What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (2024)

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (1)

fire pit materials

By: Claire Ruhlin

Anoutdoor fire pit or fire table is an excellent way to add entertainment and value to your outdoor space.Our fire pit buying guide breaks down everything you need to know in order to choose the best fire pit for your needs, but here, we’re diving into fire pit materials. What materials should you look out for—and what are the benefits of each?

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (2)

The impact of fire pit materials

The material of your outdoor fire pit informs not only its look and style but also its longevity, maintenance, and price. Heavier materials like concrete are potentially heavy, making them ideal for more permanent fixtures, while materials like cor-ten steel take on a patina over time.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (3)

Carbon Steel fire pits

Carbon steel is an exceptionally durable and low-maintenance material that can resist high heat and intense weather conditions.Fire Pit Art offers sculptural carbon steel fire pits handcrafted in Tennessee and available in a variety of sizes and unique shapes. (Inquire for custom options.) Carbon steel is a great option for both wood-burning or gas fire pits. Most carbon steel fire pits will take on a beautiful, maintenance-free patina that will darken over time.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (4)

Cor-ten Steel fire pits

Often referred to as “weathering steel,” COR-TEN steel oxidizes and takes on a rustlike patina, which serves as a protective coating and works to prevent corrosion (full oxidation takes close to six months).Cor-ten steel fire pits are also incredibly durable throughout all four seasons and are ​​available in wood, natural gas, and liquid propane fuel types.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (5)

Stainless Steel fire pits

Stainless steel is an ideal material for withstanding head and weather—as well as resisting rust. Stainless steel fire pits are generally higher priced—but this is due to their high quality and durability. You’ll typically find stainless steel fire pits in brushed or powder-coated finishes. Stainless steel will also last for yearswith the proper care.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (6)

Concrete fire pits

Concrete fire pits are not only attractive, but they’re also incredibly durable and don’t chip, patina, or peel over time. Concrete is typically best suited for natural gas and liquid propane fuel systems. Because concrete is a heavier material, it’s typically not advised to place concrete fire pits on raised wooden decks. However, brands such asDEKKO Concrete produce lighter-weight concrete fire pits that are less than half the weight of other concrete options, making them easier to ship, move, and install.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (7)

Marine-grade polymer fire pits

Marine-grade polymer is made with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is extremely durable and resistant to rotting, swelling, fading, and warping. A well-known producer of HDPE furniture,POLYWOOD’s proprietary HDPE lumber is made using landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastics. When it comes to fire pits, the polymer content allowsmarine-grade polymer fire pits to be made in a variety of colors.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (8)

Natural stone fire pits

Natural stone is most commonly used for permanent fire pit installations. This material features a naturally textured finish and is also highly durable throughout almost any weather conditions. You’ll typically find both wood-burning and gas stone fire pits. R&R Living fire pits feature high-quality, beautiful handmade finishes.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (9)

What is the best fire pit material for me?

The best fire pit material depends on what kind of look, longevity, maintenance, and cost you’re looking for. AuthenTEAK exclusively offershigh-quality, long-lasting fire pits and fire tables from reputable brands, so choosing a fire pit material comes down to your needs and preferences. For more information on selecting the perfect fire pit, view ourFire Pit Buying Guide.

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials (2024)

FAQs

What is the best fire pit material for you? Our guide to fire pit materials? ›

Carbon steel is a great option for both wood-burning or gas fire pits. Most carbon steel fire pits will take on a beautiful, maintenance-free patina that will darken over time.

What is the best material for a fire pit? ›

Stainless Steel: This material boasts a modern, industrial look, stainless-steel fire pits are durable, lightweight, and one of the best fire pits for handling the outdoor elements. Copper: Copper offers a warm, shiny look to a fire pit, creating a touch of warmth to your backyard or patio.

What is the best base for a fire pit? ›

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Fire Pit? To create a safe, sturdy foundation for a fire pit, we use a gravel paver base. Other common materials used for the bottom of a fire pit are sand, lava stones, dirt, fire glass and concrete slabs.

