Top Questions
The 46 questions customers ask us most, answered in a sentence or two with the real figure. Each one links to the full guide if you want the working behind it.
Choosing your first fire feature
Is a fire table the same thing as a fire pit table?
Yes. Fire table, fire pit table and gas fire table all describe the same product: a freestanding gas fire feature with a flat ledge around the burner, usually 15 to 24 inches tall.
Full guide: Fire Pit vs Fire Table vs Fire BowlIs a fire pit kit cheaper than a finished fire table?
Only on the sticker. A 48-inch ready-to-finish kit runs $2,756, but that price excludes stone, tile or stucco and the mason's labor to apply it.
Full guide: Fire Pit vs Fire Table vs Fire BowlDo gas fire pits give off heat?
Yes, but less than an equally rated wood fire. A 65,000 BTU/hr gas fire pit warms three to four people at seating distance.
Full guide: Gas vs Wood Burning Fire PitsAre gas fire pits worth it?
Worth it if you want fire in ten seconds, on a deck, under a pergola or on a burn-ban night, with no ash and no wood pile. At $0.96 an hour on natural gas they cost about what cord wood costs. Not worth it if you want to cook.
Full guide: Gas vs Wood Burning Fire PitsDoes buying from an unauthorized seller really void the warranty?
It depends on the manufacturer. Modern Flames states its warranty only covers products purchased through an authorized dealer or distributor on or after 9/1/2021.
Full guide: Where to Buy a Gas Fire Pit OnlineWhere can I put it?
How far does a fire pit have to be from the house?
For a listed gas fire table, 36 to 48 inches depending on the manufacturer. American Fyre Designs says 3 ft, The Outdoor Plus says 48 in. For wood-burning or portable units the International Fire Code requires 15 to 25 feet from a structure.
Full guide: Fire Pit Clearance RequirementsIs 10 feet far enough for a fire pit from the house?
For a listed gas fire pit, 10 feet clears every manufacturer clearance we found, which top out at 48 inches to the sides. For a wood-burning fire pit it is not enough: the International Fire Code requires 25 feet from any structure.
Full guide: How Far From the HouseCan you put a gas fire pit on a wood deck?
Yes, if the unit's manual permits a combustible floor and the deck carries the weight. American Fyre Designs permits it with 3 ft side clearance and zero clearance below; The Outdoor Plus requires noncombustible floor paneling underneath.
Full guide: Gas Fire Pit on a Wood DeckCan I put a fire pit on my Trex deck?
Yes, a gas fire pit over a non-combustible barrier. Trex states its decking can soften at 176°F and requires a heat barrier for any fire feature.
Full guide: Gas Fire Pit on a Composite DeckCan I put a fire pit under a covered patio if I leave the sides open?
Open sides help with ventilation but do nothing about overhead clearance, which is the binding constraint. You still need 60 to 120 inches from the top of the unit to the lowest overhead member.
Full guide: Fire Pit Under a Covered PatioCan concrete crack from a fire pit?
It can spall, which looks like cracking but is not. Heat drives trapped pore moisture past 212°F, pressure builds behind the heated face, and flakes of the top layer pop off.
Full guide: Fire Pit on Pavers and ConcreteDo I need a permit for a propane fire pit table?
Almost never. A freestanding propane fire table running off a 20 lb cylinder adds no piping, no circuit and no structure, so there is nothing for an inspector to inspect.
Full guide: Do You Need a PermitSizing & fuel
Is 50,000 BTU enough for a fire pit?
Yes, for most residential patios. 50,000 BTU/hr is standard on propane versions of American Fyre Designs bowls and tables, and on many 24 to 32 inch units.
Full guide: How Many BTUs Do You NeedHow many BTUs do I need for a fire table that seats eight?
Between 65,000 and 90,000 BTU/hr, and the number matters less than the burner length. For eight seats you want a 48 to 80 inch table so everyone sits within about 4 feet of flame.
Full guide: How Many BTUs Do You NeedIs a natural gas or propane fire pit cheaper to run?
Natural gas, by roughly half. At EIA residential prices a 65,000 BTU/hr burner costs about $0.96 an hour on natural gas and $1.87 on propane. Across a 104-hour season that is $100 against $194.
