A fire pit is an outdoor vessel that holds a contained wood or charcoal fire at ground or table height, built from steel, cast iron or coated alloy so it survives repeated heat cycles without warping. The best fire pits in Australia pair a bowl deep enough to bank a full load of hardwood with a spark screen for ember control and a finish that lasts through a wet winter left outdoors.
Three formats cover almost every backyard. Fire bowls are single-piece dishes that need no assembly and suit a lawn or paved courtyard. Fire pit tables add a flat rim or a drop-on lid so the unit works as furniture when it is not lit. Folding and portable pits break down into a bag for camping and for packing away over summer.
Bowl diameter is the specification that drives everything else. The pits compared here span 45cm to 91cm across, roughly 18 to 36 inches, and the gap matters more than the numbers suggest: a 56cm bowl comfortably warms about four people, while an 82cm bowl heats a full outdoor setting. Depth counts for just as much, because a shallow dish throws sparks and burns through a load of wood quickly.
This guide compares nine fire pits sold in Australia across those three formats, covering plain wood-burning bowls, cooking-capable pits with grill plates and domes, and packable units built for campsites.
Quick Picks
Grillz Fire Pit Table with Lid
A drop-on wood-pattern lid turns the fire chamber into a low outdoor table, so it stays useful when nothing is burning.
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Grillz Fire Pit BBQ Grill 82cm
A 60cm standing height plus a mesh dome, log grate and poker make this the most complete cooking setup here.
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Folding Fire Pit BBQ Charcoal Smoker 56cm
Legs and body fold flat for the boot, then set up at a 43cm working height with a full grill kit.
CHECK CURRENT PRICEBest Fire Pits in Australia Compared
| Product | Link | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grillz Fire Pit Table with Lid | Check price | Table with lid | Small decks and courtyards | 82 x 82 x 29cm, wood |
| Grillz Ceramic Tile Fire Pit 91cm | Check price | Open pit with grills | Entertaining larger groups | 91 x 91 x 43cm, ceramic rim |
| Grillz Fire Pit BBQ Grill 82cm | Check price | Raised bowl with dome | Cooking and radiant warmth | 82cm wide, 60cm tall |
| Grillz Fire Pit Iron Bowl 80cm | Check price | Fire bowl | Warmth without cooking | 80cm bowl, 22cm deep |
| Grillz Fire Pit with Mesh Lid and Fire Picker | Check price | Compact pit with lid | Courtyards near fencing | 56 x 56 x 34cm, mesh lid |
| Grillz 56cm Iron Rustic Bowl | Check price | Fire bowl | Balconies and small courtyards | 56cm bowl, 12cm deep |
| Folding Fire Pit BBQ Charcoal Smoker 56cm | Check price | Folding pit | Camping and rentals | 56 x 56 x 43cm, folds flat |
| 3 in 1 Fire Pit with Spark Screen Cover | Check price | Three-in-one table | Year-round patio use | 81 x 81 x 50cm, 11kg |
| 3-in-1 Portable Firewood Charcoal Fire Pit | Check price | Packable pit | Camping and travel | 45 x 45 x 49cm, 4.5kg |
1. Grillz Fire Pit Table with Lid – Best Fire Pit Table
The lid is what separates this from a plain bowl. A wood-pattern cover drops over the fire chamber and turns the unit into a low outdoor table, so an 82cm square footprint earns its space on a small deck instead of sitting idle for nine months of the year.
Under the lid sit two cooking grills and a 304 stainless plate, which handles a full load of hardwood and doubles as a BBQ surface once the flames drop to coals. Assembly takes about five minutes and needs no tools.
At 29cm tall this is a squat, ground-level unit, so nobody should expect dining-table height. That low stance buys stability on soft ground, and it works best on a paved courtyard where the lid can stay on between uses.
