9 Best Wood-Burning Fire Pits for Cooking (November 2026)
The best wood-burning fire pits for cooking include the Hykolity 2 in 1 Fire Pit for most backyards, the BALI OUTDOORS Outdoor Fire Pits for Outside Wood for a larger fire bowl, and the OutVue 26 Inch Wood Burning Fire Pits for small patios.
On this page (4 sections)
The best wood burning fire pit for cooking is the Hykolity 2 in 1 Fire Pit, because its 21-inch grate swings a full 360 degrees and adjusts up or down, so you can move food away from the flames without reaching over them. If you want a bigger fire bowl for logs, the BALI OUTDOORS is the next best choice.
For big parties, the Panovue 47-Inch has the largest cooking area of the group.
A cooking fire pit is only as good as its grate. A fixed grate over a small bowl limits you to burgers and marshmallows, while a swivel or height-adjustable grate turns the same pit into a real backyard grill.
Bowl size decides how big a fire you can build and how many people can sit around it.
Below you'll find the picks ranked by score, the details that matter when you shop and a short verdict to help you choose. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
If you want a wider look at wood pits in general, start with our best wood burning fire pits guide.
Our picks at a glance
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1
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Best for a larger fire bowlBALI OUTDOORS Outdoor Fire Pits for Outside Wood
9.3/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
- 4
Check itOutVue 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2
Best for tabletop dining - 5
Best for big gatheringsCheck it - 6
Check itVerdeluxe 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2
Best for cooking and covering - 7
Check itFire Beauty Wood Burning Fire Pit 22
Best for comfortable tending - 8
Check itHykolity 35-Inch with Cooking Grates
Best for charcoal grilling - 9
Best for large cookoutsCheck it
The best wood-burning fire pits for cooking, ranked
Every pick here has a grate you can cook on, but they split into three groups. The top scores go to pits with a swivel or adjustable grate and a bowl big enough for a real fire.
The middle picks trade cooking space for a lid or table function. The bottom picks suit a specific job, like cooking at standing height or feeding a very large group.
Hykolity 2 in 1 Fire Pit: Best for most backyards
- 31-inch bowl with 360-degree swivel grate
- 21.06-inch cooking area
- Pentagram vents for airflow
- Spark cover and poker included
A large swivel grate and height adjustment make this the easiest of the group to cook on, while the spark cover keeps ash off the food between turns.
Pros
- Grate swings fully away from the fire
- Grate height adjusts by screws
- Four sturdy legs for stability
Cons
- Bowl sits lower than the taller picks here
- Grate must be lifted off to load big logs
Hykolity's 2 in 1 is the strongest cooking choice for most backyards. The 21.06-inch grate swings 360 degrees, so you can rotate food clear of the flames to load logs or turn a steak without leaning over the fire.
Screws let you fix the grate at different heights, which is how you manage heat on a wood fire: raise it for a hot sear, lower it for a slow cook. The grate also lifts off completely, so you can set it directly on the bowl or take it away when you only want flames.
The 31-inch bowl gives logs room to burn while the outer ring gives guests a place to rest drinks and keeps hands away from the flames. Pentagram-shaped vents pull air in so the fire lights faster and burns brighter.
A spark cover fits on top when you want the fire without flying embers.
The trade-off is the low frame. At 19.6 in H the bowl sits closer to the ground than the taller picks, so expect more bending when you tend the fire.
The powder-coated steel weighs 24.9 lb and the four legs keep it steady. Assembly is quick: four legs, the outer ring and the grate, with no extra tools to buy.
BALI OUTDOORS Outdoor Fire Pits for Outside Wood: Best for a larger fire bowl
- 32-inch bowl
- 360-degree adjustable cooking grate
- Mesh spark screen
- Assembles in about 30 minutes
The widest bowl among the mid-size picks gives logs and grill space more room to share, and the taller stand keeps the fire closer to hand height.
Pros
- 32-inch bowl holds a bigger fire
- Grate handles allow rotation without gloves
- Taller frame at 25 in H
Cons
- Lighter frame means less heft when moving
- Round support structure needs level ground
BALI OUTDOORS offers the widest bowl among the mid-size pits at 32 inches, and its frame stands 25 inches tall. That extra height makes a real difference when you're cooking: the fire sits closer to waist level, so you can flip food and add wood with less stooping.
Its cooking grate rotates a full 360 degrees and adjusts up or down using built-in handles. That means you can control the distance between food and flame without grabbing a hot grate with a tool.
The circular support structure gives the grate balanced footing.
A mesh spark screen contains flying embers while letting air through. The bowl is powder-coated metal, and assembly takes about 30 minutes with the included instructions.
