The short answer to fire pit table vs fire pit: choose a fire pit table if you want a gas flame inside a table you can set drinks and plates on, often with the propane tank hidden in the base. Choose a fire pit if you want a lower, open fire that people circle in lounge chairs, especially if you want to burn wood. Tables win on tidiness and hosting; pits win on campfire feel, entry price and fuel choice.
Below we compare heat, fuel, the ledge, seating, footprint, weight, cost and upkeep using listings from our range. Specs come from the product pages, not hands-on testing. If you already want a table and are stuck on height, see our fire pit table height guide.
Fire pit table vs fire pit: what counts as each
A fire pit is the flame with little around it: a ring in the ground, a steel bowl on a base, or a low concrete gas bowl. The rim is too narrow or hot to use as a surface. The Ohioflame Liberty Fire Pit is a classic example: a thick carbon steel bowl with no burner and a rain drain.
A fire pit table is a gas burner set into a tabletop with a flat ledge around it. The Prism Hardscapes Tavola 1 is a 36 by 56 in concrete table with the burner in the middle.
The names blur. Prism’s Pebble 56 is sold as a fire pit, yet the spec section of its listing calls it a fire pit table. At 16 in tall it behaves like a pit. Judge by height and ledge width, not the name. Deep, rounded vessels are a third option, fire bowls, which we compare in a separate guide.
Side by side comparison
| Factor | Fire pit table | Fire pit |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane or natural gas | Wood, gas, or smokeless wood designs |
| Usable surface | Ledge for drinks and plates | Rim only |
| Typical height | Coffee or dining height | About 14 to 21 in on the pits we list |
| Tank storage | Often inside the base or a side housing | Hose to a nearby tank, if gas |
| Smoke and ash | None from gas | Yes with wood, less with smokeless designs |
| Entry price in our range | From about $250 | From about $325 for steel wood pits |
| Weight | Varies widely by material | Steel 45 to 224 lb; concrete gas bowls up to 430 lb |
Heat and flame: what the BTU numbers say
Gas tables and gas pits list BTU ratings, so you can compare directly. The Tavola 1 table is rated at 65,000 BTU, and so is the Prism Rotondo 48 gas fire pit. Same output, different shape: the Rotondo is 18 in tall, so the flame sits lower and closer to people in lounge chairs.
At the budget end, the Direct Wicker Gray 40,000 BTU Gas Fire Pit Set is a 42 by 24.4 in table, 14.5 in tall. A lower rating suits mild evenings more than cold ones. Some listings give no BTU: the Direct Wicker Brown Wicker Oval Fire Pit Table lists its burner size but not its output, so call us before you order.
Wood pits have no BTU rating; heat depends on the fire you build. A 36 in Liberty with an 11 in deep bowl holds a real fire that throws heat sideways in a way a shallow gas pan does not.
Fuel: wood, propane or natural gas
If you want crackling wood, you want a fire pit, because fire pit tables are built around a gas burner. If you want flame at the turn of a knob, either works.
Read the fuel line in each listing. The 60 in concrete table says propane only, with no natural gas support. The Rotondo and Pebble are listed as propane or natural gas compatible, with the conversion kit sold separately. For a fixed gas line, a licensed gas fitter and local code have the final word, and the manufacturer’s clearances apply. Our fire pit buying guide covers the wider fuel and safety picture.
Gas fire table features: ledge, seating and tank storage
Ledge use
The ledge is what you pay for. It holds drinks, snacks or a phone without anyone leaning over a flame. The oval Direct Wicker table is 180 by 120 cm (about 71 by 47 in) with a tempered glass top. With a pit, plan side tables between the chairs.
Seating style
Tables pull people inward across the ledge, which suits conversation and eating. Pits suit a looser ring of deep chairs, and people can shift back as the fire changes. Table height decides which chairs work; see our guide to fire table height.
Hidden tank storage
The 60 in Propane Gas Fire Pit Table has a cabinet sized for a 20 lb cylinder plus a cup and dish cabinet, and a steel lid that turns it into a side table. The Direct Wicker set uses a separate 15.7 by 15.7 by 19.6 in tank holder and adds an ice bucket. A gas pit usually runs a hose to a tank you hide yourself.
Footprint, weight and deck use
A table needs more floor space for the same flame because of the ledge, plus room for chairs to slide back. If space is tight, see best fire pit tables for small patios.
Weight matters on a deck. Liberty pits run from 50 lb (24 in) to 224 lb (48 in). The Rotondo 48 is listed at 430 lb and the Pebble 56 at 350 lb. Confirm your deck’s load rating first, and never put a wood fire directly on decking.
Price tiers from our listings
- Under $700: Liberty steel wood pits from $324.94 (up to $1,584.94 by size) and the $599 Direct Wicker set. A few tables list from about $250, but with little spec detail, so ask us first.
- About $1,000 to $1,600: Ohioflame Patriot at $1,028.40, Sunstone smokeless fire pit grill at $1,071, the oval Direct Wicker table at $1,258 and the 60 in concrete table at $1,563.99.
- $2,900 and up: Pebble 56 at $2,954, Tavola 1 at $3,200 and Rotondo 48 at $3,456. Browse the Prism Hardscapes range or read our Prism Hardscapes fire table review.
Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight; below that, shipping is a flat $200.
Smoke, maintenance, covers and burn bans
Gas tables make no smoke or ash. Upkeep is clearing debris, checking the media and keeping the unit covered. The 60 in table ships with a rain cover, and the oval Direct Wicker includes a stainless fire cover and a windproof glass cover. Measure the outer dimensions before you buy a cover.
Wood pits mean ash and drifting smoke. Sunstone says its StarBBQ 24 in smokeless fire pit grill reburns smoke through secondary combustion, burning wood or charcoal. Bare steel pits like the Ohioflame Patriot are meant to develop a rust patina and need no coating.
Fuel also matters under fire restrictions. Some areas allow gas when wood is banned, but rules vary; check with your local fire authority before you light anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fire pit table or a fire pit warmer?
For gas, compare BTU ratings. A 65,000 BTU table and a 65,000 BTU bowl put out the same heat, but the lower bowl sits closer to seated people. A well fed wood pit usually feels warmest.
Is a gas fire table worth it over a cheaper fire pit?
Yes, if you will use the ledge and want no smoke, no ash and a hidden tank. For a wood fire on a few cool nights, a steel pit costs far less.
What fire table height should I choose?
Match it to your seating: low tables for lounge chairs, taller ones for dining chairs.
Can a fire pit table burn wood?
Not the gas tables covered here. They are built around a burner and media such as lava rock or glass, and burning wood in one is unsafe. Follow your unit’s manual.
Not sure which suits your patio? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST, and we can confirm BTU, fuel and tank details for any listing. Returns are covered by our return and refund policy.
