What to Buy The 10 Best Portable Fire Pits for Elevated Backyard Entertaining Upgrade your base camp setup with our list of lightweight, smokeless, and gorgeous fire pits. By Rochelle Bilow Rochelle Bilow Rochelle Bilow is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, and the former social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. She has also worked as a cook on a small farm in Central New York and a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City. Her first book, a food and farming memoir titled The Call of the Farm, was published in 2014. Her second book, a romance novel set in Scotland, will be published in February 2023. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 5, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Tests Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Solo Stove Lighting up the night at a backyard barbecue, base camp, or outdoor summer party on the patio is so much easier than it used to be thanks to portable fire pits. But with so many fire pits to choose from, finding the right option for your specific backyard setup or next camping trip can be a bit overwhelming. Luckily, we're here to help guide your search. We tested several top-rated fire pits and researched dozens more, evaluating each pick across five major metrics: assembly, portability, heating performance, design, and value. We’ve highlighted the best portable fire pits across multiple categories, including picks perfect for grilling, camping, big crowds, backyard hangs, and propane-fueled models. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Tiki Smokeless Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Grilling: Snow Peak Takibi Fire and Grill at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Camping: Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Backyard: KingSo Outdoor Fire Pit at Walmart Jump to Review Best Propane: Bond Manufacturing Aurora Portable Steel Propane Gas Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Collapsible: Primus Fire Pit at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Easiest to Carry: Inno Stage Smokeless Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Big Fires: East Oak Smokeless Fire Pit at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Crate & Barrel Pros: This pit includes a removable ashtray catch and a free carrying tote. Cons: Despite being advertised as “smokeless,” a low level of smoke is still produced. When it comes to name recognition, Solo Stove has a sterling reputation in the fire pit game. And with good reason: The Ranger 2.0 received perfect scores in our tests for ease of assembly and heating performance. This double-barreled, ventilated metal drum is designed for burning efficiency. As one tester noted, the Ranger 2.0 produced a “hotter, more thorough fire,” that was able to “get every ounce of fuel out of your logs.” Finding the best portable fire pit requires a combination of ease of assembly and transport, without sacrificing stability and structure. The Ranger 2.0 hit all the marks. With just two durable stainless steel components, it’s a breeze to put together. But this small fire pit is not to be underestimated: One tester praised it for its “very solid” construction, and steadily burning fire that provided ambiance without overheating the exterior of the pit. Ultimately, its simple aesthetic won’t bowl you over, but in testing, we were wowed by its construction: The air is meant to flow in from the bottom of the unit to provide a well-fueled fire, and it recirculates throughout the top to combat excess smoke. Price at time of publish: $230 Dimensions: 15 x 12.5 inchesWeight: 15 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel Best Value UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Backcountrygear.com Pros: It’s incredibly lightweight and comes with a carrying case. Cons: It’s not the most stable of models we tested; reviewers note that it tends to collapse if the grate is not positioned over the top. Our tester loved the “extreme portability” and intuitive, no-instructions-required assembly of this fire pit, which didn’t sacrifice performance. This fire pit is made to travel and is lightweight enough to pack in and out of a campsite or beach. Our tester was particularly impressed with the ease with which it packs up — “Remember to keep the bag,” they said, adding that the pit’s components all fit neatly inside. This no-frills pit is ideal for cooking over charcoal, but the largest size can accommodate logs or wood chunks. There are three sizes available, but thanks to their quick-collapsing design, they’re all easy to transport. “You know value when you see it,” our tester said, giving the UCO perfect scores across the board. Price at time of publish: $41 Dimensions: 7.5 x 16 x 7.48 inchesWeight: 3.3 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel Best Splurge Tiki Patio Smokeless Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Tikibrand.com Pros: It’s attractive and makes a big visual impact. Cons: It’s not collapsible, and isn’t the easiest to transport or pack up. This Amazon bestseller is a big hit when it comes to both function and form. It has an attractive visual appeal, with a brushed dark metal exterior and gold accents — you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a stationary or built-in fire pit. It’s a low-smoke model, thanks to the recirculating air design, and it’s also a pleasure to set up and maintain. Reviewers consistently praised this fire pit for its “easy cleanup. The ash-catch tray slides out of the bottom with the aid of a handsome wooden handle. The model shown here has a four-foot heat radius, which makes it great for entertaining. It can even be purchased with a starter pack of wood, so you can get down to the business of making s’mores as soon as you unbox it. Tiki makes two other sizes; a “portable,” which doesn’t have as big a heat output, and a “reunion,” which pulls out all the stops for XL crowds. Price at time of publish: $395 Dimensions: 24.75 x 18.75 inchesWeight: 45 poundsMaterial: Powder-coated stainless steel Best for Grilling Snow Peak Takibi Fire and Grill Back Country View On Amazon View On REI View On Snowpeak.com Pros: