Table of Contents
If you are looking for a durable and long lasting fire pit, chances are you are in the market for one made of cast iron.
A cast iron fire pit is a heavy-duty, durable and rust-resistant and is a product you can be confident will last for years to come.
In this post we have gathered our favorite cast iron fire pit options on the market to help make your decision easier. Each of these options has unique features and design aspects to meet a variety of individual needs and preferences.
Whether you are looking for a deep fire bowl to accommodate larger bonfires or a fire pit with a ledge for cooking your meals, we have an option for you.
7 Best Cast Iron Fire Pit Reviews:
1. Rustic Cast Iron Fire Pit – Editor’s pick
What we love:
- Heavy-duty cast iron construction
- Easy assembly
- Great value
- Handles for portability
PRICE: $129
This rustic fire bowl is constructed from durable cast iron and will last for years to come.
It comes with convenient handles that allow you to move the fire pit anywhere in the backyard or carry it when going camping.
This fire pit is not only easy to assemble but also easy to tend to and maintain. Sunnydaze Décor also gives you a one-year warranty against any defects.
2. Catalina Creations, 29″ Heavy Duty Cast Iron Fire Pit
What we love:
- Deep fire bowl for larger fires
- Made of sturdy cast iron
- Spark screen included
The Catalina Creations heavy duty cast iron fire pit is constructed from sturdy heavy duty iron with a rustic bronze-colored heat resistant finish, making it durable and able to withstand harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
This iron fire pit cauldron has three sturdy legs for stability.
The moon and whimsical star cutouts are fashionably designed for added beauty and elegance as well as to promote airflow.
This cast iron fire pit cauldron comes complete with a deep bowl for large fires, a wire mesh spark screen for safety, a screen lifting tool, log grate, a protective cover, and a one-year warranty.
3. Cast Iron Fire Pit with Cooking Ledge by Sunnydaze
What we love:
- Cast iron construction
- Easy assembly
- Convenient 11″ Cooking ledge
- Affordably priced
PRICE: $375
This fire pit is a solid design made of cast iron. The 11″ inch ledge allows you to easily cook meals, simply add oil and start cooking!
Compared to many of the other cooking ledge fire pits on the market ,this option comes at a great price for the durability and quality.
With a 45″ diameter and 8″ depth this fire pit allows for plenty of room to enjoy a late night fire or to cook the whole family a meal.
4. Esschert Design, FF90 Iron Fire Pit
What we love:
- Cast iron construction
- Large bowl for bigger fires
- Low profile, easy to transport
If your outdoor living space is suitable for a single fire pit bowl to entertain guests, versus bulky patio heaters, this cast iron fire pit cauldron is a great addition to your backyard.
The Esschert Design FF90 is a giant black fire bowl with a secure base.
The extra-large fire bowl allows this cast iron fire pit cauldron to hold large fires for a whole night.
The big pot on the Essechert Design will enable you to sit anywhere around the pit and still feel the warmth.
5. The Retro Cast Iron Fire Pit
What we love:
- Raised wood-burning fire pit with decorative cutouts
- Durable cast iron with three sturdy legs
- Spark screen contains stray ash and embers
- High-temperature paint finish
- Outdoor centerpiece
PRICE: $155
This elevated fire pit has decorative cutouts and is a beautiful addition to any patio.
It comes with three sturdy legs, meaning it is stable and can withstand high winds and any physical impact, ensuring your fire stays safely contained.
Built from cast iron, coated with high-temperature paint, you can expect years of quality. Comes with a spark screen to protect you from any stray sparks or embers.
6. The Iron Embers Fire Bowl by Frontera (customizable with imprinted name optional)
What we love:
- Customizable name imprinted on the side (optional)
- Solid, sturdy build
- Lots of accessories available
- Multiple size options
PRICE: $499
The Polygon Bowl is a simple, sturdy fire pit. Built with the same 1/4″ thick steel the Polygon Bowl has 32 side faces for a unique aesthetic on your patio.
The raised fire bowl radiates heat down keeping your legs warm all night, and small water drainage holes in the corners of the floor prevent rainwater from collecting.
You can customize this fire pit with a name, saying, etc… for a truly one of a kind piece. They also have a variety of accessories available, from cooking grates to covers and tools.
Since it is made to order, this fire pit does currently take a little time to ship, but we believe it is worth the wait.
7. The Cast Iron Fire Bowl by Amagabeli Garden & Home
What we love:
- Solid cast iron design
- Highly reviewed
- Multiple sizes available
This is a great all around cast iron fire pit at an entry level price. The bowl comes in 3 different sizes, depending upon your space and needs.
This pit is available in 2 different finishes, both covered with heat resistant paint in order to protect against ware and rust over time.
Assembly is easy and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. It also comes with handles for easy portability wherever your adventures take you.
What To Consider When Buying A Cast Iron Fire Pit:
A Cast Iron fire pit is a nice way to utilize your backyard during cold winter nights.
Besides warmth, a fire pit ignites passion, brings people together, and creates a mesmerizing and relaxing atmosphere.
Before choosing your best fire pit, it’s necessary to do some research about the best available fire pits in the market.
For making this process easy for you, comprehensive information is being provided to you below, which will help you choose your desired cast iron fire pit.
Style:
A fire pit can serve more than just a hole in the ground and can prove to be a focal point of your yard.
The fire pit comes in various styles, some of the very basic includes metal fire bowls which provide multiple functional units, and comes in a combo of the fire pit and beverage coolers.
