Quick Picks
Short on time? Here are our top recommendations for 2026:
- BioLite FirePit (~$300) — Best smart pick, Bluetooth app controls airflow and flame intensity
- Solo Stove Bonfire with Stand (~$330) — Best overall smokeless fire pit, 19.5-inch with removable ash pan
- EAST OAK 21-inch Smokeless Fire Pit (~$150) — Best budget smokeless, 304 stainless steel
- TIKI 28.5-Inch Customizable Propane Fire Pit (~$500) — Best propane pit, 40,000 BTU with modular accessories
- DR. INFRARED HEATER DR-239 3000W (~$280) — Best outdoor patio heater, IP55 weatherproof
- Dr. Infrared Ecoheat Wall-Mounted Heater (~$200) — Best 3-season covered-patio heater, dual infrared + fan with remote
Memorial Day is five days away, and if you’re planning a backyard hangout, the difference between “everyone’s freezing on the patio by 9pm” and “nobody wants to go inside” usually comes down to two things — a good fire pit and a real patio heater. We’ve spent the spring testing the picks below, focusing on smokeless fire pits that actually live up to the marketing, propane pits that don’t smell like fuel, and patio heaters that throw enough heat to keep a deck warm into the low 50s.
A note on the word “smart.” Genuine smart connectivity in this category is still rare — most fire pits are mechanical objects with no chip in them at all, which is a feature, not a bug, when you’re dealing with open flame. But a handful do offer Bluetooth or app control (BioLite’s FirePit being the clearest example). For the smokeless fire pits, we lean on premium engineering — Solo Stove, EAST OAK, TIKI — and pair them with smart accessories like outdoor smart plugs and string lights so the whole patio scene comes together. Patio heaters in this category mostly ship with remote controls rather than full WiFi apps — to add scheduling or voice control, pair them with a 240V or 120V smart switch.
If you’re already shopping outdoor gear, our guides to the best smart grills for 2026 and the best smart outdoor lights for 2026 are natural companion reads — pair a smokeless fire pit with a WiFi pellet smoker and a Hue Outdoor light strip and your Memorial Day setup writes itself.
Our Top Picks Reviewed
BioLite FirePit — Best Smart Pick
The BioLite FirePit is the most legitimately “smart” fire pit we found this year, and it’s the one to pick if you want app control over your flames. BioLite’s design is a hybrid wood-and-charcoal burner with 51 air jets injecting fresh oxygen into the fire, which is what produces the signature smokeless burn — but the standout feature is the removable USB-rechargeable battery pack that powers the fan and connects to the BioLite Energy app over Bluetooth.
From the app, you can adjust airflow across four fan levels, which directly controls flame intensity. Want to slow-cook over coals? Drop the fan to level 1. Want a roaring fire for s’mores? Crank it to 4. The app also shows real-time battery level and estimated runtime, so you’re not guessing whether you’ll need to recharge mid-hangout. The battery lasts roughly 7 hours on low and 30 minutes on high, and it doubles as a USB power bank for your phone — useful when you’re camping with it.
This is also a true dual-purpose unit. Lift the top grate and it becomes a portable grill — BioLite includes a hibachi-style grilling grate that handles burgers, hot dogs, fish, or vegetables. The whole thing folds down to a compact rectangle (27 lbs) with a built-in handle, which means you can take it from the backyard to the beach to a campsite without much fuss.
For a Memorial Day cookout where you want both a fire to gather around and a grill to cook on, with actual smartphone control over the flame, this is the only fire pit on this list that delivers all three.
