Buying guide
Propane or natural gas?
Plan the whole patio.
The right fire table starts with a setup you will enjoy using.
The decision
Choose the fuel around the way you will use the patio.
Propane suits a fire table when a permanent gas line is impractical and managing a cylinder is an acceptable part of the evening. Natural gas suits a settled outdoor layout with a properly planned gas supply. The better choice is the setup you will use comfortably—not the fuel name with the more impressive sales pitch.
Start with propane if…
You want to avoid committing to a permanent gas route, or you are still deciding how the outdoor space will work. Include the cylinder, storage access and hose route in the layout from the beginning.
Plan the cylinderStart with natural gas if…
You know where the table will live and want to enjoy it without cylinder exchanges. Have a qualified installer assess the actual gas route and supply before choosing the final location.
Compare the complete setupThe outdoor room
The fuel choice should support the setting.
A generous table, comfortable seats and a clear route through the patio make the fire inviting. Fuel equipment is part of that composition. A visible hose or awkward cylinder door can matter more in daily use than another finish option.
American Fyre Designs and Outdoor GreatRoom both offer ways to build that outdoor room. Neither brand represents just one fuel choice. Start with the supply that suits your patio, then check the storage, ignition and included equipment of the particular table.
What you are committing to
Compare the whole setup, not just the appliance.
| Question | Propane | Natural gas |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel supply | A compatible cylinder and the specified regulator/connection | A permanent, correctly sized gas supply |
| What you manage | Cylinder fill level, exchanges and approved storage | The installed gas route and accessible shutoff |
| Placement flexibility | Less tied to a fixed line, within the product’s approved connection and clearance limits | Position is tied to the planned gas route |
| Upfront project work | Cylinder accommodation and safe hose route; any site preparation | Gas installer assessment, routing and any required site work |
| What fuel does not decide | Ignition type, burner rating, media compatibility or tank accommodation | Ignition type, burner rating, media compatibility or tank accommodation |
We would compare installed quotes where a gas line is involved. There is no useful universal promise that one fuel is cheaper to own: local energy prices, the required site work and how often you use the table all matter. A product price alone cannot settle it.
The Hearth Outpost view
Convenience means something different on each patio.
Our case for propane
We like propane when it lets a good outdoor space happen without an impractical gas-line project. Choose a table that accommodates the cylinder arrangement you want, and make exchanging it easy to access.
It is less appealing if running out of fuel or arranging exchanges will regularly interrupt the way you entertain.
Our case for natural gas
We would lean toward natural gas for a permanent outdoor room when the gas route is practical. Removing the cylinder-exchange routine can make a frequently used fire table easier to enjoy.
We would settle the exact table position before committing to finished paving or the supply route.
The decisions people miss
Cylinder storage and ignition are separate choices.
American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Round
The base accepts a standard five-gallon, 20-pound propane cylinder; the cylinder is not included. That is a model-specific benefit: low Contempo Round and Rectangle tables require a separate approved cylinder arrangement.
The manual-flame-sensing configuration uses a battery spark igniter. FyreStarter Bluetooth is a different package requiring 120 V AC power. Choose the controls separately from the fuel.
Explore Cosmopolitan Round configurationsOutdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge
Cedar Ridge also conceals the propane tank behind an access door. Its manual-ignition package uses a battery spark igniter; the required AAA battery is not included. Electronic-ignition propane and natural-gas packages are separate selections.
The Supercast top and burner cover make this a substantial piece of patio furniture. Plan access for the tank door and enough help for assembly and placement, rather than treating it as a small portable fire bowl.
Explore Cedar Ridge configurationsRatings cover the Outdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge family.
What owners say
An owner describes an attractive table that was enjoyable to use, with patience needed during setup. Its substantial construction makes delivery, assembly and the final resting place worth planning together.
The lesson applies across brands: “propane available” does not mean “tank hidden inside,” and “natural gas” does not mean “electronic ignition.” Check the actual configuration and its instructions.
Use the exact appliance’s outdoor-placement and clearance requirements. An installer should review the setting, gas connection and any electrical supply together before the layout is finalized.