You too can consider other styles as well, one of the demanded styles is square models which serve as a low table and offers users to set a drink or a plate on it.
Types of Fuel:
If you have always desired to hear the sound of a crackling fire and a scent gets absorbed in your clothes, then using wood as fuel for your fire pit can be a nice option.
24 inches is the size of an average size wood log, so you should go for a cast-iron pit that can accommodate this size of logs.
On the other hand, if you’re into something that doesn’t require piles of woods, smoke and ashes then propane or natural gas can be chosen as fuel for cast iron fire pits.
Cost:
More fire pits are easily affordable, you can easily get a nice and safe fire pit for under 300 dollars.
Though the price of the fire pits that are designed with expensive materials can be a little higher.
It’s recommended to do a one-time investment and buy a fire pit that provides durability for a prolonged time period.
Permanent or Portable?
You can build a custom-made fire pit at the most feasible and eye-catching spot in your backyard, but if you ever wished to change your fire pit’s location, you will need to have another custom-made fire pit which can prove to be costly.
Therefore It’s advised to go for a portable fire pit so that you can enjoy your cold winter night with different cozy spots.
Cast Iron Fire Pit Benefits and Disadvantages:
Cast iron is one of the most durable materials and is the choice of homeowners who want their outdoor fire pit to be able to withstand harsh weather with minimal maintenance.
They are available in many different designs and styles but most will have a cast-iron bowl or cauldron to hold the wood logs.
The main benefits of a cast iron fire pit are its durability, sturdiness, rust resistance, and heat transference.
Due to the heavy-duty nature of cast iron, these fire pits are able to withstand the elements much better than other types of fire pits like copper fire pits.
Their weight allows them to be steadfast even in high winds.
Cast-iron also heats up nicely and can more effectively deliver heat to its surroundings as well as hold heat longer than other materials.
This means that the outdoor area will be heated up warmer and longer than other types of campfire fire pits.
On the downside, the cast-iron fire pits are heavy so most are not very portable.
Cast-iron can also become discolored if exposed to moisture too frequently.
A fire pit cover is a good way to keep your cast-iron fire pit looking new.
In addition, because it is metal and holds heat longer, it can be hot to the touch for long periods of time.
Cast Iron Fire Pit Key Features
Wood Burning:
Cast iron fire pits are usually wood-burning fire pits and as a result, including a fire pit bowl or cauldron to hold the wooden logs.
Cast-iron propane fire pits or gas fire pits are not as popular.
The depth and width of the cast iron bowl will vary and some will have unique aesthetic and functional elements like cut-outs to promote airflow for the wood fire.
Spark Screen:
A few cast-iron fire pits will include a spark screen for additional safety. Other related features could include a screen lifting tool, log grate, and a protective outdoor cover.
Legs vs Base:
Most cast-iron fire pits will have 3-4 legs beneath the fire pit bowl.
Some fire pits will even include a shelf to hold the wooden logs for added convenience. Some fire pits will not have legs but will have a base to rest on.
These are mostly for aesthetics but we prefer legs for added sturdiness.
Cast Iron vs Stainless Steel Fire Pits
Cast-iron fire pits are commonly compared to steel fire pits as they are both low maintenance, inexpensive, and weather resistant.
Some benefits of stainless steel fire pits are that they are more lightweight and therefore more portable. Some downsides of steel fire pits as compared to cast iron fire pits are their durability and aesthetics.
Cast-iron fire pits are more durable than their steel counterparts and will hold up in elements longer.
Many people also prefer the look of cast iron over steel as cast iron ages better and usually comes in more interesting designs.
Types of Fire Pits:
Due to the increased demand for fire pits globally and to provide people with an everlasting experience, fire pits are designed and textured using different materials and sizes.
Following is the list of materials you can pick for your fire pit.
Steel:
Steel fire pits come cleaned lined, widely available in various shapes and sizes.
Susceptible to rust, these steel fire pits are commonly stained to look attractive and eye-catching to the viewers.
Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel fire pits consist of a contemporary and industrial look.
It is textured with multiple ground-level models to provide ultimate stability. Being lightly weighted, these fire pits are ultra-durable.
Copper:
Copper features a most popular bowl-shaped design which consists of a flap lip that runs around the circumference of the fire pit, making it one of the highly durable products.
Coming with cleaning remedies, your fire pit can look as good as newly purchased.
Cast Iron:
Cast iron fire pits can cost you a little more than what you will usually pay for other fire pits, but it’s worth every penny.
Coming in two common shapes; bowl and bucket, cast iron fire pits are sturdy in design and offer a rust-resistant option that can prove to be ideal for cooking.
Aluminum:
Being lightweight and easily portable, Aluminum fireworks perfectly as outdoor heaters one can get at affordable prices.
Its heat conductive material lasts for years and makes this Aluminum highly durable.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Conclusion!
We have researched a variety of cast iron fire pits based on size, fuel type, functionality e.t.c.
After carefully considering all these, we fell in love with the Catalina Creations, 29″ Heavy Duty Cast Iron Fire Pit.
It checks off all the boxes in terms of what we look for; as it is sturdy, durable, stylish, and easy to use.
But all the iron fire pit models we reviewed were great for their own use.
Whether you want to use the fire pit for cooking and entertaining, or you want to lounge about and stare at the flames while feeling the warmth, you will find whatever suits you best on the list above.