Fire Pit & Patio Guides

Twenty published guides on gas fire pits, fire tables, fire bowls, burners and outdoor heat, grouped by the decision you are trying to make instead of by publication date. They are written and kept current by the Outdoor Heat Direct fire feature team, an authorized dealer for The Outdoor Plus, Prism Hardscapes, American Fyre Designs, Fire by Design and Modern Flames, using factory manuals and live catalog pricing.

Choosing a fire feature

The pillar guide. Read this one first if you have not bought anything yet.

• Outdoor Fire Pits: The Complete Buying Guide for 2026What actually separates a fire pit, a fire table and a fire bowl, plus gas vs wood, BTU sizing, clearances, media, ignition and installed cost, with real catalog prices instead of ranges.

Brand guides

One guide per manufacturer we carry, built from factory manuals and live catalog data.

• Prism Hardscapes Fire Tables & Fire Bowls: The Complete 2026 Buyer's GuideEvery Prism Hardscapes table, bowl and pedestal compared: verified sizes, BTU ratings, the three ignition systems, all six finishes and the factory clearance figures.
• The Outdoor Plus Fire Pits & Fire Tables: The Complete 2026 Buyer's GuideThe widest line we carry, in GFRC concrete, hammered copper, stainless and Corten steel, with real prices from $1,178 to $20,384 and the ignition tiers explained.
• American Fyre Designs Fire Tables, Fire Bowls & Fire Urns: 2026 Buyer's GuideThe R.H. Peterson Co. line: 120 active GFRC models running 60,000 to 100,000 BTU/hr in seven finishes, from $1,954, plus an honest head-to-head against Prism Hardscapes.
• Fire by Design: Fire Bowls, Gas Tiki Torches & Water Features ExplainedGFRC fire bowls, fire and water bowls and permanent gas tiki torches. Every torch head runs 25,000 BTU/hr, with AWEIS ignition specs and torch spacing rules.
• Modern Flames Electric Fireplaces: Which Series Is Right for You? (2026)The electric option for covered spaces, and the warning that matters: only 16 models are outdoor rated under UL 2021. The rest are indoor only.

Where can you put it?

Surface and clearance questions, answered from published manufacturer figures rather than rules of thumb.

• Can You Put a Gas Fire Pit on a Wood Deck?Yes, with conditions. Side and overhead clearances by brand, plus the load a 750 lb concrete fire table puts on framing designed for 40 psf.
• Gas Fire Pits on Composite Decking: Trex, TimberTech and FiberonTrex publishes that its decking softens at 176F, and all three brands exclude heat damage from warranty. What each one says, and which barriers work.
• Can You Use a Fire Pit Under a Covered Patio or Pergola?Overhead clearance runs 72 to 96 inches depending on the manufacturer. A decision table by structure type, plus the carbon monoxide side of it.
• Fire Pits on Pavers, Concrete and Stone Patios: What to Know FirstGas units sit fine on concrete and pavers; wood-burning ones spall the surface. Base depths, burner drainage and current gas-line costs.
• Fire Pit Clearance Requirements: The Complete Reference Table by BrandThe reference page: published clearances to combustibles brand by brand, 36 to 48 inches at the sides and 60 to 120 overhead, plus what local code adds.

Gas, BTU and burners

The mechanical layer. Fuel, output, burner shape, ignition and what goes in the pan.

• How Many BTUs Does a Fire Pit Need? The Complete Sizing GuideMost gas fire pits run 50,000 to 90,000 BTU/hr. Burner-size charts, gas cost per hour, and why a bigger table does not mean a bigger burner.
• Natural Gas vs Propane Fire Pits: Which Should You Buy?Natural gas at 7 inches water column against propane at 11, the hourly cost of each at 65,000 BTU, and how long a 20 lb tank really lasts.
• Fire Pit Burner Types: Cross, H, Linear, Ring and Bullet ComparedCompared by flame pattern rather than BTU, with manufacturer sizing pairings, the 3 inch minimum clearance per side, and 304 vs 316 vs brass.
• Match Lit vs Electronic Ignition: Which Fire Pit System Should You Buy?Electronic ignition is a separate SKU, not a switch you flip later. The real price jump by brand, plus the cost of an outdoor outlet and the wiring run.
• Fire Glass vs Lava Rock: Which Fire Pit Media Should You Use?Fill weights per square foot, a calculator by pan size, the rocks that explode, and a lava base layer that cuts media cost substantially.

Owning and troubleshooting

After the install. What to do when it will not light, and how to put it away for winter.

• Why Won't My Gas Fire Pit Light? 9 Causes, in Order of LikelihoodOrdered by how often we actually see them. A tripped propane regulator, air in the line and buried burner ports cover most calls and cost nothing to fix.
• How to Winterize a Gas Fire Pit: The Complete ChecklistTwelve steps, about 27 minutes: clear the drain hole, dry the pan, shut the gas off, fit a vented cover. Plus GFRC freeze-thaw and propane in the cold.

Before you buy

Shortlists and seller checks, for when you know what you want and are comparing where to get it.

• The 12 Best Gas Fire Tables of 2026Twelve tables compared on price, size, BTU and ignition, from the $999 Modeno Venice to the $19,100 Prism Hardscapes Fuego 89 inch.
• Where to Buy a Gas Fire Pit Online: Specialty Dealer vs Big Box vs MarketplaceWhat four manufacturer warranties actually say about where you bought the unit, how each channel handles freight damage, and an eight-point checklist for any seller, including us.

Shop by category

Live product counts from our catalog, updated as stock changes.

Shop by brand

The six manufacturers we stock most deeply. Each one has a full buyer’s guide above.

Outdoor Heat Direct is an authorized dealer for every brand listed on this page, so units ship with full factory warranty coverage and we can pull specs and replacement parts directly from the manufacturer. Gas installation should be completed by a licensed technician under the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 / NFPA 54.