Key Features:
- 51 air-jet smokeless burn with USB-rechargeable battery pack
- Bluetooth app control over fan speed and flame intensity (BioLite Energy app, iOS and Android)
- Burns wood OR charcoal — true dual-fuel
- Built-in grilling grate (hibachi-style)
- Battery doubles as USB power bank
- 27 lbs, folds flat for portability
- Real-time battery level and runtime in the app
Pros:
- The only fire pit on this list with genuine app/Bluetooth control
- Excellent for camping AND backyard use
- Doubles as a grill — saves buying two units
- Smokeless burn actually works at all fan levels
Cons:
- Smaller flame footprint than a Solo Stove Bonfire — not as visually impressive for hosting
- Battery has to be recharged (USB-C), so plan ahead
- Charcoal burns hot and can warp the grill grate over time
Solo Stove Bonfire with Stand — Best Overall Smokeless Fire Pit
Solo Stove practically created the modern smokeless fire pit category, and the Bonfire (2.0 generation) with Stand is their volume-seller for a reason. The double-wall stainless steel design uses Signature 360° Airflow to pre-heat secondary combustion air, which burns off the smoke before it leaves the pit. The result is a clean orange flame with almost no smoke once the fire is up to temperature — meaning no smoke in your eyes, no smoke smell in your clothes, and no upset neighbors on a still summer evening.
The 2.0 version added two improvements over the original Bonfire: a removable ash pan that drops out the bottom for fast cleanup (a huge quality-of-life upgrade if you’ve ever tipped a smokeless pit upside-down to dump ashes), and a base plate that improves airflow at the burn area. The included stand is the other key piece — without it, the bottom of the Bonfire gets hot enough to damage decks, lawns, and pavers. With the stand, you can safely run it on a wood deck or even artificial turf.
The Bonfire 2.0 is 19.5 inches in diameter, weighs about 22 pounds, and seats 4–6 people comfortably around it. It burns standard firewood logs (cut to ~16 inches or less) and gets going in 5-10 minutes. Solo Stove sells it as a lifetime-investment piece, and the 304 stainless steel construction backs that up — the unit ages with a beautiful patina rather than rusting out.
This is the fire pit to buy if you want the cleanest flame and the most iconic look, and you don’t need any tech in your fire experience. Sometimes the smart move is to skip “smart” entirely.
Key Features:
- 19.5-inch diameter, 304 stainless steel double-wall construction
- Signature 360° Airflow smokeless burn
- Removable ash pan (new for 2.0)
- Included stand protects decks, lawns, turf
- Burns standard firewood (~16 inches or less)
- 21.75 lbs
Pros:
- Best-in-class smokeless burn — actually does what it claims
- Stand bundled in (a $50 add-on if bought separately)
- Lifetime warranty
- Iconic look, ages well
Cons:
- Wood-burning only — no propane, no grill function
- Premium price for what is essentially a metal cylinder
- 16-inch log limit means you’ll often need to cut store-bought wood
EAST OAK 21-inch Smokeless Fire Pit — Best Budget Smokeless
The EAST OAK is the value pick that has become genuinely competitive with Solo Stove. It uses the same double-wall stainless steel smokeless construction, the same 360° airflow principle, and the same removable ash pan design — at roughly half the price. Independent testers have measured surface temperatures over 1,200°F and reported even heat distribution around the pit that matches or beats Solo Stove’s Bonfire.
The version we’re recommending is the 21-inch model (slightly larger than the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 at 19.5 inches), made from 304 stainless steel with a “Pitch Charcoal” finish — a darker matte coating that hides scuffs better than raw stainless. It comes with a stand to protect heat-sensitive surfaces, a fire poker, and a removable ash pan. Everything you actually need is in the box.
Trade-offs versus Solo Stove are mostly aesthetic and longevity-related. The welds aren’t quite as clean, the finish doesn’t develop the same patina, and EAST OAK’s warranty is shorter (typically 1-year manufacturer’s vs. Solo Stove’s lifetime). The smokeless performance, though, is genuinely close — for casual backyard use 20-30 times a year, you’d struggle to tell them apart in a side-by-side burn.
If you’ve been wanting a smokeless fire pit but choking on the Solo Stove price tag, this is the easy answer.