Full guide: Natural Gas vs PropaneHow long does a 20 lb propane tank last in a fire pit?
About 6.6 hours at full output on a 65,000 BTU/hr burner. A 20 lb cylinder holds roughly 4.7 usable gallons, about 430,000 BTU. This is our own calculation using the EIA figure of 91,452 BTU per gallon.
Full guide: Natural Gas vs PropaneCan I use a propane fire pit with natural gas?
Not without a conversion kit fitted by a licensed gas technician. At 65,000 BTU the propane orifice is about 2.49 mm against roughly 4.30 mm for natural gas, and propane burners use an air mixer natural gas burners do not.
Full guide: Natural Gas vs PropaneWhat size fire table do I need for 6 people?
Around 180 inches of usable table edge, at 30 inches per person. That lands on a 48 in square like the Prism Hardscapes Tavola 3, a 60 by 32 in Tavola 8, or a 48 in round.
Full guide: What Size Fire TableWhat size gas line do I need for a 65,000 BTU fire pit?
On natural gas, 65,000 BTU/hr equals 65 cubic feet per hour. A 1/2-inch black iron line carries 72 cfh at 50 feet and 65 cfh at 60 feet, so it only suits a short dedicated run.
Full guide: Fire Pit Gas Line SizingBurners, ignition & media
What burner shape should I use in a round fire pit table?
A ring burner gives you an even circle of flame with an open center, which reads as a halo. If you want a single tall column instead, use a cross or tree-style burner.
Full guide: Fire Pit Burner TypesDo I really need 316 stainless, or is 304 good enough?
304 stainless is fine for inland patios. 316 contains 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, which resists chloride pitting; 304 contains none.
Full guide: Fire Pit Burner TypesCan I add electronic ignition to a match lit fire pit later?
Usually no. On The Outdoor Plus, American Fyre Designs and Firegear features the two are separate SKUs with different burner pans and gas trains, so converting means replacing the pan assembly.
Full guide: Match Lit vs Electronic IgnitionHow much fire glass do I need for a 30-inch fire pit?
A 30-inch round pan opening is 4.91 square feet. At a 3-inch finished depth that is roughly 107 lb of fire glass, or 37 lb of lava rock for the same volume.
Full guide: Fire Glass vs Lava RockIs lava rock cheaper than fire glass?
Substantially. Lava rock runs $2.12 to $3.98 per pound against $3.90 to $10.90 for fire glass, and it is about one third the weight per cubic foot, so you need far fewer pounds.
Full guide: Fire Glass vs Lava RockDo I really need drain holes in a gas fire pit?
Yes, in two places. Firegear specifies quarter-inch drainage holes in the burner pan, and the enclosure needs its own floor-level escape: American Fyre Designs calls for two 1 by 4 inch openings 180 degrees apart.
Full guide: Anatomy of a Gas Fire PitBy brand
How many BTUs does a Prism Hardscapes fire table put out?
Every Prism Hardscapes model in our catalog is rated at 65,000 BTU per hour, with two exceptions: the 90 inch Tavola 6 and the 110 inch Tavola 110, which both reach 90,000 BTU/hr.
Full guide: Prism Hardscapes Fire TablesWhat is the Prism Hardscapes warranty?
A two-year limited warranty against manufacturer defects in workmanship and material.
Full guide: Prism Hardscapes Fire TablesIs it American Fyre Designs or American Fire Designs?
It is American Fyre Designs, spelled with a Y. The spelling follows the house convention at parent company R.H. Peterson Co., which also owns Real Fyre gas logs.
Full guide: American Fyre DesignsWhere are The Outdoor Plus fire pits made?
The Outdoor Plus Co., Inc. is based in Ontario, California, the address listed on its CSA Certificate of Compliance, and the company markets its line as made in the USA.
Full guide: The Outdoor PlusIs Slick Rock Concrete real GFRC or just poured concrete?
It is glass fiber reinforced concrete. Slick Rock's own guide specification describes a proprietary blend of portland cement, sand, fiber reinforcement, acrylic admixtures and plasticizing agents, hand cast rather than poured into a slab form.
Full guide: Slick Rock ConcreteAre Fire by Design tiki torches real gas torches or do they use torch fuel?
They are permanent gas appliances. Each head connects to a natural gas or propane line through a 1/2 inch FIP inlet and burns 25,000 BTU/hr.
