22 Best Backyard Fire Pit Ideas Landscaping on a Budget

Are you dreaming of cute, cozy, budget-friendly landscaping for your fire pit area?

Then, you are in a perfect spot! We have covered you for the topmost fabulous backyard fire pit ideas for landscaping on a budget.

So, stay tuned till the end of this post for budget-friendly designs, tips, and our top fire pit recommendations for 2025!

Designing a cozy fire pit area is achievable on a tight budget. Inspired by camping’s simple charm, we’ll show you 25 fabulous DIY backyard fire pit ideas that prove you don’t need much to enjoy the ambiance. Get ready to jumble up and enjoy the warmness!

Pro Tip: Good news! You don’t need a perfect yard overnight. Invest a little each year, focus on what matters most, and enjoy the transformation. Your yard will become amazing with time!

TL; DR

A complete backyard fire pit idea needs five main elements: fire pit, ground surface, seating, planting, and lighting.
Think short-term and long-term budgets; you don’t have to finish everything in year one.
You can also use numerous DIY fire pit options like concrete pavers, leftover bricks, cement blocks, and repurposed materials.
Choose low-maintenance native perennial vines, plants, and ground covers for the striking garden.
Add overhead or ground lighting. Solar-powered lights are a great affordable option to tie everything together beautifully.

25 Ways to Landscape Your Backyard Fire Pit Area On a Budget

Get ready to design your perfect backyard fire pit area! Follow our 5 simple steps and explore these affordable ideas to create a beautiful outdoor oasis landscaping on a budget:

Step 1: Choose Your Fire Pit

1. Rustic Fire Pit Ideas

Hey, you can create a cozy DIY fire pit in just one weekend with this common backyard fire pit idea! Consider using brick or natural stone for a rustic look.

Repurpose old bricks to make them eco-friendly and budget-friendly. I recommend a circular shape, as it invites gathering and togetherness, perfect for family and friends.

Rustic Fire Pit

2. Square Fire Pit

Next up for DIY fire pit ideas is using cinder blocks for a more modern, sleek, geometric fire pit design.

Plus, the cinder blocks are easy to work with and offer a high-end look without the hefty price tag.

This style is perfect for you if you love clean lines and industrial chic.

Square Fire Pit

3. Upcycled Fire Pit Ideas

Transform thrift finds into cozy fire pits! If you are on a tight budget. You can utilize the upcycle used materials to save. Get creative with:

Metal barrels
Terracotta pots
Old tire rims
Even wheelbarrows!!

Repurpose these items into unique fire pits, freeing up funds for lush plants or comfy seating. Give old items new life and create a one-of-a-kind backyard oasis landscaping on a budget!

Upcycled Fire Pit

4. Metal Fire Pit Ideas

You update your backyard with a sleek metal backyard fire pit idea! Fire rings start at under $100, requiring minimal labor and installation time.

Achieve the trendy rusted look without breaking the bank. All metal rusts over time, so treat the metal to accelerate rusting.

You can also consider affordable alternatives to Corten steel for a similar aesthetic without the hefty price tag.

Metal Fire Pit

5. In Ground Fire Pit

In-ground fire pits offer easy fire containment require less material and blend elegantly into your landscape, providing a warm gathering spot without visual bulk.

There are a few diverse ways you can do this. Lowes provides a helpful installation video on this. Watch, dig, and enjoy a seamless backyard retreat!

In Ground Fire Pit

6. Fire Pit Bowl

Don’t have DIY skills?

No problem! Pre-made fire pit bowls are available. They are perfect for you if you are renters or moving soon.

They are too easy to set up, portable, and require no installation. You can find a stylish option at your local store or online and enjoy cozy gatherings with minimal fuss.

Fire Pit Bowl

7. Propane Fire Pits

If you prefer a hassle-free backyard fire pit idea. Gas fire pits are a great option for you. They are:

Mess-free (no ash or wood chips)
Compliant with municipal burn bans
Portable and easy to move
Low-maintenance

Enjoy a cozy flame without the cleanup or regulations worries.

Propane Fire Pit

8. Tabletop Fire Pits

Make the most of your small backyard with a gas fire pit table! This space-saving solution provides warmth and ambiance, becomes a dining table, and also saves space.

Check out our guide for more ideas on choosing the perfect fire pit table for your compact outdoor space.

