Short answer: A standard outdoor fireplace with a 36-inch firebox costs an estimated $6,300 to $8,200 installed as a modular block kit, $10,700 to $19,600 as a prefab firebox finished in stone, and $14,000 to $25,500 as custom masonry. A gas line adds about $770 to $3,140 depending on length, and the permits we found ran $50 to $600.
$6,300–$25,500 standard 36-inch outdoor fireplace, installed, kit to custom masonry (estimate; see method)
$12–$24 per foot of gas line, plus $470–$720 for the tie-in, valves and pressure test (estimate)
12 in thick, 6 in wider the masonry fireplace footing in IRC R1001.2, set below frost depth (2021 IRC)
3,735–9,677 lb weight of four modular fireplace kits, before the hearth or wood boxes (manufacturer specs)
On Oct. 14, 2026, the top Google result for “outdoor fireplace cost” was a forum thread from a homeowner asking whether $18,000 for a stone outdoor fireplace was fair. The two pricing guides in the top four results give price tiers without primary sources for the numbers, and neither cites the building code that sets the footing size and chimney height, or the air-district rules that decide whether a wood-burning fireplace can be installed at all.
This page prices five ways to build one, from published kit prices checked on Oct. 14, 2026, dated supplier and municipal price lists for concrete, block, firebrick and stone, BLS wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for masons, laborers and plumbers, and the 2022 Economic Census for how much of a masonry contractor’s price goes to overhead and profit. The arithmetic is in the method box near the end. For how fireplaces compare with other outdoor projects, see our cost guides and the overall landscaping cost breakdown.
Outdoor fireplace cost by build type
The build type sets the price far more than the stone you pick. A modular kit arrives as numbered, pre-cut pieces that a two-person crew glues together on a footing; a custom fireplace is laid block by block, with a firebrick firebox and a flue built to the masonry code. Everything else sits between those two.
| Build type | What the price covers | Standard size (36-in class), installed | Large size, installed | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular block or cast-stone kit | Kit at published retail ($3,840–$4,550), a 1-cubic-yard footing, 6 to 12 crew-hours to assemble | $6,260–$8,160 | $10,840–$16,760 (Victorian and Grand class kits) | Wood; gas log kits sold as add-ons |
| Freestanding cast gas fireplace | Finished glass-fiber-reinforced concrete unit ($6,991–$7,573) set on an existing patio | $7,440–$8,460 | Not priced | Gas only |
| Factory-built gas firebox in a block-and-stone surround | Outdoor-rated firebox ($2,467–$5,199), block enclosure, footing, 60 to 95 sq ft of stone | $9,040–$19,790 | $13,580–$31,070 (60-in linear units) | Gas only |
| Prefab refractory firebox and chimney, stone veneer | Precast or pumice unit ($3,447–$4,911), firebrick lining, cap, 57 to 90 sq ft of stone | $10,710–$19,630 | $14,710–$25,220 (46- to 48-in units) | Wood; gas logs optional |
| Custom masonry | Block core, 80 firebrick, clay flue, damper, 120 to 143 sq ft of stone, footing | $13,960–$25,460 | $18,230–$33,920 (48-in opening) | Wood; gas logs optional |
Uses the installed ranges in this guide; product prices checked Oct. 14, 2026. Excludes sales tax, delivery, demolition and patio work. Local prices vary; see How we built these numbers.
The calculator uses the same ranges. Low ends assume the cheapest published product in each class, a homeowner-friendly site and the faster end of our crew-hour assumptions; high ends assume the pricier product, natural stone on every face and slower, more detailed work. Pick one gas-line length at most.
Is $18,000 for a stone outdoor fireplace a fair price?
For a site-built fireplace with a 36-inch opening, a block core and natural stone, $18,000 sits inside our $13,960 to $25,460 estimate, a little below the middle. It would be high for a standard modular kit, and at or below the low end for a 48-inch custom opening with a chimney near 11 feet. The quickest check is to ask the contractor which of the five build types in the table they are quoting, then compare line by line using the breakdown further down this page.
