Outdoor Fireplace Cost to Build (2025 Guide)

An outdoor fireplace turns a plain backyard into a three-season living room, but the price tag catches a lot of homeowners off guard. In 2025, the outdoor fireplace cost to build typically runs between $1,500 and $20,000, with most finished projects landing in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. Where you fall on that spectrum depends almost entirely on three decisions: fuel type, material, and how custom you want the design to be.

The spread is wide for good reason. A $1,700 prefabricated wood-burning unit that a weekend DIYer can assemble over two afternoons sits at one end of the range. At the other sits a $20,000-plus custom stone masonry structure with a gas starter, raised hearth, and matching seating wall — the kind a mason builds by hand over two weeks.

This guide breaks down the real numbers so you can budget accurately instead of guessing. We’ll walk through pricing by fuel type, material, and size, then cover the labor and permit costs that most “average cost” articles leave out.

What Does an Outdoor Fireplace Cost to Build?

The national average for a built outdoor fireplace is roughly $3,000, but “average” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Your actual number depends on where you live, what you’re building with, and whether you hire out the heavy work.

Here’s a realistic breakdown by project scope:

Prefab metal or cast-concrete kit: $1,500–$5,000, including delivery and basic assembly.
Standard brick or manufactured-stone fireplace: $4,000–$9,000, installed by a mason.
Custom natural-stone masonry fireplace: $8,000–$20,000 or more for large, multi-feature designs.

For context, a gas line adds $300 to $800 if one isn’t already near the site, and an electric line for lighting or an ignition system adds another $250 to $500. We’ll cover those add-ons in the sections below.

Cost by Fuel Type

Fuel choice is the single biggest cost driver, and it also determines how much you’ll actually use the fireplace after it’s built. A wood-burning fireplace costs less up front but demands firewood, cleanup, and a chimney that drafts correctly. A gas fireplace costs more to build but lights with the flip of a switch.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Wood is the classic choice and the most affordable to build from scratch. Expect $1,500 to $5,000 for a kit and $4,000 to $10,000 for a masonry build. The trade-off is maintenance: you’ll clean ash, store seasoned wood, and occasionally deal with smoke if the wind shifts. Many municipalities also require a taller chimney than homeowners expect, which drives masonry costs up.

Gas Fireplaces

A gas-burning outdoor fireplace typically costs $3,000 to $10,000. The premium comes from two places: running a gas line to the site and installing a burner system that’s rated for outdoor use. The payoff is a fireplace you’ll use on a Tuesday night in November without hauling a wheelbarrow of logs. If your yard already has a gas stub-out from an outdoor kitchen or pool heater, the installation gets meaningfully cheaper.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric units are more of an ambience piece than a true heat source, but at $500 to $2,500 they’re the cheapest path to a “fireplace” in a covered patio or sunroom. No chimney, no gas line, no permit headaches in most areas. Just don’t expect one to keep a New England deck warm in December.

Photo by Vladimir Srajber via Pexels

Cost by Material

The material you build with sets both the price and the lifespan. A concrete-block fireplace can last decades with a good cap, while a natural-stone build is essentially permanent — if you’re willing to pay for it.

Concrete block and stucco: $1,500–$4,000. The budget workhorse. Blocks are cheap, and a stucco or veneer finish hides the rough structure.
Brick: $3,000–$7,000. Classic look, mid-range price, excellent heat retention.
Manufactured stone veneer: $4,000–$9,000. The look of real stone at roughly 60% of the cost and weight.
Natural stone (fieldstone, limestone, granite): $8,000–$20,000+. Premium price, unmatched durability, and the material masons charge the most to work.

Material costs alone typically represent 40% to 60% of the total project. A natural-stone fireplace doesn’t cost more because the stone is exotic — it costs more because shaping, fitting, and mortaring real stone is slow, skilled labor.

Size, Style, and Complexity

A compact 4-foot-wide fireplace in the corner of a patio and a 12-foot statement piece with an outdoor kitchen built around it are almost different projects. Complexity, not raw square footage, is what the mason’s bill actually tracks.

