When shopping for a gas fire pit, it’s tough to know how much heat output you’ll need.
As I shopped around the first time, I kept comparing them by their BTUs, but this metric is completely useless to most folks.
I was frustrated by the almost-complete lack of information out there to help compare it.
One of the models I was looking at bragged about 40,000 BTU, and I wondered:
Is 40,000 BTU good for a fire pit?
40,000 BTU is a good start for a fire pit that needs to keep a handful of people warm in mild weather. If the weather is colder or you need a larger space heated, opt for the higher range of 50,000-60,000 BTU. Heaters with higher than 70,000 BTU are more powerful than most people need.
Let’s look at some of the situations this BTU is good for.
Speaking of fire pits, be sure to check out our review of the best portable propane fire pits for camping to avoid wasting your money.
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Fire Pit While Camping
If you need a gas fire pit while camping, a 40,000 BTU may be the fit for you.
Usually, the ones at this heat output are a little less than what you may want.
They’ll do as a quick heat up or used for cooking small things like marshmallows or hotdogs (just remove any lava rocks or other decoration if it comes with it), but it may not be enough if the weather is windy or cold.
Still, if light and quick, and portable are your goals, a 40,000 BTU fire pit is good for you.
Warning! Don’t put a fire pit in a tent without reading our article at the link for advice and the situation where it’s possible to do it safely.
Small Patio Fire Pit At Home
For those with a wooden deck or small patio at home, a dedicated 40,000 BTU fire pit is perfect.
The lower but still nice heat output will keep a small group warm in mild weather without any risk of damaging decking material around it.
If you have a huge part of people over, a propane fire pit at this heat will look and feel nice, but don’t count on it actually keeping you warm.
Still, you’ll find a lot of nice options with quality construction at this heat amount.
And it’ll usually be more affordable than the hotted and bigger options.
40,000 BTU Vs. 50,000 BTU Fire Pit
The two most common BTUs are 40,000 and 50,000, so what is the difference between the two?
It’s tough to tell without looking directly at two different products.
A wide 50,000 BTU firepit may feel just like a smaller 40,000 BTU one because of the concentration of energy.
Then again, if it’s cold out, neither of these options will feel like much to you unless you’re right on top of them.
When it comes to heating a room, 40,000 BTU will heat an 890’ square foot room.
By comparison, a 50,000 BTU heater will warm a 1,110’ square foot room.
You see, they’re pretty close in heating power.
In general, I always recommend you go for the higher BTUs from your fire pit.
Most of them have the option to turn down, and if it doesn’t, you could always scoot back.
But if it has an upper limit, there’s only so much you’ll be able to get from it.
How Many BTUs Should An Outdoor Fire Pit Have?
It’s hard to answer exactly how many BTUs a firepit should have.
The typical range is between 40,000 and 100,000 BTUs, so our 40,000 question is a little on the low end.
In my experience, 55,000-65,000 is a comfortable range for camping or a fire pit outside in mild weather.
Of course, if you want to host a large group, you’ll want something on the higher end, around 100,000.
Some go up to 150,000 BTU, but this is a bit overkill in most situations.
My mom has a patio gas fire pit at 100,000 BTUs, and it was more than enough for a fall get-together we had with 12 people.
It wasn’t too cold that night, but I think it would do well in chillier weather too.
At this size, the fire pit isn’t portable at all, though, so it won’t do for you if you’re taking it camping or need to move it around.
In this case, you’ll have to balance size with heat output.
Some gas fire pits will go as low as 30,000 BTUs, but don’t get one of these unless you need a light one for camping after hiking to your spot.
It won’t be much use other than heating you up while you start your actual fire.
For cooking, stick with precooked things like hot dogs or marshmallows.
Learn more in our article on cooking marshmallows over a gas fire pit.