Outdoor Gas Fire Towers: Planning Guide for Pools and Entries
Updated November 6, 2026 · By the Chic Home Deco team, authorized US dealer of The Outdoor Plus
Quick answer: An outdoor gas fire tower is a permanent, architectural fire feature, usually 6 feet tall or more, connected to a natural gas line or a propane supply by a licensed pro. Plan it in this order: location and sightlines, gas supply, ignition and controls, a level non-combustible base, clearances and code, then lead time. Towers from The Outdoor Plus start around $6,000 before installation.
The High Rise fire tower by The Outdoor Plus, shown in the black powder coat option.
In this guide
Installed fire tower or portable fire column?
Both are tall flame features, but they solve different problems. A portable propane fire column hides a 20 lb tank in its base, rolls where you need it and costs $379 to $749. An installed fire tower is part of the landscape design: it is plumbed, it stays where it is built, and it is sized to be seen from the street, the pool or the far end of a lawn.
- Choose an installed tower if a gas line is available or planned, the spot is permanent, and the tower has to anchor a large space or an entrance.
- Choose a portable column if you rent, want to move it between seating areas, or want a fire feature this weekend without a contractor.
We compare both classes side by side, with heights, heat and prices, in our fire columns and fire towers guide. This article is about planning the installed kind.
Three tower designs and their finishes
We carry three tower designs by The Outdoor Plus, all built to order in Southern California with natural gas or liquid propane burners.
Bastille: triangular, Corten steel or hammered copper
The Bastille is a three-sided tower that ends in an open flame crown. In Corten steel it weathers to a rust patina; in hammered copper it reads warmer and more traditional. Ignition options on our listing: match lit, low-voltage electronic, and plug and play electronic.
The Bastille in Corten steel. The surface keeps changing color as the patina develops.
High Rise: 72 inches of stainless steel slats
The High Rise is a 72-inch tower with the flame rising inside a stack of horizontal stainless steel slats, available 28 inches or 42 inches wide. It is the most modern of the three and suits flat-roof architecture, pool decks and rooftop terraces.
High Rise in stainless steel: clean lines that suit contemporary homes and hospitality spaces.
Hay Stack: a sculpture that burns
The Hay Stack is a 72-inch cone of crossed stainless steel rods around the flame on a round base. It is the most sculptural option and works as a landscape focal point even when it is off. Our listing offers match lit or low-voltage electronic ignition.
The Hay Stack: crossed stainless rods form a cone around the fire.
How each metal ages outdoors, and how to care for it, is covered in our fire feature materials guide.
See every fire tower and gas torch
Bastille, High Rise and Hay Stack towers plus stainless and powder coat torches, with free shipping to the lower 48.
Browse fire towersPlanning a fire tower in 6 steps
1. Location and sightlines
Decide where the tower is seen from: the street, the living room windows, the pool. Mark the spot with a stake and look at it at dusk, when it will be lit.
2. Gas supply
Natural gas if a line is nearby; propane if not. Burner, line size and pressure have to match the model. Line costs and the trenching process are explained in our gas fire pit installation guide.
3. Ignition and controls
Match lit is the simplest and needs no power. Electronic ignition needs a power supply at the base but lets you start the tower from a switch or a home control system. See fire feature ignition types.
4. Base and anchoring
Set the tower on a level, non-combustible surface such as concrete or pavers and anchor it as the manufacturer's installation manual describes. Plan the gas line and any wiring to come up inside the base.
5. Clearances, code and permits
Gas piping is normally inspected under your local code (many areas base it on NFPA 54, the National Fuel Gas Code). Follow the clearances in the manual, check with the building or fire department, and see our clearance guide. For commercial sites, the fire marshal decides.
6. Lead time and delivery
Towers are built to order and usually ship in 3 to 4 weeks by freight. Inspect the crate at delivery and report any damage quickly; our warranty and support page explains how claims work.
Spiral torches by a pool. Torches and towers can share one gas line plan.
Where fire towers work best
- Front entry or driveway: a pair of towers on each side of the walk gives the house a lit, formal arrival.
- Pool edge: a tower reflects in the water and frames the view from the house. Distances to the water and coping are covered in fire pit next to a pool.
- Rooftop and terrace: check the structure can carry the weight and that gas can reach the spot.
- Hotels, restaurants and wineries: towers mark an entrance or an outdoor lounge. Planning for busy terraces is in our restaurant patio heater guide.
- End of a lawn or garden axis: a single tower gives the eye a destination at night.
For spots where the fire needs to move with the furniture, a portable column such as the Planika Lighthouse is the better tool; we show eight placements in fire column ideas.
A portable Planika Lighthouse at a restaurant entrance in Sweden: an option where a gas line is not practical.
Pairing towers with gas torches
Gas torches are the smaller relatives of fire towers: a flame on a post or a wall mount. A common layout is one tower as the focal point with a row of torches leading to it along a path or pool edge.
- Spiral Torch: stainless steel bands around the flame.
- Trojan Torch: a stainless steel classic for paths and entries.
- Bull & Star Fire Torch: a cylinder with cut-outs that glow when lit.
The Bull & Star torch: the cut-outs glow in the dark.
Budget: tower, gas work and delivery
Plan three parts. The tower itself starts around $6,000 for a Corten Bastille with match lit ignition and passes $20,000 for the larger stainless towers with electronic ignition (our prices as of November 2026). Then the gas line and any electrical work by licensed trades, which depend on distance and site conditions. Shipping is free to the 48 contiguous states and DC.
Orders of $2,000 or more can be split into 12 payments at 0% APR through Affirm, subject to approval. Whether the brand is worth the premium is discussed in are The Outdoor Plus fire features worth it.
Get a quote for your tower project
Tell us the model, gas type and ZIP code and we send an exact price with freight. A specialist replies personally.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
What is an outdoor gas fire tower?
An outdoor gas fire tower is a tall, permanent fire feature, usually 6 feet or more, made of metal such as stainless steel, Corten steel or copper, and connected to a natural gas line or a propane supply by a licensed gas professional.
Can a fire tower run on propane?
Yes. The Bastille, High Rise and Hay Stack towers we sell are offered with natural gas or liquid propane burners. The propane version still needs a proper propane supply connection installed by a licensed pro.
How tall are outdoor fire towers?
The High Rise and Hay Stack towers by The Outdoor Plus are 72 inches tall. Portable propane fire columns are shorter, about 5 feet.
Do gas fire towers need electricity?
Only with electronic ignition. A match lit tower needs no power. Low-voltage or plug and play electronic ignition needs a power supply at the base so the tower can start from a switch or a control system.
How long does it take to get a fire tower?
The Outdoor Plus builds towers to order, and they usually ship in 3 to 4 weeks by freight. Plan the gas line work in that time so the tower can be installed when it arrives.
Can I put a fire tower next to a pool?
Yes, towers are often placed on pool decks. Use a level, non-combustible base, follow the clearances in the manual and check local code for setbacks from the water.
