Concrete bioethanol fire bowl with a clean flame on a paved suburban patio at dusk

July 26, 2026

Fire Pit Ideas: 15 Designs for Australian Backyards

Fire pit ideas fall into two camps in Australia: the wood-burning pit you build into the garden, and the smokeless bioethanol pit you place on a finished patio. Below are 15 designs for Australian backyards, courtyards, decks and balconies, leaning toward the low-smoke, design-led options that suit paved outdoor rooms. Browse the full range of fire pits as you plan.

Short answer: the best fire pit for most Australian homes is a smokeless one, either a cast-concrete bioethanol bowl or a built-in burner, because it works on a paved patio or timber deck and produces no smoke or ash. It is still a fire in the open, so like a wood pit it cannot be lit outdoors on a total fire ban day.

Wood or bioethanol: which fire pit suits your yard

A wood fire pit gives crackle and cost-free fuel but produces smoke, ash and embers, needs clearance from the house, and is banned outright during a total fire ban. A bioethanol fire pit burns denatured plant alcohol in a stainless-steel burner, gives a real flame with no smoke or flue, and can sit on a deck or courtyard. For design-aware homes on smaller blocks, the bioethanol pit wins on placement and clean-up.

15 fire pit ideas for Australian backyards

Each idea below suits a different space, budget and style. Use them to picture the fire pit that fits your own yard.

1. A sculptural concrete bowl as the centrepiece

A cast-concrete fire bowl reads as a design object first and a heater second. The EcoSmart Pod 40 is a 1,000 mm wide bowl standing 504 mm tall in Bone Fluid concrete, so it holds its own on an empty patio without other furniture. Place it where it can be seen from inside, and it anchors the whole yard, lit or unlit.

EcoSmart Pod 40 Fire Pit in Bone concrete with a stainless steel burner

2. A low, wide bowl for a conversation circle

Lower, wider pits pull chairs in around them. The EcoSmart Mix 850 sits at coffee-table height in a broad concrete bowl, so a ring of lounge chairs can face inward without anyone looking over the flame. The low profile keeps sightlines open across a small courtyard.

EcoSmart Mix 850 Fire Pit in Bone concrete with live flame and black glass media

3. A compact bowl for a small deck or balcony

On a balcony or compact deck, a self-contained pit with no gas line and no smoke is often the only workable choice. The EcoSmart Mix 600 is a smaller concrete bowl that lifts into place and needs only bioethanol fuel, so a renter or apartment owner can run a real flame where a wood pit or gas bottle would never be allowed. Check your strata rules first.

EcoSmart Mix 600 fire pit in Bone concrete, alight, with its stainless steel burner and black glass media set around it

4. A tubular steel pit as a design object

Where concrete reads soft, steel reads sharp. The EcoSmart Stix is a slim tubular pit that works as sculpture by day and a flame by night. It suits a modern, minimal courtyard where the pit is meant to be noticed.

5. A built-in linear burner in a bench or wall

A fire pit kit lets you build the flame into masonry, an outdoor bench, or a garden wall. The EcoSmart Linear 50 is a stainless-steel trough burner you drop into your own surround, so the fire runs as a clean line through a bench top. This is the route for a fully bespoke courtyard centrepiece. The EcoSmart kits we stock run from the Round 20 and Square 22 (from $2,095) to the Linear 130 (from $12,895).

6. A fire pit built into an outdoor kitchen island

Set a linear burner into the end of an outdoor kitchen bench and the cooking zone gains a lounge end. Guests gather at the flame while the cook works, and the two zones read as one built island. Keep the burner clear of gas appliances and combustible joinery per the maker's clearances.

7. A fire table you can dine around

If you want to eat and drink around the flame rather than just sit near it, a fire table gives you a usable rim. The EcoSmart Base 40 combines a square concrete table surface with a central burner, so drinks can rest on the outer edge, well back from the flame. EcoSmart describe it as part coffee table, part fire pit; they also warn that the unit is hot while in operation.

EcoSmart Base 40 square fire table in bone finish with a stainless steel burner

8. A sunken fire lounge with built-in seating

Drop a seating area below the paving line and ring it with a low bench, with the fire pit at its heart. A sunken lounge feels sheltered and intimate, and keeps the flame out of the wind. It works best in a larger yard where the ground can be excavated and drained.

9. A fire pit that zones a large courtyard

In a broad courtyard, a fire pit marks the lounge zone and separates it from the dining and garden areas without a wall. Place it off-centre with chairs around it, and the empty paving reads as a room. A tall pit like the Pod 40 holds the zone even when unlit.

10. A poolside fire feature

A fire pit beside a pool balances the cool water with warmth and light, and doubles the poolside season into the cooler months. A smokeless bioethanol pit is the sensible choice here, as there is no ash or ember to blow into the water. Keep the maker's clearance from timber decking and coping.

