Do you already have a fire pit at home? Do you struggle to keep a fire going inside it? Maybe you need a fire pit grate — a perfect tool for people who have already built their own fire pits or have a fireplace that they could use some assistance in.
Fire pit grates are designed to raise the wood up so that you get optimal airflow underneath to keep the flame from suffocating. They’re built to hold and keep your logs in place, and they come in different sizes so you can find one that fits in your pit without too much trouble.
Product Review
Grates make tending to a fire pit easier, but you will want to find the best one for your needs. Looking over the specifications of each fire pit grate to find what matches you is important.
Fire grates are made to help ease some of the efforts that go into tending flames by raising the fire up off of the ground and keeping it contained inside the grate. It allows the ash to fall under the logs instead of causing the flame to smolder, so your fire will keep burning longer.
Not all fire pits need a grate, but if your fire is on a flat surface, it may be a good idea to get one. Keeping the flame going without losing control or having it snuff itself out is an important aspect of having a fire pit.
VBENLEM Wheel Firewood 28-Inch Diameter Fire Pit Log Grate — Best Overall
Description
The VBENLEM fire pit grate is made from ¾ inch thick square spokes with a ⅜”x1” ring underneath for extra support. It’s particularly made for outdoor fires, and it comes with an extra fire tong for moving logs around more easily. It has rounded edges to keep your wood together and lifts 4 inches for better air circulation.
Pros
- Extra support ring underneath the spokes
- Rounded edges
- Extra fire tong
- 4-inch lift
- Built for outdoor fire
- 7 different sizes to choose from
Cons
- Construction may be questionable based on the types of welds used to secure pieces together
TITAN GREAT OUTDOORS 28” Wagon Wheel Fire Pit Grate – The Biggest Flame
Description
The 28-inch wagon wheel grate from TITAN raises your fire 4 inches off of the ground so that you get proper airflow to build a bigger flame or keep yours going longer. Its round design is made with ¾ inch steel and safer for fires because it keeps the burning logs in place. It also comes in different sizes so you should be able to choose one to fit.
Pros
- Variable sizes
- The round design keeps logs in place
- Better airflow
- Sturdy steel
- Heavy and strong
Cons
- Some reviewers may have received the product with a defective weld
Recommended?
TITAN put out a great fire pit grate with this wagon wheel product. It’s very sturdy, so it’ll hold up against the flames, and it keeps you from losing logs. It keeps your flame raised so it’s more wood than ash, and it comes in six different sizes to accommodate just about any size fire pit.
Pleasant Hearth OFP32WG 1/2″ thick 32″ Steel Fire Pit Grate – Create a Wheel Effect
Description
This steel fire pit grate from Pleasant Hearth is made from ½ inch think square rods shaped into a circle to create a wheel effect. It’s a sturdy buy but doesn’t come in any sizes other than the 32-inch grate. It’s a lightweight grate that’ll stop your flames from fizzling out so quickly.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Sturdy
- Rounded design
- Made from steel
- Perfect for 36-inch fire pit
Cons
- Only comes in one size
- Seems to warp easily and wear down quickly
Recommended?
Pleasant Hearth is a great company, but this fire pit grate may not be the best option for some buyers. If you have a smaller fire pit, this grate is going to be too big, but if you have a very large pit, it may be far too small. Not having other options to fit other fire pits may disappoint some potential buyers.
If the size of this fire pit grate suits what you need, it might be a perfect choice. It’s made from steel, so it’s sturdy, and it’s rounded so it can be highly effective at keeping your flame controlled and contained.
SteelFreak Wagon Wheel Firewood Grate for Fire Pit – Higher Lift
Description
SteelFreak designed a rounded fire pit grate and made it out of ½ inch thick solid steel bars. They put in a support ring made from ⅜”x1” thick steel and flared the spokes to hold the logs inside safely. This grate raises your flame 4 and ½ inches from the ground and the company has a measurement guide for choosing the right size from the seven sizes that they offer.
Pros
- Guide to help you choose the right of seven available sizes
- Higher lift than some other grates
- Reinforced with a ring under spokes
- Focused craftsmanship to make the best product
- Helps fire burn evenly
Cons
- May wear down easily
- Spokes might be spaced too far around the outside
Recommended?
