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Love the warmth of a fire but hate the smoke? Today, we’ll teach you how to DIY your own smokeless fire pit so you can enjoy clean, cozy flames anytime.

What makes a smokeless fire pit “smokeless”?

A smokeless fire pit works by allowing oxygen to enter the fire from both the top and bottom. This increased airflow helps the fire burn more efficiently. It’s also important to use dry wood and maintain a strong flame. The diagram below shows how oxygen flows to both the bottom and top of the fire pit.

How does a DIY smokeless fire pit work?

1. Primary combustion: Oxygen flows in from the bottom, fueling the flames.

2. Air heating: The oxygen heats up as it moves through the chamber between the fire pit stones and the fire pit ring.

3. Secondary combustion: Heated oxygen is expelled from the top of the fire pit ring, mixing with smoke and burning it off.
   Because oxygen enters from both the bottom and the top, combustion is more efficient—resulting in less smoke.

How to make a DIY smokeless fire pit

1.Build the stone fire pit
Start by building a stone fire pit. Design it with smokeless functionality in mind. You can follow my complete step-by-step guide to recreate this build.

2.Add the fire pit ring
Yes—you’ll need a fire pit ring. The ring must be installed at the center and fit snugly to ensure proper performance.

3.Increase airflow at the bottom
To boost airflow, remove four paving stones from the base of the fire pit. These openings allow more oxygen to be drawn in.

4.Drill holes at the top of the fire pit ring
The oxygen entering from the bottom needs to escape at the top. Drilling holes here allows the heated air to exit toward the flames, enabling secondary combustion.

5. Drill holes near the bottom of the fire pit ring
For effective burning, oxygen should also enter directly at the base—drill holes near the bottom of the ring to improve primary combustion.

6. Test your DIY smokeless fire pit!

Now for the fun part—light your first fire! Use dry wood and keep adding fuel as needed. Let it burn for at least 30 minutes, then check for reduced smoke. For secondary combustion to occur, the fire temperature should reach between 550–700°F (288–371°C).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a smokeless fire pit?
Drill holes at the bottom of a stone fire pit, then drill additional holes at both the bottom and top of the fire pit ring. Insert the ring and start a strong fire!

What if smoke escapes through gaps in the fire pit?
The tighter the stones are packed, the less oxygen will escape. Smoke may still leak, especially if using loose or uneven stones. Applying quick-setting mortar inside the pit can help seal gaps.

What should be placed at the bottom of a DIY fire pit?
Place a large square paving stone at the base. It reinforces the bottom and makes ash removal easier. Avoid volcanic rock—ash can mix with it, making cleanup difficult.

DIY smokeless fire pit hole dimensions

• Top of fire pit ring: 60 holes, each 1/2 inch (≈1.27 cm) in diameter, spaced 1-1/2 inches (≈3.8 cm) apart.

• Bottom of fire pit ring: 24 holes, each 1 inch (≈2.54 cm) in diameter, spaced 3-3/4 inches (≈9.7 cm) apart.