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How to Build a Firepit for your Outdoor Space

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Spruce up your backyard with this fun and easy DIY Outdoor Fire Pit. It's the perfect outdoor project to complete in a weekend.Have an empty spot in your yard that would be perfect for a firepit?  I’ve got some great instructions for you today on how to build a firepit!

Spruce up your backyard with this fun and easy DIY Outdoor Fire Pit. It's the perfect outdoor project to complete in a weekend.

One of the items on our never ending to-do list was to put in some sort of outdoor fire pit.  We have such a pretty outdoor setting and a perfect little clearing down by our dry creek bed, it seemed like a waste to not be enjoying every part of it.  But there always seemed to be something more important on the list and our fire pit project kept getting put off.

 Last October, we had a multi-family camping trip and stayed at an awesome RV park in New Braunfels.  The park had a heated pool, game room, a big bouncing pillow/trampoline thing and best of all, a great big fire pit with lots of seating.  We had such a great time around the fire pit on that trip, that my hubby got motivated to get our fire pit done in time for Thanksgiving.  (We were hosting Thanksgiving weekend for 18 people.)

Building fire pit turned out to be such an easy project, we’re not exactly sure why we waited so long to get it done!  (Easy if you don’t count all the shoveling and unloading of the retaining wall blocks my hubby had to do.)

How to make a fire pit
I’ve written up how he put the fire pit together.  I don’t have any photos of the process, but it’s very simple and photo’s aren’t really necessary.  (My hubby generally starts these projects on Saturdays when he’s home with the kids and I’m at work.  And he’s not one to read directions, let alone stop and take photos to document his steps…  😉 )
 
How to make a very simple and easy firepit.

How to build a Firepit

Materials used:

  • Decomposed granite, sand or pea gravel.  You could get away with a couple of bags, but we chose to make a 14 foot diameter circle around the fire pit.  (For safety and aesthetic reasons.) We got 2 yards of crushed/decomposed granite for the circle and pathway and still had some left over.  It was $40 per yard plus delivery.
  • optional landscape retaining wall adhesive (we found this at Lowes too.)
  • Shovels, rakes, wheelbarrow and other misc gardening supplies, plus a very strong back
Instructions.
 
1.  Check on your city and local codes and restrictions to find out what is required for a fire pit. 
2.  Chose an open spot, 10 to 20 feet away from trees, bushes, grass and other flammable items. 
3.  Use rake and or shovel to clear out grass and debris and smooth out fire pit area.
4.  If you are plan to create a circular sitting area similar to ours, you might want to mark out the area first using a measuring tape and marking the ground with spray paint.  (Have someone stand in the center of the fire pit area with the end of a measuring tape and the 2nd person can walk around at the desired measurement and mark the ground in a circle.) 
5.  The retaining wall block I linked to above, will form a perfect 4 foot circle when stacked angled edge to angled edge.  Lay out your first layer of retaining wall bock directly on the ground. 
6.  Dig out about 4 to 6 inches of dirt from inside the fire pit circle.  (You may need to dig out more or less depending on your local code.) 
7.  Stack the second and third layer of retaining wall block.  Fill the bottom of the fire pit with  4 to 6 inches of decomposed granite, sand or pea gravel. 
8.  Add the 4th row of retaining wall block.  We chose to glue the 4th row to the third row with landscape retaining wall adhesive.  If you do this, just follow the directions for the adhesive. 
9.  If creating a seating area, add the rest of your gravel, back filling around the fire pit.  Smooth out, add chairs, outdoor string lights and enjoy!   (We found a resin version of these chairs at loves for much less $$.)
Now, if after reading all that, you don’t want to go through the hassle.  Amazon has fabulous products that would work just as well for a bit more $$.

 
 
We are marshmallow roasting pros now…
 
 
 
Part of our local code says that we are fine if we are burning for the purpose of outdoor cooking, so we always have a pack of marshmallows or hot dogs nearby.  (Plus a garden hose for safety.)
 
My hubby had a special grate made by a welder for easier cooking…  Similar grate on amazon.
 
