How to Build a Small Fire Pit Table

Fire pits are a wonderful, versatile addition to any yard or patio. If you want a source of flame that’s not quite as large as a ground-based mini-bonfire, a small fire pit table is the perfect compromise for your space. It can keep you comfy and cozy while you're hanging out outside, and you could even do some cooking right at the table!

Why Build a Fire Pit Table?

You may be wondering why you should build a fire pit table instead of going with a traditional fire pit. There are many reasons to do so.

Ambiance

Fire pits are great, but there’s something about an elegant fire pit table to create a wonderful ambiance in your backyard. These tables are stylish and functional—plus, they look fancy!

Cooking

Although the fire provided with these tables is smaller than that of a traditional fire pit, you can still use these for cooking. Use this table to make corn on the cob, hot dogs, s'mores, or a range of other items.

Warmth

Just like a normal fire pit, fire pit tables give off a fair amount of warmth. This makes it easier to enjoy chilly nights outside.

How to Build a Fire Pit Table

The idea of making your own fire receptacle of any kind may be intimidating, but it’s actually relatively easy to do.

Step 1 - Select a Fire Pit

You’ll want to select an iron, circular fire pit to insert into the middle of you table as the first step so you know the dimensions. Pick one you can add wood to from the top. An optional grill attachment will facilitate any cooking you might be hoping to attempt.

Step 2 - Create the Top

The top of the table should be a hard, flame-resistant material. Concrete is a cheap and easy go-to, and you can build a mold for it out of scrap wood, keeping costs to a minimum. The center border should come up higher than the rest of the surface to make a protective lip. The size of this table is up to you and the available space you have.

Step 3 - Mix and Pour the Concrete

You can use ballast, yellow building sand, plastering sand, white cement, glass fiber strands, and/or nylon mesh in your concrete mix. Pour it into the mold and leave it for a week to sit and firm up. If you wish, you can add items to the bottom for some decorative flair. These can be rocks, stones, sea shells, or anything else of your choosing.

Step 4 - Create a Base

Use scraps of wood to create a base for your table while you wait for the concrete to dry. This should be four sturdy legs that will support the top and the iron fire pit insert. You can also opt to connect the four legs with boards of wood place horizontally placed between the legs on each side.

Step 5 - Seal the Concrete

Use a concrete sealer to seal the top of the table once it’s dry.

Step 6 - Attach the Top to the Base

You can now attach the legs of the table to the base, using screws or nails.

Step 7 - Insert the Iron Fire Pit Piece

Now’s the time to add your iron fire pit into your concrete and wooden structure. Ensure that it fits snugly, and adjust it with shims if it's wiggling around.

How to Create a Fire in Your Fire Pit Table

Once your fire pit table is ready, it's time to light the flames. Put some tinder in the center of the pit and stack some kindling on top of it to create a small “teepee”. Tinder is tiny pieces of wood, dried moss, or dried leaves. Kindle wood is small pieces of chopped wood or sticks and twigs collected from your yard. Use a match or lighter to ignite the fire and sustain the fire with larger pieces of wood or logs.

Your fire pit table will be a great place for family and friends to gather time after time while enjoying the great outdoors.