When entertaining outdoors, particularly during the summer, there are a few items that go a long way toward ensuring everyone has a great time. A grill, for one, is pretty crucial. A good cooler is key for keeping beverages cold and at the ready. Some comfy lawn chairs and an outdoor-ready Bluetooth speaker will keep your guests both relaxed and entertained.
And then there's the fire pit, which tends to become the centerpiece of any outdoor gathering where it's present. But getting the most out of your backyard fire pit requires a bit more involvement than filling a cooler with ice or unfolding a lawn chair — you're going to need some fire pit accessories. We've spent our early summer testing the best fire pit accessories that will keep you fueled, fed and festive throughout the entire outdoor party season.
How We Tested
While testing our favorite fire pits, we naturally discovered which accessories best aided our overall experience. From discovering the most joyful way to cook using a fire pit to finding the right tools to keep us safe while stoking the flames, we've tested a number of fire pit accessories from the most popular brands in the space. By combining our first-hand expertise with overall user feedback and popularity, we've come up with the following list of the best fire pit accessories to complete your patio setup.
Best Fire Pit Poker: Breeo 304 Fire Poker
If you get just one accessory for your fire pit, make it a poker. A poker allows you to stoke your flames from a safe distance, adjusting logs as needed without having to get too close to the fire. Breeo's flagship 304 Fire Poker is excellent and is likely the only one you need. It's crafted from durable 304 stainless steel (hence the name) and measures 40 inches long. But its main claim to fame is its innovative tip that incorporates a large hook, a chisel tip and a serrated edge that aid you in moving around different-sized logs in different ways. There's also a flat edge for clearing away ash, and a "utility notch" for adjusting Breeo's specific accessories ... if you own a Breeo fire pit. And while all the extra features are nice to have, you'll most likely find the hook and tip to be the only ones you're using most of the time.
Best Fire Pit Tongs: Pit Command Talons
Moving some logs requires something with a bit more stability, which is why it's a good idea to get yourself a pair of tongs. Pit Command's Talons are designed specifically to be used with smokeless fire pits, the Talons are made from high-heat powder-coated carbon steel that makes them flame-resistant, superstrong and ultra-lightweight. They're two feet long and are equipped with a set of sharp two-inch pinchers that make it easy and safe to grab hold of logs and move them around the fire with confidence. Plus, the molded grips feel comfy in hand and make even novices feel assured when using the tongs.
Best Fire Pit Tool Set: Snow Peak Fire Tool Set Pro
If you want a full set of fire pit tools — and you want those tools to be both stylish and heirloom quality — then there's no beating Snow Peak's Fire Tool Set Pro. The Japanese outdoor retailer's premium set includes both a poker and a pair of tongs, plus a shovel for cleaning out ashes. All three tools are made of black-coated steel with laminated bamboo handles, and the kit includes a Snow Peak-branded canvas carrying pouch that keeps the entire kit orderly and easy to transport.
Best Fire Pit Axe: Husqvarna 26" Multi-Purpose Axe
If you plan on chopping any firewood at all for your fire pit, you're going to need a good axe — and our tester, who has owned his for over three years, says this is a great one. Obviously, this axe can be used for other purposes than chopping kindling — its name is literally "Multi-Purpose Axe" — but it's an excellent choice for keeping your fire pit well-fed with fresh logs.
Although budget axes are a dime a dozen, the Husqvarna Purpose Axe certainly punches above its weight class. Branded Husqvarna throughout, rumors suggest that the head of the Multi-Purpose Axe comes from the Swedish forges at Hults Bruk. With rumors and mystique surrounding this axe, its performance certainly speaks for itself. Over the past three years, our tester's Husqy has not had a kind life chopping muddy stumps and breaking down large piles of firewood — but he can always trust it to get the job done. His pro tips for longevity are to keep the blade sharp, rub linseed oil on the axe between uses and don't use the blunt butt as a hammer.
Most Versatile Fire Pit Tool: Pit Command Ranger
Say you don't want to invest in a poker, tongs and an axe and would prefer to just get one tool that could do it all. If that sounds like you, then the Pit Command Ranger should be your next purchase. The innovative all-in-one fire pit tool features a one-piece carbon-steel construction featuring a rugged poker at the tip for stoking flames, a large serrated hook on one end for rolling logs and a mini axe blade on the other for chopping kindling. Granted, the Ranger won't be quite as useful as a dedicated axe and set of tongs, but it will definitely get you through all but the most demanding of fire pit-tending duties. And if the Ranger seems a bit too dainty for your needs, then you can always upgrade to the larger Pit Command Commander.
