“Fire pit or fire table?” is a question we get regularly from Tulsa and Broken Arrow homeowners planning their outdoor living spaces. Both create a warm gathering point — but they have meaningfully different aesthetics, footprints, and functional characteristics. Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide which is right for your Oklahoma backyard.
What Is a Traditional Fire Pit?
A traditional fire pit is a bowl- or ring-shaped feature — either in-ground or above-ground — where fire burns in an open center. Traditional fire pits can be wood-burning or gas. They’re surrounded by separate chairs or built-in stone seating walls, with the fire as the central focal point in the middle of the gathering space.
What Is a Fire Table?
A fire table is a table-height (28-30 inches) piece with a burner integrated into the center. They’re exclusively gas (propane or natural gas) with fire media (lava rocks or glass fire media) surrounding the flame. The table surface is usable for drinks and plates when the fire is off. Fire tables fit naturally into conversation furniture arrangements — they look like an elegant piece of patio furniture with a fire feature incorporated.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Traditional Fire Pit | Fire Table |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel options | Wood or gas | Gas only (propane or natural gas) |
| Height | Low to the ground (12-24″) | Table height (28-30″) |
| Ambiance | Campfire feel, natural crackling | Elegant, controlled flame |
| Seating arrangement | Chairs arranged around central feature | Fits into conversation set |
| Space required | Large clearance radius (10-14 ft diameter) | Fits in conversation furniture footprint |
| Smoke | Wood: significant. Gas: none | None |
| Ash cleanup | Wood: yes. Gas: no | None |
| Covered space use | Gas only under covered structure | Yes (gas, ventilated) |
| Marshmallow/hot dog roasting | Excellent (especially wood) | Possible but awkward |
| Typical cost | ,500–,000 (custom built-in) | –,000 (most fire tables) |
Oklahoma-Specific Considerations
Burn Ordinances
Broken Arrow and Tulsa have burn ordinances that restrict open wood burning on many days, particularly during fire season and air quality events. Gas fire features (both fire pits and fire tables) are exempt from these restrictions — one more reason gas tends to be more practical for urban and suburban Oklahoma homeowners.
HOA Restrictions
Many Bixby, Jenks, and Broken Arrow HOAs restrict or prohibit wood-burning outdoor features. Gas features are almost universally permitted. If you’re in an HOA community, check your CC&Rs before committing to a wood-burning fire pit.
Covered Spaces
Under a covered patio or pavilion, only gas features are safe — wood burning under any structure creates serious fire and carbon monoxide risk. If you want a fire feature integrated into a covered outdoor kitchen or covered patio, a gas fire table or gas fire pit is the only appropriate choice.
Our Recommendation
Choose a traditional custom fire pit with seating walls if: You want the classic campfire experience, love wood burning, have a large yard with open space, and are designing a dedicated fire pit area as the backyard centerpiece.
Choose a gas fire table if: You want to integrate fire into your conversation furniture arrangement, you’re working under a covered space, you want minimal maintenance and instant on/off, or you’re in an HOA or area with burn restrictions.
VistaScapes & Design builds both throughout Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Jenks, and all northeast Oklahoma. Schedule your free on-site consultation today.