It folds down into its carrying case; you can adjust it to three different heights, according to how hot you want the grill to burn. Cons: It’s a little pricey. The Tabiki grill was designed to pack down and take on an adventure — it’s an impressively portable option. One of our testers noted that the initial setup was so easy, they were able to do it without consulting the instructions. But its real strength is as a grill, thanks to adjustable legs that allow you to raise and lower the cooking grate to achieve the perfect temperature for whatever you’re grilling. This fire pit comes with a cross-hatched metal grill grate, which can be placed on top of the pit as with traditional grills. (You can also remove it if you’re looking for a fire with ambiance, or if marshmallows are on the menu.) One tester noted the “perfect amount of heat” given for grilling, making it worth the price tag. It’s also a smart choice for those with limited storage space, as it stores almost entirely flat. Although they were initially skeptical of the $350 cost, after testing they felt strongly that the Snow Peak was a “very good value.” Price at time of publish: $350 Dimensions: 17.7 x 17.9 x 12 inchesWeight: 32 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel Best for Camping Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon View On REI View On Walmart Pros: It’s inexpensive and incredibly portable. Cons: The safety heat shield must be purchased separately. Cleanup can be messy. Campers who hate dealing with fussy assembly, take note: Our testers found this fire pit to be incredibly simple to assemble with a lightweight and quality design. After some basic assembly, this box-like no-frills fire pit pops into place. Testers appreciated its quality construction — it’s surprisingly sturdy for a pit that weighs under 10 pounds. It also packs down to almost nothing, thanks to the detachable legs, making it a stellar choice to take along on your next camping trip. During testing, one reviewer did note that it’s not as much of a looker as some other brands, but that’s the point: This is a pack-in, pack-out option that can go anywhere you do. Getting the fire started is easy, too: One of our testers was even able to create a fire out of found sticks in their backyard. Heads up: Although you have to purchase a heat shield separately, it’s worth the extra $30 for the ability to make a campfire safely over grass or wood surfaces. Price at time of publish: $100 Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 15 inchesWeight: 7.6 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel Best for Backyard KingSo 22-Inch Outdoor Fire Pit Walmart View On Walmart View On Kingso.net Pros: It’s inexpensive and lightweight. Cons: You’ll need a screwdriver to assemble it. Although it’s small, it doesn’t fold or collapse for transport. If you’re looking for a more traditional aesthetic, this iron fire pit hits the mark. With a mesh domed top to control smoke and a half-kettle base, it’s tailor-made for backyard hang sessions and summer evenings. Our testers gave it a solid 4.5 out of 5 for design, and a perfect 5 for value (“Heats up fast with even burning.”) During testing, our reviewers noted its surprising portability — it’s lightweight enough to cart around, but the four metal legs give it added stability. Although it’s not ideal for grilling (there’s no cooking grate), our testers made s’mores to great success and praised it for its easy-to-start, quick-to-heat functionality. It’s also available in a 26-inch diameter size if you’re looking for a slightly larger option for entertaining. Price at time of publish: $75 Dimensions: 22 x 20 inchesWeight: 12.27 poundsMaterial: Iron and mesh Best Propane Bond Manufacturing Aurora Portable Steel Propane Gas Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Walmart Pros: Very little assembly is required. It’s easy to start, thanks to the propane lighter. Cons: You’ll need to replace the propane tank with regular use. There’s no traditional “campfire smell.” For an instant fire that requires no wood or charcoal, and is mess-free, you can’t beat this propane fire pit. Assembling it is as easy as attaching a handle, and all you have to do to light it up is push a button (once the propane tank is attached, of course). It earned an impressive 4.9 overall rating from our testers, who liked the ease of use and no-ashes cleanup. It’s petite, which our tester noted made this an ideal choice for someone with a smaller outdoor space to warm, or campers looking to enjoy a fire with less mess (and no wood to haul). The lid on this fire pit is incredibly solid, and our tester particularly liked the locking feature, which is handy for transport and keeping backyard fires safe for kids. Price at time of publish: $159 Dimensions: 18.5 x 14.7 inchesWeight: 18 poundsMaterial: Powder-coated stainless steel Best Collapsible Primus Kamoto Fire Pit Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma View On Primus.us Pros: You can fuel it with wood or charcoal. It comes with a fitted grill grate. Cons: To make it truly useful for grilling, you’ll want to upgrade to a large size. Primus’s Kamoto fire pit is an unlikely combination: Efficient to collapse and transport, but impressively sturdy. The legs are reinforced with a metal tray base, and its fuel basin is large enough to hold wood, in addition to charcoal. The integrated ash tray doubles as a heavy-duty, fire-safe base, so you can set up this grill anywhere safely. While this high-end pick from Williams Sonoma is undeniably attractive, it provides more than just ambiance. The Kamoto comes with a tight-fitting grill grate that’s roomy enough for an entire pizza, but also perfect for burgers, steak, and vegetables, thanks to the tightly woven metal grates. Price at time of publish: $150 Dimensions: 21 x 15.25 x 12.75 inchesWeight: 14 poundsMaterial: Powder-coated stainless steel Easiest to Carry Inno Stage Portable Smokeless Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon View On Bonanza.com Pros: It’s inexpensive and comes with a comfortable carrying case. Cons: It’s recommended to burn pellets — although some reviewers note they’ve burned real wood with no