11. A fire pit framed by a low seating wall

Build a low rendered or stone wall in a horseshoe around the pit and it becomes instant seating for a crowd. The wall also shelters the flame and defines the fire zone. Finish the wall to match the house render or paving for a cohesive, built-in look.

12. A portable pit that moves with the season

A self-contained pit with no fixed install can follow the sun and the season, from the deck in autumn to a paved terrace in summer. The EcoSmart Stix and Mix 600 both lift and move easily between uses, so the fire goes where the gathering is rather than staying in one corner.

13. A coastal stainless steel pit

Near the coast, salt air corrodes plain steel quickly. EcoSmart's concrete pits pair a Grade 304 stainless steel burner with a weather-resistant Fluid concrete surround, but EcoSmart say stainless steel will still rust or corrode over time if contamination or debris is not cleaned off promptly. Rinse the surfaces down after salt-laden winds and keep the burner lid on between uses. This keeps a fire pit looking new in a beachside or bayside yard.

14. A fire pit under a pergola or covered patio

A fire pit under cover extends the space into wet weather, but overhead clearance is the deciding factor. A bioethanol pit produces no embers, though it still needs the maker's overhead clearance, commonly around 2,000 mm, to any timber or fabric above. Confirm the figure for your model before placing it under a structure.

15. A fire pit paired with string lights and planting

The fire is the anchor, but string lights overhead and established planting around the edge turn a bare patio into a room. Warm lights at low level and pots of herbs, grevillea or a lemon tree soften the hard paving and complete the outdoor lounge around the flame.

Fire pit ideas by budget

Smokeless fire pits in Australia run from around $1,300 for a compact concrete bowl to $13,000 for a large integrated linear kit. The table below sets out where each type sits.

Type	Example	From (AUD)	Best for
Compact concrete bowl	EcoSmart Mix 600	$1,295	Small decks, balconies
Low gathering bowl	EcoSmart Mix 850	$1,895	Conversation circles
Sculptural tall pit	EcoSmart Pod 40	$2,695	Focal-point patios
Built-in burner kit	EcoSmart Linear 50	$3,995	Custom benches, kitchens

Coastal and fire-ban realities in Australia

Two Australian conditions decide the right pit. Near the coast, salt corrodes plain steel, so choose Grade 304 stainless steel burners and weather-resistant concrete, then rinse them after salty winds. Inland and through summer, a total fire ban prohibits any fire in the open for warmth or comfort, whatever the fuel, so a bioethanol pit is off limits on those days just as a wood pit is. The usual exemption is a gas or electric barbecue used for cooking, under conditions that vary by state. Always confirm current local rules with your state fire authority.

The practical side: fuel, care and delivery

A bioethanol pit runs on e-NRG fuel, the only ongoing cost, and needs no flue, gas line or ash disposal. Wipe the concrete and burner down, store fuel sealed and cool, and the pit lasts for years. Every fire pit at My Acre ships with free delivery, our price-beat promise and owner after-care: a fit check before you buy, a shepherded delivery, and a follow-up within a week. Browse the full range of fire pits and fire tables.

Frequently asked questions

Are bioethanol fire pits any good?

Yes. A bioethanol fire pit produces a real flame with no smoke, ash or flue, and can be used on a patio or deck where a wood fire cannot. It gives warmth and ambience, and a large burner puts out up to about 6 kW. The trade-off is running cost, as e-NRG fuel is the only ongoing expense.

Do you need council approval for a fire pit in Australia?

A portable bioethanol fire pit generally needs no council approval, as it is treated as an appliance rather than a structure. A built masonry fireplace may require approval depending on your council and setback rules. Always check your local council and, in strata, your body corporate before installing a fixed fire feature.

Can you use a fire pit on a timber deck?

A smokeless bioethanol fire pit can be used on a timber deck, as it produces no embers or ash. EcoSmart's concrete pits and tables stand on adjustable feet, which must keep at least 12.5 mm of air space under the appliance; EcoSmart also say never to place one over grass, artificial turf, carpet, rock or any uneven surface. A wood-burning pit should never be used directly on a timber deck because of embers and radiant heat. Follow the maker's clearance guidance.

What is the best base for an outdoor fire pit?

The best base for an outdoor fire pit is a level, non-combustible surface such as concrete, pavers or stone. A cast-concrete bioethanol pit is self-contained and stands on a paved patio on its adjustable feet. A wood pit needs a fireproof base and clearance from fences, structures and overhanging trees.

Are smokeless fire pits worth it?

Smokeless fire pits are worth it for homes on smaller blocks, paved courtyards and decks, where smoke and ash make a wood pit impractical. They cost more to run than free firewood, but they suit a level patio or deck and leave no ash to clean up. Like any other fire in the open, they cannot be lit outdoors on a total fire ban day.