On Long Island, the choice between a natural gas and a propane fire pit is usually made by your street before it is made by you. If a gas main runs past the house, a hard-piped fire pit table is the cleaner long-term answer. If it does not, a well-designed propane table with a hidden tank delivers nearly the same evening by the fire.
The short answer
Choose natural gas if your home already has National Grid service and the fire pit will stay put: it never runs out, and many burners are rated higher on natural gas than on a 20 pound propane cylinder. Choose propane if there is no main on your street, more common the farther east you go in Suffolk. Many tables ship with a conversion kit, but some are fuel specific and cannot be converted.
Key takeaways
- National Grid serves Nassau and Suffolk, but mains are not on every street. Confirm your address first.
- The same burner can be rated differently by fuel: 65,000 BTU on propane and 80,000 on natural gas for one Outdoor GreatRoom linear burner.
- Conversion kits swap orifices; electronic ignition models are usually ordered for one fuel.
- The state all-electric law reaches new buildings only, and its reach to outdoor fire features is unclear.
In this guide
- Natural gas vs propane at a glance
- Is natural gas available in Nassau and Suffolk?
- Does a fire pit put out more heat on natural gas?
- Gas line or hidden tank: what is involved?
- Can you convert a fire pit later?
- Town rules and the NY gas ban
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Natural gas vs propane at a glance
| Natural gas | Propane (20 lb tank) | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | Unlimited, from the house meter | Roughly 6 to 7 hours at 65,000 BTU on high |
| Installation | Licensed plumber, buried line, usually a permit | Set the table, connect the tank |
| Flame size | Often the higher rating | Can be capped for cylinder use |
| Placement | Fixed | Movable |
| Best fit | Most of Nassau, western Suffolk | East End, rentals, homes without a main |
Is natural gas available in Nassau and Suffolk?
National Grid is the gas utility for both counties, operating on Long Island as KeySpan Gas East, according to the New York State Department of Public Service. In practice, service is densest in Nassau and western Suffolk. Farther east, especially on the North and South Forks, many roads have no main, and homes commonly run on propane or oil.
Before you choose, call National Grid's gas availability line at 1-877-696-4743. If the house already has gas, ask whether the meter can carry another appliance; National Grid has a meter upgrade request for customers adding equipment.
Many East End homes already have a large propane tank feeding the house. A licensed installer can often tie a fire table into it, a fixed line without the cylinder.
Does a fire pit put out more heat on natural gas?
Sometimes. Propane carries about two and a half times the energy of natural gas per cubic foot, so the fuels need different orifices (the brass jet that meters gas into the burner) and different supply pressures. The Outdoor GreatRoom Crystal Fire Plus manual calls for an ideal 11 inches of water column on propane and 7 on natural gas.
The ratings diverge at the cylinder. A 20 pound tank can only vaporize gas so fast, so propane orifices are often sized conservatively. The same manual rates the 12 by 42 inch burner at 65,000 BTU on propane and 80,000 on natural gas as shipped, with higher ratings only through upgraded orifices on a hard-piped supply. Its 20 inch round burner is rated 55,000 BTU on either fuel. Warming Trends makes the same point another way: its AON manual rates the propane regulator hose for use up to 200,000 BTU with a 20 pound tank.
From our install team
On Long Island the difference shows most in late fall. As the temperature drops, a 20 pound cylinder struggles to keep up with a large burner and the flame shrinks. A natural gas table looks the same in November as it did in July.
Gas line or hidden tank: what is involved?
Running a natural gas line
A licensed plumber taps the house supply, runs a sized line underground to the patio and ends it with a shutoff. Expect a town or village permit in most of Nassau and Suffolk. It is easiest before the pavers go down.
Hiding a propane tank
Many tables hold a 20 pound cylinder inside the base, behind a door or in a drawer. Others place it in a matching enclosure that doubles as a side table, such as the XO round propane tank enclosure or the American Fyre Designs Contempo tank end table. Ventilation is not optional. The Crystal Fire Plus manual requires two openings on opposite sides of a self-contained tank enclosure, one low and one high, totaling one square inch per pound of propane, with no screen.
