On a deck, backyard, patio, inside a well-ventilated screened-off room, or where I put it: wherever in nature I find myself.
Note that while propane fire pits are often OK to use during fire-bans, you need to make sure it’s allowed in your specific area.
Carrying bag incl.
Coolest Design
Cozy-pick
Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to view all products in the table.
Best Portable Propane Fire Pit Reviews
Camp Chef Propane Compact Fire Ring
You’ve probably seen products from Camp Chef before.
They’re most famous for their camping stoves, but they also make a couple of other camping products, one of them being this compact fire ring.
It’s a 55,000 BTU fire pit that has an adjustable flame.
Twelve pounds of lava rock are included with the purchase.
Lava rocks are great because they’re lightweight rocks, but they heat up and stay warm so you can turn down the flame and still get warm air from a small fire.
One thing I like about this fire pit that it does better than most is that it includes a carrying bag and two extendable roasting sticks.
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Having a bag to put it in for storage is something I am missing with my propane fire pit.
Mine has a cover with a handle, but I would like to have a bag instead.
A propane regulator is included with the 5 ft hose. Just connect it to a propane tank, a 20 lbs one preferably, and you’re ready to have a fire.
Of course, the most significant benefit of a propane fire pit and this kind is the fact that you can have a fire without smoke.
Fires usually make you smell bad, but that will never be a problem with propane fire pits.
What I Like
- Carrying bag, extendable sticks included
- Regulator and 5 ft hose included
- 12 lbs of lava rocks
- Adjustable flame
Giantex Firebowl Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
The Giantex Firebowl is a CSA certified (allowed to be used during most fire bans) portable propane fire pit with a 58,000 BTU per hour burner.
The burner is made out of stainless steel, and the rest is constructed with steel and a high-temperature powder coating.
A locking lid with elastic straps/handle is included for when you want to put the fire pit in storage.
There’s also a 10-foot gas hose with a regulator and a stabilizer ring for most propane tanks included.
The fire pit has automatic ignition, so you don’t have to have a lighter on hand.
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Lava rocks come with the purchase and are placed in the fire pit.
You can leave these in the fire pit during storage, as well. The lid will hold them in.
All you have to do is connect the propane hose to a 20 lb propane tank and ignite the fire. You will then adjust the flame with a dial.
The locking lid is a great feature that you won’t see on every other product.
With buckles, it locks in and functions as a handle as well, so you can quickly move or transfer it.
What I Like
- Locking lid with handle
- Regulator and 10 ft hose included
- Lava rocks included
- Adjustable flame
Heininger 5995 58,000 BTU Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit
One of the bigger propane firepits on the list is made by Heininger.
It measures 19 by 11.5 inches and is capable of burning 58,000 BTU per hour.
It’s a great addition to any family camping trip for when everybody wants to be around the fire at night, but mom doesn’t want to do a whole load of smoke-soaked laundry.
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The Heininger 5995 includes lava rocks and comes with a 10-foot propane hose.
Connect it to your 20 lb propane tank, ignite with the dial, and you’re ready to sit down by the fire.
Heininger advertises this as an all-weather fire pit, which you won’t see listed on every product in this review.
Some other fire pits are prone to rust and are to be kept dry.
Note that Heininger sells this with and without the cover.
If you plan on taking this on camping trips, I suggest the model that comes with a cover (click to view on Amazon).
If you’re, however, only planning on using it in one location at home like on a patio, deck, or backyard, you probably won’t need the cover.
The cover also functions as a handle for easy transport.
What I Like
- All-weather fire pit
- Regulator and 10 ft hose included
- Lava rocks included
- Adjustable flame
Bond Manufacturing Portable Aurora Bowl
Next up, the Bond Manufacturing Portable Aurora Propane Fire Pit.
Another kind with a great locking lid with a built-in handle for easy transport.
A good portable propane fire pit must have an easy way to hold and transport the unit, and this one does.
Simply put the lid over the bowl and twist it to lock it into place. No straps or elastics are necessary.
One thing I like a lot about the Bond Manufacturing propane fire pit compared to the other is the height of the pit.
You will see the fire inside of it, but it’s more protected inside.
With a 54,000 BTU burner, it’s got plenty of power for a nice big flame to keep you warm even on chilly nights.
Lava rocks are included and are to be placed into the pit before igniting.
To ignite the fire, you connect it to a 20 lb propane tank (which is not included) and then use the automatic ignition.
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The steel used is heat resistant and painted. The included propane hose is 10 feet.
The Bond Manufacturing Portable Aurora Bowl is a unique fire pit with a lattice design on the sides and a large twist to lock lid with a handle.
It’s built to last and maybe one of the toughest portable propane fire pits made.
What I Like
- Locking lid with handle
- Regulator and 10 ft hose included
- Lava rocks included
- Adjustable flame
Outland Firebowl 863 Cypress Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
This is the propane fire pit that I own, the Outland Firebowl 863.
After doing my extensive research, I concluded that this is the best propane fire pit available right now with its features and quality.
It’s a 21-inch fire pit, which means it’s pretty large. A 58,000 BTU per hour burner creates a large and hot fire.
When I set it to the high setting, I have to back up several feet to not burn my legs off.
The flame is started and adjusted with the only dial.
It’s straightforward to start, and I haven’t had any issues with it after using it more than 20 times.
