How to Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

A fire pit is a simple outdoor addition that can bring you years of enjoyment. Sitting around the fire after a summer barbecue or on a cool autumn night with family and friends is an activity that many people enjoy. You can roast marshmallows over the fire or lay a grill on top and cook some hot dogs. A fire pit is an inexpensive project that gives you another way to enjoy your back yard.

Things You'll Need

  • Pole
  • Hammer
  • String
  • Tape measure
  • Spray paint
  • Shovel
  • Gravel
  • Rake
  • Sand
  • Tamp
  • Stone
  • Mortar
  • Trowel
  • Chipping hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check with your local zoning board regarding any building codes that you will have to follow and any permits that you will need to obtain.

    • 2

      Decide where to build your fire pit and how large it will be. Follow all building codes, and use common sense when deciding where to place it. For example, don't build a fire pit next to a wooden structure.

    • 3

      Mark off the area where the fire pit will go by driving a pole into the middle of the area and attaching a string that is half the diameter of the fire pit (you would use a 2-foot-long string for a pit that will be 4 feet across, for example). Attach a can of spray paint to the other end of the string and trace the perimeter of the circle by walking around it, spraying the ground to mark the perimeter.

    • 4

      Remove the pole and dig out the marked-off area, going 12 inches deep.

    • 5

      Fill the hole with 6 inches of gravel, smoothing it out with a rake each time you add more gravel to the hole.

    • 6

      Add a layer of sand 6 inches deep on top of the gravel layer. Smooth the sand out with a rake, then tamp it down to compact it.

    • 7

      Begin laying stones around the outside edge of the pit, filling in the gaps with mortar. Stagger the stones in each new layer to improve the strength of the fire pit's wall, and wipe off any mortar that gets on the front of the stones. Shape the stones with a chipping hammer if necessary.

    • 8

      Build the wall 8 to 12 inches high, unless your zoning board requires a higher wall; if so, build to their standard. Give the mortar three to four days to set.

    • 9

      Fill your fire pit with wood, and you're ready to gather around a fire.