Summer is coming up and that means you are going to want to enjoy making fun snacks like s’mores, but that means you will need to have a fire pit in your backyard.
And the idea of installing a fire pit overwhelms you because you are under the impression that they would cost you an arm and a leg. However, here is the good news. It does not have to at all.
Because right now, you will learn about 14 different ideas of backyard fire pits that will cost you no more than $200. There are perfect for those who are on a budget, and are just as effective as the expensive ones around too!
1. $50 Fire Pit Using Concrete Tree Rings
If you are looking for a cheap way to build your own fire pit, then this idea is the best one to utilize.
All you need to do is to take a trip to Home Depot and get yourself a Weber Smokey Joe Portable charcoal grill or something similar to that. You will also need to get 4 sections of concrete tree rings that measure 14 inches diameter on the inside, as well as 6 sections of concrete tree rings that measure 24 inches diameter on the inside.
You will also need 2 cubic feet of small pebbles, stones, or any type of decorative rock. This all should cost you about $50 in total, perhaps a little more but not by much. Then all you need to do is find a smooth surface whether it is concrete or grass that is smoothed over and place the 14-inch tree rings on there. Those are the inner rings. Then place the 24-inch tree rings around it so it looks more complete. You will see that there is a gap between the two different sizes in rings so add the stones to fill it.
Then install the Weber right into the center of the ring, and then light it up, and voila! You have your $50 fire pit!
2. It’s the Pits
Here’s another cheap DIY fire pit idea. The first thing you will need to do is designate an area of your backyard to place this fire pit because you will need some space between the fire pit and your home.
That is at least 20 feet. You will need to get a large metal ring that you can find at Home Depot or any hardware store, and you will need to get materials to keep the ring protected so it will not become a hazard! This means you will need to purchase at least 68 retaining wall blocks, 8 bags of drainage gravel, 20 cap blocks, as well as 2 tubes of construction outdoor glue.
Now that you have that, dig up the area where you will be placing the ring, place the gravel in there. Crack the wall blocks and place it around the ring, and place more of the gravel inside of the ring. Then glue the wall blocks together. And finally, place the cap blocks to top it off.
This DIY project will take a lot of patience and make sure everything is at an even level. You can then enjoy the fire pit safely.
3. $10 DIY One Hour Upcycled Firepit
If you are looking to build the cheapest firepit in your backyard because you are on a budget, then you will want to use an old washing machine drum. Y
ou can get them at any used appliance store, and you will also need to get safety glasses because you are going to be needing to keep your eyes protected while you turn that old drum into a pit. You may also want to get high-heat black paint, angle grinder if you want. Also, you can purchase a cup wire brush, flap-wheel sanding disc for grinding, cut-off wheel, flat-stock steel, and angle stock if you choose.
The first thing you need to do is to clean and strip the drum, and then you can remove the spindle in the center if you choose. You can also cut off the metal lip which will improve its appearance. If you choose to do this, be sure to grind it down with the flapper wheel and make sure it is smoothed.
And finally, paint the pit black and it will be ready to be used!
4. Backyard DIY Fire Pit
This DIY firepit idea is quite self-explanatory.
You will need to get a small metal fire ring, bricks, stones, and sand which you can get from the Home Depot. Find a place in your backyard to install the pit by digging up the area. Dig a hole that would be 8 to 10 inches deep and then fill it up with the sand.
Install the fire ring into it, and place the stones and bricks around it. Make sure it is glued with masonry, and then you have your firepit! You can light it up and enjoy it!
5. DIY Brick Fire Pit For Only $80
This firepit is cheap though somewhat more pricey than the others listed here as it is $80 as opposed to $50.
What you will need to do to build this slick looking fire pit is to get bricks at Home Depot or Menards. You will also need 3 bags of multi-purpose gravel, 2 bags of paver leveling sand, 48 tan Belgian wedge wall block measuring at 3.5 inches by 7 inches by 7 inches. You will also need 48 quarry grey small Belgian wedge wall block measuring at 3.5 inches by 1.75 inches by 7 inches.
Choose an area of your backyard to place it as long as the area is level, and dig the area down a few inches deep. Then pour the leveling sand into it. Lay the first row of bricks around it, then add the gravel into the center. Then place the rectangle bricks on top of the first layer, and then top it with the wedge bricks. Then you are done, and the fire is ready to be lit up!
6. DIY Steel Fire Pit
This one is a cool-looking fire pit that if you have the time and patience to create, you can!
All you need to do is head over to Home Depot and get yourself steel rods and plywood. Be sure to have the Lincoln electric Mig welder, RYOBI compound miter saw RYOBI angle grinder and an RYOBI jigsaw as tools. Don’t forget your glasses because you will be doing a lot of welding.
The first thing is to cut the rod and make them into hexagonal frames, then cut the plywood at 30 degrees with the miter saw to make a jig that would hold the rods up at a 120 angle. Then position the frames and weld them together. Trim the rods if necessary and be prepared that this will take a lot of time to do.
But if you like the style then this fire pit will make your backyard look even that much more hip!
7. Metal Fire Pit
This fire pit is easy to weld because all you need to do is purchase four 40-inch by 20-inch sheets of 12 gauge hot rolled steel as you can buy this from the Home Depot.
