The 9 Best Fireplace Tongs
Updated by · How we research
Nine fireplace and fire pit tongs compared by reach, jaw style, metal and grip. The CKLT 40-Inch Scissor leads for big backyard fires. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Fire tongs shorter than about 26 inches put your hands too close to the heat, and a big backyard fire pit calls for closer to 40. The right pair lets you move a burning log without leaning over the flames. It's for anyone who tends an indoor fireplace, a wood stove, a patio pit or a campfire.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
Most of the old list had disappeared, so this is close to a fresh start. The CKLT 40-Inch Scissor now leads, because most readers arrive looking for fire pit tongs, and its reach, stiff steel and padded grips suit a big outdoor fire. For an indoor fireplace, look at the Rocky Mountain Goods 26-Inch or the Minuteman Shepherd's Hook.
The Pleasant Hearth 650, Apocalypse Chiminea, Epica Log Grabbers and Camp Place Tender Tongs have all left the market, while the Minuteman Rope Handle tongs sit out of stock at a steep price. The Solo Stove Fire Pit Tools, Stanbroil 26-Inch Stainless and Campfire Tongs The Original stay. We passed on a popular 40-inch lever grabber because breakage after a few fires kept coming up in owner reviews.
The evidence here is mostly practical: one fire pit tongs roundup from Bob Vila, the sellers' length and metal specs, and the durability complaints, or lack of them, in owner feedback. None of the brands has a CPSC recall.
Earlier notes
October 23, 2020, by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi:
Several of the models here had to be overhauled due to availability issues, and we replaced them all and then topped our selections off with one additional item to bring this list to nine. You'll notice the Minuteman International Shepherd's joining the ranks today, which, like the Minuteman International Rope, are made from indestructible iron and crafted with a high level of care. They are functional and attractive, with three sturdy prongs to give you a reliable grip, a design that hangs easily on brackets or a screen for storage and display, and a graphite finish that gives them a them natural look and added protection from abuse and the elements.
We also brought on the Stanbroil Heavy Duty, which are similar to the Epica Log Grabbers except with a sleek stainless steel construction that can complement minimalist and contemporary decors. Each of these is just over two feet long, making them best suited to indoor or small fires.
Then, there's the Campfire Tongs The Original, a solid option to have on hand for larger fires and outdoor fireplaces and pits. These are crafted from aluminum, so they're lightweight despite their size, yet are still strong enough to handle large chunks of wood. Some find the design a bit awkward, but if you're handling big pieces you'll be thankful you have them.
Also coming into the fold today are the Apocalypse Chiminea, one of the few one-handed units out there. While these aren't ideal if you have arthritis or other hand mobility issues, they are an accurate tool capable of lifting dutch oven lids, moving grill grates around, and arranging charcoal, small pieces of kindling, foil-wrapped food, and more.
November 6, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
You might not realize it, but you actually have quite a few different options when choosing fireplace tongs. If you're working with a standard-size fireplace and they won't be leaving your home, the Perfect CampfireGrill Tweezers and Epica Log Grabbers are two different sizes of a relatively classic design, and they should both hold up very well. Alternately, the Camp Place Tender Tongs and Solo Stove Accessories are good choices if you'll be working with them outside, as their round handles are easy to grip even if they're a bit dirty or muddy, and they aren't as heavy as some others. And if you want something made in America with impeccable standards, the Ohio Flame OF30T are a practically heirloom-quality model.
The only drawback to the above options is that they only have two points of contact, which can lead to a little instability during use. So, check out the Minuteman International Rope Design, Landmann 1537, or Pyroclaw Ultimate if you want to be absolutely sure to get a solid grip on logs and embers. The Landmann and Pyroclaw are especially convenient thanks to their pistol-grip handles, which use a trigger-like, spring-loaded mechanism to make picking up burning wood as easy as possible. If you need to outfit your hearth with a solid fireplace grate or complete tool set, we have some great options in those categories as well.
October 12, 2018, by Joseph Perry:
Removed discontinued items and confirmed that remaining items are of high quality and free from manufacturing defects.
Special Honors
Ohio Flame Campfire Tongs Ohio Flame, a fire pit maker in Ohio, sells campfire tongs hand forged by a local blacksmith from half-inch American steel. They weigh about 10 pounds, heavy enough that the maker asks buyers to be sure they can handle them with a log in the jaws. Its product page lists a five-year warranty. They're a lifetime tool for a big outdoor fire ring, not for a living room hearth. ohioflame.com
How Long Should Fire Tongs Be?
