Outdoor Fireplace Guide: Choosing a Fireplace for Your Backyard
The upright centerpiece that turns a patio into an outdoor room, and how to pick the right one.
A fire pit gathers people in a circle. An outdoor fireplace builds a room: it gives your patio a wall, a focal point, and a fire that sits at eye level while smoke draws up the chimney instead of following your guests around. Here is how to choose one. If you are still deciding between the two formats, our fire pit versus fire table guide covers the gather-around side of the family.
Fireplace or fire pit?
| Outdoor fireplace | Fire pit / fire table | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Outdoor living room, vertical focal point | Campfire circle, social hub |
| Smoke | Drawn up the chimney | At seat level (gas pits are clean) |
| Seating | Faces the fire, like a hearth | Wraps around the flame |
| Presence | Anchors the whole patio | Furniture-scale |
Know your tiers
- Patio Series: classic stucco-finished fireplaces. The value entry with full presence.
- Escape Series: upgraded stucco finishes like Ameristone, Stoney Creek, and Pearl Haze. The middle of the line and the sweet spot for most patios.
- Platinum Series: brick-finished fireplaces with screen fronts, the top of the line and the closest thing to a built masonry hearth without the masonry project.
All are built on galvanized steel frames with one-piece construction, run on propane standard, and convert to natural gas by a certified technician. Every model can be finished to your specification; see our Finishes and Colors page. Browse the full line in our outdoor fireplaces collection.
Placement and safety
- Place on a level, non-combustible surface such as a patio slab or pavers.
- Keep clearance from structures, fences, and overhanging branches per the owner's manual, and never position the chimney under a roofline or pergola canopy.
- Mind the prevailing wind: the chimney handles most smoke, but you still want the opening facing your seating, not fighting the wind.
- Gas connection by a licensed plumber or certified gas technician, always.
Delivery day
Prefab fireplaces weigh roughly 600 to 800 pounds crated and arrive by freight carrier with free curbside delivery. Moving one from the curb to the patio is your side of the job, and white glove delivery is available on request. Our freight delivery day guide walks the whole process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an outdoor fireplace cost?
Prefab outdoor gas fireplaces typically run from around $4,800 for a Patio Series stucco unit to about $7,400 for a Platinum Series brick fireplace with screen front. Compare that to custom masonry fireplaces, which commonly start north of $15,000 built on site.
Do outdoor fireplaces need a permit?
The prefab unit itself usually does not, but the gas line to feed it typically does, and it must be run by a licensed plumber or gas fitter. Check your local building department and any HOA rules on open flame features.
Are prefab outdoor fireplaces gas or wood?
The fireplaces we carry are gas: propane standard with natural gas conversion by a certified technician. Gas means instant on and off, no ash, and clean flame with none of the ember risk that makes wood fireplaces a problem in many areas.
How heavy is an outdoor fireplace?
Plan on roughly 600 to 800 pounds crated depending on the model. They ship freight with curbside delivery, so arrange help or white glove service to move the unit from the curb to its final spot.
Dustin “Newbomb” Newberry is a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of Feast & Fire Co. He has spent years cooking, grilling, and hosting on the exact gear these guides cover, and he built Feast & Fire around one idea: your backyard should be the place everyone wants to end up. These guides come from real cooks and real gatherings, not a spec sheet.