Skip to main content

Our Top Picks

The 4Low is your reliable source for the best portable camping fire pit reviews and buyer guides. Our experts test and rank the best options so you don’t have to.

Our ratings are based on features, customer reviews, hands-on testing, price, and warranty.

Best overall – Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit

With its lightweight, durable construction, this portable fire pit is rated the best overall on our list.

Overview | Check price

Best For Storage – FIRESIDE OUTDOOR Pop-Up Fire Pit

Its compact and easy-to-store, reduced smoke due to mesh technology to increase air flow and heavy duty capacity up to 125 pounds makes this a great product.

Overview | Check price

Best For Wooded Environments -Flame King Outdoor Portable Propane Gas 19″

Convenient propane campfire with no mess left behind and adjustable the flame

Overview | Check price

Best Budget – INNO STAGE Portable Plug Fire Pit

Can withstand high temperatures, and comes with a waterproof carrying bag to protect it from the weather. And comes in various sizes depending on your needs.

Overview | Check price

Best for Camping – Onlyfire Outdoor Propane Fire Pit

 Simple assembly and requires no extra installation equipment, and offers an adjustable safety shutdown valve for added safety.

Overview | Check price

Bring on the Heat! Top Portable Fire Pits

Buying a portable fire pit is the simplest way to make any campsite activity fun. A quality portable fire pit will change any night’s atmosphere and convert a dull yard into the perfect outdoor entertaining place. So whether you want an open barbecue or to relax with your friends and family on a chilly night, portable fire pits are there to fulfill all your needs!

Portable fire pits are the perfect way to relax beside an open fire during travels. Therefore, we’ve put in the effort to try out some fantastic portable fire pits available on the market. In this guide, we’ll look at five of the best portable fire pits for your next campsite adventure. 

ProductBrandFeaturesLearn More
Best Overall
Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit - Smokeless Large 19.5 Inch Stainless Steel Outdoor Firepit
Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit – Smokeless Large 19.5 Inch Stainless Steel Outdoor Firepit
  • Easily portable
  • It doesn’t emit smoke
  • Simple installation process
  • It doesn’t leave behind too much ash
Check Amazon Price
Best For Storage
Pop-Up Fire Pit | Portable and Lightweight
Pop-Up Fire Pit | Portable and Lightweight
  • Lightweight and easily portable
  • The mesh increases airflow and reduces smoke
  • The heat shield protects the underneath surface
  • Simple cleaning procedure
Check Amazon Price
Best For Wooded Environments
Flame King Outdoor Portable Campfire
Flame King Outdoor Portable Campfire
  • Chrome knob allows you to adjust the flame height
  • Safe for wooded environments
  • High-quality steel construction makes it durable
  • Travel-size design ensures easy portability
  • It doesn’t leave behind smoke or ash
Check Amazon Price
Best Budget
Portable Plug Fire Pit, 15.8 Inch Collapsible Firepit
Portable Plug Fire Pit, 15.8 Inch Collapsible Firepit
  • Incredibly cheap
  • Heavy-duty iron makes it very durable
  • Easy to install
  • It comes with a waterproof storage bag
  • Different sizes available
Check Amazon Price
Best for Camping
Onlyfire Outdoor Propane Fire Pit - 19 Inch Portable Height Adjustable Gas Firebowl
Onlyfire Outdoor Propane Fire Pit – 19 Inch Portable Height Adjustable Gas Firebowl
  • Durable and long-lasting build quality
  • Perfect for all camping scenarios
  • You can customize the height
Check Amazon Price
The 4Low is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1. Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit – Best Overall

front on view of firepit

First up on our list is our all-time favorite fire pit by Solo Stove. With its lightweight design, this portable fire pit is a beautiful way to create a happy atmosphere anywhere you go. Since it weighs only 20 pounds, you can easily carry it on your camping trips or store it safely. 

The Solo Stove fire pit uses wood as a fuel source. It features double-wall construction that enables the fire pit to burn more effectively, destroying all those particles that could create a ghastly smoke. As a result, hardly any smoke is released, and your clothes don’t stink up. 

During testing, we saw that the wood logs were quickly burned away by the fire due to a constant supply of air and that barely left behind any ash to clean up afterward.

However, it’s worth noting that this fire pit burns through logs quicker than an open fire. While there was no smoke, we did experience some eye irritation when the wind changed the heat’s direction.