Tabletop Fire Pit

9. Sunken Fire Pit Ideas

I included this example because a sunken fire pit is perfect if your yard has uneven ground. It creates a cozy fire area.

Note: It requires extra digging and building. But ideal for those who enjoy DIY projects and landscaping on a budget.

Plus, if you want to build your fire pit area from scratch, this backyard fire pit idea is a great choice.

Sunken Fire Pit

Step 2: Choose Your Base Surface

10. Grass Lawn

You can focus on your fire pit first and still enjoy it on your lawn, safely. Just make sure to install a protective barrier and clear away dry grass, leaves, and debris. This simple setup ensures a worry-free gathering.

Martha Stewart has some simple ways to build a fire pit barrier.

Before placing your fire pit on the lawn, consider essential safety precautions:

Use a Fire Pit Pad or Barrier

Place a protective shield between the fire pit and the grass. Choose a heat-proof pad, pavers, or metal/stone platform. Ensure it’s larger than the fire pit base to catch stray sparks.

Select a Portable Fire Pit

Opt for a portable fire pit, raised off the ground, for safer grass use. It reduces heat transfer risk to grass.

Keep the Area Clear

Clear flammable items (dry grass, leaves, debris) around the fire pit.

Water the Grass

Water the surrounding grass before lighting the fire pit to prevent fires from stray sparks.

Monitor the Fire

Never leave the fire alone. Hang a sand, water bucket, or fire extinguisher nearby.

Check Local Regulations

Before setting up your backyard fire pit, check local fire safety guidelines. Some areas ban open flames in residential zones.

Consider Heat Damage

Even with protection, fire pits can harm grass. Be prepared for lawn damage and potential repairs.

Fire Pit Pad or Barrier

11. Gravel

Gravel bases are a popular, affordable backyard fire pit idea. They offer good drainage and low maintenance.

Gravel

I love the aesthetic appeal and charm of pea gravel in landscape design, with or without a fire pit. It elevates your garden’s style by creating a cozy ambiance and effortless elegance.

12. Stepping Stones

Consider scoring Flagstone for cheap or even free on Craigslist or other listing sites. People often give away materials when redoing their yards.

Stepping Stones

We snagged 100 square feet of flagstone for zero dollars! Installation is simple: just level the area and lay it down. This landscaping on a budget can transform your outdoor space.

Step 3: Design Your Seating Area

13. Adirondack Chairs Under $100

Create a comfy fire pit seating area without breaking the bank! Adirondack chairs are a popular choice, but high-end options like Polywood ($250/chair) can be pricey.

Adirondack Chairs

I’ve found affordable alternatives with 4+ star ratings, offering great style and value for under $100 per chair.

14. Camping Chairs

No budget for backyard furniture?

No problem! Repurpose camping chairs around your fire pit for a cozy and practical solution.

Camping Chairs

We love our REI chairs, which store easily when not in use. This budget-friendly hack creates a warm and inviting space without the hefty price tag.

15. Wood Benches

Go rustic with the original campfire setup! For a DIY enthusiast, consider upcycling repurposed materials.

Visit local stores for reclaimed wood, beams, and railway ties. Get creative with power tools.

Wood Benches

Use this unique backyard fire pit idea that’s eco-friendly and cozy landscaping on a budget.

16. Tree Stumps

With tree stumps, you can create a versatile, portable, and low-cost space that’s perfect for cozy gatherings.

Step 4: Invest in Some Plants

17. Plant Native Perennials

Go native! Planting native perennials offers low-maintenance, drought-tolerant beauty, attracting pollinators and adding value to your landscape. Native perennials offer lasting value! Unlike annuals, they:

Return year after year
Eliminate yearly replanting costs
Provide ongoing beauty and function
Require only a one-time planting investment

Enjoy long-term benefits, minimal upkeep, and cost savings with native perennial plants.

Native plants provide many advantages and long-term savings. They are hardy to local climate conditions, require little maintenance, and drastically lower the cost of pest control, fertilization, and watering.

Also, these plants aid in capturing carbon, support regional ecosystems, and offer wildlife habitat. Their cost-effectiveness is further increased by their ease of propagation.

Easy propagation further enhances their cost-effectiveness. For optimal results, consult with local nurseries to select native plants suitable for your region.

18. Container Gardening

Having no yard?