What each build type includes, and what it leaves out
The table below lists the products behind the estimates. Prices are what each manufacturer or retailer showed on its own site on Oct. 14, 2026, before tax. Contractors may buy below these prices; we use retail because it is a fair proxy for what appears on a homeowner’s quote.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Type | Size and weight | Published price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romanstone Fremont | Modular cast-stone kit, wood (gas log set optional) | 52 W x 48 D x 91 in. tall; 28 x 24 in. opening; 7,600 lb | $3,840 |
| Necessories Compact | Modular block kit, wood | 40 W x 32 D x 70 in.; 3,735 lb | $4,020 |
| Cornerstone Barrington | Structural stone kit, firebrick-lined, stainless spark arrestor included | 31.5 x 23.5 in. opening; 9,420 lb | from $4,550 |
| Necessories Victorian | Modular block kit, wood | Large class | $7,259 |
| Necessories Grand | Modular block kit with 36-in steel wood-burning insert, 4-ft stovepipe, spark suppressor | 60 W x 36 D x 94 in.; 9,677 lb | $11,050 |
| Mason-Lite | Precast firebox and chimney system, UL 127 and UL 103; lined with firebrick splits or panels | 33- to 63-in sizes; 835–1,704 lb | from $3,446.68 |
| Isokern Magnum 36 | Pumice modular firebox and chimney | 1,349 lb | $4,911 |
| Outdoor Lifestyles Vesper 36 | Outdoor gas firebox | 36-in | $2,467 |
| Outdoor Lifestyles Courtyard 42 | Vent-free outdoor gas firebox, up to 55,000 BTU | 48 W x 34 H x 20 D in. | $4,247 |
| Montigo Divine H42VFO | Vent-free outdoor gas fireplace | 42-in | $5,199 |
| Montigo Mahana PL60VO | Vent-free linear outdoor gas fireplace | 60-in | $11,729 |
| American Fyre Designs Mariposa | Freestanding vented gas fireplace, glass-fiber-reinforced concrete, 70,000 BTU burner | Finished unit | $6,991–$7,573 |
| Superior WRE3000; VillaWood 36 and 42 | Factory-built steel wood-burning fireboxes | 36- to 42-in | $1,609–$2,519 |
Modular block and cast-stone kits
These are the cheapest way to get a real masonry fireplace with a chimney. The pieces are pre-cut, so there is no stone saw or mortar mixing; Necessories estimates 3 hours for two people to assemble its Compact kit and 8 hours for the Grand, both after the base is finished (Patio & Pizza listing). The base is the part people underestimate. A 3,735- to 9,677-pound kit needs a reinforced footing, and the cities that publish outdoor fireplace rules want that footing to meet the masonry code, covered below.
Add-ons are priced separately and add up quickly. Romanstone lists chimney extensions at $590 (12 in) to $1,515 (48 in), a seat wall wing at $1,855, wood boxes from $930 and a natural-gas log set with burner and valve at $890, or $1,150 for propane (Romanstone). Necessories lists hearth kits at $750 to $1,410 and a 52,000-BTU gas log kit at $1,799.
Prefab refractory fireboxes with a stone finish
Systems such as Isokern and Mason-Lite give you a tested firebox, smoke chamber and chimney that you then finish in stone, brick or stucco. You pay for more labor than a kit, because the veneer is set by hand, but you choose the look. Mason-Lite says its fireplaces are certified for indoor and outdoor installation and comply with UL 127 and UL 103 chimney standards; the box is lined with firebrick splits or panels, which take 3 inches off the interior (product listing). Isokern recommends full 2.5-inch firebrick off the floor and back wall in wood-burning use (Woodland Direct listing).
Gas fireboxes in a built surround
Outdoor gas fireboxes from $2,467 to $5,199 for 36- to 42-inch units go into a block or framed enclosure that you finish like a masonry fireplace, often without a chimney when the unit is vent-free. Model fuel-gas code requires permanently installed outdoor decorative gas appliances to be listed to ANSI Z21.97 and installed per the manufacturer’s instructions (IRC G2453.1, 2021 IRC Chapter 24), so ask for the listing before you buy an indoor unit to put outside.
Custom masonry
A site-built fireplace is the most expensive and the most flexible. Everything is sized to your patio, and you can build a Rumford firebox, a raised hearth or a taller chimney. The materials are not the main cost: in our estimate, labor, benefits, overhead and profit are about 65 percent of the price. The Buckley Rumford spec for a 36-inch Rumford firebox calls for 80 standard firebricks and a pail of refractory mortar (Rumford certified core specification), which matches the quantities in our build-up.
Where the money goes in a custom masonry fireplace
This is the line-item build-up behind the custom estimate: a 36-inch opening, a firebox section about 6 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 5.5 feet tall, and a chimney about 3 by 2.5 feet that tops out near 9.5 feet. The low case finishes three sides and the chimney in a budget natural limestone; the high case wraps every face in a premium tumbled sandstone and allows more time for cutting and fitting.
| Line item | Quantity and unit price | Low case | High case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footing materials | 1 cu yd ready-mix at $154–$182 (Cleveland Metroparks 2025 contract; Kingsport, Tenn., 2025 bids) plus $193 small-load, fuel and environmental fees; 14 #4 rebar at $12.99–$14.49 | $529 | $578 |
| Block core and mortar | 160–200 8x8x16 block at $4.09 (Cummin Landscape Supply); one 80-lb Type S mix per 13 block (Quikrete data sheet) at $10.99 | $789 | $987 |
| Firebox and chimney parts | 80 firebrick at $7.50 (Hemlock Hardware); Heat Stop 50 refractory mortar $149.98 (Material Warehouse); smoke-chamber parging $147.99 (Rockford Chimney Supply); 3–4 clay flue liners at $54.28 (Kuhlman); 13×13 top-sealing damper and cap $408.99 (Rockford Chimney Supply); two steel angle lintels; vertical rebar | $1,613 | $1,677 |
| Stone veneer and setting mortar | 120 sq ft and 40 lin ft of corners at $10.00 and $14.50 (Timber Hollow limestone), or 143 sq ft and 40 lin ft at $25.50 and $33.00 (Silverleaf sandstone); one 60-lb veneer mortar per 13 sq ft (Quikrete data sheet) | $1,881 | $5,087 |
| Crew labor and benefits | 55 to 107 crew-hours for a mason and a laborer at $68.39 per crew-hour | $3,762 | $7,301 |
| Overhead, equipment, insurance and profit | Masonry contractors’ costs other than materials, payroll and benefits: 38.6 percent of revenue | $5,390 | $9,826 |
| Total | $13,964 | $25,457 |
Two things move this number more than anything else. Stone choice swings the veneer line by about $3,200 on the same fireplace, and the crew-hour assumption roughly doubles labor between the low and high case. A curved hearth, a herringbone firebox or arched opening adds hours that a quote should show.
Why quotes from a few years ago look cheap
Masonry materials have climbed faster than general inflation since 2019. The producer price index for concrete block and brick averaged 51 percent higher from January to August 2026 than in 2019; ready-mix concrete was up 41 percent, brick and clay tile 36 percent and refractories, which include firebrick, 30 percent (BLS PPI WPU1331, WPU1333, WPU1342, WPU135; 2026 figures are preliminary). A neighbor’s 2019 price is not a useful benchmark.
- Concrete block and brick
- Ready-mix concrete
- Brick and structural clay tile
- Refractories
Source: BLS Producer Price Index series WPU1331, WPU1333, WPU1342 and WPU135, annual averages rebased by Green Industry Report 2026 is the January to August average; 2026 data are preliminary.
Show the numbers
| Concrete block and brick | Ready-mix concrete | Brick and structural clay tile | Refractories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2020 | 103 | 102.50 | 102.20 | 101.40 |
| 2021 | 107.40 | 106.40 | 107 | 104.40 |
| 2022 | 120.20 | 117.40 | 117 | 117.40 |
| 2023 | 133.50 | 130.40 | 125.70 | 123.90 |
| 2024 | 141.20 | 138 | 131.50 | 125.90 |
| 2025 | 146.30 | 139.10 | 134 | 127.90 |
| 2026 (Jan.–Aug.) | 151 | 141.30 | 135.60 | 129.60 |
Gas or wood: what each adds to the bill
Gas changes three things: you need a line from the meter or house piping, a listed burner or firebox, and usually a plumbing permit. Wood changes one big thing: in some air districts you cannot install a new wood-burning fireplace at all, or cannot use it on curtailment days. Both sets of rules are below.
| Gas item | Estimated or published cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Gas line, per foot of run | $12–$24 | 1/2-in CSST at $2.53 per ft (Pro-Flex 75-ft coil, $189.99) to 3/4-in black iron at $5.70 per ft (10-ft length, $56.99), plus 0.08–0.15 crew-hours per ft to trench, lay, backfill |
| Tie-in, shutoff and key valve, pressure test | $470–$720 per job | 4–6 crew-hours for a plumber and a laborer at $69.01 per crew-hour, plus fittings |
| 25-ft run, installed | $770–$1,320 | Sum of the two lines above |
| 50-ft run, installed | $1,080–$1,930 | Same |
| 100-ft run, installed | $1,680–$3,140 | Same |
| Burner and log set for a wood-ready firebox | $890–$1,799 | Romanstone natural-gas set $890 (propane $1,150); Necessories 52,000-BTU log kit $1,799 |
| Fuel per hour at 52,000 BTU, natural gas | About $0.78 | EIA U.S. residential average, Oct. 2025–Mar. 2026, $15.60 per thousand cu ft; 1,036 BTU per cu ft (EIA) |
| Fuel per hour at 52,000 BTU, propane | About $1.45 before tax | EIA U.S. residential average, Oct. 2025–Mar. 2026, $2.55 per gallon; 91,452 BTU per gallon |
The model code sets the trench and the test. Underground gas piping goes at least 12 inches below grade; individual lines to outdoor appliances may be 8 inches deep where approved and not exposed to damage (IRC G2415.12 and G2415.12.1). Plastic pipe is allowed only outdoors and underground, needs listed transition fittings where it meets metal pipe, and needs an 18-gauge or heavier tracer wire alongside it (G2415.17). The pressure test is at least 1.5 times working pressure and never below 3 psig (G2417.4.1). All of these are in Chapter 24 of the 2021 IRC; your state or city may amend them.
Several cities make the plumbing side explicit. Murphy, Texas, says a fireplace gas line “shall be installed by a licensed plumbing contractor” (Murphy permit requirements). Orange County, California, requires a separate plumbing permit for the line (OC Public Works), and Flower Mound, Texas, asks for a gas diagram showing meter pressure, line length, size, material and total BTU load before it issues a permit (Flower Mound information packet).
Footing, chimney height and clearances: the code numbers
Most cities that publish outdoor fireplace rules simply point to Chapter 10 of the International Residential Code. Prosper, Texas, quotes R1001.2 for the footing and R1003.9 for chimney height (Prosper submittal checklist); Flower Mound says footings, hearths and height must meet Chapter 10 (Flower Mound); Plano requires the 2-inch and 4-inch clearances from R1001.11 and adds that combustibles are prohibited within 12 inches of the firebox opening (Plano permit requirements). These are the model numbers behind those rules.
| Requirement | Model code number | Section (2021 IRC) |
|---|---|---|
| Footing | Concrete or solid masonry at least 12 in thick, extending at least 6 in beyond the fireplace on all sides; on undisturbed soil or engineered fill below frost depth, or at least 12 in below grade where the ground does not freeze | R1001.2 |
| Firebox walls | At least 8 in of solid masonry including a 2-in firebrick lining (10 in without a lining); firebrick joints no wider than 1/4 in, laid in medium-duty refractory mortar | R1001.5 |
| Firebox depth | At least 20 in; a Rumford may be 12 in deep if at least one-third of the opening width | R1001.6 |
| Damper | Ferrous metal, at least 8 in above the top of the opening | R1001.7.1 |
| Hearth and hearth extension | Hearth 4 in thick; extension 2 in thick, at least 16 in in front and 8 in to each side, or 20 in and 12 in when the opening is 6 sq ft or larger | R1001.9, R1001.10 |
| Clearance to combustibles | 2 in from the front and sides, 4 in from the back; combustible mantels or trim at least 6 in from the opening | R1001.11 |
| Chimney height | At least 3 ft above where it passes through a roof and at least 2 ft higher than any part of a building within 10 ft | R1003.9 |
| Spark arrestor, where installed | Net free area at least 4 times the flue outlet; screen stops a 1/2-in sphere but passes 3/8 in; 19-gauge galvanized or 24-gauge stainless or equivalent | R1003.9.2 |
| Seismic reinforcing | In Seismic Design Categories D0 to D2, four #4 vertical bars for chimneys up to 40 in wide, with ties every 18 in | R1001.3, R1003.3 |
The chimney-height rule matters most when the fireplace sits under or near a covered patio, pergola or the house. A 9-foot chimney 8 feet from a two-story wall cannot meet the “2 feet higher than any portion of a building within 10 feet” test, which is why Plano caps the chimney at 10 feet for a fireplace placed at its minimum setbacks and requires an attached one to clear the roofline by 3 feet and anything within 10 feet by 2 feet.
Does the 25-foot fire code rule apply to an outdoor fireplace?
Usually not in the model code. The International Fire Code keeps recreational fires 25 feet from structures and portable outdoor fireplaces 15 feet away, but its definition of a recreational fire covers fuel “not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit,” and the 2015 text exempts portable outdoor fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings from the 15-foot rule (IFC 307.4.2, 307.4.3 and definitions, as quoted by West Metro Fire Rescue, Colorado; see also 2021 IFC Chapter 3). A built-in fireplace is instead governed by the building code and local setbacks. The IFC does require recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces to be attended until they are out (307.5), and it prohibits open burning when “atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous” (307.1.1).
Permits, setbacks and fees in real cities
The Texas and California jurisdictions below all require a permit and a site plan for a permanent outdoor fireplace; the two fee schedules show what the permit itself can cost. Setbacks from property lines range from 2.5 feet to 15 feet, so the same backyard can fit a fireplace in one city and not the next.
| Jurisdiction | Setback from property lines | Chimney and height | Permit, plans and fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano, Texas | 5 ft from side and rear lines next to residential lots; 3 ft next to alleys or open space | Detached: 10-ft maximum chimney at those setbacks. Attached: 3 ft above the roofline, 2 ft above structures within 10 ft. Spark arrestor required | Engineer-stamped foundation plan or the city’s standard detail; fee per schedule |
| Murphy, Texas | 10 ft from side lines; 15 ft beside a street on corner lots; 10 to 15 ft at the rear | Attached: same 3-ft and 2-ft rule. Spark arrestor required | Engineer-stamped foundation plan or city detail; gas by a licensed plumbing contractor |
| Prosper, Texas | 3 ft from side and rear lines | IRC R1003.9 termination | Footing per IRC R1001.2 (12 in thick, 6 in beyond); septic permit if on septic |
| Flower Mound, Texas | 10 ft; detached fireplaces 5 ft from the house | IRC Chapter 10 | Foundation plan and gas diagram; inspections for pier, foundation, gas test, top-out and final; $600 permit (rev. Oct. 1, 2026) |
| Orange County, Calif. (unincorporated) | Chimney 7 ft from the property line and 10 ft from buildings unless 2 ft above roofs within 10 ft | Structural calculations if over 6 ft tall; spark arrester required | Plumbing permit for gas; fire authority approval; wood burning prohibited under SCAQMD Rule 445 |
| San Diego, Calif. | Fireplace enclosures may project up to 2 ft 6 in into a required yard, no closer than 2 ft 6 in to the line | Up to the zone’s maximum height at the setback | Building permit for any masonry or wood-burning prefab fireplace; custom designs need an architect’s or engineer’s stamp; some gas units need only a plumbing permit |
| Maple Grove, Minn. | Not in fee schedule | Not in fee schedule | $75 per non-wood fireplace or appliance plus $75 gas piping; wood-burning masonry fireplaces priced on project valuation (2026 schedule) |
| Newstead, N.Y. | Not in fee schedule | Not in fee schedule | $50 fuel-fired appliance permit, including fireplaces (2026 schedule) |
Orange County adds a wildfire rule worth knowing in any fire-prone area: outdoor fireplaces and barbecues are not allowed in Zone A of a fuel modification zone, which “in many cases” reaches into side and rear setbacks (OC Public Works). Check your HOA as well: Flower Mound notes that town approval does not override deed restrictions, and Plano tells applicants to check with their homeowners association.