 
 
And now we can cook sausage and beans to our heart’s content, redneck style of course…
 
I wanted to hang lights in the trees and searched all over the internet for just the right globe lights.  Found them here on Amazon.

 
Globe lights from Target for $12.99. (25 ft)

That’s the water hose you see in the picture below…  (I forgot to move it until to late.)

I took some of these pics in the fall when we still had leaves, but the entire pathway wasn’t finished.  And a few more pictures yesterday…

 
So what do you think?  Are you ready to build yourself a fire pit?

Like this project? Don’t forget to pin it!     

If you are looking for a few more semi-easy outdoor projects you can do yourself, be sure to check these out as well:

How to Make a Bubble Fountain in a Pot

 

Make a Wood and Rope Tree Swing

 

No Sew Outdoor Patio Curtains (from drop cloths)

 

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Comments

  1. This is gorgeous! We have a fire pit that needs a little tlc, so this is super inspiring! Thanks for sharing on the Take A Look Tuesday link up!

    Reply

  2. I am LOVING this! I don't really like our portable fire pit and we've been wanting to do something fun in our yard!!!! I am going to have hubs check our local code so we maybe we can do this too!!! Thanks!

    Reply

  4. wonderful, and i especially love it with the grill on top. i thought those were just plain bricks making up the fire pit-we have a ton of them laying around. do you think that would work, or it would have to be retaining wall blocks?

    Reply

    • You can use bricks, no problem. We used the retaining wall stones since we didn't have any bricks on hand and the retaining wall stones from Lowes are already curved, so they were super easy to lay out.
      Good luck!
      ~Jamie

      Reply

  5. I love this! We don't have quite the backyard you do but we do have one of those metal fire pits and hate how small it is, and the fact that it gets rusty when my husband leaves it out. We've been wanting to do some sort of stone fire pit as well. I'm going to have to show him this! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  6. How beautiful! I love the winding path, the lights and of course the fire pit. We have a big side yard and this would be perfect. Pinning this so I can show my hubby!

    Reply

  11. Wow, this is gorgeous!! We've been wanting to put in a firepit but we need to have ours covered because of municipal laws. I wish I knew a welder to make a grate cover for us… I'm still going to save this because if we ever find a cover, I'd love to make my own!

    Reply

    • You can search google or craigslist to find someone who does welding repair or makes/repairs iron gates. They are definitely out there. I just asked my hubby, he paid $150 for the cover to be made.
      ~Jamie

      Reply

    • Hmm, we made this 6 months ago, so I don't remember… I will measure next time I go out there and will follow up…

      Reply

  17. The retaining wall blocks in the linked URL are completely different from the blocks used in your fire pit. The linked blocks have a protruding lip on the inner, bottom edge that locks each row just inside the row below it and prevents them from being stacked vertically as in your pit. These are the types of blocks I've found at home improvement stores, but what I need are the blocks you used in your pit. Do you know where your blocks came from and what they are called?

    Reply

    • We bought ours at Lowes in Austin Texas. Have you been to Lowes? My hubby said next time he goes (which is several times a week,) he will get a skew #. And your lowes can look for them that way.
      ~Jamie

      Reply

    • Great. Thank you very much. I'll keep an eye out for that number if you can get it. I've only checked Lowes' website so far. I'll have to get over to the store and see if they have anything helpful to say.

      Reply

  19. we make a similar type of fire pit every year and then stack the bricks up next to the house when it gets too hot again. your yard is gorgeous and i'm totally jealous of that grate!

    Reply

  20. I love your firepit (already pinned!). Wondering about the decomposed granite…I want to put this in our back yard, but every fall we have tons of pine needles fall. I need to be able to blow these off…is the path/sitting area hard or will the decomposed granite blow away with the needles? Thanks so much for your help! Patty

    Reply

    • Thanks! After a while the granite becomes fairly packed and would most likely weather a light blowing fairly well. (We blow our off in the spring.)
      Good luck.

      Reply

  21. We’re also not loving our portable pit and this looks so easy I don’t think we can justify NOT trying it this summer! Thanks for awesome idea!

    Reply

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