Pros
- Lid converts it into usable outdoor furniture when unlit
- Two cooking grills plus a 304 stainless plate included
- Tool-free assembly in around five minutes
Cons
- Only 29cm tall, so it sits low to the ground
- Square footprint takes up more deck space than a round bowl
Key specs: Wood-burning, steel frame with 304 stainless grill plate, 82 x 82 x 29cm, removable wood-pattern lid, two cooking grills
CHECK CURRENT PRICE2. Grillz Ceramic Tile Fire Pit 91cm – Best for Large Gatherings
Ceramic tile around the rim is unusual at this size and it changes how the pit behaves. The tiled surround stays cooler than bare steel, so plates and glasses can sit on the edge while the fire runs, and the 91cm span is the widest here by a clear margin.
Two swivel grills hang over the chamber and adjust independently, which lets one side hold food warm while the other sears. The 43cm height brings the coals up to a workable level for cooking rather than crouching over them.
All that mass makes it heavy, and the word portable in the product listing does not survive contact with reality. Read it as a fixed feature for a patio that regularly hosts a crowd, not something to shift between the lawn and the shed.
Pros
- Widest fire chamber in this guide at 91cm
- Ceramic tile rim stays cool enough to rest plates on
- Two independently adjustable swivel grills
Cons
- Heavy enough that repositioning it is a two-person job
- Needs a large permanent spot, so it suits bigger yards only
Key specs: Charcoal and wood, steel frame with ceramic tile rim, 91 x 91 x 43cm, two adjustable swivel grills
CHECK CURRENT PRICE3. Grillz Fire Pit BBQ Grill 82cm – Best for Cooking Over Flame
Height is the point of difference. At 60cm the bowl sits well off the ground, which puts the fire close to seated eye level and sends radiant heat outward across a seating circle instead of down into the paving.
A mesh dome, log grate and poker all arrive in the box, so ember control and airflow are handled without buying extras. The raised grate lifts fuel off the base and pulls air underneath, and the burn stays clean rather than smouldering.
Powder coat over plain steel is the weak point in a coastal setting, where salt air finds any chip and starts rust underneath. Inland or under cover it holds up for years, but within sight of the water plan on touching up the finish each season.
Pros
- 60cm height puts the fire at seated eye level
- Mesh dome, log grate and poker included
- Raised grate improves airflow and keeps the burn clean
Cons
- Powder-coated steel needs maintenance in coastal air
- Assembly required out of the box
Key specs: Wood and charcoal, powder-coated steel, 82 x 82 x 60cm, mesh dome, log grate and poker included
CHECK CURRENT PRICE4. Grillz Fire Pit Iron Bowl 80cm – Best Rustic Fire Bowl
Nothing needs building. The bowl arrives as a single iron piece with a rust patina already forming, which is the intended finish rather than a defect, and it deepens over a season outdoors.
A 22cm bowl depth holds a proper load of split hardwood and keeps embers below the rim, so spark throw is noticeably lower than the shallow dishes further down this list. Burn times run long because the fuel stays banked together instead of spreading across the base.
There is no lid and no grill, so cooking is off the table entirely. Anyone who wants fire and warmth and nothing else gets the cleanest version of it here, though the patina will mark pavers underneath and a gravel or sand base saves a lot of scrubbing later.
Pros
- Zero assembly, usable straight out of the box
- 22cm depth keeps embers contained and burns long
- Patina finish needs no painting or sealing
Cons
- No lid or cooking grill of any kind
- Rust finish stains whatever surface it stands on
Key specs: Wood and charcoal, iron with natural rust patina, 80 x 80 x 27.5cm overall, bowl 80 x 22cm, no assembly
CHECK CURRENT PRICE5. Grillz Fire Pit with Mesh Lid and Fire Picker – Best for Spark Control
A spark-proof mesh lid is the feature most pits this size leave out, and it comes bundled here alongside a fire picker for shifting logs without reaching across the flames.
The 48cm grate is generous relative to the 56cm body, so there is genuine cooking area despite the compact frame, and assembly needs no tools. Ember containment is the standout: the mesh catches the fine sparks a dry hardwood load throws as it collapses.
Fifty-six centimetres realistically seats about four, which caps how far it scales. In a townhouse yard where flying embers near a timber fence are a real worry, that lid matters more than another 20cm of diameter would.
Pros
- Spark-proof mesh lid included at a compact size
- 48cm cooking grate is large for the body
- Fire picker included, tool-free assembly
Cons
- 56cm chamber seats roughly four people
- Wood-focused, so it is not a serious BBQ
Key specs: Wood-burning, powder-coated steel, 56 x 56 x 34cm, mesh lid, 48cm BBQ grate, charcoal rack and fire picker
CHECK CURRENT PRICE6. Grillz 56cm Iron Rustic Bowl – Best Compact Fire Bowl
Think of this as the pared-back version of the 80cm bowl above: identical single-piece iron construction and rust finish, scaled down to a dish one person can pick up and carry.
Bowl depth runs to 12cm, and that shows up directly as shorter burns and more spark throw than the deeper dish earlier in this guide. Fuel sits closer to the rim, so a hardwood load burns hot and fast rather than settling into a long steady cook.
That shallow dish is the honest cost of the lightest and cheapest pit here. On a balcony or a small courtyard where storage space decides the purchase, the trade is an easy one to accept.
Pros
- Light enough for one person to move easily
- No assembly and no finish maintenance
- Smallest footprint of any bowl in this guide
Cons
- 12cm bowl depth means short burns and more sparks
- Too small to warm more than two or three people
Key specs: Wood and charcoal, iron with natural rust finish, 56 x 56 x 24cm overall, bowl 56 x 12cm, no assembly
CHECK CURRENT PRICE7. Folding Fire Pit BBQ Charcoal Smoker 56cm – Best Foldable Design
Legs and body fold flat, which no other steel pit in this guide manages, and the collapsed unit slides into a car boot without taking the whole space.
Standing height lands at 43cm, tall enough that the grill plate is usable for cooking rather than just keeping food warm, and the bundle runs to a mesh dome, poker, log grate and plate. Setting up amounts to unfolding the legs and dropping the grate in.
It runs on charcoal, so this is a cooking pit first and a campfire second, and anyone planning to throw split logs in will be disappointed. Where the pit has to disappear afterwards, at a campsite or a rental, folding beats every fixed bowl listed here.
Pros
- Folds flat for transport and storage
- 43cm working height suits cooking
- Mesh dome, poker, log grate and grill plate included
Cons
- Charcoal-focused rather than a true wood campfire
- 56cm chamber limits group size
Key specs: Charcoal, powder-coated steel, 56 x 56 x 43cm, folding legs, mesh dome, poker, log grate and grill plate
CHECK CURRENT PRICE8. 3 in 1 Fire Pit with Spark Screen Cover – Best Three Season Design
Three modes are built into one frame: fire pit, BBQ, and an ice bucket for summer, which is the rare configuration that gives the unit a job outside the cold months.
A widened ledge runs right around the rim for drinks and plates, and the bundle covers a spark screen, poker, log grate and an oxford rain cover, so it can stay outdoors between uses. At 11kg one person can reposition it without help.
The fire bowl carries a 10kg fuel rating, which is modest for an 81cm pit and rules out heaping it with hardwood. For a household that wants a single unit covering winter fires and summer entertaining, the ice-bucket mode proves more useful than it sounds on paper.
Pros
- Fire pit, BBQ and ice bucket in one frame
- Rain cover, spark screen, poker and log grate included
- Light at 11kg and easy to reposition
Cons
- Fire bowl rated to a 10kg fuel load only
- Coated steel rather than stainless
Key specs: Charcoal and wood, steel with heat-resistant coating, 81 x 81 x 50cm, 11kg, spark screen and oxford rain cover
CHECK CURRENT PRICE9. 3-in-1 Portable Firewood Charcoal Fire Pit – Best for Camping
Collapsed, it packs down to roughly the size of a camp chair bag, and at 4.5kg it is the only unit here that belongs on a walk-in packing list rather than in a ute tray.
Construction runs 304 stainless over a zinc iron alloy frame, which resists rust considerably better than the powder-coated steel used elsewhere in this guide, and it burns firewood, charcoal or bio-pellets equally well. Gloves and a carry bag are supplied.
A 45cm body will not warm a group and is too small to anchor a backyard setting. The honest way to read it is as camping equipment that happens to work on a balcony, rather than a patio centrepiece that happens to pack down.
