What Size Propane Tank Does a Fire Pit Need?

On this page (9 sections)

1. How long will a propane tank last for a fire pit?
2. Which tank size fits your fire pit's burner?
3. Is a 20 lb tank the best all-around size?
4. When is a 5 or 10 lb tank the better buy?
5. When should you step up to a 30 or 40 lb tank?
6. How do you connect a propane tank to a fire pit?
7. Do tank size and fire pit size need to match?
8. What else changes the tank you should buy?
9. How should you decide on tank size?

The right propane tank for most fire pits is a 20 lb tank. It holds 4.7 gallons and feeds a 58,000 BTU burner for about 7.4 hours at full flame.

Pick a 5 or 10 lb tank when you carry the pit to a campsite, and a 30 or 40 lb tank when refills are a chore on a home patio.

Tank size changes how long you can burn, not how big the flame gets. This guide works through the run time math and the fit between each tank and each fire pit.

If you already know your burner's output, the fire pit BTU guide shows how to match fuel use to your usual evening.

How long will a propane tank last for a fire pit?

Run time depends on the tank's usable fuel and your burner's BTU rating. Divide the tank's BTU capacity by the burner's output to get hours at full flame.

A 20 lb tank holds about 430,000 BTU of propane, so a 58,000 BTU burner runs roughly 7.4 hours wide open.

Real evenings rarely burn full out. Many owners run a fire pit at half flame for the ambiance, which stretches a 20 lb tank to about 15 hours.

Here's how the tank sizes stack up against a 58,000 BTU burner. These figures are full-flame estimates; expect longer sessions at lower settings.

The 20 lb row is the one to remember. It's the standard BBQ tank size and the tank the three fire pits here are built around.

For a longer sit around the flames, the 40 lb tank nearly doubles your burn window.

The math works the same for any burner, because the fire pit's output is fixed by its rating. The 58,000 BTU figure shows up in the Flame King's listed 58,000 BTU/HR rating, in the Outland Living Firebowl's 58,000 BTU/HR spec and in the Ciays pit's 58,000 BTU total.

That's why all three land on the same run times in the table, and why the tank choice for each comes down to how long you want to sit outside rather than which bowl you buy.

Pick the 20 lb tank unless your burner is much smaller or much larger. A 40,000 BTU burner on a 20 lb tank burns closer to 11 hours at full flame, while a 100,000 BTU model drops under 5.

Which tank size fits your fire pit's burner?

Match tank size to burner output and session length, not to the fire pit's bowl diameter. A wide 24-inch bowl doesn't need more fuel than a compact 19-inch one when both run the same burner.

The table above already handles the 58,000 BTU case, so here's how to read your own burner's rating.

Find the BTU/HR number on the fire pit's label or in its specs. Then decide how many hours a typical evening runs.

If your gatherings last 3 hours at half flame, a 5 lb tank holds about 2 hours of full-flame fuel and falls short. A 20 lb tank covers several such evenings before a refill.

The bowl size matters for a different reason: it tells you how much heat you're buying. A larger bowl spreads the same BTU over more area.

Our fire pit size guide covers bowl diameter and seating distance if that's the decision in front of you.

Tank choice is really a run-time decision. Once your burner's BTU figure is known, the tank size follows from how long you want to sit outside.

Rule: size the tank so one fill covers at least two typical evenings. That way a low tank never ends a gathering early.

Is a 20 lb tank the best all-around size?

Yes. A 20 lb tank balances fuel, portability and refill convenience better than any other size.

It holds 4.7 gallons, weighs about 37 lb full and connects to the standard BBQ tank valve that every fire pit here uses. It also refills at nearly every hardware store, gas station and propane dealer.

The 20 lb tank is the tank the three fire pits on this page are designed around. The Outland Living Firebowl connects to a standard 20 lb cylinder through its pre-attached 10 ft hose.

The Flame King works with 5 lb through 40 lb tanks and includes a stabilizer ring for a 20 lb tank.

A 20 lb tank also keeps the fuel away from the flame. The long hose on each pit lets you set the tank off to the side, out of the sightline and away from the burner's heat.

Its one drawback is weight. At roughly 37 lb full, a 20 lb tank is heavy to haul to a remote campsite.

That's the case for the smaller sizes below.

