Outdoor Fireplace Buying Guide: Gas, Wood, Fire Pits & Fire Tables

An outdoor fireplace turns a patio you use three months a year into a space you use nine. But the outdoor category is wide — built-in gas fireplaces, wood-burning hearths, fire pits, and fire tables all live under the same search — and they solve different problems at very different prices. This guide sorts the decision by fuel type first, then form factor, so you match the fire feature to how you actually entertain.

At Urban Supply, we carry outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and fire tables from Napoleon, Empire Comfort Systems, Superior, Majestic, Kingsman, SimpliFire, and The Outdoor Greatroom Company, in gas, wood-burning, and electric configurations from roughly $285 to $8,949. Start with fuel.

Gas vs Wood vs Electric: Pick Your Fuel First

Gas (natural gas or propane) is the most popular outdoor choice for a reason: instant on, instant off, no smoke, no ash, and no hauling firewood. A gas outdoor fireplace lights with a switch or remote and gives you a consistent, controllable flame — ideal for spontaneous evenings and for covered patios where smoke would be a problem. The trade-off is installation: natural gas requires a gas line run to the patio, and propane requires a tank. Most of our premium built-in units, like the Napoleon Galaxy and Riverside series and Empire's Carol Rose Coastal collection, are gas.

Wood-burning delivers the real thing — the crackle, the aroma, the radiant heat and dancing flame that no burner fully replicates. It is the choice for purists and for open backyards where a true masonry-style hearth becomes the anchor of the space. The costs are effort and clearance: you store and season firewood, you deal with ash, and a wood-burning outdoor fireplace needs proper clearances from structures and overhangs.

Electric outdoor-rated fireplaces bring flame ambiance to covered porches, three-season rooms, and balconies where gas and wood are impractical or prohibited. They plug in, produce no combustion byproducts, and many add supplemental heat. They will not throw the BTUs of a gas or wood fire, but for a covered outdoor living space with a power outlet, they are the simplest install of the three.

Fireplace vs Fire Pit vs Fire Table: Match the Form to the Gathering

The fuel decides the experience; the form factor decides the layout of your space.

Outdoor fireplaces are vertical, directional, and architectural. They radiate heat in one direction, define the edge of a patio, and create a focal wall — the outdoor equivalent of a living-room hearth. A built-in gas fireplace like a 42- or 74-inch linear unit becomes the design centerpiece of an outdoor room.

Fire pits are the social center. Because the fire sits in the middle and radiates 360 degrees, everyone gathers around it — this is the classic "pull the chairs in a circle" setup for larger, casual groups. Gas fire pits give you the campfire circle without the smoke.

Fire tables combine a fire feature with a usable table surface, so guests can set down a drink or a plate around a low, contained flame. They suit dining and lounge areas where you want ambiance and function without a full fireplace footprint. Fire tables are typically the most budget-friendly entry point into gas fire features.

Sizing and Heat Output (BTUs)

Gas fire features are rated in BTUs, and more BTUs means more heat and a taller flame. Smaller fire tables and compact fire pits produce a modest, ambiance-level output, while large built-in linear fireplaces push serious heat that can warm a full seating area on a cool evening. Match output to your space: a small balcony or intimate seating nook does not need — and should not have — the same BTU rating as a large open patio. For wood-burning units, "sizing" is about the firebox opening and the scale of the hearth relative to your patio; an oversized masonry-style fireplace can overwhelm a small yard.

Clearances, Venting, and Covered Spaces

Outdoor does not mean clearance-free. Every fire feature has manufacturer-specified minimum distances from combustible surfaces — siding, railings, pergola beams, and especially overhead structures. This matters most on covered patios: if you are placing a fire feature under a roof, pergola, or overhang, you must confirm the unit is rated for that installation and that the vertical clearance to the ceiling is met. Wood-burning units generally require the largest clearances and, in many designs, a chimney or flue to carry smoke up and away. Gas units vary — some linear fireplaces are approved for covered installations, others are not — so verify the spec for your exact location before you build.

Materials and Weather Resistance

An outdoor fireplace lives in sun, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles year-round, so construction matters. Look for weather-rated finishes, stainless or powder-coated components, and, for gas units, a weather cover or a design engineered for exposure. Fire tables and pits should have covers to protect the burner and any glass media between uses. Spending a bit more on genuinely weather-resistant materials is what separates a fire feature that looks new in year five from one that rusts and fades by year two.

Outdoor Fire Feature Comparison

Installation and Fuel Hookups

How an outdoor fireplace connects to fuel determines much of the install cost. A natural gas unit needs a gas line run from the home to the fireplace location — a job for a licensed plumber or gas fitter, and the reason natural gas is best planned into a patio build rather than added later. Propane units run from a tank, which gives you placement freedom but means monitoring and refilling the tank. Electric outdoor-rated units simply need a suitable weatherproof outlet on an appropriate circuit. Wood-burning fireplaces need no fuel line but demand the most careful siting: proper clearances, a stable non-combustible base, and in most designs a chimney or flue to draft smoke up and away.

Built-in gas and wood fireplaces are typically framed into a surround or masonry enclosure, so they're best coordinated with your patio or hardscape contractor. Freestanding fire pits and fire tables are far simpler — many arrive ready to place and connect to a propane tank. Whatever you choose, confirm local codes and any HOA rules on open flame and fuel before you build.

Maintenance and Weatherproofing

Outdoor fire features live in the elements, so a little upkeep protects a significant investment. Gas units need the burner and ports kept clear of debris, insects, and spider webs (a surprisingly common cause of weak or uneven flame), plus a check of connections at the start of each season. Wood-burning fireplaces require ash removal and periodic chimney or flue cleaning to prevent creosote buildup. Fire tables and pits should have their glass media and burners protected with a fitted cover between uses. Across all types, a weather cover in the off-season dramatically extends the life of finishes and components. Choosing genuinely weather-rated materials at purchase — stainless, powder-coat, and covers designed for exposure — is what keeps a unit looking new years in.

Budget: What Outdoor Fireplaces Cost

Our outdoor fire features run from about $285 to $8,949, and the spread reflects fuel, size, and construction. Fire pits and fire tables are the accessible entry point — instant ambiance and a gathering spot without a major install. Mid-range gas and electric outdoor fireplaces deliver a real focal point and controllable flame for a designed patio. Premium built-in linear fireplaces and large ready-to-finish units, like Napoleon's Galaxy series or The Outdoor Greatroom's larger models, anchor a full outdoor room with serious presence and heat output. Factor installation — gas line, framing, or chimney work — into the total for built-in and wood-burning units; fire pits and tables keep install cost minimal.

Our Recommendation

For a designed outdoor room with a focal point: a built-in gas outdoor fireplace — a linear Napoleon or Empire unit — delivers instant flame, real heat, and architectural presence. For an open backyard and the authentic experience: a wood-burning outdoor fireplace anchors the space with genuine fire and radiant warmth. For casual, social gatherings: a gas fire pit puts everyone in the circle without smoke. For dining and lounge zones on a budget: a fire table adds ambiance and a usable surface at the lowest entry cost. Whatever you choose, confirm fuel access and — if the space is covered — the overhead clearance rating before you build.

Browse Outdoor Fireplaces at Urban Supply

Explore the full outdoor fireplace collection to compare gas, wood-burning, and electric models plus fire pits and fire tables from Napoleon, Empire, and more. Bringing warmth indoors too? See our gas fireplaces and wood-burning fireplaces, and finish any build with the right fireplace accessories. Orders over $299 ship free, and as authorized dealers our US-based team can confirm clearances and fuel requirements before you order.

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