The 10 Best Portable Fire Pits for Elevated Backyard Entertaining

Best Overall

Solo Stove Ranger 2.0

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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 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel

Best Value

UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel

Best Splurge

Tiki Patio Smokeless Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 45 pounds
• Material: Powder-coated stainless steel

Best for Grilling

Snow Peak Takibi Fire and Grill

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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 inches
• Weight: 32 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel

Best for Camping

Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 7.6 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel

Best for Backyard

KingSo 22-Inch Outdoor Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 12.27 pounds
• Material: Iron and mesh

Best Propane

Bond Manufacturing Aurora Portable Steel Propane Gas Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 18 pounds
• Material: Powder-coated stainless steel

Best Collapsible

Primus Kamoto Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 14 pounds
• Material: Powder-coated stainless steel

Easiest to Carry

Inno Stage Portable Smokeless Fire Pit

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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 inches
• Weight: 16 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel