Great Fuels for Fire Pits & Chimeneas

Best fuels to use on your fire pit

We often get asked many questions as to which fuels are best to use on a fire pit. As a fire pit doesn't have a flue to control the direction of smoke, the best types of fuels to use are those that have a lower moisture content, and generally give off less smoke when burning. 

Although any fuel will give off smoke when it is first lit, the smoke output of the products on this page will reduce significantly when the fuel is burning properly. Below we have outlined the benefits of each product when used specifically for fire pit fuels. You can find more information on this topic on our Fire Pit Fuels blog post.

Kiln Dried Logs: 

As the name would suggest, kiln dried logs offer a lower moisture content than seasoned or wet logs as they have been dried in a kiln for 7 days. When wood has a low moisture content, it is able to reach higher burning temperatures. It also means that the logs don't spit when you light them, and give off less smoke after the initial lighting. 

Wood Briquettes: 

Again, the moisture content in wood briquettes makes them an ideal fuel for a fire pit. The moisture content in briquettes is typically around 7 - 10%. Which is lower than the recommended 20% of kiln dried logs. So again with this type of product, the smoke output will be less, and they will burn with a good heat. 

Charcoal:

Often not an obvious choice for a fire pit fuel, as charcoal is widely known for its use in BBQ's. Charcoal is a lot denser than any wood product, which means that you will get a longer burn time, making this a cost effective option in the long run. Restaurant charcoal in particular is made up of large chunks, giving a longer burn duration. As with when you light a BBQ, the coals will smoke initially, but will then reduce to more of a smoulder giving off a high heat, low smoke, and little ash to clean up after the burn cycle. 

Smokeless Fuels:

Smokeless fuels aren't an ideal fire pit fuel for everyone, however, if your fire pit has a thick metal base, and a grate with air coming from underneath, you can use this type of product. As above, this product will smoke on lighting the coals, but once they reach temperature, the smoke output will reduce. This type of product has a longer duration than all of the above, but be sure to check that your fire pit is suitable for this type of fuel. Our most popular smokeless fuel is Newheat.