Best fire pits for patios

Top pick: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0. Wood-burning and genuinely smokeless, so it works on a patio without smoking out the house or the neighbours. Stainless steel, no gas line or tank, and it doubles as a portable fire pit for the yard.

Who the others suit:

• Ninja Fireside360 — if you want instant, controllable flames with no ash or wood to buy; propane, so it's the easiest to live with on a covered patio.
• X Series Smokeless Fire Pit — a big, heavy wood burner for a large patio and a crowd; the highest-rated of the wood pits here.
• Tiki Brand Patio Smokeless Fire Pit — the smaller, lighter wood option for a compact patio or a first fire pit.
• 42" Propane Fire Pit Table / Sunmthink 42" — if you'd rather have a table you can set drinks on than an open fire bowl.
• Blue Sky Ridge Portable — pellet-fed and very light, for taking to the beach or tailgate.
• Fireside Pop-Up Pit — a packable, occasional-use pit, not a permanent patio fixture.

Skip the 36" Legacy if you want wood; it's propane and priced like a premium table.