A wood-burning fire pit is the simplest backyard upgrade that actually gets used.
No gas line, no installation crew.
Just a metal bowl, some seasoned wood, and a reason to stay outside past sunset.
You can build one yourself from bricks or pavers if you want a weekend project. Most people don’t, and there’s no shame in that — a good purchased fire pit does the job with zero masonry involved.
Below: five current options, a comparison, and the safety details worth actually reading before your first fire. If you’d rather build a permanent, roofed structure than a portable pit, our outdoor fireplace guide covers that different (and more involved) path.
- For built-in grilling: a 36-inch fire pit with two grills doubles as a cooking setup.
- For a complete accessory kit: a 32-inch fire pit with screen, poker, and cover comes with everything you need.
- For maximum size: a 36-inch fire pit with spark screen and poker gives you the largest burn area here.
- For a compact, portable option: a 27.5-inch round bonfire bowl is easier to move and store.
The 5 Best Outdoor Wood-Burning Fire Pits Right Now
- [3 IN 1]: OutVue fire pit is equipped with 2 cooking grills, 1 lid and tabletop. When you fix grills and tabletop to the fire pit, you can enjoy the roast and bonfire. When it not make fire and cover the lid, you will get a 36 inch round table to have a meal or coffee for 6-8 persons. OutVue provide a wood fire pit has 3 functions: bonfire, barbecue and table, which can be used all year for your garden, yard, patio. This's also a very thoughtful gift to friends.
- OUTDOOR FIRE PIT - Create lasting memories with family and friends while enjoying a cozy fire with the patio fire pit. This small fire pit is an ideal blend of modern design and natural elements with beautiful star and moon cutouts.
- LOW SMOKE 2-IN-1 OUTDOOR FIRE PIT: Features upgraded large capacity fire cavity for holding more firewood and longer burning time, provides outdoor heating function and supports barbecue use when equipped with cooking grate, optimized ventilation improves air flow, raises combustion efficiency, saves firewood and reduces smoke, ideal for backyard bonfire, patio gatherings and camping activities
- [Great for Gatherings] EcoNook fire pit measures 36" in diameter x 24" H overalllarge.This fire pit is great for gathering 4-8 persons for a bonfire in the yard or on the patio.
- OUTDOOR FIRE PIT - Create lasting memories with family and friends while enjoying a cozy fire with the patio fire pit. This small fire pit is an ideal blend of modern design and natural elements with its beautiful cross-weave pattern cutouts.
Fire Pit Comparison
| Fire Pit | Size | Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| OutVue 36″ | 36 in | 2 cooking grills | Built-in grilling |
| Pure Garden 32″ | 32 in | Screen, poker, cover | Complete accessory kit |
| EcoNook 36″ | 36 in | Spark screen, poker | Maximum size |
| Bali Outdoors | Not stated | Poker | Compact cooking setup |
| KOL 27.5″ | 27.5 in | Not stated | Portable, compact |
“Not stated” means the seller’s current listing doesn’t specify that detail — check the listing directly before buying if it matters for your use.
1. OutVue 36-Inch Fire Pit with Two Grills
Best for: built-in grillingTwo cooking grills built into a 36-inch fire pit — genuinely useful if you want the fire pit to double as a cooking setup rather than buying a separate grill for backyard nights.
- Two built-in cooking grills
- Large 36-inch size
- Larger size needs more clearance space
2. Pure Garden 32-Inch Fire Pit with Screen, Poker, and Cover
Best for: a complete accessory kitEverything included in one purchase: a spark screen, a poker, and a cover. Nothing extra to buy separately before your first fire.
- Screen, poker, and cover all included
- Nothing extra to buy
- Mid-size — not the largest option here
3. EcoNook 36-Inch Fire Pit
Best for: maximum sizeTied for the largest pit on this list at 36 inches, with a spark screen and fire poker included. More burn area means more room around it too — factor that into your space planning.
- Large 36-inch size
- Spark screen and poker included
- Needs significant clearance space
4. Bali Outdoors Fire Pit with Poker
Best for: a compact cooking setup
A more compact take on the cooking-fire-pit idea, with a poker included. The current listing doesn’t state exact dimensions, so confirm sizing directly if space is tight.
- Includes a poker
- Compact footprint
- Exact dimensions not stated — confirm before buying
5. KOL 27.5-Inch Round Bonfire Bowl
Best for: portable, compact use
The smallest and most portable option here, with a heavy-duty steel bowl and an oxidized finish. A good fit for a smaller patio, or if you want something you can actually move around rather than a permanent backyard fixture.
- Compact and portable
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Smallest capacity on this list
Fire Pit Buying Guide
Placement and clearance
The U.S. Fire Administration’s outdoor fire safety guidance covers this well, and it’s worth a genuine read before your first fire, not just a skim. Check your local ordinances too — some municipalities restrict or ban open burning entirely, especially during dry seasons.
Size
Bigger isn’t automatically better. A 36-inch pit needs real clearance space around it; a compact 27-inch model fits a smaller patio without crowding it. Match the size to your actual outdoor space, not just how impressive it looks in photos.
Included accessories
A spark screen, poker, and cover bundled in save you a second purchase — worth factoring into price comparisons rather than judging price alone. If you already own a fire poker, a bundled one is less of a differentiator for you specifically.
Material
Steel is standard and holds up well; some models add a rust-resistant or powder-coated finish worth prioritizing if you live somewhere humid or rainy. A double-walled or insulated design tends to hold up better to repeated weather exposure over the years.
Portability vs. permanence
A lighter, more portable design is easier to move or store for winter; a heavier, larger unit is more of a permanent backyard fixture. Decide which you actually want before buying — a heavy fire pit you meant to move around gets used a lot less.
Protective gear
A pair of fireproof gloves makes tending the fire and adjusting logs meaningfully safer, especially with a poker in hand near an open flame.
Using Your Fire Pit
Starting it
Start with clean, well-stacked, properly seasoned wood — wet wood smokes more and lights slower, and picking the right type of firewood in the first place makes the whole process easier. If you’re placing the pit directly on grass, take the extra precautions that setup calls for. For the actual lighting process, see our guide to starting a fire pit.
Keeping it going
Add wood gradually as the fire establishes rather than piling it all on at once — see our guide on keeping a fire pit going for the specifics.
Putting it out
Never walk away from an active fire pit, and never consider it “out” just because the flames are gone — properly extinguishing it takes more than that, and skipping the real process is exactly how a fire pit becomes a problem hours after everyone’s gone to bed.
FAQ
The Bottom Line
A wood-burning fire pit is a genuinely simple upgrade: pick a size that fits your space, factor in whether bundled accessories save you a second purchase, and respect the clearance and placement guidance before your first fire, not after a problem. None of that is complicated — it just takes five minutes of actually reading the safety guidance most people skip.
Product availability and pricing on Amazon shift constantly, so the picks above reflect what’s actually in stock right now, and the live listings throughout this page will update themselves if that changes.
Hi, my name’s Eugene Duke and I love sitting by my fireplace reading a book and sipping on an adult beverage. Do you have a fireplace in your house? I’ll help you figure out the best type and style of fireplace for your home.