Wood or Gas: Which Outdoor Fireplace Fits Your Yard?
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 tops this list for its near smokeless double wall burn and easy ash cleanup. Sunnydaze Cast Iron Chiminea directs heat forward toward seating instead of straight up. Outland Living Series 401 Propane Fire Table works in areas where open wood fires are restricted, since propane produces no smoke or sparks.
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 earns the top spot here because its double wall airflow burns off smoke before it reaches seated guests. Sunnydaze’s Cast Iron Chiminea pushes heat out through a front opening rather than straight up, which suits a group seated on one side. Outland Living’s propane table skips wood entirely, so it stays usable during burn bans.
Outdoor fireplace is a loose label covering open bowls, enclosed chimineas, propane tables and standing steel units, and each behaves differently in wind or on a deck. We compared fuel type, how much heat reaches seated people, smoke behavior, clearance requirements from structures, and what owners report about moving and storing each design.
The best picks, ranked
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
Air pulled up through the base recirculates at the rim, burning off smoke that would otherwise chase people around the patio. A removable base plate and ash pan on this 2.0 version fix the main complaint about the original. Radiant heat output stays strong for a 19.5 inch diameter unit.
Pros
- Very little smoke once the fire is established
- Ash pan makes cleanup a two minute job
- Compact enough to bring on camping trips
Cons
- A wooden deck needs a heat shield underneath
- Burns through wood faster than a fireplace with a chimney
Sunnydaze Cast Iron Chiminea
Heat exits through the front opening instead of rising straight up, so it reaches a seated group more directly than an open bowl does. Cast iron stays warm well after the flames die down. Smoke lifts through the chimney above head height, the main advantage over a bowl design.
Pros
- Sends heat toward seating rather than straight up
- Chimney carries smoke clear of faces
- Cast iron retains warmth after the fire burns down
Cons
- Heavy enough that repositioning takes two people
- Needs a cover to keep rust off the iron
Outland Living Series 401 Propane Fire Table
Propane removes smoke, sparks and ash from the equation, which is why many decks and burn ban areas allow it where wood fires are banned. Flame output adjusts instantly up to 35,000 BTU instead of waiting on logs to die down. Lava rock spreads the flame evenly across the surface.
Pros
- No smoke, sparks or ash to manage
- Flame adjusts instantly instead of waiting on logs
- Often permitted where wood burning is restricted
Cons
- Requires propane tanks kept on hand
- Puts out less radiant heat than a wood fire
Solo Stove Yukon 2.0
Sized for a wide seating circle, this is the largest model here, built for groups the smaller Bonfire leaves cold at the edges. The same secondary burn design keeps smoke low even at 27 inches across. Full length logs fit without cutting, so it needs feeding less often.
Pros
- Warms a wide seating circle
- Accepts full length logs without cutting
- Keeps the same low smoke design at a larger size
Cons
- Heavy to move once loaded with ash
- Burns through firewood quickly at this size
Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit
A steel bowl with a cut out pattern that glows once the fire is going comes with a spark screen and poker included. This is the straightforward route to a wood fire without spending much. Owners report the screen matters most on breezy nights, when embers travel further.
Pros
- Affordable way into a real wood fire
- Spark screen and poker included
- Cut out pattern glows attractively at night
Cons
- Produces more visible smoke than a chiminea or double wall design
- Thin steel can warp with heavy use over time
TIKI Brand Patio Fire Pit
Internal airflow channels reduce smoke using a similar principle to the premium stainless models, at a lower cost. A wood pack starter and carry bag come included for moving it around the yard. Smoke reduction is real, though owners report it falls short of the double wall stainless designs.
Pros
- Noticeably less smoke than a plain steel bowl
- Lower cost than stainless double wall models
- Carry bag included for moving it around
Cons
- Not as clean burning as stainless rivals
- Powder coating can discolor with heavy use
Pleasant Hearth Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplace
Mesh screen doors and a chimney give this the look of a permanent garden feature rather than a portable bowl. Sparks stay contained behind the enclosed firebox. Assembly takes longer than the other designs here, so owners report picking one spot and leaving it there.
Pros
- Mesh doors contain sparks effectively
- Chimney carries smoke away from seating
- Reads as a permanent garden feature
Cons
- Assembly takes considerably longer than a bowl or chiminea
- Not portable once fully built
How to pick the right one
Wood or propane: pick the fuel first Wood delivers the strongest radiant heat, the smell and the crackle, but also smoke, sparks, ash and log storage. Propane lights instantly and produces no smoke, which matters on a covered deck or during a seasonal burn ban. Local rules often permit propane on evenings when open wood fires are not allowed, so check them before buying either type.
