Visita la nostra sezione Offerte

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Outdoor Ashtrays to Create the Perfect Smoking Area

 

 

Attention to detail and cleanliness of open spaces are the true calling card of any hospitality facility, commercial premises or company. Whether it's the entrance of a hotel, the outdoor area of a bar or restaurant, the courtyard of a business centre, a spa or a shopping centre, the presence of a well-equipped smoking area is essential to keep the environment tidy, avoid the unsightly abandonment of cigarette butts on the ground and offer customers and employees that extra attention which is always appreciated.

Modern outdoor ashtrays are not simple collectors, but real furnishing elements designed to withstand the elements, prevent the ignition of accidental fires thanks to advanced cigarette extinguishing systems and ensure maximum ease of cleaning for service staff. In this guide we will help you choose the ideal model based on space, traffic, materials and safety systems, to identify the perfect solution in the catalogue of outdoor ashtrays on Holity.co.uk.


1. Types of ashtrays: Wall-mounted, Column-mounted or Combined

The installation configuration must be selected based on the size of the outdoor area and the expected flow of users:

Wall-mounted and wall-mounted ashtrays (Space-saving)

They represent the ideal solution if floor space is limited or in narrow passageways, such as entrances, external corridors and platforms.

  • Advantages: They eliminate floor space, facilitate sweeping and washing tiles and can be fixed to the wall or anchored to a pole or existing waste paper bins.
  • Special models: Tube or torpedo versions are available with narrow slots that prevent the insertion of paper and packaging, preventing the ashtray from being mistaken for a generic bin.

Floor-standing column ashtray

The most popular and aesthetically striking choice for representative entrances, squares, gardens and large shopping centres.

  • Self-supporting and removable: Equipped with weighted cast iron or concrete bases that guarantee excellent stability against the wind without requiring holes in the floor. They can be easily moved when necessary or stored inside the room when closed.
  • Fixed fixing (Dowel or Ground fixing): Equipped with perforated base plates for permanent anchoring using expansion bolts in concrete, or with an extended stem for ground fixing. They represent total protection against overturning, strong gusts of wind and attempted theft.

Ashtrays combined with waste paper bin

Integrated "2 in 1" solutions equipped with an upper cigarette extinguisher grill and a side or lower compartment for general waste.

  • Advantages: They optimize purchase costs and space requirements, offering a single collection point for rubbish and cigarette butts in a coordinated design.

2. Materials and resistance to atmospheric agents

The construction materials must ensure high resistance against rust, heat and UV rays:

  • Galvanized Steel and Powder-Coated Metal: The high-thickness metal bodies undergo thermosetting epoxy paint treatments that create a protective anti-corrosion film, available in a wide range of color finishes (from matt black to silver, up to bright designer shades).
  • AISI 304 and AISI 316 Stainless Steel: Essential for marine environments, beach resorts or environments rich in saltiness and extreme humidity. Stainless steel ensures decades of durability without any risk of oxidation or flaking.
  • Concrete and Reconstituted Stone: Vandal-proof and immovable monolithic solutions for public parks and service stations.
  • High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Special technical plastic that does not rust, does not dent and is resistant to solar aging and the heat of cigarette butts.

3. Automatic shutdown, cleaning and safety systems

The internal engineering of the tray defines the ease of maintenance and the level of biosecurity of the smoking area:

  • Self-extinguishing Systems (Oxygen Suffocation): Professional models use funnel heads or sealed storage chambers. When the cigarette butt is thrown inside, the limited air presence suffocates the combustion in a few seconds without the need for water, eliminating smoke and unpleasant odors.
  • Removable Internal Trays and Containers: To speed up cleaning operations by the service team, the ashtray must include a removable internal metal bucket with a handle. In small space-saving models, the frequency of emptying must be evaluated to avoid the ash overflowing.
  • Safety Lock with Key: In high-traffic public areas, it is essential to choose ashtrays with a safety lock. Access to the internal compartment is only possible via a key provided to operators, preventing vandalism, tampering and involuntary spreading of ash on the ground.

