If you’re lucky enough to have a garden and want a centerpiece for your outdoor space, you’ll need a fire table. The best fire tables add warmth and ambiance to your garden or patio, providing a space to gather with friends and a source of heat for outdoor movie nights or alfresco dining.
What are the best fire tables?
Below are some of the best fire tables you can find online. You’ll notice that there’s a wide variety of models, from sleek, modern fire tables to minimal, budget-friendly units. Plus, most of our picks ship quickly through Amazon.
1. Grand Patio Outdoor Propane Fire Table
Grand Patio’s Outdoor Propane Fire Table is our top choice because of its performance, aesthetics and price.
The 43-inch table is made of water-resistant wicker that Grand Patio says won’t fade after being exposed to the sun. The fire table’s frame is made of rust-resistant steel and the top tiles are ceramic.
This fire table produces up to 45,000 BTUs of heat from a single burner, which can be hidden by tiles when not in use. This power level means that this fire table will be able to comfortably heat five or six guests sitting around it.
We like the fact that this fire table can double as a coffee table or card table when not in use, and have only one real complaint: it doesn’t come with lava rocks, beads, or a windscreen. You can get these accessories separately, but we’d prefer them to be part of a set.
If you don’t mind, the Grand Patio Outdoor Fire Table is a brilliant choice.
Buy: Grand Patio Outdoor Propane Fire Table
2. Bali Outdoors Gas Fire Table
If you want to beautify your garden on a budget, you won’t find a better buy than the Bali Outdoors Gas Fire Table.
The 28-inch fire table produces heat to the tune of 50,000 BTUs, which is the power of much larger tables. If you’re entertaining a group of people, you won’t need to squeeze into this table to feel the heat. Bali Outdoors doesn’t give details on the materials used for this fireplace, other than the burner is stainless steel, which is our only complaint.
Another thing to consider is that Bali Outdoors doesn’t provide any accessories - including a blanket - with its fire table. That’s easier to forgive when you consider the price of this fire table at under $200. If you want these accessories, Amazon offers a discount on the cover and windscreen if you buy them along with this fire table.
If you want a basic, powerful fire table for your garden, you can’t go wrong with this one from Bali Outdoors.
Buy: Bali Outdoors Gas Fire Table
3. Outland Living Fire Table
If you’re looking for a fire table that offers a more elevated experience, Outland Living has the right table.
It measures 44 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 23 inches high, which puts it in the mid-size category compared to the other fire tables in this guide. They made it of weather-resistant resin wicker and a 0.3-inch black tempered glass plate. The unique burner on the firetable is made of stainless steel and produces 50,000 BTUs of heat, while they make the handles and dial of chrome.
These luxury materials withstood some storms, which is a good thing because Outdoor Living does not include a cover. It also doesn’t include a windscreen or glass cover, though all three are available separately. The company includes a 15.5-pound “arctic ice” decorative glass rock set, which matches the table’s high-end look.
Like the other fire tables in this guide, this one runs on a propane tank that can weigh up to 30 pounds. It’s housed in a storage compartment that’s accessible by removing most of the left side. Unlike these other tables, Outdoor Living has left the area hollow enough to have extra storage space - it looks big enough to hold a second propane tank.
They also designed this table to work with a natural gas line (they sell separately a conversion kit), so you may not even need a tank if you set this table up in a more permanent position. Outland Living has provided this fire table with a pair of torches, which work with 1lb propane tanks. There is storage space at the base of each torch to hold the tank, so you stay safe. If you have a larger space and like the idea of having a fire pit that you can upgrade over time with optional accessories, we recommend this table.
Buy: Outland Living Fire Table
4. Akoya Outdoor Essentials Concrete Fire Table
The Outdoor Essentials Concrete Fire Table from Akoya is a piece of furniture that will probably become the focal point of your garden.
It measures just over 50 inches long and is made of fiber-reinforced concrete and steel that Akoya says has been painted with a durable finish. It has a heat output of 50,000 BTUs and can run on a propane tank or natural gas (a conversion kit is required).
We love the modern aesthetic of this fire table, which will match any existing furniture in your yard. It doesn’t feel like it fits into a specific theme (a tree house, for example), which is a definite plus. That the table comes with colored crystals, a protective cover and a concrete lid instead of having to buy them separately is also a good thing.
This is a luxury choice, but one that matches other prestige furniture. The materials are certainly stronger (not to mention flame resistant) than wicker. If you’re completely redoing your backyard or planning to host a lot of parties this summer, we recommend the Outdoor Essentials Concrete Fire Table from Akoya.
Buy: Akoya Outdoor Essentials Concrete Fire Table
How do fire tables work?
The best fire tables are larger than fire pits and use a hidden fuel tank (usually propane) connected to a burner to operate, rather than burning wood. They hid the tank under the table and connected to the burner by a hose.
To start the table, you push the button on an electric starter and turn a dial to control the intensity of the flame. If you’ve ever used a propane grill, this process will be familiar to you.
How to Choose the Best Fire Table
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right cooktop for you. Below are some of the most important ones, which we’ve considered when putting together this list.
Size: Firetops come in square shapes, and the ones we chose for this guide range from 28 to 56 inches long. We also included both square options. Fire tables are larger than fire pits, but you don’t need to take up your backyard space storing wood, which can become unusable for a while after a rain. Instead, you can light the table in minutes and be ready to spend time with your guests.
Durability: The fire tables are large and fairly heavy, which means you’ll likely keep them outside for one or more seasons. We made sure that they designed the fire tables we chose with rain-resistant materials or came with a cover.
Heat output: In the United States, heat from flames is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). The fire tables we chose range from 38,000 BTUs to 65,000 BTUs, which is enough to keep you warm when you’re near the fire.
Tank Storage: All the fire tables in this guide have space to accommodate the fuel tank underneath them, and come with a tube for easy attachment. Keep in mind that you will need to purchase the fuel tank separately.
