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Fire Pit Pans and Trays

Pans and trays with and without burners

Fire Pit Pans and Trays

A comprehensive look at fundamentals!

Why Use a Fire Pit Pan?

Effective fire pit setups depend on using fire pit pans and trays to provide secure, reliable support for mounting the burner.

This foundation is especially important for fire pit ignition systems like spark ignition or electronic ignition where the pilot and ignition assembly require precise positioning on firm, stable surfaces. Additionally, sophisticated electronics and wiring must be protected from the heat produced by the burner. This is achieved by locating them beneath the fire pit burner pan which acts as a heat shield.

Proper ventilation is also essential for cooling the equipment and, in the case of propane, for supplying fresh air to the air mixer for optimal performance. A pan provides a barrier allowing clearance below the burner for the proper functioning of the equipment, and allows for easy access to the equipment and gas connections, streamlining maintenance.

Weep holes in the bottom of the pan for drainage are crucial for burner longevity. 

As you can see, a fire pit pan performs more than just one service!  

Moreover, using fire pit pans and trays in conjunction with a well-designed fire pit enclosure or structure can reduce the cost of fire media by minimizing the burn area volume. A drop-in fire pit pan is typically 2 to 2.5 inches deep, with just enough space beyond the burner’s footprint to prevent it from overheating and potentially warping. This makes it the most efficient pan design for reducing the quantity of fire glass needed to the minimum.

The following real-life scenario underscores the importance of proper support: When a wire mesh was used to support the burner instead of a pan, the improperly secured burner shifted during use. This caused the burner to get too close to the fire pit’s stone top, leading to overheating and cracking of the stone. A fire pit pan could have easily prevented this issue and the costly stone replacement.

Types Of Fire Pit Pans and Trays

There are three basic designs: Drop-In Pans, Lipless Pans and Flat Pans.

Drop-In Fire Pit Pans

Drop-In Pan

The Pan has a recessed bottom into which the burner and ignition system are securely mounted. Surrounding the recess is a flange or lip, typically 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide.

Installation

Simple to install. The pan is dropped into an opening in the top surface of the fire pit structure. The lip of the pan sits on the top, supporting the pan. 

GAS FIRE PIT - THE BASICS USING A DROP-IN PAN

Result

The Pans are typically 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. This positions the burner below the top of the fire pit, which helps protect the flame from the breeze. The stainless steel lip becomes a feature of the fire pit.

An installed Drop In Pan

Lipless Fire Pit Pans

Lipless Pan

Lipless Fire Pit Pans also have a recessed area, and the sidewalls will neatly contain the fire media, however, they require support built into the structure.

Interlink Lipless Fire Pit Pan with Torpedo Linear T Burner

Installation

Z brackets or Collars can be set into the structure walls to support the pan, alternatively, a ledge can be created by increasing the wall thickness below the pan.

GAS FIRE PIT - THE BASICS USING A LIPLESS PAN

Result

The Pans are typically 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. This positions the burner below the top of the fire pit, which helps protect the flame from the breeze. The pan is obscured by the fire media.

Eaves Hammered Copper Fire Pit with lipless fire pit pan

Flat Pans

Flat Pan

Flat pans do not have a recessed area or lip, so built-in support is needed. The burner is secured to a flat sheet of Stainless Steel or Aluminum.

A typical Flat Pan and Burner

Installation

Z brackets or Collars can be set into the structure walls to support the pan, alternatively, a ledge can be created by increasing the wall thickness below the pan.

GAS FIRE PIT - THE BASICS USING A FLAT PAN

Result

When the fire glass/lava rock is installed the flat pan becomes completely hidden from view.

This Fire Pit utilized a Flat Pan set below the top level of the ire pit and covered in fire glass
Gas Connection Kits are available for all our brands. Or you can opt for a complete fire pit kit which includes a pan, burner, gas connections, and ignition system.

A Quick Look at the Brands

American Fire Glass

American Fire Glass offers premium-quality stainless steel fire pit pans with burners in various shapes and sizes, all of which qualify for a Lifetime Warranty.

The collection includes flat and drop-in style pans. American Fire Glass features a unique Oil-Rubbed Bronze finish. The Bronze Collection is available in round, rectangular, and linear drop-in configurations.

