Can I run a gas fire pit off a 20-lb propane tank?
Yes for many portable and tabletop fire pits — a 20-pound propane tank (the grill-style cylinder) runs a smaller fire pit fine, but not for long at high output. A 20-lb tank holds about 430,000 BTU, so a 60,000 BTU pit on high drains it in roughly seven hours. Built-in and larger pits usually want a permanent gas line instead.
The math on a 20-pound bottle
A standard 20-lb cylinder holds a little under 4.6 gallons of propane, about 430,000 BTU of energy. Divide that by your burner's appetite: a modest 30,000 BTU tabletop pit gets you a dozen-plus hours; a big 60,000 to 90,000 BTU pit burns through the bottle in five to seven hours, or less. For a portable pit you carry around the patio, that's fine — swap or refill the bottle like a grill tank.
When a bottle stops making sense
If your fire pit is built into stone or masonry, sits far from where you'd stash a cylinder, or you want to light it on a whim all evening without babysitting a tank, a permanent gas line is the better answer. That's where we come in — running a buried, outdoor-rated line from your natural-gas meter or a larger propane tank out to the pit, so it's always ready and you're never hauling bottles. Our guide to [choosing a fire pit](/guides/choosing-a-fire-pit) covers the tradeoffs.
Doing it right in the mountains
Our cool WNC evenings make a fire pit one of the most-used features on a patio, and plenty of the cabins run propane already. Whether you stay on a 20-lb bottle or graduate to a plumbed line, the connection has to be correct and leak-free — and any permanent outdoor gas line is licensed, permitted, pressure-tested work in NC, not a DIY hookup. We size it, bury it, and coordinate the tank with your supplier. Call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- What size gas line does an outdoor fire pit or outdoor fireplace need?
- How many BTUs is a typical gas fire pit burner?
- What size propane tank do I need to run a gas fireplace or log set at home?
- How much gas does a fireplace use per hour at full input?
- How many BTUs does a fire pit need for you to actually feel heat outdoors?
- How many BTUs per square foot do I need to heat a room with a fireplace?
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