Burn rules that can turn a wood fireplace into a gas one
Air-quality agencies regulate wood smoke, and three of the largest metro areas in the West reach outdoor fireplaces directly.
| Agency and area | What it restricts | Gas exemption |
|---|---|---|
| South Coast AQMD Rule 445 | No one may sell, supply or install a new or used permanently installed indoor or outdoor wood-burning device unless it is an EPA-certified heater, a pellet heater, a masonry heater or a dedicated gaseous-fueled fireplace (d)(2); none at all in new development since March 9, 2009 (d)(1). Mandatory no-burn days November through February when the PM2.5 forecast tops 25 µg/m3 apply to outdoor and portable outdoor devices (e). The new-development ban and no-burn days do not apply above 3,000 ft or with no gas service within 150 ft; the installation limit in (d)(2) has narrower exemptions, such as disaster replacements and historic properties. | Yes: dedicated gaseous-fueled fireplaces are allowed |
| Bay Area AQMD | Regulation 5 prohibits outdoor wood-burning devices, including fireplaces, fire pits and chimineas, during Spare the Air wood-burning bans; amendments adopted Oct. 1, 2025, lowered the ban trigger to a 25 µg/m3 forecast | Not stated on the rule page |
| Puget Sound Clean Air Agency | Stage 1 and Stage 2 burn bans: no outdoor fires, including fire pits and chimineas; violations subject to a $1,000 penalty (King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties) | Natural gas and propane stoves and inserts allowed; outdoor gas fireplaces not addressed in the notice |
In practice, if you live in Orange County or the non-desert parts of Los Angeles, Riverside or San Bernardino counties, price the gas rows of this page; a new wood-burning outdoor fireplace is not an option unless an exemption applies. Elsewhere, a wood fireplace can be built but may sit unused on curtailment and wildfire-ban days, which is an argument for a gas-ready kit or a burner you can add later.
What the same fireplace costs in labor, state by state
Using each state’s median wages for brickmasons and construction laborers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), the labor portion of our standard custom fireplace, including overhead on that labor, runs from about $7,100 in Mississippi to $13,100 in Massachusetts, against $9,000 at the national median. Material prices also vary by region, but less predictably, so the calculator applies a labor-market factor only.
The calculator’s “Local labor costs” setting applies 0.94 for states where the mason-and-laborer pair earns about 15 percent below the U.S. median (much of the South) and 1.13 where it earns about 35 percent above (New York, New Jersey, Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts), because labor and the overhead on it are roughly 38 to 42 percent of a custom fireplace’s price in our build-up. Kits have a smaller labor share, so the factor slightly overstates the regional swing for them.
Building it yourself: what a kit job really involves
A modular kit is a realistic DIY project for two people with a way to move heavy pieces; a code-compliant custom firebox and chimney usually is not. The cash cost of a DIY kit build is roughly the kit plus the footing materials: about $4,370 to $5,130 for a standard kit, using the $3,840 to $4,550 kit prices and $529 to $578 of concrete, fees and rebar from the table above, before any rental equipment. On Oct. 14, 2026, Romanstone advertised free shipping in the contiguous U.S., and Patio & Pizza’s listings offered free shipping on kits ordered with a fireplace.
- Weight: 3,735 lb for a Necessories Compact, 7,600 lb for a Romanstone Fremont and 9,677 lb for a Necessories Grand. Plan for a pallet jack or skid steer and a firm path to the pad.
- Footing first: a 6-by-4-foot, 12-inch footing takes about 1 cubic yard of concrete. Small loads cost extra: Cleveland Metroparks’ 2025 contract adds $165 for under 2 yards plus a $25 fuel surcharge per load.
- Permits still apply: kit fireplaces are permanent structures in every city handout we found; Plano exempts only non-masonry units from its engineering requirement.
- Gas is not DIY in many places: Murphy, Texas, requires a licensed plumbing contractor for the line.
- Custom masonry is a different skill: firebox depth, throat height, smoke chamber slope and flue area all have code minimums (IRC R1001.6 to R1001.8), and a fireplace that smokes is expensive to rebuild.
Fireplace or fire pit?
A fire pit is the usual lower-cost alternative. It needs no chimney and far less foundation, but fire codes treat it differently: many towns regulate open fire pits like recreational fires under the IFC’s 25-foot distance from structures, and Flower Mound, for example, requires fire pits to sit 15 feet from a residence and caps them at 3 feet across unless the fire code official approves (Flower Mound). A fireplace directs heat and smoke one way and can sit closer to the house if it meets the chimney and clearance rules. We do not price fire pits on this page.
