A propane fire pit table costs anywhere from $130 for a square steel table to $500 or more for an aluminum and glass one. Here is what to check, in order. Every model we mention is in our fire pit table comparison.
1. Propane or wood
A wood fire pit gives more heat for less money, but it smokes, throws sparks and leaves ash. A propane table lights with a knob, goes out with a knob and leaves nothing to clean up. Many towns allow propane fire pits during burn bans when wood fires are banned, but not all of them. Check your county or fire district before you buy.
2. Heat output (BTU)
Most tables run between 40,000 and 60,000 BTU. That warms the people sitting around it, not the whole patio. Tabletop flames under 20,000 BTU give light and mood, not heat. If you want real warmth on cold nights, look at a model built as a heater too, such as the Ninja Fireside360 at 80,000 BTU.
3. Size and shape
Square and round tables of 28 to 32 inches suit four chairs. Long rectangles of 41 to 45 inches sit in front of a sofa or sectional. Measure the space and leave room to walk around the table. Fire columns take the least floor space and suit a corner.
4. CSA listing
A CSA listing (to the ANSI Z21.97 standard for outdoor gas fireplaces) means a lab tested the burner and valve. Some towns, HOAs and insurers only accept listed appliances. Plenty of cheap tables state the listing; others do not mention it at all. If the listing says nothing, look for the rating plate in the photos or ask the seller.
5. Top material
Painted steel is cheapest and lightest but can rust or chip. Ceramic tile, porcelain and concrete tops look like furniture and handle weather better, but they weigh more. Aluminum frames do not rust at all, which is why the premium tables use them.
6. Lid, wind guard and fire media
A lid turns the burner into a usable table when the fire is off and keeps rain out. A glass wind guard stops a breeze from blowing the flame out, which matters on decks and rooftops. Fire glass reflects the flame and looks modern; lava rock looks natural and costs less. Most tables include one of the two.
7. How long a tank lasts
A full 20 lb propane tank holds about 430,000 BTU. At 50,000 BTU on full, that is about 8.6 hours. Most people run the flame lower, so a tank often lasts two or three evenings. Keep a spare if you use it every weekend.
8. Under a pergola
Only with an open roof and the overhead clearance the manual states. A louvered pergola with the louvers fully open is close to open air; with them shut, it is a covered patio and most manuals do not allow that. Never use a propane fire pit in a screened-in or enclosed space, and keep fabric shades and curtains well away from the flame.
Next step
Compare the models side by side in the fire pit table comparison. Still planning the shade above it? See the pergola comparison.