Best Portable Propane Fire Pit: Top Picks, Safety & Features

After a bit of experience with portable propane fire pits over the years, I’ve picked up a few things I think are key (with some being non-negotiable, in my opinion) when choosing a gas fire pit you can move easily take with you on the road.

I usually start with safety and durability and then work my way into the finer points of a fire pit or fire pit-related product as the process progresses. Without these two qualities, there’s no point in looking at a product any further.

Let’s take a look and see who I think is at the top of the market and what I look for when choosing a portable propane fire pit.

The Outland Firebowl 870 Premium is my top pick for the best portable propane fire pit currently on the market. With a 19-inch diameter bowl rated at 58,000 BTUs per hour, it’s one of few at its price point with an auto-ignition starter.

Read on for more on what makes this portable gas fire pit is so good and an additional recommendation if you are looking for more options.

Image of the Outland Living 870 Premium firebowl — **Outland Living’s 870 Portable Propane Fire Pit**

**Fire Pit Image Credit:** Outland Living

Outland Firebowl 870 Portable Propane Fire Pit

Outland Living builds well-regarded portable propane fire pits, with the Outland Firebowl 870 (see on Amazon) leading in construction and value.

Let’s talk about the Outland 870’s features, which are important to me when choosing a portable gas fire pit.

Outland Living 870 Specs

Diameter: 19-in. Most portable gas fire pits come in a diameter range between 19 and 21 inches (Outland does have one model outside this range, the 883, at 24 inches in diameter).

I chose the Outland 870 because its 19-in diameter adds to its portability factor, making it both lighter and easier to store when transporting it in a vehicle.

Weight: 25 lbs. The 870 weighs more than most 19-inch portable fire pits, but its solid construction creates this additional weight compared to lesser models.

Slightly cheaper fire pits will keep weight down to keep costs down, but durability may suffer. However, most fire pits in this range come at around 22 lbs. So the additional weight of the Outland 870 doesn’t move the needle much in the long run.

BTU Rating: 58,000 BTUs/hour. Outland rates the 870 at 58,000 BTUs, placing it on the high end of the portable fire pit market and making it a good value.

Most 19-inch portable gas fire pits are either at 58,000 BTUs or less.

Gas fire pit BTUs measure heat output per hour, so higher is better.

…A little more on BTUs According to the U.S. Department of Energy Information Administration, “a British thermal unit (BTU) is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. It is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at the temperature at that water has its greatest density (approximately 39 degrees Fahrenheit).

Energy or heat can be used to compare energy sources or fuels equally. Fuels can be converted from physical units of measure (such as weight or volume) to a common unit of measurement of the energy or heat content of each fuel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) uses Btu as a unit of energy content.”

Bottom line: the more BTUs your propane fire pit has, the more heat it puts out per hour.

Safety Features: The Outland 870 has three specific safety features I look for in a portable propane fire pit.

Note: These safety features are common across Outland’s line, which is why I chose an Outland model as my top pick. However, many non-Outland models lack these features, so I tend to rule them out when making recommendations.

A Lower Profile – The 870 is one of the lowest profile propane fire pits (11 inches tall) in Outland Living’s portable line, except for the 873 Cypress (9.25 inches) and the 893 Deluxe (10.5 inches).

It is also lower in height than most 19-inch propane fire pits made by other manufacturers. With this low height comes a lower center of gravity, meaning the fire pit is more tip-resistant.

A ring base (no legs) – When it comes to portable propane fire pits, I want the unit supported by a ring base, not one with legs.

Even with a low center of gravity, particularly one aided by the weight of a few pounds of lava rock, fire pits with legs are more prone to tipping. As a result, legs can get stuck in ruts or small holes you may not see.

If that happens, the fire pit could tip.

Most portable fire pits have ring bases like the Outland 870, and I recommend this feature.

A ring base provides 360 degrees of even contact with the surface the fire pit is sitting on. Along with a low profile, the ring base adds an extra degree of safety and a reduced risk of tipping.

A longer 20 lb propane tank hose – The Outland 870 is equipped with a 10-foot tank hose, the minimum length you should expect in a portable gas fire pit. Some competing propane fire pit models have a tank hose close to half that size, typically between 5 and 6 feet in length.

