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Nov 13, 2024

The Best Portable Fire Pits of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Satisfy that s'mores craving wherever you go with these compact and portable fire

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Satisfy that s'mores craving wherever you go with these compact and portable fire pits.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Nathaniel Allen

Portable fire pits bring the ambiance of a cozy blaze to your backyard and let you leave no trace while camping. Whether you’re planning to grill burgers, roast marshmallows, or simply sit around the campfire, there are plenty of design options to choose from.

To help you find the best portable fire pits on the market, we tested 30 options from popular brands like Solo Stove, Breeo, and Tiki. Our team used the portable fire pits in backyards, at the beach, and on camping trips to evaluate their performances. We found great smokeless, collapsible, and budget options that will keep you plenty warm on the go.

The minimalist cylinder design makes it easy to move around and produces ample heat.

It produces some smoke.

Solo Stove makes a slew of sturdy portable fire pits, and while we tested several models, the Solo Stove Ranger topped all the competition. Made of sleek stainless steel, the cylinder-shaped pit comes nearly ready to use with a base and a removable ash plate. You’ll need to supply your own wood, but once you get a fire going, the pit keeps the flames protected and contained so you can easily add more logs as you enjoy the warmth projected from its top, bottom, and sides. It provides an abundance of heat, but the fire pit is small and light enough to move around whether you’re in a backyard or at the beach. We did notice some smoke coming from the flames, finding that the fire pit isn’t 100 percent smokeless, but rather low smoke.

The two pieces of the fire pit fit into an included carrying bag, and we especially liked that there aren’t multiple parts to keep track of. And when you’re done relaxing by the fire, you can dump the bottom ash plate with minimal effort, and the exterior doesn’t get too hot, so you’ll be able to transport it home after it cools for a bit. For a well-built, functional, and minimalistic fire pit, you can’t go wrong with the Solo Stove Ranger.

The Details: 15 x 16 x 17 inches | 16.1 pounds | Wood

Travel + Leisure / Jodi Espinosa

The grill topper has three height settings so you can easily put more wood in the pit or adjust the level of heat for cooking.

It’s on the heavier side, weighing upward of 30 pounds.

We loved the Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill after cooking five meals on it in a backyard. From veggies and turkey burgers to fish and sausages, this fire pit heats and cooks food evenly, making prepping on a fire a breeze. Plus, you can adjust the grill's height to control the heat and easily add wood to the fire when needed. The design continued to impress us with the inclusion of a base plate to place under the fire pit to prevent ash and embers from hitting the ground whether you’re on your patio or in the woods. The fire pit is incredibly intuitive to set up, and it's simple to flatten it into the compact carrying case. The only negative is that the fire pit weighs 30 pounds, making it one of our list's heavier portable fire pits. However, if you’re looking for a space-saving grill that makes an excellent fire pit, too, this Snow Peak option is a must-have.

The Details: 21.42 x 21.61 x 5.24 inches | 30 pounds | Wood

Because it comes fully assembled, you don't have to waste too much time setting up.

It's small, so it doesn't produce a lot of heat.

Superlightweight and portable, this stove kit is sure to become a permanent addition to your backpacking setup. It comes with everything you need, from windscreen to cooking pot, to quickly create a fire that can keep a small group warm or heat a meal. It also comes with kindling, a fire striker, and alcohol burner to help you build that fire as quickly as possible. It all packs down into three small containers for easy portability and setup, although the gear collects into three separate carrying cases instead of one larger one. On the other hand, we liked that the smaller bags allowed us to separate the pieces for more flexible and creative ways of packing. For frequent campers and backpackers, this portable fire bit is much better for the planet, produces less waste, and is a more sustainable approach to cooking in the wilderness.

The Details: 4.25 x 5.7 inches | 8.96 ounces | Wood

It's easy to set up but robust enough warm and cook for a large group.

You'll need heatproof gloves to safely move it while it's burning.

