There's a lot to love about chimineas. As well as providing a cosy heat source when the temperature drops, they look good, offering an attractive touch of practical garden decor. Dating back to 17th century Spain, over the centuries they became an outdoor oven essential in places like Mexico, with that region still influencing the design of many of the best chimineas you can buy today.
Modern Gardens contributor Jill Morgan elaborates on why we love them so much: "Enabling you to stay outside for longer, snuggled in a cosy glow, a wood-fired chiminea is a must-have in a modern garden. Neatly contained, these compact burners will fit into any seating area, creating a favourite go-to spot for a quiet after-dinner coffee or an eye-catching focal point for gatherings with family and friends."
Best chimineas at a glance:
A great, more enclosed alternative to fire pits and fire baskets, chimineas offer you safely contained flames, a robust source of heat, and, depending on the design, the option to use them as an occasional BBQ grill. There are many different chiminea designs to consider. From durable steel to classic clay, we have a great selection of the best chimineas currently lining up to nab a spot on your patio.
Best chiminea for your outdoor space
Best traditional chiminea
La Hacienda Made from durable steel and coated in a high-temperature black paint finish, this versatile chiminea from La Hacienda boasts decorative legs and flue for timeless, traditional chiminea looks.
Inside, this features a chrome-plated cooking grill so you do have the option to use it as a BBQ. Fire safety is taken care of with a grill door and there's a handy small door at the base of the chiminea for ash removal.
This has side handles and weighs in at just 7.15 kilograms, so is relatively portable. This attractive option comes complete with a rain lid for the chimney and a useful poker.
Pros
- Comes with a BBQ grill, rain lid, and poker
- Stylish legs and decorative flue
Cons
- Not much space under the grill tray for BBQ charcoal
Best barrel-shaped chiminea
Log Barn Making for a bold statement piece on your patio, this sleek Log Barn burner offers a pleasing barrel shape with sturdy tripod legs and a tall chimney.
It's made from high-quality steel yet remains quite lightweight at just over eight kilograms. This requires some assembly, but reviews suggest it's quite a simple process.
This chiminea's chimney features Log Barn's logo imprint on the flue pipe that lights up and glows beautifully when the fire is burning, a detail that reviewers are big fans of.
Pros
- Relatively lightweight at just over eight kilograms
- Attractive illuminating logo on the chimney
Cons
- Doesn't come with a rain lid
Best modern chiminea
Relaxdayswww.manomano.co.uk
This eye-catching chiminea may look a little stark through the eyes of traditionalists, but it's a very popular choice with fans of more contemporary design.
This stands 120cm tall and sits on three short legs. The fire area is relatively low compared to traditional chimineas which could be a real bonus if you have low-slung garden furniture as you'll better enjoy the heat.
This is made of durable steel with a stainless steel chimney top. The opening is generous, so it's easy to chuck new logs on as they are required.
Pros
- Striking contemporary design
- Stable design with a wide, low base
Cons
- Matching weatherproof cover sold separately
Best Mexican chiminea
Gardecowww.robertdyas.co.uk
Handmade and hand-painted in Mexico, we love this Gardeco chiminea's traditional looks - it will add some authentic South American chic to your outside area.
This is made of clay, so is only suitable for burning wood, but you'll be able to get some amazing fires going thanks to the wide opening that will fit logs that are nice and chunky.
Mounted on a stand made of steel, it comes complete with a matching clay lid for the chimney and measures in at 120cm tall.
Pros
- Original and genuine Mexican chimenea
- Attractive, hand-crafted, decorative detail
Cons
- Rustic paint finish will weather over time
Best chiminea with a 360-degree view
Log Barn This chiminea begs to be centre-stage for your next outdoor get-together. Unlike traditional chiminea designs that are happy to sit to one side, this Log Barn fire works brilliantly placed in the middle of a seating area as it offers a 360-degree heat output and viewing angle.
This is made of high-quality cold-rolled iron that has been put through temperature tests of up to 500 degrees, so feel free to go as large as you fancy when it comes to making big flames.
