Fire Pit & Fire Bowl Materials Explained: GFRC, Copper, Steel (2026)

The material decides how a fire pit looks, weathers, weighs and costs. This guide covers every material we sell in The Outdoor Plus range of fire pits, fire bowls and fire & water bowls, with the real finishes, care notes and starting prices for each.

If you are still choosing between a bowl, a pit and a table, start with our complete outdoor fire pit buying guide. For model-by-model picks, see the best gas fire bowls of 2026.

Whatever the material, every The Outdoor Plus piece is built to order in Southern California, usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks and runs on natural gas or liquid propane. Most product pages list a 304 stainless steel fire pan and burner inside.

Fire pit materials at a glance

Starting prices are the lowest current price of a real product in each material, as of October 2026.

GFRC concrete

GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) is concrete with glass fibers mixed through it. The fibers let the walls be cast thinner and lighter while resisting cracking, freeze-thaw and UV better than ordinary precast concrete. Each piece is cast and finished by hand, so color and texture vary slightly from one to the next.

Cazo fire bowls in GFRC concrete framing a pool entrance.

Look and finishes

GFRC reads as calm, matte and architectural. Most fire bowls and many fire pits come in 18 colors in three families: smooth tones such as Ash, Natural Gray and Limestone; Rustic finishes such as Rustic Coffee, Rustic Gray and Rustic Moss Stone; and Metallic finishes such as Metallic Pearl, Metallic Bronze and Metallic Copper. The Del Mar, Cabo and Regal offer 10 colors.

Weight and feel

GFRC is lighter than solid concrete, but it is still the heaviest material in the range. The product pages list 285 lbs for the 37" Sienna fire pit and about 425 lbs for the 42" Florence (24" tall). Plan for help and a level, solid base.

Weather and care

Concrete cannot rust, which is why GFRC is a favorite around pools and sprinklers. Keep the drain clear, and use only a breathable cover: the product pages warn that plastic covers can stick to the surface. Cold-climate owners should read our GFRC winter care guide for the full freeze-thaw checklist.

Who it suits and prices

GFRC suits most patios and pool decks. Examples, prices as of October 2026:

• Cazo Fire Bowl, GFRC, 24": from $2,024
• Quad Fire Pit, GFRC, 36": from $2,492
• Del Mar Fire Pit, GFRC, 48": from $3,187

Del Mar 48" GFRC concrete fire pit.

Browse GFRC concrete fire bowls or GFRC concrete fire pits.

GFRC wood grain

GFRC wood grain is the same glass fiber reinforced concrete, with a wood-grain texture cast into the surface and finished by hand. You get the look of carved timber in a material that does not rot, warp or splinter.

Coronado 48" fire pit in GFRC wood grain, Ebony finish.

Wood grain comes in three colors: Ebony (dark and modern), Ivory (light and coastal) and Oak (warm and natural). Care is the same as standard GFRC, and it pairs well with teak furniture.

• Cazo Fire Bowl, GFRC Wood Grain, 24": from $2,085
• Coronado Fire Pit, GFRC Wood Grain, 48": from $3,174

Prices as of October 2026.

Powder-coated steel

A powder coat fire pit has a steel body (galvanized steel on many models) with a powder finish baked on. The product pages describe the finish as resisting fading, chipping and moisture far better than paint, and some models add a protective UV coating.

Sedona 48" fire bowl in black powder-coated steel.

Colors

Powder coat has the widest palette in the range. Most fire pits offer 20 colors, including Matte Black, Gloss Black, Graphite Gray, Pewter, Java, Mist, Soft White, Olive Green, Sapphire Blue, Empire Bronze, Trophy Bronze, Bronze Hammertone and metallic veins such as Copper Vein, Gold Vein and Silver Vein. The 24" to 37" Cazo, Maya and Sedona bowls offer 15 of them.

