Fire Table Buyer's Guide: How to Choose the Right One for Your Patio

A fire table is one of those purchases that quietly changes how often you use your backyard. The right one anchors a seating arrangement, throws real heat, and looks like it was designed for the space. The wrong one ends up in the corner of the patio, used twice.

Here's what we look at when we help customers pick a fire table — the questions to ask before you commit, and how we'd match each answer to a piece in our collection.

1. How Much Space Do You Have?

Fire tables come in three rough size brackets:

• Compact (under 40") — best for small patios, balconies, or intimate seating for 2–4. Easier to move, lighter, more affordable.
• Mid-size (40"–50") — the sweet spot for most patios. Big enough to anchor a seating arrangement of 4–6 chairs without dominating the space.
• Statement (50"+) — the centerpiece. Best for larger patios where the fire table is meant to be the focal point. Throws more heat, fits more people around it.

Our picks by size: The Elementi Boulder (43") is a perfect mid-size piece. The Metropolis (56") and Plus Riviera (60") are statement pieces.

2. Propane or Natural Gas?

This is the single biggest practical decision.

• Propane (LP) — uses a 20 lb tank (the kind your grill probably has). No installation. Move the table anywhere. Tank lasts roughly 8–12 hours of burn time. Easier to start, harder to forget you need to refill.
• Natural gas (NG) — plumbed directly into your home's gas line. Never run out. Lower fuel cost per hour. But you need a gas line at the table's location, which usually means hiring a plumber if you don't have one.

Most of our fire tables ship in either configuration — just pick the right SKU at checkout. If you're not sure whether you have a gas line accessible, propane is the safer default. You can always convert later.

3. How Much Heat Do You Need?

Heat output is measured in BTUs.

• 40,000–45,000 BTU — plenty for most patios. Warms a circle of 4–6 chairs comfortably on cool evenings.
• 55,000–60,000 BTU — noticeably more heat. Worth it for larger patios, windier locations, or colder climates where you want fall/winter use.

Our Elementi tables run 45,000 BTU. The Elementi Plus line (Nimes, Riviera) steps up to 60,000 BTU and includes a matching aluminum lid and decorative fire glass.

4. What Material?

The two main options in our collection:

• GFRC concrete (glass-fiber reinforced concrete) — looks like natural stone, weighs a fraction. Built to live outside year-round. Won't fade, crack, or rust. Every Elementi piece is hand-cast GFRC.
• Hand-forged steel — Fire Pit Art's pieces are sculptural, hand-built, often unique in shape. Steel develops a beautiful patina over time and is built to last decades.

5. What Style Are You Going For?

• Architectural / modern — clean lines, square or rectangular silhouettes. Try the Metropolis or the Fire Pit Art Linear.
• Sculptural / organic — curves, irregular shapes, pieces that look found rather than manufactured. The Boulder or Fire Pit Art bowls.
• Refined / luxury — honed finishes, fire glass instead of lava rock, matching lids. The Elementi Plus line (Nimes, Riviera).

6. What's Actually Included?

Always check what comes in the box. Some retailers sell the table only and charge extra for the hose, regulator, cover, and media (lava rock or fire glass) — which can add hundreds of dollars on top of the price.

Every fire table in our collection ships with the burner, 10' gas hose with regulator, lava rock or fire glass, canvas cover, and a touch-up kit. Light it the day it arrives.

The Short Version

If you want one recommendation: a mid-size GFRC concrete fire table in propane, 45,000 BTU, fits most patios and most budgets. The Elementi Boulder at $1,689 is the easy answer for most people.

Want to see everything side by side? Browse the full fire table collection. Still not sure? Email us — we're a small team and we actually answer.