What To Put In The bottom Of A Fire Pit? [You Should Know]

Sitting around a firepit is the single most relaxing thing you can do in your off times. It’s a great place to have social interactions, and you can spend some quality time with your friends and family.

But have you ever wondered what to put in the bottom of a fire pit to make it work, right? There are so many people who can’t make a fire pit properly.

If you don’t know it yet, then you’ve got no worries whatsoever. To help you with that, let’s discuss everything you need to know about making a fire pit work.

What To Put In Bottom Of Fire Pit?

To be honest, you can put different things under the fire pit to make it work. Yet, some will help to give you a more cozy and stable effect than the other. Let’s take a look at some of the different materials that you can use at the bottom of the fire pit.

Sand

The most common thing that you’ll see most people use in the bottom of the fire pit is sand. That’s the basic thing you can use as well to get a decent fire pit for yourself.

These are pretty good at absorbing the heat and managing it well, which gives you the best fire pit that you can have. But if you want to get a bit more out of it, you should add some gravel with the sand. That’s going to make sure that it has a more exotic feel to it.

You should not add any flammable materials that have a chance of exploding. You need to be very careful about it whenever you decide to make a fire pit.

Yet, sand is not the safest material either that you can put in the bottom of the fire pit as well. These are not designed for high temperatures, which can cause various issues from time to time.

So, you should use some other materials that are more suitable for fire pits if you can. But if you want to use sand, you should use silica sand, which is what to put in a fire pit. These absorb the heat without any issue and that’s just what you need in that case.

Let’s have a look at the best silica sand that you can get for the fire pit.

Silica Sand for Gas Fire Pits and Fireplaces

The silica sand is undoubtedly the most hassle-free material that you can use at the bottom of your fire pit. But what’s more critical is that it’s 100 percent heat resistant. That makes it the safest option for you to use in your fire pit.

Also, it helps to give you a better flame in the pit. And the great thing about this silica sand is that you can use it in a lot of places. You can use it on fire pits, fireplaces, or even for decorative purposes as well.

And it is completely eco-friendly, which makes it an even better option for you to get for your fire pit.

Pros

Cons

Another interesting read: How to Use Polymeric Sand

Magma Lava Rocks

You can go for natural magma lava stone for the best results, of course. That’s going to be the perfect pick if you ask what to put in the bottom of a metal fire pit as well.

Lava rocks are great if you want to get an exotic and classy look in the fire pit. But you need to be a bit careful when it comes to magma lava stones.

But you don’t need to sweat a thing typically. That’s because if the magma stones haven’t exploded in the lava pit, it’s more likely to be safe in your fire pit. So, that’s a pretty solid option that you can use at the bottom of your fire pit.

Let’s go over the best natural magma lava stone that you can get in the marketplace.

American Fire Glass LAVA-M-10 Medium-Sized Black Lava Rock

This is the perfect material to put under the fire pit. The American Fireglass LAVA-M-10 American Fire Glass Medium-Sized Black Lava Rock is great for both outdoor and indoor use. You can use it to get a classy and exotic look in your fire pit, which is exceptional in its way.

These are naturally formed magma lava rocks that are just amazing to use under your fire pit in every way. They can take a very high amount of temperature, which is vital if you want to use them on the bottom of your fire pit.

And you can’t find such amazing material to use in that price range, and that makes it a no-brainer option for you.

Pros

Cons

Fire Glass

You know that there are a lot of materials that you can use under the pit, which are designed for them. You’ll be able to find it pretty cheap in the marketplace.

The best thing you can use in that case is something by the name of fire glass. Those are perfect materials that you can put under the fire pit. But these have different types as well.

You can get various colors and patterns with the fire glass. They are typically more pricey than the magma lava rocks or the sand. But they are of course a safer, and better option as well.

They have very strong heat resistance and almost no chance of exploding, unlike the other materials. So, if you can, you should always go for fire glasses whenever you decide to make a fire pit.

Fire glass is the best material that you can use at the bottom of the fire pit without any doubt. But there are so many different brands and types of fire glass, which can make it overwhelming for you to decide.

To help you with that, let’s go over the top fire glass that you can use at the bottom of your fire pit.

Hiland Fire Pit Fire Glass in Bahama Blend

If you are searching for the best material to put under the fire pit, there is no better option than this one. The Hiland Fire Pit Fire Glass in Bahama Blend lets you enjoy the moment without any interruption of cleaning ashes or soot. It also eliminates smoke, which is very amazing.

