When it comes to creating an inviting outdoor setup, a chiminea is the perfect finishing touch. Paired with comfortable garden furniture, a chiminea enables you to extend evening gatherings year-round, keeping you and your guests toasty warm long after the sun’s gone down.
The freestanding, portable heaters have roots in Mexico and were traditionally made from clay. With a wide base for fuel that rises into a narrow chimney to direct smoke away from the flames, chimineas have been used for heating and cooking for centuries.
These days though, you’ll find clay chimineas are in the minority and most modern iterations are made from metal – usually steel or cast iron. While the design principles remain the same, modern chimineas take on a variety of shapes and sizes to suit any style or outdoor setting.
When choosing a chiminea, consider if you’ll need to store it – whether in a shed or using a cover – during winter, as these patio pieces can be bulky. If you’re saving space, consider a model that’s also suitable for cooking on, and you’ve got a chiminea and grill in one.
With all this in mind, keep scrolling for our pick of top-rated chimineas that will add warmth and style to your outside space.
How we tested
We put a variety of chimineas through their paces in our garden, over the course of several weeks, to see which ones kept us warm and comfortable during cooler evenings. We looked at a range of different criteria, including:
- Heat output: This directly affects how well the unit performs in real outdoor settings. We evaluated how efficiently each chiminea generated and retained heat, how far the warmth radiated, and how suitable it was for use in different weather conditions. Chimineas that produced strong, consistent heat and stayed warm for extended periods offered a more enjoyable and practical outdoor experience.
- Ease of setup and use: We wanted options that were straightforward from the moment they arrived. We assessed how simple each chiminea was to assemble, the clarity of instructions, and how easy it was to light and maintain a fire. Models that required minimal tools and effort, and allowed for quick, hassle-free use, scored highest. We also looked at practical features like stable construction, accessible openings for adding fuel, and ease of cleaning.
- Aesthetics: These pieces often serve as a focal point in outdoor spaces, so we considered how each chiminea looked, assessing the design, shape, material, and finish. Models that combined visual appeal with functionality – such as sleek silhouettes, stylish detailing, or weather-resistant coatings – stood out in our testing. A well-designed chiminea should not only provide warmth but also enhance the overall ambiance of your outdoor area.
- Price: We wanted to ensure each chiminea offered strong value for money, regardless of budget. We compared build quality, materials, heat performance, and design against the cost to determine whether a product truly justified its price. While some higher-end models offered premium features or striking aesthetics, we also found affordable options that delivered excellent performance without compromising durability or style.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Katie Gregory has been writing consumer reviews for The Independent since 2021, covering everything from the best garden sofas to top outdoor cushions and more. In all her reviews, Katie provides her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.
The best chimineas for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Perch & Parrow scorcher chiminea with pizza slot: £392, Perchandparrow.com
- Best budget buy – Dunelm steel chiminea: £52.50, Dunelm.com
- Best industrial design – Atkin & Thyme casa mia tempo wood-burning chiminea: £245, Atkinandthyme.co.uk
- Best clay model – RedFire Lima chimney: £152.99, Robertdyas.co.uk
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Perch & Parrow scorcher chiminea with pizza slot
Best: Chiminea overall
Materials: Iron, teak
Size: 50cm x 50cm x 186.5cm
Why we love it
- High quality
- Produces lots of heat
- Minimal smoke
Take note
- Expensive
- Very large and ideally stored under cover when not in use
While we initially baulked at the price of this chiminea, we quickly realised it’s worth every penny. The iron frame feels incredibly robust in comparison with cheaper models we tested, and the large size – 50cm wide and almost 2m tall – means it not only removes smoke effectively, but it really makes an impact in the garden.
The chiminea arrives assembled, aside from the legs and chimney, which took us five minutes to attach. We love the wood storage section at the bottom, and separate pizza oven, which you slide onto a shelf built into the chiminea. This worked well once we’d got the hang of the temperature control (and burned a few sacrificial pizzas in the process).
The mesh door is slightly clunky when the pizza oven is in use – it would be good if this clipped off when it’s not needed (although, this is a very minor gripe). This one got lots of compliments in the garden, feels built to last, and kicked out a great amount of heat. Just bear in mind the instructions recommend keeping this chiminea indoors when not in use, so unless you can find a cover (it unfortunately doesn’t come with one) you’re going to need to need a pretty big shed.
Buy now £392.00, Perchandparrow.com
Dunelm steel chiminea
Best: Budget chiminea
Materials: Steel with bronze painted details
Size: 90cm x 42cm
Why we love it
- Even heat distribution, with 360-degree view of the fire
- Value for money
Take note
- Lifting the door off is tricky when it’s hot
- Can be tricky to use in windy conditions
We like the traditional circular shape of this steel chiminea – it has a wrap-around mesh section, so you and your guests can sit around it and enjoy the fire from any angle. It also means heat is evenly distributed. On the flip side, this design works less well on a windy night, as the fire basket is so exposed and smoke can get blown out from the sides.