Your complete shopping list
Account for what the evening needs.
Propane setup
- The correct propane configuration
- A compatible cylinder, when not supplied
- The specified regulator and connection arrangement
- Approved cylinder storage and clear access
Never improvise an enclosure or assume every table hides its fuel.
Natural-gas setup
- The correct natural-gas configuration
- A qualified assessment of the gas supply
- The required connection and accessible shutoff
- Any site work and electrical supply for the selected controls
Confirm the complete route before the hardscape is finished.
Both setups also need the permitted media and model-specific accessories. A wind guard or decorative glass shown in a patio photograph is not evidence that it arrives in the box. Confirm the supplied media for the selected package: the Cedar Ridge manual includes glass beads, while the AFD table uses its specified media arrangement. Check any separately selected glass, wind guard and protective cover before ordering.
Shop the ranges
Continue with the exact configuration.
Two tables from different brands, each with fuel choices. These cards select a propane Cosmopolitan Round with manual flame sensing and a propane Cedar Ridge with electronic ignition. Confirm fuel, controls and installation on the product page. These are different tables and packages, not a fuel-only price comparison.
American Fyre Designs
American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Round — White Aspen, propane, manual flame sensing
$3,823.00
Propane configuration. Compatible cylinder is not included.
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company
Outdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge — propane, electronic ignition
Outdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge family rating
$4,699.00
Propane electronic-ignition configuration. Review the matching ignition manual and required utilities.
Fire Pits & Tables
American Fyre Designs
American Fyre Designs Contempo Rectangle Fire Table
From $3,508.00
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company Cedar Ridge Linear Gas Fire Pit Table
From $2,999.00
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company Kenwood & Brooks Rectangular Chat Fire Table
From $1,199.00
American Fyre Designs
American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Square Fire Table
From $3,155.00
American Fyre Designs
American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Round Fire Table
From $3,748.00
Warranty and documents
Coverage follows the product, not the fuel slogan.
Keep the receipt, exact configuration and matching instructions together. These two examples have different coverage terms; neither is a blanket warranty for every fire table in the collection.
American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Round
The GFRC exterior carries three years of limited coverage. Electrical components and controls carry one year.
- Three years: GFRC exterior
- One year: electrical components and controls
- Read the AFD warranty
- Cosmopolitan Round installation and operating manual
Outdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge
For residential use, the stainless-steel Crystal Fire Plus burner carries a 10-year limited term and ignition/electronic components carry three years. The Supercast top has its own shorter term.
- Three years: table structural coverage, with the Supercast exception below
- One year: Supercast top structure and finish
- Non-structural hairline cracks under the warranty’s stated limits are considered normal.
- Read the Outdoor GreatRoom warranty
- Cedar Ridge manual-ignition table manual
- Burner and electronic-ignition documents
Your shortlist
Make the next conversation useful.
Let’s find the right fit for your project.
Tell us where the table will sit, whether a gas supply already exists and how you feel about cylinder exchanges. We can help turn that into a sensible product shortlist.
Speak to an Expert
Common questions
The questions that change the choice.
Does natural gas make a fire table hotter?
Fuel type alone does not establish the burner rating or useful warmth around the table. Compare the exact appliance, burner, control package and permitted setup. For example, the propane and natural-gas versions of the manual-control Cosmopolitan Round both list a 60,000 BTU/h maximum input. That does not establish the rating of a different table.
Can I switch fuels later?
Only use a conversion specifically permitted for the exact appliance, with the required parts and qualified work. Do not buy one fuel configuration on the assumption that a universal conversion will be possible.
Does every propane fire table hide its tank?
No. Check the actual base and cylinder instructions. Some taller tables accept a cylinder internally; several low tables require a separate approved arrangement.
Does one brand mean propane and the other natural gas?
No. American Fyre Designs Cosmopolitan Round and Outdoor GreatRoom Cedar Ridge both offer fuel choices. The main cards show a propane Cosmopolitan Round and the manual-ignition Cedar Ridge package; confirm the required fuel on the product page. The collection below them offers more tables across both brands.