Menards Fire Pit vs Fire Pit Surplus: What the Comparison Actually Covers in 2026
A menards fire pit search returns a predictable result: seasonal outdoor products from Backyard Creations and Landmann alongside grills, patio sets, and landscaping supplies. For a Midwest homeowner mid-project on a Saturday morning, sourcing a fire pit on the same run as paving stones and deck hardware is genuinely practical.
Where the comparison shifts is when the fire pit becomes the purchase itself rather than a project line item. A buyer sizing for BTU output, evaluating a smokeless design, or installing a natural gas connection is shopping for something different from what hardware retail typically stocks. A buyer searching fire pit menards results who also needs a dealer-backed warranty or a specialty material like GFRC will reach the edge of that catalog before finding a match.
This guide covers both scenarios directly, including the cases where Menards is the right choice and the ones where it is not. The fire pit catalog at Fire Pit Surplus runs year-round and covers segments Menards' seasonal department does not stock.
Key Takeaways
- Menards carries Backyard Creations and Landmann fire pits seasonally — BTU is published on select fire table models only, not across the full range
- Fire Pit Surplus carries 100-plus SKUs year-round with BTU output, material specs, and warranty terms listed on every product page
- Menards holds a clear advantage for same-day in-store pickup across ~350 Midwest locations and for purchases under $200
- Menards smokeless fire pit options run one to two Landmann models — Fire Pit Surplus carries a dedicated smokeless collection with US-made options
- Natural gas configurations are not standard at Menards — Fire Pit Surplus stocks them across multiple brands and price tiers
- Fire Pit Surplus has no physical showroom and longer freight timelines than same-day Menards in-store pickup
Menards Fire Pits: What the Catalog Covers
Menards is a Midwest-regional home improvement retailer operating approximately 350 locations across 15 states. Fire pits stock in the outdoor and seasonal department from spring through early summer, alongside grills, patio furniture, and lawn care supplies.
Backyard Creations is Menards' primary house brand for outdoor products, including fire pits and fire pit tables. Landmann covers the wood-burning segment. Menards fire pit kit bundles include the fire ring or bowl alongside a mesh screen and fire grate, which makes them well-suited to buyers setting up a basic backyard fire setup in a single purchase. Menards fire pit cover options are sold separately in the accessories aisle for most standard sizes.
BTU output is published on select fire table models, including some Backyard Creations propane tables listed at 50,000 BTU. Across the broader range of wood-burning and entry-level propane models, BTU is not consistently published. Material specs beyond a general powder-coated steel description are rarely listed.
The in-store advantage is real for Midwest buyers: immediate availability, no freight wait, and Menards rebate programs that apply to select outdoor products. For buyers making a same-day decision on a patio project, that combination is difficult to match through an online-only retailer.
Fire Pit Surplus: Year-Round Specialty Selection
Fire Pit Surplus is a specialty outdoor heating retailer focused entirely on fire products. The propane fire pit catalog runs year-round across 100-plus SKUs from brands including American Fyre Design, The Outdoor Greatroom, Elementi, and Ohio Flame. BTU output, material specs, burner type, and ignition system are listed on every product page.
The catalog covers segments Menards does not stock. A dedicated smokeless fire pit collection carries multiple brands with secondary combustion specs published for each model. Ohio Flame fire pits, made in the United States, carry a lifetime warranty and are not distributed through hardware retail or mass-market channels. Natural gas configurations are available across multiple brands and price tiers.
Warranties are backed by authorized dealer status across every brand in the catalog. Post-sale claims are coordinated through Fire Pit Surplus rather than requiring the buyer to contact manufacturers directly. The tradeoffs are real: no physical showroom, no in-store pickup option, and freight timelines for larger units that run several days longer than same-day Menards availability.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Fire Pit Surplus | Menards |
|---|---|---|
| SKU count | 100-plus, year-round | Seasonal, Midwest locations |
| Primary brands | American Fyre Design, Elementi, Ohio Flame, The Outdoor Greatroom | Backyard Creations (house brand), Landmann |
| BTU published | Always, every listing | Select fire table models only |
| Smokeless selection | Dedicated collection, multiple brands | 1 to 2 Landmann models |
| Natural gas options | Available across brands | Not standard |
| Fire pit kit bundles | Not standard | Backyard Creations kits available |
| Physical showroom | No | Yes (~350 Midwest locations) |
| Free shipping | Yes, all orders | In-store pickup; limited home delivery |
| Return policy | Manufacturer window, dealer-coordinated | 90 days with receipt |
| B2B support | Yes, commercial catalog | No |
Smokeless Fire Pits: Where the Selection Gap Is Widest
Smokeless fire pit designs reduce visible smoke by using a secondary combustion chamber that burns off unburned gases before they exit the unit.
Wood smoke contains particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, and buyers researching smokeless options are typically responding to patio proximity, neighbor considerations, or air quality concerns. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wood smoke exposure is linked to respiratory health effects that make low-emission burn designs increasingly relevant for residential outdoor use.
Menards smokeless fire pit selection runs one to two models from Landmann in limited store locations. Smokeless fire pit Menards shoppers will find secondary combustion specs are not consistently listed, and selection depth at most individual store locations is thin compared to a dedicated catalog.
Fire Pit Surplus carries a full smokeless fire pits collection with secondary burn specs published for every unit. Ohio Flame's US-made double-wall designs carry a lifetime warranty and are not available through hardware retail at any price tier.
Buyers who have decided on smokeless as a requirement and need meaningful model comparison will find more to evaluate at a specialty retailer.
