There is a misconception that as electric fireplaces are taking over the whole market of fireplaces, so will electric fire pits.
Spoiler alert, it won’t.
What created such a misconception? It’s how effective outdoor and indoor electric fireplaces are. However, outdoor electric fire pit models don’t take the same path towards “breaking the market”
In this WarmthPedia guide, we’ll discuss outdoor electric fire pit models, how electricity has been used in fire pits, and what models can be used for an outdoor fire pit.
What Is an Outdoor Electric Fire Pit?
An outdoor fire pit is a device that runs on a specific fuel type to provide a certain outdoor area with heat.
It comes in different shapes, forms, types, and practical uses, but generally speaking, there are no outdoor electric fire pit models, unfortunately.
We had tens of thousands of electric fireplaces and fire pits tested, reviewed, and used, but we never had an outdoor electric fire pit in our hands.
However, there are outdoor electric fireplaces, they’re rare, but there are a few models you can check out.
Looking for alternatives to outdoor electric fire pit models? Keep reading through.
How Does an Electric Fire Pit Work?
There are no outdoor electric fire pit models, but a fire pit that runs on gas uses electronic ignition.
It uses electricity to light the fire whenever the power is turned on.
Once the fire is lit, the electronic ignition just shuts itself down.
As for turning the fire off, you won’t need to deal with any electricity since the electronic ignition system has shut itself down beforehand.
Are There Other Outdoor Fire Pit Alternatives To an Outdoor Electric Fire Pit?
Since there are no outdoor electric fire pit options, we won’t leave you without alternatives.
Therefore, you have other options like gas and wood fire pits.
Generally speaking, gas is used and demanded more than wood fire pits, but they’re both useful for different styles and uses.
Gas fire pits used an electric ignition to ignite the fire, which makes them the closest to an outdoor electric fire pit.
Regardless, we’ll help you decide which outdoor fire pit suits you the most, whether it’s a gas device using an outdoor electric fire pit ignition system, or a wood-burning one.
Which Fuel Type Is Best For an Outdoor Gas Fire Pit?
Since we established that the best alternative to an outdoor electric fire pit is a gas fire pit, we’ll help you at WarmthPedia to choose which fuel type would suit you more.
Outdoor gas fire pits run on 2 different fuel types: Liquid Propane and Natural gas.
An outdoor gas fire pit that runs on Liquid propane (also goes with LP) requires a propane tank that supplies the fire pit with fuel, and it’ll require changing the empty tank with a new one whenever it’s depleted.
On the other hand, natural gas only needs to be connected to the gas lines inside your house.
However, gas fire pits running on LP burn cleaner and more efficiently than natural gas ones.
This means that you can decide which one suits you the most, knowing that propane can cost more, but burns slower than natural gas at a %50 rate.
Which one is it going to be? You pick!
Best Outdoor Electric Fire Pit Models Alternatives
1. Cosiest Outdoor Propane Fire Pit Coffee Table
2. Sunbury Outdoor Propane Fire Pit
3. Tiki Brand 25 Inch Stainless Steel Smokeless Fire Pit
4. Endless Summer Square Gas Outdoor Fire Pit Table
5. Legacy Heating 28-inch Wicker & Rattan Square Propane Fire Pit Table
1. Cosiest Outdoor Propane Fire Pit Coffee Table
The first on this list is the Cosiest Outdoor Propane Fire Pit, which is a top 75 outdoor fire table among its peers around the US.
It features natural red lava pieces that keep the area warm after you turn off the fire pit, as they are continuously heated by the flames.
As the name suggests, it runs on propane and is a perfect pick to be placed on your patio, deck, or poolside.
This low-profile outdoor fireplace weighs only 100 lbs and has two-sided handles to help move it around your outdoor area.
The 4.5-star rating doesn’t come empty-handed, as one of the happy customers said, “ it came with the lava rocks and choice of glass beads. Overall very nice, and well made. Even the internal burner and gas components are of good quality.”
Here is a list of its features
| Dimensions | 40.5″D x 40.5″W x 12″H |
| Heating Per Hour | 50,000 BTUs |
| Style | Modern |
| Materials | MgO Composite |
| Fuel Type | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| Item Weight | 101 lbs |
2. Sunbury Outdoor Propane Fire Pit
Sunbury Outdoor Propane Fire pit enjoys a square shape that can fit different areas outside your house.
It is equipped with an adjustable knob, allowing you to choose between 3 different levels of adjustable flame for different occasions.