It has an extreme heat resistance rating, which is much higher than silica sand or magma lava stones. So, it’s the safest and most hassle-free material that you can use at the bottom of your fire pit.

Also, it looks very stylish, and you can use it indoors and outdoors. That’s very impressive to have in that price range.

Pros

Cons

More Options

Dirt

Dirt is one of the most common materials that most people like to use at the bottom of their fire pit. It doesn’t cost you even a penny to gather up some dirt from outside.

Also, it’s very easy and convenient to use and gives pretty decent heat resistance as well. But of course, there are some downsides to using dirt as the material. The main issue you are going to face is that it tends to get mixed with the ash, which can make a mess that you have to deal with afterward.

You’d have to clean it with a shovel, which is not that hard. Just dig it all out to get it cleaned once you are done.

Gravel

Gravel is a great option that you can put in the bottom of the fire pit that you build. Those are pretty common among people as well.

If you don’t want to be particular with the gravel, just go for 10 percent of the total fire pit to make it work perfectly. Remember, you can always put more if you need it afterward.

But the thing about gravel is that it’s not meant for high temperatures like some other materials, like fire glass or magma lava stones. That makes it a risky option for you as it can explode in some cases as well.

So, if you can, you should use materials that are designed specifically for fire pits instead of gravel. But if you don’t want to buy those, you can use it as it’s pretty effective as well.

Some Different Types of Fire Pits

There are different types of fire pits that you can build for yourself. You might get confused, picking the right type of fire pit for your environment. To help you with that, let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of fire pits down below.

Gas Fire Pit

The gas fire pit is one of the most common types of fire pit out there. It’s pretty easy and straightforward to use. Just put the materials inside and trigger the ignitor, and you are done.

But when it comes to the materials, you need to be a bit careful. You must install the materials such as magma lava stones, sand, or fire glasses in the right way. Otherwise, you won’t get the meaningful fire out of the fire pit. Just make sure the ignitor is not covered with the materials, and you should be good to go.

Metal Fire Pit

Metal pits are great if you want to build a fire pit that is fast and easy. You can just add sand approximately 1 to 2 inches and make an amazing fire pit out of it. It’s so easy and convenient, and also, it looks sleek.

Yet, the heating of the metal can be an issue from time to time. You can just use some fire shield or fire mat to solve the issue.

Portable or Fixed Fire Pit

There are a lot of portable fire pits available on the market that you can get for yourself. They are very simple to use and come with amazing features.

You can also go for fixed fire pits, which are commonly known as the in-ground fire pit. You just have to dig a 6″ to 12″ hole in the ground with a leveled surface. And then, add materials to make it complete. It’s a more convenient option for you if you don’t want to spend money on anything.

Fire Pit Safety Tips

No matter how small the fire might be, it’s a very dangerous thing in any case. You must be careful with it; otherwise, it can create some unwanted accidents that you don’t want to take place. Let’s go over some fire pit safety tips that will help you avoid such accidents and make it a safer experience for you.

1. Choose the Right Spot

The most vital thing for you to do is to pick the right spot to build the fire pit. It must be at a good distance from the residential areas. Try to get as much distance as you can from the buildings or the car parking spots as well.

Also, you need to make sure that there are no trees nearby that place. Maintain at least 15 to 20 feet distance from any trees or branches to ensure maximum safety.

2. Have Water Accessible

You must have some water around the fire pit before you even lit it in the fire. That’s to make sure that you can put down the fire if anything gets out of hand.

You might think that the fire from the pit is no threat whatsoever. But a small spark of flame can cause fatal accidents.

And that’s why it’s crucial to have some water around the fire pit that you can get access to easily. You can have a bucket or a big bottle full of water and keep it at the side. That’s going to be enough.

3. Keep an Eye on the Fire

You should know fire can get out of the hand in just a matter of seconds. That’s why you need to keep a close eye on the fire and its state.

It’s very easy to get distracted by gossip, and some people even fall asleep around a burning fire pit. That’s very dangerous as the fire is capable of spreading in just a few moments. Whatever you do, you must keep track of the flame of the fire pit to ensure maximum security.

4. Put Fire Out Completely

When you are done, you must put out the fire completely. It’s a critical thing that you must do before you leave the spot. A lot of fire burns a whole forest for that one thing every year.

This is the most responsible thing you need to make sure that you take care of before you leave. To do that, you can simply pour water on top of the pit, and that will take out the fire instantly. But make sure to recheck everything before leaving the area.

Conclusion

That was everything you need to know to make a fire pit work the way you want. Now you know what to put in the bottom of a fire pit and how to make everything more efficient as well.