Key Features:
- 21-inch diameter, 304 stainless steel
- Double-wall smokeless airflow design
- Removable ash pan for easy cleanup
- Includes stand, fire poker
- Pitch Charcoal matte finish
- Portable design with carrying bag (sold separately)
Pros:
- Roughly half the price of comparable Solo Stove
- Equivalent smokeless performance in independent tests
- Larger 21-inch diameter than Bonfire 2.0
- Includes poker and stand
Cons:
- Shorter warranty than Solo Stove
- Finish doesn’t age as gracefully
- Build quality is a small notch below
TIKI 28.5-Inch Customizable Propane Fire Pit — Best Propane
Wood-burning fire pits are great for the experience, but they’re not always great for the situation. Apartment patio with an HOA? Rental house with strict fire rules? Want to start a fire in 30 seconds and shut it off when you go inside? You want propane. TIKI’s 28.5-inch customizable propane fire pit is the cleanest, best-designed propane option we’ve used this season.
The unit puts out 40,000 BTU of heat, which is enough to warm an 8-10 foot radius even on a cool 55°F evening. It runs on a standard 20-pound propane tank that slides into a hidden tray on the side — you don’t see the tank, just the clean modern black-paneled enclosure. The included lava rocks fill the burn area for a more natural look, and a metal burner cover converts the unit into a side table when not in use. There’s a built-in propane gauge so you know exactly how much fuel you have left.
The “customizable” part is what makes this a standout: TIKI sells accessories that snap onto the unit to transform it. A patio heater attachment turns the fire pit into a directional radiant heater (great for cold-weather use), and a tabletop attachment converts the burn area into a full dining surface. So one base unit does fire-pit duty, heater duty, and table duty depending on what your evening calls for.
Ignition is a simple push-button starter — no matches, no lighter fluid, no chasing kindling. Shut it off and the unit cools down within minutes. For homeowners with smoke restrictions, fire bans during drought season, or anyone who just wants a fire experience without the ash cleanup, this is the right pick.
Key Features:
- 28.5-inch square footprint, 40,000 BTU output
- Propane fueled — standard 20 lb tank (sold separately)
- Push-button electronic ignition
- Hidden tank storage with slide-out tray
- Included lava rocks and burner cover (doubles as table)
- Modular accessories: patio heater attachment, tabletop attachment (sold separately)
- Visible propane gauge
Pros:
- Instant on/off — perfect for spontaneous hangouts
- No smoke, no ash, no wood storage
- 40,000 BTU is genuinely warming on cool nights
- Modular system grows with your patio setup
Cons:
- No flame is as visually compelling as wood
- Propane tank not included (and you’ll go through one every 6-10 burns)
- Larger footprint than the smokeless pits
- More expensive than wood-burning options
DR. INFRARED HEATER DR-239 3000W — Best Outdoor Patio Heater
A patio heater is the most underrated piece of outdoor furniture. People focus on grills, fire pits, and lights — then they walk outside in May at 9pm, it’s 58°F, and everyone is wearing hoodies. A good electric infrared patio heater pushes that comfort zone by a solid 10-15°F.
The Dr. Infrared DR-239 is the model we recommend for serious patio use because it’s actually built for the outdoors. It carries an IP55 weatherproof rating (dust-tight, protected against water jets from any direction), which means rain or sprinkler spray won’t kill it. It puts out 10,260 BTU / 3000 watts of radiant heat through a carbon-fiber heating element that warms people and objects directly rather than trying to heat the surrounding air — which is the only kind of heating that works on an open patio.
This is a 220-240V unit, so it requires a dedicated outlet (most homes have one in the garage or laundry area; for a permanent patio install, an electrician needs to drop a 220V line). That’s the trade-off for the heat output — at 220V, you get more than double the warming power of a standard 1500W 120V heater. It mounts on a wall or ceiling, and includes a full mounting kit and a wireless remote. There’s no smart app on this one, but you can put it on a smart outlet or a 240V smart switch to schedule it.
If you want to extend your patio season from late April through October, or you have a covered porch that gets cold late at night, this is the workhorse.