Not sure what fits your space? We can check fuel, meter capacity and placement against your plans. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
Can you convert a fire pit later?
Often, yes. The Outdoor GreatRoom ships its manual-ignition tables on propane with a natural gas kit in the box. XO does the reverse, shipping on natural gas with an LP kit. A conversion swaps the orifices, sets the air shutter and replaces the regulator hose with a fixed connection, done by a qualified technician.
Some tables cannot convert. Blaze states its 60 inch rectangular fire table cannot be changed after purchase, Warming Trends tells owners never to run a burner on the other fuel, and electronic ignition versions are typically ordered for one gas. If a gas line is in your five-year plan, buy a model that converts.
What do Long Island town rules and the NY gas ban mean for a fire pit?
Long Island town codes set setbacks and attendance rules for recreational fires, but none we reviewed names gas fire tables. Our guide to fire pit rules in Nassau and Suffolk towns covers the details; ask your fire marshal before assuming gas is treated differently.
New York's All-Electric Buildings Act (Energy Law section 11-104) bars fossil fuel equipment, and the systems that deliver fuel, in new buildings of seven stories or less. It does not apply to existing homes. Whether a fire table piped from a new home's gas system is covered is unclear; the statute never mentions outdoor appliances. As of October 19, 2026, the state is not enforcing it while the court challenge finishes. Building new? Confirm with your building department, and read our guide to the NY gas ban on Long Island.
From our install team
If you are unsure about a gas line, we often suggest a propane table with a natural gas kit included. You enjoy it this season, and if you add a line later, the table stays.
Our recommended models
Every table here is a current listing in our store, and we chose each one for how it handles the fuel question.
Fire Pit Tables Fire Bowls Fire Pit Burners Fire Pit Kits
Which should you choose?
Choose natural gas if:
- Your house already has National Grid service.
- The fire pit has a permanent place in the landscape.
- You want the larger flame and use it into late fall.
Choose propane if:
- There is no main on your street.
- The patio is finished and you will not trench it.
- You want to move the table or bring it to a second home.
Our recommendation: if gas is at the house, run the line once. If it is not, buy a convertible table now, so a future line is a technician visit rather than a new table. For grills on the same patio, our natural gas vs propane grill guide applies the same logic, and our gas fire pit buying guide covers materials, ignition and media.
Frequently asked questions
Is a natural gas fire pit cheaper to run than propane?
Usually, since piped natural gas typically costs less than delivered propane for the same heat. Rates vary, so compare your bills.
How long does a 20 pound propane tank last in a fire pit?
A full 20 pound tank holds roughly 430,000 BTU, so a 65,000 BTU burner on high runs about 6 to 7 hours. Lower the flame and it lasts much longer.
Can I connect a fire table to my home's large propane tank?
Often, yes. A licensed installer can run a line from the house tank. The table must be set up for propane and rated for hard-piped connection.
Do I need a permit for a gas fire pit on Long Island?
A new gas line usually needs a licensed plumber and a town or village permit. For a propane table on a 20 pound tank, check with your fire marshal.
Does the New York gas ban stop me from adding a gas fire pit?
Not at an existing home, which the law does not cover. For a new home, it is unclear whether an outdoor fire feature is included, and the law is not yet being enforced, so confirm with your building department.
Talk to a specialist
Plan the right fire table for your Long Island home
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We will help you weigh a gas line against a hidden tank.
Book a free consultation Call 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens. Our Greenvale, Long Island showroom at 13 Glen Cove Road opens winter 2026. Plan your visit.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources: NYS Department of Public Service, National Grid Long Island, National Grid Gas Connect FAQ, NY Energy Law section 11-104, Barclay Damon alert, September 2026, Mulhern Gas Co. v. Mosley case file, Outdoor GreatRoom Crystal Fire Plus burner manual, Warming Trends AON manual. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.