Which fire pit fits in a small garden?

For a fire pit in a small garden, go small and foldable.

Small, because you want at least two metres clear from fencing and plants. Foldable, because otherwise it's in the way all year round.

In our garden and fire pit collection, the Fire Pit Cube Foldable (30 cm) is built for exactly that. It folds flat to 16 cm after use and fits behind the shed door or in the boot.

A balcony is no place for open fire, not even a small fire pit. You lack the distance and sparks reach the neighbours easily.

Three things decide whether it fits: distance, surface and smoke.

Distance. At least two metres from fencing, hedges, sheds and parasols. In a five by five garden, the fire pit naturally ends up in the middle. The bigger the pit, the further the heat reaches.

Surface. Tiles, natural stone or gravel work well. Artificial grass and composite decking melt. On a wooden deck, lay paving slabs first.

Smoke. In a small garden, you and your neighbours are right on top of it. Dry wood makes the biggest difference.

A lighter that won't blow out, good fire starters and gloves.

Lighting: the PyroTorch Quattro. Four jet flames hold up far longer in a breeze than a regular flame.

Fire starters: Fire starter wool instead of paper. They burn for eight to ten minutes and won't blow away.

Gloves: a fire pit gets hot all round. Move it or lift off the grill plate wearing the Heat-Resistant Leather Gloves.

Atmosphere without fire: Solar Garden Torches (set of 4) give a flame effect on solar power.

It's small, folds flat and does two jobs at once.

It's not out all year. Nine months a year you don't use a fire pit. The Fire Pit Cube sets up in three steps and folds flat into the carry bag afterwards.

The ash tray catches the ash. Slide it out, empty it, done. No ash between the paving.

A stainless steel grill plate is included. Light it for atmosphere first, then sausages over the embers. That saves buying a second appliance.

It travels with you. At 8.4 kg and with a zipped bag, you can take it to the campsite or holiday home. Just check first whether a fire pit is allowed there.

It's not a heat source for ten people. It's too compact for that, and in a small garden that's exactly the point.

City garden with paving: Fire Pit Cube. Small enough for two metres clearance, and it folds flat afterwards.

Fire at table height: the Table Fireplace Wood & Pellet. Burns on pellets or small logs, one fill lasts at least an hour. Outdoor use only, on natural stone or concrete.

Camping: also the Fire Pit Cube, in the carry bag in the boot.

Frequent guests: then you want something people can gather around. Allow for four metres of clear space, and that won't fit in every garden.

Atmosphere only, no heat: solar garden torches. No smoke, no sparks.

Three to four small logs per hour, no more than about twenty-five centimetres.

So for a three-hour evening you'll need an armful. Longer logs stick out of the pit and fall off as the fire settles.

Store the wood dry and away from the fence. A Felt Log Basket (60 litres) is plenty for these amounts.

Only empty the ash tray once the ash is completely cold, preferably the next day. Ash can still smoulder hours later.

Dry wood, mind the wind, and light from the top.

Dry wood. Wood with over twenty percent moisture gives dense white smoke, which is the cause of most complaints.

Watch the wind. If it's blowing towards open windows, that's a bad evening for it.

Light from the top. The smoke from the wood below then has to pass through the flame and burns on the way. How this works is explained in lighting an open fire the Swiss way. It works just the same outdoors.

Don't put it out with water. That creates a cloud of steam, and the sudden cooling is bad for the steel. Let it burn out.

In a small garden, bigger isn't an upgrade, it's a problem. You don't have the clearance, and a large pit gets in the way the rest of the year.

A compact foldable pit on paving, dry wood and a lighter that won't blow out: that's all it takes. And on the balcony, the fire stays out.