The trend of building outdoor fire pits and fireplaces is catching on at a fast pace. Outdoor fireplaces come in many designs and themes and are available in portable and custom models. Outdoor fireplaces are to be built according to local codes, which usually specify the firebricks to be used. Two important factors are safe design and ventilation.

Any outdoor fireplace design is similar to that of an indoor fireplace. One exception is that dampers are not used in outdoor fireplaces. A tall chimney, the major component of any fixed type outdoor fireplace, provides shelter from the smoke. Mexican style chimney pots called chimeneas are a beautiful addition. Outdoor fireplaces may be designed with a bowl-shaped base with a single opening connected to a stack or chimney. It circulates air into the fire and emits smoke out of the top of the stack. Etched cast iron, aluminum, or clay and terracotta are used as raw materials for fireplace construction. Cast-iron and cast aluminum outdoor fireplaces are durable and resist roaring flames and high temperatures.

Lavers and Fire Rings are low cost, decorative portable fireplaces that can be moved with ease from one place to another. Integrated fireplaces are another option and these maybe freestanding or attached. English, Eastern brick, Southwestern adobe, or Old World traditional are among the popular designs and themes.

An outdoor fireplace has a crown, overmantel, mantel shelf, header, filler panel, fire box, leg, plinth base, and hearth. Some models use the combined form of mantel shelf and header.

Masonry construction is more durable than metal or prefabricated fireboxes, which may rust when exposed to rain or snow. Fire Rock's pre-engineered fireplace system is faster and less-expensive than hand-built, brick and mortar structures. In this case, the raw materials are available in a kit, and the homeowner can install the fireplace easily. The newly constructed fireplace is then covered with the finishing material such as brick, stone, stucco or manufactured stone.