Our top pick is the Endless Summer Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, which is easy to set up and maintain, provides heat from every side, and has a large chimney that redirects smoke and ash. Here are the best outdoor fireplaces. “This 360-degree pick comes with a slide-out cooking grill that’s big enough to fit a few burgers and hot dogs.” Best Oversized: Canora Grey Quillen Steel Outdoor Fireplace at Wayfair “This extra-large, faux stone and wood fireplace will easily become your patio’s main focal point.” Best Propane: Cal Flame Propane Gas Outdoor Fireplace at Home Depot “You can start this propane-gas-powered fireplace with (literally) a push of a button.” Best for Small Spaces: Living Accents Old World Wood Steel at Life and Home “Shaped like a big lantern, this pick has the 360 access of a fire pit with the spark protection and smoke control of a fireplace.” Best Pizza Oven: World Menagerie Aztec Allure Pizza Oven at Wayfair “This cast iron and stone centerpiece can be used as a pizza oven, a grill, or a fireplace, thanks to the removable lid.” Best Stone: Pavestone RumbleStone Outdoor Stone Fireplace Kit at Home Depot “The DIY-aspect of this fireplace means you can customize your design by putting in different pavers or a wooden mantle.” Best for Wood Decks: Wrought Studio Dewolf Fire Outdoor Fireplace at Wayfair “For a true showstopper, consider this tall, all-steel fireplace that can be used on wooden porches top of a non-flammable barrier.” An outdoor fireplace is a smart and stylish way to warm up your patio to extend the days you can enjoy your outdoor living room. Our pick for the absolute best outdoor fireplace is basic in style, yet easy to set up and use. Reviewers appreciate that it has a large fire bowl that fits four or five large logs, so you can build a roaring fire. The large chimney directs smoke and ash upward and away from your eyes and nose. When it’s time to clean up, just take out the removable ash receiver (once it’s completely cooled) and dump out the ash. The fire can be seen and felt from all sides for a warm and cozy feeling. It also comes with a slide out cooking grill that’s large enough to fit a few burgers and dogs for a late night snack. Such an oversized fireplace does require a 5-foot clearance from the sides and the back—you’ll also want to make sure it isn’t near any combustible materials that could accidentally ignite—so make sure you have plenty of room for it before ordering. The fireplace comes with the log grate, spark screen, and poker for safe fire building. Note that at 550 pounds, this unit is very heavy and you may need help building it and setting it on just the right spot on your patio. You’ll need to buy your propane separately, or use the included converter to convert this fireplace to natural gas, also sold separately. Similar to a fire pit, the fire from this steel fireplace can be seen and experienced from a 360 degree range, though the spark-guard mesh offers a layer of protection that a fire pit doesn’t. Each fireplace has a side-open door so you can easily slip a log in and a fire grate and poker are included with your fireplace. This fireplace is made of sturdy cast iron and reviewers report that it cooks up perfect pizzas in just 10 to 12 minutes. If you want to use it as a regular grill or solely as a fireplace, the top portion is removable—and at 18 pounds isn’t as heavy as it looks. At 18.5 inches wide, this isn’t the largest outdoor fireplace out there, but it still requires a 10-foot clearance on all sides for safety. Some reviewers like that, since you build your own fireplace, they were able to customize their design with different pavers or a wooden mantle. This is a permanent structure, so whatever you do, make sure you’re building it exactly where you want it.
Size
It may seem obvious, but you don’t want to buy a fireplace that’s too large or too small for your place. Too large and it won’t fit, too small and there won’t be enough heat to fill the space the fireplace is in (or it will look dinky in the space it’s in — meaning it won’t “fit” the area). Be sure to take measurements of your space before you buy a fireplace, and you could even map out the shape and size of the fireplace with masking tape before purchasing it to get a general idea of what it will look like in your space.
Fuel type
One of the most important parts of owning an outdoor fireplace is knowing what kind of fuel it needs. Will you be burning propane or wood? Where will you get those supplies? Preferably, you’ll get a fireplace that runs on a fuel that’s easy for you to access. Factor the cost of fuel (like propane tanks or bundles of fire wood) into the total cost of your project so you aren’t blindsided when you go to purchase what you need for your first fire.
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This article was researched and written by Anne Fritz, who has worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years, most recently as an editor at publications such as Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Reader’s Digest. Additional reporting was done by Katie Pittman, who has more than five years of experience in lifestyle and digital media and is an expert writer for MyDomaine.