If your fire pit lives on a patio and refills are easy, stop at 20 lb. It's the size that needs the least planning.

When is a 5 or 10 lb tank the better buy?

Go small when you move the fire pit and the tank by hand. A 5 lb tank holds about 1.2 gallons and weighs around 12 lb full.

A 10 lb tank holds about 2.4 gallons and weighs around 22 lb full. Both fit in a car trunk next to a portable fire pit.

Campers and RV owners often choose these sizes. The Flame King 24-Inch pit measures 24 x 24 x 12 inches and weighs 27.3 lb, so it's already a car trip away from a 20 lb tank's bulk.

A 5 lb tank plus the pit still fits in most trunks.

The trade-off is run time. A 58,000 BTU burner empties a 5 lb tank in under 2 hours at full flame.

Plan on refills or a lower flame setting for longer evenings. The 10 lb tank buys you about 3.7 hours and remains easy to carry.

Small tanks have a second advantage at the campsite: many campgrounds and public lands restrict open flames during dry spells. A gas fire pit fed by a small tank is easier to carry to a site that allows propane units, and the self-igniting piezo system on the Flame King means you don't need to pack matches or a lighter either.

The bowl's built-in carry strap and UV-resistant cover also help when the tank and pit ride together in the same load.

Pick a 5 lb tank for one or two short evenings away from home. Pick a 10 lb tank when the trips last several nights.

Neither size suits a patio pit that runs most weekends, because you'll refill too often.

When should you step up to a 30 or 40 lb tank?

Choose a 30 or 40 lb tank when refills interrupt your routine. A 40 lb tank holds about 9.4 gallons and feeds a 58,000 BTU burner for about 15 hours at full flame.

That's roughly two weekends of evening fires without a refill run.

These tanks suit a home patio, a cabin or any spot where the pit stays put. The weight tells the story: a full 40 lb tank runs around 70 lb.

You won't carry it far, so the tank needs to sit on a level surface near the pit.

The Flame King's compatibility list covers 30 lb and 40 lb tanks through its standard QCC connector. The same hose works across all these sizes because the tank valve is the same.

One caution: a taller 40 lb tank can feel crowded next to a fire pit's seating area. Leave room to open the valve and lift the tank when it's time to swap it out.

Rule: choose 30 lb for a summer of weekend fires and 40 lb when the pit runs several nights a week. Buy the bigger tank only when you have a safe, level place to keep it.

How do you connect a propane tank to a fire pit?

Connection is the same for every size. The fire pit's hose ends in a QCC connector that fits the standard BBQ tank valve.

Turn the tank valve off, thread the connector on by hand and tighten it snug. Then open the valve slowly and light the burner.

The three fire pits here ship with a pre-attached hose and regulator. The Flame King includes a 10 ft hose, regulator and QCC connector with 5/8"-18 UNF threading.

The Outland Living kit uses a pre-attached 10 ft hose and a fully adjustable regulator with a chrome valve knob. The Ciays pit includes a preassembled 10 ft gas hose.

Each pit lights without a match. The Flame King uses a piezo self-igniter.

The Ciays pit also uses piezo ignition, with a push-and-hold start on its electroplated knob. The Outland Living kit lists a manual ignition type, so its burner relies on the same push-and-turn valve process rather than a separate lighter.

Check for leaks before the first burn. Brush soapy water on the connector and valve threads with the tank open.

Bubbles mean a loose fitting, so close the valve and tighten it again.

Keep the tank upright and outdoors. Don't store a spare tank beside the burner during use, and close the valve after every session.

Local rules on open flames vary, so our guide on whether you need a permit for a fire pit is worth a read before the first light.

Do tank size and fire pit size need to match?

No. Tank size and bowl size are separate decisions.

A 19-inch portable pit and a 24-inch bowl can both run a 58,000 BTU burner and both work fine on a 20 lb tank. The bowl size sets the heat spread and the seating distance; the tank size sets the run time.

Where the two meet is portability. A compact 19-inch pit with folding legs pairs naturally with a 5 or 10 lb tank.

A 24-inch bowl on a patio suits a 20 lb tank on a stabilizer ring. Matching the two around how you move and store the setup keeps the whole kit practical.