Full guide: Fire by DesignMaterials & product types
Is GFRC the same as regular concrete?
No. Structural concrete is reinforced with steel rebar and cast thick. GFRC uses alkali-resistant glass fiber dispersed through the mix, which allows shells roughly half an inch to three-quarters thick.
Full guide: GFRC Concrete Fire TablesDo concrete fire tables crack over time?
Fine surface crazing is common and cosmetic; those hairlines are rarely more than an eighth of an inch deep. Spalling comes from trapped moisture freezing and is preventable with drainage and a cover.
Full guide: GFRC Concrete Fire TablesCan you add fire and water bowls to an existing pool?
Yes, but it costs more. Published contractor data puts the retrofit premium at 20 to 30 percent over doing the same work during construction.
Full guide: Fire & Water BowlsHow many BTUs do I need for a patio heater?
Plan roughly one 46,000 BTU/hr gas heater per 100 square feet of seating on an open patio, or 50 to 60 watts per square foot for electric infrared under cover.
Full guide: Patio Heater Buying GuideCost & what to buy
How much does a gas fire pit cost installed?
A propane fire table on an existing patio costs $1,050 to $1,600 all in, because there is no installation. Less still on one of the nine models that hide the cylinder in the base.
Full guide: What a Gas Fire Pit Really CostsHow much does it cost to run a gas line to a fire pit?
Expect $15 to $25 per linear foot in 2026, so $450 to $750 for a 30-foot run and $900 to $1,500 for 60 feet. Hard runs reach $50 per foot.
Full guide: What a Gas Fire Pit Really CostsWhy does electronic ignition cost so much?
It is a separate system, not a feature. American Fyre Designs charges a flat $2,570 to $2,571 for FyreStarter Bluetooth on every table, from a $2,719 Milan to a $7,744 dining table.
Full guide: What a Gas Fire Pit Really CostsWhat is the best gas fire table for most backyards?
The Prism Hardscapes Tavola 3 Fire Table 48 inch at $3,102. Its 48 inch square footprint seats four to six, the 12 inch ledge gives every seat usable table space, and 65,000 BTU/hr covers cool evenings.
Full guide: Best Gas Fire TablesWhich propane fire pits hide the tank inside?
Five of our twelve picks: the Modeno Mansfield Fire Column at $1,049, the Elementi Rova Bar Table at $1,479, The Outdoor Plus Pismo at $2,597, the Prism Hardscapes Porto 58 at $4,438 and the Slick Rock Concrete Oasis Rectangular at $4,498.
Full guide: Best Propane Fire PitsOwning & fixing
Why does my fire pit click but not light?
Clicking means the igniter works and gas is not reaching the spark. Usual causes: air still in a new line, a closed key valve, or a tripped propane regulator.
Full guide: gas-fire-pit-wont-lightWhy does my fire pit go out after 30 seconds?
The thermocouple is not hot enough to hold the safety valve open. The Outdoor Plus manual says to hold the control knob in for a full 30 seconds so the sensor heats.
Full guide: gas-fire-pit-wont-lightIs a yellow flame on a propane fire pit dangerous?
Not by itself. Decorative propane burners are built to produce a yellow, wood-fire-like flame, and yellow alone is not a defect.
Full guide: fire-pit-yellow-low-uneven-flameShould my gas fire pit flame be blue?
No. A blue flame means high primary air, which is what a furnace or kitchen range is built for, not a decorative fire feature.
Full guide: fire-pit-yellow-low-uneven-flameCan I leave my gas fire pit outside all winter?
Yes. Gas fire pits are built for outdoor installation and most are too heavy to move anyway. What matters is clearing the drain, drying the burner pan and fitting a vented cover.
Full guide: how-to-winterize-a-gas-fire-pitWill my fire pit crack if water freezes inside it?
It can. Freezing water expands by roughly 9 percent, and in a cast concrete or GFRC shell that pressure pushes outward against the cement paste, lifting flakes off the surface.
Full guide: how-to-winterize-a-gas-fire-pitStill not sure? Ask a person.
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Fire Pit & Patio Resource Center
All 35 guides, grouped by the decision you are making: placement, sizing, fuel, burners, brands, budget and upkeep.