  • Round Fire Pit Pans and Square Fire Pit Pans are fitted with Round Ring Burners.
  • Rectangular Fire Pit Pans are fitted with H-burners and increase in width as the length increases.
  • Linear Fire Pit Pans are fitted with T-burners and only available in drop-in style. The 6″ width remains constant throughout the size range.

HPC Fire

HPC Fire offers a premium selection of stainless steel fire pit Inserts (their term for fire pit pans) in round and square shapes, available in flat and drop-in styles. These Inserts are sold as standalone products, with burners and their tie-down brackets available separately. The Rectangular and Linear Interlink Inserts, are supplied with pre-fitted burners. All HPC Fire burners are backed by a Lifetime Warranty. Products are made in the USA

  • Rectangular Pans are fitted with their patented Torpedo H-burners. The smallest size starts at 8″ wide with the longest at 16″ wide. 
  • Linear Interlink pans are fitted with Torpedo T-burners and are 8″ wide.

The standout style is the Interlink range, which provides exceptional flexibility. Its unique design allows multiple pans to be placed end-to-end, creating a continuous, seamless flame—perfect for long, narrow fire pit designs.

HPC also offers custom-made fire pit pans and burners, tailored to your unique design and performance needs. Contact us today for personalized quotes.

The Outdoor Plus

The Outdoor Plus offers a staggering variety of premium-quality stainless steel and aluminum pans fitted with stainless steel and sometimes brass, burners. Their burner range also includes many unusual designs, some with the patented Bullet Burner versions, so listing them all is quite a feat. However, we have listed the basics.   

  • Round Pans are available with round-ring, or Triple-S burners.
  • Rectangular Pans fitted with H-burners are 12″ wide no matter the length.
  • Rectangular Pans with or Linear T-burners are 8″ wide throughout the range.

Both standard and Bullet burners have a lifetime warranty. All products are made in the USA. 

We have also yet to list their lipless range. If you’re looking for a specific product and can’t find it, don’t hesitate to give us a call for more details.

The Outdoor Plus also offers custom-made fire pit pans and burners, specifically tailored to meet your needs. Contact us today for personalized quotes.

Warming Trends

Warming Trends (WT) manufactures all of its products in the USA, offering the flexibility of custom services tailored to your needs. Their catalog of standard-sized Aluminum Plates (their term for flat pans) and Lipless Pans are available in round and square configurations. Rectangular options are only offered as Plates.

Their unique and extensive range of patented Crossfire Brass Burners are offered separately. 

  • Round and Square Fire Pit Plates and Pans are compatible with the Original, Octagonal, Circular-Tree, and Square-Tree Crossfire Burners.
  • Rectangular Plates are compatible with the Tree-Style, Double Tree-Style, H-style, and Linear Crossfire Burners.

Their unique configurations may seem a bit complex but we’re here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out for expert advice or guidance on selecting the right components for your project.

Fire Pit Essentials

A successful fire pit setup requires more than just the right fire pit pans and trays. Several other critical factors are essential to ensure both functionality and safety:

Design Elements: Key aspects such as proper venting, adequate drainage, and maintaining correct clearances are necessary for the safe and efficient operation of the fire pit.

Gas Supply and Pipeline Sizing: A sufficient gas supply and correctly sized pipelines are essential to ensure the fire pit operates optimally.

BTU Ratings: Understanding the importance of a Burner BTU rating and how it relates to the gas infrastructure is critical for optimal performance

Local Fire and Building Codes: Compliance with local Fire and Building Codes is essential to meet safety standards, protect users, and ensure the installation meets all regulatory requirements.

Manufacturer’s Guidelines: Adhering to the manufacturer’s guidelines is crucial for maintaining warranty coverage and ensuring that all components are installed and operated according to the recommended specifications for safety and performance.

At the Magic of Fire, we’re committed to helping you navigate these considerations for the perfect fire pit setup. We are ready to assist with any questions, and we invite you to explore our Tech Tips Blog. Links to relevant articles are provided below.

Further Reading

Fire Glass and Lava Rock Calculators

Click to go to the Calculators