On resale, the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals estimate that a “fire feature” (a dry-stacked natural stone kit with a gas burner and a 10-foot flagstone patio) costs $9,000 and recovers about $5,000, or 56 percent, at sale, with a “joy score” of 9.7 out of 10 from homeowners who added one (2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features). There is no comparable national figure for a full outdoor fireplace.
How to read an outdoor fireplace quote
Ask for a written scope with these lines priced separately. A quote that bundles them is hard to compare. Our guides to checking a contractor’s license and state licensing rules cover who is allowed to do the work.
- Build type and model: kit name and size, prefab firebox model, or custom with firebox dimensions. If it is a gas unit, the ANSI Z21.97 listing.
- Footing: length, width and thickness, rebar, and depth below grade. Anything thinner than 12 inches or not extending 6 inches past the fireplace does not meet IRC R1001.2.
- Chimney: finished height, distance to the nearest roof, and the cap or spark arrestor model.
- Veneer: square feet, linear feet of corners and the product name. This is the line that moves most.
- Gas: run length, pipe material and size, valve location, and who pulls the plumbing permit.
- Permits and inspections: which permits, which inspections (Flower Mound lists five), and whose fee it is.
- Patio work: if the fireplace sits on a new or extended patio, that is a separate cost; see our paver patio cost guide.
- Red flags: no footing detail, “no permit needed” for a masonry fireplace, an indoor-only gas insert installed outdoors, or a chimney shorter than the nearby roofline.
If the site slopes, a fireplace may need a level pad held by a wall; see retaining wall costs. If you are still choosing the patio surface around it, our comparison of pavers and concrete covers how each handles a heavy, point-loaded structure.
How we built these numbers
We do not have our own job data. Each estimate is a published product price plus materials and labor, with materials and labor grossed up for overhead and profit, built from the inputs below. Ranges are estimates, not quotes. Our general approach is on the methodology page.
Products (checked Oct. 14, 2026). Kits, fireboxes and freestanding units are carried at the retailer’s or manufacturer’s published price without markup, on the assumption that contractors buy below retail and resell near it. Low and high ends use the lowest and highest published price in each class, listed in the product table. Shipping is excluded; Romanstone and Patio & Pizza listings advertised free shipping on these kits.
Footing. Standard: 6 x 4 ft x 12 in (0.89 cu yd, ordered as 1 cu yd); large: 8 x 5 ft x 12 in (1.5 cu yd). Concrete $154 to $182 per cu yd from Cleveland Metroparks’ 2025 contract and Kingsport, Tenn.’s April 2025 bids, plus $165 short-load, $25 fuel and $3 environmental fees from the Cleveland contract. #4 rebar at 12 in each way plus dowels, 14 or 21 six-foot bars at $12.99 to $14.49 (Hillman, Grip-Rite, Hemlock Hardware). Labor 8 to 12 crew-hours (standard) or 10 to 16 (large). The frost-depth adder adds 1.4 cu yd and 6 to 10 crew-hours to carry the foundation below a 30- to 42-inch frost line.
Masonry materials. 8x8x16 block $368 per 90-block pallet (Cummin Landscape Supply); Type S mix $10.99 per 80 lb (Hemlock Hardware) at 13 block per bag (Quikrete); firebrick $44.99 per six (Hemlock), 80 for a 36-in firebox and 120 for 48 in (Rumford core spec); Heat Stop 50 $149.98 (Material Warehouse); Chamber Safe parging $147.99, Lock Top II damper and cap $408.99 (13×13) or $487.99 (17×17), HY-C 13×13 stainless cap $161.99 (Rockford Chimney Supply); 12×12 clay flue liner $54.28 per 2 ft (Kuhlman); 3/16 x 2 in steel angle $25.99 per 3 ft (Hemlock). Stone: Timber Hollow limestone thin veneer $1,500 per 150 sq ft and corners $1,450 per 100 lin ft; Silverleaf sandstone $3,825 per 150 sq ft and corners $3,300 per 100 lin ft (WallSPC); veneer mortar $10.99 per 60 lb (Hemlock) at 13 sq ft per bag (Quikrete), doubled at the high end for a scratch coat on prefab units.
Quantities. Custom standard: 160 to 200 block, 3 to 4 flue liners, 120 sq ft of veneer on three sides and the chimney (low) or 143 sq ft on all faces (high), 40 lin ft of corners. Custom large (48-in opening, about 11 ft tall): 220 to 270 block, 4 to 5 liners, 152 to 197 sq ft, 48 lin ft. Prefab: 57 to 90 sq ft and 12 to 25 lin ft (standard), 85 to 130 sq ft and 16 to 30 lin ft (large). Gas surround: 100 to 120 block and 60 to 95 sq ft (standard); 140 to 170 block and 80 to 130 sq ft (large). Waste allowances are not added; buying whole crates usually covers waste.
