Corten vs Stainless Steel: Which Is Better for a Fire Pit Grill?

Corten and stainless steel are the two most popular materials for fire pits and fire pit grills, and they age in opposite ways. Corten is a weathering steel: it rusts on the surface into a stable, rust-colored patina that protects the steel underneath. Stainless steel resists rust with an invisible chromium-oxide film and keeps its bright metal look. Arteflame builds grills in both, so this guide covers the differences that matter when you choose: looks, how the finish changes, staining, climate, care and price.

The short answer

• Choose Corten if you like a warm, natural, changing finish, want no paint or coating to maintain, and live somewhere that is not constantly wet or salty.
• Choose stainless steel if you want a bright, modern look that stays the same, live near the ocean, or cannot risk rust stains on a light patio.
• Either way, on an Arteflame you cook on the same thing: a hot-rolled carbon steel cooktop, seasoned like a cast-iron pan. The bowl material does not change how the grill cooks.

What Corten steel is

Corten is a family of low-alloy steels, widely known by U.S. Steel's COR-TEN name and covered by standards such as ASTM A588 and A606. Small amounts of copper, chromium, nickel and phosphorus change how the steel rusts. At first it rusts like ordinary steel. Then, as it goes through cycles of getting wet and drying out, the rust forms a dense, tight layer that slows further corrosion. That layer is the patina.

The patina is why Corten needs no paint. It keeps developing for months to years, and the color deepens over time. On Arteflame grills it builds over the first one to three years, from orange-tan to a dark brown. Every grill ends up a little different, depending on the weather where it lives. Read the chemistry behind Corten steel.

What stainless steel is

Stainless steel contains at least about 10.5% chromium, which forms a thin, invisible oxide film on the surface. If the film is scratched, it re-forms. The common grades outdoors are 304, often called 18/8 for its chromium and nickel content, and 316, which adds 2–3% molybdenum for better resistance to salt and chlorides. Stainless keeps its bright metal look, although the heat of a fire will tint it golden or blue near the flames.

Side by side

Staining: the one thing to plan for with Corten

While the patina is forming, rain washes some rust off the surface. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration notes that this runoff stains concrete. On a light stone patio, wood deck or pale pavers, plan for it: set the grill on gravel, dark stone, or a pad you do not mind marking. Arteflame grills stand on stainless steel footers or screw-in feet to limit contact with the surface, but runoff can still reach the ground around them. Once the patina is stable, runoff drops off a lot.

Climate: where each steel works best

Corten needs to dry out between wettings to build its patina. The Federal Highway Administration advises against bare weathering steel in marine coastal air with heavy salt, in places that stay wet most of the time, and where water or debris collects on the steel. In those conditions the patina may not stabilize and the steel keeps rusting.

Stainless steel does not need that wet-dry cycle. If you live on the coast, or your patio stays damp, a stainless bowl is the safer choice, and grade 316 is the most resistant to salt.

What you cook on is neither

On an Arteflame, the Corten or stainless steel is the fire bowl and base. The food never touches it. You cook on a separate cooktop of hot-rolled carbon steel, 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick depending on the model, and on a grill grate over the fire. You season the cooktop with oil like a cast-iron pan, and that seasoning builds a low-stick surface over time. Read is Corten steel safe for cooking?

Price

Stainless steel costs more to make and to form into a bowl. On Arteflame grills, the Classic 40″ with a Corten bowl starts at $2,495 and the Platinum Series 40″ with a spun stainless bowl starts at $3,495. The Corten 40″ Fire Pit with Cooktop starts at $1,995, and the stainless version at $2,495.

Which should you choose?

Corten is the better fit if:

• You like a natural, sculptural finish that changes with the seasons.
• You want no paint, sealing or polishing.
• Your grill sits on gravel, dark stone or a surface where some rust staining is fine.
• You do not live right on the coast.

Stainless steel is the better fit if:

• You want a bright, modern look that stays the same.
• You live near the ocean or somewhere constantly damp.
• Your patio is light stone or wood that you want to keep spotless.

See both side by side: the Classic 40″ grills in Corten, the Platinum Series in stainless, and stainless grills with black or red bases.

Frequently asked questions

Does Corten steel rust through?

In the right conditions, no. The patina slows corrosion to a very low rate. It keeps rusting very slowly, which is why thick steel is used. Constant wetness, salt spray or water pooling on the steel stop the patina from forming properly.

How long does the Corten patina take to form?

It generally takes about six months to develop, depending on the weather. The color keeps deepening for one to three years.

Will a Corten fire pit stain my patio?

It can while the patina is forming. Rain carries rust-colored runoff onto the surface below. Use gravel, dark stone or a pad under it if your patio is light-colored.

Is stainless steel better near the ocean?

Yes. Salt air keeps Corten's patina from stabilizing. Stainless steel, especially grade 316, is the better choice on the coast.

Do you cook directly on the Corten?

No. On an Arteflame the Corten is the bowl and base. You cook on a separate carbon steel cooktop and grill grate.