The 9 Best Wood-Burning Fire Pits of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
When the dog days of summer lead to cooler nights, there’s nothing like sitting around a wood-burning fire pit in your own backyard. Whether you’re looking for ambiance, warmth, and the occasional s’more or something utilitarian for grilling, there are plenty of portable and permanent options on the market today. Just make sure to check your local fire safety guidelines before buying: Laws and regulations vary greatly across the country.
To find the best wood-burning fire pits, we tested 20 popular models in our own backyards, building at least three fires that burned for a minimum of one hour each. We took note of how easy or difficult it was to start the fire, tend to it, and extinguish it safely. We even got hungry and grilled some burgers (if the fire pit allowed for it). For smokeless models, we observed the smoke output (or lack thereof) and made our final decisions based on design, efficiency, ease of use, safety, and overall value.
For expert input on how to safely use your wood-burning fire pit, we spoke with Ryan Kerwin, a firefighter of 20 years and the founder of Ever Vigilant Preparedness, an emergency and disaster preparedness consulting company.
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This copper fire pit is as attractive and has a large capacity for wood.
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The safety spark guard is sold separately (and we recommend you buy it).
This gorgeous copper fire pit from Frontgate adds an instant element of style to any backyard. Setup couldn’t be easier–all you have to do is put the bowl on the stand and the grate inside of the bowl to have it ready for your first fire. The copper construction makes this fire pit attractive on its own, but it’s even more beautiful when the flames start flickering.
This option is large enough for a nice little gathering. We placed five Adirondack chairs around it, and there was plenty of room to add more. We lit a fire using five logs, but we could have easily added at least double the amount for a larger fire had more people joined the circle.
We were impressed with the solid, high-quality construction of each component, especially the spark guard. It’s sold separately, but we’d recommend it as an add-on for peace of mind. The wide base not only allows for a good amount of wood, but it also makes the pit feel sturdy. We felt confident that we could set this up even on a windy day and have everything remain in place.
After initial testing, we continued to use the Frontgate fire pit well into late autumn. We love how much wood you can load into it because it created really nice fires. We left it outside in between uses and despite some strong winds, it stayed put as we expected it would. It doesn’t come with a cover, but we stored it in a covered area of our concrete patio during the winter. Then, we patiently waited until the weather was mild enough to enjoy our outdoor space and this fire pit once more.
Material: Copper | Diameter: 40 inches | Weight: 66 pounds | Smokeless: No
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Wade Review / Jodi Espinosa
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It’s easy to assemble and comes with four accessories that enhance its safety.
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Some find the safety ring a little difficult to put on.
This lattice-style fire pit from Better Homes & Gardens is attractive enough on its own, but add the flicker of flames for a truly wonderful upgrade to your outdoor space. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Wade Review’s parent company Dotdash Meredith.) It’s easy enough to assemble on your own with a screwdriver, but we had the help of a handy 4-year-old assistant and got the job done in under a half hour.
This budget-friendly fire pit has everything you could want for a backyard campfire. The firestarter cubes came in clutch, and we had nice flames in about two minutes. We were impressed with the size of the fire pit bowl, which could easily hold five or six logs without overcrowding, and we appreciated the fire safety ring around the bowl, especially since our young assistant stuck around to enjoy the fire with us.
It’s quite a value for the low price, too. It came with a safety screen for the top, a protective cover to keep it from rusting, a log rack, and a log turner. The manufacturer’s instructions say to keep the fire pit dry while not in use to avoid damage, so we’ve kept it in our garage in the off-season for protection—you’ll need to use a shed or find indoor storage space if you want yours to last more than a season. We’re also diligent with dumping the ashes when they’re cool, although this proves to be a bit messy because there’s no hatch to open and empty them.
Material: Steel | Diameter: 35 inches | Weight: 28.6 pounds | Smokeless: No