Best Fire Pit Gloves: Solo Stove Gloves
It's a good idea to wear heat-resistant gloves when working with live fire to prevent burns, and Solo Stove's gloves are designed to provide the perfect pit protection for your mitts. They're flexible enough that they don't hinder movement while still being heat-resistant to temperatures up to 450 degrees. Their cuffs come up past your wrists for added protection, and the grippy palms help prevent accidents by giving you a surer grip on logs and pokers. Our tester thinks their pretty much a necessity to be worn when fiddling with her Solo Stove Bonfire, particularly when she's using the Pi Fire Pizza Oven attachment that requires even more hands-on participation.
Best Marshmallow Roasting Sticks: L.L.Bean Rolla Roaster Hot Dog Forks
Few things are better than sitting around a fire roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, but having a poor roasting stick can really detract from the experience. L.L.Bean makes the best one we've found thanks to its mix of clever and innovative design tweaks. For one, the sticks have a telescoping feature that allows them to stretch from 12 to 42 inches, giving you loads of control over how far you'd like to be from the flames. They also feature a dial built into the handle that lets you spin the sticks like a rotisserie, ensuring an even char all the way around your mallow or dog. The USA-made sticks feature handles made from heat-resistant wood and dual-pronged "sticks" crafted from stainless steel.
Best Fire Pit Cooking Accessory: Solo Stove Pi Fire Pizza Oven
Solo Stove makes a ton of fun accessories for its fire pits, and this is one of our tester's favorites. You can turn your smokeless fire pit into a pizza oven with this attachment that sits on top of the flames. Our tester found it to be easy to use, even for people who have never made a pizza before. But she did discover that it would be best to buy the Pi Fire + Tools unless you already have a bunch of pizza-making gear ready to roll.
Making the pizza is pretty seamless, but you do have to keep a close eye on the fire temperature to make sure your cooking process stays pretty consistent. This can take a bit of effort if you plan on cooking for a large group and need the fire hot for a longer period of time. Otherwise, our tester just gave the pizza a turn about halfway through, and it was ready to serve. Our reviewer would compare the clean-up process as being similar to using a grill, as most of the residue gets burned off, and you can just do a quick brush off once the stone is cool.
As far as storage goes, the Pi Fire comes with a bag, but because the oven is shaped like the lunar lander, it needs to have its own dedicated space. You might want to identify a spot in the garage or shed to store the thing before jumping into this purchase. The oven is about as sturdy as you can imagine, and you definitely can plan on keeping this item for years to come; it weighs just under 20 pounds and is made of ceramic-coated stainless steel.
Read our full Solo Stove Pi Fire review.
Best Fire Pit Grill: Cuisinart Cleanburn Fire Pit Griddle & Grill Top
When you add a grill top to your fire pit, then you're really cooking with gas — literally if you've got a gas-fueled fire pit, figuratively if you're using wood. A grill top allows you to cook more than your typical hot dogs and marshmallows, opening the door to burgers, grilled veggies and anything else you might normally cook on a grill. You'll usually want to nab the dedicated grill top made for your specific fire pit, and we like the one Cuisinart makes for its Cleanburn Fire Pit. That's because it's not just a grill, but a grill and griddle in one, with each cooking surface divided evenly across the 126.7 square inches of cooking area. The top is hinged in the middle, allowing you to access the fire when needed (just make sure to move all food to the other side before lifting), and the device even fits on top of Weber's 22-inch kettle grill, giving you even more bang for your buck.
Most Versatile Fire Pit Cooking Accessory: Solo Stove Hub
Solo Stove's Hub is basically a gateway. It's an adaptor that fits on top of your Solo Stove fire pit that allows you to then use the brand's dedicated cooking accessories, such as its griddle, grill and wok. This makes the hub exceptionally versatile, but it isn't without its faults. Our tester says that, because of the hub's elevation, it's susceptible to interference from the wind and is best used in more controlled environments.