How much clearance does an outdoor fireplace need? Every model lists a minimum distance from walls, fences, overhanging branches and furniture, and ignoring it is how decks catch fire. Composite and wooden decking need a heat shield or fire resistant mat underneath, since radiant heat scorches boards from above. Grass usually dies back in a ring under any wood fire. Gravel, stone and concrete handle heat with no damage at all.
Match the design to where your seating actually sits An open bowl radiates heat in every direction, warming a circle evenly while wasting a share of it straight upward. A chiminea or enclosed fireplace pushes heat out one opening, which works better when chairs sit on one side or wind needs blocking. Look at how your patio furniture is arranged before choosing a shape, not after.
Plan for smoke, rust and off season storage No design eliminates smoke completely, though double wall airflow units come closest once the fire reaches temperature. Burning seasoned hardwood cuts smoke more than any spec sheet feature does. Steel and cast iron both rust if left outside uncovered through winter, so a fitted cover and dry storage spot belong on the shopping list too.
Compared at a glance
| # | Model | Fuel | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 | Wood logs | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Sunnydaze Cast Iron Chiminea | Wood logs | Best for directed heat | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Outland Living Series 401 Propane Fire Table | Propane | Best for fire restrictions | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Solo Stove Yukon 2.0 | Wood logs | Best for larger groups | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Landmann Big Sky Fire Pit | Wood logs | Best value wood pit | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | TIKI Brand Patio Fire Pit | Wood logs | Best for low smoke on a budget | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Pleasant Hearth Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplace | Wood logs | Best traditional design | 8.0 | Check price |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace?
A fire pit is an open bowl radiating heat in every direction. An outdoor fireplace encloses the fire in a firebox with a chimney, directing heat forward and lifting smoke up. A chiminea sits between the two, with a front opening and a chimney.
Are smokeless fire pits actually smoke free?
No design removes smoke entirely. Double wall airflow burns off most of it once the fire is established, but lighting still produces smoke for the first few minutes, and damp wood smokes regardless of the unit.
Can you put a fire pit on a wood deck?
Only with a heat shield or fire resistant mat underneath, and only within the manufacturer’s stated clearance. Many wood burning units are not approved for wooden decks at all, while propane tables get approved more often.
What wood should you burn in an outdoor fireplace?
Seasoned hardwood with low moisture, such as oak, ash or birch, burns cleanest. Skip treated timber, pallets, painted wood or construction offcuts, since they release harmful fumes. Softwood spits sparks and burns out fast.
How much heat does an outdoor fireplace actually put out?
A wood fire throws strong radiant heat within a couple of metres, then drops off quickly beyond that. Propane units run gentler and more consistent. Neither heats an exposed yard on a cold, windy night by itself.
Do you need a spark screen for a fire pit?
Yes, for any wood burning unit. Sparks travel further than expected in a breeze, and a screen is often what separates a good evening from a scorched cushion or lawn.
How do you clean ash out of a fire pit?
Let ash cool completely overnight, then scoop it into a metal container. A removable base plate and ash pan turns this into a two minute job. Never bin ash in plastic, since embers can stay hot for over a day.
Should an outdoor fireplace be covered in winter?
Yes. Standing water is the main cause of rust and warped bases. A fitted cover, dry ground underneath and emptied ash before storage all extend the life of steel and cast iron units.
Chiminea vs fire pit: which throws more usable heat?
A chiminea directs more heat toward one seating area through its opening, while a fire pit spreads heat evenly in every direction. Pick a chiminea for chairs grouped on one side, a fire pit for a full circle around the flame.
Is a propane fire table worth it over a wood fire pit?
Propane trades the smell and crackle of wood for instant heat, no smoke and no ash, which suits decks and burn ban areas. A wood fire pit still wins on raw radiant heat and atmosphere where local rules allow it.
The verdict
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 belongs on most patios, since its low smoke burn is the difference between an evening outside and one spent dodging smoke. Choose the Sunnydaze Cast Iron Chiminea when seating sits on one side of the fire, and the Outland Living Series 401 wherever wood burning is restricted.
Sierra Daniels
Sierra's background is in landscape design and nursery retail. She focuses on lawn and garden equipment, outdoor furniture and gear durability, weighing published specs against how materials actually hold up outside.
