A fire pit can be a great addition to your residence. It certainly opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your whole family. However, you may not know how much it will cost to build one, which is where a fire pit cost calculator can come in handy.
A fire pit cost calculator gives you an estimated cost of how much building a fire pit will cost. This calculator factors in the type of fire pit, location, size, and materials to be used, among others.
In this article, I’ll explore the cost implications of building a fire pit in more detail. I’ll also cover the types of fire pits, materials, and ideal locations. Finally, I’ll give you a quick cost guide.
What Is a Fire Pit?
A fire pit is a fixture designed to hold fire within a hole or a similar container, preventing it from spreading. It is often intended as a relaxation spot and can be built indoors or outdoors. Fire pits come in different designs, sizes, and materials.
Factors That Affect the Cost of a Fire Pit
If you’re choosing a fire pit primarily based on cost considerations, you should be aware of the following factors that can increase or decrease the price of such a fixture.
Type
This is probably the most important factor to consider when determining the cost of having a fire pit. There are different types of fire pits based on their build and intended use, such as:
- Ready to Use. As their name implies, these are designed to be ready to use right out of the box. They cost a lot less than the others on this list.
- Prefab Models. This option comes in packs of prefabricated pieces you can assemble on your own. These usually have better quality than the ready-to-use versions. However, they also cost a lot more.
- Above-Ground Pits. These are custom-built fire pits constructed without the need to dig an actual hole in the ground. They’re more “high-end” than the previous types and are therefore more expensive.
- In-Ground Pits. These are easily the most expensive type of fire pits. They’re custom-built and require you to dig into the ground and carve out a hole. As far as fire pits go, these have the best features.
Size and Design
Size also impacts the cost of building a fire pit regardless of its type. A smaller fire pit will require fewer materials and a shorter construction time, while a bigger one will require more materials and a longer construction time. Similarly, a simple design will cost less than a complex one.
Material
Different materials can be used for building a fire pit. Examples include:
- Concrete blocks
- Fire bricks
- Field stones
Since the cost of these materials varies, the one you choose will determine how much more or less you’ll have to spend.
Fuel Type
There are different fuels used in fire pits, such as:
- Wood (the traditional option)
- Coal
- Propane
- Ethanol
You can even have an electric fire pit!
In any case, the fuel you want to use will affect how the fire pit will be built and how much it’ll cost.
For example, wood-powered pits will require a simpler setup than propane-powered ones. After all, laying pipes, getting gas tanks, and other preparations you need to make for propane- and ethanol-fuelled fire pits can add to your cost.
A few other factors that I won’t detail here are the location of the fire pit and the type of labor involved (DIY versus professional).
Fire Pit Cost Guide
After discussing some of the main factors that can affect the cost of your fire pit project, let’s now look at actual market prices. I need to emphasize that these numbers should only be used as guidelines since your specific cost will vary depending on the factors I just talked about.
According to fixr.com, the cost of a fire pit can be as cheap as $200 or as expensive as $5000. The national average is said to be about $850.
Since I cannot consider every possible variable that can come into play when costing a specific fire pit, I’ll focus on providing cost estimates for only the major factors.
Let’s start by looking at the cost of materials in relation to size.
- Concrete block: This is the cheapest material that can be used, and it costs about $3 per inch (2.54 cm).
- Brick: Brick will cost about $7 per inch (2.54 cm).
- Natural stone: This will cost about $8 per inch (2.54 cm).
- Artificial stones: Depending on the fire pit type, these can cost up to $15 per inch (2.54 cm).
The materials listed above represent the main materials used in building custom fire pits. By multiplying the cost per inch by the size of the fire pit you want to build, you can get an estimate for this primary cost.
Aside from the primary material, there are also the accessories a fire pit will require. Some of these are necessary, while others are optional.
Examples of fire pit accessories include:
- Safety screens: These prevent sparks from getting out of the pit area and will cost between $40 and $300.
- Fire grate: This will be required if your fire pit uses wood as fuel. The cost ranges between $50 and $280.
- Pit ring: This will provide support for the structure. Some folks even use this as a standalone fire pit. This will cost between $50 and $250.
- Lava rock: These rocks will improve the performance of any fire pit. They store heat for hours and also help to safely spread the heat from the fire pit. You can find these for between $20 and $50.
The accessories above are only a few of the critical ones. The actual cost for each will vary based on their quality. As you can imagine, If you add other fire pit accessories, you’ll increase your cost.
You should also consider your labor costs. Hiring a professional means additional fees, while building it yourself will be much cheaper (assuming you know what you’re doing). Still, I should note that some types of fire pits are best handled by professionals.
Conclusion
I know I didn’t provide a calculator per se, but it’s important to understand that the actual cost of your fire pit depends on a lot of factors. When you’re aware of these factors, you can make better decisions on what type of fire pit to go for and how much you can budget for it.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Fire Pit
- Early Experts: How to Build a Fire Pit: Cost of Materials and Tips for DIYers
- howmuch.net: How Much Does It Cost To Install A Firepit?
- Bankrate: What Does it Cost to Build a Fire Pit?
- Fixr: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Fire Pit?
- Backyard Toasty: 25 Gotta-Have Fire Pit Accessories for Your Next Backyard Burn
