How to Install a Fire Pit

By Alana Luna

August 12, 2024

You have the marshmallows, the graham crackers and the chocolate bars — but how are you going to heat up those tasty s’mores? Learning how to install a fire pit puts delicious, toasty dessert treats within reach, but there are other benefits, too.

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Whether you’re looking to cuddle up with a loved one under the stars or just score some heat during chillier months, a DIY fire pit is a home improvement project that pays off in a multitude of ways.

How to Install a Backyard Fire Pit: Step-by-Step Instructions

A basic wood-burning or gas-powered fire pit is one of the easiest backyard upgrades you can install on your own. All you need is time, the right tools and a solid plan.

Step 1: Select a Location and Choose the Fuel Type

Pick a safe location that’s far away from any flammable structures, plants or trees.

Choose from the four main types of fire pits:

Natural gas fire pits are the most labor-intensive, as professional gas line installation costs time and money.
Propane fire pits can be plumbed in directly or hooked to a propane tank, just like a grill.
Gel fuel fire pits are popular because they utilize an alcohol-based gel that’s contained and smokeless.
Traditional wood-burning fire pits are the easiest to build and replenish, but you’ll need to clean up ash and debris between lightings.

Step 2: Gather the Necessary Tools and Materials

Just like a good chef, you need to gather your mise en place — all the stuff you’ll need for your masterpiece — before you get cooking. In this case, building a fire pit requires at least some of the following equipment and supplies:

Shovel, trowel and rake
Level
Leveling sand
Tape measure
Wheelbarrow
Walls or rocks for a retaining wall
Protective gear, including gloves and safety goggles
Fuel or wood/kindling

Larger pits and those requiring natural gas pipe installation will require additional tools and expert oversight.

Step 3: Prepare the Site and Build a Base

For safety and aesthetic reasons, your fire pit should be about 1 foot deep. Sinking the pit 1 foot into the ground creates a natural secondary border (in addition to the physical one you’re building below), but it also lowers the tip of the flames so everyone gathered around the pit can still see each other.

After you dig your hole, level out the soil in that depression and consider how you want it to look. Add gravel or a layer of lava rock for stability and a cleaner, more pulled-together base. Even more importantly, rock layers facilitate drainage so rainwater doesn’t pool and ruin your pit.

Keep in mind that local regulations may require you to dig your pit even deeper. Look up open fire and backyard fire pit laws in your area before you get started.

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Step 4: Outline and or Install Your Pit

To position the fire pit in your yard, use river rocks, cinder blocks or bricks to create an outline of how you want your actual fire pit ring to look. Your design should be large enough to accommodate the fuel source but not so large it encroaches on the seating area or gets too close to flammable structures. If you plan on nesting a store-bought metal pit inside your pit ring, you need to measure carefully to ensure proper fit.

Check that your outline is well inside the foundation you laid, too. You want any ash and sparks to land on the border of fireproof rocks instead of in your grass or on guests.

Step 5: Complete the Basic Build

Now's the time to build up the outer rim of your fire pit. Depending on the materials you’ve chosen, you might be using bricks and mortar or stacking rocks. Check that each layer is level — leveling sand can help you even out bricks that are unstable due to the rocks or soil below.

If you purchased a prefabricated pit, place it right on your already laid foundation and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Otherwise, build a fire using kindling and logs.

Step 6: Put the Finishing Touches on Your DIY Fire Pit

You can read up on how to install a fire pit until you’re a veritable bonfire of knowledge, but it takes a keen eye to make the whole picture come together. Once your fire pit is in place, think about how you’d like the surrounding area to look.

You could:

Plant some greenery to incorporate more Mother Nature
Surround the pit with comfy seating, including a bench and a couple of zero-gravity chairs
Decorate your fire pit ring with colorful fireproof elements, like hand-painted rocks or smooth beach glass
Continue your DIY adventure by installing an outdoor kitchen, a refrigerator, a misting system or a hot tub.

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