At 16.3 lb it's lighter than most of the large pits here, but its size makes it a semi-permanent patio fixture rather than something you carry to a campsite.
Choose it if a bigger fire and taller frame matter more to you than a lid or table function. Skip it if your patio is small.
OutVue 26 Inch Wood Burning Fire Pits: Best for small patios
- 26-inch round table with lid
- Detachable cooking grate
- Rain cover and poker included
- Ash pan pulls out
A compact 3-in-1 pit that cooks, burns and covers into a table, which suits balconies and small decks where a full-size pit crowds the space.
Pros
- Lid turns the pit into a 26-inch table
- Removable ash pan speeds cleanup
- Rain cover included
Cons
- 26-inch bowl limits log size
- Grate has no swivel or height adjustment
The OutVue 26 Inch is the pick for tight spaces. At 26 inches across and 17 inches tall it fits a balcony or a small city deck where a 36-inch pit would crowd the furniture.
It's a 3-in-1 design: burn wood, cook on the removable grate or cover it with the lid to make a round table for 4 to 6 people.
The bowl holds up to 20 lb of wood, enough for a long evening fire. A pull-out ash pan makes cleanup easier than scooping ash out of a deep bowl.
A rain cover and fire poker come in the box, and the side panels have geometric cutouts that let firelight through while the mesh blocks sparks. The round base helps it sit steady on uneven ground.
The grate sits flat over the bowl with no swivel or height adjustment, so you'll move food by hand or lift the grate off to add logs. That's the price of the compact size.
It's still a capable cooker for two people and a simple meal.
OutVue 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2: Best for tabletop dining
- Two height-adjustable grills
- 36-inch lid becomes a table
- 360-degree swivel grills
- Rain cover and poker included
Two separate grills let you cook and keep food warm at once, and the lid converts the pit into a 36-inch table for meals after the fire dies down.
Pros
- Two swivel grills for staggered cooking
- Large 36-inch table surface with lid
- Screen meshes on vents block embers
Cons
- Assembly takes about 20 minutes
- Screws need a final tighten after joining all pieces
OutVue's 36-inch model suits households that want to cook and then sit down at the same table. It includes two separate grills, both 360-degree swivel and height adjustable, so you can grill on one while the other keeps food warm.
The lid covers the bowl after the fire dies down and turns it into a 36-inch round table for 6 to 8 people.
The bowl holds up to 20 lb of wood and has a rain cover, a poker and screen meshes on the vents to stop embers escaping. The geometric cutout sides throw firelight patterns across the patio after dark, and the four legs give the 26-inch-tall frame a stable base.
Assembly takes about 20 minutes. The screws need a final tighten once every piece is joined, so don't crank them down early.
The frame is large, so measure your patio before ordering.
Choose it if you host often and want one piece of furniture to grill and dine on. Skip it if you only need a fire bowl with a grate.
Sunnydaze Crossweave 36-Inch: Best for big gatherings
- 36-inch outer ring, 31-inch bowl
- Spark screen and cover included
- 360-degree crossweave cutouts
- Carries by the outer ring
A crowd-size bowl with deep sides that holds more logs, though the spark screen covers the top and limits open-grate cooking.
Pros
- Deep 11-inch bowl for long burns
- Light enough for one person to move
- Outer ring keeps guests back from the flames
Cons
- No cooking grate included
- Bowl has no drainage holes
Sunnydaze builds this pit for crowds. The outer ring measures 36 inches across and the bowl itself is 31 inches wide and 11 inches deep, so logs sit low and the flames stay framed.
The deep bowl holds a longer burn than the shallower picks, which matters when people arrive at different times.
At 23.8 lb, one person can carry it by the outer ring to move it around the yard. The 360-degree crossweave cutouts pull air in from below so fires light fast and burn hotter with less smoke.
The outer ring also keeps guests at a safe distance from the flames. A spark screen, poker and weather cover are included.
The trade-off for cooking: this pit doesn't include a cooking grate, and the spark screen covers the top. It's a fire-first design, best for a crowd around the flames with food cooked elsewhere.
The bowl also has no drainage holes, so tip out rainwater after storms. If grilling is the main event, the swivel-grate pits above fit better.
Verdeluxe 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2: Best for cooking and covering
- Two cooking grills at 15 and 18 inches
- 24-inch lid becomes a table
- Decorative fire ring at the base
- Disassembles for camping
The twin grills and wide lid make this a strong pick when cooking and after-dinner seating matter equally, and the base ring adds stability on uneven ground.
