Hardscaping guide · Franklin and Brentwood, TN

Fire Pit Installation Cost in Franklin and Brentwood, TN: What a Wood or Gas Pit Really Costs

Prices for wood and gas pits, kits and custom stone, seating walls, and the setback and burn-permit checks to make before you build.

Updated November 2026 · 9 min read · By Pineda Properties, Franklin TN

A custom stone fire pit with a curved seating wall, built by Pineda Properties in Franklin.

Quick answer

A wood-burning fire pit typically costs $300 to $1,000, and a natural gas pit costs $400 to $3,000 ^[1]. Add a built-in seating wall and the price grows by $1,500 to $3,000. A full patio with a fire pit runs $4,500 to $9,000 ^[1]. These are national ranges. Pineda prices each project after a free site visit.

$300 to $1,000Wood-burning fire pit, national range ^[1]

$400 to $3,000Natural gas fire pit, national range ^[1]

$1,500 to $3,000Built-in seating area added to a pit ^[1]

10 to 15 ftTypical distance from the house and other buildings ^[1]

Nov 3Average first fall freeze, Nashville area ^[6]

How much does a fire pit cost to install?

Most homeowners spend between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand. A simple above-ground pit costs $200 to $1,500. An in-ground pit costs $1,000 to $3,000 to install ^[1].

The gap comes from fuel, materials and the ground under the pit. A gas pit needs a gas line. A stone pit needs a solid base. A sloped yard needs leveling first.

These are national ranges. They are not Pineda prices. Pineda prices each project after a free site visit, because a pit on level ground costs less than one on a slope.

An in-ground pit costs about twice as much as an above-ground pit at the top of the range

Above-ground built-in pit$200 to $1,500

In-ground pit$1,000 to $3,000

Source: Fixr national cost guide, updated January 31, 2025 ^[1]. Bar length shows the top of each range.

Labor is a small part of a basic pit. Fixr says many pits take less than a day, at a labor cost of roughly $340 to $400 ^[1]. The price climbs when you add gas, stone, seating or site work.

Wood vs gas fire pit cost

A wood-burning pit costs less to build. A natural gas pit costs more to build and less to run. Wood runs $300 to $1,000 and natural gas runs $400 to $3,000 ^[1].

Gas costs more because a supply line must reach the pit. Fixr puts a gas line extension at $15 to $25 per linear foot ^[1]. Fixr puts a 20-foot extension at about $400 to $500 ^[1].

Fire pit cost by fuel type (national ranges)
Fuel	Typical cost	What to know
Wood-burning	$300 to $1,000 ^[1]	Lowest build cost. Real fire, real smoke, firewood to buy. Operating cost is $100 to $300 a year ^[2].
Propane	$300 to $950 ^[1]	No gas line. A 20-pound tank gives 8 to 10 hours of burn time, and a refill costs $20 to $30 ^[2].
Natural gas	$400 to $3,000 ^[1]	Needs a gas line to the pit.
Electric	$350 to $1,500 ^[1]	Needs power at the pit.

One more difference matters in Brentwood. The city says all burning, other than small cooking fires, needs a burn permit ^[4]. We cover that rule in the setbacks section below. Ask the city how it treats a gas pit before you choose between gas and wood.

A round fire pit with a ring of chairs. Four chairs ring the pit.

Fire pit kit or custom stone pit: which costs less?

A kit costs less up front. A custom stone pit costs more and fits your patio. Kits run $400 to $1,300 ^[3], and a 36-inch stone pit averages $350 to $3,010 ^[1].

Kit

Precut blocks or a metal ring. Fast to set. Kits run $400 to $1,300 ^[3].

Concrete block

Plain and low cost. Materials run $150 to $800 ^[3].

Brick pavers

A classic look that suits brick homes. Materials run $300 to $2,200 ^[3].

Natural stone

Field stone costs $350 to $3,000 ^[3]. Full custom stone runs $2,500 to $4,000 ^[2].

Stone veneer over block

Looks like stone and costs $1,500 to $2,500 ^[2].

Cost is not the only difference. A pit set into a paver patio looks planned. A kit dropped on grass looks like an add-on. Match the pit to the paver color, the house and the seating plan.

The pit is the part everyone looks at. The base under it is what keeps it level for the next twenty winters.

Fire pit price ranges at a glance, national figures from three cost guides. Save or print this

What do seating walls and a patio add to fire pit cost?

A built-in seating area adds $1,500 to $3,000 ^[1]. A whole patio with a fire pit runs $4,500 to $9,000 ^[1]. A second guide puts built-in seating at $1,500 to $2,500 ^[3].

Seating walls give you permanent seats. They also frame the pit, so the whole space reads as one design.

Add-ons that change the fire pit price (national ranges)
Add-on	National range
Built-in seating area	$1,500 to $3,000 ^[1]
Patio with a fire pit	$4,500 to $9,000 ^[1]
Base and foundation	$100 to $2,000 ^[2]
Level or re-slope the yard	$500 to $2,500 ^[1]
Safety screen	$40 to $300 ^[1]
Fire grate	$50 to $280 ^[1]

Our own projects tie these pieces together. See our fire pit installation in Franklin page for finished pits, or read the paver patio cost guide if you plan a whole patio around the pit.

A fire pit on a stone patio with a retaining wall beside it. Walls like this are priced with the patio, not with the pit.

Where can you put a fire pit in Franklin or Brentwood?

Place it at least 10 to 15 feet from your home, other buildings and anything that burns ^[1]. Then check your city’s burn rules and your HOA, because both can add limits.

Keep the pit clear of trees, overhanging roofs and patio covers. Leave 3 to 4 feet of open space around the edge for seating ^[2]. Call 811 before anyone digs (dial 811).

