Best Gas Fire Pit Burner Inserts for DIY Builds
Building your own fire pit surround is one of the most satisfying backyard projects you can finish in a weekend. The hard part is figuring out which burner insert actually belongs inside it.
A bad burner gives you a sad ring of blue flame that barely warms your ankles. A good one gives you a full, amber fire that looks like you hired someone to design it. The difference comes down to burner geometry and BTU output.
These are the five gas fire pit burner inserts worth installing in a stone, brick, or concrete build. Each has a different purpose, from simple ring replacements to crossfire systems that create genuinely impressive flames.
Best Crossfire Burner for the Most Dramatic Flame
The Warming Trends CFBT60 is the burner that makes people walk over and ask what you used. Instead of a standard ring, it uses a crossfire pattern where gas jets intersect at multiple points, producing a fuller, taller flame that covers more of the fire glass or lava rock bed beneath it.
It puts out 60,000 BTU on propane, which is plenty of heat for a 14x14 or 16x16-foot patio seating area. The brass construction handles weather well, and the burner connects to a standard 3/8-inch fitting so you can run it off a buried natural gas line or a hidden propane tank.
This is the pick if your fire pit surround is the focal point of your backyard and you want the flame to match. It costs more than a ring burner, but the visual difference is immediate and impossible to ignore.
Warming Trends CFBT60 Crossfire Brass Fire Pit Burner
$165
2,100+ reviews
Crossfire jet pattern creates a fuller, taller flame that outperforms standard ring burners at the same BTU rating.
Shop on Amazon →Best Complete Drop-In Pan System for a Clean Install
If you are building a new stone or block fire pit surround from scratch, a drop-in pan system is the cleanest way to go. American Fireglass makes a 24-inch round kit that includes the burner pan, the burner ring, a control valve, and the fittings you need to connect to propane.
The pan sits flush inside your surround opening and gives you a finished look rather than exposed pipe fittings sticking out of a rough hole. Fill the pan with fire glass or lava rock and the whole assembly looks intentional rather than cobbled together over a weekend.
The 24-inch size fits comfortably inside a 30 to 36-inch interior diameter surround, which covers most standard DIY builds. American Fireglass also sells it in smaller sizes if your opening is tighter.
American Fireglass 24-Inch Round Propane Drop-In Fire Pit Pan and Burner System
$115
3,400+ reviews
Complete pan and burner kit with valve and all fittings, designed to drop cleanly into a DIY stone or block fire pit surround.
Shop on Amazon →Best Electronic Ignition Kit for a Truly Built-In Look
Hearth Products Controls, usually shortened to HPC, is a brand professional outdoor kitchen installers actually use. Their drop-in fire pit kits include push-button electronic ignition, which means you light the fire without leaning over it holding a lighter. For a finished stone or concrete surround, that is a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade.
The kit ships with a stainless steel H-burner, a burner pan, an electronic ignition module, and all the gas fittings. The ignition runs on AA batteries, so there is no wiring involved. The 24-inch version puts out around 90,000 BTU, which throws real heat toward the chairs ringing the fire.
It is priced higher than basic kits, but it is also a one-box solution that handles everything except the gas line connection itself. If you are investing real money in a stone surround and do not want to troubleshoot a bargain burner two summers from now, this is the right call.
HPC 24-Inch Drop-In Fire Pit Burner Kit with Electronic Ignition
$280
890+ reviews
Professional-grade kit with push-button electronic ignition, stainless H-burner, and all fittings included in one package.
Shop on Amazon →Best Budget Ring Burner for an Existing Surround
If you already have a stone or block fire pit surround and just need to swap out a corroded ring burner, Skyflame makes a heavy-gauge stainless steel option that holds up better than the cheap imports at the same price. The 18-inch version fits most standard fire pit openings and comes with a key valve so you can adjust flame height from outside the surround without reaching over the fire.
This is not a dramatic crossfire setup. It produces a clean ring of flame that looks right covered with fire glass or lava rock. For a round surround in the 24 to 30-inch interior range, it does exactly what a ring burner should do without asking you to spend $150 on a replacement part.
