A fireplace is the perfect feature to extend the use of an outdoor living space from summer into all four seasons. Unlike a fire pit, an outdoor fireplace defines your patio or deck as a focal point and destination–a place to gather, create leisure activities, entertain, and make memories. Fireplaces range from inexpensive chimineas and portable metal models to do-it-yourself kit projects by homeowners to beautiful fire features that are part of an outdoor room designed by landscape architects and built by contractors.
Outdoor fireplaces are constructed much like indoor ones: with a flue to direct smoke up the chimney rather than out into the seating area or yard. They can be as simple as a chimenea, elaborate extensions of an outdoor kitchen with spits, grates, and rotisseries, or with materials and structures that resemble the primary residence.
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White Brick Fireplace
This covered patio from Mary Patton Design is anchored by a white brick fireplace in the corner and includes an outdoor kitchen grilling station and lounge seating.
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Pool Cabana Fireplace
This outdoor fireplace from Fantastic Frank anchors a Mediterranean-style pool cabana with a terracotta roof that mimics the main house. The fireplace turns the cabana into an outdoor entertaining space on cool days and summer nights.
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Modern Outdoor Fireplace
This sleek modern outdoor fireplace from Brian Brown Studio is located on a covered patio. The dramatic black stone chimney creates a focal point whether the fire is lit or not, flanked by tall planters and modern seating.
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Tall Outdoor Fireplace
This outdoor fireplace from Marie Flanigan Interiors has an extra-tall chimney that’s higher than the roof on the adjacent house, offering a dramatic anchor point for a large al fresco dining table.
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Adobe-Style Fireplace
This boho-style outdoor space styled by Emily Henderson includes an adobe-style fireplace with tile detailing and built-in firewood storage so there’s always another log handy to throw on the fire. Built-in storage can also help you keep fireplace tools and accessories protected from the elements when not in use.
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Bluestone Fireplace
Located on the fringes of a forested nature preserve in Newton, MA, this midcentury modern home was remodeled by Mark Lawton Architecture to maximize its natural surroundings. The new outdoor living area includes a curving patio with a built-in fireplace and bench seating. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, bluestone was chosen to build the wood-burning fireplace. The fireplace surround and top cap are made of customized steel, while the bluestone seating is topped with ipe wood slats.
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Garden Fireplace
KG Designs built this outdoor fireplace into a retaining wall on this spacious garden patio that is shaded by a pergola and planted with colorful flowers.
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Rustic Outdoor Fireplace
A large yard for a New York residence features an outdoor fireplace set at the edge of an expansive patio. Designed by LDAW, the fireplace unit features built-in seating and firewood storage units on either side. The mantel and hearth are built of Connecticut fieldstone.
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Outdoor Fireplace With TV
Marie Flanigan Interiors installed an outdoor fireplace on this covered patio, skipping the mantel in favor of hanging a wall-mounted flat screen outdoor TV and speakers on either side. The seating area is decorated with touches of color and fresh flowers, with comfortable upholstered outdoor seating that makes you want to curl up and stay awhile.
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Indoor-Outdoor Fireplace
This indoor-outdoor fireplace in North Dakota from Martha O’Hara Interiors is located on a covered patio. The large firewood niche mirrors the shape and size of the fireplace.
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Triangular Fireplace
This triangular fireplace adds structure to an open backyard patio and anchors a small seating area.
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Gas-Burning Fireplace
A gas-burning outdoor fireplace at a home in the stunning seaside town of Carmel, CA was constructed with local Carmel stone. Culbertson Durst designed the fireplace with a slight curve to fit the small space.
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Pool Pavilion Fireplace
This rustic stone pool pavilion fireplace located in the Berkshires from Crisp Architects adds warmth to the space and is decorated with a potted fern during hot summer months.
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Painted Brick Fireplace
This white painted brick outdoor fireplace adds texture to the smooth covered patio, decorated with a mix of upholstered wood furniture and a large square coffee table that anchors the space.
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Monumental Fireplace Wall
This Northern California outdoor fireplace from Kendall Wilkinson Design is seamlessly built into a monumental wall that structures the outdoor patio for a seamless and contemporary look. The fireplace is anchored by a large black roof to protect it from the elements, with modern seating that makes it perfect for entertaining.
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Rustic Chic Fireplace
This rustic chic outdoor fireplace from Marie Flanigan Interiors mixes textures of stone and wood, with modern white and pale gray furniture to add balance and lightness. A vintage mirror propped up on the chunky wood mantel adds contrast and reflects light.
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Contemporary Fireplace
Sire Design added a monumental outdoor fireplace wall on the side patio of this home. It’s placement anchors a small outdoor kitchen and a seating area that feels like a second living room, creating the perfect space for summer entertaining.
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Stone Paver Fireplace
Jessica Nelson Design used the same stone on both indoor and outdoor fireplaces to create a cohesive design and blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces.
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Corner Fireplace
This painted white brick fireplace from Fantastic Frank is located in a corner of the deck, adding warmth and light when a fire is going and fading into the background when not in use.
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Outdoor Kitchen Fireplace
Mindy Gayer Design Co. added a white brick outdoor fireplace on this aged brick patio and lined the hearth with herringbone patterned tiles in a dark gray to add layers to this cozy outdoor kitchen and seating area.
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Retro Outdoor Fireplace
A fiery orange-red retro fireplace adds a stylish finishing touch to this backyard deck outside this A-frame cabin in the Catskills of New York from AHG Interiors that is decorated in shades of black.
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Industrial Farmhouse Fireplace
This open and airy covered patio from KG Designs includes an outdoor fireplace that matches the industrial farmhouse style of the home.
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Mountain Deck Fireplace
A roaring fire warms the upper deck of this snowy mountain retreat home from Kendall Wilkinson Design, making the outdoor space more comfortable even when there is a blanket of snow on the ground.
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Red Brick Patio Fireplace
This simple red brick fireplace is a focal point on a covered porch from My 100 Year Old Home that suits the casual modern farmhouse style of the home.
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Rustic Outdoor Fireplace
This rustic backyard patio dining room from Marie Flanigan Interiors is set up as a gathering space for al fresco meals. A curved stone wall with a built-in outdoor fireplace and overgrown landscaping gives it a rustic feel, while a large table that seats a crowd has bold sculptural painted white legs that add a modern touch.
Is it expensive to build an outdoor fireplace?
According to HomeAdvisor, it costs between $1,500-$20,000 to build an outdoor fireplace, with an average cost of around $3,000. Premade kits and unfinished contractor models generally cost between $1,500 and $9,000. A simple fireplace can run as low as $1,500, while a custom, high-end project could set you back $20,000.1
Does an outdoor fireplace increase home value?
According to Angi, an outdoor fireplace can increase home value by as much as 20%.2
How far away from the house does an outdoor fireplace need to be?
While building codes in different areas vary and you should always double check to see what the requirements are in your location, an outdoor fireplace should be a minimum of 10 feet away from the house (or other structures or flammable materials). Some experts recommend the minimum distance to be more like 25 to 30 feet, so be sure to do due diligence before building.