Before we start any build, there’s one decision that has to be made first: propane or natural gas. Unlike finish color or table size, fuel type isn’t something you change on a whim later — the burner, valve, and orifice are configured during construction based on which fuel the table will run on. So it’s worth thinking through before you order.
Here’s the honest breakdown, from people who’ve built a lot of fire tables.
Both Work Beautifully. The Difference Is in Your Setup.
Neither fuel produces a better-looking flame than the other. Propane is actually a slightly cleaner-burning fuel. Both can hit the BTU output you need for a serious fire table. The decision comes down to your patio, your gas infrastructure, and how you plan to use the table.
It’s roughly an even split among our customers. Neither choice is wrong.
Propane: The Flexible Choice
With propane, you don’t need anything from your utility company or a plumber. You connect a standard 20-pound LP tank and you’re running. The tank can be stored beside the table with a cover, or — depending on the table design — inside a built-in compartment. (Some customers prefer a completely clean, monolithic look with no tank door. We build both ways.)
When propane makes sense:
- You don’t have a gas line on or near your patio. Running a dedicated natural gas line from your home to an outdoor fire table typically costs between $250 and $800 depending on distance and local labor rates. If that’s not a project you want to take on, propane sidesteps it entirely.
- You want the freedom to move the table. Propane goes where you go — around the pool, to the driveway, anywhere. A natural gas table lives where the stub comes up out of the ground.
- You use the table occasionally. A 20-pound tank at full output on a 60,000 BTU burner runs roughly 8 to 10 hours — longer at medium flame. For a few evenings a week through the season, you’ll swap tanks a handful of times a year.
The real tradeoffs with propane:
The pressure from a propane tank is never an issue — tanks put out well over 100 PSI, far more than any burner requires, and regulators bring it down from there. But there is one real quirk worth knowing: on a propane tank that’s been running for a while, the tank valve can ice up, causing the flame to fluctuate on its own. Using a dedicated, newer tank with a fresh valve minimizes this, but it doesn’t fully eliminate it. It’s one of the honest differences between propane and a hardlined natural gas setup.
The other thing is simply tank management: keeping it full, knowing when you’re running low, having a backup on hand. Not a dealbreaker, but worth building into your routine.
Natural Gas: The Set-It-and-Forget-It Choice
Natural gas runs off your home’s supply line. No tank to monitor, no runs to the hardware store, no flame fluctuation from valve icing. You turn the key and the fire comes up every time, indefinitely.
Your table also stays exactly where the gas stub comes up — which is worth factoring into your patio layout before the plumber comes out.
When natural gas makes sense:
- You already have a gas line near the patio — or you’re already having outdoor gas work done. If a plumber is running gas to a grill or outdoor kitchen, adding a stubout for the fire table is usually a modest additional cost.
- You burn the table frequently. Natural gas runs 30 to 50 percent cheaper per BTU than propane at current utility rates. Over a full season of regular use, the savings are real.
- You want a completely clean install. No tank, no hose, no anything. Just the table and the flame.
What About Flame Height?
Flame height isn’t really about which fuel type you choose — it’s about how much of it reaches the burner. And this matters more on natural gas than propane.
With natural gas, a few things work against you if the line isn’t set up right: an undersized supply line (you want at least ¾” diameter), a long run from the meter (the longer the run, the more pressure you lose — measured in water column inches — and the less flame you get), and sharing the line with other appliances. A fire table running off the same line as a grill, a heater, or another fire feature is fighting for pressure. Each appliance should ideally run on its own dedicated line from the meter.
Propane doesn’t have any of these supply pressure issues — the tank always delivers more than enough. The trade-off is the valve icing mentioned above.
When you call us, we’ll ask about your gas setup. If something in your planned install is going to work against your flame height expectations, we’d rather work through it before the table is built.
Quick Comparison
| Propane | Natural Gas | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation cost | None | $250–$800+ |
| Operating cost | Higher per BTU | 30–50% lower |
| Portability | Yes — goes anywhere | No — stays at the stub |
| Tank management | 20-lb LP tank, backup recommended | None |
| Flame consistency | Minor icing quirk on older valves | Consistent |
| Best for | Flexibility, no existing gas line | Frequent use, existing infrastructure |
Our Recommendation
If you have a gas line within reasonable distance of where the table is going, natural gas is the cleaner long-term setup. You’ll never think about it again.
If you don’t have a line there and you’re not already doing outdoor gas work, start with propane. You can always have a line run later — at that point, we’d build you a new burner assembly for the natural gas configuration.
Not sure which way to go? Call us. It usually takes about five minutes to figure out.
Talk to Us Before You Order
Every CastinCrete fire table is built to your specifications in our Hartland, Wisconsin shop — including the fuel configuration. We typically respond same day.
Call or text: (262) 501-9966
Showroom available by appointment — Hartland, WI
Ready to choose your gas type and build your fire table? Browse the full CastinCrete fire table collection — including the Quadra, Highline, and Monolith — or contact us to talk through which configuration is right for your space.