Brentwood burn rules

The City of Brentwood says that, except for small cooking fires, all burning in the city requires a burn permit ^[4]. Permits can be denied when weather raises the risk of wildfires, and they can be revoked if the permit conditions are not met ^[4].

The Brentwood Fire & Rescue page says permits can be suspended during extremely dry or windy weather ^[5]. It lists 615-371-0170 for permits, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM ^[5]. The page does not say how the city treats a backyard fire pit. Call before your first fire.

Franklin burn rules

Ask the City of Franklin Fire Marshal’s Office what applies to your pit and your fuel before you build. Rules for recreational fires and for gas pits can differ from rules for yard burning.

Your fire pit checklist for Franklin and Brentwood

Who to ask before you build
Question	Brentwood	Franklin
Does my fire need a burn permit?	Yes for all burning except small cooking fires ^[4]. Ask Fire & Rescue about pits.	Ask the City of Franklin Fire Marshal’s Office.
Does a gas line or a masonry pit need a building permit?	Ask the Planning and Codes Department.	Ask Building and Neighborhood Services.
Is the pit allowed in my neighborhood?	Ask your HOA. City rules and HOA rules are separate.	Ask your HOA. City rules and HOA rules are separate.
Where are the utility lines?	Call 811.	Call 811.

When is the best time to build a fire pit in Middle Tennessee?

Build it in late summer or early fall, so it is ready when the first cool nights arrive. In the Nashville area, the average first fall freeze is November 3 ^[6].

That date comes from NOAA climate normals for 1991 to 2020. The first hard freeze at 28°F arrives on average by November 15 ^[6].

The fire pit year in Franklin and Brentwood, from NOAA normals
When	What it means for a fire pit
Late March	Average last spring freeze is March 31. Ten percent of years still freeze after April 16 ^[6].
April to October	The freeze-free season is 217 days ^[6]. Good for digging, base work and pavers.
Early November	Average first fall freeze is November 3 ^[6]. Fire pit season starts.
Mid November	First 28°F hard freeze, on average, is November 15 ^[6].

Our area gets 50.51 inches of precipitation in an average year ^[6]. Middle Tennessee soil is often heavy clay, which holds water. A pit that drains poorly stays wet and can shift.

Plan the build for dry weeks. Ground work goes faster, and the base compacts better.

A fire pit patio under construction in Franklin, with the seating wall already up.

How a fire pit gets built, step by step

A good fire pit build has five steps, and the base work comes first. Every step below happens before you light the first fire.

Call 811 and mark the spot. Utilities get marked before anyone digs (dial 811).
Check the rules. Ask your HOA and the city fire office what applies to your pit and fuel.
Prep the ground. The crew levels the site and digs out soft soil. Leveling a yard runs $500 to $2,500 when it needs grading ^[1].
Build the base. Compacted gravel gives the pit a firm footing. Base and foundation work can run $100 to $2,000 ^[2].
Set the pit, then the seating. Stone or block goes up first. Seating walls, pavers and the grate follow.

Want a gas line, a seating wall or a patio around the pit? See paver patios in Franklin and outdoor kitchens for ideas that pair with a pit.

A fire pit with a low curved wall on a patterned concrete patio, a Pineda Properties project.

How to get an accurate fire pit quote

An accurate quote comes from a site visit. A phone price cannot see your slope, soil or the distance to the house.

Pick the fuel. Wood, propane or natural gas. It changes the price the most.
Decide how many people will sit. Four people need a smaller pit than ten.
Choose the material. Ask to see stone, block and paver samples next to your home.
Ask for an on-site visit. The estimator checks slope, soil, access and the distance to the house.
Get one itemized quote. It lists the base, the pit, the seating, the gas line and any site work.
Start HOA and city checks early. Do them before the work date, so the schedule holds.

Want a rough number first? Use our landscape cost estimator, then bring it to your visit. For homes in town, see Brentwood and Franklin projects.

Get a fire pit quote built for your yard

Pineda Properties designs and builds fire pits, seating walls and patios across Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Nolensville, Thompson’s Station, College Grove, Fairview and Nashville. Pineda prices each project after a free site visit.

Get my free fire pit estimate Call (615) 899-5766

Fire pit cost questions from Franklin and Brentwood homeowners

How much does it cost to install a fire pit?

A simple above-ground pit costs $200 to $1,500 and an in-ground pit costs $1,000 to $3,000. These are national ranges from Fixr. Gas, stone and seating raise the price.

Is a gas or wood fire pit cheaper?

Wood is cheaper to build, at $300 to $1,000. Natural gas costs $400 to $3,000 because it needs a gas line. Wood also means buying firewood, which runs $100 to $300 a year.

How much does a fire pit with seating walls cost?

A built-in seating area adds $1,500 to $3,000. A whole patio with a fire pit runs $4,500 to $9,000 nationally. Pineda prices each project after a free site visit.

How far should a fire pit be from the house?

Cost guides say 10 to 15 feet from the house, other buildings and anything that burns. Keep it away from trees and roofs, and leave 3 to 4 feet around the edge for seating. Check your city and HOA for local limits.

Do I need a permit for a fire pit in Brentwood?

The City of Brentwood says that, except for small cooking fires, all burning requires a burn permit. The page does not describe backyard fire pits, so call Brentwood Fire & Rescue at 615-371-0170 before you build or light one.

Do I need a permit for a fire pit in Franklin?

Ask the City of Franklin Fire Marshal’s Office and Building and Neighborhood Services before you build. Rules can differ for wood, gas and masonry pits. Your HOA may also have its own rules.

What is the best time of year to build a fire pit?

Late summer or early fall works well. The average first fall freeze near Nashville is November 3, so a pit built in September is ready when cool nights start. Dry weeks make base work easier.

Sources