The simple and elegant stainless steel design gives this fire pit an incredibly appealing look. Moreover, the single-piece construction makes the installation process very convenient. You might require a cover to shield the fire pit from the weather and prevent adventurers like yourself from getting attacked by flying embers. Due to its lightweight composition and double-wall construction, this portable fire pit is rated the best overall on our list.

2. FIRESIDE OUTDOOR Pop-Up Fire Pit — Best For Storage

pop up fire pit in use

The classical Pop-Up Fire Pit by FIRESIDE OUTDOOR is a very lightweight, portable, and durable fire pit with a distinctive design. When folded, this pop-up fire pit is roughly the size of a folded chair. But blow it out, and you’ve got a platform capable of emitting colossal flame. 

Unlike circular fire pits, which remain in a permanent, full-size position, this one folds up to a relatively compact and easy-to-store size, so you can easily take this compact fire pit with you wherever you go. 

This fire pit is built with a stainless steel mesh and can handle up to 125 pounds of wood. The mesh increases the airflow and lowers the amount of smoke emitted. Because the top is open, managing the fire and adding wood logs is as simple as possible. 

Another cool thing we like about this fire pit is that it’s raised off the ground and includes a heat shield. As a result, it poses no risk to the grass or the surface underneath.

The cleaning procedure is quick and straightforward—all you have to do is fold it up, and you’re done.

3. INNO STAGE Portable Plug Fire Pit — Best Budget

Plug in fire pit size comparison

What stands out about this portable fire pit is its unique and innovative design, destined to catch everyone’s eye. The decorative deer pattern on this fire pit is pleasing to the eyes and makes one feel closer to nature. 

One thing we love about this portable fire pit is its durable construction. Constructed of heavy-duty iron, this fire pit has a black coating to withstand high temperatures. So if you’re a camping enthusiast, this fire pit has all the qualities to last for the long run— and at the lowest cost! 

With this fire pit, you don’t even have to worry about storing it in rainy areas, as it comes with a waterproof carrying bag to protect it from the weather. 

Due to the small dimensions of this outdoor fire pit, it is easy to transport to different locations for all your campsite adventures. You can always opt for larger sizes if you find the size to be too small. It also has pre-installed handle holes that make it simple to carry around. 

4. Flame King Outdoor Portable Propane Gas 19″ –  Best For Wooded Environments

plug in fire pit with frontal view

Whether you’re looking for a fire pit for your camping adventures, beach parties, or family dinners, this fire bowl by Outland Living can fulfill all your desires. 

What we love the most about this fire pit is that it doesn’t leave behind any smoke or ash, allowing you to enjoy a wonderful propane campfire and comforting warmth. 

This fire pit is incredibly compact and easily portable, and the travel-size design can be lodged together anywhere with the rest of your equipment. 

This spark-free propane fire pit helps safeguard campsites and wooded environments with a safer, easier-to-use fire alternative. 

The custom chrome knob on this fire pit makes it stand out from the other items on our list. With this knob, you can adjust the flame height to your preference. The high-quality steel construction and a protective enamel coating make it a durable option for the long run. 

5. Onlyfire Outdoor Propane Fire Pit — Best for Camping

front view of camping firepit

Last but not least, we’ve got this excellent propane fire pit by Onlyfire on our list. This fire pit is built for the toughest of adventures as it has a top-quality steel frame and powder-sprayed iron, making it both rust-proof and heat-resistant. 

The good news is that this propane fire pit comes with a 12-foot hose, a fully adjustable safety shutdown valve, and 8.8 pounds of lava rocks, so you’ll be ready to go the minute you get this fire pit! 

This propane fire pit is simple to assemble and requires no extra installation equipment. All you have to do is install the three foldable legs to stabilize the propane fire pit. Its supporting legs can be folded twice, allowing you to select a particular height according to your preferences. 

Although it comes with solid support at the bottom that ensures stability, this fire pit is slightly heavier than other fire pits on this list and can be challenging to carry around. 

Buying Guide for the Ideal Portable Fire Pits

Portable fire pits are one of the finest ways to improve your camping experiences. Everyone loves sitting around a roaring fire with friends and family and sharing exciting campfire stories, and you can make your experiences even more magical with the right fire pit.

But with so many different types available on the market, it can be challenging to know which portable fire pit you need. Therefore, we have compiled a comprehensive buying guide to help you find the ideal portable fire pit. 

