There are few better ways to enhance your outdoor space than an outdoor kitchen fireplace. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but you can also entertain your guests with a fire-cooked meal. There are outdoor fireplaces that are affordable to fit every budget and sized to fit any patio.
In the sections below you’ll find the 15 best outdoor kitchen fireplace styles. These styles fit within 4 broader categories: Affordable, Traditional, Rustic, and Modern. You’ll find several examples of fireplaces that you can either buy yourself or draw inspiration from.
Most Affordable Styles For Outdoor Kitchen Fireplaces
Oftentimes it seems like cost can be the biggest barrier to building yourself an outdoor kitchen fireplace. The good news here is that it’s easy to cut costs and still build a functional—and beautiful— fireplace for your outdoor cooking space.
There are a couple of different methods for achieving this, you could choose a simplistic design for your fireplace or you could roll with a built-in design that blends in flawlessly with the existing patio structure.
A Quick DIY Pizza Oven
You can build an outdoor kitchen oven in the afternoon by purchasing wood stove bricks like the ones found here. These bricks are designed to sustain the heat of many fires. You can enjoy all the great tastes of wood-fired foods without breaking the bank.
You can find several different design options online and on YouTube.
Built-In Fireplaces
A built-in fireplace saves money by making use of existing structures. One great benefit of this style is that the fireplace blends seamlessly within the existing patio structure. An example of a built-in fireplace may include examples such as a patio wall.
You can draw inspiration from this terraced outdoor fireplace. The use of the existing wall structure in this scenario saves space and allows you to use fewer materials.
Quick & Affordable- Modular Fireplaces
If you don’t want to have to sweat the details, then you can greatly benefit from a modular —or prebuilt— outdoor kitchen fireplace. This style will be more than enough to be the piece de resistance of your outdoor kitchen.
In the following section, we’ll evaluate several of the best pre-built outdoor fireplaces to fit your desires.
Most Affordable & Simple: Anyerosa Chiminea Outdoor Fireplace
| Dimensions (in.) | Height (with chimney): 50”, Width (Chimney): 6.7”, Firebox Width: 15.7” |
| Material | Water-based paint, Cast Iron |
| Weight (lbs.) | 19 |
| Current Price | Click Here |
The 1 mm thick cast iron should make this modular fireplace a durable option. With the total weight being under 20 pounds, it’ll be quite easy to move it from spot to spot. This is a common favorite among vacationers who have a favorite summer spot that they love to frequent.
A rain cap prevents ashes from billowing out the stove pipe and prevents rainwater from dousing the fire. Best of all, the wide-design firebox (15.7”) is perfect for the placement of a cooking grate.
Sunjoy Matte Black Outdoor Fireplace
| Dimensions (in.) | Length: 76.18”, Height (with chimney): 58.1”, Width: 20” |
| Material | Powder-coated Steel |
| Weight | 109.13 |
| Current Price | Click Here |
The Sunjoy Matte Black has a simplistic design but delivers. A steel matte finish has accents of cement. At only 109 pounds, this fireplace looks authentic but is easy to move. The 20” log holder plus the firebox space is large enough to support a sizable cooking grate.
Among the best features are the two shelves on either side of the fireplace. This makes it easy to store items such as logs, pans, and cooking utensils.
Sunjoy Copper Outdoor Fireplace
| Dimensions (in.) | Length: 81.5”, Height (with chimney): 48.03”, Width: 24.02” |
| Material | Rust-resistant, powder-coated steel, finished with manufactured stone |
| Weight | 385.81 |
| Current Price | Click Here |
The Sunjoy Outdoor Fireplace looks much like the traditional fireplace that you may have in your last vine room. The rust-resistant steel makes it durable for outdoor use while the manufactured stone adds an artistic touch.
One nice feature is the large chimney that ushers ash and smoke away from your outdoor kitchen. Built-in shelves on either side can serve as storage space for your outdoor kitchen. Rounding out the best features are the mesh doors which are both decorative and useful for keeping the fire within the box.
Best Traditional Style Fireplaces
A traditional style fireplace is made out of a material that you would typically associate with fireplaces. Materials include stalwarts such as brick and stone. There’s a certain amount of beauty in tradition- if you are willing to undertake the task of construction (or hire someone who can).
In the section below, you’ll be introduced to the best options and you do decide to go with the traditional design style.
Stacked Stones- Belgard Beaufort Series
- Stone height: 4”
- Gravel Aggregate Base- No need for concrete slab
- Alternating light & dark color bricks (Shelby & Midnight)
- Design Schematic: 2 wood boxes and a fireplace
Natural stone fireplaces give an authentic look while offering simple construction. You can be inspired by the Beaufort Series from Belgard. An alternating color pattern of stones with dark and light accents offers an ideal contrast.
The installation method includes the use of either a clean angular stone or an angular gravel fill. With an 18-inch gravel leveling pad, there will be no need for cement.
Brick Pizza Oven- Bordeaux By Belgard
- Several different color options with light and dark accents: examples such as sienna, pewter, buff & midnight bricks
- Total Height of 92”: Top unit 50” and bottom unit 42”
- Total Width of 59”
- Designed for 4 different cooking methods
Have you ever dreamed of having a pizza oven? Well, your fantasy is closer to reality than you might think. One such example of a design plan is the Bordeaux brick oven by Belgard.
