Save money and get creative with these simple DIY fire pit ideas. Learn how to build DIY fire pits like a fire pit table and a circular fire pit. Get free coupons from Save.
When the weather gets chilly, there’s nothing like a cozy fire pit to help you stay warm as you enjoy time outdoors. Fire pits are fun to enjoy all year round, giving you an excuse to sip hot cocoa, gather and tell stories, and even cook your own s’mores.
Instead of purchasing a pricey fire pit at a store, you can create your own DIY fire pit with these ideas and tips. Remember to choose a fire pit location that’s away from anything that might catch fire, like trees and falling branches. Then, gather your materials and get to work to create your own warm and cozy environment in your yard.
This basic fire pit looks like a castle tower and comes together with a few simple supplies. You’ll need some drainage rocks to cover the ground under the firewood, around 40 large concrete stones, and a shovel and ice axe to carve out the pit.
First, use your shovel to dig out a pit around 3 inches deep out of the ground and around 2 feet by 2 feet wide. Use an ice axe to level the ground.
Then, pour drainage rocks or other stones into the pit and spread them out evenly. Encircle the rocks in the pit with the concrete stones. As you add more layers of rocks, stagger them so that the seams don’t line up. You can add around three to five layers of stones.
Voila! You’re ready to add firewood and start a fire! From there, you can add a grill gate and baking rack to cook treats on the fire, or top the fire pit with a spark screen to prevent sparks from flying out.
You can really use any type of circular stone material to build your fire pit. While some shapes and patterns may be a little more expensive than your average stone pieces, they can really enhance the look of your fire pit.
One option is to look for concrete tree rings, which are the circles you use at the base of a tree for flower beds. You can use these as the structure for your DIY fire pit.
If you have a small charcoal grill, you can also use that as an option inside the structure. The size of your grill will determine how many tree rings you’ll need to surround it. An easy way to measure is to know that for a 14-inch diameter grill, you’ll need about:
You don’t need a grill. As you’ll see in the last step, you can use regular firewood if you want. But the above measurements still give you a decent size fire pit once it's assembled.
To start building, you’ll first line a layer of 2 sections of 14-inch inside diameter concrete tree rings next to each other, then add 2 more sections upside-down on top of those. Like in the simple DIY fire pit instructions above, layer them so the seams don’t line up, but are rather staggered.
You can also add an outer ring layer outside of these, using the 6 sections of 24-inch inside diameter concrete tree rings. This helps extend your fire pit and adds more decorative flair to it. If you want this two-ring fire pit, start with the outer layer first.
Then, add around 2 inches worth of small stones to the center before you stack the inner rings on top. That should make both ring layers even in height. Otherwise, the smaller rings will probably be shorter due to their design.
With the vertical gap between each ring layer, you can fill that with more stones. Now you’ll have a beautiful firepit with both stone and concrete materials, that give the fire pit some variety in aesthetics.
Next up is the grill. If your grill has legs attached, unscrew them. Adjust the lower air vent opening however you want it to be once it’s inside the fire pit. A vent that’s set about half-open will result in a nice small fire. If you need to adjust the vent, make sure the grill is completely cool before you remove it from the pit.
No grill? No problem. You can add firewood to this concrete fire pit and a grate on top if you’d like.
Building a fire pit table is a little more complicated than your basic fire pit, but the results can be stunning!
First, decide whether you want to build the table structure from scratch, or if you have a table material you can deconstruct and use for your outdoor fire pit. You may be able to find a good table choice at a yard sale and get inspiration from there. Picnic tables and even wooden construction spools can be transformed into stylish fire pit tables.
Then, choose a fire pit insert and burner. Propane tanks are simple to use but will need to be refilled. Natural gas is another option, but you’ll need a natural gas line, which can be more expensive.
To build your fire pit table, you’ll want to first build a reinforced table structure. Then, insert the firepit insert and burner and connect it to your gas source. Then, add fire pit fillers like lava rock or fire glass to cover the burner.
Like any DIY fire pit, you’ll want to regularly clean your fire pit table and ensure it’s only in use while under supervision. Since this version is a little more complicated, ask your local home improvement store for custom tips based on the table you want to build or use.
Love your fire pit and enjoy spending time outside? Check out our stargazing tips. You can also learn how to create your own garden to admire as you’re relaxing by the fire.
Want to nibble by your fire pit? Check out our easy grilling ideas.
Don’t forget the s’mores! Save on groceries and goodies with coupons from Save. Get coupons delivered to your home when you sign up for our free coupon book.
