Fire pit designs are about more than just heat.

They are really about time spent around a fire with those we love and uniting with the natural world just outside the door.

But that doesn't mean an outdoor fire pit needs to be elaborate or expensive.

Your perfect fire pit might be as simple as a cozy gel burning pit that can be used indoors or on the patio or it can be as complex as a custom gas fire pit grill with remote control to match your pool side pavilion. 

As you'll see from the outdoor fire pit comparison chart below, there are many variations on the fire pit theme.

But the chart is useful as a quick view of what some of the designs have to offer.

	Built in Fire Pit	Fire Pit Kit	Portable Fire Pit
Portable	No	Semi	Yes
Cost	$$$	$$	$
Fuel	Wood Charcoal Liquid propane Natural gas	Wood Charcoal Liquid propane Natural gas	Gel Wood Charcoal Propane Natural gas
Styles	Custom Fire hearth Fire bowl Fire pit table Fire pit grill Fire pit/fountain combo	Fire pit table Fire pit grill Fire bowl Fire hearth Fountain fire pit combo	Outdoor fire pit Indoor fire pit Fire pit grill Fire pit end table Fire pit table Fire pit Ring/campfire ring
Construction	Concrete, field stone, brick, paver stone, slate	Manufactured stone, cast aluminum, concrete, slate, cast iron, stainless steel	Cast aluminum, cast iron, ceramic, stainless steel, copper

With so many choices, which one should you choose?

The fire pit designs featured here demonstrate design concepts that can help you plan an outdoor space that reflects your personality and lifestyle.

 Modern Fire Pit

Brick Outdoor Fire Pit

 Patio Fire Pit

 Campfire Ring

Campfire rings harkens back to days spent on the prairie.

Today, they are decorative, attractive circular or square metal bands that encase and contain your bonfire.

The metalwork cut-out art range from stellar and wildlife motifs to Asian characters and mystical creatures like Kokipelli.

Whatever your design preference, they are as function in the outback as they are in your backyard.

DIY Fire Pit

DIY fire pits are as varied as the designs themselves. And they're unbelievably easy to build. 

So if you are handy and unafraid to try something new, a DIY fire pit design is not only attractive, but can save you a lot of money.

And though I've seen DIY fire pits built using washing machine drums and satellite dishes, this video walks you through block fire pit designs using retaining wall pavers.

Fire Pit Grill

Grill gourmets say there is nothing like a fire pit grill, because it produces flavorful, evenly cooked food.

They love a fire pit grill because it combines the country allure of a campfire with an outdoor bbq grill.

Some brands feature an adjustable firebox that can be raised and lowered to change cooking temperatures.

Most charcoal and wood burning fire pits grills have substantial cooking areas, rotisserie cranks, cooking grates with handles, and swing-out pot hooks.

 Deck Fire Pit

 
There are a variety of ways you can go when adding a deck designs fire pit.

Propane fire pits, natural gas fire pits, portable fire pits and raised fire pits are all popular choices for decks.

The Natural Gas Deck Fire Pit pictured here is a great option. It has a campfire look and feel designed specifically for decks.

Fire pit safety is always important, but it's especially important if you plan to use your fire pit on a deck.

Cedar is an excellent decking, but cedar ignites and burns faster than most woods.

A deck fire pit should not come in direct contact with the wood on your deck.

A fire-resistant fire pit pad provides an easy-to-clean, nonflammable surface for deck fire pits. These are worth considering.