Labor. A brickmason and a construction laborer at national medians of $29.87 and $22.66 an hour (BLS OEWS, May 2025), plus benefits at 30.2 percent of payroll (masonry contractors’ fringe benefits divided by payroll, 2022 Economic Census): $68.39 per crew-hour. Crew-hours are our planning assumptions, not measured rates: kit assembly 6 to 12 (standard) or 12 to 24 (large); prefab setting 8 to 20, firebrick 4 to 12; block 0.08 to 0.135 crew-hours per block; firebox, throat, smoke chamber and flue 12 to 32; veneer 0.15 to 0.25 crew-hours per sq ft; setup and cleanup 4 to 10. The state chart uses each state’s brickmason and laborer medians at the midpoint of 81 crew-hours.
Gas line. Plumber $30.67 and laborer $22.66 medians, benefits 29.4 percent of payroll, $69.01 per crew-hour; 0.08 to 0.15 crew-hours per foot; pipe $2.53 to $5.70 per ft (CSST, black iron); fixed 4 to 6 crew-hours plus $37 to $63 in fittings. Grossed up by dividing by 0.664: plumbing contractors (NAICS 238220) spent 31.5 percent of revenue on materials, 27.0 percent on payroll and 7.9 percent on benefits in 2022.
Overhead and profit. Materials plus labor divided by 0.614: masonry contractors (NAICS 238140) spent 27.7 percent of revenue on materials, 25.9 percent on payroll and 7.8 percent on benefits in 2022 (Census Bureau, EC2223BASIC). Adders: hearth $590 to $1,410 and wood boxes $930 to $2,540 (Romanstone, Necessories), seat walls $1,855 to $2,850 (Romanstone, Cornerstone), a 24-in chimney extension $895 (Romanstone), each plus 1 to 8 crew-hours. Permit range from the Newstead, Maple Grove and Flower Mound schedules. Excluded throughout: sales tax, delivery, demolition, patio work, electrical, design fees and HOA review.
This page is general information, not legal, engineering or safety advice. Codes, burn rules and permit fees change and vary by city; confirm requirements with your building department, fire marshal and air district, and use a licensed contractor for gas work.
Outdoor fireplace questions, answered with numbers
How much does it cost to put in an outdoor fireplace?
For a standard 36-inch fireplace, an estimated $6,260 to $8,160 installed as a modular kit, $10,710 to $19,630 as a prefab firebox finished in stone, and $13,960 to $25,460 as custom masonry. Add $770 to $3,140 for a gas line and $50 to $600 for permits in the cities we checked.
How much does it cost to build your own outdoor fireplace?
With a modular kit, roughly $4,370 to $5,130 in cash: $3,840 to $4,550 for the kit and about $529 to $578 for footing concrete, small-load fees and rebar. That excludes equipment rental, a hearth, wood boxes, gas work and permits.
How hard is it to build your own outdoor fireplace?
A kit is manageable for two people: Necessories estimates 3 to 8 hours of assembly after the base is done. The hard parts are the 3,735- to 9,677-pound weight, a code-compliant footing and the permit. A custom firebox and chimney require masonry skill and code-sized dimensions.
How much does a gas outdoor fireplace cost?
An outdoor-rated gas firebox costs $2,467 to $5,199 for 36- to 42-inch units; built into a block-and-stone surround, an estimated $9,040 to $19,790 installed. A freestanding cast gas unit runs $7,440 to $8,460 set in place. Both need a gas line, about $770 for a 25-foot run up to $3,140 for 100 feet.
How much do outdoor stone fireplaces cost?
Built on site with a block core and natural thin stone, an estimated $13,960 to $25,460 for a 36-inch opening and $18,230 to $33,920 for a 48-inch opening. Stone itself was $10.00 to $25.50 per square foot for the natural thin veneers we priced, plus $14.50 to $33.00 per linear foot of corners.
How much does an outdoor brick fireplace cost?
We did not find a dated published face-brick price to build a brick-specific estimate. Structurally, a brick-faced fireplace is the same block-core, firebrick-lined build as our custom estimate of $13,960 to $25,460 for a 36-inch opening; the difference is the cost of brick versus stone veneer for 120 to 143 square feet of face.
What is the outdoor fireplace cost per square foot?
Fireplaces are rarely priced by the square foot, but the veneer is. Natural thin stone ran $10.00 to $25.50 per square foot in material, and setting it takes about 0.15 to 0.25 crew-hours per square foot in our assumptions, before overhead.
Are outdoor fireplaces worth it?
On resale alone, probably not. The closest national figure, for a stone-kit gas fire feature with a small patio, is $9,000 in cost and about $5,000 recovered at sale, or 56 percent, per NAR and NALP. Homeowners rated the project 9.7 out of 10 for enjoyment.
Does an outdoor fireplace increase home value?
Somewhat. NAR and NALP estimate a fire feature recovers about 56 percent of its cost at sale. In the South Coast air district, where new permanently installed wood-burning devices are restricted under Rule 445, a dedicated gas fireplace is the type that can still be installed.
Sources
- International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 10: Chimneys and Fireplaces, 2021 edition. Accessed October 2026.
- International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 24: Fuel Gas, 2021 edition. Accessed October 2026.
- International Code Council, 2021 International Fire Code, Chapter 3: General Requirements, 2021 edition. Accessed October 2026.