A longer hose positions the tank away from seating with slack to prevent trip hazards.

Anything less than 10 feet is too short.

Ease of Starting: The Outland 870 features rare automatic ignition, making starting simple. No matches or lighter are needed.

Accessories Included: This is where Outland shines, in my opinion. The Outland 870 comes with a metal cover and carry kit for easy transport.

The 870 includes 4.4 lbs of lava rock and a propane tank stabilizer ring.

Like most portable fire pits, the Outland 870 doesn’t include a propane tank.

I recommend using a tank exchange service like Blue Rhino or Amerigas instead of buying your tank. You’ll get a full, leak-tested, refinished tank every time you need one. Just my 2¢.

Expect 7-11 hours per 20 lb. propane tank, depending on flame height.

Just a few parting shots on the Outland Living 870 Premium (link to Amazon); I recommend this particular portable propane fire pit because it’s pretty much the complete package.

It’s well made, compact, and lightweight and puts out a lot of heat. It hits all my markers on safety, is easy to get started, and comes with handy accessories. All of this at the 870’s price point is hard to beat.

Image of an Outland Living 863 propane fire pit for use on decking — **Fire Pit Image Credit: Outland Living**

Outland Firebowl 863 Cypress Portable Propane Fire Pit

For a larger option, the Outland 863 Cypress (see at Amazon) matches the 870’s quality with 21-inch diameter.

The 863 has a 2-inch larger diameter than the 870, lower 9.5-inch profile, and weighs just 1 lb. more.

Let’s check out the Outland Living 863 Cypress…

Outland Loving 863 Cypress Specs

Diameter: 21-in. Two inches larger in diameter than the Outland 870

Weight: 26 lbs. As mentioned, the Cypress is only one lb. heavier than the 870, and that’s with a larger diameter bowl

BTU Rating: 58,000 BTUs/hour. The same level of heat output per hour as the Outland 870

Safety Features:

The 863 Cypress has an even lower profile than the 870, enhancing safety. Lower profile, better stability, lower risk of tipping.

Like the 870, the 863 has a ring base, enhancing safety with its low center of gravity.

The 863 includes a 10-foot propane tank regulator hose, the minimum length needed to reduce trip hazards.

Ease of Starting: The Outland 863 Cypress is started manually, meaning lit with a lighter or match.

Even with manual lighting, the 863 is easy to get started with the lighter and a simple (slow) turn of the unit’s flame height knob after the propane has been turned on.

If you’ve ever manually lit a gas grill before, it’s pretty much the same routine.

Accessories Included: The 863 Cypress includes cover, carry kit, 4.4 lbs lava rock, and tank stabilizer ring.

Like the top-pick 870, the Outland Living 863 Cypress (see on Amazon) has the same features but larger diameter.

It is unique from other Outland firebowls because it uses what the company calls a Helios burner.

Unlike square designs, this circular burner has center rungs for stronger, more even flames.

The 863 Cypress offers the 870’s performance and accessories with larger diameter for minimal additional cost.

For more on the Outland Living 863 Cypress, check out my buyer’s guide for the best fire pits for decks.

Here’s a quick vid of the Outland Living 863 Cypress in action.

The Bond Aurora Portable Propane Fire Pit

The Bond Aurora (see on Amazon) is included as a solid, value-priced option in the 19-inch diameter category.

It has lower heat at 54,000 BTUs but remains competitive with Outland options.

The Aurora mimics Outland’s design but has less solid fit and finish.

At this price, these differences are negligible for budget-conscious buyers.

Let’s take a closer look at the Bond Aurora…

Bond Aurora Specs/Features

Diameter: 19-in. The Bond Aurora portable gas fire pit, like the Outland 870, comes in a 19-in. diameter configuration.

Weight: 18 lbs. One area where the Bond Aurora stands out is with regard to weight. Coming in at 18 lbs., Aurora is significantly lighter than the two Outland models mentioned above.

I attribute the lower weight to cheaper materials, trading durability for portability.

Don’t get me wrong; it’s still solid, but not as solid as the Outland options.

