Home Improvement Ideas Porches & Outdoor Rooms Outdoor Rooms How to Make a Firepit from Pavers for Easy Outdoor Entertaining Get ready for months of outdoor entertaining around your own ring of fire. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Working Time: 5 hours Total Time: 2 days Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $100 to $200 Yield: One circular firepit Whether in the middle of the yard or sunken into the center of a patio, this DIY firepit will help extend the outdoor living season into the cooler months. Angled pavers make it simple to create a perfect circle, and gravel at the bottom helps level the bottom of the firepit (and keeps the fire contained to the pit). You can adjust the size of the firepit by arranging the pavers to have more of the longer edges facing in. Follow our step-by-step instructions to build a firepit in just one weekend. 15 Firepit Ideas for the Ultimate Backyard Hangout Space What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Tape measure String Stake Shovel Rake Wheelbarrow Tamper Level Mallet Materials Stake String Spray paint Gravel Modular retaining-wall units Coarse concrete sand Concrete adhesive Pavers (optional) Plastic or aluminum edge restraint (optional) Instructions Outline DIY Firepit Site the pit on a flat area about 12 feet in diameter. Place the stake at the center of your desired circle (ours is 56 inches in diameter), tie the spray-paint can to a string attached to the stake, and mark a circle. Dig out the dirt within the circle to about 18 inches deep. Create Level Base Fill the pit with 6 inches of gravel. Rake smooth and tamp after each load to make a solid base. Then spread a layer of course sand over the gravel, tamp, and check that it's level. These 10 Firepit Seating Ideas Will Make Your Outdoor Space Cozy Mark Inner Circle Use the stake, string, and paint to mark an inner circle guide for placing the first layer of retaining-wall units. Our inner circle is 38 inches in diameter. If you're using a fire ring for your firepit, place it in line with the painted circle. Place First Row Place the first row of retaining-wall units in a circle. Use the mallet to set them in the sand and gravel. Check that it's level from side to side and front to back after you place each unit. Finish Rows Add the second row of retaining-wall units. Many products feature a groove on the bottom and a ridge on top, allowing the rows to interlock. Continue adding rows of blocks to reach the height you desire. Add the top row of blocks and glue in place with the concrete adhesive. Make sure the blocks are clean and dry before you apply the adhesive. You can also use flat, finishing pavers on top of the regular pavers for a sleek, professional look. Adhere them to the top row as you did on the rows below. Optional: Install Ground Pavers To surround the firepit with pavers, create a 6-inch gravel base topped with 1 inch of coarse concrete sand. Lay the pavers in the pattern of your choice. After the pavers are in place, install a plastic or aluminum-edge restraint. Sweep concrete sand into the joints until the joints are full. Compact the surface with a hand compactor or rent a plate contractor. Learn These Firepit Safety Tips to Build a Bonfire the Right Way Read More in the Outdoor Entertaining Issue Featuring Mindy Kaling