Key Features:
- 3000W / 10,260 BTU output (220-240V)
- IP55 weatherproof (rated for outdoor use)
- Carbon fiber radiant heating element
- Wall or ceiling mount with included kit
- Wireless remote control
- Two heat settings
Pros:
- Genuinely waterproof — leaves outdoors year-round
- 3000W output warms a much larger area than 1500W units
- Long heating element lifespan (carbon fiber lasts 5,000+ hours)
- Silent operation (no fan)
Cons:
- Requires 220-240V outlet (most users will need an electrician)
- No native smart app — pair with a smart outlet for scheduling
- Wall/ceiling install only (no floor-standing option in this model)
Dr. Infrared Ecoheat Wall-Mounted Heater — Best 3-Season Covered-Patio Heater
The Dr. Infrared Ecoheat is the wall-mountable shoulder-season pick — a covered-patio and three-season room workhorse that runs on a normal 120V outlet (no electrician needed). It ships with a wireless remote rather than WiFi, so the way to make it “smart” is to plug it into a 1500W-rated smart outlet — that gets you scheduling and Alexa/Google voice control via the smart plug’s app, not the heater itself.
The unit is a dual-system design: it combines an infrared heating element for direct radiant warmth with a fan-forced blower for fast room heat-up — you can run ECO, HIGH, or LOW. Total output is 1500W / 5,200 BTU at standard 120V, which is the right size for a covered patio, gazebo, screened porch, or attached sunroom (roughly 200-300 square feet of effective warming). It’s not weatherproof, so this isn’t a rain-exposed pick — keep it under cover.
It’s designed to hang elegantly on the wall but converts to a portable floor unit “without any tools,” which is a nice touch if you want to move it inside the house during winter (it doubles as a 1500W indoor space heater). Build quality is decent for the price and the remote is standard infrared.
If you have a covered patio or three-season room and want a wall-mounted heater that doesn’t need a 240V circuit, this is the one. Pair it with a smart outdoor speaker setup and a smokeless fire pit and you’ve got a real shoulder-season patio experience.
Key Features:
- 1500W dual heating: infrared + fan-forced blower
- Three modes: ECO, HIGH, LOW
- Wireless remote control included
- Wall-mount or portable floor configuration (no tools to convert)
- 120V standard outlet — no rewiring needed
- Doubles as an indoor 1500W space heater
Pros:
- Dual heat modes work indoors AND on covered patios
- Standard 120V outlet — no electrician needed
- Wall-mount or floor — flexible install
- Quiet operation at LOW mode
Cons:
- Not weatherproof — covered/enclosed use only
- 1500W is plenty for small spaces, not enough for open patios
- No native WiFi or app — add scheduling via a 1500W-rated smart outlet
- Remote is line-of-sight infrared
Comparison Table
| Product | Type | Heat / Size | Smart Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioLite FirePit | Wood/charcoal fire pit + grill | Portable, 27 lbs | Bluetooth fan/flame control via BioLite Energy app | Smart fire pit + grill in one |
| Solo Stove Bonfire with Stand | Wood-burning smokeless | 19.5”, 21.75 lbs | None — pair with smart outdoor lights | Best overall smokeless |
| EAST OAK 21” Smokeless | Wood-burning smokeless | 21”, 304 stainless | None | Best budget smokeless |
| TIKI 28.5” Propane | Propane fire pit | 40,000 BTU, 20 lb tank | Push-button ignition, no app | Apartments, HOA, no-wood zones |
| Dr. Infrared DR-239 | Electric outdoor patio heater | 3000W / 10,260 BTU, 220V | Remote + use with smart 240V switch | Open patio, year-round outdoor heat |
| Dr. Infrared Ecoheat | Electric covered-patio heater | 1500W dual mode, 120V | Remote control; add smart plug for scheduling | Covered porch, screened room |
Buying Guide: What to Look For in 2026
Fuel type matters more than you think
Wood-burning smokeless fire pits (Solo Stove, EAST OAK, BioLite) give you the most authentic experience — the crackle, the smell, the visual depth of a real flame. They require firewood storage and ash cleanup, and they’re subject to local burn bans during drought season. If you have an HOA, double-check that wood-burning is allowed before you order.
