The cost to build an outdoor fireplace ranges from $1,500 to $8,000, with an average of $3,000. You’ll pay more if you build from scratch or opt for expensive materials.
The cost to build an outdoor fireplace runs as little as $800 or as much as $21,000, averaging around $3,000. Using expensive materials like stone or building large fireplaces will increase the price significantly. Explore all the outdoor fireplace costs so you can build the perfect setup and enjoy some cozy backyard crackling in no time.
The most common outdoor fireplace materials are brick and stacked stone. These are easily sourced and many workers have expertise with them, which drives down labor costs. However, larger or more ornate projects often include custom stonework. While you can build an outdoor fireplace from cinder blocks, it isn’t very common (unless the blocks are hidden behind a brick or stone facade).
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Brick | $2,200–$3,600 |
| Cinder blocks | $800–$2,000 |
| Stacked stone | $1,800–$3,800 |
| Custom stonework | $2,800–$5,000 |
While the vast majority of outdoor fireplaces are wood-burning, there are options to consider—especially if you live somewhere with a high wildfire risk. Wood-burning fireplaces are the only type that throws off embers, so they carry a much higher fire risk than other types, such as propane and electric. While cost is an important factor, make sure to discuss with your city which you can install based on local codes, and if a permit is required.
| Fuel Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Wood | $2,000–$3,200 |
| Natural gas | $1,800–$3,500 |
| Propane | $1,500–$2,800 |
| Electric | $1,200–$2,500 |
If you’re building an outdoor fireplace, you may want to hire a landscaper to design the space around it. Landscapers are also a great pro to hire if you need to level land or construct a foundation for the fireplace. Lastly, they are the pros who can build aesthetics around the fireplace, increasing its visual appeal. Expect to pay a landscaper hourly rates between $50 and $150 per hour.
Masons primarily build with brick, but many will work with all stone-related materials. Masons have extensive experience with the materials used for outdoor fireplaces. In fact, we recommend hiring a mason to do the actual building of the structure. Masons charge hourly rates between $70 and $100 per hour.
Not all fireplaces burn wood, so you may end up needing an electrician to wire a fireplace ignitor or help set up other types of fireplaces. While electric fireplaces are much less common than fireplaces that burn wood, they may make sense in areas of the country that have bans on burning wood or may otherwise have a high fire risk. Electricians can also wire an outdoor fireplace to have power outlets—something more common with cooking stations. Electricians cost $50 to $130 per hour.
You should factor in additional costs such as prep work, demolition, and permits.
The cost to clear an area for an outdoor fireplace ranges from $500 to $2,000 on average, depending on the size and terrain. Landscapers are experts in getting a site ready, which may require moving significant amounts of land or laying foundations (depending on the proposed fireplace design). For simpler projects, you may only need to lay down some stone and level it—which is a manageable DIY project.
Every municipality has different laws regarding fireplaces. For example, it would be a lot easier to build one in Alaska near a river than it would be to build one in an area of wildfire risk in California. Permit costs for outdoor fireplaces run between $50 and $500, depending on your city. Remember that in some areas of the country, you may not be able to build one due to fire bans.
While you can get away with digging your own fire pit, we don’t recommend DIYing an outdoor fireplace. Improperly built fireplaces can cause damage to the area around the structure and may lead to a fire hazard. Because of this, we strongly recommend working with a fireplace installation expert near you. After all, you wouldn’t even save that much DIYing the job—only around 20% of the project cost, and that’s assuming you have the necessary tools in the first place.
For outdoor fireplaces, repair is often the best choice because they’re often made of many small pieces that can be easily interchanged. For example, if a few bricks get damaged, a mason can simply remove the damaged pieces and re-mortar the fireplace. If there is an issue with the chimney, a fireplace pro can replace the chimney. Seldom does the entire fireplace need to be replaced. However, earthquakes, flooding, and other structural changes are when it makes sense to tear down and rebuild an outdoor fireplace.
The biggest savings you can influence when building an outdoor fireplace will be material costs. Other than paring down the size of your fireplace, consider some of the cost-saving measures below:
Source local materials to bring down transport or shipping costs.
Hire professionals during their off-season or in a schedule gap.
Consider using prefabricated kits.
Avoid excess features like seating, electricity, or timers.
Choose simple designs.
Try to use recycled materials if available.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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An outdoor fireplace can add value to your home, with an estimated return on investment (ROI) of 56%. This luxurious outdoor feature will certainly appeal to buyers when the time comes to sell. And, of course, if you aren’t in the market, an outdoor fireplace will increase the livability of your home.
Outdoor fireplaces are extremely sturdy if constructed correctly, but they do require regular maintenance. The good news is that cleaning and checking the fireplace needs to be done just once a year. However, for safety reasons, let a professional clean the fireplace. Homeowners should expect to pay between $100 and $300 for outdoor fireplace maintenance. Any damage to the fireplace itself, however, will cost much more to repair.
Deciding whether to buy a prebuilt fireplace kit or build one from scratch comes down to aesthetics, available space, and budget. Many homeowners like the convenience and lower cost of prebuilt options—around $1,500—versus the involved planning and construction of a larger fireplace. Another bonus: you can usually move prebuilt units. Custom projects are more common when homeowners have access to a larger budget and more area in the yard to place the fireplace.
A fireplace is, by definition, an enclosed space where you burn wood or other fuel for the purpose of generating light and heat. A firepit burns wood and is much less expensive to build, but they aren’t technically a fireplace as it isn’t enclosed. An outdoor oven—commonly outdoor brick pizza ovens—often uses wood as fuel, but its primary purpose is to cook food, and you’d rarely just burn wood inside them for warmth or aesthetic reasons.
