How Much Does an Evening with gas firepit? Busting Myths About "Expensive" Patio Heating

You stand in the store, holding a bag of firewood in one hand, and a calculator is running in your head: "Am I really going to pay 7 euros for this small bundle?" Or you look at your electricity bill and hesitate to turn on the patio heater for fear of ruining your family budget.

You may have heard the opinion that gas fire pits are a luxury that "eats up" money. It's one of the most common myths stopping us from enjoying our patios to the fullest. So, we decided to face the truth. We took a calculator and current average energy prices (based on 2025 data), and compared how much one hour of heat and comfort really costs you.

(Note: Prices are indicative and based on average market prices for energy and fuels. Your actual price may vary depending on supplier and location, but the value ratio remains the same.)

The result might surprise you. A luxurious atmosphere doesn't have to mean a luxury price tag for operation. Quite the opposite.

Gas Bottle: Freedom for the Price of a Morning Coffee

Most of our Elementi tables run on a standard 11 kg gas bottle, available at any gas station. It's the embodiment of freedom – no cables, no connections, just a pure flame anywhere in the garden.

But what about consumption? With a pleasant, medium flame (which heats beautifully and looks amazing), one hour of operation will cost you approx. €1.64.

What does that mean in practice? For the price of one espresso in the city, you get an hour of luxurious heat for the whole family. And one bottle? That will easily last you 14 long evenings.

Bonus: No waiting. You push a button and you heat. No smoke, no ash, no sparks on your new deck.

An hour of operation costs as much as your morning coffee. The difference is that this experience is enjoyed by the whole family at once.

Natural Gas: Comfort Almost for Free

If you have a natural gas connection on your patio, you've hit the jackpot. Almost all our tables can be easily converted to natural gas (conversion kit available).

Thanks to lower natural gas prices, an hour of operation costs you only approx. €0.70 - €0.85.

That's less than you pay for a pack of gum. You can heat every evening, all autumn and winter, and your family budget will hardly notice. This is by far the cheapest and most convenient way to enjoy a live fire.

Classic Wood: Romance That "Costs a Pretty Penny"

Wood has its unmistakable charm, no doubt about it. But let's be honest. Unless you have your own forest and chop wood by the truckload, you probably buy it in bundles at the gas station or hobby market.

A bundle of dry wood costs on average €6.50. To make the fire in an open pit actually warm you and not just smoke, you'll burn such a bundle in 2 to 3 hours. That means one hour of heating will cost you approx. €2.20 - €3.25.

And that's not all: You have to add something priceless to this cost – your time. Time spent preparing, lighting, tending, and cleaning ash in the morning. Wood is paradoxically the most expensive fuel for occasional sitting in retail terms.

No stinging smoke in your eyes, no flying sparks. With an Elementi fire pit, you can wear your favorite light sweater without worrying about it smelling like smoke.

Electricity: Cheap Only at First Glance

Here comes the biggest surprise. We often think that turning on an electric heater is the cheapest option. It is true, but only if you are content with warming just one person's back.

We, however, are comparing comparables – that means equal heat output for the entire patio.

To achieve the same output with electricity as an Elementi gas fire pit (16 kW) and really warm everyone at the table, you would need to draw a massive amount of energy from the grid. At current electricity prices, heating this powerfully would cost you up to €2.85 per hour.

If you want real heat for the whole group, electricity is paradoxically the most expensive solution.

Grand Finale: What Pays Off the Most?

Let's look at it clearly. We compared the price per hour for equal heat output:

*Prices are average estimates for comparison purposes based on equal output. When we compare the same amount of heat, gas is unrivaled in value.

Conclusion: What Are You Actually Buying?

When we break it down, operating an Elementi table is an economic miracle. For the price of a coffee (LPG) or a few cents (Natural Gas), you get a powerful thermal power station around which the whole family warms up.

01/2026 | Jan

Don't just buy a "heat source". Buy time with loved ones, without chopping wood and without compromises.

Choose Your Economical Elementi Fire Pit