The Flame Control Question Most Buyers Get Wrong

When shoppers search for a fire pit table with adjustable flame, they usually assume both fuel types behave the same way—just turn the knob, pick a height, done. The reality is more nuanced. Propane and natural gas differ in energy density, delivery pressure, and the physical mechanics of how you dial the flame up or down. Those differences matter when you’re trying to hold a specific flame height for three hours on a cool October evening, not just flick it on for ten minutes.

Both fuels produce a clean, controllable flame—that part is true. But the precision of that control, the ceiling of what’s achievable, and the consistency you can expect across a long burn are all shaped by which fuel you choose. This comparison breaks that down with actual numbers and practical context, so you can make a decision based on your patio setup rather than marketing copy.

How Each Fuel Delivers Its Flame

Gas fire tables work the same way regardless of fuel: gas flows from a source through a control valve, hits a burner beneath the fire media, and ignites. The flame height is adjusted by restricting or opening that valve. Simple in principle—but the two fuels arrive at the burner under very different conditions.

Propane is stored as a pressurized liquid in a tank. A high-pressure adjustable regulator steps that tank pressure down to a usable level (typically 0–20 PSI for fire pit applications) before it reaches the burner. On most propane fire tables, flame height is controlled either by adjusting the regulator output directly—literally turning a knob to increase or decrease pressure—or by using a key valve mounted on the table’s exterior. Either method gives you a wide, responsive range. Turn the knob clockwise, the flame climbs. Turn it back, it drops. The response is immediate.

Natural gas arrives through a home utility line at a fixed, lower pressure—typically around 7 inches of water column (WC), which equals roughly one-quarter PSI. An appliance-level regulator (adjustable models output between 3" WC and 6" WC) fine-tunes that pressure before it reaches the burner. Flame height on a natural gas table is then adjusted using a key valve. The mechanics work, but the pressure ceiling is lower by design. You’re working within a narrower range, and the maximum flame height is constrained by the volume the gas line can deliver—a function of line diameter, line length, and how many other appliances share that supply.

The practical difference: propane tends to give you a wider, more responsive adjustment range at the control point. Natural gas gives you a steadier, more uniform flame that holds its height without the pressure fluctuations that can occur in a propane tank as it empties.

BTU Output: The Numbers Behind the Flame

Propane contains roughly 91,500 BTU per gallon. Natural gas delivers approximately 1,000 BTU per cubic foot. Because propane packs more energy per unit of volume, it produces a hotter, more intense flame from a smaller burner footprint—and that translates directly to flame height potential.

For most residential fire tables, the BTU range falls between 30,000 and 65,000 BTU. Propane models in that range tend to produce taller, brighter flames. Natural gas flames at equivalent BTU ratings tend to burn slightly softer and can appear less dramatic in daylight.

That said, natural gas fire tables are not limited to lower outputs. When a dedicated gas line with adequate diameter and pressure is run to the table, natural gas can actually reach higher rated outputs than propane in the same table chassis. The Oriflamme fire tables available at All Backyard Fun illustrate this directly: the same table models are rated at up to 75,000 BTU on propane and up to 90,000 BTU on natural gas—a 20% increase in peak output when the gas line can supply adequate volume and pressure.

So propane wins on flame intensity per cubic foot of fuel. Natural gas wins on peak output ceiling—if the infrastructure supports it.

Where Propane Has the Edge on Adjustability

For pure moment-to-moment flame control, propane has a practical advantage that’s worth naming plainly: the adjustable high-pressure regulator gives you a direct, tactile dial from near-zero output up to full flame. You’re manipulating pressure itself, which means the flame responds quickly and predictably across its full range.

There’s also a ceiling-pressure advantage at the low end. Because propane operates at higher pressure than natural gas, even a small burner orifice can sustain a visible, stable flame at reduced settings. This matters for ambiance use—those evenings where you want a low, flickering flame for atmosphere rather than heat. Propane tends to hold a convincing low flame without sputtering.

The one genuine limitation is consistency over a long burn. As a propane tank empties, the pressure inside the tank drops. In very cold weather or with high-BTU burners running at full output, this can cause flame height to gradually decrease over time—sometimes noticeably after 45 minutes to an hour at maximum settings. Connecting two tanks (as many fire tables with dual hidden tank compartments allow) largely solves this, but it’s a real behavior to know about.

Propane is also the right choice for anyone who doesn’t have a natural gas line at their home, plans to move the table seasonally, or wants to set up without any professional installation. A standard 20-lb tank connects in minutes, and the table is ready to use.

Where Natural Gas Has the Edge on Flame Control

Natural gas earns its place in this comparison on one specific quality: consistency. Because the supply line delivers gas at a fixed, regulated pressure that doesn’t deplete, the flame you set at 7 p.m. looks essentially the same at 10 p.m. There’s no tank-drain effect, no gradual pressure drop, no mid-evening recalibration. For people who use their fire table multiple times per week—or who want to set a flame height and forget about it—that stability is genuinely useful.

Natural gas also wins on long-term operating cost. Natural gas runs significantly cheaper per hour of burn time than propane, and for frequent users that gap compounds meaningfully over a full season.

The tradeoff is infrastructure. Running a new natural gas line to a patio costs $300 to $700 in most U.S. markets, plus a licensed plumber for the connection. The table becomes fixed in place once installed. And the line diameter matters more than most buyers realize: if the supply line is undersized or shared with other appliances, the available volume may limit maximum flame height even if the table is rated for higher output. A dedicated line sized for the burner’s BTU rating is the right approach.

One more detail worth noting: natural gas setups can be slightly more audible than propane—a soft hiss at the burner that’s rarely intrusive but is worth knowing before you commit.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose propane if:

• You don’t have a natural gas hookup on your patio
• You want to move or reposition the table
• You use the fire table a few evenings per week or less
• You want maximum flame responsiveness and don’t want to involve a plumber

Choose natural gas if:

• You already have a gas line running to your outdoor kitchen or grill
• The table will live in a permanent location
• You burn the fire table frequently and want to eliminate tank management
• You want the highest possible BTU output from your table

For buyers who want to keep their options open, several quality fire tables—including the Oriflamme models available at All Backyard Fun—ship propane-ready and can be converted to natural gas with a conversion kit and professional installation. That means you can start using the table immediately and add a gas line later if your outdoor space evolves.

If you’re still weighing the broader fire table decision—size, BTU range, burner design, and materials—the All Backyard Fun fire tables collection covers a range of options across both fuel types, with the kind of product detail that makes the comparison straightforward rather than guesswork.