If you want a portable fire pit to mainly use during camping trips (and one that's larger than our hiking option above), this one from East Oak is an excellent option. Assembly was quick — it only took us a few minutes to get everything put together. The fire pit came with instructions, but we didn't even need to use them because of how easy it was to set up, with no tools needed either. It was very light and required little effort to carry around, which is a plus for taking it on the go. It also seemed sturdy enough to stand up to outdoor elements, although we can't vouch for below-average weather. While we didn't cook over this fire pit, we felt that we could easily put a grill grate over the top and use it for barbecuing or tailgating. It had great airflow for a clean burn, and an included ashtray made it easy to clean up after use. There aren't any handles on the fire pit, so it's not safe to move while burning without heatproof gloves. We would also like to see more controls for airflow to be able to switch between fast and slow burns. Overall, we think this is a great option for campers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The Details: 21.3 x 21.3 x 14 inches | Wood or charcoal

The gas gauge is placed in an easily accessible spot, and the propane hose is long so you can keep the tank far away for safety.

The heat primarily goes upward instead of outward, and the fire pit takes about an hour to cool down.

We love that the Heininger Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit takes less than five minutes to set up. It comes with a bag of lava rocks that you can pour into the bowl of the fire pit, which add to the sleek, modern look. Although it doesn’t come with a bag, the pit is lightweight enough to carry (even with the lava rocks in it) from a backyard to a car without any trouble. Turning it on is intuitive and easy if you have a long-stem lighter or match, and we like how the gas gauge is located on the side of the base away from any flames. The propane hose is 10 feet long so you can keep the tank a safe distance from the flames. We found that the heat from the fire flows upward instead of out, so you may need to get closer to the fire pit on cold nights. One thing to note is it took nearly an hour for the fire pit to cool down enough to comfortably move it. However, you won’t need to worry about your clothes smelling smokey at the end of the night thanks to the completely smokeless flames from the propane fuel.

The Details: 19.25 x 19.25 x 11.5 inches | 22 pounds | Propane

It's easy to set up and doesn't get too hot, so you don't have to worry about burning fingers around the table.

Because of the compact size, it isn't the best for cooking or grilling over.

Whether you have a small space or want to keep things a little more low-key, a tabletop fire pit can be a great alternative to some of the larger picks on this list. We found this Solo Stove tabletop fire pit not just our favorite tabletop option, but one of the best fire pits we tested overall. During testing, we used it on a patio table, during a remote camping trip to the Tetons, and during a backyard barbecue. It took just a few minutes to get set up and going, and we found the instructions easy to follow. The legs of the stand are easy to unfold and make it possible to set up on a table. The quick setup and takedown also makes it great for traveling. We were able to burn dry wood and kindling during every use, so pricier pellets shouldn't be necessary. We noticed a little bit of discoloration on the inside from the soot after the first use, but the outside has remained in good shape. It offered a nice amount of warmth but wasn't so hot that we had to stay far away, making it great for playing cards, eating, or just chatting around. For around $80, we feel like this fire pit is a great value.

The Details: 6.1 x 6.1 x 6.1 inches | 1.4 pounds | Wood or pellets

This fire pit emits virtually no smoke.

It is difficult to tighten all of the bolts without additional tools that aren't included in the kit.

For those who plan on primarily using a fire pit at home but don't want to install a permanent fixture, the Tiki Social Smokeless Fire Pit is our favorite option. This fire pit took a little bit longer to assemble than other picks on this list — about 20 minutes. We found the instructions easy to follow, but ran into some issues when tightening the bolts and ultimately had to use our own tools to make sure everything was secure. Once assembled, we found that we couldn't move the entire fire pit in one piece as the top and bottom portions don't attach, and it's too bulky to keep both together. Because of this, we recommend setting up the fire pit exactly where you want to use it in your yard. Lighting the fire pit and keeping it burning was simple as long as we regularly added wood to the fire. We also felt that it really lived up to its name as a smokeless fire pit — we detected only a minuscule amount of smoke during use, which makes it an ideal option for small outdoor gatherings.

The Details: 25.5 x 25.5 x 17.7 inches | 32 pounds | Wood

It’s lightweight but sturdy and projects heat from all angles.

It was slightly difficult to put together at first.

While we tested several collapsible fire pits, the Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Fire Pit has standout features in addition to its ability to completely break down and fit into a compact rectangular bag. We were thoroughly impressed with the lightweight stainless steel material that has a sturdy base when it’s put together. Although it was slightly difficult to pop the steel mesh cover into the legs while assembling the fire pit, we still think it’s amazing how the legs, sides, and mesh cover come apart for stellar portability. When the fire pit is assembled, it boasts an incredibly sturdy design that can hold the weight of several burning logs. The fire pit does an excellent job of emitting heat from the top, bottom, and sides to keep your feet and body plenty warm. We also found that when you take apart the fire pit, there will be ash and soot on the base, so you should be prepared for some messiness on your hands. However, once the parts go into the carrying bag, you won’t have to worry about ash getting everywhere.