Propane fire pits (TIKI) trade authenticity for convenience. Instant on/off, no smoke, no ash, no wood storage. They’re often allowed in places where wood is banned (apartment patios, drought zones, fire-risk regions). Plan for the ongoing fuel cost — a 20 lb propane tank lasts roughly 6-10 evenings depending on flame size, and refills run about $20.
Electric patio heaters (Dr. Infrared) are the only option that warms people through ambient cold. They don’t replace a fire pit’s vibe, but they extend your usable patio season by months. The DR-239 needs 240V, the Ecoheat runs on standard 120V — the wattage and coverage difference between them is significant.
Smart features that actually matter
Honest take: most “smart” features in this category are marketing, and the ones that matter are surprisingly basic.
- Bluetooth fan control (BioLite) — actually useful, lets you adjust flame size without standing up
- Smart-plug scheduling for patio heaters — pair an electric heater with a smart outlet (1500W-rated for 120V, or a 240V smart switch for higher-wattage units) to get pre-heat schedules and voice control without needing a heater that has WiFi built in
- Schedules — actually useful for patio heaters; not useful for fire pits (you should never schedule an open flame to start unattended)
- Voice control (Alexa/Google, via a smart plug) — nice to have for heaters; irrelevant for fire pits
- Push-button electronic ignition (TIKI) — not “smart” but it makes propane fire pits feel modern
If a fire pit’s “smart” feature is just an LED color-changing accent, ignore it. The flame is the show.
BTU and coverage
For fire pits, BTU is mostly relevant for propane units (TIKI’s 40,000 BTU is a typical “warming for 4-6 people” output). Wood-burning smokeless pits don’t get marketed in BTU because output varies wildly with the amount of wood you load.
For patio heaters, BTU directly correlates with how many feet of warming radius you get:
- 1,500W / ~5,000 BTU → 6-8 ft radius
- 3,000W / ~10,000 BTU → 10-12 ft radius
- 40,000+ BTU propane standing heater → 15-20 ft radius
For a typical 12x16 ft patio, you want at least 10,000 BTU of heating capacity. A 1500W unit covers a smaller deck or a screened room.
Weather resistance
Check the IP rating before you buy any electric outdoor heater. The Dr. Infrared DR-239 is IP55 (dust-tight, water jet resistant) and can live outside year-round. The Ecoheat is not weather-rated and must be kept under cover. Fire pits are inherently weather-tolerant — stainless steel rusts slowly, propane units come with covers — but always store with the cover on for longevity.
Build quality and lifespan
For wood-burning smokeless pits, 304 stainless steel is the bar. Lower-grade steel will rust through within 2-3 seasons of regular use. All three smokeless picks on this list (BioLite, Solo Stove, EAST OAK) use 304. For propane units, look for stainless steel burners specifically (the rest of the body can be powder-coated steel) — the burner is the most failure-prone part.
For electric heaters, the heating element type matters: carbon fiber elements (Dr. Infrared DR-239) last 5,000+ hours and are more efficient than older halogen designs. Avoid heaters with quartz tubes or open-coil elements for outdoor use — they fail faster.
Memorial Day timing
Memorial Day weekend is the kickoff to outdoor entertaining season, and fire pits / patio heaters see their biggest sale prices of the year in late May. If you’re buying for Memorial Day specifically, expect 15-30% discounts on most models in this category through the holiday weekend, with TIKI and Dr. Infrared typically running the deepest promotions. Prime Day in mid-July is the only other meaningful price drop until Black Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a smokeless fire pit actually smokeless?
Yes — after it reaches operating temperature. For the first 5-10 minutes while the fire is building, you’ll still see normal smoke. Once the double-wall airflow system pre-heats the secondary combustion air, smoke production drops dramatically (Solo Stove and BioLite claim “near zero,” and in practice that’s accurate). The trick is using dry, seasoned hardwood — wet or green wood will smoke regardless of the pit design.