The same guide says a good pair should hold a log of 8 to 10 pounds without bending, and the longer the arms, the more that weight pulls on your wrists.
Length is the first decision, and it depends on the fire. Bob Vila's fire pit tongs guide only considered tongs at least 26 inches long, and that's a sensible floor: shorter tongs put your knuckles near the flames. For an indoor fireplace or a wood stove, 26 to 28 inches is plenty, and anything longer gets awkward in front of a firebox. Hearth tongs from makers like Minuteman International come in that range, and they hang on a tool stand.
Outdoors, you stand farther back. Campfire Tongs sizes its 37.5-inch pair for fire pits up to 36 inches across and sells a 48-inch model for bigger pits and taller people; Bob Vila suggests about 40 inches for a large pit. The same guide says a good pair should hold a log of 8 to 10 pounds without bending, and the longer the arms, the more that weight pulls on your wrists. Pick the shortest length that keeps your hands out of the heat, not the longest one you can find.
Scissor, Lazy Tongs, Pincer Or Lever
Fire tongs come in four basic shapes, and Bob Vila's buying advice covers the first three. Scissor tongs cross at one pivot and curl into claws; they're strong and simple, and padded grips make them comfortable. Lazy tongs use a folding diamond of links, so a small squeeze opens the jaws wide, and they fold flat for storage, but the extra joints can loosen. Pincer tongs work like long kitchen tongs, slim and quick for nudging logs. Lever grabbers put a claw on the end of a shaft and close it with a trigger, which frees your other hand.
The metal matters too. Powder-coated steel and wrought iron are strong and heavy, and the coating can chip and rust if they stay outside. Stainless steel resists rust and costs a bit more, and thin stainless can flex. Aluminum is light, but it softens at a much lower temperature than steel, so it shouldn't rest in coals. Bare metal handles warm up when the tips sit in the fire; rubber, vinyl or wood grips help, and a pair of fireplace gloves helps more.
Safe Fire Habits, And What To Do With The Ashes
Tongs are for moving wood, not for hauling more than you can control. Lift one log at a time, keep the tips out of the flames between moves, and set logs down rather than dropping them, which throws sparks. The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from a fireplace or wood stove, and to have chimneys cleaned and inspected every year.
Ashes stay hot far longer than most people expect. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue advises putting them in a heavy metal container, wetting them, covering it with a metal lid, and keeping it outside, away from the house. It says to wait at least four days before dumping them, and never to use a paper bag, a cardboard box, a plastic bag or a vacuum cleaner. Never use gasoline or lighter fluid to start or revive a fire, indoors or out.
How we researched this
We compared 21 fire tongs and log grabbers, read the makers' and sellers' specs for the 9 picks and for Ohio Flame's forged tongs, read Bob Vila's fire pit tongs roundup, analyzed owner feedback for durability and grip problems, and checked every brand against the CPSC recall database. Fire and ash safety advice comes from the U.S. Fire Administration and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Frequently asked questions
What length fire tongs do I need?
About 26 to 28 inches for an indoor fireplace or wood stove, 32 to 36 inches for a typical fire pit, and about 40 inches for a large fire ring or bonfire.
Do fire tong handles get hot?
Bare metal handles warm up if the tips sit in the fire, because heat travels up the arms. Rubber, vinyl or wood grips stay cooler. Move the log, then pull the tongs out of the flames.
Is stainless steel better than wrought iron for fire tongs?
Stainless resists rust, so it's the better choice if the tongs live outside by a fire pit. Wrought iron and powder-coated steel are stiffer for the money but can rust once the coating chips.
Can I use fireplace tongs on a fire pit or campfire?
Yes, as long as they're long enough. Short hearth tongs work on a small pit, but a large outdoor fire is safer with 36 to 40 inches of reach.
Are lever log grabbers better than scissor tongs?
A lever grabber works with one hand, which helps when you're also holding a screen or a log. Scissor and lazy tongs open wider for less money and have fewer parts to wear out.
How should I store fire tongs?
Keep them dry. Hang them on a hearth stand or hook indoors, and bring powder-coated tongs in after outdoor use so the finish doesn't rust.
