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Fuel comparison
Propane vs natural gas fire pits
One costs almost nothing to install and more to run. The other is the reverse. The right answer depends entirely on how many nights a year you actually light it.
The direct answer
Propane wins on upfront cost and flexibility, since a portable tank needs no installation and can move anywhere in the yard. Natural gas wins on cost per hour, running roughly 30 to 40 percent cheaper per unit of energy with unlimited fuel and no tank swaps. Natural gas only pays back its higher installation cost, commonly $500 to a few thousand dollars, if the fire pit gets heavy, regular use over several years.
The short version
- Propane needs no installation. Buy a tank, connect it, done. Natural gas needs a licensed gas plumber and often a permit.
- Natural gas is cheaper to run, typically 30 to 40 percent less per unit of energy than propane.
- Propane is portable. Natural gas is permanent the moment the line goes in the ground.
- The breakeven point is usage, not price. Occasional use rarely earns back a gas line's installation cost. Frequent use often does within a few years.
- Propane burns slightly hotter per cubic foot, though the practical difference in warmth is small for most residential setups.
This comparison gets framed as a technical fuel question when it is really a usage question. Both fuels burn clean, both produce a comfortable fire, and the burner engineering differences between them matter far less to a typical buyer than two much bigger questions: how much does it cost to get the fuel to the fire pit, and how much does it cost to keep it running once it is there.
Section oneInstallation cost and complexity
This is where propane wins decisively, and it is not close.
Winner here
Propane
- No permit, no trenching, no licensed plumber required for a basic tank hookup
- A 20 pound tank costs $50 to $60 new, or $20 to $25 per exchange
- Fully portable, works anywhere in the yard from day one
- Larger buried tank option exists but is optional, not required
Runner up
Natural gas
- Requires a licensed gas plumber, trenching, and often a permit
- Typically $15 to $25 per linear foot, plus permit fees
- A short run from an existing line can land under $500
- No existing gas service nearby can push installation into the thousands
The installation gap is the single clearest difference between these two fuels. Propane can be running within the hour a fire pit table arrives. Natural gas involves scheduling a licensed gas plumber, pulling a permit in most municipalities, trenching a line to the fire pit location, and passing an inspection before the first flame. None of that is optional for a legal, safe installation, since gas line work is dangerous enough that it is not a reasonable do it yourself project.
Section twoCost per hour of actual use
This is where the advantage flips, and it is the number that matters most for anyone who runs a fire pit often.
Chart
Approximate cost per hour of operation
Natural gas figures reflect typical residential rates and fire pit size. Propane cost per hour is derived from a 20 lb tank at roughly $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon and a 40,000 BTU burner consuming approximately one gallon every two to three hours. Both figures vary meaningfully by region, local utility rates, and flame setting.
Natural gas is billed by the therm through the existing utility connection, and it is consistently cheaper per unit of energy than propane, commonly by 30 to 40 percent. There is also no unit cost for the fuel itself the way there is for a propane tank, since it draws continuously from the household supply already being metered for other appliances.
What a season of use actually costs
Occasional weekend use, a few hours a week through the warmer months, tends to land in a similar, modest range for either fuel, often somewhere between $50 and $150 for the season. The gap widens considerably for households that treat the fire pit as a near nightly fixture from spring through fall, where natural gas's lower per hour cost compounds into real savings over a full season.
Section threeWhen does natural gas pay for itself
The installation premium for natural gas is real money upfront. Here is roughly how long it takes to earn back.
Illustration
Cumulative cost over time, propane vs natural gas
Illustrative trend, not a precise financial projection. Propane starts near zero and climbs with cumulative tank purchases. Natural gas starts with the installation cost, then climbs more slowly thanks to lower cost per hour. For frequent, regular use, natural gas commonly overtakes propane in total cost somewhere in the range of four to six years, consistent with industry estimates for high use households. Occasional users may never reach that crossover point.
The honest takeaway: natural gas is a bet on how much you will use the fire pit over several years, not just this season. If the pit becomes a genuine near daily fixture, that bet usually pays off. If it comes out for a dozen evenings a year, propane's lower upfront cost and zero installation commitment almost always wins.
Section fourBeyond cost: portability, performance, maintenance
| Factor | Propane | Natural gas |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | DIY, no permit | Licensed plumber required |
| Portability | Fully portable | Permanent once installed |
| Cost per hour | Higher | 30 to 40% lower |
| Fuel supply | Finite, needs refills | Continuous, unlimited |
| Flame intensity | Slightly hotter per cubic foot | Comparable in practice |
| Maintenance | Tank swaps, hose checks | Annual line inspection only |
| Resale value impact | Neutral | Slight positive, permanent fixture |
Where portability actually matters
Renters, anyone still deciding where the fire pit belongs in the yard, and buyers without an existing gas line all lean toward propane by default, not because natural gas is worse, but because propane removes every barrier to just starting. A natural gas line is a genuine home improvement commitment: it goes in the ground, it stays, and reversing that decision costs real money.
On converting between fuels
Some fire pit models can be converted between propane and natural gas with the correct conversion kit and orifice change, since the two fuels require different fuel to air ratios at the burner. This is not a DIY swap. It requires a licensed professional, and not every model has a manufacturer supported kit, so confirm compatibility before assuming a specific table can switch later.
Keep readingRelated guides
QuestionsFrequently asked
Is propane or natural gas cheaper for a fire pit?
Natural gas is cheaper per hour of use, typically 30 to 40 percent less per unit of energy than propane, and it never requires a tank swap. Propane is cheaper to start, since a portable tank setup avoids the cost of trenching and running a dedicated gas line. Which is actually cheaper overall depends on how often the fire pit runs. Frequent, regular use favors natural gas over several years. Occasional use rarely earns back the installation cost.
How much does it cost to run a natural gas line to a fire pit?
Typically 15 to 25 dollars per linear foot for materials and labor, plus permit costs that commonly range from 100 to a few hundred dollars depending on the municipality. A short run from an existing line can land under 500 dollars total. A longer trench, or a property without existing gas service nearby, can run several thousand dollars. Get a quote from a licensed gas plumber for an exact figure, since distance and local code are the two biggest cost drivers.
Can I convert a propane fire pit to natural gas?
Often yes, with the correct conversion kit and orifice change, since propane and natural gas require different fuel to air ratios at the burner. This is not a DIY swap. Conversion should be handled by a licensed professional, and not every model has a manufacturer supported conversion kit, so confirm compatibility before assuming a specific fire pit can switch fuels.
Does propane burn hotter than natural gas?
Propane has a higher energy content per cubic foot, so a propane burner tends to produce a taller, more intense flame at the same physical burner size compared to natural gas. In practice, both fuels heat a typical residential fire pit table comfortably, and the difference matters more for burner engineering than for how warm a person sitting nearby actually feels.
Editorial note
Cost figures in this guide are general market ranges intended for comparison purposes, not a quote. Installation cost, utility rates, and propane prices vary meaningfully by region and by installer. Get a specific quote from a licensed gas plumber before budgeting a natural gas installation.
Read our editorial policy and about page for more on how we source and verify claims across the site.