Fire pits made out of propane tanks

Technically yes, but it won’t be easy–and you may find it’s not worth it.

We always get this question because many people love the idea of taking their fire pit on the road. They want an easy way to enjoy a fire when they go camping, hiking in the backcountry, or as a centerpiece for their football tailgate parties. 

And that does sound fun, but unless you can hire a sherpa or contract for a pack mule, who wants to lug around a 20 lb. propane tank? Even if you’re driving, a 20 lb. tank takes up space and presents safety considerations.

So that begs the question, “Can I use a 1 lb. propane tank instead?” It’s a fair question, but you probably won’t like the answers.

Problem #1

Your first challenge will be connecting your tank to a burner. It’s difficult to find an adaptor to connect the 1 lb. propane tank to a standard thread for a burner system.

Problem #2

Your next problem is the burner ring size. Fire pit burners range from 48,000 Btu/hr. to 294,000 Btu/hr.

Our smallest burner ring (6-inches) burns up to 48,000 Btu/hr. 

A 1 lb. propane tank contains approximately 21,500 Btu/hr. (a 20 lb. tank contains approximately 430,000 Btu/hr.). 

So, you can see that there is only enough fuel in a 1 lb. tank to run a 6-inch ring for about 30 minutes. If you keep the flame size down (and what fun is that?), you can extend this time a little bit.

However, if you really need to use a 1 lb. propane tank for a particular application (like something uber portable), you could consider using multiple tanks. It is possible to refill the smaller vessels from a 20 lb. tank.  

There are many propane refill adapters on the market that allow you to refill a 1 lb. camp stove propane bottle from a 20 lb. BBQ grill tank.  So, if you don’t mind lugging a few bottles along on your trip and changing the tank often, it is possible to extend your entertainment time.

Still, given the challenges and limited burn time of 1 lb. tanks, it might make sense to look for something else entirely.

YOU’LL GET less than 30 minutes of burn time from a 1 lb. camp stove propane tank connected to a 6-inch fire pit burner ring.

Alternatives

One alternative is a traditional campfire made with good, old-fashioned wood. It’ll give you that smokey, nostalgic feel of summer camp and fall bonfires. But it too presents some challenges and may not be allowed in certain venues.

Perhaps a more environmentally friendly compromise can be had with an engineered log such as those from Duraflame.  These are not too heavy to carry with you, and you won’t have to carry them back again. Most burn for several hours.  

Duraflame even makes an outdoor fire log, which is food-safe for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. With a range of products, you should be able to find one to suit your needs.

Nod to Adventure

We applaud the pioneering spirits that want to take their fire pit party on the road, but there are some instances where it might not be worth all the trouble for a small ring of fire that burns for less than an hour.

Sometimes, it might just be better to have your day hike and then come home to a cold beer, a comfortable chair, and the great blaze of a fire feature you have crafted for your backyard.

Designing a Propane Fire Pit

Propane gas fire pits are becoming more common in residential settings given their convenient design. However, running new gas lines can be prohibitively expensive and require professional installers to ensure a satisfactory outcome. For this reason, many consumers choose to fuel their fire pits using a standard propane tank.

At Spotix, we’re often asked how long a propane tank will fuel a typical backyard fire pit. This answer will vary based on the size of your tank as well as the BTU rating of the fire pit burner. To calculate approximate burn times for yourself, we’ve put together this helpful guide. Consider grills as a point of reference, as these calculations will work for propane grills as well.

Propane Tank Specifications

Sample Burn Times

The process for determining an estimated propane burn time is simple.

To determine the gas appliance operating time:

BTUs of Propane Tank / Total BTUs of Gas Appliance = Total Burn Time (Hours)

Below are estimated burn times for several of our popular fire pit kit options. Each of these estimates represents ideal conditions and assumes proper setup.

Additional Considerations

Although a fire pit kit attached a propane tank generally offers a simpler setup than an in-ground gas line, there are still several factors to consider when creating your fire pit.

Supply Pressure

For propane fire pit kits, a supply pressure between 8” and 11” water column (a measure of gas pressure) is required for optimal results. On professional installations, a gas technician can measure

this using a tool called a manometer. For propane tank kits, this pressure can be achieved through use of a propane tank regulators . Improper supply pressure can result in a “whistling” noise if pressure is too high or a low blue flame if the pressure is too low.

Burner Size

The maximum output of a traditional 20-pound propane tank is approximately 90,000 to 125,000 BTU. This means you will need to use a burner rated for 125,000 BTU or less if you plan to use a 20-pound propane tank. Do not use a burner rated for greater than 125,000 BTU with a 20-pound propane tank. Using a fire pit burner rated for greater than 125,000 BTU with a standard 20-pound propane tank will result in poor flame performance.

Safety

Propane gas is heavier than air, which can result in pooling gas in and around a fire pit. Always ensure your gas supply has been completely shut off after use. Additionally, proper ventilation and a fire pit pan are required when installing a propane fire pit kit. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in an unsafe fire pit. Refer to manufacturers’ specific guidelines for more information regarding proper fire pit installation.

Summary

If you’re ready to add the ambiance of a propane fire feature to your home, check out all of our fire pit products, give our helpful sales team a call at 888-977-6849 or email us via our contact page. Our team is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time to answer any questions you may have regarding these or any other products we carry.

Are propane tank fire pits safe?

Do propane fire pits rust?

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane fire pit?