Different Types Of Fire Pits

There are different types of fire pits that you’ll find on the market, including wood-burning fire pits, natural gas or propane fire pits, and ethanol fire pits. We’ve discussed each of the types below:

Wood Burning Fire Pits

If you enjoy the sound of a crackling fire and a scent that lingers on your clothes, wood-burning fire pits are the way to go. These fire pits are the most economical option compared to other variants. These fire pits are also straightforward to set up and use, as they require no additional components. 

How to use

All you have to do is select the fire pit design that best suits your style, install the fire pit, throw in the wood, and you’re ready to go. 

What to consider 

Compared to gas, wood produces the most flame and heat. Therefore, you shouldn’t use wood-burning fire pits in enclosed porches, nor should they be used beneath low trees or in windy places. 

Some fire pits also produce excessive smoke and soot, making cleaning rather tiresome. Therefore, it’s best to go with a model that doesn’t create too much of either. 

Natural Gas or Propane Fire Pits

The excellent news about propane fire pits is that they provide a gorgeous flame without the need for replenishing wood. Some portable fire pits are also frequently adorned with false wood, rock stones, or glass. 

Electronic igniting options are also available on certain gas fire pits, providing enhanced safety and convenience and giving you more control over the fire than wood fire pits.

How to use

Propane fire pits require a gas tank to be attached as fuel. Once you connect the fire pit to a gas or propane tank, all you need to do is ignite the fire pit, and you’ll be good to go. 

What to consider

Portable gas fire pits come with the additional cost of buying propane, and there’s always the risk that the gas may run out. Plus, food cooked over gas lacks the depth of flavor that a wood-fired meal provides, as most fire pits don’t emit the same heat. 

Ethanol Fire Pits

Most people don’t consider ethanol fuel for fire pits, but this clean-burning fuel has come a long way in the last few years. Ethanol fuel is derived from natural sources, making it sustainable and ecological, and you can use it outdoors and indoors.

The good news is that these fire pits don’t need gas connections or bulky propane tanks to work, which makes them easily portable. 

How to use

Ethanol fire pits, like wood fire pits, can be used as standalone pieces as they don’t require additional utility connections. All you have to do is fill the burner with ethanol, ignite it, and enjoy the fire. 

What to consider

The most crucial factor to consider is the cost of fuel. The cost of burning ethanol per hour is higher than burning gas or wood. Ethanol has a minimum price and must be maintained regularly. Plus, it is also not readily available in most stores. 

Other Factors To Consider Before Buying A Portable Fire Pit

There are various other factors other than the fuel type of portable fire pits that you should consider. We’ve listed some of the most important ones below:

Material 

We suggest you use the lightest material possible for a portable fire pit and disregard the overall attractiveness. It helps to choose something that will last and prolong the life of your fire pit while also being easy to transport.

The most durable fire pits are often cast iron or stainless steel. However, keep in mind that fire pits made of cast iron are difficult to carry around. Some suitable alternatives that are durable and easy to carry include aluminum and copper fire pits. 

Size

When buying a portable fire pit, it’s essential to consider its size. Otherwise, you might buy a fire pit that’s too large to carry around easily. Consider how ample your usage and holding space is when choosing a portable fire pit. 

We suggest buying an adjustable fire pit that can be folded down when not in use to save space. However, the size of a fire pit might affect its heat production, as smaller fire pits have a lower longevity and surface area.

FAQs

Q) Do gas fire pits require maintenance? 

Yes. You must check gas fire pits every couple of weeks to ensure no debris inside the burner system or gas leaks. You shouldn’t leave gas fire pits exposed to the environment when it’s not in use. 

Q) What are standard outdoor fire pits?

Standard outdoor pits usually have three or four legs shaped like a basin. These firepits use wood as a fuel source securely confined inside the basin and are ideal for several outdoor activities. 

Q) Are portable fire pits made of copper durable?

Yes, copper is an incredibly long-lasting and rust-proof material. You can use fire pits built with copper for multiple seasons without degrading quality. Plus, copper can be easily molded in different designs to give the fire pit a distinctive look.

Bottom Line

We hope our comprehensive guide will help you choose the perfect portable fire pit for your outdoor adventures. Make sure you consider certain critical factors such as the fuel type, material, size, and cost of some of these models before you buy one for yourself.

If there are any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below!