BTU Rating: 54,000 BTUs/hour. Aurora’s BTU rating is 4,000 lower than Outland models, but this difference is barely noticeable.

Safety Features: At 14.5 inches tall, the Aurora has a noticeable height difference from other models. Also, the Aurora’s ring base minimizes tip-over risk despite its higher profile. Additionally, it also comes with a 10-foot propane tank regulator hose like the Outland models.

Ease of Starting: One surprise with this portable gas fire pit is that it has auto-ignition. It’s surprising since most portable fire pits, especially at this price point, lack auto-ignition.

That said, I wouldn’t count on the starter lasting two to three years.

Most fire pit starters fail quickly, so I wouldn’t expect much from this model’s.

As I mentioned before, manual lighting is easy and safe as long as you follow the manufacturer’s directions for your particular fire pit model.

Accessories Included: The Bond Aurora portable gas fire pit comes with a locking metal lid, fire pit lava rock, and a propane tank stabilizer ring.

Little details like this make this fire pit a good value. If you have a propane tank on standby, you can start this one just out of the box without buying anything additional.

The Bond Aurora (link to Amazon) is a basic portable propane fire pit. For its price, it’s made well enough to hold up for a few years if properly taken care of.

Though less rugged than expensive competitors, this fire pit heats well, prioritizes safety, and includes accessories others lack.

If you are considering a value fire pit for light backyard or campsite use, this model may be a good fit for you.

Wrap-up: Best Portable Propane Fire Pit

In my opinion, my top pick, the Outland 870 Premium, is just the right balance of build, performance, portability, safety, and value.

Throw in an almost complete set of accessories (a cover, a carrying harness, a propane tank stabilizer ring, and almost 5 lbs. of fire pit lava rock and you’ve got a definite winner at an affordable price.

The other two options provide the additional size in one case, the 21-inch diameter Outland 863, and a well-constructed value option in the other, the 19-inch diameter Bond Aurora.

Hopefully, all three options I mentioned here offer readers an option aligned with their tastes and lifestyle.

As always, thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions or comments about anything covered in this article or anywhere else on the site at john@backyardtoasty.com

Take care!

Image of two CSA related certification badges side-by-side.

FAQs: Best Portable Propane Fire Pit

1. What is a CSA-certified fire pit?

First, let’s talk about what the CSA is. According to their site, the CSA, or Canadian Standards Organization, is,

“a global organization dedicated to safety, social good, and sustainability. We are a leader in Standards Development and in Testing, Inspection, and Certification around the world including Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Our mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard.”
– Canadian Standards Organization (CSA)

In the outdoor living space, the CSA, working with organizations in the U.S like the American National Standards Institute, ANSI, and other standards organizations internationally, develops safety standards for residential outdoor patio products such as grills, fire pits, patio heaters, etc.

Additionally, they perform safety and reliability tests on these products and issue warnings/recalls when they discover a problem with a particular product.

When a product is tested and judged to have met the CSA standards for reliability and safety in their lab, they will formally issue their certification.

Look for the symbols below on your fire pit product to know if it is CSA–certified. The symbol on the left is for gas-fueled products in the U.S., and the symbol on the right is for gas-fueled products in Canada.

2. Can you use a propane fire pit on a balcony?

Technically, you can use a propane fire pit on a balcony. However, you will need to check state and local fire safety laws governing gas fire pit use on balconies and other structures before doing so.

You should also check with your community’s homeowner’s association (HOA) or property manager. The apartment/condo may restrict balcony fire pit use above and beyond state and local ordinances.

For more, check out my article on staying out of trouble with the law and safely using a fire pit on a balcony (if you can do so legally) or picking the right fire pit for a deck.

3. How do you maintain and clean a portable propane fire pit?

Clean portable propane fire pits after every 3-4 uses by removing lava rocks, scrubbing the bowl with warm soapy water, and checking burner holes for clogs. Inspect hoses and connections for damage or leaks using soapy water. Store with propane disconnected in a dry location. Replace lava rocks annually and check ignition systems regularly for proper function and safety.

Best Portable Propane Fire Pit for Patios, RVs and More