I have used this fire pit both on a back porch and a deck. Now when I am camping, I use it at least once a week.
A 10 feet hose with a regulator is included, and so are the 4.4-pound natural lava rocks. I love these rocks.
Lava rocks might not be the most beautiful rock there is, but they hold heat so well that I don’t have to use a ton of propane even if I want a warm fire for hours.
I set the dial to high for 10-20 minutes, and then the rocks are warm enough so I can turn the dial down and still be warm and cozy.
Sometimes I even turn the fire off, as the lava rocks glow in a cool way.
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A lid is included, which works just like the Heininger lid above. It’s easy to attach and can then be used as a handle.
I assume Outland Living went with this style lid instead of clamps for its clean look.
I wouldn’t mind having clamps instead for an even easier way to attach the top, while I appreciate clean designs like this.
If you want the most effortless lid, go with the clamp style.
Outland Living sells a carrying bag for this model (click to view on Amazon), which I haven’t purchased yet, but I am planning to.
Even though the lid lets me transfer the fire pit quickly and store it in the back of my truck, I have been missing a bag to protect it from the elements and other tools in my truck bed.
What I Like
- Lid with handle
- Regulator and 10 ft hose included
- Lava rocks included
- Adjustable flame
- Clean design
Portable Propane Fire Pit Buyer’s Guide
BTU
You don’t have to care much about how many BTU per hour the burner is capable of when choosing your propane fire pit.
They’re all powerful enough to create a large enough flame that you don’t want to get too close to.
Water-resistance
Some of the propane fire pits are advertised as all-weather choices, while some should be kept dry at all times.
If this matters to you, go with a brand that is all-weather friendly.
Even if you’re not planning on having a fire when it’s rainy outside, wet grass and other kinds of moisture can cause rust.
Hose length
My propane fire pit has a 10 feet hose, and sometimes I wish it was longer so it could be hidden better.
For this reason, I would advise you to think twice if you’re considering a fire pit with a hose shorter than 10 feet.
Remember, you need a propane tank to have a propane fire, and it’s not the most beautiful thing to have sitting next to your fire.
Lava rocks vs. fire glass
Each of the fire pits I reviewed today come with lava rocks.
If you think they’re ugly and want something more colorful and heat radiant, I recommend taking a look at fire glass (click to view on Amazon).
Note that not all propane fire pits will function properly with fire glass.
I recommend contacting the manufacturer of your specific unit to make sure it’s a safe option instead of lava rocks.
Lid or no lid
Do you need a cover or not? If you’re planning on traveling with your fire pit and want to be able to easily stash it away in a car, RV, or truck, then yes – a lid will be handy.
If you’re, however, planning on setting this propane fire pit on your porch, patio, or backyard at your house and leaving it there, then a lid won’t be absolutely necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Propane Fire Pits
Why won’t my propane fire pit light?
The first thing you need to do is to make sure you have propane.
You can boil some water and pour it down the side of the propane tank, and if it doesn’t feel cold at all, you might be out of propane.
This is also an easy way to check how much propane is left in the tank.
After pouring the hot water on the side, run your hand down the side and you should reach a line where it feels cold to touch, this is how much is left.
It’s also easy to forget to turn the propane tank on. When you have connected the hose, you must turn the propane tank on.
The valve on top shows which way to turn it to open and close it. Remember to close it when you’re done with the fire!
If your propane fire pit doesn’t ignite with the automatic ignition, the ignition might be broken.
You can still ignite the fire pit with a wand lighter (click to view on Amazon).
Are propane fire pits safe on wooden decks?
I have used my propane fire pit (click to view on Amazon) on a wooden deck without hurting anything.
They are safe to use as long as you follow local ordinances, keep it away from buildings, trees, etc. and put it on a clean deck.
Can a propane fire pit be used on a covered patio?
Most propane fire pits can be used on a covered patio.
You should read the manual for your specific model to figure out whether the company recommends the ceiling to be a certain height or have any other guidelines.
Can propane fire pits get wet?
As I mentioned above in the buyer’s guide, some can and some can’t.
The biggest reason a fire pit shouldn’t get wet is due to rust.
It will still function as it should but can get damaged by rust if it gets damp and left that way.
The best thing to do if it gets wet is to wipe it down.
Which propane fire pit is the best?
I recommend the Outland Firebowl 863 Cypress Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit (click to view on Amazon).
Still, I recommend reading through the whole post since you might be looking for some specific features.
How does a propane fire pit work?
Propane fire pits need propane to work. Propane fire tanks can be purchased at most big grocery stores, often outside.
Tell a clerk you would like to buy a 20 lb (5 gallon) propane tank and they will help you.
You then connect the fire pit hose to your tank. At the end of the hose, there is a regulator.
This regulator makes sure that the propane tank won’t let out more propane gas than necessary and keep you and your fire pit safe.
Now you turn the propane tank on with the valve on top and can ignite the fire pit.
The way it works is that propane comes out of the tank and creates gas when exposed to oxygen.
The fire pit then releases this gas through tiny holes.
When you ignite the fire pit, it creates a spark. This spark combusts the gas and starts a fire.
So your fire pit has lots of tiny holes letting out the gas, which is then on fire.
Now you can control the flame size by releasing more or less gas.
Have any more questions about portable propane fire pits? Leave a comment below.