4. Dimensional parameters and economic band

The assortment on Holity.co.uk allows you to satisfy both the purchase of a single floor lamp for a bar and the complete set-up of entire industrial complexes, moving within a price range between €0.00 and €1362.00 (from space-saving plates to combined contract urban furniture systems):

  • Measurements and overall dimensions:
    • Height: from 0.00 mm to 1310.00 mm.
    • Width: from 0.00 mm to 650.00 mm.
    • Depth: from 0.00 mm to 523.00 mm.
  • Price ranges:
    • Entry level range: Compact wall-mounted ashtrays and essential cigarette extinguisher tubes in painted steel for small premises.
    • Intermediate range: Self-supporting columns with ballast, stainless steel column ashtrays with key lock and self-extinguishing cigarette extinguisher models for hotels and restaurants.
    • Top of the range range: Designer bin/ashtray combination stations, monolithic concrete ashtrays and complete systems for street furniture and contract shopping centres.

Request a personalized quote on Holity.co.uk

Enhance the outdoor spaces of your business, prevent fires and ensure maximum cleanliness of your outdoor area with the outdoor ashtrays available on Holity.co.uk. Explore the online catalogue to select the most suitable model: set the fixing method (wall-mounted, column-mounted or floor-mounted), check the dimensions and choose between classic or designer finishes.

Request a personalised quote today: our sales team is at your complete disposal to provide you with technical data sheets, certifications and special offers for batch orders.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does the automatic extinguishing mechanism without the use of water work in self-extinguishing ashtrays?
Self-extinguishing ashtrays exploit a principle of fluid physics. The head of the ashtray has a narrow slit connected to an internal chamber shaped like an inverted funnel. When a lit cigarette butt is inserted, the structure's shape drastically limits air circulation and the flow of fresh air. In the absence of sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion, the embers extinguish themselves within seconds, eliminating unpleasant fumes and the risk of fires without having to pour water into the container.

What materials are recommended for ashtrays installed in seaside or coastal locations?
For coastal areas or areas with high concentrations of salt spray, it is essential to opt for ashtrays made of AISI 316 stainless steel or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). AISI 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, which creates an unbeatable shield against salt corrosion; HDPE technical plastics are completely immune to salt and humidity. Using simple painted steel in marine environments would risk rust spots appearing after just a few months.

Why is a safety lock with a key essential in public areas?
In smoking areas open to the public (shopping centres, stations, parks, hospitals), an unlocked ashtray could be opened or knocked over by intruders or by strong impacts, scattering ash and cigarette butts on the floor. A key lock ensures that only waste disposal workers and service personnel with the key can access the removable tray for emptying, ensuring safety and preventing vandalism.

Is it better to choose a freestanding column ashtray or a model that can be fixed to the ground with bolts?
The choice depends on the flexibility of use required. If the smoking area is located within a private outdoor area of a bar or restaurant and the furnishings need to be stored indoors at night, a freestanding column with a heavy, weighted base is the ideal solution. If the ashtray is to be installed in a permanent or unattended public area (company entrances, sidewalks, parks), the model with a plate to be anchored to the ground with expansion bolts or embedded in concrete to prevent theft and tipping is clearly preferable.

How does the price range in the category (€0.00 - €1362.00) correlate with the nobility of the materials, the volumes and the designer finishes?
The price structure is determined by the volumetric development of the container, the type of metal used (painted steel, aluminum or AISI 316 stainless steel) and the accessory systems. The entry-level range includes basic wall-mounted ashtrays and small cigarette extinguishers. The intermediate range includes floor-standing pedestals with ballast, self-extinguishing ashtrays with key lock and stainless steel versions. The top-of-the-range prices (up to €1,362.00) include large-capacity combined wastebasket/ashtray systems, monolithic concrete and stone structures for street furniture, and high-design architectural contract ashtrays.

© 2025 Namiti Srl. All Rights Reserved.