Outdoor Fire Pit - Buy a Backyard Fire Pit

Having an outdoor fire pit is a great way to add campfire ambiance in your own backyard.  In my opinion, the best part of camping is sitting around the campfire with family and friends telling stories and socializing.  With a backyard fire pit this kind of socializing can take place anytime you like and not just when camping.

Of course, the backyard fire pit comes in many shapes and sizes and the one you choose will depend on its intended use and frequency of use. A most desirable fire pit would be one that is built in. A permanent outdoor fire pit placed in the patio or yard will provide many years of recreational enjoyment. It would also be a great do-it-yourself project that would cost less than $150 and take about a day to complete.

The only drawback to having a permanent outdoor fire pit is that it is permanent and cannot be moved or put away for the winter.  The space allocated for the fire pit can only be used for that purpose. 

Before you build one of these, check with your local community for any necessary permits and also with your homeowners association to see if there are any restrictions on permanent backyard fire pits.

Check out the video below for an example.

Another option is to go with a metal fire pit that stands on legs and may or may not have a screened lid.  There are many decorative styles to choose from with this option.  The least expensive ones are just plain black metal bowls on metal legs.  The more expensive ones will have decorative edges styled with mosaic tiles.  The shapes and sizes differ too from 18 inch round bowls to 30 inch squares that look like outdoor coffee tables.

Two good benefits of having a metal fire pit as opposed to a built in fire pit is that you can place one of these on your wooden deck and also you can store the metal fire pit in a shed or garage if you live in a region where the weather limits your backyard activities for a season.  If that is the case then check out the option of going with a chiminea.   The Chiminea doesn’t give you the same campfire ambiance as an outdoor fire pit will but it can provide some outdoor heat on those nights when you just want to be outside.