No single fire pit clearance requirement exists: published manuals range from 36 to 48 inches at the sides and 60 to 120 inches overhead. American Fyre Designs prints 3 ft and 6 ft. The Outdoor Plus prints 48 in. and 96 in. Firegear goes to 120 in. overhead on its largest burners. Use your own unit's manual, then check local code — whichever is stricter governs.
On this page
- Narrowest side clearance
- 36 in.Firegear, HPC Fire, American Fyre Designs
- Widest side clearance
- 48 in.The Outdoor Plus, Prism Hardscapes, Real Flame
- Overhead spread
- 60–120 in.Real Flame low, Firegear 50–80 in. burners high
- Brands checked
- 102 publish no number at all
Is there one fire pit clearance number the whole industry uses?
No. We pulled the installation manual for every fire feature brand we carry and the numbers do not agree. Sides run 36 to 48 inches. Overhead runs 60 to 120 inches. Two brands print no distance at all. Anyone who tells you "the rule is 10 feet" is quoting a blog, not a manual.
The spread has consequences. Build a Firegear 60-inch burner to a clearance you read on a page about American Fyre Designs and you are 48 inches short overhead. Here is the table, with each manual's own wording.
| Brand | Sides to combustibles | Above to combustibles | Measured from | Manual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Fyre Designs | 3 ft (36 in.) | 6 ft (72 in.) | Unit edge / unit top | "Side clearance (from unit edge to any construction) 3 ft"; "DO NOT install the unit under any overhead construction that is less than 6 feet above the top of the unit." |
| The Outdoor Plus | 48 in. (122 cm) | 96 in. (244 cm) | Side of unit / hearth | "Sides and back 48 inches (122 cm) measured from side"; "Top 96 inches (244 cm) measured from hearth" |
| Prism Hardscapes | 4 ft (48 in.) | 6 ft (72 in.) | Unit | "All units must have clearance to combustible surface of 4ft on sides & 6ft from the top." |
| Firegear (Pro Series burners) | 36 in. | 96 in. for 24–40 in. burners; 120 in. for 50–80 in. burners | Combustible side wall / ceiling; 18 in. to combustible floor | "Proper clearances from combustible materials must be maintained from all sides, top and bottom of this appliance." |
| HPC Fire | 36 in. up to 200K BTU; 48 in. for 201K–400K BTU | 84 in. to ceiling and at least 2 open walls (up to 200K BTU); no overhead structures at 201K–400K BTU | Edge of the burner pan | "36″ edge of burner pan to any combustible"; "84″ from top of fire pit enclosure to ceiling AND must have at least 2 open walls" |
| Real Flame (gas fire tables) | 48 in. (121.9 cm) | 60 in. (152.4 cm) | The fireplace / unit | "Minimum clearance from the fireplace to combustible materials is 60 inches from top and 48 inches on all sides"; "Do not place this fireplace under any overhead structure or vegetation." |
| Fire by Design | Not published as a clearance table — confirm with manufacturer | — | The All Weather Ignition System manuals carry a "Clearance from Combustibles" diagram with 8 ft and 36 in. callouts, but the text never states which callout is horizontal and which is vertical. We will not guess for you. | |
| Slick Rock Concrete | Not published — confirm with manufacturer | — | Match-lit burner instructions say only: "Keep flame away from walls, hangings, other fuel sources or any other combustible items." No distance given. | |
| Fire Pit Art (wood burning and gas) | No installation-manual figure. Brand safety guidance: 10–20 ft | — | "Place the fire pit at least 10 - 20 feet away from anything you would not like to set on fire accidentally." This is published guidance, not a listed clearance. | |
| Modern Flames (electric) | 36 in. from the front of the heater | Not specified; base must sit 2 in. minimum above the floor | Front of the heater outlet | Different category entirely — see the electric section below. |
Figures transcribed from each manufacturer's current published installation manual, September 2026. Manuals are revised; always open the one that shipped with your unit.
What counts as "combustible material" — and what doesn't?
