Wood Burning vs Gas Fire Pit: Which One Should You Buy? (2026)

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Wood burning vs gas fire pit: the short answer

Choose wood burning if you want the full fire experience: real flames, crackle, wood smoke and the ritual of building the fire. Choose gas if you want instant on/off, no smoke, no ash and no wood to store. The listings here are all wood-burning: four metal fire pits, three steel and one iron, from 16.8 to 27.4 pounds, all with spark screens and pokers. No gas fire pit listing is provided, so the gas side below is the general alternative, not a scored product.

The four wood-burning fire pits, ranked

Ranked by completeness of stated specs, accessories and warranty:

1. Sunnydaze Cosmic 30″ Wood Fire Pit

The most complete listing here: a 30 inch steel fire pit with bronze star and moon cutouts, weighing 16.8 pounds. The listing states a 24.25 inch fire bowl that is 9 inches deep, a 22.75 inch stainless steel cooking grate, a 23 inch spark screen, a built-in wood grate, a poker and a protective cover. It lists 0.7 mm thick steel with high-temperature paint, stands 22.5 inches tall with the screen, and assembles in 15 to 20 minutes. It is the only one of the four with a stated warranty: a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. The cooking grate sets it apart for campfire meals.

2. Pure Garden 32″ Star Cutout Fire Pit

A 32 inch powder-coated steel fire pit with star and moon cutouts. The listing states a weight of 22 pounds in the bullets but 27.4 pounds in the spec table, a contradiction to note. It includes a spark cover, a log grate, a log poker and a weather-resistant PVC cover. The fire bowl measures 26.5 by 9.4 inches with a 6 inch safety screen. The listing describes the pit as portable and easy to set up with very little upkeep.

3. EcoNook 32″ Square Fire Pit

The only square pit here: a 32 inch iron fire pit weighing 18.2 pounds. The listing describes a 3-in-1 design for use as a fire pit, a BBQ (grate not included) or an ice bucket, with a fire bowl 24 inches wide and 4.6 inches deep. It includes a mesh lid, a fire poker, a wood grate and assembly parts. The legs are reinforced with triangular metal plates. The square shape suits patios where a round pit wastes corners.

4. Pure Garden 32″ Cross Weave Fire Pit

A 32 inch powder-coated steel fire pit with a cross-weave pattern, weighing 22 pounds. The listing mirrors the Star Cutout model: spark cover, log grate, log poker and PVC cover included, with a 26.5 by 9.4 inch fire bowl and 6 inch safety screen. The cross-weave cutouts give a different light pattern than the star version. The spec table lists a manufacturer warranty description of “AN” which is not a usable warranty term.

What wood burning gives you

Per these listings, wood burning means real fire: the Sunnydaze listing describes star and moon cutouts casting a warm ambient glow, and the Pure Garden listings describe the charm of a natural wood fire. Wood pits need no gas line or propane tank, and the listings include the tools for tending: pokers, log grates and spark screens. The tradeoff, stated in the care notes, is ash and maintenance: the Sunnydaze listing advises emptying rainwater, cleaning out cooled ashes and covering after each use.

Where gas fits as the alternative

No gas fire pit is listed here, so this is the general case, not a product claim. Gas fire pits trade the wood ritual for convenience: push-button start, adjustable flame, no smoke, no ash and no wood to buy, stack or carry. They need a propane tank or natural gas line and typically cost more up front. If your priority is instant ambience on a weeknight, gas wins; if you want the crackle, the cooking and no fuel bill beyond the woodpile, the wood-burning pits above are the pick.

Size and weight for the patio

The listings state 30 to 32 inch diameters and weights from 16.8 to 27.4 pounds. The Sunnydaze at 16.8 pounds is the lightest and easiest to move; the Pure Garden Star at 27.4 pounds (spec table) is the heaviest. All four include spark screens, and three include covers. For a small patio, the 30 inch Sunnydaze fits tighter spaces; the 32 inch models suit larger gatherings of 4 to 6 people per the listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a wood burning or gas fire pit better?

Wood burning gives the traditional fire experience with crackle and smoke; gas gives convenience with no ash or wood to store. The four listings here are all wood-burning fire pits. Your choice depends on whether you value the ritual or the convenience more.

Do these fire pits include spark screens?

Yes, per the listings. All four include a spark screen or spark cover: the Sunnydaze includes a 23 inch spark screen, the Pure Garden models include spark covers, and the EcoNook includes a mesh lid.

Can I cook on these fire pits?

The Sunnydaze Cosmic includes a 22.75 inch stainless steel cooking grate for grilling. The EcoNook is described as usable for BBQ but the grate is not included. The Pure Garden models do not list cooking grates.

How heavy are these fire pits?

Per the listings: the Sunnydaze weighs 16.8 pounds, the EcoNook weighs 18.2 pounds, the Pure Garden Cross Weave weighs 22 pounds, and the Pure Garden Star lists 22 pounds in the bullets but 27.4 pounds in the spec table.

Do any have a warranty?

Only the Sunnydaze: a stated 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. The Pure Garden Cross Weave spec table lists “AN” which is not a usable warranty term; the others state no warranty.

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