The design is simplistic and yet rewarding. A pizza oven does not have to be gargantuan in size. There are two sections: a fireplace and a chimney, and that’s pretty much it.
Tombstone Design- Etsy
- 12 feet wide in total & 48 inches deep at the center of the structure
- Curved shelves and chimney- unique design
- Arched fireplace & fireboxes
- The area above fireplace is large enough for a TV
You can find the plans for the Tombstone design on Etsy. The greatest advantage of this design is the shelf space, including a mantle. This affords the builder an excellent opportunity to decorate their patio space. It doubles as a useful space for storage.
The design calls for the use of a cinder block and mortar structure. You can easily find mortar for purchase online, such as this Cleanburn Castable Refractory Mortar.
Refractory Style Fireplace
- Clean face design, conserves use of materials
- The design plan has a hearth in front of the firebox
- Stainless steel screens for view of flames
- Traditional brick structure
The Refractory style fireplace carries a traditional look. The term “refractory” refers to the design of the firebox itself. The interior walls are slanted so that the rear wall is smaller than the opening. With this design, you can fit larger logs and items, such as pots, over the grate.
Best Rustic Style Fireplaces
Rustic conjures up images of primitive, almost unrefined design. However, rustic-style kitchen fireplaces are among the most beautiful and practical. This includes kitchen fireplaces that are made out of materials such as stucco or stacked stone. It’s the type of fireplace that conjures up the comforting memories of your grandparents’ home.
Mediterranean Stucco Firestone
- Simple and affordable
- Mold-resistant material
- Neutral colors
- Easy to repair
Stucco offers up a simple—and yet quite elegant— design option. You are instantly transported to the sea-scented air of Italy and Greece. Best of all, stucco is perfect for outdoor kitchens, since it is resistant to mold.
This is an excellent option for the DIY enthusiast. You can find a pre-bagged stucco finish that already consists of the ideal formula of cement, lime, and sand mixed. You can make your formula with materials that you can find at the local store.
It’s also simple to repair existing stucco with Ready-Mix Stucco Patch.
Rugged Bluestone Compact Fireplace
- Affordable and simple to build
- You can assembly kits such as this one
- Functional, more than kits the job done
- Beautiful blue stone
It’s hard to get more rustic than a simple bluestone DIY build. You don’t need a large yard to fit a fireplace such as the one in the assembly kit linked above. It also won’t break the bank. The firebox in the assembly kit, for example, is large enough to fit a 2 ft. x 2 ft. grate.
Of course, you could draw inspiration from this assembly kit to use any brick of your choosing if you do not wish to use bluestone.
Brick Fireplace With Extensive Hearth
- Large firebox
- Works best in patios with lots of space
- Enough room to sit on the hearth
Another great rustic design option is a simple brick fireplace with an extensive hearth, such as this Villawood Outdoor Fireplace. With the extra hearth space in front of the fire, the door is opened for many opportunities such as using it for cooking prep or you can sit there on a cold day.
Best Modern Style Fireplaces
If you are in search of a contemporary design, then you may find the fireplaces below more to your liking. Modern style design includes sleek lines, minimalist features, and often neutral colors. In terms of materials, you’ll typically see either metal or concrete.
Concrete Outdoor Fireplace
- Simple design comes pre-fabricated but can be DIY as well
- Affordable
- Can come with a grill rack for BBQ
- Examples include: Wayfair Big Horn Outdoors Fireplace
A concrete outdoor fireplace affords you the greatest in terms of both practicality and cost-effectiveness. The Wayfair concrete fireplace is just under 80”, or approximately 6 ½ feet tall. It comes with a grill rack, easy for BBQ.
For the initiated, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to build your own. If maximum sustainability is your priority, then it’s hard to beat concrete. This material is naturally non-combustible. There is no need for harsh chemicals during the manufacturing process to keep the material fireproof.
Contemporary Steel Fireplaces
You can get a good feel of the true potential of steel by looking at luxury fireplaces such as the Escea EK Series. The Ember Generator has 13-point adjustable cooking plates, grills, hooks, and even a pizza oven. The point is that steel offers a great deal of flexibility because it is a much more malleable material than bricks or stacked stones.
Realistically, you could roll with something as simple as the Dewolf Fire Knight. Already at first glance, you can see how affordable steel is as a material. Then you notice the malleability, or the opportunity to shape the fireplace into a shape that fits your outdoor patio.
Yes, there’s plenty of customization with stone and bricks but this requires the builder to spend time carefully making cuts. All it takes is a good welder to fabricate the desired design for a steel fireplace.
Alloy Steel Modular Fireplace
- Cost-Effective, Pre-Built
- Sturdy, durable design
- Storage box for firewood at the bottom
- Stylish log rack
Alloy steel fireplaces, such as the modular one found here, are a cost-effective way to do outdoor fireplaces. One of the greatest characteristics is the fact that you could theoretically move the fireplace at any time. This is a big bonus if you are unsure of what the plans hold for your outdoor living space.
You can of course find many options for modular steel fireplaces such as this. You could even bring one to a seasonal outdoor living space such as a seasonal cabin or camping spot.
Final Thoughts
You should have no trouble finding an outdoor kitchen fireplace that fits your budget and patio space needs. Even if you are not interested in doing a DIY build or hiring a contractor, you could purchase a modular set online.
The advantages of having an outdoor kitchen fireplace are clear. You can entertain your guests in all four seasons, thanks to the warmth that an outdoor fireplace provides.
