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The right fire pit can bring hours of fun and warmth to your outdoor space year-round. Having a fire pit means you can roast marshmallows with friends on summer nights, grill a wood-fired dinner with the family, or cozy up with a blanket and hot cocoa in the winter.
Use these beautiful, cozy, and multi-functional fire pit ideas to get inspiration for any backyard—big or small.
1. A High Top Table with a Built-In Fire Pit
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
A fire pit, seating, and table space all conveniently wrapped into one. A high top table fire pit is a simple way to step up your outdoor hang out space. All you need is a propane tank to start the fire and a group of friends to fill the seats around it.
2. An Elevated, Wood-Burning Fire Pit for Your Deck
An elevated, wood-burning fire pit designed for decks offers a stylish and functional outdoor heating solution. Its raised construction ensures safety by preventing direct contact with the deck surface while providing a cozy ambiance for gatherings. Crafted with durable materials, it combines aesthetic appeal with the charm of a traditional fire pit.
3. A Recycled Washing Machine Drum
Photo: Ursula Page / Adobe Stock
This fire pit option is simple and cheap—plus, you get bonus points for recycling. Make your own burn barrel by recycling an old car rim, metal washing machine drum, or metal garbage can.
Burn barrels are typically used for burning lawn debris—sticks, trimmings, leaves, etc. However, they can also be used as a fire pit to gather around and even roast marshmallows with (just be sure to not use it to burn anything toxic, including chemicals and plastic).
Photo: Edward / Adobe Stock
A simple metal fire pit is all you need for a cozy backyard fire with family and friends. Metal fire pits also help to keep your fires contained, creating less risk for potential burn damage to your property. Simply add seating of your choice and a couple of small side tables to complete the space.
Unlike other options, you can easily move this fire pit, so you can move it around your yard or take it with you if you move.
5. A Propane-Powered Fire Pit
Photo: Kristen / Adobe Stock
Propane outdoor fire pit sets can get you the most bang for your buck when looking to add a cozy element to your outdoor living space. This option sometimes comes complete with patio chairs and table space for eating, drinking, or playing card games with family or friends.
6. A Chiminea
Photo: Chris / Adobe Stock
Does smoke seem to follow you around a fire pit no matter where you move your chair? Enjoy a campfire smoke-free with a chiminea. A chiminea (Spanish for “chimney”) is a contained outdoor fire pit with a large opening in the front and a tall chimney stack on top to control the flow of smoke. You can use either wood or coal to start a fire in a chiminea. Just be sure to follow best practices for storing firewood if you go that route.
7. A Smokeless Fire Pit
A smokeless fire pit employs a unique airflow system to significantly decrease smoke generation, enhancing the enjoyment of outdoor gatherings. Optimizing combustion, the fire pit minimizes the irritating smoke while still providing warmth and a captivating flame. Perfect for cozy evenings, this innovative design combines functionality and aesthetics for a more pleasant and user-friendly fire experience.
8. A Poured Concrete Fire Pit
A poured concrete fire pit is a durable and customizable outdoor feature, crafted by pouring concrete into a designated pit shape and allowing it to cure. This approach produces a sleek and minimalistic look that pairs nicely with many different exterior arrangements. Its robust build ensures a long lifespan, and it can be further beautified with stylish finishes that match your aesthetic.
9. Custom Built-In Seating
Photo: Neil / Adobe Stock
Built-in wood, stone, or cement bench seating is a must for a grand fire pit to be the focal point of your backyard. Add cushions and pillows for extra comfort for company and conversations that will last late into the night.
10. A Lakeside Fire Pit
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
The only thing better than a lakefront home is a lakefront home with a fire pit. Sit close and listen to the waves roll in as you gather ‘round a toasty campfire.
11. A Poolside Fire Pit
Warm up next to your backyard fire pit after a refreshing evening swim. Adding a fire pit to complement your pool can be as simple as opting for a basic metal container with separate seating or as elaborate as designing a built-in fire pit on your pool deck.
