Electric & Bioethanol Fire Pits vs Propane: Which Should You Buy?

Outdoor fire pit buying guide·14 min read

Electric, bioethanol and propane fire pits offer very different combinations of heat, flame and convenience, and the right pick depends on what matters most on a cold evening outdoors. If you have been searching for an electric fire pit with no propane option, the appeal is simple: no gas bottle to store or swap, and a more direct way to warm people nearby. Bioethanol fire pits give a real, visible flame without a gas cylinder in sight. At the same time, propane models usually deliver stronger portable heat, at the cost of cylinder storage and open-flame precautions. The right choice depends on whether you want a real flame or just warmth, how much power is available, how exposed the space is, how much heat you need, and your local fire restrictions. An electric fire pit uses electricity to create heat, a flame effect, or both, while bioethanol and propane fire pits burn liquid or gas fuel to produce a real flame.

How Do Electric, Bioethanol and Propane Fire Pits Work?

Electric systems convert electricity into heat, a simulated flame, or both. Bioethanol devices burn an alcohol-based liquid fuel to create a genuine flame. Propane fire pits burn LPG from a gas cylinder, producing a real flame. Each fuel type has its own installation, running costs, and safety profile, suited to different outdoor spaces.

Electric fire pits and heaters

“Electric fire pit” covers a range of products, so it pays to know which category you are buying:

• Decorative flame-effect units, which simulate a fire visually
• Electric resistance heaters, which warm the air and nearby surfaces
• Electric infrared heaters, which direct radiant warmth at people rather than the air
• Combined flame-effect and heating products

A purely decorative unit can add ambience without producing much usable heat, so check the specification rather than assuming a flame effect means a warm patio.

Bioethanol fire pits

Bioethanol fire pits burn a liquid alcohol-based fuel to produce a genuine flame. They do not need a gas line, but they do need:

• Controlled, manual refuelling between uses
• Compliance with Australia’s mandatory safety standard for decorative alcohol-fuelled devices, covering stability, refuelling and warning labels
• Suitable ventilation, since the flame is created by combustion
• Clearances from anything combustible, per the manufacturer’s instructions

If ambience matters more than raw heat, our ethanol, steel and smokeless fire pit comparison covers that side of the decision, including wood-burning options outside this electric-versus-gas comparison.

Propane fire pits

Propane fire pits use LPG stored in a cylinder to produce a real, controllable flame. Many models are portable, though the cylinder adds weight and needs its own storage plan. They need:

• Appropriate cylinder storage and hose management
• Approval for the specific location they are used in
• Outdoor ventilation, since combustion is taking place

A fixed gas connection, rather than a swap-and-go cylinder, is gasfitting work and needs a licensed tradesperson to install and certify it.

Feature comparison

Which Type of Fire Pit Provides the Most Heat?

Propane heaters typically deliver the highest total heat output among portable options, while electric infrared heaters provide more targeted warmth in a covered area. Bioethanol is usually chosen for flame and ambience rather than serious heating. A few terms matter here. Total heat output is the raw energy an appliance produces. Radiant heat warms people and surfaces directly, like standing in the sun, while convective heat warms the surrounding air first. Usable heat is whatever actually reaches people, once wind, distance, and positioning take their share, and a manufacturer’s input rating (energy consumed) differs from its output rating (heat delivered). The Australian Government confirms that radiant heaters work well in large or exposed areas because they warm people directly rather than the air, which is why a well-positioned infrared unit can outperform a higher-wattage heater aimed at the wrong spot.

A few practical examples show how this plays out:

• A covered outdoor dining table area may suit a fixed infrared heater aimed at seated guests.
• A small, sheltered courtyard may suit bioethanol, where flame matters more than heat.
• An open patio may need a higher-output propane appliance, subject to ventilation and fire rules.
• A fully exposed, windy area may perform poorly with all three unless wind protection and positioning are addressed.

A higher advertised kilowatt figure does not guarantee greater comfort if the heat is directed away from where people sit or is lost to open air before it reaches them.

How Do Purchase, Fuel and Operating Costs Compare?

Electric fire pits can cost more to install if a dedicated circuit is required, whereas bioethanol and propane fire pits incur ongoing fuel costs. Which works out cheaper depends on how often you use it, current energy prices, and the appliance’s consumption rate. The basic formula for running cost is: Hourly operating cost = energy or fuel consumed per hour × current unit price Prices for electricity, bioethanol and LPG change regularly, so check current rates rather than an older source. The Energy Made Easy service is a useful starting point for checking your electricity tariff.

Several factors shift where an individual product lands on that table:

• Appliance quality, build, heat output and number of heaters installed
• Existing electrical capacity, dedicated circuits and licensed installation
• Bioethanol burn rate and fuel-container size
• LPG cylinder size, gas consumption and delivery costs
• Replacement parts, routine maintenance and warranty terms

When comparing running costs from any source, check the assumptions behind the number: the date prices were checked, whether GST and installation are included, the tariff used, the container or cylinder size, and the stated consumption rate. Two heaters with the same wattage can cost very differently to run once installation is factored in.

Which Fire Pit Is Safest for Your Outdoor Space?

A fire pit is safest when approved for its location, installed as directed, and used within its stated clearances. Electric systems avoid open flames and stored fuel but still carry electrical, heat, and weather-exposure risks that require the same care.