This chiminea was easy to assemble (it took us about five minutes), and, once the legs are attached, it feels suitably sturdy. We like the way the door slides to the side (rather than hinging outward) when you need to add fuel, which adds to the sleek shape as there’s no need for a handle. This chiminea also comes with a poker, which we used to slide the door open and shut, as well as to stoke the fire.
Buy now £52.50, Dunelm.com
Atkin & Thyme casa mia tempo wood-burning chiminea
Best: Chiminea for industrial design
Materials: Corten steel; stainless steel; cast iron
Size: 150cm x 42.9cm x 42.9cm
Why we love it
- Statement piece
- Can be left out in light rain
Take note
- Rusty design may not be for everyone
Taking its design cues from industrial styling, this chiminea really stood out aesthetically from others we tested. It’s finished in Corten steel, which develops a protective layer of rust on its surface when exposed to the elements. The aged finish looks great paired with the angular shape.
You don’t have to be precious about leaving this model out in the rain, but it’s still recommended to store it away during winter or protect it with the matching cover (sold separately). We found this one easy to assemble but it felt less robust than the Perch & Parrow chiminea included in this roundup. This is reflected, to a degree, in the price. There’s also a gas version of this style available, which comes with the bonus of a cooking griddle.
Buy now £245.00, Atkinandthyme.co.uk
RedFire Lima chimney
Best: Clay chiminea
Materials: Clay, steel frame
Size: 85cm x 36cm x 36cm
Why we love it
- No assembly required
- Great rustic look
- Compact design
Take note
- Small fuel window
- Needs some TLC, to avoid cracking
Thanks to its ready availability and excellent heat-retaining qualities, clay was an obvious choice for the earliest chimineas, centuries ago. It’s still a great option if you’re looking to channel rustic ambience in the garden while staying lovely and warm well into the evening.
This RedFire model retains the traditional clay chiminea shape and colour and was one of the most petite models we tested, making it ideal for smaller gardens. The fuel window is a little tight, though, and the clay body feels slightly precarious perched on the thin steel legs.
Bear in mind you’ll need to be a little more careful with this one in the elements, as clay is more sensitive than metal to temperature changes and moisture. The instructions advise not to let it get wet if you intend to keep it outside over winter, as it can crack during a frost. Likewise, you’ll need to line the base of the chiminea with a layer of sand – again to avoid cracking.
Buy now £152.99, Robertdyas.co.uk
Dakota Fields Saunderson column steel wood-burning smokeless chiminea
Best: Contemporary chiminea
Materials: Steel
Size: 120cm x 35cm x 35cm
Why we love it
- No assembly needed
- Exceptionally sturdy
Take note
- Heavy
If you’re looking for something sleek and contemporary, this chiminea fits the bill. Its simple, tapered column body is crafted from thick steel and features a mesh wood store raised slightly off the floor in the bottom section. Plus, it arrives fully assembled, so you can start using it straight away.
The tall, narrow design and flat base creates a sturdy chiminea, so you won’t need to worry about accidentally knocking it over. Unlike the RedFire clay chiminea, there are no spindly legs to worry about here, as the base sits directly on the floor. At 12kg it’s heavy to lift and reposition, but its compact shape means it takes up minimal space, so it’s another strong option if you have a smaller patio.
Buy now £155.99, Wayfair.co.uk
BillyOh large metal chiminea
Best: Chiminea for a 360-degree view of the fire
Materials: Cast iron, chrome grill
Size: 40cm x 100cm x 40cm
Why we love it
- Wrap-around view of the fire
- Contemporary design
- Great price
Another chiminea that gives you a great all-round view of the fire, this model has a more angular, contemporary design than the Dunelm option included in our lineup. You also get good all-round heat output, although – just like the Dunelm option – smoke can escape from the sides during windy conditions.
Although it won points for offering a great view of the fire, this chiminea wasn’t the easiest to assemble. We found it the fiddliest of all the models we tested, in fact, with lots of small parts, and it took two of us about half an hour to put it together. We also disliked the design of the ash collection tray, which you have to lift up from the bottom and tilt to remove through the opening – unavoidably spilling ash in the process. Having said all that, at less than £60, it still represents good value for money, and we were won over by the wrap-around mesh viewing window.
Buy now £55.59, Therange.co.uk
What is the best chiminea?
Perch & Parrow’s scorcher chiminea is an investment piece that makes a serious style statement in the garden – and cooks cracking pizzas to boot. It’s build quality and functionality justify the price tag, and it’s our top choice if you have plenty of garden space and a budget to match. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Dunelm’s chiminea is a great budget pick. Costing just a little more than £50, it’s a sturdy and stylish option.
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