In May 2023, our tester attended Out Standing in the Field — the roving dining experience that stages dinners in far-flung locales. The event featured a chef who used a Solo Stove Yukon fire pit with the Hub attachment to keep potatoes warm before serving on the blustery Pacific evening. The stainless steel build held up to the elements, but in the windy environment, the setup was not suited to fully cooking root vegetables. The chef used larger, more adaptable live-fire grills to do the cooking and kept the potatoes warm over the Solo Stove using the hub.
Best Fire Pit Mat: Homenote Fireproof Under Grill Mat
When you're dealing with any kind of live fire, safety should be your most important consideration. Having a fireproof mat to place under your fire pit will give you peace of mind, as it allows you to safely use your pit on areas like your deck or lawn that might otherwise be too susceptible to unplanned fires. Homenote's Fireproof Mat, which also works great under a grill, is made of heat-resistant fiberglass with a silicone coating that makes it both stain-resistant and easy to clean. Its heavy outer stitching means it always lies flat, and with a three-foot diameter, it's big enough to accommodate most fire pits — and basically all portable ones.
Best Fire Pit Spark Screen: Good Directions 774 Heavy Duty Fire Pit Spark Screen
If you opt for a smokeless fire pit from the likes of Solo Stove, Breeo, BioLite and others, then you're eliminating the most annoying thing about sitting around a live fire: the smoke that seems intent on filling your face no matter where you move. But even smokeless fire pits still produce sparks and flying embers, which can be annoying as well as dangerous, with the potential to start wildfires. A spark screen is the best way to keep them at bay, and this option from Good Directions is available in five sizes to fit a range of fire pits from 20 to 40 inches across. It has a hinged design that allows you to easily tend to the flames when necessary without removing the screen entirely, and it even includes a lifter so you can keep your hands away from the hot handle.
Best Fire Pit Heat Deflector: Solo Stove Heat Deflector
For those extra chilly nights, you may find that your fire pit alone doesn't provide as much warmth as you'd like. This is especially true if you've got a small pit and a large group huddled around it. For those situations, Solo Stove's Heat Deflector is a godsend. Available in four sizes to match all of the brand's full-size fire pits (including the discontinued Canyon), the Heat Deflector does just what you think: it deflects heat. The flames rise up and are blunted by the deflector, which sends their warmth out radially instead of it being lost vertically. This makes the area around the fire pit warmer and allows the heat to stretch farther. Just don't touch the deflector while it's on the fire pit, though: it gets extremely hot.
Best Fire Pit Cover: Ultimate Patio 48-Inch Heavy Duty Round Fire Pit Cover
If you plan on leaving your fire pit outside year-round, or even just during bad weather, you're going to need a cover for protection. Most brands will offer their own dedicated covers that are perfectly sized for their own specific models. In most cases, those will be your best option. But if you're looking for more of a one-size-fits-all approach that also happens to be affordable, then this option from Ultimate Patio is a great choice. It measures four feet across and a foot-and-a-half tall, making it large enough to fit most fire pits. And thanks to the drawstring on the bottom, it can be sized to fit smaller pits, too. The cover is water- and weather-resistant thanks to its construction that combines rugged 300D polyester lined with PVC backing.
What to Look for in a Fire Pit Accessory
Compatibility
Arguably the first and most important thing to consider when shopping for an accessory for your fire pit is to make sure it will actually fit or work with your fire pit. This is less important when looking at more universal accessories like pokers and marshmallow sticks, but any item that needs to be a proper size — like a cover, mat or cooking accessory — will need to be vetted to make sure it will fit snugly and safely. The best way to make sure a fire pit accessory will fit your pit? Buy the accessory from the same brand that makes your fire pit, as most offer a full range of accessories to meet all your needs and then some.
Safety
Fire pits are literally live fires in your backyard, which makes them inherently dangerous to some degree. You can further mitigate that danger by making sure you're only using fire pit accessories that are designed to be used around live flames (or even fire pits specifically) and that you're only using those accessories for their intended purpose.
Durability
The environment in and around a fire pit should be considered high-stress given the extremely high temperatures involved (again: live fire), which means any accessory you buy needs to be built to withstand the extreme temperatures at work. Using gear that isn't built to withstand high heat and live flames is a recipe for disaster, as you could end up with a destroyed accessory at best and an unplanned fire in your backyard at worst.
