Bioethanol Fire Pit Buying Guide

A bioethanol fire pit gives you a real, living flame in the garden without the smoke of logs or the plumbing of gas. This guide covers how they work, what they cost to run, how to choose a size and how to use one safely.

What is a bioethanol fire pit?

It is an outdoor fire pit that burns liquid bioethanol, a renewable alcohol fuel distilled from plant sugars such as sugar cane and grain. You pour the fuel into a stainless steel burner, light it with a long lighter, and it burns with a clean, yellow flame. When you have finished, you slide a lid across the burner to put it out. There is no flue, chimney, gas bottle or mains connection.

Bioethanol, gas or logs?

Domestic burning, mostly wood stoves and open fires, accounts for around 29% of the UK's PM2.5 emissions (Defra, 2022 data). Bioethanol produces no smoke, which matters if your neighbours are close.

How long does a fill last, and what does it cost?

Woodlark burners use about 0.75 litres of bioethanol an hour. The 8-litre burners on the Pinot and Pinotage run for roughly 9 to 11 hours on a full fill, depending on conditions. A four-hour evening uses around three litres. Every Woodlark fire pit comes with 15 litres to start you off.

Will it keep me warm?

You will feel real warmth sitting close to a bioethanol fire, but it is about atmosphere first. If you want to heat a whole seating area on a cold evening, pair it with a patio heater.

Choosing a size

Measure the space your seating occupies, then leave a clear walkway around the fire pit and plenty of clear space between the fire pit and anything flammable, as set out in the instructions. As a rough guide, the round designs up to 86cm suit two to six people; Grenache and the fire tables suit larger groups and outdoor sofas. Lower designs (30cm) sit well with deep sofas; taller ones (38 to 40cm) suit standard lounge chairs.

What are Woodlark fire pits made of?

Glass-fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC): concrete strengthened with glass fibres, so it has the look and texture of cast stone at a fraction of the weight of solid concrete, and lives outdoors all year. Each piece is cast and finished by hand, so small variations in tone are part of its character. Choose Slate, a deep charcoal close to RAL 7016, or Bone, a warm pale stone close to RAL 9001.

Using a bioethanol fire pit safely

• Outdoors only, in the open air, never under a canopy, awning or overhanging plants.
• Stand it on a stable, level, non-combustible surface.
• Never refuel while the flame is lit or the burner is warm. Let it cool completely.
• Never pour fuel near a flame, and wipe up any spill before lighting.
• Light with a long lighter or wand, never a match held over the burner.
• Keep children and pets supervised; the stone near the burner gets hot.
• Appoint one sober adult to look after the fire for the evening.

See all eleven Woodlark bioethanol fire pits.