Fire Pit Season: The Complete Guide to Cozy Backyard Evenings This Fall

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over a backyard once the sun goes down and a fire pit is crackling in the middle of it. Conversations slow down. Phones go into pockets. Someone inevitably reaches for a blanket, and someone else reaches for a marshmallow stick. As August rolls toward September, the evenings are finally cooling off enough to sit outside comfortably again — which makes this the perfect window to get your fire pit setup sorted before the first crisp night catches you unprepared.

Whether you're starting from scratch or upgrading a fire pit area that's seen better days, Green Store has put together this guide to help you build a backyard fire pit setup that actually gets used all season long. We'll walk through wood-burning and propane options, the seating that makes a fire pit feel like a destination instead of an afterthought, and the small accessories that make a surprisingly big difference.

Wood-Burning or Propane? A Quick Way to Decide

Before getting into specific picks, it's worth settling this question first, because it shapes everything else about your setup. Wood-burning fire pits give you the real thing — the smell of burning wood, the pop and crackle, the flexibility to build the fire as big or small as you want. The tradeoff is smoke, ash cleanup, and the need to store firewood somewhere dry. Propane fire pits and fire tables light instantly with the turn of a knob, produce no smoke or ash, and are far friendlier to nearby neighbors and covered patios. Neither is objectively better; it mostly comes down to how much maintenance you want to take on and how close your fire pit will sit to your house or a shared fence line. If you're not sure, a mid-size wood-burning bowl is the lower-commitment starting point, while a fire pit table is the better long-term investment for a patio you use often.

1. Sunnydaze 30-Inch Regal Cauldron Wood-Burning Fire Pit

If you want the classic crackle-and-glow of a real wood fire, this is where to start. The Sunnydaze 30-Inch Large Outdoor Fire Pit ($263.25) has a deep black cauldron-style bowl that's large enough for a proper bonfire but still sized right for an average patio or deck. It comes with a spark screen and a poker, which matters more than people expect — a screen cuts down on stray embers landing on nearby furniture or dry grass, and a poker means you're not hunting around for a stick every time you need to adjust the logs.

This is a great anchor piece if your backyard leans toward a rustic, cabin-adjacent look, and it's easy to place on a gravel patch, paver pad, or fire-pit-rated mat without much prep work.

2. SERWALL 33" Square Propane Fire Pit Table

For anyone who wants warmth without the smoke, ash, and firewood storage that come with a wood-burning pit, the SERWALL 33" Outdoor Fire Pit Table ($494.99) solves that cleanly. It runs on a standard propane tank (which tucks away inside the base), puts out 50,000 BTU of heat, and includes a glass wind guard plus about six pounds of fire glass so it looks finished right out of the box. Because it doubles as a table, it's genuinely useful during the day too — set drinks on it, rest your feet, or use it as a serving surface before you light it up in the evening.

The HDPE construction (a weather-resistant composite, not raw wood) means it holds up to rain and humidity without the upkeep a wood table would need, which is a real advantage if your patio doesn't have much cover.

3. Onlyfire Reflective Fire Glass Diamonds (Cobalt Blue)

If you already own a propane or gas fire pit, this is the single easiest upgrade you can make. Onlyfire's 10 lb Fire Glass Diamonds in Cobalt Blue ($44.99) replace the plain lava rock most fire pits ship with and turn the flame into something that actually looks intentional at night — the multi-faceted glass catches and reflects the fire in a way that reads almost like a fireplace showroom display. It's rated for both propane and natural gas fireplaces, so it works whether your setup is a portable table or a built-in feature.

A 10 lb bag covers a modest-sized burner area; for a larger table like the SERWALL above, plan on doubling up.

4. GarveeLife Folding Adirondack Chair Set of 4 with Side Tables

A fire pit is only as good as the seating around it, and this is where a lot of backyard setups fall short. The GarveeLife Folding Adirondack Chair Set of 4 with 2 Side Tables ($659.99) gives you a full circle of comfortable, wide-armed seating plus two side tables to split between the group for drinks and snacks. They're built from all-weather HDPE with a wood-grain texture, so you get the classic Adirondack look without worrying about splinters, warping, or repainting. Because they fold flat, storing them over winter or moving them for a bigger gathering takes seconds rather than requiring a truck.

Built-in cup holders in the armrests are a small detail, but if you've ever fished a drink out of the grass next to your chair, you'll appreciate it.

5. Sunnydaze 24" Cast Iron Fire Pit, Rust Finish

Not every backyard has room for a 30-inch centerpiece, and not every budget needs to stretch to one. The Sunnydaze 24" Cast Iron Fire Pit ($157.50) is the compact, more affordable option in this lineup, built from heavy-duty cast iron with side handles that make it genuinely easy to move — from the patio to a fire pit ring in the yard, or into storage before a storm. The rust-toned finish weathers naturally over time rather than looking worn out, which suits campsite-style or rustic backyard aesthetics particularly well.

It's an easy first fire pit for a smaller patio, a rental property, or a backup unit for camping trips.

6. Personalized Campfire Metal Sign

Once the practical pieces are in place, this is the kind of detail that makes a fire pit area feel like yours instead of a generic outdoor showroom. The Personalized Campfire Metal Sign ($44.96) can be customized with your family name and an established year, and it's designed to hang near a fire pit, cabin wall, or campsite setup. It also happens to make a strong gift — for a housewarming, a couple building their first backyard, or anyone who's already the unofficial host of every fire pit night on the block.

Fire Pit Season Checklist

• Confirm your local fire code and HOA rules on open flame vs. propane before buying a wood-burning pit
• Place any fire pit at least 10 feet from structures, fences, and overhanging branches
• Set it on a non-combustible surface — gravel, pavers, concrete, or a fire-pit-rated mat
• Keep a spark screen on hand for wood-burning pits, especially if pets or kids will be nearby
• Have a hose, bucket of sand, or fire extinguisher within reach any time it's lit
• Add seating and a side table before the first cold night, not after
• Store propane tanks upright, outdoors, and away from direct heat when not in use

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a propane fire pit or a wood-burning fire pit better for a small backyard?

Propane fire pits like the SERWALL table are generally the better fit for smaller or shared-wall backyards. They produce less smoke, no floating embers, and don't require firewood storage, which matters if space is tight or neighbors are close. Wood-burning pits like the Sunnydaze options give you a more traditional campfire experience but need more clearance and upkeep.

How much fire glass do I need to fill a fire pit table?

As a rough guide, a 10 lb bag of fire glass covers about one square foot at a reasonable depth. Measure your burner pan's surface area and round up — it's better to have slightly too much than to see the burner tray peeking through.

Can I leave my fire pit outside all winter?

Cast iron and steel pits can generally stay outside if they're covered, but moisture is the main enemy of rust and finish over time. If you're not using it through the colder months, storing it in a garage or shed — or at minimum covering it tightly — will noticeably extend its life.

How many chairs do I actually need around a fire pit?

A good rule of thumb is one seat per 2.5 to 3 feet of clearance around the pit, leaving enough walking space behind the chairs. A set of 4, like the GarveeLife Adirondack chairs above, comfortably fits most 30–36 inch fire pits without feeling cramped.

Ready to Build Your Fire Pit Setup?

From a simple cast iron bowl to a full propane fire table with matching seating, Green Store has everything you need to turn a bare patch of patio into the spot everyone gravitates toward once the sun goes down. Browse the full Fire Pits collection and the Outdoor Living collection to build out your setup before the weather turns.