Fire Pit Next to a Pool: How Far, Gas vs Wood and Better Options

In this guide

• How far from the pool?
• Gas or wood by the water
• 3 ways to add fire by a pool
• A fire pit in the pool?
• Poolside safety checklist
• What it costs
• FAQ

Three Sedona fire & water bowls over a pool at night: fire right at the water.

How far should a fire pit be from a pool?

There is no single number that applies everywhere. Fire codes and HOA rules are local, and some areas add their own setback near water. Call your building department or HOA before you pick a spot.

After that, two things decide the spacing: the maker's clearances and how people move around the pool.

Our fire pit safety and clearance guide covers house distances, decks and permits in more detail.

Gas or wood by the water

Most pool owners choose gas. It turns on with a key valve or a switch, gives a clean flame and leaves no ash, so nothing ends up in the skimmer or on the pool cover.

A wood fire pit throws sparks and smoke, needs a screen and has to be fully put out every night. By a pool, that means more space and more cleanup. See gas vs wood-burning fire pits for the full comparison.

A gas fire pit on the pool deck: the Coronado from The Outdoor Plus, with lounge chairs around it.

3 ways to add fire by a pool

Fire by a pool usually comes in one of three forms. Each one changes where the gas line runs and how much deck space you need.

1. A fire pit on the pool deck

Best when you want a place to sit. A low round or long fire pit gathers chairs on the deck, set back from the water with a clear path behind it.

Isla 60" round fire pit in white powder coat beside a pool.

2. Fire bowls on pillars or the pool wall

Best for the look from the house and the water. A pair of bowls on pillars frames the steps or the back wall, and nobody has to walk around a fire pit on the deck.

A pair of Cazo GFRC fire bowls on pedestals at the pool steps.

3. Fire & water bowls that spill into the pool

Best when you want fire and a waterfall in one piece. The bowl burns on top while a scupper pours water into the pool, so the flame reflects on the water.

Cazo fire & water bowls in Chocolate GFRC on a pool wall (digital rendering).

How the water side works is covered in our fire & water bowls for pools guide.

The Outdoor Plus builds its fire features in Southern California.

A fire pit in the pool?

People search for a fire pit "in a pool" for two different ideas. One is a sunken lounge or dry island inside the pool with a fire pit in the middle. The other is fire that looks like it sits on the water.

The first is a custom build. Your pool builder plans the island, the drainage and a gas line under the pool deck, and it has to stay dry. The second is much simpler: fire bowls or fire & water bowls on the pool wall, as in the photo below.

Sedona fire & water bowls at the pool steps: the "fire on the water" look without an island (digital rendering).

Poolside safety checklist

A Cazo fire bowl with blue fire glass on a tiled pillar beside the pool.

What it costs

At our store, The Outdoor Plus fire bowls start at $2,024 and fire & water bowls at $2,497 per bowl (match lit, prices as of November 2026). Electronic ignition adds about $2,100 per bowl. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states and DC.

The gas line, pillars and electrical work come on top. Our fire bowl installation cost guide walks through real example budgets, and the ignition and wiring page explains switch and pool-controller options.

A pair of 48" Sedona fire & water bowls on pillars.

Frequently asked questions

How far should a fire pit be from a pool?

There is no single national distance. Your city, county or HOA may set a setback, so check with them first. Then follow the maker's clearances: The Outdoor Plus asks for 48 inches from combustibles on the sides and 96 inches overhead for its fire bowls. Leave a clear walking path between the fire and the pool edge.

Can a gas fire pit sit on a concrete or stone pool deck?

Yes. Concrete, pavers and natural stone are non-combustible, which is why gas fire pits and fire bowls are so common on pool decks. A wood deck is a different case; check the product manual and your local code.

Is a gas or wood fire pit better next to a pool?

Gas is the usual choice. It turns on and off in seconds and leaves no ash or embers to land in the water or on the pool cover. A wood fire pit needs more space, a screen and a full put-out every night.

Can you put a fire pit in the middle of a pool?

Only as a custom build, like a dry island or a sunken lounge planned by your pool builder with drainage and a gas line. For most pools, fire bowls on the pool wall give the same fire-on-water look with far less work.

Do fire bowls by a pool need an electrician?

Only if you choose electronic ignition. The transformer needs 120V on a GFCI circuit and must sit at least 5 feet from water, so an electrician wires it. Match lit bowls only need the gas line.

More answers on our fire bowl and fire & water bowl questions page.