![Fire Pit vs. Outdoor Fireplace Cost in Minnesota [2026 Data]](/img/projects/hugo-backyard-retreat/hugo-backyard-retreat-02.jpg)
A built-in wood-burning fire pit in Minnesota costs $3,000 to $12,000, a built-in gas fire pit or linear fire table runs $8,000 to $15,000, and a masonry outdoor fireplace runs $25,000 to $60,000 or more. Which one is right depends on how you will use the space, how close it sits to the house, and whether you want a focal point or a gathering spot.
Below is the 2026 breakdown from a licensed Twin Cities design-build contractor, with real project numbers and the reasons a fire feature is the highest-impact addition to a Minnesota backyard.
Fire feature cost at a glance
- Built-in wood-burning fire pit: $3,000 to $12,000 installed.
- Built-in gas fire pit or fire table: $8,000 to $15,000 installed, including the gas line.
- Masonry outdoor fireplace: $25,000 to $60,000+ installed.
- Seat walls around a fire pit add roughly $4,000 to $12,000 depending on length and material.
- A fire feature adds two to three months of usable patio season in Minnesota.
- Fire features are almost always built with a patio, so budget them together.
- Best value window: design over winter and book by February for a spring build.
Fire pit vs. fireplace: cost and what you get
| Feature | Installed cost | Fuel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood-burning fire pit | $3,000 – $12,000 | Wood | A gathering circle away from the house; the real campfire experience |
| Gas fire pit or fire table | $8,000 – $15,000 | Natural gas or propane | Right off the patio, under a pergola, instant on and off, no smoke |
| Outdoor fireplace | $25,000 – $60,000+ | Wood or gas | A focal point and wind block; anchors an outdoor room; works with a TV wall |
These are full installed prices, including the base, masonry, burner or liner, and gas connection where needed.
What actually drives the price
Fuel is the first decision. Wood is cheaper to build because there is no gas line, burner or permit for the line. Gas costs more up front but is instant, clean and can sit close to the house and under a roof.
Size and material are the second. A 4-foot round pit in block with a cap is the low end. A larger pit in natural stone, a long linear fire table, or a fireplace that stands 7 or 8 feet tall with a chimney is the high end. Natural stone costs more than block with veneer.
What surrounds it is the third. Most fire pits we build come with seat walls, a paver or natural stone landing, and lighting, which is why they are best budgeted as part of a paver patio project instead of on their own.
Which one should you choose?
Choose a wood-burning fire pit if you want the real thing, plan to sit out in the yard rather than on the main patio, and want the lowest cost. Choose a gas fire pit or fire table if it sits close to the house, you want it lit in ten seconds on a Tuesday night, or it will be under a pergola or near a pool. Choose an outdoor fireplace if you want a true focal point, a wind block on an exposed lot, or an outdoor room with a TV, kitchen and seating around it.
A lot of our best backyards have both: a gas feature at the patio and a wood pit out in the landscape.
Real Twin Cities fire features
Our Gather Round the Fire project in Hugo, a $295,000 full backyard, is anchored by a natural stone outdoor fireplace with a stone sphere water feature, built-in seating, and an outdoor kitchen beside it. The Modern Revival in Woodbury, at $235,000, centers on a sleek linear gas fire table framed by built-in bench seating. And Room to Gather in Stillwater, a $45,000 patio project, shows how a fire pit fits into a focused refresh rather than a full transformation.
Why fire features matter more in Minnesota
Our outdoor season is short. A fire feature is the one thing that reliably stretches it: a patio with a fire pit gets used in April and well into November, and a fireplace under a pergola or roof gets used in light snow. For the money, nothing else on a Minnesota patio delivers as many extra evenings outside.
Permits and safety
A wood-burning fire pit usually does not need a building permit, but most Twin Cities cities regulate size, setbacks from structures and property lines, and what you can burn. A gas line requires a permit pulled by a licensed gas fitter. A tall masonry fireplace often needs a building permit and a frost footing. We confirm the rules with your city and handle the permits as part of the project.
How we source these numbers
Every figure on this page comes from a licensed, insured, family-owned Twin Cities landscape contractor with 37+ years of local project experience, not from a national survey. The ranges reflect real fire pits and fireplaces we have designed and built across the east metro, priced for the base systems and materials that hold up through freeze-thaw. Your exact number depends on your patio and layout, so we give you an honest range up front at a free consultation, then a firm, itemized quote once the design is set.
Ready to add fire to your backyard?
We design and build outdoor living spaces with fire features across the Twin Cities, from Woodbury and Hugo to Stillwater and the surrounding metro. Get a free quote and we will give you a real range, then a firm number once the design is set.