This fire pit grate from SteelFreak seems to get rave reviews for being the perfect fit, holding wood well, and is very durable. Some reviewers had an issue with logs falling between spokes on the outer edges or seeing some warping after a while. Other reviewers absolutely love the SteelFreak fire pit grate. They offer so many sizes that you’re likely to find the exact size you need, and if you don’t know what size you need, then they have a guide to help you figure it out.
Amagabeli Fire Pit Grate Wrought Iron Round Spider Wagon Wheel – Good Air Circulation
Description
Amagabeli’s fire pit grate is eerily similar to SteelFreak’s grate. Made from ¾ inch steel and 24 inches in diameter, this one is a sturdy option for your backyard fire pit. It only comes in two sizes, though, so you’ll need a fire pit that’s 25-28 inches in diameter on the inside of the wall. The company also lets you know ahead of time that the paint will melt off with the first fire, and the grate is heavy enough to stay put if it’s empty, but not so heavy that you couldn’t move it on your own.
Pros
- Made of steel
- Size selection guide available
- Good air circulation
- 4-inch lift
Cons
- Paint melts off
- Some reviewers complained of rusting
Recommended?
The Amagabeli fire pit grate seems to fall somewhere in the middle of the rest. It has many of the same benefits as others, but it also has some of the same flaws. If you don’t mind the paint melting right away, you don’t need a bigger size than 27 inches or smaller than 24 inches and want to be able to move it around easily, then this might be the right fire pit grate for you.
Buyer’s Guide
If you have an outdoor firepit and you keep building your fire on the ground, only for it to go out quickly, then you might need to get a fire pit grate. This one is a perfect way to lift your flame up so that it burns longer and stronger while keeping your burn materials together.
It vents the ashes from underneath the fire, so they don’t smother your flames, and makes it easier to move them around when you need to. If you have a chiminea, you could use one of these fire grates, too, that way it burns longer to keep you warm.
Features to Consider
When you’re looking for a fire pit grate to buy, you’re going to want to take a look at a few specifics. Some of the things you must look for are the size, the material, and the lift depending on what you plan to use it for.
You may also want to consider some of the issues that other reviewers say they have had with the same products so you might get an idea of what to avoid.
Size
If you’re going to buy a fire pit grate, the most important aspect to look at is the size. For example, if you purchase a grate that is too big, it won’t fit where you need it to. If you purchase a grate that is too small, you won’t be able to build a bigger fire. You will also want it to be large enough to hold the amount of wood you plan to burn. You will also want to make sure that you purchase a fire pit that is high enough to keep your flame off of the ground without raising above the outer walls of your fire pit.
Material
You have to consider the material that the fire pit grate is made of. It needs to be made out of a material that can withstand high temperatures from the fire without compromising the strength of the entire piece. Steel is a great, affordable option. You could also opt for materials like cast iron that are a bit stronger than steel.
The stronger the material that your fire pit grate is made of, the longer it will last. You probably won’t want to buy a grate that will fall apart, warp, or rust really fast. Having the fire pit grate reinforced by the manufacturer is a good idea, too.
Lift
Fire pit grates are designed to lift the burning material off of the ground to get a better flow of air underneath so your fire will burn better and last longer. Improper airflow is one of the fastest ways to put a flame out, and it will make the smoke heavily without actually having any flames.
If the grate does not raise the material enough, you won’t get enough air around your fire. If it lifts too much, it may not fit inside the fire pit or raise the flame too high to be safe. You need a grate that settles at a safe height inside the fire pit.
Tips
Some useful tips and tricks to know about using a fire pit grate start with how much easier it makes lighting a fire. Scientifically speaking, it is much easier to light a fire from the center underneath your fuel material, but that is difficult to do if your wood is placed directly on the ground. Grate raises your material enough so that you can easily place kindling underneath and strike the match.
A fire pit grate will keep your burning material from rolling around, but you will need to stack it properly so that it doesn’t fall through the spokes of the grate. Stacking your wood with space underneath is optimal. For example, placing two logs on the grate with some space between them, and then placing more logs on top in the opposite direction makes for an easier light. You should also make sure that the grate is on a level spot on the ground. The grate needs to be level so that it helps keep the logs in place.