12. A Fire Pit Near Your Hot Tub
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
An ultimate backyard oasis isn’t complete without a hot tub and a cozy fire pit. Make your backyard a stay-cation destination by adding both. If your hot tub is on your deck or patio, choose a deck-safe fire pit option such as a propane table. You can also opt for a simple metal fire pit, but be sure to lay a stone or tile base first to prevent dangerous embers and ashes from burning your deck.
13. A Stone Walkway
Photo: Ruth P. Peterkin / Adobe Stock
Separate your fire pit area from the rest of your yard by laying a stone walkway leading up to it. Get creative with this DIY project by choosing a unique brick pattern.
This design element doubles as a fire pit safety feature because it keeps embers off the surrounding grass.
14. An In-Ground Fire Pit
Photo: Logdog7 / Adobe Stock
An in-ground fire pit is a beautiful backyard design element that’s relatively easy to DIY. Just be sure to not dig the hole too deep that you can’t see the fire enough to enjoy it. A six- to eight-inch deep pit should be enough.
15. Tree Stump Seating
Photo: JMP Traveler / Adobe Stock
Build your own fire pit seating without picking up a drill or hammer by using tree stumps. All you need is a saw to cut down a tree and split the trunk into multiple seats. You may need a sander to smooth out the seat to make it comfortable.
16. Gravel Landscaping
Photo: Bonilook / Adobe Stock
This easy DIY can completely transform your fire pit area. It also adds a layer of safety by catching hot embers that may pop out of the pit.
Simply stake out the area you’d like to cover with gravel, dig out the top layer of soil within the stakes, lay landscaping fabric over top, cut off the excess, and cover the area with loose gravel.
17. A Stone Paver Fire Pit
Photo: Cpcthatsme / Adobe Stock
Anyone can build their own simple (yet beautiful) fire pit with stone pavers. No power tools are required for this DIY. All you need to do is lay a base of stone pavers in an even circle. Add one or two additional layers on top of the base layer to complete the project.
Swap out stone pavers for cinder blocks or concrete blocks depending on the look you’re going for and the materials available to you.
18. A Natural Stone Fire Pit
Adding an air of timeless elegance to outdoor living spaces, natural stone fire pits bring together an array of textures and colors, ranging from granite, limestone, and sandstone. Each carefully arranged piece contributes to a stunning and strong design, captivating attention while providing cozy warmth and atmosphere to special gatherings.
19. A Cement Bowl Fire Pit
Photo: Jdoms / Adobe Stock
A cement bowl fire pit is a great option if you’re going for a modern contemporary look. Its high-class appearance usually comes with a matching price tag unless you’re willing to build your own.
Cement bowl fire pits are actually a simple and inexpensive DIY that anyone can do. All you need are two bowls (one large and one slightly smaller) for the mold and concrete mix.
20. Adirondack Chair Seating
Photo: KCULP / Adobe Stock
Adirondack chairs add a stylish element to your outdoor fire pit, especially if you’re aiming for a woodland cabin aesthetic. This classic chair comes in plastic or wood options that are both surprisingly comfortable thanks to its careful design. Adirondack chairs are also known for their wide armrests that can double as a mini table to hold drinks and snacks.
21. A Fire Pit Grill
Photo: Rh2010 / Adobe Stock
Your fire pit can do more than roast marshmallows. Add a removable grill rack on top of it to grill anything from hot dogs to kebabs over an open flame.
22. A Patio Fire Pit
Photo: Jason / Adobe Stock
Do you live in an apartment or townhome? Or perhaps your house doesn’t have the yard space to comfortably fit a fire pit. If this sounds like your situation, a patio fire pit set is a great option.
Gather your friends and family to your patio and enjoy a toasty fire built right into the table. As mentioned earlier, these tables are usually propane-powered, making them relatively safe and easy to control. If you're a renter, just be sure to get permission from your landlord first. Similarly, if you’re not a great DIYer, you may want to hire a local fire pit installer for this one.
