Best Fire Pit Mat Reviews: Heat Resistant Pads For Grass, Wood Decks, And Patios

What is the best fire pit mat?

If you want to move your fire pit or fire bowl around your yard or deck, rather than having a dedicated spot for it, the best way to protect what’s underneath it is with a fire pit mat or pad.

These heat-resistant mats can be used to protect wooden decks, patios, lawns, and any other surface you put your fire pit on. If you don’t use a mat or an alternative, you will damage what’s underneath your fire pit – whether it’s wood, grass, or tile.

See my Safeparty fire pit mat here in that review. I got this 38″ heat-resistant mat to protect the lawn under my small fire pit and can highly recommend it if it’s the right size for you. Check out the large mats in the following table.

Best Fire Pit Pad

This is what happens when you put a fire pit on grass without a mat – it completely kills the lawn!

We recently got this new cast iron fire pit and have really enjoyed sitting around it as a family on cool evenings.

However, the amount of radiant heat it puts out underneath is quite extreme – it’s no wonder it ruins the grass.

Besides using a mat, there are other things you can use to protect the grass, including:

• Raising the fire pit up higher on bricks (though this doesn’t look great)
• Create a platform of bricks or tiles for the fire bowl to sit on
• Using a fire pit pad

You can also put down pavers for more permanent fire pit setups. We’ve got some great fire pit paver ideas here.

It’s especially important to use a pad or another heat-resistant device when you are using your fire pit on a wooden deck. You will quickly ruin a wooden surface with a fire pit like this.

Here’s a bit more info about the 5 mats for fire pits that we featured above.

1. Fireside Outdoor Ember Mat

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• 67 inches x 60 inches
• Food grade silicone coating
• USFS & BLM fire blanket regulation approved

This fire pit mat for grass and decks is one of the most popular items out there.

It’s one of the largest ones you’ll find, which has its pros and cons. The good thing is that it will more than likely catch any sparks and embers that fall to the ground. The negative part is that it’s more likely to be a trip hazard than some of the smaller options.

That being said, it does have stainless steel eyelets that can be used to peg it into the ground. You can just use tent pegs if it’s on grass, and staple nails if it’s on the deck. This could make it less of a hazard.

The outside edge is also a reflective strip, so it should catch the light from the fire even at night.

This ground ember mat is heavy-duty (made of hi-temp fiberglass) and will withstand being walked on and all the other things you’d expect from being around a fire pit or grill.

It’s also basically waterproof, though the reflective edges will absorb some water if left in the rain or puddles of water.

They say you still need about 10-inches of space between the bottom of your fire pit and the mat to prevent some heat transfer. If the bottom of your fire pit is very low, you will need to consider raising it on bricks or pavers.

While it is heat resistant, it is not heatproof. Too much heat at too close a distance will damage or ruin the heat pad. However, when used how it is supposed to be used, it’s one of the best fire pit mats for wood and composite decks, or for the lawn.

Pros:

• Large size catches most sparks and embers
• Food safe coating means you can pick up dropped food safely
• Easy to pay up and store
• Easy to hang on the line to dry off
• Very well-reviewed and rated

Cons:

• Could be a tripping hazard
• Conspicuous

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2. Safeparty Fire Pit Pad

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• 38-inch diameter
• 3 layers – aluminum fiber, thermal insulation, waterproof silicone
• Suitable for fire pits size 22 – 38″

This heat-proof mat for fire pit can withstand temperatures of up to 1300°F.

We tried and tested this heat retardant mat and I really like it!

Find out more in our Safeparty Fire Pit Mat review, and see a whole lot more pics.

It can withstand being a bit closer to the bottom of the fire pit than the previous option, as this one only needs to have a gap of 6-inches, rather than 10.

This probably makes it a bit more suitable for a wider range of fire pits, grills, and smokers.

It is also a lot smaller so it fits more neatly under your fire pit and isn’t as obvious.

It means that it won’t perhaps catch all sparks, but if you use a good fire pit spark cover as well then this won’t be an issue. And, if you’re burning well-seasoned wood this will spark less also.

Pros:

• Fits nicely under fire pit
• Strong heat resistant rating
• Very little trip hazard
• Reasonably cheap
• Extremely easy to store

Cons:

• Too small for large fire bowls
• May not catch all sparks

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3. KOFAIR Square Fire Pit Mat

VIEW ON AMAZON →

• 36 x 36 inches
• Made of aluminized fiberglass, silicone coated fiberglass, and thermally insulated cotton
• 95% heat-reflecting up to 2000F

Lastly, the Kofair heat retardant mat for fire pit is a very good choice for square fire pits.

As with the other options, it’s very easy to fold up and store away when not in use. Just as easy to pull it out when it’s time to use it again.

It’s best not to keep these mats on the ground all the time, as they’ll kill the grass or your deck will discolor unevenly.

This heat mat for fire pits has one of the lowest tolerances for a gap between the fire bowl and mat. It only needs a minimum of 4-inches of space as opposed to the 6 or 10-inch gap required for the previous options.

The Kofair firepit mat can protect your patio from whatever it’s made of: wood, stone, cement, or brick. It’s designed to stop burning marks, heat damage, stains, and grease spills.

Pros:

• Perfect for square fire pits
• Can be used with lower fire pits
• High fire rating
• Easy to clean and store
• Can withstand embers to a point

Cons:

• Doesn’t look as good with round fire pits

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Deck Fire Pit Mats

There are some more good tips about putting fire pits on decks in this video from fire pit retailer Sunnydaze Decor – they sell a range of both cast iron fire bowls and copper fire pits.

Other points to remember from the video:

• Wooden decks are more susceptible to burning
• Place your fire pit at least 10 ft away from the house and other items
• Don’t put it near other things that can easily catch fire
• Avoid using fire pits when windy, they’re best in calm weather
• Use a fire pit pad to prevent scorching
• Don’t place a fire bowl on top of the pad directly
• Get a spark screen for additional protection
• Have a poker tool on hand to control logs
• Create a base of sand in the bottom of the fire pit for additional heat protection
• Fire pits with sturdy legs are best (tighten screws before use)

You can check out our fire pit buying guide here, or check out the one mentioned at the end of the video here on the Sunnydaze website.

Best Fire Pit Mat

For smaller fire pits, the Safeparty Fire Pit Pad is really good.

At the end of the day, the best fire pit mat for decks, grass, or wherever else will depend on:

• Budget – how much do you have to spend?
• Space – do you have room for a large heat pad?
• Height of your fire pit – pick the correct tolerance
• Aesthetic – which do you like the look of the most?
• Shape – do you have a square, round, or rectangular fire pit?

We really like the large fire pit mat from Fireside Outdoor for those needing a big one, but it won’t be right for everybody (more fire pit design ideas here).

The square mat or the circular mat will be better for those wanting a less obvious solution that fits snugly under their fire pit.

They will still offer the all-important protection from radiant heat underneath your fire pit.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments down below – if you have none, it’s time to light the fire pit!