Weight, care and who it suits

Steel is far lighter than concrete. The 48" Sedona powder coat bowl, the largest metal Sedona, is listed at about 110 lbs. Wipe it clean and use a breathable cover. It suits contemporary homes and anyone matching trim or cushions.

• Cazo Fire Bowl, Powder Coat, 24": from $2,264
• Eaves Fire Pit, Powder Coat, 48": from $2,543
• Sedona Fire Bowl, Powder Coat, 48": from $4,632

Prices as of October 2026. Shop powder coat fire bowls or powder coat fire pits.

Hammered copper

Hammered copper is copper with a hand-hammered texture. It reflects the flame in warm, golden tones, and it starts bright and slowly ages to a natural patina. One product page notes that the patina can include blue and green tones when the piece is exposed to the elements.

Sedona Fire Bowl in hammered copper, 27".

The patina is the finish, so there is no color option. Copper does not rust, but natural weathering is not covered by warranty, so buy it because you like a living surface. A copper fire bowl suits courtyards, entries and design-led patios.

• Cazo Fire Bowl, Hammered Copper (24", 30" or 36"): from $2,858
• Sedona Fire Bowl, Hammered Copper (27"): from $3,189
• Cazo Fire Pit Wide Ledge, Hammered Copper (48"): from $6,499

Cazo Fire Pit Wide Ledge in hammered copper, 48".

Prices as of October 2026. See all hammered copper fire bowls and hammered copper fire pits.

The Metal Collection: corten, copper and stainless steel

The Metal Collection is a set of fire pit and fire table designs offered in three metals: corten steel, hammered copper or stainless steel. You pick the metal as an option on the same design. On the 48" Eaves, for example, corten starts at $2,334, stainless steel at $2,661 and hammered copper at $3,077 (prices as of October 2026).

Corten steel

Corten is a weathering steel. It forms a protective rust patina by design, turning a rich rust brown that deepens over time. Two cautions from the product pages: while the patina forms, corten can leave rust-colored runoff on light pavers, and natural weathering is not covered by warranty. It suits rustic, mountain and ranch homes and natural landscapes.

Quad 36" Metal Collection fire pit in corten steel.

• Vista Fire Pit, Metal Collection, 24": from $2,266 in corten
• Eaves Fire Pit, Metal Collection, 48": from $2,334 in corten
• Round Outback Fire Pit, GFRC top and corten base, 46": from $5,594

Stainless steel

Stainless steel keeps a crisp, bright, contemporary surface. It resists corrosion and stays bright with regular cleaning. The product pages are clear that light surface rust near pools or salt air is not covered by warranty, so rinse and wipe it if it sits by a pool or the coast.

Linear Maya 48" x 20" fire bowl in stainless steel.

• Eaves Fire Pit, Metal Collection, 48": from $2,661 in stainless steel
• Linear Maya Fire Bowl, Stainless Steel, 48" x 20": from $5,440

Prices as of October 2026. Browse Metal Collection fire pits or metal fire bowls and fire & water bowls.

Black & White Collection

The Black & White Collection is a fixed two-tone look rather than a separate material. On fire tables such as the Tacoma and Alberta, a hand-finished GFRC top sits on a black powder-coated steel base. Other pieces in the collection use a galvanized steel body powder coated in the Black & White finish with a protective UV coating. Expect the white to need an occasional wipe-down.

Tacoma 48" fire table, Black & White Collection.

• Alberta Fire Table, Black & White, 36": from $2,792
• Tacoma Fire Table, Black & White, 48": from $3,436

Fire & water bowls by material

Fire & water bowls add a spillway that pours water into a pool or basin. They need a pump, plumbing and a pool or basin, which product pages such as the Linear Maya list as not included, so plan them with your pool contractor. Our fire & water bowl pool guide covers installation. Starting prices by material, as of October 2026:

• GFRC concrete: Cazo Fire & Water Bowl, 24", from $2,497
• Powder coat: Cazo Fire & Water Bowl, 30", from $2,597
• Hammered copper: Cazo Fire & Water Bowl, from $3,390; Sedona Fire & Water Bowl, from $3,609
• Stainless steel: Linear Maya Fire & Water Bowl, 48" x 20", from $6,429

Cazo Fire & Water Bowl in GFRC concrete.

