Best fire pits – our round up of this year's hottest designs

Get set for evenings al fresco with our edit of the best fire pits for the patio and garden

One of the best fire pits filled with burning logs on a paved patio
(Image credit: La Haceinda)

The best fire pits make a versatile addition to any outdoor space, banishing the chill on a cool night, and providing an atmospheric focal point for outdoor gatherings.

Since our ancestors first tamed fire, humans have been drawn to the flickering flames to cook and find warmth and protection, and there’s no denying that a modern-day fire pit still attracts people to its radius like a moth to a… well… flame.

Arguably more atmospheric than investing in one of the best patio heaters money can buy, a fire pit will throw out plenty of heat to keep late-night conversation flowing, and as long as you’re happy with some toasted marshmallows or a simple fire-grilled sausage rather than anything more complex, with the right accessories a fire pit can give some of the best BBQ’s a run for their money.

We’ve rounded up some of the Ideal Home team’s favourite designs, focusing on style, performance, price, and practicality.


Best fire pits

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Where to buy a fire pit


How to choose the best fire pit for your outdoor space

Before you invest in firepit it's wise to think about where you want to use it and how much space you have. This will determine how large of a fire pit your outdoor space can hold. 

It's likely you'll want to have some seating around your heat source, so remember to factor in enough space around the fire pit to set chairs back a safe distance from the flames and to allow for ease of manouevre when you're tending the fire. Our guide to outdoor fire pit ideas has plenty of inspo to inspire your layout.

If possible, positioning a fire pit in a sheltered area will help to contain the warmth better and enable you to place seating away from the direction the smoke is blowing. You'll also want to make sure the fire pit can be postioned well way from any flammable materials.

As Joanna Humphreys, Fire and Stove Specialist at Direct Stoves advises, ‘it’s recommended that your fire pit should be at least ten feet away from your house, shed, fences or any other structure to prevent accidental fire spread.’

A black metal fire pit on a paved courtyard with circular wooden seating surrounding it

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

For this reason it can be well worth opting for a fire pit with a built-in ash guard. This is a safety measure that can help to prevent sparks and loose hot ash from drifting away from the fire during windy weather. It doesn't mean you don't still have to stay present with the fire at all times whilst it burns, but it is an extra safety measure that can help to prevent accidental fires and help to keep children and pets a little safer around the flames.

The shape and style of fire pit you opt for is largely down to personal preference, but it's definitely worth thinking about ease of cleaning when you shop. Ideally a fire pit should be cleaned out after every use. Opting for a shallow bowl design can make this easier as there are no tight angles for ash to get trapped in.

You might also want to consider a fire bowl that has added versatility, such as an option you can add a grill to if you decide you want to use it as an impromptu BBQ. Although, food dripping into the fire pit as it cooks through can make your fire pit harder to clean.

And lastly, there's fuel type to consider. Most affordable fire pits and fire bowls burn wood, but you can also get gas fire pits for a cleaner burn. A gas fire pit tends to cost a lot more, but can create a luxe look. Some of the best garden furniture on the market also offers seating sets with built-in fire pits in the outdoor dining or coffee table.

A grey gas fire pit with a glass display cylinder

(Image credit: Maze Living)

FAQs

Can you use a fire pit on decking?

Whether or not you can use a fire pit on decking all depends on the type of decking you have. Richard King, Owner of Dino Decking, cautions that ‘if your decking is made of timber, adding a fire pit is not advisable due to its susceptibility to catching fire.’

However, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, other types of decking such as composite or aluminium decking could be a different story. Our guide to can you use a fire pit on decking has more detail.

What style of fire pit is best?

Round fire pits are one of the most popular styles as they allow you to make maximum use of the heat. Depending on the size of fire pit you opt for you could warm between four and eight people in a circle around the flames.

Amy Lockwood
Sleep Editor

 

Amy is Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor. She’s spent the last three years researching and testing all things sleep for our audiences whether that’s sorting the wheat from the chaff in our hunt for the best mattress or learning about materials to uncover the best duvet for various sleep needs. She also lends her expertise to our furniture guides, sharing her design knowledge with our readers to help them choose the right sofa for their interior or the best garden furniture for their outside space.