Excavation Depth
Dig your circle 6 inches deeper than your finished floor height — for a typical pit, that's about 8–10 inches of dig. Keep the sides clean and the bottom roughly level; it doesn't need to be perfect yet.
The Base
Lay 4 inches of ¾-inch minus road base and compact it hard. Compact in lifts, two passes minimum with a plate compactor. A fire pit concentrates hundreds of pounds on a small footprint — the base is doing real work.
Why It Matters
Our crews build every fire feature on this exact foundation. It's what keeps the walls plumb through Colorado winters.
Pro tips from the field
- Over-dig the circle by 6 inches all around. You need room for your hands and the compactor, not just the pit.
- A hand tamper works for the sump area where the plate compactor can't reach.
- Photograph your base layers. If you ever sell the house, buyers love proof it was built right.
Common questions
How deep should you dig for a fire pit?
About 8–10 inches for a typical pit: 6 inches deeper than the finished floor height.
What base material for a fire pit?
4 inches of compacted ¾-inch minus road base, compacted in lifts.