Some safety points apply across all three fuel types:

• Read the full manual before first use, and use only in approved locations.
• Keep clearances from anything combustible, on a stable, level surface.
• Supervise children and pets nearby, never leave a real flame unattended, and keep fire-control equipment on hand.
• Never move a lit or hot appliance, and never refill a bioethanol burner while lit or hot.
• Check hoses, regulators and cylinders for damage, and never bring an outdoor-only gas appliance indoors.
• Use weather-rated electrical products, avoid unsecured extension leads, and stop using any damaged appliance.
• Check fire restrictions before every open-flame use.

Australia’s mandatory safety standard for decorative alcohol-fuelled devices covers stability, refuelling and warning labels; see the ACCC’s consumer guide before buying one. For propane, Fire and Rescue NSW’s cylinder checklist covers storage and transport limits, and its guidance on heaters and open fires warns against using an outdoor heater indoors, since carbon monoxide builds up without any smell or warning. Restrictions also vary by state: in NSW, RFS Total Fire Ban rules allow certain gas cooking appliances under strict conditions, but this does not cover a propane fire pit used for ambience; in Victoria, CFA guidance sets its own conditions. Always check current rules for your council and state.

How Do You Choose the Right Fire Pit for Your Needs?

Choose electric for convenient, targeted heat with no gas bottles, bioethanol for real-flame ambience in a sheltered spot, or propane when strong portable heat is the priority. If avoiding stored fuel is the goal, an electric fire pit with no propane bottle in sight is usually the simplest option, provided suitable power is available. Work through these questions before committing to a type:

• Do you want a real flame, or just warmth?
• Is the area roofed or otherwise covered?
• Is it open enough for a combustion appliance to be used safely?
• Is outdoor power available, and could a circuit be added?
• Will wind reduce heating performance in this spot?
• Is fuel storage practical at your property?
• Are children or pets often in the area?
• How often will it be used, and does it need to be portable?
• What maintenance are you willing to take on?
• What local restrictions apply to your property?

If you want a real flame rather than a heater, our fire pit range includes bioethanol and steel options. For targeted electric warmth, browse the infrared heater range instead. Either way, compare manuals first, particularly clearances, weather rating and ventilation needs.

Ceiling vs Wall-Mounted Electric Infrared Heaters

Ceiling-mounted infrared heaters can spread heat across a central seating area, while wall-mounted heaters direct radiant warmth in from the side. Efficiency depends more on positioning and angle than on the mounting surface itself.

A genuine ceiling vs wall-mounted infrared heater efficiency comparison needs more than the mounting surface: rated output, distance from occupants, angle, area covered, wind exposure and hours of use. A ceiling unit mounted too high can feel weaker than a well-aimed wall unit, and a poorly angled wall unit can leave half the seating area cold. Neither position is inherently more efficient; it comes down to how well the installation matches the space.

Installation Requirements by Heater Type

Fixed electric heaters should be positioned before any electrical work begins. Furniture layout, heater height and the direction of radiant heat all affect how comfortable the finished result feels, so it pays to plan the seating first.

Under Victorian rules, fixed electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician, including installing a new circuit for an outdoor heater. A fixed gas connection requires similar regulation, and Energy Safe Victoria requires gas fitting work to be done by a licensed gasfitter, who issues a compliance certificate upon completion. A swap-and-go LPG cylinder usually does not require a licensed installation, but a hardwired gas line does. The right outdoor heater depends on whether you prioritise strong heat, a real flame, simple operation, or freedom from gas bottles altogether. Comparing electric, bioethanol and propane options against your outdoor area, available power and expected use beats comparing specs alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use an electric fire pit in a covered outdoor area?

Usually, yes, provided the appliance is rated for that location and installed with the required clearances. Check its weather rating, mounting instructions and electrical requirements, and have any fixed connection completed by a licensed electrician. Do not assume an indoor heater is safe under a patio roof just because it is covered.

Do bioethanol fire pits produce smoke or ash?

They do not produce wood ash or visible smoke like a wood fire, but they still involve combustion and release heat and combustion gases. They need ventilation and should only be used where the manufacturer approves. Spilled fuel and unsafe refuelling create serious burn risks, so never refill a burner while lit, hot or still cooling.

Are propane fire pits permitted during fire restrictions?

It depends on the state, the restriction, the appliance and how it is used. In NSW, Total Fire Ban rules set conditions for certain gas cooking appliances, but this does not automatically authorise the use of a propane fire pit for heating or ambience. Check the fire authority’s current rules on the day, and contact them if unsure.

Which type of fire pit is the cheapest to operate?

That depends on the appliance’s consumption rate, your electricity tariff, current fuel prices and how often you use it. Work out the electric cost from the heater’s kilowatt rating and tariff, and bioethanol or propane cost from the manufacturer’s stated consumption and fuel price. Electric heating is often economical for a small zone, while for frequent use, installation quality matters as much as fuel price.

What safety clearances are required around a fire pit?

There is no single clearance that applies to every fire pit. Required distances depend on the appliance, its heat output and fuel type, its mounting, and nearby materials. Follow the manufacturer’s minimum side, overhead and floor clearances, and keep furniture, curtains, roofing, vegetation and other combustibles outside those limits. If the manual is missing or your space does not meet the stated clearances, do not use the appliance until you can confirm it is safe to use.