Price and Selection
Under $200, Menards holds a real advantage. Backyard Creations and Landmann wood-burning models in the budget-to-mid tier are competitive for seasonal backyard use, and Menards rebates on select outdoor items represent a genuine cost benefit for buyers in that range.
The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) estimates fire pit ownership at approximately 25 million U.S. households, with a growing share of buyers moving toward gas and specialty designs as permanent outdoor investments rather than seasonal purchases. That shift is where the comparison changes most clearly.
Above $400, Fire Pit Surplus publishes BTU output, material grade, and ignition type on every product page. Concrete fire pits from GFRC manufacturers and fire tables with integrated natural gas connections are available year-round. Luxury fire pits from architectural concrete brands represent categories absent from Menards' seasonal hardware catalog at any price point.
Price matching on identical products is available at Fire Pit Surplus. Menards does not offer a price-match policy.
Shipping and Regional Logistics
Menards offers in-store pickup at roughly 350 Midwest locations across 15 states, and ship-to-store service where home delivery is not available. For buyers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, or Minnesota with a Menards nearby, same-day availability is a logistical advantage that online retailers cannot match, particularly for a Saturday project run.
Fire Pit Surplus ships all orders free with insured delivery to any U.S. address, with no membership or order minimum required. There is no curbside or in-store pickup option. Freight timelines for wood-burning fire pits and larger fire tables typically run three to seven business days. For buyers outside the Menards footprint, rural buyers, or anyone ordering a higher-value fire table where transit damage is a real consideration, insured delivery is the more practical path.
Warranty and Support
Menards' return policy runs 90 days with receipt and 30 days without. Warranty claims on Backyard Creations products run through Menards as the house brand, while Landmann claims require the buyer to contact Landmann directly. For a fire pit that fails at month six, the buyer initiates that process without dealer involvement.
Fire Pit Surplus provides pre-sale guidance on fuel type, BTU sizing, and installation clearance for every product in the catalog. Post-sale, warranty claims are handled through Fire Pit Surplus as an authorized dealer for every brand it carries. The Outdoor Greatroom and American Fyre Design carry multi-year manufacturer warranties coordinated through Fire Pit Surplus rather than requiring buyers to manage the manufacturer relationship independently.
For commercial buyers, the commercial fire pit collection covers restaurants, hotels, and landscape contractors who need configuration guidance and extended warranty terms that hardware retail does not typically support.
Who Should Choose Which
Choose Menards When:
The fire pit is part of a same-day outdoor project run, budget is under $200, and Midwest in-store availability takes priority over catalog depth. The Backyard Creations fire pit kit bundles are well-suited to basic backyard setups that do not require a published BTU spec or a multi-year warranty. The 90-day return window with receipt provides a reasonable risk window for that tier.
Choose Fire Pit Surplus When:
The purchase requires a specific BTU output, a natural gas hookup, a smokeless design with published secondary combustion specs, or a brand that carries a lifetime warranty. Buyers installing a fire table as a permanent outdoor focal point, working on a commercial project, or comparing gas fire pits across multiple BTU tiers will find more depth at a specialty retailer than at Menards.
The smokeless and gas configuration gaps are the most practical filters in this comparison. Buyers with either of those requirements will reach the edge of Menards' catalog early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Menards sell good quality fire pits?
Menards carries Backyard Creations and Landmann, both suited for seasonal backyard use at the entry-to-mid tier. Build quality holds for casual use. Buyers who need published BTU specs, natural gas configurations, or multi-year specialty warranties will find more depth elsewhere.
What fire pit brands does Menards carry?
Backyard Creations is Menards' primary house brand, alongside Landmann in the wood-burning segment. Both brands focus on budget-to-mid pricing. Specialty brands like Ohio Flame, American Fyre Design, and Elementi are not available through home improvement retail.
Does Menards sell smokeless fire pits?
Smokeless selection at Menards typically runs one or two Landmann models in limited store locations. Secondary burn specs are not consistently listed. Fire Pit Surplus carries US-made smokeless wood-burning options with published performance specs across multiple brands.
Does Menards sell gas or propane fire pits?
Propane fire pits at Menards come from Backyard Creations and Landmann, with BTU listed on select fire table models. Natural gas is not standard. Buyers needing a permanent gas hookup or output consistently above 50,000 BTU will find more options at a specialty retailer.
Can you get a fire pit delivered from Menards?
In-store pickup and ship-to-store are available at Menards' Midwest locations. Home delivery is available on select items but is not consistent across the full catalog. Fire Pit Surplus ships every order free with insured delivery to any U.S. address and no order minimum.
Why buy from Fire Pit Surplus instead of Menards?
Fire Pit Surplus carries 100-plus SKUs year-round with BTU specs on every listing and specialty brands unavailable at hardware retail. Orders ship free with insured delivery and dealer-backed warranties. Tradeoffs: no showroom, no curbside option, and longer freight timelines.
Final Thoughts
Menards is the right choice when the fire pit is part of a same-day project run, budget is under $200, and Midwest in-store availability takes priority. Backyard Creations fire pit kit bundles and Landmann wood-burning models are well-matched to seasonal backyard use at that tier.
Fire Pit Surplus covers what Menards does not: year-round selection with BTU on every listing, a dedicated smokeless collection with US-made options, natural gas configurations across multiple brands, and dealer-backed warranties from specialty brands not sold through hardware retail.
Buyers still evaluating fuel type, BTU requirements, or smokeless performance for their specific setup will find more to compare in the full product catalog before committing to either retailer.