issues. Our tester gave this fire pit a perfect score for ease of assembly (“I only had to stack the larger piece on top of the smaller one,”) and more top marks for portability (“It all fits nicely in a bag.”) The bag is key here, as the entire fire pit zips up into a carrying case with two extra large carrying straps, making it comfortable to transport. There are also two metal handles on the side of the fire pit so you can move it around your yard or campsite (when it’s not in use, of course). Our tester appreciated the modern design that “looks more expensive than it is.” Of course, a fire pit has to perform well, too. The INNO produced a fire that was “clean and controlled,” with “no smoke, ash, or sparks.” Testers also noted that it’s hard to ignore the price, which is almost less than half of some of its competitors. Price at time of publish: $90 Dimensions: 7 x 15 x 12.5 inchesWeight: 16 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel Best for Big Fires East Oak 29-inch Smokeless Fire Pit Amazon View On Amazon Pros: It has a large heat radius with impressively large flames. Cons: It’s a little cumbersome to move, although East Oak does make smaller sizes. This hefty, sturdy fire pit is made to accommodate 8 people (although the sky’s the limit on the number of marshmallows you can toast). With sturdy legs and a contained burn barrel, you can feel confident in its safety features, too. It makes use of the “fuel from the bottom, recirculate air above” design employed by other drum-style fire pits, but it’s extra-large and incredibly stable. You can choose between a dark black or shiny steel color and three different sizes. Reviewers have noted it burns almost entirely smoke-free, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers or those with sensitivities. Also of note: It comes with a metal fire poker, which doubles as a handle helper for removing the ashtray. Price at time of publish: $445 Dimensions: 29.53 x 17.97 inchesWeight: 33 poundsMaterial: Stainless steel The Tests To make our selects, we used both real-world testing insights and thorough market research. We sent our expert testers 26 portable fire pits to evaluate in a real-world setting and researched dozens more popular, top-rated models. After using the fire pits in various outdoor settings including at the beach, on camping trips, and in our backyards, we rated each fire pit on a scale of one to five based on the following metrics: assembly, portability, heating, and design. Additionally, when making our selects, we considered overall value, aesthetics, and versatility. We highlighted the best portable fire pits across multiple categories, including easy-to-light, propane-fueled models, picks with grilling grates, and lightweight picks that work well for camping. Factors to Consider Intended Use Some fire pits are made specifically for grilling — they include cooking grates and can be adjusted to accommodate the flame height and heat. Others are XL, so you can use them to entertain a crowd. Others are made to take on the go, with collapsible, lightweight designs. While all portable fire pits have some degree of multiuse, before you buy one be sure you understand its primary use. Ease of Ignition Propane-fueled fire pits are easy to light: Just attach or refill the propane tank and push or click the “Ignite” button to on. Wood or pellet-burning fire pits take a little more time to ignite, but if you can light a charcoal grill, igniting a portable fire pit will be an easy task for you. Cleaning Most portable fire pits have an ash catch or basin underneath the fuel box or barrel. Well-designed models have handles or other features, like a sliding mechanism, that allows you to easily remove the catch, dump the ash, then reassemble the pit. Portability Portability is about more than just weight. The best portable fire pits are lightweight, so you can take them wherever you go — even packing them into a campsite. Carrying bags are crucial for ease of transport (and to keep accessories all together). We also favor fire pits that collapse for easier transport and slim storage. Cooking Accessories If you plan on using your portable fire pit for grilling, you’ll need a few accessories. Check to ensure the fire pit comes with a grate specifically made for grilling (one of our top picks, the Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill, does). It’s also helpful to have a place to store or hold tools, like tongs or a spatula; a tray underneath the burn box or a side attachment is ideal for that. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best type of fire pit to buy? The best fire pit is easy to assemble, sturdy, safe to use, and can handle a variety of tasks, like warming, creating ambiance, and grilling. All our picks in this article are for portable fire pits, which have the added benefit of being easy to pack up and take with you to your next cookout, tailgate, camping trip, or beach party. Which fire pits give off the most heat? Large fire pits with enclosed burn boxes are the most efficient for heating a crowd — and as a bonus, many of those models are smoke-free or low-smoke. Ultra-portable, collapsible pits are great for taking on the go and grilling, but they give off less heat than the semi-stationary models. What is the best size for a portable fire pit? It depends on whether you plan on transporting it or not. Most portable fire pits max out at about 25 inches in diameter; any more and they’re cumbersome to carry. All of our top picks are around one to two feet in diameter, and no more than 50 pounds. Can I put a portable fire pit on the grass? Some fire pits come with heat shields or protective bases. Those are safe to use on grass or wood surfaces (like patio floors). Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use before lighting a fire in your fire pit. Is it safe to roast marshmallows on a propane portable fire pit? Yep! And delicious, too. Our Expertise Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook. In researching this article, she used testing data and researched dozens of popular portable fire pits to find the best picks for outdoor entertaining. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit