in droves. They’ve become the focal point to any deck or patio and make the perfect conversation piece at any gathering not to mention their utility adding ambient light and heat to keep the party going well into a chilly night. This article focuses on rectangular propane fire tables. The rectangular size allows you to fit more chairs around the fire table which means you’ll keep more guests in the conversation not too mention toasty and warm. There are a variety of things to consider when choosing a fire table which we’ve laid out below along with a few of our favorites.
Things To Consider
Style
Fortunately, fire tables come in a wide variety of styles to match an existing patio or shake it up to accentuate the table its self. For instance, if your patio features the wildly popular resin wicker patio furniture there are fire tables to match. Or if you have a stone patio there are fire tables with faux stone finishes to compliment any patio style. Other styles include granite tops, an aluminum wood look to match a deck, or stamped concrete and marble.
Height
Choosing the right height for your propane fire table is important. Consider whether you want true table height or rather something set a bit lower to complete a conversation area. There are even counter height tables that create a nice standing area if that best suits the space.
Our Favorites
Red Ember Longmont 50 x 38 in. Rectangle Gas Fire Pit
- Dimensions: 50L x 38W x 24H in.
- Provides 42,000 BTUs of output
- Crafted from robust aluminum
- Rich charcoal finish
Fire Area Inserts
When it comes to the actual area where the fire gently warms the air there are a few different options to create that WOW factor. For a more modern look choose fire glass in just about any color imaginable to accent the existing decor. Or for a more traditional look feature synthetic fire logs or river rock. One thing to note is that synthetic fire stone and logs tend to hold and produce more heat than fire glass if you are looking for extra warmth.
Heat Output / BTUs
BTUs short for British Thermal Unit is used to measure the heat output in propane fire pit tables as well as free standing heaters. The more BTUs the more heat the fire pit table will produce. Fire tables generally range from 40,000 BTUs to 80,000 BTUs.
See Our Series On
Patio Heaters & Fire Pits
Burn Time
Most fire tables run on a 20 lb tank of liquid propane. That said there are kits that can convert them to natural gas should you want to plumb a gas line directly to the table. Burn times per propane tank are dependent on the BTU output of the fire table. For instance a 20 lb. propane tank has a 430,270 BTU capacity. 430,270 divided by 58,000 BTU fire table = 7.4 hours of burn time with a wide open propane tank. Keep that in mind as you don’t want to constantly be swapping out tanks!!!
Safety
One of the most obvious factors is safety. If there are small kids in the equation one might consider a taller table. One nice thing about propane vs. wood burning fire tables is that you don’t need to worry about flying embers! Some fire tables come with automatic propane off switches which close the valve to the propane tank when the flame is extinguished. It might make sense to spend a bit more for this feature because forgetting to shut off the propane at the end of the evening could prove disastrous.
Montego Black Fire Table
- Dimensions: 30W x 59.75D x 21H in.
- Includes free burner cover and glass fire gems
- Rectangular tempered black glass top and black wicker base
- 100,000 maximum BTU output
Baltic Rectangle Propane Fire Table
- Burns liquid propane, rated at up to 50,000 BTUs of heat
- Certified for use with standard 20lb LP tank, for up to 9 hours (highest setting) or 26 hours (low setting) of burn time
- Cast from tinted fiber-concrete and heavy gauge steel
- Includes LP fire table, lid, 50,000 BTU burner, lava rock, electronic ignition, leveling feet, 8′ gas hose and protective storage cover
- Please note that the propane tank for this unit sits outside the table. Propane tank not included
Cover
Lastly, check to see if the fire table you are interested in offers a cover or at least has one available for an additional cost. Some fire tables come with a tabletop piece that fits into the fire area turning the fire table into a regular table top and covering the fire insert at the same time. Hopefully, this helps narrow down the list of what you need to make your rectangular propane fire table the perfect focal point for your next gathering!
Related: Fire Table Buying Guide,
Gas Patio Heaters, Tabletop Heaters
I have always longed to have a fire pit on my balcony or some sort of fire imitation pit on balcony because I would hate to burn my condo complex down because I have a fascination. I was wondering if you offer any fire pits with faux fire. This may be a silly question but I want a fire pit too (in my pouty voice)
Hi and thanks for stopping by the site. I think we might have a solution for your balcony. Check out these table top fire bowls http://theurbanbackyard.com/table-top-fire-bowls most run on low heat from a chaffing dish type fuel source. They are much bigger than a candle but smaller than a fire pit table and would be safe on your balcony. Good Luck!
Thanks for writing all of this up!
I really like that Montego black with with the fire glass! You said you can get that in all different colors. I’m curious, is the glass interchangeable? And will it ever break on me? I’m guessing it can withstand some pretty high temperatures being that close to the flame.
Thanks for stopping by the site. To answer your question yes, the fire glass is interchangeable and it won’t break but you might find some dust from where the chips rub together.
At present I have been using a wood burning outdoor fireplace. As nice as they are I find I do not use it as much as I would like because of set up time then the time to do the total burn.
What you have with these propane units are quick to light, better to actually sit around rather than in front of. Also I believe where you can shut them off as fast as you start them, you would probably use them more often for shorter times in most cases and get more quality time around your propane fire table rather than an outdoor fireplace.
Well worth looking into replacing my system with a propane one.
I have always enjoyed a camp fire or fire table. This is where some of the best relationships are cemented. If I were to make one myself, can you offer some building tips?
I have always enjoyed a camp fire or fire table. This is where some of the best relationships are cemented. If I were to build one myself, could you offer some construction tips? I agree that gas is much better than a wood fire because of safety and ease of use. I also agree with using natural gas. The supply could be almost endless and a lot cheaper than propane.
There are many options available to build your own propane or gas patio fire table. A quick google search uncovers all of the components necessary to build one. Good luck!
Great article thank you 🙂 I’ve wanted one of these for ages but was always a little concerned about safety. You have allayed those fears, but I can see that before buying one of these it pays to do a bit of research.
My balcony can get quite windy. How do these fire tables cope with wind? Would the flame blow around and potentially burn someone?
Thanks
Deb
Glad you enjoyed the article. The flame won’t go out so I wouldn’t worry about that.