Sedona Fire & Water Bowl in hammered copper.

GFRC vs metal fire pit

• Rust: GFRC cannot rust. Copper does not rust but patinas. Corten rusts on purpose. Stainless resists corrosion but can show light surface rust near pools or salt air. Powder coat protects the steel while the finish is intact.
• Weight: GFRC is much heavier (285 lbs for a 37" Sienna) than steel (about 110 lbs for a 48" Sedona bowl). Heavy stays put; light is easier on a pedestal or rooftop.
• Color: GFRC offers up to 18 colors and powder coat up to 20. Copper, corten and stainless are the color of the metal itself.
• Price: For fire bowls, GFRC is the lowest-priced material. For fire pits, corten in the Metal Collection often starts lower than GFRC or powder coat (the 36" Quad starts at $2,280 in corten vs $2,492 in GFRC). Copper is the highest-priced metal.

How to choose the right material

By climate

Cold winters: GFRC handles freeze-thaw better than precast, but keep the drain clear and use a breathable cover so water cannot freeze inside. Hot sun: powder coat resists fading, and lighter colors stay cooler to the touch than dark metal. Coastal air: lean toward GFRC or copper.

By style

Modern: GFRC in Natural Gray or Ash, Matte Black powder coat, or stainless steel. Warm and natural: GFRC wood grain, corten or copper. Mediterranean and Spanish revival: hammered copper. Graphic and high-contrast: the Black & White Collection.

By pool and salt exposure

Next to a pool, GFRC is the low-worry choice and copper is the statement choice. Stainless steel looks great but needs regular cleaning. Avoid placing corten on light pool coping or pale pavers because of the runoff while its patina forms.

By budget

Under about $2,500: a 24" to 31" GFRC or wood grain bowl, or a small corten Metal Collection pit. $2,500 to $4,000: powder coat bowls, 24 to 30-inch copper Cazo bowls and the copper Sedona, and many 48" GFRC fire pits. Above that: large copper fire pits, linear stainless bowls and the larger fire & water features. Orders of $2,000 or more qualify for 12 monthly payments at 0% APR through Affirm, subject to approval.

Whatever you pick, gas connections should be made by a licensed gas fitter or plumber, and local codes apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best material for a fire pit?

For most patios, GFRC concrete is the best all-round material. It cannot rust, it comes in up to 18 colors, and it is the lowest-priced fire bowl material in The Outdoor Plus range. Choose powder coat for a specific color, copper for a statement piece, or corten or stainless steel for a pure metal look.

Is GFRC better than metal for a fire pit?

Neither is better in every case. GFRC is heavier, cannot rust and is the lowest-priced fire bowl material, which makes it a strong choice near pools and in mixed weather. Metal is lighter, and copper, corten and stainless steel each have a look concrete cannot copy.

Does a copper fire bowl turn green?

Copper develops a natural patina over time when it is exposed to the elements, and on some pieces this can include blue and green tones. The patina is part of the look, and natural weathering of copper is not covered by warranty.

Will a corten fire pit stain my patio?

It can. Corten steel forms a protective rust patina, and while that patina forms it can leave rust-colored runoff on light pavers. On light stone, consider GFRC or stainless steel instead.

Is powder-coated steel good for a fire pit?

Yes. Powder coating is baked onto the steel and resists fading, chipping and moisture far better than paint. Most The Outdoor Plus powder coat fire pits come in 20 colors.

Which fire bowl material is best next to a pool?

GFRC concrete is the safest choice next to a pool because it cannot rust. Hammered copper also works well if you like a patina. Stainless steel looks sharp but needs regular cleaning, because light surface rust near pools or salt air is not covered by warranty.

Questions about a specific finish? Email mike@chichomedeco.com or call +1 (570) 813-8570.