The Best Tabletop Fire Pits to Enhance Your Home, Tested

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Create a dramatic and elegant centerpiece, indoors or outdoors, with a beautiful tabletop fire pit.

Tabletop fire pits, also called tabletop fireplaces, provide the cozy aesthetic and charm of a crackling fire but in a small and portable footprint. These compact fire pits are designed to sit atop of a table as an eye-catching centerpiece. Not only do they add a bit of light and warmth, but a decorative fire pit can also add a sense of grandeur to a patio or dining room table.

Shoppers have a wide array of types and styles to consider, depending on where and how they plan to use them. We vetted more than 40 models before testing the following products for indoor and outdoor use, including types fueled by gas, gel, liquid, and wood. If you’re ready to create a cozy and inviting lounging or dining space, we invite you to continue reading our reviews of the top tabletop fire pits.

1. BEST OVERALL INDOOR: TerraFlame Wave Tabletop Fire Bowl
2. BEST OVERALL OUTDOOR: Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Colsen Indoor/Outdoor Round Tabletop Fire Pit
4. BEST PROPANE: Endless Summer GLT1343SP LP Gas Outdoor Fire Column
5. BEST GEL: TerraFlame Geo Tabletop Fire Bowl
6. BEST DESIGN: Orren Ellis Craddock Bioethanol Tabletop Fireplace
7. BEST FIRE BOWL: TerraFlame Stone Tabletop Fire Bowl

How We Tested the Best Tabletop Fire Pits

The best tabletop fire pits are attractive, easy to set up, and safe to use. After researching the specs and customer feedback on dozens of fire pits, we selected the following great options to test in our backyard trials.

Since style is subjective, we chose tabletop fireplaces in a range of designs, making sure to include various shapes, sizes, materials, and colors to suit different decor styles. We prioritized fire pits with various finish options, which makes it easier to match the fire pit to existing decor.

We assembled and fueled each fire pit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then we lit them and noted the flame color and size, flame movement, perceived heating ability, and burn times per fuel load. In addition to the functional characteristics, we considered convenience factors. Ease of installation, accessibility of fuel, and broader functionality garnered extra points. These notes from our research and testing were tallied on a rubric to determine the award titles.

Testing Stats

• Products tested: 7
• Time spent testing: 17.7 hours
• Tests performed: 5
• Average price: $99.35

Our Top Picks

In the product reviews ahead, we outline the construction of each fire pit, share performance details from our tests, and relate any concerns that shoppers will want to be aware of before purchasing. Find out if one of our favorites may be the best tabletop fire pit to spruce up your patio or dining table.

Best Overall

TerraFlame Wave Tabletop Fire Bowl

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Warmth 3/5; Durability 4/5; Aesthetics 5/5; Value 4.5/5

Product Specs

• Indoor/outdoor: Indoor or outdoor
• Fuel type: Gel fuel
• Dimensions: 10.625 inches in diameter by 5.125 inches tall

Pros

• Simple, balanced design complements contemporary modern decor
• Sturdy concrete fire bowl does not get hot to the touch
• Includes gel fuel canister that produces a crackling flame

Cons

• Small ornamental flame might not be adequate for gatherings of more than 4 guests
• Produces very little heat; not suitable to warm chilly outdoor gatherings

With a beautiful and versatile design plus a charming crackling fire, the TerraFlame Wave fire bowl is the best tabletop fireplace for contemporary homes. This portable fireplace is hand cast from organic concrete and features a subtle, waved design inspired by the slope of ocean waves. It comes in various finishes, and the simple aesthetic gives this fire bowl a modern touch that will suit many spaces. It’s safe to use both inside and outside, and its relatively modest footprint means it can be used on most tables. Each clean-burning fuel canister offers up to 3 hours of burn time.

The TerraFlame Wave fire bowl was the right size for our small and midsize tables, and it made an excellent dining table centerpiece. It produced a bright flame that looked great. The heavy-duty bowl felt sturdy and safe when we used it inside, and it burned well outdoors, although the small flame was battered by all but the gentlest breezes. The proprietary fuel added a nice bit of movement and sound that is not typical of regular gel fuel fires. We would caution those with glass tabletops that this fire pit is hard and heavy, so be careful when placing it.

Get the TerraFlame Wave tabletop fire pit at Amazon, Target, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, or TerraFlame. 

Best Overall Outdoor

Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Warmth 4/5; Durability 4.5/5; Aesthetics 4/5; Value 4.5/5

Product Specs

• Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
• Fuel type: Firewood or wood pellets
• Dimensions: 7 inches in diameter (XL) by 8.6 inches tall

Pros

• Offers an authentic wood fire experience with almost no smoke
• Works with either small pieces of firewood or wood-pellet fuel
• Compact size limits the burn time to about 45 minutes after adding pellets
• Kit includes the burn chamber, flame ring, collapsible stand, and a drawstring carry bag

Cons

• The sides and rim of the fire pit become dangerously hot during the fire
• The fire must be fed frequently to maintain a big bright flame

For a traditional fire pit experience, you can’t beat the sight, sound, and smell of a wood fire. The Solo Stove Mesa offers the fun and romance of a real wood fire in a compact size. It’s made of durable 304 stainless steel that won’t rust or corrode and features a smokeless dual-wall design. It’s available in a stainless steel finish or a choice of five ceramic color finishes. This is an outdoor-only fire pit that is safe to use on all kinds of tabletops with no risk of heat damage. Burn time varies by the fuel type and size, averaging about 45 minutes when the fire pit is loaded with wood pellets.