The National Fuel Gas Code defines it plainly: a combustible material is "a material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will ignite and burn; a material that does not meet the definition of noncombustible." Broader than most people assume, and not just wood. The two categories homeowners get wrong most often are composite decking and vegetation — composite fails well below ignition temperature, and fire code treats a shrub the same as a wall.
| Material | Combustible? | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated lumber decking, joists, stair stringers | Yes | Ignites and burns. The framing under the deck boards counts, not just the surface. |
| Composite and PVC decking | Yes | Melts, blisters and warps before it ever ignites. Damage is permanent. |
| Cedar fencing, pergola beams, trellis, lattice | Yes | Dry softwood overhead is the single worst place to put radiant heat. |
| Vinyl siding, vinyl fence, vinyl soffit | Yes | Distorts at low temperature. Siding on a house wall 3 ft away is at risk. |
| Wood-framed patio cover, tongue-and-groove ceiling, exposed rafters | Yes | The reason overhead clearances are so much larger than side clearances. |
| Umbrellas, shade sails, cushions, drapes, outdoor rugs | Yes | Modern Flames names "furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes, etc. and curtains" explicitly. |
| Shrubs, overhanging branches, dry grass, mulch, pine straw | Yes | Real Flame bans overhead vegetation outright. Mulch beds smolder. |
| Artificial turf | Yes | Polyethylene. Melts into a crater under a single ember. |
| Concrete, GFRC, precast, poured slab | No | What most fire tables are made of, and the recommended base surface. |
| Natural stone, brick, block, pavers | No | Acceptable base and surround. |
| Porcelain or stone tile over cement board | No | The tile is fine. Check what the cement board is fastened to. |
| Steel, aluminum, copper | No | Will not burn, but conducts heat. Do not assume a metal surround is a heat break. |
| Stucco or fiber-cement over wood framing | Facing no, assembly yes | A noncombustible skin over a combustible frame is still a combustible wall. |
Where do you measure the clearance from?
From the fire, not the furniture. HPC Fire is clearest: "36″ edge of burner pan to any combustible." Not the table edge. On a 60-inch fire table with a 24-inch burner, measuring from the tabletop instead of the pan gives away 18 inches on every side — half your clearance.
Overhead the reference point varies. American Fyre Designs measures "from unit top to any construction," The Outdoor Plus from the hearth, HPC from the top of the enclosure to the ceiling. Check which your manual uses before you set the pergola height.
Which wins: the manufacturer's clearance or your local fire code?
Both. They govern two different things, and almost nobody explains it correctly.
- The manufacturer's clearance governs your warranty. The National Fuel Gas Code defers to it: "Appliances listed for outdoor installation shall be permitted to be installed without protection in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions." Install outside those numbers and you have voided coverage on the burner, the pan and often the vessel.
- Local code governs your permit. Your city adopts some edition of the International Fire Code, the IRC and the fuel gas code, usually amended. The inspector enforces that, not the manual.
- The stricter of the two is your real number. A 36-inch manufacturer clearance does not override a 10-foot municipal setback, and a permissive local code does not restore a warranty you already broke.
Our fire pit regulations page covers the permit side, and every manual we can source lives on manuals and guides.
Not sure which clearance applies to your unit?
Send us the model number. We will pull the current installation manual, read you the clearance table, and tell you honestly if the spot you picked will not work.
Ask our team Browse manualsHow far does a fire pit have to be from the house?
For a listed gas fire table, the manufacturer's side clearance is the number: 36 to 48 inches, measured to the wall, the siding, the window frame and anything else that will burn. Closer than most people expect, and legitimate — these are tested appliances with a contained burner.
For anything not listed as a gas appliance, fire code takes over and the numbers jump. The International Fire Code says portable outdoor fireplaces "shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material," and recreational fires "shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material." That is the gap generic clearance articles miss: 3 feet and 25 feet are both correct, for different products.
What clearance do you need to a pool, a property line, a window or a vent?
Most of these have no national number, and pages that print one are inventing it. What actually exists is below.