Despite its +100 lbs weight, it’s pretty easy to move and use according to our testing at WarmthPedia.
Moreover, its size made it more practical, as you can put food and drinks on it with ease.
“It’s very nice looking, sturdy and functional, just what we were looking for. In our case we wanted it movable so we replaced the feet with rollers from HD which fit perfectly,” this is one of the hundreds of satisfied customers who rated the fire pit with more than 4.4 stars.
| Dimensions | 31″D x 32″W x 24″H |
| Heating Per Hour | 50,000 BTUs |
| Style | Modern |
| Materials | Concrete |
| Fuel Type | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| Item Weight | 109 lbs |
| Adjustable Flames | Yes, 3 different levels |
3. Tiki Brand 25 Inch Stainless Steel Smokeless Fire Pit
One of the most famous outdoor fire pits on the whole market in the US.
It’s the Award Winning Tiki Brand 25 Inch Stainless Steel Smokeless Fire Pit.
It has won the 2021 Edison Best New Product Awards, beating some of the finest products in a year of quarantine.
This smokeless fire pit effectively produces heat covering up to 4 feet radius, while enjoying an internal airflow system getting rid of excessive smoke and ash.
Additionally, it’s built with weather-resistant materials, making it a viable option to be used in various areas outside the house, regardless of the weather.
This allowed the wood fire pit to reach the list of top 40 outdoor fire pits, with more than 4.7-star ratings accumulated by +1750 happy customers.
This is what one of them had to say about this fire pit, “We looked at Solo, Breeo and others before purchasing a Tiki fire pit, and we’re very pleased with our purchase. It’s a solid product, designed to last and to provide warm, inviting fires with minimal smoke, particularly when fueled with Tiki wood pellet bags”
| Dimensions | 24.75″D x 24.75″W x 18.75″H |
| Heating Per Hour | 30,000 BTUs |
| Finish Type | Powder Coated |
| Fuel Type | Wood-Burning |
| Item Weight | 45lb |
4. Endless Summer Square Gas Outdoor Fire Pit Table
Endless Summer has one of its finest outdoor fire pits occupying the list of best models on online markets.
This Square Gas Outdoor Fire Pit Table by Endless Summer is one of the easiest to assemble and use.
Moreover, it enjoys a lightweight build compared to other models on this list, in addition to its safety certifications.
It’s a CSA-certified model, with a built-in automatic shutdown safety feature.
It also enjoys a hidden control panel and tank for its liquid propane tank.
Here’s what a satisfied customer said about this top 10 outdoor electric fire pit alternative, “Great for what we were looking for and goes well with our outdoor furniture. Easy to assemble and easy to use. Soothing to watch as the flames are ever changing in height and span of the fire perimeter within the lava rocks. Enjoy”
Read more about its features:
| Dimensions | 30″D x 30″W x 24.21″H |
| Heating Per Hour | 30,000 BTUs |
| Finish Type | Stainless Steel |
| Item Weight | 49.16 lbs |
| Fuel Type | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
5. Legacy Heating 28-inch Wicker & Rattan Square Propane Fire Pit Table
Legacy Heating Propane Fire Pit Table is one of a kind when it comes to outdoor fire tables.
It’s ranked #4 on Amazon US among outdoor fire tables, empowered by its versatility, heating power, and an incredible price.
It comes in a square shape, with a lightweight build, and runs on Liquid Propane gas.
Additionally, it complements any outdoor area, whether it is a backyard, a garden, a balcony, or even a terrace.
The ETL-certified fire pit table enjoys a 4.6-star rating (out of 5 stars) from more than +2000 happy customers.
Here’s one of the quotes on its performance, “This was a quarantine gift for my mother and, two years later, it is still being used very regularly and in perfect condition. Easy setup and easy to use.”
Here’s a list of this amazing fire pit’s features:
| Dimensions | 28″D x 28″W x 24″H |
| Heating Per Hour | 48,000 BTUs |
| Style | Modern |
| Materials | Metal |
| Finish Type | Steel & Stone |
| Item Weight | 58.52 lbs |
| Fuel Type | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| Price | Economical ~$200 |
Conclusion
This is where our list of Outdoor Electric Fire Pit alternatives ends, with a conclusion that there are no outdoor electric fire pit models on the whole market, but there are some gas-fueled ones that outclass any other outdoor heating system.
In case you have any questions, feel free to ask us in the comments section below.