An ethanol fire pit burns liquid bioethanol fuel through a steel burner insert, giving you a genuine open flame with no chimney, gas line or wood store required. Entry prices start around £1,295 for a compact bowl like the EcoSmart Fire Mix 600, and the format scales up to design-led pieces costing five figures. The trade-off against wood is straightforward: a cleaner, quieter flame, with genuine indoor use possible on certified models, in exchange for lower heat output and none of the crackle of a real log fire.
What is an ethanol fire pit?
An ethanol fire pit runs on bioethanol, a liquid plant-derived fuel, rather than logs, charcoal or mains gas. The fuel burns inside a stainless steel burner set into the base of the fire pit, producing a real, visible flame with no logs to season, no ash to sweep and no gas line to install. Because there is no combustion by-product that needs venting through a flue, the format works in places a wood fire or an open gas flame cannot, including balconies, garden rooms and, on specific certified models, indoors.
Fire pits in this category range from compact portable burners under 15kg to substantial fire pit tables designed to sit at the centre of a seating area. EcoSmart Fire's Ark 40, for example, is built from concrete composite with a stainless steel burner insert.
At the design end of the category, construction looks different again: Glamm Fire's Cosmo 13 is worked entirely from sculpted steel, a different build approach for a different budget.
Why ethanol fire pits work well indoors and outdoors
The single biggest advantage over wood or gas is flexibility. A handful of models, including the EcoSmart Fire Ark 40 and the Glamm Fire Cosmo 13, are built for both indoor and outdoor use: the same fire pit table can sit on the terrace in July and move into a garden room once the evenings draw in, something no wood-burning or flued gas fire pit can do.
Beyond that indoor and outdoor flexibility, three things tend to matter most to buyers researching this format:
- No installation. There is no gas engineer, no flue and no groundworks. You position the fire pit, fill the burner, and light it.
- No smoke, ash or soot. Bioethanol burns cleanly, so there is nothing to sweep out afterwards and no smoke drifting into a neighbour's garden.
- Genuine portability on smaller pieces. The EcoSmart Fire Stix weighs 14kg and can be moved by one person, unlike a fire pit table that needs a delivery crew.
The Ark 40 makes the trade-off explicit within a single product: it is available with either a bioethanol burner or a gas conversion, so you can compare both fuel types on the same table before deciding which suits your garden.
What a bioethanol fire actually costs to run
Fuel is the ongoing cost that a wood fire or a plumbed gas line does not have. EcoSmart Fire's e-NRG bioethanol fuel costs £65 for a 20-litre carton, working out at £3.25 a litre.
On the Ark 40, an 8-litre burner fill runs for 7 to 9 hours and costs around £26, roughly £2.90 to £3.70 an hour. On the compact Stix, a 2.5-litre fill runs for 8 to 11 hours and costs about £8, closer to £0.75 to £1.00 an hour. That is a meaningfully higher running cost than a fire pit plumbed into mains gas, and it is the main reason ethanol fire pits suit occasional evenings rather than nightly use.
Upfront prices vary just as widely by design ambition. At the affordable end, the Mix 600 fire bowl is £1,295 and the EcoSmart Fire Stix is £1,795 to £1,995.
The EcoSmart Fire Mix 850 fire bowl is £1,895, and the Ark 40 fire pit table runs £2,195 to £2,895 depending on finish. At the design end, the Cosmo 13 from Glamm Fire is £8,550, a genuine step up in price for hand-finished Portuguese steelwork rather than a stronger flame.
When an ethanol fire pit is not the right choice
Ethanol fire pits are not a wood fire replacement, and the specification sheet is honest about it. The Ark 40 puts out 6kW (20,433 BTU/h) on its bioethanol burner, against up to 65,000 BTU/h on the same table's gas conversion. If you want a fire pit that seriously heats a large patio on a cold November evening, gas or wood will out-heat ethanol every time. This format suits ambience and shoulder-season warmth rather than serious winter heat.
A few other honest trade-offs worth knowing before you buy:
- Running cost adds up with regular use. At roughly £3 an hour on a larger model, lighting it most evenings gets expensive compared with mains gas.
- Not every model is rated for indoors. The Mix 850 is built outdoor-only; always check the specification of a specific model before assuming it can move inside.
- It will not replicate a wood fire's crackle or scent. The flame is real, but it is a clean, quiet burn, not a campfire experience.
- Fire pit tables are not casually portable. The Ark 40 weighs 58.3kg; once it is positioned, moving it is a two-person job.
Safety: ventilation, refuelling and certification
Bioethanol burns cleanly, but it still consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide and water vapour as it burns, so ventilation matters, particularly indoors. The Ark 40 is certified to EN 16647, the UK and EU safety standard for indoor bioethanol fireplaces, and its specification calls for a minimum room size of around 116m³ when used inside. Always check the stated minimum room size and ventilation requirement for the specific model before using any bioethanol fire indoors.
Refuelling is where most avoidable accidents happen with any liquid-fuel fire. Never top up a burner that is alight or still hot; wait for a full cooldown, typically at least 30 minutes, before refilling. Store fuel away from heat sources and out of children's reach. Outdoors, position the fire pit on a stable, non-combustible surface such as paving or stone, and keep it clear of overhanging branches, parasols and soft furnishings.
If you would like to compare specific bioethanol fire pit models side by side across more brands, our complete bioethanol fire pit buying guide covers the wider range.
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Frequently asked questions
Q: Are ethanol fire pits safe to use indoors?
A: Only on models specifically built and rated for indoor use, such as the EN 16647-certified EcoSmart Fire Ark 40, and only with the ventilation and minimum room size stated on that model's specification.
Q: How much does it cost to run an ethanol fire pit?
A: Roughly £2.90 to £3.70 an hour on a larger model like the EcoSmart Fire Ark 40, using e-NRG bioethanol fuel at £65 per 20-litre carton, and £0.75 to £1.00 an hour on a compact burner like the Stix.
Q: Do ethanol fire pits produce smoke or ash?
A: No. Bioethanol burns without producing smoke, ash or soot, though it still needs ventilation because it consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide and water vapour as it burns.
Q: Can I use an ethanol fire pit on a balcony or in a garden room?
A: Yes, on models built and rated for both indoor and outdoor use, such as the EcoSmart Fire Ark 40, provided the space meets the minimum room size and ventilation requirement stated on that model's specification.
Q: How does the heat output compare with a gas fire pit?
A: Lower. The EcoSmart Fire Ark 40 puts out 6kW on its bioethanol burner against up to 65,000 BTU/h on its own gas conversion, so ethanol suits ambience and shoulder-season warmth rather than serious winter heat.
