23 Outdoor Fire Pit Ideas for Every Style and Budget

Dreaming of a backyard fire pit but worried about the cost? Building your own is surprisingly affordable!

Unlike pricey store-bought conventional or smokeless models, many DIY fire pit projects cost just $50 to $150.

You can easily achieve this using inexpensive or repurposed materials like stone, bricks, pavers, concrete, or retaining wall blocks.

Read on for creative DIY fire pit ideas that fit any style and budget, bringing that dream backyard feature within reach.

Stone Fire Pit

PinFresh Mommy Blog

A stone fire pit is one of the simplest and most stylish fire pits you can DIY.

Follow this easy tutorial to make one out of concrete landscaping stones.

Get the tutorial at Fresh Mommy Blog.

Rustic “Smokeless” Fire Pit

PinHouse Mix

There’s no such thing as a 100 percent smokeless fire pit, but there are certainly ways to reduce the smoke.

Follow this tutorial using a slatted fire ring and pavers to create your own “smokeless” version!

Get the tutorial at House Mix.

DIY Easy Fire Pit With Pavers

Pin Keeping It Simple

This fire pit from Keeping It Simple can be built in a few hours using retaining wall blocks, sand, and pavers.

It’s great for DIY beginners because it does not require grout, mortar, or concrete, making it a perfect starter masonry project.

It’s inexpensive too, costing around $50.

DIY Curved Fire Pit Bench

Pin A Beautiful Mess

Just because you have a smaller yard, doesn’t mean you can’t have a great entertaining area.

A Beautiful Mess complemented a DIY fire pit with a DIY fire pit bench that is still small space-friendly.

The curved bench mimics the round shape of the fire pit, making it easy to fit in the corner of your yard.

Concrete Pavers DIY Fire Pit

Pin House Mix

Stacked pavers with a whitewashed brick effect add a modern rustic look to this DIY fire pit from House Mix.

Besides the pavers, sand, gravel, and edging stones round out the list of materials.

Clocking in at roughly $400 to make, this fire pit’s color scheme looks beachy and luxe.

Repurposed DIY Fire Pit

Pin Most Lovely Things

Most Lovely Things made a simple DIY fire pit with a repurposed dye vat from a secondhand store.

Tree stump side tables around the fire pit seating area add a nice touch.

If you plan on repurposing a second-hand vessel, make sure it’s made from fireproof material and never forget to add a fire-resistant coating.

DIY Koi Pond Fire Pit

Pin Lucy’s Lampshade

Lucy’s Lampshades proves that anything can be turned into a fire pit, even an old koi pond.

As long as the size is correct, old garden ponds work perfectly as fire pits, since they are usually lined with non-combustible rocks.

Make sure the pond has stone or concrete lining, not PVC, EPDM (synthetic rubber), or other flammable pond liners.

Repurposed Washing Machine Drum

Pin HGTV

If you’re going for the look of a stylish, pricey fire pit for practically nothing, it helps to get inventive.

A stainless-steel washing machine drum is a sleek (and budget-friendly) receptacle perfect for a small-yard fire pit.

Stainless steel holds up to heat, and the holes throughout the drum allow for the oxygen flow a fire needs.

Modern-Style DIY Metal and Glass Fire Pit

Pin The Art of Doing Stuff

For less than $25, The Art of Doing Stuff crafted this contemporary fire pit out of glass frame coverings, a metal planter, and a metal grate, with some river rocks for decoration.

If you cannot find a metal planter, a terracotta planter will work just as well.

Salvaged Brick DIY Fire Pit

Pin B Vintage Style

B Vintage Style used salvaged bricks to create an in-ground fire pit.

This style looks nice in a large backyard since there is an extra ring of bricks around the center one for added visual interest.

The minimalist design is easy to mow around, making maintenance a breeze.

DIY Mini Fire Pit

Pin Evansville Living

This mini fire pit from Evansville Living was cast in concrete from a flower pot that dictated its size and shape.

This design works well for a small backyard and can also be placed on a tabletop for easy s’mores making.

DIY Square Fire Pit

Pin Deals, Steals, and Heels

Costing well under $100, this square DIY fire pit from the Deals, Steals, and Heels blog is a stylish and simple backyard design element constructed from cement wall blocks in a sand bed.

These bricks have a sleek, minimalist shape that still looks natural, and a stately silhouette works well for larger backyards.

Retaining Wall Blocks DIY Fire Pit

Pin The Inspired Room

The Inspired Room combined a do-it-yourself ring of 44 Allen + Roth retaining wall blocks from Lowe’s Home Improvement store with a factory-made, ready-to-go metal fire pit kit.

The result is a fire pit with a cozy, natural-stone look.

Easy Four-Step DIY Fire Pit

Pin A Beautiful Mess

This easy four-step DIY fire pit from A Beautiful Mess has a clean modern look.

