6 Stone Fire Pit Ideas For Your Backyard (2024)

When the air is crisp, and the foliage turns different shades of oranges and reds, it’s a great time to get that fire pit up and running! Being able to stay outside when it’s chilly because you’re warm by the fire is a great perk of having a fire pit in the colder seasons. And with fire pits being an excellent spot for socializing, why not make them cozy and aesthetically pleasing?

While brick and steel are popular for fire pits, stone fire pits are also lovely because they look more natural in your garden. When adding a stone fire pit to your backyard, always make sure it's at least 10 feet away from your home, and use proper precautions when lighting and sitting around the fire. But which style do you choose? Get inspired with different landscaping and design varieties for your stone fire pit!

Mix It Up With Different Shaped Pits

Image credits: T.J. Breshears via Unsplash

While most traditional fire pits are circular, why not change things up and make a square or rectangular fire pit made of stone? A different-shaped fire pit sets yours apart from others, adding a modern feel to your space.

Because of their unique shape, the stones on the top of the fire pit can be used to place drinks or snacks. Sandstone is a great option for this design because the rocks are porous and smooth, making it a great surface for glasses and bowls. Add some contemporary lawn chairs and warm blankets, and this area becomes a modern space of tranquility.

Try a Smokeless Fire Pit

Image credits: randy andy via Shutterstock

If you’re designing a stone fire pit for your backyard, why not make it smokeless? Contrary to the name, smokeless fire pits emit smoke but release less than traditional fire pits because of their inner ring system. Inside your smokeless fire pit will be a ring that has holes and allows more oxygen through the entire flame instead of just the top. The increased oxygen to the flame produces less smoke from the fire, making it a better choice for the environment.

You can make your own smokeless fire pit ring or buy one online, at garden shops, or at a home improvement store. Between the appearance of the stones and breathing in less smoke, it’s an excellent option for an outdoor fire pit.

Design Your Landscaping Around Your Fire Pit

Image credits: Neil Podoll via Shutterstock

Designing your backyard around the fire pit creates a cohesive, unified space. Use the same stones as your fire pit to design a patio around the pit so that everything matches.

With that idea in mind, why not add seating created from the same stone? Instead of buying and replacing lawn furniture that can get soaked from rain or blown over by the wind, inputting a permanent bench made from the same stone as your pit can make a simpler design that flows nicely.

Shake Things Up With a Gas Fire Pit

Image credits: Neil Podoll via Shutterstock

Fire pits can be lit through wood or gas. While wood is a popular fuel source for fire pits, gas has its perks, too. To start a gas fire, it usually only requires the press of a button. Gas fire pits also produce less smoke because it's not burning through wood. Less smoke is better for the environment and creates less smell on your clothes. A flaw of gas fire pits is you won't hear the beloved cackling of the wood.

With stone as the base, a gas fire pit creates a cohesive and stylish look to a backyard. Add decorative fireproof rocks to make the fire pit stand out.

One With Nature

Image credits: Photowind via Shutterstock

A perk of having a stone fire pit is that it looks one with nature. There's an array of different stones to give your fire pit the particular look you want. Limestone and sandstone are popular choices because they're strong, have longevity, and can be smooth to the touch.

Dig a hole and make a sunken fire pit with stone as the top layer. This will give the fire pit a natural feel and can be accompanied by a water feature or plants that do well near fire pits, like creeping thyme and sea thrift. With wooden benches and some hedges, a sunken fire pit made of stone is a charming idea.

Modernity Meets Nature

Image credits: J.D.S via Shutterstock

If you’re looking for a unique fire pit to stay warm that also brings both modernity and nature, try a fire bowl that has stones inside by the flame and directly under it.

Fire bowls can be used with gas or wood. Because the pit is in a large, decorative bowl, it can be moved around the backyard. A stone fire bowl is a great option if you like moving or redesigning the backyard in different seasons. A fire pit like this would look lovely near a pergola or a pond.

Light Your Fire!

Whether you’re interested in a sunken fire pit with stone trimmings or an entire backyard dedicated to a stone fire pit that blends in with the patio, stone fire pits offer a zen-like atmosphere and rustic look. With a couple of cozy chairs, a basket for blankets, and some sticks for s'mores, a stone fire pit enhances a backyard.

Do you have a stone fire pit? How did you add it to enhance your backyard? Share in the comments below!