Build A Backyard Fire Pit
A backyard fire pit is the most-installed outdoor upgrade in North America and the one most often done twice.
Because the first attempt skipped the planning or the burner doesn't match the enclosure. The fire media sits too deep and smothers the flame. The propane connection runs in the wrong direction.
This guide walks you through the project the way installers approach it: choose your path first, source the right components second, and build once. Whether you're dropping a pre-built gas fire pit on a patio in an afternoon or laying block and installing a custom burner kit over a weekend, the planning decisions are the same.
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Time
Afternoon–3 weekends
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Budget
$300–$3,500
🛠️
Skill
Beginner–Intermediate
What You'll Build
A backyard fire pit is a gas or wood-burning fire feature designed as a permanent or semi-permanent part of your outdoor living space.
At the center is the burner — a stainless steel ring, H-burner, or pan burner that delivers fuel to the flame. Around the burner sits fire media (glass, lava rock, or ceramic logs) that distributes and shapes the fire. Around the media sits the enclosure — either the factory housing of a pre-built fire pit or a custom surround you build from stone, concrete block, or steel.
This project has two distinct paths and the right one depends on how much you want to customize:
Path A — Pre-built fire pit: You buy a complete, factory-built gas or propane fire pit. It arrives mostly assembled. You position it, connect the propane tank, add fire media, and light it. Total time: one afternoon. Zero masonry, zero gas fittings beyond the tank connection.
Path B — Custom DIY enclosure with burner kit: You build the surround yourself from stone, block, or steel, then install a standalone burner kit inside it. More work, more cost, more decisions — but the result is a fire pit that matches your patio's exact layout, fits a specific footprint, and can be hard-lined to natural gas for unlimited run time.
Both paths land at the same destination: a fire feature that runs clean, looks intentional, and will be running 15 years from now if you buy the right components.
Step 1 - Choose Your Fire Pit
The first decision is whether you're buying a pre-built unit or building a custom enclosure. Be honest with yourself about time, budget, and how important a custom fit is. A great pre-built fire pit will outperform a mediocre DIY build every time.
Sale
Not sure which path fits your project?
Read our Fire Pit Buyer's Guide for 2026 or browse [all fire pit burner kits →](/collections/fire-pit-burners) for the DIY path.
Step 2 -
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