This chiminea's chimney has an integrated rain shield so it can be used in all weather, and there's a handy storage area in the base that's ideal for stacking logs.
Pros
- Wide heat output and 360-degree viewing angle
- Integrated wood storage area in the base
Cons
- No way to use it as a BBQ grill
Best low profile chiminea
Gardeco www.robertdyas.co.uk
It could be argued that this isn't a proper chiminea as it lacks a chimney, but we're highlighting it as a great choice for anyone looking for a low-profile design, perhaps to use inside a garden room, pergola, or similar.
This authentic Mexican chiminea is handmade from clay and given an attractive glazed finish, although Gardeco warns that due to the handcrafted nature of the product, finishes may vary from the image shown.
As this has no chimney it's shorter than the other options we're featuring standing at 90cm tall, and measuring 45cm wide.
Pros
- Low profile, no chimney design
- Clay material radiates heat once the fire is going
Cons
- Doesn't have as large a capacity as some
Best chiminea with a BBQ grill
Gardecowww.wayfair.co.uk
This handsome-looking chiminea mixes traditional looks with BBQing abilities. It's made of steel and sits on sturdy cast iron legs that are bolted onto the body of the chiminea.
The Gardeco Tia Stell Chimenea has a handy swivel action BBQ grill inside the burner; we're not suggesting you could feed a crowd with this chiminea's cooking capacity, but to save firing up your full-sized BBQ, this will cover you for a couple of portions of chargrilled food.
There's a safety grill over the fire opening and this comes complete with a chimney lid. Assembly is required, but reviewers state it can easily be done by one person.
Pros
- Hinged mesh safety door with a latch
- Built-in BBQ grill that swivels out
Cons
- Heavyweight at 16 kilograms
Best budget chiminea
Harrier This is another chiminea that offers you 360-degrees viewing and burning angles, but with a budget-friendly price tag. This is made from durable, powder-coated steel with a minimalist design perfect for anyone who is looking for a simple heating solution for their outside space.
This stands on three legs to keep the heat away from your outdoor surfaces and has a hinged door gate for easy access to your fire area, to add more wood or charcoal and tend to the flames inside.
Standing at 135cm tall, reviewers say that the chimney does a great job of keeping the smoke away from any seating areas. This Harrier chiminea comes complete with a poker accessory to open the door gate and stoke the fire.
Pros
- Comes complete with a poker accessory
- Offers a 360-degree viewing and heating angle
Cons
- Some reviewers say the assembly instructions are unclear
Best Corten steel chiminea
Dellonda If you're opting for a metal chiminea, there's a lot to be said for choosing Corten steel. Corten steel is so named for its CORrosion resistance and TENsile strength, also known as as weathered, or weathering steel, this gains an attractive patina as it ages, making it a great choice for outdoors.
This Dellonda chiminea will bring those rustic looks and warm you while it does so with the ability to burn all kinds of fuel, including charcoal. There is a BBQ grate supplied if you wanted to try and cook on this, but it's quite low to the base of the chiminea, so it might take a bit of skill to do so.
This is a relatively compact option at 37cm in diameter and stands at 127cm tall, so it won't overpower your outdoor space. Reviewers appreciate that these diminutive dimensions make it easy to move around.
Pros
- Made of weathering steel that will age well
- Comes with a BBQ grill and a poker
Cons
- Might be too small to warm a crowd
Best terracotta chiminea
Leafy Tiger www.diy.com
If your garden vibe is all about natural, earthy tones then terracotta might be the way to go with your choice of chimineas, and may well match with some of your pots and planters.
This Mexican-made chiminea has a classic clay design, with curvy lines and a three-legged metal stand to place it on. This comes with a chimney lid, so you can use it in rainy weather, although this will ideally need a cover if you're going to keep it outside in the winter.
This has a large opening to take more generously proportioned logs and the clay material will retain and radiate heat, meaning you might need to use less fuel in the long run.