Simple single-sided fireplace: $3,000–$7,000. A firebox, a chimney, done.
Two-sided or see-through fireplace: $6,000–$15,000. Double the facing, more intricate chimney work.
Fireplace with raised hearth and seating wall: $8,000–$20,000. The extra masonry and footings add real cost.
Full outdoor kitchen with built-in fireplace: $25,000–$50,000+. At this point you’re pricing a room, not a fire feature.

If you’re already planning an outdoor kitchen, the fireplace is often the anchor that everything else is built around — which is why so many homeowners fold it into a larger project. Our guide to the outdoor kitchen cost per linear foot breaks down how those surrounding runs of cabinetry and countertop are priced.

Photo by Gustavo Galeano Maz via Pexels

Labor, Permits, and the Hidden Costs

Labor is where budgets quietly blow up. Masonry is skilled work, and in 2025 a mason charges $50 to $100 per hour or $30 to $70 per square foot of facing. A mid-size stone fireplace can take 40 to 60 hours of labor, which is why the “materials” line on your quote often looks reasonable right up until you read the line beneath it.

Beyond labor, account for these often-overlooked line items:

Permits: $100 to $500, depending on your town. Most areas require a permit for any masonry structure with a chimney.
Gas or electric rough-in: $300 to $800 for a gas line, $250 to $500 for electric.
Footing and foundation: $300 to $1,200. A fireplace needs a proper concrete pad, not a skim coat over pavers.
Firebox and flue components: $500 to $2,000 for a prefab firebox and flue kit rated for outdoor use.
Site prep and cleanup: $200 to $600 to remove sod, level the ground, and haul debris.

Skipping the permit is a false economy. An unpermitted masonry chimney is exactly the kind of thing a home inspector flags when you eventually sell, and retroactive permits cost more than the original would have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to build an outdoor fireplace or buy a kit?

A kit is almost always cheaper up front. Prefab wood-burning kits run $1,500 to $5,000 and go together in a weekend, while a custom masonry build starts around $4,000 and climbs fast. If you want a specific size, material, or integrated features, building is the only route — but for a simple fire feature, a kit is hard to beat on price.

Does an outdoor fireplace add value to a home?

Yes, though less than the full cost. Real estate pros generally credit a well-built outdoor fireplace at 50% to 80% of its cost in resale value, and it’s a genuine selling point in markets where outdoor living is a priority. Treat it as a lifestyle purchase that partially pays for itself, not a pure investment.

Do I need a permit to build an outdoor fireplace?

In most US and Canadian municipalities, yes — especially for wood-burning masonry structures with a chimney. Gas units may only need a permit for the gas line. Check with your local building department before you buy materials; the rules vary wildly by county.

How long does it take to build an outdoor fireplace?

A prefab kit takes one to three days for a competent DIYer. A professional masonry build takes one to three weeks, including time for the footing to cure and mortar to set. Weather is the wild card — masons don’t work in rain or freezing temperatures.

Wood-burning or gas — which is better?

Wood wins on ambience and build cost; gas wins on convenience and clean operation. If you’ll use the fireplace weekly during the cool months, gas is usually the better call. If it’s mostly for weekend fires and the ritual of splitting wood, wood-burning is the more satisfying — and cheaper — choice.

The Bottom Line

The outdoor fireplace cost to build comes down to how much “built” you want in the word. A $2,000 wood-burning kit gives you real flames and a weekend project. A $12,000 natural-stone gas fireplace gives you a permanent outdoor room that lights at the push of a button. Most homeowners land somewhere in the $3,000 to $8,000 middle, which buys a solid masonry fireplace in brick or manufactured stone.

Before you commit, get three written quotes, and ask each mason to break out materials, labor, and permits separately — that’s the only way to compare bids honestly. If you’re pairing the fireplace with a fire pit or a larger cooking setup, our guides to fire pit installation cost and how much an outdoor kitchen costs to build will help you price the full picture.

For more detail on masonry construction and fire safety clearances, the pros at This Old House and The Family Handyman both publish thorough, contractor-level walkthroughs that are worth reading before you sign a contract.

Outdoor Fireplace Cost to Build: A 2025 Pricing Guide for Every Budget

What Does an Outdoor Fireplace Cost to Build?