Also, be sure to add at least four-foot-long cold-rolled steel rods to the list. And then you will be making a square-shaped fire pit by placing it in your bricked area of your backyard and make sure it is leveled. Weld the sheets together and weld the rods as well to the bottom so it will keep it secure on the bottom. After that, you will have a square-shaped firepit in the middle of the bricked area of your yard to use.
It is easy to weld together but it can take a few days and the materials will cost about $100.
8. Stone Fire Pit
Building this stone fire pit will take some time as you will need to gather the tools to create this pit together which will be a rake, jointer, and a level.
The materials you will need are landscape fabric, spray paint, and string in addition to the stone. The size will be up to you based on the measurements you take in the backyard.
The first thing to do is to have the stone delivered, and then dig up and hammer the base of where you plan to install the stone. Hammer a piece of the rebar in the middle of the pit, and cut a piece of the string that measures half of the circumference measurement of the pit. Loop the string on one end and slip it around the rebar while you loop it at the other end around the landscape spray can. Dig up the area 6 inches below inside of the area around the can.
Then start placing the bricks one by one around the area and keep rinsing and repeating. Then you will have your firepit!
9. DIY Modern Concrete Fire Pit
You will need to have plenty of items on your shopping list for this DIY fire pit project.
This will take a lot of time and patience so be sure to get your concrete mix, an extra-large bowl for the exterior mold, or you could use a large shallow planter. Be sure to get a large bowl for the interior mold, non-stick cooking spray, a large bucket for mixing, and a medium-duty masonry trowel. Add to that the gel fireplace fuel canisters, sandpaper, grill grate, and fire-safe decorative stones.
And of course, safety matters! You will be working with concrete so you need safety gear which includes work gloves, a reusable drop cloth, safety glasses as well as a 3M Tekk Protection N95-rated dust mask for grinding and sanding. The first is to take the bowl, spray it with the cooking spray and mix the concrete. After it is at the right consistency, use the trowel to add the concrete mix to the outer mold. Make sure all of the bubbles come out and then let the concrete sit. Once it is hard, sand it down, then you will need to assemble the fire pit. Take the concrete outside and then put the gel fuel canisters inside of it. Then put the grill grate in the bowl, and top it with rocks!
Lastly, light it up and enjoy!
This DIY fire pit will take about 2 days to build and you will need a pole, sand, cobblestones, and gravel. Choose an area in your backyard to place the fireplace or pit, whichever you plan to call it. Start digging and make sure it is leveled. Place the pole in the center of the area you have been digging which will be your reference point of where you will be adding the fire.
And you will want to put some spray paint in order to mark the fire place’s edge. Now start adding gravel to the inner circle, and add the sand. After that, start laying the cobblestones around your fireplace and decorate it in the way that you feel fits best for your own taste. The sky is the limit when it comes to your decorative style. But once you are done place logs inside of the circle and light the fire, and you have your fireplace set!
11. Back Yard DIY Fire Pit
This is a beautiful firepit you can show off to your friends and your family.
What you will want to do is find an area in your yard to place it. Then be sure to have stone pavers or bricks. And you will also need sand or gravel, or a shovel and a rake. Measure the area you plan to place the pit and mark the area with spray paint. Start digging the area within where you marked.
Start placing the bricks around that area, fill the center with sand, and throw some logs in there and light the fire – and enjoy!
12. Fire Pit on a Budget
This fire pit will cost a little more than some of the others listed but it is a beautiful one. All you need to do is choose the area in your backyard that you would want to place it.
Then go to Home Depot and get a metal grate, log tool, wood for burning, grey landscaping bricks, a ceramic pot with flowers, and a hanging flower basket. You will need to get a fire pit as well but they are cheap.
So go into your backyard and start placing the bricks around the area where you plan to place the firepit. And once you are done and you are confident that the bricks are sturdy and safely added to each other, place the pit in the middle, and put the grate on top of it. And with the flowers, place it around the bricks as well to give it a decorative touch!
13. My $75 DIY fire pit
This fire pit, while you are on a budget, is another excellent option because the materials will only cost $75.
You will need to get 26 retaining block wall pavers, granite rocks, fire pit ring, as well as high-temp BBQ grill paint. Be sure to have a shovel as well. The first thing to do is to paint the fire pit ring and find a leveled area in your backyard to place it and dig the area where you plan to put it with a shovel. Remove the grass around it as well. Place the rocks around the ring on the ground and layer it up until you are done.
Then add the gravel inside of the ring. Spread it around with a rake and you are finished after.
14. Homemade Brick Fire Pit
You will love this step-by-step fire pit. It will take time to build but it is easy.
What you need to do is head on over to Home Depot and go get 40 pavers or old bricks, spray paint, and any type of landscaping stone. And make sure that you already have a shovel. What you need to do is choose the area in your yard to place the pit and lay out the bricks around the area. And the paint the edge of those areas on the outside. Be sure to dig the area within and place your bricks within as well as the landscaping stone.
Then you are done! Super easy to build and enjoy your fire pit!
FInal Thoughts
Now with these fantastic 14 fire pit ideas for those on a budget, there is no reason that anyone’s backyard cannot be garnished with a cool-looking fire pit!
And that means they can enjoy using it to relax, or to make s’mores or other fun foods!
Enjoy! Make the most of the summer!