Pros
- Attractive, traditional terracotta material
- No assembly required
Cons
- No accessories are included
How we chose the best chimineas
All of these chimineas have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the design, functionality, and usability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching chimineas to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
What's the best material for a chiminea?
The material you opt for with your chiminea should depend on several things; the heat-related performance it offers, whether or not it's a practical choice, i.e., do you need it to be lightweight? And, those all-important looks. Would a rustic clay chiminea suit your garden aesthetic over a sleek metallic choice? We asked Jill Morgan to enlighten us on the benefits of the most popular materials for chimineas; clay, cast iron, and steel:
Fired clay or terracotta is the traditional material for a chiminea and it still looks great in a modern garden. Pretty good at radiating heat, inexpensive and tactile, it can be left to naturally weather, be glazed or hand-painted and sealed. The downside is that clay is fragile and, if left unsealed, porous – meaning that it can be prone to cracking in colder climates, rendering the burner useless.
Cast iron chimineas can sometimes be cast in a single piece but are more often made in two or more sections. Super-efficient at radiating heat, cast iron chimineas do get very hot, but they're capable of burning both wood and charcoal, unlike other materials. They are heavy to move and can be costly although other metals are often introduced to reduce both weight and cost.
Steel is a material used primarily in some of the chimineas we're featuring. Steel conducts heat well, is durable and rust-resistant. Steel is also a more lightweight alternative to cast iron, so a great option if you're going to be moving your chiminea around your outside space, or in and out of storage often.
Where should I position my chiminea?
"It's important that the burner is positioned well away from any trees or overhanging branches, and seating, so find one that fits into the space you have available," shares Jill. "And think carefully about the height you want the flames to be – if you have a low-slung garden sofa, a chiminea with the fire grate positioned closer to its base may be better.
"It's also worth looking at the size of the firebox's opening, as this will limit the maximum length and quantity of logs that can be burnt at any one time."
What fuel can I use in a chiminea?
As a rule, clay chimineas should only be used to burn wood, whereas most metallic chimineas can handle both wood and charcoal. Unless you intend to BBQ on your metal chiminea, we'd recommend opting for wood all the time. Wood smells nicer than charcoal and leaves a harmless, fine ash residue, unlike some coals.
You need to find a kiln-dried hardwood that's been harvested from sustainable woodlands that prioritise reforestation. Look for a FSC or PEFC-certified logo on the packaging to be sure.
The other consideration with burning wood is that it can create a pleasant smell that varies with the wood variety. Oak has a gentle, earthy smell, birch is slightly sweet, and pine will act as a natural mosquito repellent. If you want to get more adventurous with wood smoke scents try and source apple, cherry, hickory, or olive for even more exciting natural fragrances. You can't do that with a patio heater.
How do I start a fire in my chiminea?
Starting a fire in your chiminea is the exact same process as starting a wood fire anywhere, except you may need to take into account the reduced ventilation an enclosed burner presents and be prepared to add some puff.
It's all about preparation - we'd never advise using chemical firelighters, and certainly never any flammable accelerant such as lighter fuel - so don't expect full-sized logs to start burning from scratch. If you search out a few fire 'ingredients' first, you can start a fire naturally and gently.
If you can, gather tinder (dried leaves, lightweight dead foliage, and very small sticks, for example). This goes in the base of the chiminea. Next comes the kindling, this can either be store-bought kindling or sticks and twigs you've collected - but they need to be bone dry. Place the kindling in a pyramid over the tinder and light the tinder with a match or specialist BBQ lighter. If necessary, blow on the tinder to make the flames larger.
Once the kindling has caught you can start to add a few logs - smallest first - and then more until you have the fire to the size you require.
If you're feeling crafty, and want to add even more fabulous fragrances to your chiminea experience you can make your own wax firelighters that you can add herbs and spices to.
Can I cook on a chiminea?
You can try and cook on any kind of open flame, but we'd only advise attempting it on chimineas that have proper, stable BBQ grills. Having said that, you can certainly toast marshmallows on sticks with any kind of chiminea…
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.