Pros
- Packs to 60 x 15 x 15cm and weighs 4.5kg
- 304 stainless resists rust better than coated steel
- Burns firewood, charcoal or bio-pellets
Cons
- 45cm chamber is too small for entertaining
- Stock levels on this model have been running low
Key specs: Firewood, charcoal or bio-pellets, 304 stainless steel with zinc iron alloy and aluminium, 45 x 45 x 49cm, 4.5kg, packs to 60 x 15 x 15cm
CHECK CURRENT PRICEHow to Choose a Fire Pit
Start with diameter, not features. A 56cm bowl throws enough heat for three or four chairs pulled in close, while an 82cm to 91cm chamber warms a full outdoor setting with room to walk around it. Measure the space the pit will live in and leave at least a metre of clearance on every side before deciding.
Bowl depth decides burn time and spark throw. Anything under about 15cm burns hot and fast and sends embers over the rim as the load collapses. A 22cm dish banks fuel together and holds a fire for an evening on a single load, which is the difference between refilling twice and not thinking about it.
Match the material to your postcode. Powder-coated steel is fine inland and under cover, but salt air will lift the coating at any chip and rust will spread underneath. Within a few kilometres of the coast, stainless or a bare iron patina finish holds up far better, because neither depends on a coating staying intact.
Decide whether you actually want to cook. Grill plates, swivel arms and charcoal racks add cost and cleaning to a unit whose main job may simply be warmth. A plain bowl lights faster, cleans out in a minute and never leaves you scrubbing grease off a grate in the dark.
Weigh portability honestly. Folding and packable pits earn their place at a campsite or in a rental where nothing can be left behind, and they pair naturally with the rest of a camp kit such as a camping mattress and a portable power station. For a permanent backyard spot, that folding mechanism is weight and complexity you never use.
Check the rules before you buy, not after. Solid-fuel fire pits are restricted or banned outright in parts of every state, and a total fire ban overrides any council permission for the day. Confirm your local council position and register for state fire-ban alerts, because a total fire ban makes an open pit illegal to light regardless of what it cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fire pits legal in Australian backyards?
Rules vary by council and by state, and some metropolitan councils restrict or ban solid-fuel fire pits entirely. Even where they are permitted, a declared total fire ban makes lighting one illegal for that day. Check your council website and register for state fire-ban alerts before buying.
What size fire pit do I need?
Match diameter to the seating group. A 56cm bowl suits three or four chairs pulled in close, a 70cm to 80cm bowl handles five or six, and an 82cm to 91cm chamber warms a full outdoor setting. Leave at least a metre of clear space on every side.
What can I burn in a fire pit?
Seasoned hardwood gives the longest, cleanest burn and the least smoke. Charcoal suits pits designed for cooking. Never burn treated or painted timber, pallets, green wood or rubbish, because they release toxic fumes and coat the pit in tar.
Do fire pits damage decking or pavers?
Yes, if placed directly on them. Radiant heat from the base scorches timber and can crack pavers, and iron finishes leave rust marks. Stand the pit on a heat shield, a bed of gravel or bare earth, and keep it well clear of timber decking.
Is stainless steel worth paying more for?
Near the coast, yes. Salt air attacks powder-coated steel wherever the coating chips, and rust then spreads under the paint. Stainless and bare iron patina finishes do not rely on a coating staying intact, so they age far better in salt-laden air.
How do I stop a fire pit rusting?
Empty the ash after every burn, because ash holds moisture against the metal and accelerates corrosion. Store the pit under a cover or indoors between uses, and touch up any chips in a powder-coated finish before rust takes hold underneath.
Verdict
For most backyards the Grillz Fire Pit BBQ Grill 82cm is the one to buy, because the 60cm standing height and the included dome, grate and poker cover both warmth and cooking without extras. Anyone who only wants fire should take the Grillz Fire Pit Iron Bowl 80cm instead, where a 22cm dish and a patina finish mean no assembly, no coating to maintain and a load that burns all evening. For campsites, the 3-in-1 Portable Firewood Charcoal Fire Pit is the only unit here that packs to 60 x 15 x 15cm and weighs 4.5kg.