The backyard fire pit is made from concrete landscaping stones and a metal fire pit ring.

Using a fire pit ring makes this project extremely beginner-friendly, and the concrete is inexpensive and durable.

DIY Backyard Fire Pit

Pin Yellow Brick Home

Yellow Brick Home made a DIY backyard fire pit that cost $450 and came together in a single day.

Instead of sourcing individual materials, this DIYer used a kit to make the process easy (and great for beginners).

A set of matching armchairs and mismatched blankets add coziness that encourages lingering around the fire on chilly nights.

Tire Rim Tower Fire Pit

Pin DIY Joy

As long as you have access to an angle grinder and can get your hands on two old truck or car tire rims that are the same size, you can make an industrial-looking fire pit like this one from DIY Joy.

Car rims would be a great choice for a small space, while you can use truck rims for a larger yard.

DIY Leftover Brick Fire Pit

Pin Mimzy & Company

Mimzy & Company used leftover bricks from a fireplace project to build this large round DIY brick fire pit.

Leftover bricks are the most budget-friendly bricks you can use since new bricks cost more and reclaimed bricks often are more expensive than new bricks.

Simple Brick DIY Fire Pit

Pin Hammers N Hugs

Leftover bricks from another project were used to make this DIY fire pit from Hammers N Hugs which is the centerpiece of an outdoor gathering space outfitted with seating and decorated with plants and string lights.

Laying the bricks with small gaps in between them allows for ventilation.

Fire Pit in the Grass

You don’t always have to build a structure around your fire pit or keep it on a patio or deck where space may be limited.

If your grassy backyard has ample space, you can place it anywhere in the yard it makes sense.

Tucked Away Fire Pit

Consider creating a tucked-away area for your fire pit like designer Courtney B Smith did here.

A low wall creates a clear delineation of space without blocking views.

Oversize Fire Pit

Another design by The Layered House, this setting features an oversized fire pit in the center of comfortable seating.

It takes center stage as the star of the space.

Poolside Concrete Fire Pit

Fire and water go together brilliantly, so consider incorporating a fire feature if you’ve got a pool in your backyard.

Your options are endless in terms of style; this long, concrete fire pit doubles as a table which helps save space while lending a nice ambiance.

Black Half-Moon Fire Pit

White, gray, and rustic tones tend to be the default choices for outdoor fire pits, but charcoal black lends a sophisticated urban aesthetic.

This half-moon design looks especially sharp sitting on its pedestal.

Deck Fire Pit

Make your open-air deck feel more welcoming with a fire pit and ample, oversize seating.

This large white fire pit table fits in beautifully at this Spanish home.

Under-the-Pergola Fire Pit

To create the feeling of a cozy nook, consider placing your fire pit and seating underneath a pergola like Forge & Bow did here.

This setup not only feels like an intentional space but allows for ample airflow above and around the fire pit.

Low Table Fire Pit

Consider a low profile for your outdoor fire pit, as pictured here in a backyard design by Jeffrey Neve.

Beachy Fire Pit

Those who are lucky enough to have a home right on the beach should absolutely take advantage of their surroundings.

A rustic DIY fire pit nestled into rocks softened by the ocean, wooden cane chairs, and tree trunks make this an earthy retreat.

By the Dining Table Fire Pit

A fire pit tucked into the corner of your patio—ideally right next to your dining area—will help keep you warm during all those al fresco meals.

Opt for a smaller DIY fire pit if space is limited.

Metal Geometric Chiminea

Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, proven here by a geometric chiminea crafted from metal.

It offers a hefty dose of funky intrigue and lends itself to a variety of aesthetics ranging from retro to rustic to modern.

Sunken Fire Pit

The sunken living room trend from the ’70s has made a modern-day reprise, and you can recreate a similar feel outdoors via a sunken fire pit.

Retro Chiminea

Speaking of vintage-inspired design, consider a retro-modern chiminea like the one pictured here.

It acts as the design star of the space while keeping you warm and inviting you to linger longer.

Solo Fire Pit

Fire pits are great for s’mores with friends and swapping stories with family, but they’re also a great place to zen out all on your own.

A seating arrangement for one, then, is great for the more meditative sort.

Fire Pit With String Lights

fire pit seating area outside behind wedding ceremony space

A good fire pit provides illumination on its own, but what really adds to the vibe is a set of string lights.

Just a few of these can really set the mood, especially in the summertime.

Barn Fire Pit

There’s nothing like the great outdoors.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a more lush, rustic locale, then a fire pit is the perfect way to spend time with friends and family under the stars.

Adirondack chairs make for the perfect companion in this context.

Mountain Fire Pit

Arguably the best context for a fire pit is in a mountain region.

You have a better view of the stars, the view of the surrounding area is beautiful, and natural beauty is at an all-time high.

It doesn’t have to be too rustic, either—unless you want it to be!