Skyflame offers this in both propane and natural gas configurations. Order the correct one for your fuel source because the orifice size differs between the two, and swapping fuel types is not a field modification you want to attempt.
Skyflame 18-Inch Stainless Steel Fire Pit Burner Ring with Key Valve
$55
1,600+ reviews
Heavy-gauge stainless ring burner with included key valve, a reliable replacement for standard round surround openings.
Shop on Amazon →Best Compact Kit for Small Builds and Courtyard Installs
Not every DIY fire pit is a 36-inch stone structure in the back corner of the yard. Plenty of people build smaller concrete block or brick surrounds for a covered patio, a narrow side courtyard, or a balcony-adjacent nook. A full-size burner kit is overkill for those spaces. Celestial Fire Glass makes a 12-inch propane burner insert kit sized for builds in the 18 to 24-inch interior diameter range.
It comes with lava rocks to fill the pan, a control valve, and a regulator that connects to a standard one-pound propane canister or a larger tank with an adapter. Flame output sits around 30,000 BTU, which is appropriate for a compact space where you want ambiance without cooking your guests.
This kit also works inside a concrete vessel or a repurposed large planter if you want a contained tabletop fire effect. It is the flexible pick for builds that fall outside the standard 24-inch template.
Celestial Fire Glass 12-Inch Propane Fire Pit Burner Insert Kit with Lava Rock
$89
1,200+ reviews
Compact 12-inch kit with lava rocks and regulator, correctly sized for small courtyard builds or repurposed container fire pits.
Shop on Amazon →Quick Tips for Gas Fire Pit Burner Installs
- Match BTU to your space. A 12x12 patio does not need a 90,000 BTU burner. Around 40,000 to 60,000 BTU is comfortable for most backyard seating areas without turning the fire pit into a heat lamp nobody wants to sit near.
- Size the burner to the opening, not the outer wall. Measure the interior diameter of your fire pit, not the outside of the surround. A 36-inch outer wall often has only a 22 or 24-inch interior opening, which changes which pan size fits correctly.
- Run natural gas if you can swing the upfront cost. Propane requires managing tanks, which have a habit of running out mid-gathering. A direct natural gas line costs more to install but eliminates that problem entirely. Have a licensed plumber pull the line.
- Use at least 2 inches of fire media on top. Fire glass or lava rock needs enough depth to conceal the burner ring and create a clean visual effect. Too thin and the hardware shows through the media.
- Leave a cleanout access point in your surround. When building the surround, leave one block or brick loose at the base for access to the gas connection and valve. Mortaring everything shut makes any future repair a demolition job.
- Check every fitting for leaks before the first light. Brush soapy water on all gas connections before introducing any flame. Bubbles mean a leak. Tighten the fitting and recheck before you ever light the burner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert an existing wood fire pit to gas with a burner insert kit?
Yes, as long as your existing surround has an interior opening large enough to fit a burner pan and a way to route a gas line into the base. Most drop-in kits are designed exactly for this conversion. Clean out any ash residue first and confirm the surround structure is still solid before adding a permanent gas connection.
What is the difference between a crossfire burner and a ring burner?
A ring burner produces a single circle of flame around the perimeter of the burner. A crossfire burner uses multiple intersecting jets that create a fuller, layered flame across the center of the fire glass bed. Crossfire burners look noticeably more impressive but cost two to three times more than basic ring burners.
Do I need a permit to install a gas fire pit burner insert?
Most jurisdictions require a permit for any new gas line installation. The burner insert itself may not require one, but connecting it to a natural gas supply line almost always does. Check with your local building department before starting, and hire a licensed plumber for the gas line work.
How much fire glass do I need to fill a standard fire pit pan?
A 10-pound bag covers roughly one square foot at two-inch depth. For a 24-inch round pan, plan on 20 to 25 pounds of fire glass. Lava rock costs less and performs just as well thermally if the visual difference does not matter to you.
Can I use a gas fire pit burner insert under a covered patio or pergola?
Many burner manufacturers permit covered patio use with adequate ceiling clearance, typically 80 inches or more above the flame. Check the specific requirements for your burner before installing. Pergolas with solid roofs and limited airflow are generally not safe for gas fire pit use.