{"id":11513,"date":"2019-07-31T14:58:57","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T21:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=11513"},"modified":"2026-04-08T11:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T18:18:12","slug":"does-a-fire-pit-increase-home-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/does-a-fire-pit-increase-home-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Will That Cozy Outdoor Fire Pit Add Value to Your House?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A stylish twist on a campfire, a fire pit creates an outdoor oasis<\/a> right in your backyard. It\u2019s like the lazy person\u2019s version of glamping<\/a> and in theory the easiest sell ever: \u201cHey millennial buyers who like to splurge on luxury everything<\/a>! Come pay extra for my house with an Instagrammable fire experience!\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet as you gear up to sell your house, the answer to\u2014Does a fire pit increase home value?<\/i>\u2014isn\u2019t as obvious.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Digging into the data: Does a fire pit boost home value?<\/h2>\n

According to a survey of over 6,000 Realtors, a 10-foot in diameter natural stone, gas fire pit will yield on<\/a> average 67% ROI.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Costs range widely depending on the type of fire pit and whether it\u2019s permanent or mobile, but if you pour $6,000 into the project, you\u2019ll get $4,000 back. So yes, fire pits add value but you likely won\u2019t make money on the project.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the marketability factor.<\/p>\n

Fire pits or backyard fireplaces top the American Society of Landscape Architects\u2019 list of the most popular outdoor design elements<\/a>, outranking lighting, and seating and dining areas, according to the 2018 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey.<\/p>\n

Real estate agent Pete Veres<\/a> of Albuquerque, New Mexico, said that even in his hot climate, fire pits increase marketability, especially if they\u2019re the walled type like he has in his flagstone yard as opposed to a more portable style that a seller might take to a new house.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn most cases, people like it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s appealing when you have a landscaped yard. What that allows you to do is push the price to the top of the market to try to recoup some of that cost.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before you grab the wine glasses or the s\u2019mores, pull up a lounge chair to see what type of fire pit might be best for you, as well as other considerations\u2014like what your city allows\u2014before installing one.<\/p>\n

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Source: (jamie410\/ Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Does your community limit fire pits?<\/h3>\n

Check with your city or county fire department, as well as your homeowners\u2019 association, about any restrictions regarding fire pits. Some communities, such as Denver<\/a>, ban \u201copen fires,\u201d which includes fire pits.<\/p>\n

Others, such as Urbandale, Iowa, allow propane and natural gas<\/a> fire pits as long as all manufacturers\u2019 recommendations and instructions are followed. (Urbandale has other specifications for fires used to prepare food.)<\/p>\n

You also may want to check with your insurance agent. Allstate notes that in some parts of the country, such as areas prone to wildfires, you may need to disclose whether you have a fire pit<\/a> as a requirement of your homeowners\u2019 insurance policy. An insurance agent also can advise you about any impact a fire pit has on your coverage.<\/p>\n

How big and how permanent?<\/h3>\n

The size of your outdoor living space is key when picking the right fire pit. Fire associations, advise placing a fire pit<\/a> a minimum of 10 feet from your house and your neighbors\u2019 houses\u2014and to keep young children about 10 feet away from the pit as well.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Annie Spratt\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ll also want to keep at least a 10-foot buffer<\/a> away from any overhanging tree branches, shrubbery, fences, garages, sheds, or your property line.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t have children around, you\u2019ll want your guests to have enough room to sit and move comfortably. You\u2019ll also want to consider whether you\u2019d like a fire pit that converts to a grill<\/a> for cooking or maximizes limited space by doubling as a center table for meals, both of which could boost its appeal for potential buyers.<\/p>\n

A stone fire pit, such as the Four Seasons Lightweight Wood Burning Concrete Fire Pit<\/a> ($360 at Home Depot), requires the most space and becomes a permanent structure in the yard.<\/p>\n

Other designs considered portable include a fire bowl and a chiminea. A fire bowl, such as the Hampton Bay Quadripod Round Fire Pit<\/a> ($79), includes a metal structure that can be set on a ground-level cement or stone surface, or elevated via a table or metal stand. Some models, such as the Patio Festival Round Metal Propane Fire Pit Table with Lava Stone<\/a> ($664), include the fire bowl in the tabletop.<\/p>\n

A chiminea, such as the Hammered Chiminea Copper Fire Pit<\/a> ($270), is an enclosed structure with one or more openings in the front to draw in air and an opening at the top for smoke.<\/p>\n

Pick your materials wisely<\/h3>\n

When selecting a fire pit, you\u2019ll need to choose your materials and heat source, even if you\u2019re not building it yourself.<\/p>\n

The exterior materials<\/a> of your fire pit have a huge style impact, plus affect its durability, says Serenity Health & Home D\u00e9cor of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n