Can I roast marshmallows on a smokeless fire pit?
Absolutely. Smokeless pits produce more visible flame and less smoke, which is actually ideal for s’mores. Use long roasting sticks (Solo Stove and EAST OAK both sell them as accessories) and you’ll get clean toasting without sooty marshmallows.
Will a smokeless fire pit damage my deck?
Without a stand, yes — the bottom of a Solo Stove or EAST OAK gets hot enough to scorch a wood deck or melt artificial turf. Always use the included stand, and consider adding a fire-resistant mat under it for extra protection. The TIKI propane unit has a fully enclosed body and is generally safe on most surfaces, but check the manufacturer’s clearance requirements.
Do propane fire pits work in cold weather?
Yes, but with caveats. Propane vaporizes more slowly in cold temperatures, which can reduce flame size below ~30°F. For year-round use in cold climates, consider a natural gas conversion kit (TIKI sells one as an accessory) so you’re not dependent on tank pressure.
Are smart patio heaters actually worth it over a regular patio heater?
For a covered porch where you turn the heater on and off regularly: yes — but the “smart” usually comes from a smart outlet rather than a WiFi heater. Pair either the Dr. Infrared Ecoheat (120V, 1500W) with a 1500W-rated indoor smart plug, or the DR-239 (240V) with a 240V smart switch, and you get pre-heat schedules and Alexa/Google voice control through the plug’s app. For an open patio you use for a few hours at a stretch, a simple remote-controlled heater is just as effective.
How long does a 20-pound propane tank last in a fire pit?
Roughly 6-10 evenings of 2-3 hour burns at medium flame, or about 12-15 hours of continuous burn time on a 40,000 BTU unit. Plan to keep a backup tank on hand — running out mid-evening is the most common propane fire pit annoyance.
Can I use any of these indoors?
No fire pits, regardless of fuel type, are safe for indoor use. They produce carbon monoxide and require open ventilation. The Dr. Infrared Ecoheat is the only product on this list rated for indoor use — it doubles as a wall-mounted indoor space heater.
What’s the best fire pit for a small balcony or apartment patio?
The BioLite FirePit for its compact size and dual fire/grill function (and the fact that you can shut it off cleanly with the fan). For balconies that prohibit open flame entirely, an electric patio heater like the Dr. Infrared Ecoheat is the safer pick. Always check your lease and HOA rules — many apartment complexes ban any open flame on balconies.
How does smart outdoor lighting pair with a fire pit setup?
A smokeless fire pit pulls everyone toward the center of the patio. Smart outdoor lights handle the ambient zone — string lights overhead, accent lights on landscaping, path lights to the door. We covered the full setup in our best smart outdoor lights for 2026 guide. If you’re already worried about bugs ruining the night, our best smart mosquito traps for 2026 roundup pairs naturally with this one.
The Bottom Line
For most people planning a Memorial Day backyard setup in 2026, the Solo Stove Bonfire with Stand is the safest pick — it’s the most refined smokeless fire pit on the market, it ages well, and it pairs perfectly with the kind of outdoor entertaining most people are actually doing. Pay a little less and you can have the EAST OAK 21-inch for similar performance. Want a fire experience with genuine app control? The BioLite FirePit is the only fire pit on this list that delivers real smart functionality (Bluetooth fan control), and it doubles as a grill.
If propane suits your situation better (apartments, HOAs, fire bans), the TIKI 28.5-Inch Customizable Propane Fire Pit is the cleanest design with modular accessories that grow with you. And for actual heat — the kind that extends your outdoor season by months — pair the fire pit with either the open-patio DR. INFRARED HEATER DR-239 3000W or the covered-patio Dr. Infrared Ecoheat (add a smart plug for app scheduling).
The right setup is usually a fire pit plus a heater. The fire pit is the focal point; the heater is what makes everyone actually want to stay out there past 10pm.
Pair whatever you pick with a smart pellet grill for the food side of Memorial Day, and you’re set for the whole season.