Pros
- Two grills for different foods
- Lid doubles as a 36-inch table
- Breaks down for transport
Cons
- 33 lb frame is heavy to carry far
- Fire bowl holds about 10 lb of wood
Verdeluxe covers both jobs well. It comes with two grills, 15 inches and 18 inches, plus a 24-inch lid that becomes a 36-inch table.
Cook on the grills, then cover the bowl once the fire is out and sit around the table.
The base has a decorative fire ring that adds stability on uneven ground and keeps feet away from the flames. The 24-inch bowl holds about 10 lb of wood, less than the 20 lb capacity of the OutVue and BALI pits, so plan on feeding it more often.
The frame weighs 33 lb and breaks down for transport, which suits camping trips where you drive to the site. Two people can assemble it in about 15 minutes with the instructions or video.
The bowl sits at a moderate height for tending the fire.
Pick it if you want a table and grill in one and don't mind a smaller fire. Skip it for long burns on cold nights.
Fire Beauty Wood Burning Fire Pit 22: Best for comfortable tending
- 22-inch bowl at 22.4-inch height
- Cooking grate and spark screen
- High-temperature paint
- Assembles with one screwdriver
The raised frame puts the fire near waist height so you can add logs and turn food without bending, though the small bowl suits two or three people at most.
Pros
- Tall frame reduces back strain
- Light at 10.3 lb
- Spark screen and poker included
Cons
- 22-inch bowl fits short logs only
- Grate does not swivel or adjust
Fire Beauty's 22-inch pit is about comfort. The bowl sits at 22.4 inches, near waist height, so you can add logs, adjust the grate and warm your hands without bending.
That's the feature that sets it apart from the low, wide pits here.
The carbon steel body has a 600-degree high-temperature coating and a four-leg base. A cooking grate, spark screen and poker all come in the box.
It's light at 10.3 lb, so one person can move it from the shed to the patio. Assembly needs just a screwdriver.
The trade-off is size. A 22-inch bowl takes short logs and seats two or three people at most, and the grate is fixed with no swivel or height adjustment.
It suits a couple who cook simple meals and want the fire at a comfortable height, not a family cookout. It also burns charcoal as well as wood.
Hykolity 35-Inch with Cooking Grates: Best for charcoal grilling
- 18.5-inch and 15-inch cooking grates
- Removable charcoal pan
- Lid becomes a table
- Log rack and poker included
The charcoal pan lets you switch from wood flames to a steadier coal bed for grilling, and the two grates and lid table make it a full cooking station.
Pros
- Charcoal pan gives even heat for grilling
- Two swivel grates with handles
- Lid doubles as a table
Cons
- Fire bowl sits low at 22 in H
- 30 lb frame is not very portable
Hykolity's 35-inch model adds a removable charcoal pan, so you can switch from wood flames to a steadier coal bed for grilling. That's a real advantage when you want even heat for burgers or skewers rather than the flare-ups of a wood fire.
It comes with two grates, 18.5 inches and 15 inches, both swivel and height adjustable with built-in handles. A log rack improves airflow for wood burns, and the round lid becomes a table when the fire is out.
A poker is included.
The 24-inch bowl and four-leg frame with a circular support ring give it stability. At 30.1 lb it's not very portable, and the bowl sits at 22 inches, lower than the Fire Beauty.
The open deep bowl takes a good load of logs for a cold night.
Choose it if you want both wood and charcoal cooking in one pit. Skip it if you only ever burn wood.
Panovue 47-Inch with 2 Grills: Best for large cookouts
- 47-inch bowl holds 20 to 30 lb of wood
- 18-inch and 23-inch grills with 5 height settings
- Metal lid becomes a table
- Diamond-lattice spark guard
An extra-large pit for parties, with the biggest grilling surface here and a spark guard built into the sides, but the size and weight make it a fixed backyard fixture.
Pros
- Largest cooking area of the group
- Five grill heights for heat control
- Lattice sides block embers while letting air in
Cons
- 47-inch frame needs a lot of patio space
- Assembling takes two people about 30 minutes
The Panovue 47-Inch is for parties. The fire bowl measures 29.5 inches across and holds 20 to 30 lb of wood, and the grilling area is the largest here at 18 and 23 inches across.
The larger grate has five height positions, so you can move food closer to or further from the coals.
The diamond-lattice sides block embers while letting air in, and the metal lid turns the bowl into a round table for 8 to 15 people. That makes it a backyard centerpiece rather than a portable pit.
The angled cylindrical legs and circular support ring keep the wide frame from wobbling on uneven ground.
The downsides are size and setup. The 47-inch frame needs a lot of patio space, and two people need about 30 minutes to put it together.