- West Metro Fire Rescue (Lakewood, Colo.), Recreational Fires, Fireplace/Pit, and BBQ Regulations (quoting IFC 2015 Section 307 and definitions), Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- City of Plano, Texas, Residential Outdoor Fireplace Permit Requirements, Rev. Dec. 6, 2019. Accessed October 2026.
- City of Murphy, Texas, Residential Outdoor Fireplace Permit Requirements, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Town of Prosper, Texas, Outdoor Fireplace Permit Submittal, Rev. April 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- Town of Flower Mound, Texas, Fireplace/Fire Pit/Outdoor Appliance Information Packet, Rev. Oct. 1, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Orange County Public Works, Calif., Outdoor Fireplace Requirements, Rev. March 2017. Accessed October 2026.
- City of San Diego, Information Bulletin 201: How to Obtain a Permit for a Fireplace, March 2024. Accessed October 2026.
- City of Maple Grove, Minn., Ordinance 25-17, Appendix A: 2026 Fee Schedule, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Town of Newstead, N.Y., Fee Schedule 2026, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- South Coast Air Quality Management District, Rule 445: Wood-Burning Devices, Amended Sept. 5, 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- San Bernardino County Land Use Services, IB-0010: New Wood-Burning Devices within SCAQMD Boundary, Updated Jan. 1, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices (rule page, 2025 amendments), Amendments adopted Oct. 1, 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Stage 1 burn ban notice (burn ban rules and penalty), Nov. 20, 2022. Accessed October 2026.
- National Association of Realtors and National Association of Landscape Professionals, 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, March 2023. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and state data, May 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census, Construction: EC2223BASIC (NAICS 238140, 238220), 2022 data. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI WPU1331, Concrete block and brick, 2019 to August 2026; 2026 preliminary. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI WPU1333, Ready-mix concrete, 2019 to August 2026; 2026 preliminary. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI WPU1342, Brick and structural clay tile, 2019 to August 2026; 2026 preliminary. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PPI WPU135, Refractories, 2019 to August 2026; 2026 preliminary. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Price of Natural Gas Delivered to Residential Consumers, October 2025 to March 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Heating Oil and Propane Prices, residential propane, October 2025 to March 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, British thermal units (Btu) conversion factors, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Buckley Rumford Fireplaces, The Certified Core: component specification, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Quikrete, Mason Mix (No. 1136) data sheet, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Quikrete, Veneer Stone Mortar (No. 1137-80) data sheet, Accessed October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Romanstone, Fremont DIY Outdoor Fireplace Kit and options, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Romanstone, Outdoor Fireplace Kits (Fremont, Princeton, Rockwell), Prices checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Cornerstone Rocks, Barrington Outdoor Fireplace Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Cornerstone Rocks, Outdoor Fireplace Kits, Prices checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Cornerstone Rocks, 12-ft Stone Seat Wall Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Grand Fireplace Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Compact Fireplace Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Victorian Fireplace Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Fireplace Gas Log Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Grand Fireplace Hearth, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Necessories Grand Fireplace Woodbox, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Patio & Pizza, Mason-Lite Wood Burning Fireplace Kit, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Woodland Direct, Outdoor Fireplaces: Wood Burning & Gas (starting prices), Prices checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Woodland Direct, Isokern Magnum Fireplace, 36 in, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Woodland Direct, Courtyard Outdoor Gas Fireplace, 42 in, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Fire Pit Surplus, American Fyre Designs Mariposa Fireplace, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Meeco’s Red Devil 9 x 4.5 in Fire Brick, 6-pack, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Quikrete 80 lb Type S Mason Mix, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Quikrete 60 lb Type S Veneer Stone Mortar Mix, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Hillman #4 x 6 ft rebar, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Grip-Rite #4 x 6 ft rebar, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Hillman 3/16 x 2 in x 3 ft hot-rolled steel angle, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, Pro-Flex 1/2 in x 75 ft CSST gas piping system, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Hemlock Hardware, United Pipe & Steel 3/4 in x 10 ft black pipe, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Cummin Landscape Supply (Atlanta), Belgard 8 x 8 x 16 concrete block, pallet of 90, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- WallSPC, Timber Hollow Limestone thin veneer flats, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- WallSPC, Timber Hollow Limestone thin veneer corners, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- WallSPC, Silverleaf Sandstone Tumbled thin veneer flats, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- WallSPC, Silverleaf Sandstone Tumbled thin veneer corners, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Material Warehouse, Heat Stop 50 Refractory Mortar, 50 lb, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Rockford Chimney Supply, Lock Top II Chimney Damper, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Rockford Chimney Supply, HY-C Stainless Steel Single Flue Chimney Cap, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Rockford Chimney Supply, Chamber Safe Refractory Parging Material, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Kuhlman (Toledo, Ohio), Superior Clay flue liner, 12 x 12 in x 2 ft, Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- City of Kingsport, Tenn., Concrete bid opening minutes, April 16, 2025. Accessed October 2026.
- Cleveland Metroparks, Bid 6893 concrete pricing (Medina Supply), Contract period Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. Accessed October 2026.
