The choice between gas and wood comes down to how you want to use the fire.
A gas fire pit lights instantly, makes no smoke, and costs more to install, while a wood-burning pit costs less upfront and gives real flame and crackle with more cleanup.
Charlotte’s fire code also treats the two differently, which shapes where each one can sit.
| Feature | Gas (natural gas or propane) | Wood-burning |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | Push-button, instant | Build and light a fire |
| Smoke | None | Yes |
| Heat output | 40,000 to 150,000 BTU (steady) | 30,000 to 100,000 BTU (variable) |
| Upfront cost | Higher (gas line and install) | Lower |
| Cleanup | Minimal | Ash removal after each use |
| Charlotte setback | Appliance; follow maker + gas permit | 25 ft (recreational); 15 ft (manufactured) |
Gas and wood fire pits, defined
A gas fire pit burns natural gas or propane through a controlled burner, and a wood-burning pit burns split logs in an open bowl.
Gas gives an on-off flame with no smoke and no ash. Wood gives the snap and aroma of a real fire, along with the cleanup and smoke that come with it.
The rest of the choice flows from that one difference.
Heat output: how BTUs compare
Wood pits range from 30,000 to 100,000 BTU but lose much of that heat to the open air, while gas pits run 40,000 to 150,000 BTU with steadier, controllable output.
A 50,000 BTU gas pit comfortably warms a seating circle of roughly 300 to 500 square feet.
Wood can burn hotter at its peak, yet the heat swings with the wood and the wind. Gas holds a set flame, so the warmth stays even all evening.
Propane vs. natural gas for a gas fire pit
Propane runs on a portable tank you refill, while natural gas connects to a fixed line you never refill.
A standard 20-pound propane tank stores about 430,000 BTU, so a 50,000 BTU pit burns roughly 8 to 9 hours before a swap.
Natural gas removes refills entirely, but it needs a licensed installer to run and connect the line. Propane suits a pit you might move; natural gas suits a permanent build.
Smokeless wood fire pits: the middle ground
A smokeless wood pit uses a double wall that feeds a second burn of the rising gases, which cuts most of the smoke while keeping a real wood fire.
These pits keep the crackle and aroma that gas cannot match, with far less smoke in your clothes and eyes.
They still produce ash and follow the same wood-fire setbacks, so they sit closer to wood than gas on placement.
Cost to run and install
A wood-burning pit costs less upfront, since it needs no gas line, while a gas pit adds the cost of running and connecting that line.
Over time the gap narrows: gas fuel is steady and tidy, and firewood is an ongoing buy that needs dry storage.
The higher install cost for gas pays for instant, smoke-free fires at the turn of a valve.
Charlotte fire code: how far from the house
Charlotte Fire Department requires a wood-burning recreational fire to sit at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, with a fuel area no larger than 3 feet across and 2 feet tall.
A manufactured, portable outdoor fireplace must sit at least 15 feet from structures.
Recreational fires are not classed as open burning, so Mecklenburg County requires no permit for them. A garden hose or extinguisher must stay ready, and someone must attend the fire until it is fully out.
A gas fire feature runs on a gas line that a licensed installer should connect, and it usually needs a permit.
A fire table on a wood deck needs a noncombustible base under it, and some areas restrict it, so confirm current rules with the Charlotte Fire Department and Mecklenburg County before you build.
Sources: Charlotte Fire Department, Recreational Fires Requirements; Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office. Confirm current distances and permit rules, since codes change.
Converting a wood fire pit to gas
You can convert most wood pits to gas with a burner kit, and a licensed installer should make the gas connection.
Propane is the quickest route, since it uses a tank. Natural gas is more involved, since it needs a line run to the pit.
Fire glass or lava rock hides the burner and spreads the flame, and a wind guard steadies it on breezy nights. The switch removes smoke and ash and adds push-button control.
Which fire pit is right for your yard?
A small lot where the fire sits near the house points toward a gas or manufactured unit, with its shorter 15-foot setback. An open yard with room to spare suits a wood-burning pit and its 25-foot distance.
Pick gas for easy, smoke-free entertaining, wood for the ritual of a real fire, and a smokeless pit to split the difference. A curved seating wall pairs well with any of them, and a custom fire pit sets the centerpiece.
Frequently asked questions
Are gas fire pits worth it?
Gas fire pits are worth it for instant, smoke-free fires with almost no cleanup. They cost more to install because of the gas line, but they light at the push of a button, hold a steady flame, and suit smaller yards thanks to a shorter setback than wood.
Can you put a fire pit on a wood deck?
Only with care. A fire table or pit on a wood deck needs a noncombustible base such as concrete pavers under it, and you must follow the maker’s instructions. Some areas restrict it outright, so check Charlotte’s fire code and your HOA before placing one on a deck.
How many BTUs do you need for a fire pit?
About 50,000 BTU warms a typical seating circle of 300 to 500 square feet. Cooler evenings, wind, and open space call for more, while a small, sheltered patio needs less. Wood pits vary with the fire, while gas pits hold the rating you set.
Do gas fire pits give off as much heat as wood?
Gas pits often deliver more usable heat, because the output is steady and controllable, while a wood fire loses much of its peak to the open air. Wood can flare hotter for a moment, but gas holds an even warmth across the whole evening.
Adding a fire feature to your yard?
Big Visions Landscaping builds custom gas and wood-burning fire pits across Charlotte, set to local code and paired with seating walls and patios. Call 704-228-9599 to plan yours.
