How to Make a Firepit from Pavers for Easy Outdoor Entertaining

Get ready for months of outdoor entertaining around your own ring of fire.

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.

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

  1. man using spray paint to form circle

    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.

  2. packing gravel into base of fire pit

    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.

  3. forming base to build fire pit

    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.

  4. man using hammer to pack stone brick into pit

    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.

  5. using seal to form stone pit wall

    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.

  6. packing bricks for patio

    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.

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