Checklist · 10 picks · 3 categories
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Fire pit night is the best kind of plan: chairs in a circle, phones down, marshmallows up.
The one thing nobody wants is a face full of smoke. HGTV's editors made many fires in smokeless fire pits and found most went smoke-free after about 10 minutes of burning. Its portable pick weighs 16 pounds, and the splurge pick cooks over wood, charcoal or pellets. No yard? HGTV also reviewed 12 tabletop fire pits and says every one works for roasting marshmallows with cooking-safe fuel. Add OutdoorGearLab's camp chairs and Taste of Home's test-kitchen marshmallows, and you're set. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out. Start with a fire pit and chairs, then grab the s'mores supplies on the way home.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're cooking dinner over the flames; the Grilling Starter Kit has the grill, tongs and thermometers for that.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit With Stand | mid | $300-500 | a backyard centerpiece you can still carry | 1 outlet |
| INNO STAGE Smokeless Portable Fire Pit | budget | $25-50 | beach nights, camping and renters | 1 outlet |
| Breeo Y Series Smokeless Fire Pit | splurge | $300-500 | cooking over the fire, on any surface | 1 outlet |
| COOZOOM Portable Tabletop Fire Pit | budget | $25-50 | s'mores on a small patio table | 1 outlet |
| Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit | mid | $50-100 | spur-of-the-moment s'mores | 1 outlet |
| Solo Stove Mesa XL Tabletop Fire Pit | splurge | $100-150 | more flame for a bigger table | 1 outlet |
Best fire pitmid pick · 19.5 in
Best for a backyard centerpiece you can still carry
HGTV's best overall smokeless fire pit: after about 10 minutes of burning, the smoke cleared entirely, and at 23 pounds it can come camping or to the beach.
Heads up. Some ash still made its way underneath the ash pan
1 outlet. HGTV best Overall smokeless fire pit.
$300-500
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budget pick · 15 in
Best for beach nights, camping and renters
HGTV's best portable smokeless fire pit: at 16 pounds it was the lightest it reviewed, it comes with a zip carry bag, and it went smokeless once the fire got going.
Heads up. Top-heavy, so it should only be used on level ground
1 outlet. HGTV best Portable smokeless fire pit.
$25-50
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splurge pick · 21 in
Best for cooking over the fire, on any surface
HGTV's best splurge smokeless fire pit: it burns wood, lump charcoal or pellets, its legs adjust to a cooking height, and a built-in heat shield lets it sit on decks and grass.
Heads up. Expensive, with no ash catcher or tray
1 outlet. HGTV best Splurge smokeless fire pit.
$300-500
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Best tabletop fire pitbudget pick · 8.6 in
Best for s'mores on a small patio table
HGTV's best overall tabletop fire pit: a large, smokeless flame with surprising warmth, and the 8.6-inch model held enough pellets to burn for nearly an hour.
Heads up. The finish smudges easily, and there's no warranty
1 outlet. HGTV best Overall tabletop fire pit.
$25-50
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mid pick · 1.4 lb
Best for spur-of-the-moment s'mores
HGTV's best tabletop smokeless fire pit: a tiny Solo Stove with the same 360° airflow, small enough to share a cafe table with a s'mores station.
Heads up. Gives little warmth for more than one person, and it's too small for mini firewood
1 outlet. HGTV best Tabletop smokeless fire pit.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 8.6 in
Best for more flame for a bigger table
HGTV's best wood-burning tabletop fire pit: a large, smokeless flame for nearly an hour and a half without adding fuel, plus a lifetime warranty.
Heads up. Expensive for a tabletop fire pit
1 outlet. HGTV best Wood-Burning tabletop fire pit.
$100-150
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Best camp chairbudget pick · 15 in seat height
Best for firm back support on a budget
OutdoorGearLab's Best Buy for best budget chair for firm support: easy to get in and out of, and very supportive.
Heads up. Not overly durable, stains easily and is very long when packed, per OutdoorGearLab
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Buy: best budget chair for firm support.
$25-50
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mid pick · Large
Best for bigger folks who want a sturdier chair
OutdoorGearLab's editors' choice for best overall camping chair: a robust chair that makes lounging simple and comfortable.
Heads up. Big and heavy
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab editors' Choice: best overall camping chair.
$50-100
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Best marshmallowsbudget pick · Bag
Best for classic campfire s'mores
Taste of Home's best classic marshmallows: its Test Kitchen called them terrific, the classic marshmallow, after tasting, toasting and melting them.
Heads up. Toasted ones get sticky and messy
1 outlet. Taste of Home best classic marshmallows.
under $15
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mid pick · Box
Best for fancy s'mores for guests
Taste of Home's best fancy marshmallows: a next-level pick when you want something fancier than the classic bag.
1 outlet. Taste of Home best fancy marshmallows.
under $15
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Not 100%, says HGTV: in its tests they made the most smoke while lighting and building the fire, and once the fuel had burned for about 10 minutes the smoke disappeared entirely.
Check what surface your pit allows. In HGTV's tests, the INNO STAGE shouldn't go on wooden or other combustible surfaces and needs level ground, while the Breeo Y Series has a built-in heat shield for decks and grass. For tabletop pits, HGTV says to read the instructions fully, avoid heat-sensitive surfaces like plastic, and it skipped liquid-fuel models because of a CPSC Consumer Safety Alert.
Yes. HGTV says every tabletop fire pit it reviewed worked for marshmallows as long as the fuel is safe for cooking, and wood-burning ones are best since they have the biggest flame and most heat.