11 DIY Ideas For A Cozy Fire Pit On A Budget

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While most DIY enthusiasts relish the challenge of tackling a new project in their home, there's something uniquely satisfying about spending time on improving your outdoor spaces. Whether it's simply installing a new garden creeper trellis or something more substantial like a patio overhaul, these enhancements can improve both the look and the value of your property. One feature that has gained in popularity over recent years is the fire pit. According to Polaris Market Research, a key driver of this is the fact that homeowners across the U.S. want to spend more time in outdoor living spaces, with more investment going into these areas of the home. It's expected that the fire pit market alone will nearly double in size by 2034. Well, if that is what the data is telling us, then you certainly don't want to be left behind!

Even if you don't believe the numbers, adding a fire pit to your backyard comes with a number of benefits. A fire pit creates a space to entertain friends, becomes an extension of your kitchen, and, if you're looking to sell, becomes an attractive added feature. The good news is that you don't need to take out a second mortgage to fulfill your fire pit dreams — with a little bit of know-how and some elbow grease, you can create your own DIY fire pit on a budget. From leftover building bricks to that old satellite dish tucked away in the garage, here's what you need to know.

If you've found a pile of wall blocks in your backyard, you can put them to good use. This is a simple and affordable fire pit that takes very little effort to make. Here, you can see how this DIYer simply stacked them on top of each other in a circle with no mortar or tools needed. The gaps provide a great means of air circulation, and if you ever need to move it to another spot in the yard, simply let them cool, clean them up, and reposition. You could add large pavers around the base as a nice touch to give it some aesthetics.

For something that comes across as a bit more rustic, try using natural stones to create your DIY fire pit. These stones create a more rugged look, one that feels like it's part of the natural environment. If you have large stones in your yard, collect them and place them in a circle. As this YouTuber has done, there's no need to fix them together. If you do, though, make sure to use fire-safe mortar. Avoid fishing stones out of the river, as the water they absorb can lead to exploding rocks.

For a budget fire pit that will turn your outdoor living space into an oasis, you can follow this YouTuber's example. You can either use stone pavers left over after a refurb, or you can head to your local home improvement store to find the closest match to your existing pavers. Here, he's used the small and rectangular pavers as opposed to the large flat ones. He's cleared out a space for the fire pit and simply added the pavers in a circular pattern. You can opt to fix them with fire-safe mortar or add stones around the base for an added aesthetic.

If you're looking for a creative DIY project to upcycle your leftover bricks, they are perfect for a DIY fire pit. The only other material you'll need is fire-safe mortar. First up, it's important that you don't use just any brick — they need to be fire safe, or you'll risk possible explosion due to trapped moisture. Your local home improvement store will have a few options for you to choose from. As the YouTuber shows here, start with a mortar base. Once set, lay the bricks in a circular formation using the mortar to secure each layer. Simple but solid.

For the unconventional, you can create a DIY washing machine drum fire pit. Not only is it unusual, but it's also an eco-friendly home improvement. As these drums are most usually made of stainless steel and feature holes for drainage, they are robust and provide air flow. You can simply place the drum as it is in a hole in your yard or on a paver, or, if you consider yourself an advanced DIYer, build a base out of concrete or metal. This is not for every home, but if it's the recycled and eco-friendly option you're going for, it's perfect.

For a more permanent DIY fire pit, you can use mortar and fire bricks. It's a cleaner and more industrial-looking design, where you can opt for a rectangular, circular, or square shape. For this one, you'll need a bit of time, as the mortar base you'll be creating takes time to set. Following this YouTuber's example, start with the outer shell. Once set, to prevent your DIY fire pit from falling apart, line the inside with fire bricks. These will prevent the mortar from cracking or, worse, exploding from the trapped moisture.

This option will give you both a permanent and moveable fire pit design. This YouTuber started with the fire pit location in his yard, then collected a few cinder blocks from his local home improvement store. He's marked out the space, cleared off the grass, and simply laid the cinder blocks as you would bricks in a rectangular or square shape. To add a bit of aesthetic, he's used cinder block caps on the top layer to finish it off nicely. It can either be a permanent fire pit feature in your yard or be moved around as needed.

Back to the unconventional, an old wheelbarrow makes a great fire pit. Once you have the wheelbarrow, all you'll need to do is add the wood, light it up, and grab the marshmallows. What's great about this option is that it's both moveable and can become a statement piece in your yard. You can position it as needed or opt to create a more permanent base around it with pavers or stones. Either way, it's bound to become a talking point when you invite friends over and it's a clever way to repurpose an old wheelbarrow.

For all the motorheads out there, if you have an old tire rim in your garage, you can repurpose it into a unique fire pit design. You'll need to go for the stainless steel option, as they'll handle the extreme heat of the fire pit and provide a sturdy fire pit structure. A great feature of this design is that you can stack two or three rims on top of each other and still have sufficient air flow. For the more experienced DIYer, you can weld them together for a more permanent design.

Don't throw that old satellite dish out — it could make an interesting fire pit design in your backyard. You'll need a solid metal dish as this DIYer has used, which you'll then need to coat in heat-proof paint. Once you've decided where it will go, you can simply place it on bricks. This DIYer has gone one level up and used a brick layout to add some aesthetic. You could also add garden pebbles around the base. This design is not ideal for windy areas, as there is not much of a frame to keep the embers in place.

For the stylish look that is simple and safe, this YouTuber created a DIY fire bowl. It can be moved around, placed on outdoor tables, and is almost guaranteed to become a talking point. For this design he's used a concrete planter, fire pit lava rocks, and torch canisters. He's positioned the canisters in the bowl and added the lava rocks to conceal them. All that's left is to light it up. A large decorative concrete bowl is a great option to elevate the style of the fire bowl.