The Ciays pit shows how bowl size and transport design interact. Its folding legs bring the packed size down to 19 by 8 inches, so a 5 lb tank and the folded bowl travel in one trip.

The Flame King at 24 inches across and 27.3 lb is bulkier, but its fabric carry strap and stabilizer ring mean a 10 lb tank can ride alongside it without extra gear.

If you're still weighing bowl sizes, the fire pit size guide covers diameter, seating and patio fit. Tank choice comes after that decision, once the BTU rating is known.

Rule: pick the bowl for the space and the tank for the burn time. Don't let tank size push you into a bigger bowl than your patio or seating area needs.

What else changes the tank you should buy?

Several practical details affect the choice beyond run time. Where the tank lives, who lifts it and how often you refill all matter.

A tank stored in a shed or garage needs to come out for every use. A 20 lb tank is a reasonable lift for most adults; a 40 lb tank is better left in place.

If the pit sits on a deck, check the deck's load rating before parking a full 40 lb tank on it.

Refill access matters too. A 20 lb tank swaps at many grocery and hardware stores.

Larger tanks often need a propane dealer. If your nearest refill stop is far away, a bigger tank cuts trips.

Cold weather reduces propane pressure. In a cold snap, a small tank can struggle to feed a big burner, while a larger tank holds pressure longer.

That's another reason patio pits in cool climates often move up to 20 lb or 30 lb.

The fire media doesn't change fuel use. Our guide on how much fire pit glass you need covers the decorative layer, while the fire pit BTU guide handles heat output and burner ratings.

Lava rocks do matter for how the fire looks, though. The Flame King and Outland Living kits both include a lava rock set, and the Ciays kit lists lava rock with its lid and grate.

None of them change the BTU draw from the tank.

Rule: choose the largest tank you can lift and store safely. Run time is the goal, and safety limits the answer.

How should you decide on tank size?

Start with the burner's BTU rating, then buy the smallest tank that covers two typical evenings. For most patio pits that's a 20 lb tank.

Go smaller only when you carry the pit and tank by hand, and bigger only when refills are inconvenient and the tank can stay put.

Three checks settle it. First, confirm the tank valve matches your fire pit's connector; all three pits here take the standard BBQ tank valve.

Second, measure the spot where the tank will sit, including room to reach the valve. Third, decide who lifts it; a full 20 lb tank is about 37 lb and a full 40 lb tank is about 70 lb.

For a camping or RV setup, a 5 or 10 lb tank wins on weight. For a backyard pit that runs most weekends, the 20 lb tank is the answer, and a 40 lb tank saves refill trips if it can live in one place.

So what size propane tank for fire pit use comes down to this: match fuel to your evenings. If the pit stays home and you want the least fuss, choose the 20 lb tank.

If it travels, choose the 5 or 10 lb. If the refill run annoys you and the tank has a permanent spot, choose the 40 lb.

If your burner's BTU figure is still unclear, the fire pit BTU guide walks through the numbers. Once you know that figure, the run-time table above gives you the tank size in a minute.

Frequently asked questions

Can a propane fire pit run on a 1 lb camping canister?

No. A 1 lb disposable canister uses a different valve than a standard BBQ tank and holds too little fuel for a fire pit burner.

All three fire pits here connect to a standard BBQ tank valve through their pre-attached hose and regulator, so plan on a 5 lb tank or larger.

How much does a 20 lb propane tank weigh when it's full?

An empty 20 lb tank weighs about 17 lb, so a full one lands around 37 lb. That's light enough for two people to lift and still heavy enough that you'll want a level spot near the fire pit rather than carrying it far.

Will a larger propane tank make the flame bigger?

No. Flame height comes from the burner's BTU rating and the regulator setting, not the tank size.

A 40 lb tank only changes how long you can burn before a refill, so pick tank size for run time and convenience.

Can you use a propane tank for a fire pit indoors?

No. Propane fire pits and their tanks belong outdoors, away from walls, windows and low overhangs.

Burning propane indoors or in a closed garage produces carbon monoxide, and the flame also needs open air to run cleanly.

Do you need a different hose for a 30 or 40 lb tank?

Not usually. The standard BBQ tank valve is the same across 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 lb tanks, so the hose and QCC connector that ships with the fire pit fit all of them.

Only unusual tank styles need an adapter.