What is best to use on a fire pit? ›

Hardwood. High-quality seasoned hardwood is another classic material to burn in a fire pit as it burns steadily and well. Additionally, like charcoal, it produces a lot of heat without releasing poisonous toxins. And high-quality hardwoods will result in a cleaner burn, meaning even less smoke.

What is the best metal for a firepit? ›

Cast iron is sometimes seen as the superior choice for fire pits due to its heat retaining properties and durability, allowing you to create a lot more heat by burning either wood or coal. As cast iron is a thicker and denser metal, it takes longer to heat up than steel but holds the heat for longer.

Which wood is best for fire pit? ›

Seasoned wood will burn more efficiently and keep your fire pit clean. Usually, choosing the best wood for fire pits comes down to hardwoods vs softwoods. Due to their density and dryness, we'd recommend using hardwoods, like beech or ash, since they will ignite a low-maintenance fire that can burn for hours.

What is the best stone for a fire pit base? ›

Limestone is strong enough to withstand years of exposure to fire and absorbs heat moderately, making a comfortable fire pit to sit around for extended periods of time.

Does my fire pit need sand? ›

An inch of sand at the bottom of a metal fire pit can help to protect the bowl from the intense heat of the fire. Whether your fire pit is portable or permanent, having sand at the bottom is a handy precaution. If you ever need to smother the fire in a hurry, you can grab a nearby shovel to use the sand.

What style of fire pit is best? ›

Shape and Style

A round fire pit is the most common shape, especially for wood-burning models. Like a campfire, this shape emits heat evenly around the perimeter to help ensure a warm seat for every guest.

What fire pit gives off the most heat? ›

What type of fire pit gives off the most heat? Wood fire pits give off more heat than propane pits, as wood burns at a higher temperature. Using dry, dense wood will make the fire hotter.

What to put under an outdoor fire pit? ›

Using paver sand under a fire pit helps to level the ground and provide some stability for the bricks. I added about 1.5 inches to 2 inches of paver sand, water to make it more compact and then tampered it. You can't tamper more than about 2 inches at a time.

How to make the best fire pit? ›

  1. Plan Location and Layout. A fire pit should be built at least 15 feet from any structure and close to a water source. ...
  2. Determine the Size. The size of your fire pit will be determined by your metal fire ring. ...
  3. Dig a Hole. ...
  4. Line Hole With Sand. ...
  5. Add Base Row. ...
  6. Place Metal Ring. ...
  7. Insert Bricks Into Fire Pit Floor. ...
  8. Add Pea Gravel.

What is the best material around a fire pit? ›

Cost-Effectiveness and Easy Maintenance

Compared to other materials like concrete or pavers, gravel is a cost-effective choice for your fire pit area. Bags of gravel are relatively inexpensive, making it a budget-friendly option for homeowners.

What is the longest lasting material for a fire pit? ›

Natural stone is most commonly used for permanent fire pit installations. This material features a naturally textured finish and is also highly durable throughout almost any weather conditions. You'll typically find both wood-burning and gas stone fire pits.

What material is a fire pit made of? ›

A fire pit must be constructed with materials that will withstand high temperatures. The internal wall should be made of fire brick and a fire-proof mortar or grout because it will come into direct contact with high heat. The rest of the pit can be built with masonry block, poured concrete, stone, brick or even pavers.

What to look for when buying a fire pit? ›

The fire pit you choose should strike a balance between quality and cost. Better quality will cost more, so size, style, fuel, and materials will influence the price tag. However, if you plan to use your fire pit often and for years to come, a solid design with durable materials will eventually pay for itself.

Is glass or rock better for fire pit? ›

Generally speaking, both media options are durable. However, over time, the rocks will break down and deteriorate. Depending on how often your fireplace is enjoyed, the lava rocks will need to be replaced every 1-2 years. Alternatively, fire glass will last for a much longer time than lave rock.

Is copper or steel better for fire pit? ›

Copper has a high melting point and does not corrode or rust. It's ideal for holding hot fires and withstanding exposure to rain.

References

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