Propane vs Natural Gas Fire Bowls for Pools: Fuel Use, Tanks and Cost
Quick answer
Both work, and with The Outdoor Plus bowls the price is the same either way. Natural gas is usually cheaper to run and never runs out, if a line can reach the pool. Propane works anywhere with a tank, which is often the easier choice when there is no gas at the house. A pair of 36" bowls burns about 1.4 gallons of propane or 1.3 therms of natural gas per hour at full flame.
In this guide
- Same bowl, same price
- How much gas a pool bowl burns
- When natural gas makes sense
- When propane makes sense
- What to know before you order
- Quick decision guide
- FAQ
A Cazo GFRC fire & water bowl on the pool coping. It comes in natural gas or propane (digital rendering).
Same bowl, same price
You pick the gas type when you order. The bowl, the burner and the price stay the same; only the gas parts are set up for natural gas or for propane.
Examples, natural gas or propane
- Cazo Fire & Water Bowl, GFRC 24": $2,497 either gas
- Sedona Fire & Water Bowl, GFRC 27": $2,606 either gas
- Cazo Fire & Water Bowl, GFRC 36": $2,795 either gas
Match lit prices as of November 2026. Electronic ignition adds $2,105 per bowl, for either gas.
So the real question is not which bowl to buy. It is which fuel is easier and cheaper to bring to your pool, and what it costs to run.
How much gas a pool bowl burns
The heat output on each product page tells you the fuel use at full flame. One gallon of propane holds about 91,500 BTU, and one therm of natural gas is 100,000 BTU (US Energy Information Administration).
Fuel use per hour at full flame
- 45,000 BTU bowl (24" Cazo, 27" Sedona): about 0.5 gallon of propane or 0.45 therm of natural gas
- 65,000 BTU bowl (30" Maya, 36" Cazo): about 0.7 gallon of propane or 0.65 therm of natural gas
- A pair of 65,000 BTU bowls: about 1.4 gallons of propane or 1.3 therms of natural gas
To get your cost, multiply by the prices on your own bill. As an example only: at $3.00 per gallon of propane and $1.80 per therm of natural gas, a pair of 36" bowls costs about $4.25 an hour on propane and about $2.35 an hour on natural gas. Prices vary a lot by state and season, so use your own numbers.
A pair of bowls doubles the gas use: plan the line or tank for both (digital rendering).
When natural gas makes sense
Natural gas is the natural pick if your house already has it, especially if your pool heater runs on it. Your plumber or gas fitter runs a line from the meter or an existing line to each bowl, sized for the total BTU of everything on it.
- Pros: usually cheaper per hour, never runs out, nothing to refill.
- Cons: a long trench from the meter can be expensive, and it needs a licensed gas fitter and usually a permit.
What the trench and line usually cost is in our fire bowl installation cost guide.
Sedona fire & water bowl in black powder coat on an infinity edge (digital rendering).
Not sure which gas fits your pool?
Tell us what gas you have at the house and how many bowls you want. We'll help you pick and send prices.
Get a fire bowl quoteWhen propane makes sense
Propane is the answer when there is no natural gas at the property, or when the meter is far from the pool. The tank sits where local clearance rules allow, and a buried line runs to each bowl, so nothing shows by the pool.
- Pros: works anywhere, and the tank can often sit closer to the pool than the gas meter.
- Cons: usually costs more per hour, and the tank needs refills.
- Tank size: your propane supplier sizes it from the total BTU on it, including any pool heater, and how long you run the bowls.
- Fire media: use lava rock, not fire glass, with propane. Here is why.
A hammered copper Sedona fire & water bowl on pool coping (digital rendering).
Why GFRC concrete bowls hold up outdoors: The Outdoor Plus drop test.
What to know before you order
- Pick the gas first. The bowl ships set up for the gas you choose. Changing later means new parts and a gas pro.
- Ignition works with both. Match lit and low voltage electronic are offered for natural gas and propane, at the same price.
- Count every bowl. Your gas pro sizes the line or tank from the total BTU, so tell them how many bowls and which sizes.
- Gas pressure and parts: the supply pressure and orifice details are on our ignition and wiring page.
Square Maya fire & water bowl in Chocolate GFRC on a raised pool wall (digital rendering).
Quick decision guide
- Natural gas at the house or pool heater: go natural gas.
- No natural gas on the property: go propane with a buried tank line.
- Meter far from the pool: compare the trench cost with a propane tank near the pool.
- You will run the bowls for hours every night: natural gas usually wins on running cost.
Planning bowls for your pool?
Send us the pool size, the gas you have and how you want to turn them on. We'll suggest bowls and show prices.
Ask for a quoteFrequently asked questions
Are propane fire bowls for pools more expensive than natural gas ones?
Not the bowl. At our store every The Outdoor Plus fire bowl and fire & water bowl costs the same in propane or natural gas. The difference is in the setup (a tank or a gas line) and in your local fuel price.
How much propane does a pool fire bowl use per hour?
At full flame, a 45,000 BTU bowl (24" Cazo, 27" Sedona) burns about 0.5 gallon of propane per hour, and a 65,000 BTU bowl (30" or 36") about 0.7 gallon. A pair doubles that. Turning the flame down uses less.
Can I switch a fire bowl from propane to natural gas later?
The burner is set up for the gas you order, with the matching orifice. Switching later means changing parts and should be done by a gas pro, so pick the gas type before you order and ask us if you are unsure.
Do propane fire bowls work with electronic ignition and pool automation?
Yes. The Outdoor Plus offers low voltage electronic ignition for both natural gas and propane bowls, and the price is the same for either gas.
What size propane tank do I need for pool fire bowls?
Your propane supplier sizes the tank from the total BTU of everything on it, including the bowls and any pool heater, and from how long you run them. A pair of 36" bowls adds 130,000 BTU at full flame.
More answers on our fire bowl and fire & water bowl questions page, and spacing and safety in fire pit next to a pool.
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Built to order in Southern California, usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks, free shipping to the lower 48.
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