Panovue also advises a heat-resistant surface and foil on the grill for easy cleanup. Once built, it stays put.
Pick it if you host large cookouts and have the room. Skip it for small yards or camping.
How these cooking fire pits compare
The comparison table below lines up the specs that matter most for cooking: bowl size, grate type, height and what comes in the box. Read across the row for the pit you're considering.
| Product | Best for | Size | Cooking grate | Material | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hykolity 2 in 1 Fire Pit | most backyards | 31 in dia x 19.6 in H | 21.06 in dia, swings 360 degrees | Powder-coated alloy steel | 9.7 |
| BALI OUTDOORS Outdoor Fire Pits for Outside Wood | a larger fire bowl | 32 in dia x 25 in H | Rotates 360 degrees, height adjustable | Powder-coated metal | 9.3 |
| OutVue 26 Inch Wood Burning Fire Pits | small patios | 26 in dia x 17 in H | Removable, sits over the bowl | Powder-coated iron | 8.8 |
| OutVue 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2 | tabletop dining | 36 in dia x 26 in H | Powder-coated iron | 8.5 | |
| Sunnydaze Crossweave 36-Inch | big gatherings | 36 in dia x 24 in H with screen | 24-gauge steel | 8.3 | |
| Verdeluxe 36 Inch Fire Pit with 2 | cooking and covering | 36 in dia x 25 in H | Heavy-duty steel | 8.1 | |
| Fire Beauty Wood Burning Fire Pit 22 | comfortable tending | 22 in dia x 22 in H | Fixed over the bowl | Carbon steel with 600-degree coating | 7.9 |
| Hykolity 35-Inch with Cooking Grates | charcoal grilling | 35 in dia x 22 in H | Heavy-duty gauge steel | 7.8 | |
| Panovue 47-Inch with 2 Grills | large cookouts | 47 in dia x 33.7 in H | Heavy-duty iron | 7.2 |
The clearest split is between pits with a swivel or adjustable grate and those with a fixed grate. Swivel grates let you move food away from the fire without touching hot metal.
Height adjustment lets you control cooking heat. If you plan to cook more than marshmallows, put those features first.
Bowl size is the second decision. A 22 to 26-inch bowl suits two to four people and small patios.
A 31 to 36-inch bowl fits a family or a small gathering. A 47-inch bowl is a party pit that needs a large, flat, heat-safe area.
The bowl depth matters too, because a deep bowl like the Sunnydaze's 11 inches holds logs longer than a shallow one.
Then think about the extras. A lid that becomes a table adds after-dinner value.
A charcoal pan lets you grill on coals. A spark screen and poker are safety basics that most of these pits include.
We compared specs and features against those priorities rather than testing the pits ourselves.
Grate type at a glance
Cooking grates fall into three patterns. Swivel grates on the Hykolity 2 in 1, BALI, OutVue 36, Verdeluxe, Hykolity 35 and Panovue rotate 360 degrees, so you can swing them clear of the flames.
Fixed grates on the Fire Beauty and OutVue 26 sit over the bowl and must be lifted to load wood. The Sunnydaze has no grate at all.
Within the swivel group, height adjustment separates the best from the rest. The Panovue offers five positions on its larger grate, the Hykolity 2 in 1 uses screws, and the rest adjust by hand.
More positions means finer heat control, but fewer settings are simpler to learn.
What to look for in a wood-burning fire pit for cooking
The best cooking fire pit gives you a grate you can move and a bowl big enough for the fire you want. Start there, then check the extras and the footprint against your patio.
What size bowl do you need for cooking?
Match the bowl to your guest count and log size. A 22-inch bowl seats two to three people and takes short logs.
A 26 to 32-inch bowl suits four to six people and standard firewood. A 35 to 36-inch bowl handles a family gathering.
A 47-inch bowl fits 8 to 15 people but needs a large patio.
A deep bowl holds more logs and burns longer. The Sunnydaze bowl is 11 inches deep, while the compact OutVue 26 has a shallower bowl and a smaller wood load.
If you want a long evening fire, favor depth over width. Also check the stated wood capacity where it's given, since 10 lb and 20 lb bowls feed the fire very differently.
Which grate type works best for cooking?
A swivel grate is the most useful for cooking. It rotates 360 degrees so you can swing food off the heat to load logs or turn a steak.
Height adjustment is the next best feature, because raising or lowering the grate changes how much heat reaches the food.
A fixed grate over a small bowl is fine for burgers and marshmallows. A removable grate makes cleanup easier but means lifting hot metal to add wood.
