Editors Note: While clay chimineas may look incredible, you’ll find their natural terracotta material is quite fragile and prone to shattering during shipping and use. As such, you’ll have a very limited online and offline selection. We fully recommend choosing a Cast Iron or Aluminium Chiminea instead. Not only are they stronger and more weather resistant, they are also quite budget friendly and have a longer outdoor life span. If however, you’re dead set on a terracotta chiminea, read on.
Clay chimineas make a great addition to nearly any backyard patio, especially if you’re looking for a bit of southwestern flair to spice up your decor. Their design originates from traditional Spanish and Mexican influences where they were used for cooking, heating and light. Due to their historical nature, replicas are constructed from the same Terracotta clay as the originals, making them the perfect canvas for an abundance of unique designs and colors for all tastes.
After researching numerous options from many of the top brands, we’d recommend buying the Fired Up Designs 46-Inch Classic Clay Chiminea. With a traditional design, high quality clay and superior performance this clay chiminea is a step above the rest. While it may bit expensive, you’re paying for peace of mind and a truly incredible chiminea. Cast iron or aluminium chimineas also makes for great options due to their durability and strength, but lack that authentic feel of true Terracotta clay. Whether you’re interested a unique looking patio centerpiece or beautiful dancing flames it’s hard to go wrong with a traditional clay chiminea.
Table of Contents
Our Top Clay Chiminea Picks
We’ve included the below table so you can quickly and easily compare all of our top choices.
 | #1 Top Pick Fired Up Designs 46-Inch Classic Clay Chiminea | View Review | - 46" Tall x 23" Wide - Terracotta Clay - Includes Lid and Stand |  |
 | Redi-Flame Woodshed Renewables Chiminea Kit | View Review | - 14" Tall x 6" Wide - Natural Clay - Includes Mosquite Logs and Fire Starters | |
 | Gardeco AFC-C21.70 Ivory Chiminea (Currently Unavailable) | View Review | - 43" Tall x 17" Wide - Terracotta Clay - Includes Lid and Stand | |
 | Fired Up Designs 43-inch Iron Clad Clay Chiminea | View Review | - 43" Tall x 20" Wide - Terracotta Clay - Includes Lid and Stand | |
 | Fired Up Designs 42-inch Sun Sketched Clay Chiminea | View Review | - 43" Tall x 20" Wide - Terracotta Clay - Includes Lid and Stand | |
 | #1 Budget Pick REZ Furniture Bottle Clay Wood Burning Chiminea | View Review | - 33" Tall x 12" Wide - Natural Clay - Multiple Color Options | |
Fired Up Designs 46-Inch Classic Clay Chiminea
Out of stock? You can order or pre-order from Chimineas Direct and get a 50% discount on the waterproof cover.
Size: 46” Tall, 23” Wide
Material: Terracotta Clay
Features: Chiminea Lid, Wrought-Iron Stand
Weight: 96 lbs.
When it comes to authentic Mexican clay chimineas, none are better than the Fired Up Designs 46-Inch Classic Clay Chiminea. This incredible piece is a near perfect replica of a traditional chiminea. From the kiln dried lid down to the wrought iron stand it is constructed from superior materials with impeccable craftsmanship. It’s easy to fall in love with the rustic inspired design and quite simply, this classic clay chiminea looks stunning. The minimal design, coupled with the light red clay offers a perfect visual combination. Plus, with a neutral color tone, this chiminea can fit in with nearly any patio decor.
Related: Pick up a Fired Up Designs Universal Waterproof Chiminea Cover
Size wise the Fired Up Designs 46-Inch Classic Clay Chiminea stands at just over 46” tall and 23” wide with the included stand. This makes it an excellent choice for medium to large sized patios where you can spread out and enjoy the firelight. Furthermore, the wide fire opening allows for a substantial amount of heat and can keep you warm on even the coldest of nights. Another great benefit of a larger chiminea is the ability to easily roast s’mores and sausages without having to fend off your neighbors marshmallow roasting stick. Overall, if you’re looking for a true authentic Mexican clay chiminea, this is the best choice out there bar none.
Pros
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- Authentic Mexican design
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- High quality Terracotta clay
- Includes stand and lid
Cons
- Fairly high priced
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Redi-Flame Woodshed Renewables Chiminea Kit
Size: 14” Tall, 6” Wide
Material: Terracotta Clay
Features: Firestarters, Mosquito Repellant Logs
Weight: 9 lbs.
If you’re looking for a slightly smaller clay chiminea that still looks and performs incredibly, Redi-Flame offers a detailed handmade option with some great free goodies to go with it. Standing only 14” tall and 6” wide, this hand fired clay chiminea kit is perfect for smaller spaces such as gardens, apartment balconies and even indoors if you use it with a candle. We found it looked equally as great perched on a table or alcove as well. Individually made from all natural clay and colored with earthy browns and burnt oranges, the Redi-Flame Chiminea looks incredible and easily stands out from the crowd.