Although building the wood fire took a little longer than lighting a gas, gel, or liquid fuel fire pit, we loved the authentic experience. This model produced the biggest, most lively flame by far of all the products we tested. Within minutes of lighting, a beautiful flame reached up to 12 inches above the rim. It burned almost entirely smoke-free, as advertised, and was one of the most wind-resistant of all the fire pits we tested. There are two points that shoppers will want to keep in mind with this one. You must feed the fire regularly, so it’s important to keep extra pellets or firewood nearby. Also, although the lower portion of the fire pit remains cool, the upper two-thirds becomes dangerously hot to touch.

Get the Solo Stove tabletop fire pit at Best Buy, Scheels, Nomadic Supply Company, BBQGrills.com, or Solo Stove.

Best Bang for the Buck

Colsen Indoor/Outdoor Round Tabletop Fire Pit

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Warmth 3.5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Aesthetics 5/5; Value 5/5

Product Specs

• Indoor/outdoor: Indoor or outdoor
• Fuel type: Isopropyl alcohol
• Dimensions: 5 inches in diameter by 3.5 inches tall

Pros

• Compact and sturdy design is tabletop stable and works indoors or out
• One of the simplest products we tested; easy to fuel and easy to operate
• Uses budget-friendly and easy-to-find rubbing alcohol for fuel

Cons

• With no protective cover, the flame is easily extinguished in the wind
• Open-fuel reservoir requires close attention to prevent fuel spills

If dealing with bioethanol fuels or propane tanks sounds like too much work, the Colsen fire pit is worth considering. All this little fire pit needs to run is a bit of isopropyl alcohol. Its design couldn’t be simpler; made of concrete, it has a small central reservoir that you fill with alcohol and light aflame. The alcohol burns off slowly, providing around 40 minutes of flickering fire. Due to its open-fuel reservoir and lightweight design, however, you’ll want to take extra care and use a sturdy base to avoid jostling or spilling the contents.

This was truly one of the easiest and most accessible fire pits we tested. The fuel is readily available at any grocery, hardware, or drug store. Load it, light it, and let it burn. We recorded burn times of 35 to 50 minutes. The flame color was more yellow than that of the bioethanol burners, which gave it a warmer appearance, but the burn time was shorter. It’s also important to note that the flame must be extinguished before adding more fuel for additional burn time.

Get the Colsen tabletop fire pit at Wayfair or Colsen. 

Best Propane

Endless Summer GLT1343SP LP Gas Outdoor Fire Column

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Warmth 5/5; Durability 4.5/5; Aesthetics 4.5/5; Value 5/5

Product Specs

• Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
• Fuel type: Propane
• Dimensions: 11 inches square by 15 inches tall

Pros

• This piece conveniently comes preassembled (single-use propane tank sold separately)
• Column design and exposed flame are suitable for tabletop or freestanding display
• Adjustable 10,000 British thermal unit (BTU) burner adds welcome warmth for cool-weather comfort
• Compartment inside the column base hides the propane tank for a tidy appearance

Cons

• The lack of a side access point makes it difficult to change the propane tank
• Fire pit is built for outdoor use only, but it does not include a protective cover

With a large size and stately design, the Endless Summer outdoor fire column is an excellent choice for those looking for a large fire pit. It features a column-style design that makes it suitable for use on a dining or patio table or on the ground as a small stand-alone fire pit. This fire column features a rustic faux-stone finish with a large decorative base that conceals a spot for a 1-pound propane tank (not included) inside.

Because of its larger size, this fire pit puts out a pretty significant amount of heat, so it can double as an outdoor heat source. The Endless Summer fire column produced a big, warm flame—much larger than those from canned fuels. With a fuel bottle in place, this fire pit was easy to operate: Just turn on the gas and light it manually. The gas control knob allowed us to change smoothly from a low flickering flame to a big bright flame.

Installing the gas bottle, however, was a bit awkward since there was no side access door, and the fire stones around the burner would fall off if we tilted the column too far while reaching under with the new bottle. Also, it’s only compatible with the shorter/wider 1-pound gas bottles due to the height of the column; the narrower 14.5-ounce torch fuel bottles are too tall.

Get the Endless Summer tabletop fire pit at Amazon, Wayfair, or Endless Summer.

Best Gel

TerraFlame Geo Tabletop Fire Bowl

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Warmth 3/5; Durability 4/5; Aesthetics 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5

Product Specs

• Indoor/outdoor: Indoor or outdoor
• Fuel type: Gel fuel
• Dimensions: 10.625 inches in diameter by 5.125 inches tall

Pros

• Chic geometric design complements contemporary, midcentury, and Art Deco styles
• Durable cement construction is built to last and won’t get hot while in operation
• Includes a gel fuel canister that crackles like a fireplace

Cons

• Special crackling gel fuel canister refills may be a bit pricey

The TerraFlame Geo tabletop fire bowl features a modern geometric design that adds character to indoor or outdoor tables. It comes in six earth-toned finishes and is crafted from eco-friendly concrete to create a contemporary-style fire bowl. The included beach pebbles add a natural touch. The size of this fire bowl makes it suitable as a small fire pit for almost any tabletop. It’s powered by gel fuel that may be burned all in one sitting or snuffed out when partially burned for reuse later on. Once the canister is lit, the flame makes a lovely crackling sound and provides up to 3 hours of warmth and light.

Weighing in at 15 pounds, the TerraFlame Geo was one of the heaviest on our list. We made sure to handle it carefully so as not to accidentally drop it and risk breaking it or damaging the surface below. In action, it was an ideal no-fuss option. The gel fuel was easy to light, easy to snuff out, made an attractive flame, and required no cleanup afterward. After using three cans of fuel, we found our per-can burn time averaged 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Get the TerraFlame Geo tabletop fire pit at Amazon, Wayfair, or TerraFlame. 

Best Design

Orren Ellis Craddock Bioethanol Tabletop Fireplace