Pits with two grates, like the OutVue 36 and Hykolity 35, let you cook and keep food warm at once. The Panovue's two grates give you a small surface for sides and a large one for the main cook.
Do you need a lid or table function?
A lid that becomes a table turns the pit into a piece of patio furniture. The OutVue 26, OutVue 36 and Verdeluxe all cover into a round table after the fire dies down.
That's useful if your patio is short on space and you want one piece to do two jobs. See our fire pit with lid picks for more options.
Skip the lid if you only want a fire bowl and grate. You'll save weight and setup time, and the Sunnydaze is a good example of a fire-first design.
Just weigh the table function against the smaller fire bowl that some lid models carry.
How much clearance and what surface does a cooking fire pit need?
Leave at least 3 feet of clear space on all sides and keep the pit off wooden decks unless you use a heat-safe pad. Stone, brick, gravel or a fire-safe pad protect decks and porches from heat.
The Panovue needs more room than the compact pits because of its 47-inch frame. Panovue's own guidance repeats the point: never place it directly on a wood floor or grass.
The surface also affects stability. The Verdeluxe and BALI pits have base rings or circular supports that help on slightly uneven ground.
Check that your patio is level before choosing a heavy, wide pit.
How should you start and manage a cooking fire?
Start with dry, seasoned hardwood and a small fire. Build it on one side of the bowl so you keep a cooler zone on the other, then move food between the two as it cooks.
Our how to start a fire in a fire pit guide walks through the steps.
Once the fire is going, control heat with the grate height rather than by adding more wood. A charcoal pan, like the one on the Hykolity 35, gives steadier heat for grilling.
And only burn plain wood: our guide to what you can burn in a fire pit explains which fuels to avoid.
Should you pick wood or charcoal for grilling?
Wood gives you flame, smoke and the campfire feel that most people want from a backyard pit. Charcoal gives steadier, more even heat and is easier to control for burgers and skewers.
The Hykolity 35 is the only pit here with a removable charcoal pan, so it covers both.
The Fire Beauty also states that it supports charcoal as well as wood. If you mostly grill and only want flames for ambiance, a pan or basket makes the cooking side more predictable.
If flames are the point and food is secondary, any of the swivel-grate wood pits will do the job.
How portable does the pit need to be?
The lighter pits here are the Fire Beauty at 10.3 lb and the BALI at 16.3 lb. The Sunnydaze at 23.8 lb is light enough for one person to carry by its outer ring.
The heavier frames, including the Verdeluxe at 33 lb and the Hykolity 35 at 30.1 lb, are best left in place.
If you plan to move the pit between the patio and the yard, favor a lighter frame with an outer ring or handles. If it will sit in one spot all season, a heavier frame buys stability.
Either way, plan a storage spot out of the weather.
Which wood-burning cooking fire pit should you buy?
The Hykolity 2 in 1 is the best wood burning fire pit for cooking for most people. Its swivel, height-adjustable grate handles real cooking, and its 31-inch bowl fits a family fire.
Pick the BALI OUTDOORS if you want a taller frame and a wider bowl. Pick the OutVue 26 for a small patio, or the Panovue 47 for big parties.
If cooking and dining matter equally, the OutVue 36 or Verdeluxe give you two grills and a lid that becomes a table. For charcoal grilling, the Hykolity 35 is the only pick with a charcoal pan.
And for a comfortable, waist-height fire, the Fire Beauty 22 keeps you from bending. Whichever you choose, start with a small fire, keep the grate clear and cover the pit after every use.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
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1
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2
Best for a larger fire bowl
BALI OUTDOORS Outdoor Fire Pits for Outside Wood
9.3/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook on any wood-burning fire pit?
No. You need a grate that holds food safely above the flames.
A swivel or height-adjustable grate makes turning and moving food easier, while a flat fixed grate works for simple burgers and marshmallows.
What wood is best for cooking over a fire pit?
Use dry, seasoned hardwood such as oak or hickory because it burns hot with less smoke. Avoid softwoods and any painted or treated wood, which can coat food with soot or chemicals.
Is a swivel grate worth it?
Yes, for anyone who cooks more than marshmallows. A 360-degree swivel lets you swing the grate away from the fire to load wood or turn food without reaching over hot flames.
How do you control heat when cooking on a fire pit?
Raise the grate to cook hotter and lower it for slower heat. Build a smaller fire on one side and keep a cooler zone on the other so you can move food away from the flames.
Can you leave a wood-burning fire pit out in the rain?
Only with a cover. Steel pits rust when water sits in the bowl, so empty rainwater after storms and use the included cover or a separate one between uses.
