Setting Up a Backyard Fire Pit the Right Way

The night we finally set up our fire pit, we stayed outside until eleven o’clock on a Tuesday. My kids roasted marshmallows. We talked more than we had in weeks. I realized we’d been one fire pit away from having a backyard we actually used.

Location First

Ten feet minimum from any structure — fence, house, shed, deck. Check your local ordinances; some municipalities have rules about fire pit placement or require permits. Overhead clearance matters too. Don’t set up under a tree branch you’ve stopped noticing.

In-Ground vs. Above-Ground Ring

An in-ground pit dug into gravel is the most permanent option and handles wind better. An above-ground ring is portable, easier to install, and still looks great on a patio. Either works. I went ring on a gravel pad and have no complaints.

The Gravel Base

Whether in-ground or above-ground, put the fire pit on gravel, not grass. Grass doesn’t handle radiant heat well, and the bare dirt circle you’ll create is both ugly and a mud problem after rain. A 10-foot diameter circle of pea gravel looks intentional and functions well.

Seating

Leave three to four feet between the fire and seating. Too close and you spend the whole evening dodging smoke. Adirondack chairs are the classic choice. A simple log bench costs nothing if you have the wood.

Keep It Simple to Start a Fire

Kindling at the bottom, split wood in a teepee or log cabin structure above it, one or two fire starters. No lighter fluid. Ever. It smells terrible and flares unpredictably.

Best addition I’ve ever made to this yard.