Related: Grab some additional Redi-Flame Woodshed Renewables Skeeter Logs
What really differentiates Redi-Flame Woodshed Chiminea Kit from the rest of the market are the free extras that come along with it. Included you’ll find two all natural insect repellent logs made from cellulosic fiber (mashed up plants) and wax along with a 3 pack of fire starters. When lit, the logs provide a natural light smoke that drive away even the most incessant mosquitoes even in damp conditions. We found it best to cut the logs into smaller pieces so we could use them in short bursts whenever the smoke began to fade. During our evenings using the Redi-Flame Kit we were pleasantly surprised as just how effective the repellant really was. The fire starters were also great for igniting the insect repellant logs and stayed lit for a substantial amount of time and provided more than enough flames. Overall, this is a great small form factor clay chiminea that performs excellent and is built to last.
Pros
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- Intricate designs
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- Compact unit for small spaces
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- Includes mosquito repellant logs and fire starters
- Very budget friendly
Cons
- Does not include a stand
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Gardeco AFC-C21.70 Ivory Chiminea (Currently Unavailable)
Size: 43” Tall, 17” Wide
Material: Terracotta Clay
Features: Chiminea Lid, Iron Stand
Weight: 67 lbs.
The Gardeco Ivory Chiminea is a beautiful hand made fire clay chiminea is the perfect complement to any outdoor space. With a stunning glazed ivory exterior and a refined shape it is sure to be a great conversation piece and provide warmth on even the coldest of nights. One of the great things about clay chimineas is how each one is an individual and unique piece of art and no two are alike, giving you that sense of rustic flair and hand made quality. Not to mention the countless evenings of entertainment you’ll have with the whole family toasting s’mores, reading by the firelight or simply staring into the mesmerizing flames with a nice glass of wine.
Related: Protect your chiminea with a Gardeco Medium PVC Chimenea Cover
Made from a single piece of unique fire clay the Gardeco Ivory Chiminea requires no assembly as is shipped ready to use, simply set it on the base and your done. Weighing in at only 60 lbs., it is easy to maneuver into the right location and won’t take but a few minutes to walk to your backyard. The terracotta clay used has been specially treated to be resistant to fire cracking, meaning less repairs on your part and a long lasting, quality chiminea that is built to last. Measuring in at 17” wide and 43” tall, the Gardeco AFC-C21.70 Ivory Chiminea is a great size for medium and large sized spaces. The item ships with both a metal stand and a matching clay lid to ensure you’ll have everything you need to enjoy this great piece of Latin culture.
Pros
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- Unique ivory coloring
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- Exceptional resistance to fire cracking
- Includes high quality lid and elevated stand
Cons
- Does not include a cover
Learn More
Fired Up Designs 43-inch Iron Clad Clay Chiminea
Out of stock? You can order or pre-order from Chimineas Direct and get a 50% discount on the waterproof cover.
Size: 43” Tall, 20” Wide
Material: Terracotta Clay
Features: Chiminea Lid, Wrought-Iron Stand
Weight: 93 lbs.
This absolutely incredibly piece of functional art is top on our list when it comes to design and style points. With a rustic brown finish, iron clad accents and a beautiful southwestern inspired silhouette, the Fired Up Designs Iron Clad Chiminea would make a great addition to virtually any backyard or patio. Compared to the other two clay chimineas in this article this is by far the biggest with a massive 20” wide body and standing at 43” inches tall. Not to mention is has incredibly thick traditional Mexican clay walls and an extremely detailed finish making it vastly superior in terms of both durability and heat insulation than the others. You can expect this chiminea to last for decades in even the worst outdoor environments.
Related: Pick up a Fired Up Designs Universal Waterproof Chiminea Cover
However, with the higher quality, you’ll be paying a higher price. Coming in at about three times more than the other options, the Fired Up Designs Iron Clad Chiminea is definitely in the upper price bracket. If you’re looking for a high end clay chiminea that makes a statement, this is the one to get. As the saying goes, “if it’s heavy it’s probably expensive” and that certainly holds true for this unit. The base chiminea weighs 93 pounds and will requires a bit of rolling to position it accordingly. Because of the weight though you won’t have to worry about it blowing over in the wind or being knocked down by a running dog, both pluses in our book. Overall, this clay chiminea offers incredibly looks, a stunning design and makes a great focal point on any backyard patio.
Pros
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- Authentic Mexican design
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- Beautiful molded details
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- High quality Terracotta clay
- Includes stand and lid
Cons
- Fairly high priced
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Fired Up Designs 42-inch Sun Sketched Clay Chiminea
Out of stock? You can order or pre-order from Chimineas Direct and get a 50% discount on the waterproof cover.
