Best DIY Fire Pits

Fire pits are one of the oldest concepts we have. They date back to the days when the fire was used for light, warmth, and preparing food. Of course, the function of the fire pit has now changed, and while it’s more of a decorative feature than a practical tool, it’s still good to understand where they’ve come from.

Read Next

• Best DIY Fire Pits
• ​1. Circular Concrete Fire Pit
• ​2. Half-Wall Fire Pit
• ​3. Gravel Fire Pit
• ​4. Washing machine drum fire pit
• ​5. Cinder Block Fire Pit
• 6. Brick Fire Pit
• ​7. Tire Rim Fire Pit
• ​8. Fire Pit Bowl
• ​9. Stacked Stone Fire Pit
• Conclusion
• 💬 Feedback

A fire pit is just a hole dug in the ground with space for fuel and a flame. They’ve become increasingly popular over the last 5 years, and there are now more fire pits in people’s homes than ever.

Part of the charm is that you can build it all yourself. Some people enjoy DIY projects, and you can build a basic fire pit with no hassle at all.

Even though it’s simple to create, it enhances your space and can transform your garden's look. Knowing you’ve created something that has had such a positive impact can be extremely rewarding.

Best DIY Fire Pits

There’s no hard or fast definition of a fire pit, and there are many different options. We’ve gathered some of the best DIY options out there to inspire you.

​1. Circular Concrete Fire Pit

One of the more traditional options is the concrete fire pit. This is really simple to create yourself, and the end product is a stylish, completely contained fire pit you can enjoy at home.

First, you need to dig into the ground about 6 inches and put your fire pit in it. Spread gravel around the outside and then build up concrete slabs all around the outside rim. This will eventually look like a well, and the fire pit will really stand out in the garden.

​2. Half-Wall Fire Pit

If you’re safety conscious, then this option will be the one for you. You approach the half-wall fire pit in the same way you do the circular concrete fire pit, but you’ll also want to build a second, halfway about a meter further back.

By adding some paving to the ground around the fire pit, you completely minimize any possibility of the fire spreading outside of the contained area.

​3. Gravel Fire Pit

This is a really simple option that really helps your fire pit stand out. All you need to do is set up a traditional fire pit, as usual, by digging down into the ground.

Then you can surround the flame with some large stones, uneven is better, which gives a rough outline of the fire.

Then, take the gravel and spread it around 50cm in a circle out from the fire pit. This defines the area and creates an elegant seating space to enjoy the flames.

​4. Washing machine drum fire pit

This is an interesting alternative to the traditional fire pit, which offers some distinct advantages. It’s simple to set up and completely cost-free because you’re recycling something you already have.

Plus, compared to other fire pits this is much more versatile because you can move it to different areas as needed.

To create this fire pit, you should first source your old washing machine drum and paint or stain it as appropriate.

You should then add a metal stand onto the base or buy one pre-made that it can slot into. You can then light the fire within the drum, and it will burn hot for hours.

​5. Cinder Block Fire Pit

A cinder block fire pit offers some great style, and considering it should only cost you $40, there’s some good value here too. All you need is 20-25 cinder blocks arranged in a square with lava rocks in the center. You can find both cinder blocks and lava rocks at most garden centers.

If you're reasonably competent with DIY, a cinder block fire pit shouldn’t take more than a few hours to put together. This design offers a solid combination of simple materials that are robust and reliable—a practical alternative to a standard fire pit.

6. Brick Fire Pit

A brick fire pit allows you to repurpose some old bricks that would probably have no other use. You’ll generally not need to go out and buy anything for this option, meaning there is no cost associated with it.

You should start by digging the hole and laying bricks in the base and around the edge. You should then put them all around the rim, helping define the fire pit and protecting the flames from getting out and spreading.

It’s a simple structure but quite sturdy, and the brick should provide a solid base for several years at least.

​7. Tire Rim Fire Pit

Another alternative is the tire rim fire pit, which uses the rim from an old tractor as the base for the fire pit. This, again, allows you to recycle an old piece of equipment that you would normally throw away and means this design won’t cost anything.

This fire pit is different from the others on the list because you won’t need to do any digging. You can set it down on some concrete or heat-resistant turf and start a fire in the middle.

You may place stones all around the outside of the fire pit to create a more solid base and give a less metallic look to the piece.

This fire pit is smaller than most of the others and, therefore, best suited for smaller gardens or yards.

​8. Fire Pit Bowl

A modern alternative to the fire pit is the fire bowl. While this lacks some of the old-school feels of a fire pit, it’s much more stylish and can bring a completely different look to your garden.

Plus, it’s fueled by gas, meaning you can use it indoors because there’s no smoke.

You can buy a fire pit bowl or make it yourself. You’ll need a large concrete base to place the gas canisters within the bowl. These will be used to start and feed the flame once lit. Place small, round stones within the bowl until it is nearly full, and then you’re good to go.

​9. Stacked Stone Fire Pit

The stacked stone fire pit is more expensive than the alternatives, but you should consider it if it’s within your budget. It’s well suited for a more traditional home and gives your garden a rustic look and feel.

To create this stone fire pit, you’ll need to purchase some large, thin stones to stack on top of each other. As usual, you should dig and build the fire pit, but use these stones to create a base. Around 5-6 layers should be going around when this is complete.

This design takes you back to nature with something that feels more rugged. If you like the outdoors, this is a good option.

Conclusion

There are a lot of different fire pit models to choose from, and ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer.

It’s all down to your preference, but before you decide, consider who will be using the fire pit and how often. This will likely play an important role in which type of fire pit you build and help narrow down the options.

As with any DIY project, there are a lot of benefits, but there can also be some significant challenges, so you need to make sure you’re doing it correctly.

By finding the type of fire pit that best suits your home, you can help minimize these challenges, and hopefully, you’ll be able to improve your garden and get more enjoyment from the time you spend there.