Fire Pits vs Outdoor Fireplaces Exploring the Best Option for Your Outdoor Space

Having fire as a key part of your outdoor living area will transform your home into an amazingly cozy and inviting place to be. A fire feature adds warmth and ambiance, making it an essential element for entertaining or relaxing.

Whether you’re leaning towards a fire pit or an outdoor fireplace, both options have distinct advantages. In this post, we will compare these two popular choices, helping you decide which fits your space and lifestyle best.

Understanding Fire Pits

Fire pits are open at the top, and are placed central to the outdoor area, so that you can gather around them - they allow for warmth and light from all angles. There are tons of designs—from rustic stone to sleek metal—making them versatile for different aesthetics. For example, a traditional round stone fire pit can blend seamlessly into a garden, while a modern metal one might suit a contemporary patio.

A main benefit of fire pits is their flexibility in placement. They can be set in various locations throughout your yard, allowing you to create unique and inviting spaces. For example, you can position a fire pit near a seating area for easy access or amidst a garden for a more secluded feel.

Fire pits are also generally much more flexible in terms of the commitment in spending and install. This makes them a great option for those looking to enhance their outdoor spaces without too much intense planning or wanting it more flexible for future expansion or changes.

And if you are planning on building in a fire pit with a beautiful stone or brick surround, you can also purchase the actual fire pit (as with our Smokelis Bespoke Fire Pits) and test different locations in your backyard where you were thinking of putting it, to find the perfect spot before committing to anything permanent - being sure it is going to work wonderfully in your outdoor space once you've had it built in.

The casual atmosphere created by fire pits encourages lively interaction. Friends and family gather around the flames, sharing stories or enjoying delicious s'mores. This relaxed setting can be perfect for informal get-togethers like backyard barbecues or lazy summer evenings.

Fire pit's are also a fantastic platform to be able to cook from with the growing wood-fired cooking trend. Their open nature makes them the perfect platform to add high end live-fire cooking accessories - which is what we have done with Smokelis - check out some of our video content here - also the radiant heat projected upward from our Smokelis fire pits makes for seriously easily controlled temperatures.

Understanding Outdoor Fireplaces

Outdoor fireplaces are more permanent structures that are often seen as a way to enhance the visual appeal of your backyard. Typically built into patios or decks, they have a chimney to direct smoke upwards, which keeps the surrounding area clean and pleasant.

One key feature of some outdoor fireplaces is their aesthetic charm. A well-designed fireplace can serve as a stunning focal point in your garden/patio. Constructed with beautiful materials like brick, concrete or stone, these features can add both elegance and character.

One thing that must be considered in most locations however, is the inflexibility of outdoor fire places - as anything significantly large or that you would be proud to have at the end of your deck or patio, is going to be required to have a pad poured, and also a permit from your local council to install it.

Also there is the social aspect of an outdoor fire place. They tend to overheat those sitting closest and provide no heat or very little heat to those sitting further away. Leaving limited seating options and arrangements to keep everybody warm and the conversation going. This is due to the one directional nature of their heat output. This can be harnessed very well however if you have louvers or a covered in area with the fire place at the end.

However if you want to have it entirely open so you can enjoy the stars and open sky, they wouldn't be our recommendation - this is why we created Smokelis.

With wood-fire cooking becoming a huge popular trend as well, outdoor fireplaces are not the most practical to cook over as their enclosed nature makes it a bit more difficult to manage heat and see what is going on as you cook.

Safety Considerations

Safety should be a top priority when choosing between fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. Fire pits, being more open, pose some risks like sparks and embers escaping. It’s crucial to maintain a safe distance from any flammable structures, which usually means keeping your fire pit at least 2-3 meters away from buildings, trees, or any other combustible materials.

In contrast, outdoor fireplaces come equipped with features like chimneys and fireboxes that help minimize risks. This built-in design directs smoke upward, reducing irritation and keeping the air cleaner. For families with children or pets, an outdoor fireplace offers a safer, closed environment compared to an open fire pit...but not always. As popping embers and bits of wood can occasionally roll out or pop out the front of the fireplace - damaging timber decks or posing a risk for pets or children or anyone with bare feet! And also when the wind is going the wrong way it can cause a badly drawn chimney to blow smoke back down and out the front of the fire place.

Some fire pits like our smokeless design Smokelis fire pits, are engineered with a secondary combustion design making for nearly a totally clean burn with no smoke at all with good fire wood and being managed properly - which is easy to do. And due to the fact they are top loaded with relatively high sides, they are very safe due to completely containing the burning wood, with no risk of it falling out and very minimised likelihood of embers escaping the fire pit. With our Ember-Shield placed underneath as well, this provides the extra security you need to be able to confidently use your fire pit on a timber deck if you are not planning on building it into a surround.

Maintenance and Durability

While both fire pits and outdoor fireplaces require some maintenance, the extent varies significantly.

A well designed fire pit made with premium materials such as our Smokelis fire pits, are dead-easy to maintain and are extremely durable. With materials designed to weather or endure the elements, such as corten and stainless steels, there is no maintenance required. The only clean out you'll need to do is lift out the removeable ash pan and tip it into the rubbish or compost when cool.

On the other hand, outdoor fireplaces, while generally larger and more permanent, do require chimney cleaning to remove soot buildup and sometimes repainting the firebox to avoid excessive rust build up and decay. Regular maintenance ensures they function safely and efficiently. Their fixed structures can be less prone to movement, but they can still require repairs if any part becomes damaged or gets significantly overheated - such as cracked concrete. Ash clean out is often a pain as well, requiring traditional brushes and shovels and buckets.

If you prefer low maintenance, consider a premium, bespoke hand-crafted fire pit that allows for year-round use vs a fireplace that will need a bit of upkeep and can be a real eye-sore if not tended to as once in place they are there for good.

Budgeting for Your Fire Feature

Budget is a critical factor in your decision-making. Bespoke hand-crafted fire pits generally range from $2000 to $10,000.

Outdoor fireplaces typically require a more significant upfront investment, often ranging from $1000 to $3000 just to get it approved and ready for install, especially if you’re opting for custom designs or built-in structures. Then the fireplace itself could be between $10,000 all the way up to $50,000.

Consider how much you are keen to spend and how frequently you plan to use your fire feature.

Making the Best Choice for Your Outdoor Space

Ultimately, choosing between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace comes down to your aesthetic preferences, budget, and outdoor living goals.

Fire pits are more social and flexible, amazing for wood-fired cooking and perfect for casual gatherings, and can be made into a beautiful focal point in your outdoor area, while outdoor fireplaces provide a touch of elegance and warmth, and tend to need to be built around or designed into the landscape intentionally to make them work for the space.

Both options can greatly enhance your outdoor experience, providing warmth, ambiance, and a gathering space for family and friends. Take your time to assess your preferences, safety requirements, and budget before making your decision. With the right choice, your outdoor space will become a cherished part of your home.

Book a free call with us to discuss our bespoke hand-crafted smokeless fire pits here so we can discuss your space and ideal outcomes and see what works best for you.