Size: 42” Tall, 20” Wide
Material: Terracotta Clay
Features: Chiminea Lid, Wrought-Iron Stand
Weight: 93 lbs.
With a handcrafted, Aztec inspired design made from high quality Terracotta clay, the Fired Up Designs 42-inch Sun Sketched Clay Chiminea is a perfect patio centerpiece. It’s easy to see what makes this such an elegant and awe inspiring design. The detail is simply stunning and the entire unit just feels like a step back in time. If you’re after a more traditionally inspired clay chiminea that will make for an excellent conversation piece, this is a great choice. Similar to the other Fired Up Designs products it comes standard with a Terracotta clay lid and a durable wrought-iron stand. The stand helps to prevent any heat damage, enhances ventilation and provides a more ergonomic heating design.
Related: Pick up a Fired Up Designs Universal Waterproof Chiminea Cover
The Fired Up Designs 42-inch Sun Sketched Clay Chiminea has a sizable 42” tall chimney and comes in at 20” wide making it ideal for families and parties. The larger size allows you to more easily place fuel in the belly and can hold larger logs for long lasting fires. The included lid is also a perfect design piece and does a great job of closing off the chimney when not in use. Although we’d still recommend you grab a cover to prevent even a trace of water collecting in the bottom of the chiminea. Overall, this clay chiminea is a great choice and has a wonderful design that really makes it pop.
Pros
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- Authentic Terracotta construction
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- Incredible Aztec sun design
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- High quality Terracotta clay
- Includes stand and lid
Cons
- Fairly high priced
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REZ Furniture Bottle Clay Wood Burning Chiminea
Size: 33” Tall, 12” Wide
Material: Natural Clay
Features: Multiple Color Options, Handmade
Weight: 39 lbs.
As the most budget friendly option on our list, the REZ Furniture Bottle Clay Wood Burning Chiminea is the perfect blend of outdoor design and handcrafted precision. With a unique four sided angular belly made from natural clay, this chiminea easily stands out from the crowd. We love the modern visuals as it give the whole unit a more upscale and 21st century feel. However once the flames kick in you can quickly see it still holds that old school charm. Plus, at 33” tall this clay chiminea is perfect for small to medium sized patios as it doesn’t take up too much space. Even more, it only weighs 39 pounds making it very easy to move about and re-position at a moments notice.
By far the best feature of the REZ Furniture Bottle Clay Wood Burning Chiminea is simply how many colors it’s available in. A traditional Terracotta clay chiminea comes in only one color, earth red. The REZ however, is available in five unique hand painted colors to really spruce up you outdoor living area. From deep reds and browns to lighthearted yellows and blues, you’ll easily find the perfect match for your style and existing furniture. Plus, as we mentioned before you’ll be paying a fraction of the price when compared to many of our higher end options. Overall this makes for an excellent budget clay chiminea and provides a quick and effective way to decorate your outdoor patio.
Pros
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- Available in 5 hand painted colors
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- Perfect midsize height
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- Very budget friendly
- No stand required
Cons
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- Non traditional look
- Paint can chip off over time
Learn More
Why Choose a Clay Chiminea?
Aside from the sheer elegance of traditional clay chimineas, there are many factors making them superior to their modern day aluminum and cast iron counterparts.
One of the first and most important advantages to consider are the significant cost savings you get by purchasing a clay chiminea when compared to a similar sized metal chiminea. In most cases you can expect to save 30%-50% if you choose the clay option. This is mainly due to low material costs associated with Terracotta and simple single-piece fabrication techniques.
Clay chimineas also have a significant advantage when it comes to heat retention and safety. Clay in general is a great insulator and thus prevent the body of the chiminea from getting extremely hot. Most of the heat is directed either outward or up the chimney providing excellent airflow, warming capabilities and less risk of an accidental burn. Don’t try touching a cast iron chiminea in use and expect to be a happy camper.
Another great reason to choose a traditional clay chiminea is they don’t require assembly. They are made as a single piece and are ready to go as soon as they are in place. This single-piece construction, combined with the lightweight clay makes them much easier to move than similar aluminum and cast iron units
Finally, and for some people most importantly, clay chimineas are just as safe on wooden decks as they are on concrete slabs. The clay insulates the bottom of the fire bowl and prevent the wood from bursting into flames. Not to mention they produce no stains on surfaces beneath the bowl and have very few metal components that could potentially rust.
Not a Fan of Clay Chimineas afterall? Check out a Fire Pit Instead
If you think a clay chiminea might not be for you, but your still interested in a bit of fiery ambiance in your backyard, check out some of the best fire pits for a bit of a different look and feel.
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