VBENLEM Wheel Firewood 28-Inch Diameter Fire Pit Log Grate — Best Overall
Check PriceIf you plan to use your fire pit grate for cooking, you should clean it after each use for sanitation reasons. If you do not properly clean it after cooking, you run a risk of collecting unwanted elements in your food the next time you use it. All you need to do is rinse off your grate or brush it after cooking on it. If you decide to use pans to cook, that reduces the risk of contamination even further.
Choosing the right grate will depend on the type of material you want it made from and the measurements of your fire pit. You won’t want to buy one that isn’t the right size because if it’s too big you won’t be able to get under it to light the fire, and if it’s too small you might have trouble with having to tend to it so often because it won’t hold as much wood. Make sure to measure the inside of the fire pit from wall-to-wall. Don’t measure it to the outside of the wall because then you have space that you’re including that isn’t the space you have to place the grate.
FAQs
What Kind of Material Can I Use Under My Fire Pit Grate?
You need to set up a way to keep your fire pit from igniting grass, and you can put a few different things under it. Also, you could use sand, which is a fairly common material to put under the grate, because it disperses heat well. You might want to use some sort of rock like lava rock, or you could use brick or concrete if you want. If you have artificial grass, concrete or brick is the best choice, like a patio. You do not want to place your fire pit on top of wood, such as a deck, because you risk setting it on fire, too.
How Do I Properly Clean My Fire Pit Grate After Cooking?
There are a few different ways to clean a grate after you use it to cook food. The easiest way to clean it is to just burn off the remaining food. You just need to keep it hot underneath and put the cover over the pit. You could also put the grate in your oven if it will fit and you have a self-cleaning setting. Also, you might choose to cover it in foil, and because that helps retain heat, it makes cleaning it a little bit easier. Just like a regular grill, the fire pit grate could be cleaned with a wire brush. After you brush it, you should put some kind of oil on it to keep food from sticking hard the next time you use it to cook.
How Do I Know What Size Fire Pit Grate to Buy?
The general rule when sizing the grate for your fire pit is to be sure to keep six inches of clearance from the wall of the pit and six inches shorter than the wall. For example, if you have a fire pit that is 30 inches across and 12 inches tall, you’ll need a grate with a 24-inch diameter that is 6 inches tall for a proper fit.
What is the Best Material for a Fire Pit Grate?
Ideally, you should look into a fire pit grate that is made from cast iron because it is the strongest material that lasts the longest. Alternately, thick, solid steel is also a great option because it can hold up to the heat of the fire, too. You’ll also want a grate that is heavy because it will hold a higher weight capacity than a lightweight fire pit grate.
What Style Fire Pit Grate Works Best?
You could choose a flat, round fire pit grate or one that resembles a spider with curved up legs. The flat, round grate will lift the burn fuel off of the ground, but it does not have any sort of edges that can stop logs from rolling around. The best option would be a grate that has curved up legs because the legs will catch a log if it tries to roll away.
Conclusion
If you are building or have already built a fire pit and you have a problem keeping the flame going for a long time, looking into buying a grate might be a good idea. Fire pit grates keep your flame raised up so that it gets better airflow to light the fire and keep it burning longer. Depending on the design of it is effective at keeping your burning materials in place, which is perfect for maintaining safety so you don’t ignite anything that you didn’t intend to burn.
Choosing the right size grate is important so that it will fit properly inside your fire pit, and cleaning it the right way contributes to safety as well. Fire pits tend to work out better when you add the grate because it is easier to work with and won’t need as much work as it would if the fire was directly on the ground.
VBENLEM Wheel Firewood 28-Inch Diameter Fire Pit Log Grate — Best Overall
Check PriceGrates also help keep you from burning up the grass underneath and having the fire spread in an uncontrollable manner. Using some sort of material that spreads the heat out underneath the grate is also a great idea. Choosing the right material for your needs helps you get the most use out of your fire pit and the grate.
The best fire pit grate reviewed here seems to be from the VBENLEM because it is made out of a material that will stand up to the heat without too much worry. It also comes in so many different sizes that you could surely find one to fit just about any size fire pit. It is raised enough to be effective, but isn’t so high that it would fit inside most standard fire pits. Based on the specifications of the VBENLEM fire pit grate, this is probably the one you would want to purchase.
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