The Details: 24 x 24 x 15 inches | 8 pounds | Wood

We found that the six portable fire pits listed below had good performances overall, but they had minor inconveniences or weaknesses that prevented us from choosing them for our list of top picks.

Blue Sky Outdoor Living Steel Peak Patio Smokeless Fire Pit: This fire pit was effortless to set up and use, but the octagonal shape is awkward to carry, and it weighs too much to be super portable.

Tiki Low-smoke Portable Fire Pit: It took less than five minutes to set up the fire pit, and we love the unique design of the base with raised hairpin legs, but it's heavy enough that it requires two people to carry.

Breeo X Series 19: This fire pit comes ready to use without any setup required, but it weighs 47 pounds and isn’t the most portable option.

Breeo Y Series: This Breeo model has standout features like grilling capabilities, a built-in bottle opener, and adjustable legs, but it’s heavy and awkward to carry.

Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0: We had high hopes for this Solo Stove model, but it’s heavier than we expected, and there are better models for the same or less cost.

Cuisinart COH-800 Cleanburn Smokeless 24-inch Fire Pit: Although this fire pit was easy to set up and burned cleanly, we found it bulky and cumbersome to transport.

Travel + Leisure / Alyssa Kingham

We tested 30 portable fire pits to evaluate in real-world settings, including backyards, at the beach, on camping trips, and for picnics. During and after testing, we took notes on the assembly process, the portability, heating abilities, and design of each fire pit. We followed the same steps to thoroughly and consistently test the portable fire pits.

First, we judged the assembly process by unboxing the fire pits and combing through the instructions and list of parts to ensure everything was included and not damaged. The easiest fire pits to set up had clear instructions and took a reasonable amount of time based on the size or tools required. To test portability, we lifted and moved the fire pits around for at least five minutes to evaluate the weight and how comfortable they were to transport. Our favorite fire pits were extremely lightweight and easy to move around.

Lastly, we turned on the fire pits or started a fire for wood-fueled pits to see how easy it was to use the fire pit, and we enjoyed multiple evenings sitting around the fire. The best fire pits for heating and functionality provided consistent flames with the ability to adjust the intensity. We will continue to update this article as we test more fire pits and as we continue to use them to make sure they are durable and long-lasting.

Travel + Leisure / Nathaniel Allen

Outdoor enthusiasts like campers or backpackers should consider highly portable fire pits like collapsible options made of lightweight stainless steel that uses wood as fuel for cooking. If you’re planning on using a portable fire pit for mostly cooking, consider buying one with a grill attachment or looking into portable grills. For shoppers in need of a backyard fire pit, the weight might be less important than someone looking to bring a portable fire pit to the beach or somewhere for a picnic.

The best portable fire pits will be simple and quick to setup, especially since you’ll likely be taking it apart and putting it together often. Some fire pits come with a carrying bag, so you’ll want to consider one that has a case, a handle, or is lightweight enough to carry easily. Propane fire pits are generally hassle-free to light since you don’t need to get fuel like wood to burn manually. However, some fire pits have specific size requirements for propane tanks, so you will need to stock up if you’re planning to use yours often. Wood might be easier to come by if you're outdoors, but sometimes lighting wood can take some time.

Generally, you should refrain from placing a fire pit in grass. Depending on the type of fire pit, if there are flames or heat near the grass, it can ruin the grass. Or even worse, since grass is flammable, it could pose a potential fire hazard risk.

Propane fire pits are not designed for cooking, but you can still roast a marshmallow or hot dog without any issues. However, if you’re planning on cooking with your portable fire pit, there are great options that are designed specifically for grilling and cooking — which could be easier than using a propane fire pit.

Every fire pit is different, so it's critical to follow the manufacturer's instructions that should come with the device. Proper maintenance is key to fire safety, so if you can't find the instructions, contact the brand or look for instructions on the website.

Travel + Leisure / Tammy Gardini

Anna Popp is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure, where she writes about and reviews travel products. Anna grew up in Bend, Oregon, and when she wasn't camping with her family, they could all be found sitting around a fire pit in the backyard. Anna used her vast outdoor gear knowledge and worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best portable fire pits based on a series of tests completed in a real-world setting.

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