No issue! Container gardening is a perfect solution for small spaces and it’s a budget-friendly backyard fire pit idea too. It can add some funky greenery to your:

Balcony
Patio
Deck
Porch

The soil depths for shrubs differ as follows:

Small Shrubs:

Small shrubs need soil at least 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) deep. This enables their roots to develop and receive the necessary water and minerals.

Medium-Sized Shrubs:

Medium-sized shrubs require 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) of soil depth. This gives their bigger roots room to grow without getting stuck.

Large Shrubs:

Large shrubs need 24 inches (60 cm) or more of soil depth. To anchor the plant, spread their roots, and get more water and nutrients, they need greater room.

Container Gardening

19. Fast-Growing Groundcovers

Using groundcovers is an outstanding backyard fire pit idea to fill gaps, reduce weeding, and promote biodiversity.

Opt for native species and check your growing zone for suitable options.

Fast-Growing Groundcovers

20. Fast-Growing Vine Plants

Wrap yourself in nature! Train fast-growing vines up fences to create a lush ambiance around your fire pit to transform your outdoor space into a serene oasis.

Fast-Growing Vine Plants

Step 5: Light it Up

21. String Lights

Add ambiance to your fire pit area with budget-friendly string lights! This backyard fire pit idea is easy on the wallet to purchase and install, providing a stunning visual boost.

LED options are energy-efficient, keeping operating costs low and your energy bills in check.

Fire pit area with String lights

22. Solar Lights

Solar lights illuminate your fire pit area while saving you money. They greatly save installation and maintenance costs because they don’t require electrical wiring and require no upkeep.

Because they run on sunlight and don’t require energy, they are environmentally friendly and ultimately cost-effective.

With automatic charging and lighting capabilities, solar lights provide convenience and consistent ambiance enhancement, adding value and charm to your outdoor gatherings with minimal effort and expense.

Solar Lights in Fire pit area

Gardening Tips

Friends! Other than all the above backyard fire pit ideas and comfy landscaping on a budget, here I will give you some gardening tips to enhance your bonfire area:

Border Garden

Alter your backyard into a vibrant oasis with a border garden, a classic landscape design technique. By placing plants well, you create a visually alluring framework.

Texture and color are added by combining grasses, shrubs, and perennials. Also, native pollinator species draw butterflies and bees, enhancing the environment and creating a habitat for beneficial wildlife in your garden.

Border Garden

Propagate your Plants

Expand your garden without overspending! Propagate your existing plants using cutting, dividing, or layering techniques.

This budget-friendly approach reduces gardening expenses and encourages community sharing.

By growing plants adapted to your garden’s unique conditions, you’ll enjoy thriving growth and fewer costly replacements.

Plants propagation

Be Patient and Build Over Time

Your garden’s first year might look a bit bare, but that’s okay!

Budget-friendly beginnings often bloom into beautiful spaces.

Building your garden over time is a true delight. Witnessing its growth year after year is incredibly rewarding.

We adopt a gradual approach, adding a few new plants annually, and eagerly anticipate each spring’s blooms.

As the first flowers burst forth, our excitement grows, and we wonder at our garden’s flourishing beauty.

Budget Friendly Zen garden

Final Thoughts

Absolutely, my folks! You can create cozy backyard bonfire landscaping on a budget! With these inspiring backyard fire pit ideas, you can craft a charming fire pit area that’s flawless for snuggling up.

Get ready for coziness and joy whether you choose DIY or store-bought solutions.

Remember to check local burning laws and prioritize safety. After that, spend time with loved ones, toast marshmallows, share stories, and create treasured memories.

FAQs

1. What is the cheapest way to make a fire pit area?

Stone, bricks, pavers, concrete, retaining wall blocks, and other low-cost or reused materials can be used to create a budget-friendly DIY fire pit.

2. What is the best thing to put under a fire pit?

The ground under a fire pit can be protected from heat damage by using heat-resistant materials like fireproof mats, sand, or gravel.

3. What is a good size of fire pit for the backyard?

For small gatherings: A fire pit with a diameter of 36 to 42 inches.
For larger gatherings: A fire pit with a diameter of 48 to 60 inches is perfect.

4. What is the best ground cover for a fire pit area?

Try covering your backyard fire pit area with gravel or wood chips for a durable surface.