Patio Umbrellas, Heaters, Shades | Patio Heat and Shade

Outdoor covered patio scene with concrete deck, area rug on which sits an Athena Fire Tables Olympus OSQRFT-4848-WHT-N-P square fire pit table in conversation are with dark gray rattan furniture with orange cushions, large stacked stone fireplace, orange-stained wood pillars leading to natural pine ceiling with skylights and a circular black chandelier

One of the things we do here at Patio Heat and Shade is to gather our experts together and have informal chats about life, the universe and everything – including emerging trends in the patio world. It’s not surprising to find that more and more of our customers are selecting fire pit tables for their outdoor entertainment centers… they’re compact, produce a great flame, and look amazing in the process.

When the discussion turns to what are the BEST fire pit tables though, the waters get a little murky. We found that some of our customers aren’t sure what to look for in a fire pit, and how to spot the differences that may matter to them in the long run.

As always, we’ve got your back on this. We’ve done the research, compiled the results, and are happy to share with you what you should look for when buying a fire table. Let’s go…

Add Both Heat and Light at Once

Outdoor patio scene with concrete patio with short concrete quarter wall, overlooking a small lake at sunset, with two bronze metal chairs with gray cushions on either side of a lit Fire Sense Perkins 63181 fire pit table

Liquid propane (LP) fire tables typically use 20 lb. propane tanks (like you see with many gas grills), stealthily hidden within themselves so only their natural beauty shines through. Once you’ve got a tank full of propane, all you need is the table to surround it. Here are some of the key things to consider when selecting your propane fire pit table:

Dimensions

Lay out your space (in your head, on paper, or like we do with cardboard that we set on the patio to see what size we like best) to include seating around the fire pit table and the table itself. Now you’ve got an idea of the rough size of the table you need.

Construction and materials

Just like the Three Little Pigs, the construction of your fire table makes a difference. We can all agree that straw or sticks make no sense, but the pig that used bricks may be on to something.

Modern fire tables are frequently constructed of aluminum, steel, wood and rattan, or even glass fiber reinforced concrete. Make sure that the construction of your fire table meets your needs (for instance, concrete fire tables are heavy, as much as 370 lbs., and need to be installed on a solid surface).

Shape

For those customers looking for round, square or rectangular fire tables, you’re in luck! Sadly, our customers (looking at you, Jerry…) in search of a trapezoid fire tables aren’t so lucky. Make sure that the shape of your fire table matches your layout.

Fuel Usage

As a surprise to absolutely nobody, the more heat (BTUs in the fire table world) and flame you get out of your fire table, the more fuel you use. Check the BTUs the fire table puts out, and consider that generally you can get about this much time at maximum output:

35,000 BTU

11.5 Hours

55,000 BTU

7.8 Hours

75,000 BTU

6.0 Hours

95,000 BTU

4.5 Hours

115,000 BTU

	3.5 Hours

Is there any way to maximize this output? Yup… select a fire table that has a glass wind guard (see the next section).

By the way, if you live in a high altitude, you may need a fire table with a higher BTU output. Also, it’s only common sense but keep in mind that the higher the flames are the harder they will be to control safely.

Glass Flame Guard

Fire tables that feature a glass flame guard have a few advantages:

The guard helps to keep little fingers away from the “ouchy zone”
The guard helps to keep things out of the flame (spilled drinks, napkins that blow around, those kind of things)
Wind guards do just that – they keep the wind away from the base of your flame. This means that more of the propane ignites, providing more flames (read: higher efficiency) from the same amount of propane.

Ignition System

Fire pit tables look amazing – and they’re even better when they’re lit! Starting your fire pit can be done a few ways:

Match Lit – Use a long match held near the burner area and turn on the gas. Did we mention a LONG match?
Spark Lit – Turn on the gas and push a button and a (typically) piezo igniter creates a spark that magically turns gas into flames.
Hot Surface Ignition – Using a silicon carbide or silicon nitride igniter piece instead of a traditional spark igniter, the low-voltage but high-current electricity heats up the hot surface igniter piece, heating it up to a glowing 2500°F. Since propane ignites without a spark at somewhere between 920 and 1020°F, the flame lights. After a few seconds the system checks that the pilot has lit correctly, and that gas is circulating appropriately.

Durability

Fire pit tables are built to last – the aluminum, steel and concrete tables are built to last, giving your family years of faithful service. Fire pit tables made of less sturdy materials (like rattan or wicker) may need to be replaced earlier than others.

Best Fire Pit Tables

Outdoor patio scene in early evening, with concrete floor, concrete quarter walled corner with two dark rattan chairs on either side of a Fire Sense Taylor 63222 fire pit table

Best overall fire pit table

﻿Fire Sense 61898﻿

We like the size of this table (49” x 35”) and the included fire bowl lid transforms it into an outdoor patio table.

Best round fire pit table

﻿Fire Sense 63687﻿

The aluminum construction combined with the woven wicker look is aesthetically pleasing, but it’s the flat top (for setting drinks on) that makes this a #1 selection.

Best square fire pit table

Bailey Street Home 324-BEL-1745921

The slate mantel on this little beauty absolutely floored us. It’s a gorgeous centerpiece at an unbeatable price.

Best rectangular fire pit table

﻿Fire Sense 63181﻿

We like the flat black base is accented by an elegant cane-weave tabletop with a burnished bronze finish and applaud the higher output 55000 BTU/hr. burner.

Best granite top fire pit table

Bailey Street Home 324-BEL-1038619

At 41” square, this is a large fire pit table accented with a gorgeous granite hearth.

Best premium fire pit table

﻿Athena Fire Tables ORECFT-603024-BLK-P﻿

Constructed of glass fiber reinforced concrete, the size (60” long) and grandeur of this fire pit table is not to be denied.

﻿Fire pit tables are an incredible guest magnet – fire one up and you’ll find your guests gathering quickly around to gaze into the gorgeous flickering flames. There’s nothing quite like a live fire to create the friendly, romantic tone enjoyed by all. There is no one “best” fire pit table, it’s what is best for YOU that matters. Consider the factors we’ve noted here to narrow down the field to your perfect fire pit table.

Lucky for you, here at Patio Heat and Shade we’ve got a wide selection of fire pit tables to choose from. If you’re having trouble narrowing your search, you don’t have to go it alone. We’ve got the best experts in the business ready to help you through your search to find you the perfect fire pit table for your home. Give us a call, we promise to treat you like family.

The Best Fire Pit Tables: What to Look For

Add Both Heat and Light at Once

Dimensions

Construction and materials

Shape

Fuel Usage

Glass Flame Guard

Ignition System

Durability

Best Fire Pit Tables

Best overall fire pit table

Best round fire pit table

Best square fire pit table

Best rectangular fire pit table

Best granite top fire pit table

Best premium fire pit table

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Outdoor Living

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