I agree that gathering around a fire is a primal pleasure, but before you burn please consider how it may affect your neighbors. My husband and I used to enjoy the smell of smoke, until we moved in next to a family that burns wood constantly. The prevailing winds bring it straight into our home, and like all byproducts of combustion, it's not the healthiest thing to breathe on a regular basis. So, just be considerate and respect your neighbors' right to breathe too!

If you wonder how much use you'll get out of a firepit, build a temporary installation before you go big budget. I made one out of cinderblocks and $3.27 (really) clearance fireplace screens from target. It gave me a good feel for size and construction and was a lot of fun.

Oh man these are all great but whole cow are they pricey! I'd love to see a DIY version of one of these out of things you can pick up at the hardware store. Unfortunately, it seems like even the $40-$100 fireplaces that I see in the stores are just flimsy shoty pieces of metal that will fall apart after just one season. You do get what you pay for. -AK

wilddirt.tumblr.com

My parents built an outdoor fireplace in the entertainment/bbq area of their yard and they use it so much in winter it was well worth it.

Here's the temporary firepit.
http://dean.pulley.org/DSC00341.JPG

It gave me an opportunity to experiment with mass, fireplace style vs in-the-round, placement and smoke dispersion.

18 cinder blocks @$2.15, four clearance firescreens from Target @ 3.27 (you could also use hardware cloth screen)
Total = $51.78

Building up a backwall really helps direct the heat, and keeps the flame from looking like an emergency distress signal to neighbors across the water. Still planning the more permanent (and aestheticrific) evolution.

lowes has instructions for making one with pavers:
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Build a Firepit_531046376_
We just have a cheapo round one from a hardware store... does the job.

Am I the only one who takes the coolness of night as a sign to return indoors, rather than light a firepit?

I love a firepit. We built one at our old house out of discarded cobblestones. Made it round and just big enough to fit a Webber grill recplacement to roast oysters on. We'll be building one at the new place sometime this summer. I doubt we'll be able to pull it off so cheaply this time around. It's wonderful to sit outside with friends, hot chocolate, and talk until the wee hours.

The garden fire pit is getting better in terms of design, quality and safety. It is key to have a screen on top of course as the winds can wreck havoc on the neighbours. Gas, propane and even the eco-friendly bio fuels are a great option for cleaner burning. Remember to keep an eye on it always of course.