| Element | Published number? | What actually governs it |
|---|---|---|
| Overhead patio cover or pergola | Yes — manufacturer | 60 to 120 in. depending on brand and burner size. HPC Fire also requires at least 2 open walls. See our guide to fire pits under a covered patio. |
| House wall or structure (listed gas unit) | Yes — manufacturer | 36–48 in. side clearance from the table above. |
| House wall (wood burning or portable) | Yes — fire code | IFC 307.4.3: 15 ft for portable outdoor fireplaces. IFC 307.4.2: 25 ft for recreational fires. |
| Openable window or wall vent | No distance published | A prohibition instead: The Outdoor Plus states "Do not place fire pit under or near windows or vents that can be opened into your home." |
| Dryer vent, HVAC intake, gas meter relief vent | No national figure | Local mechanical and fuel gas code, enforced by your AHJ. Ask before you trench the gas line. |
| Property line | No national figure | Zoning setback, not fire code. Varies by municipality — commonly cited as anything from 5 ft to 25 ft. Call the building department. |
| Swimming pool edge | No fire-code figure | The electrical side is what is regulated: NEC Article 680 governs receptacles, transformers and bonding near a pool, which matters for any electronic ignition fire bowl. Use a licensed electrician. |
| Ground or deck surface under the unit | Yes — manufacturer | Firegear: 18 in. to a combustible floor. The Outdoor Plus: "All fire pits and fire features must be installed on noncombustible flooring." See gas fire pits on a wood deck. |
| Inside a tank enclosure | Yes — manufacturer | Firegear requires 18 sq. in. of cross ventilation per side and states failure to ventilate voids the warranty. The Outdoor Plus builds 360-degree venting into its self-contained units. |
Do wood-burning fire pits use the same clearances as gas?
No, and the gap is enormous. A listed gas burner gives a predictable flame height with no flying embers, which is why 36 inches to a wall can be certified. Wood throws embers, and fire code answers with the 25-foot recreational fire separation.
Fire Pit Art builds both fuels in the same vessel and publishes no clearance table for either — only guidance to stay "at least 10 - 20 feet away from anything you would not like to set on fire accidentally." Our complete fire pit buying guide covers the fuel trade-offs; you can also filter by natural gas or propane.
What clearance does an outdoor electric fireplace need?
A different rule set, because there is no combustion. Modern Flames measures from the heater outlet, not a flame: "Keep combustible materials, such as furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes, etc. and curtains at least 3 feet (0.9 m) from the front of the heater and keep them away from the sides and rear." The base must sit a minimum of 2 inches above the floor.
What trips people up is not clearance but the outdoor rating. Only 16 Modern Flames models are outdoor-rated, and those are approved "outdoors under a patio cover and away from direct water contact or direct sun light." A cover is required, not optional — the opposite of what a gas burner wants. Power is a dedicated 20-amp circuit, never an extension cord.
What does using the wrong clearance number actually cost you?
Three bills, usually in this order. The damage first: a scorched pergola beam, a melted composite board, siding replaced in a full run because the color no longer matches. Then the denied claim — a heat-damaged pan on an install outside the published clearance is documented misuse, and coverage ends there.
Worst is the rework: gas line trenched, pad poured, veneer set, then an inspector reads the manual and the feature moves four feet. Twenty minutes with the right clearance page prevents all three. A wind guard that steadies flame behavior is a legitimate fix, but it never replaces a published distance.
Shop fire features with the clearance data in hand
Every brand in the table above is in our catalog. Tell us your site constraints and we will point you at the units that fit them.
Shop all fire pits Fire pit kits & burnersFire pit clearance FAQs
How far does a fire pit have to be from the house?
For a listed gas fire table, 36 to 48 inches depending on the manufacturer — American Fyre Designs says 3 ft, The Outdoor Plus says 48 in. For wood-burning or portable units the International Fire Code requires 15 to 25 feet from a structure. Confirm which category your unit falls into before you measure.
Can I just use the 10-foot rule I read online?
No. No manufacturer we checked publishes 10 feet as a gas fire pit clearance. Using a number from a blog instead of your own manual puts you outside the manufacturer's installation instructions, which is the exact condition that voids warranty coverage on the burner and pan. Ten feet is also not enough for a recreational wood fire under IFC 307.4.2.
How much space does a pergola need above a fire pit?
It depends entirely on the brand and burner size. Real Flame publishes 60 inches, American Fyre Designs and Prism Hardscapes publish 72 inches, The Outdoor Plus publishes 96 inches, and Firegear requires 120 inches above its 50 to 80 inch burners. HPC Fire additionally requires at least two open walls under any cover.
Do I measure from the edge of the table or the edge of the burner?
From the burner, unless your manual says otherwise. HPC Fire specifies "36 inches, edge of burner pan to any combustible." On a large fire table the tabletop can extend 18 inches past the pan, so measuring from the table edge quietly gives away half your clearance on every side.
Is composite decking considered combustible?
Yes. Composite is wood flour bound in plastic, and it fails before it ignites — it blisters, sags and permanently deforms from radiant heat. It gets the same clearance as pressure-treated lumber, and the joists underneath count too. Treat composite as combustible in every calculation.
Does a gas fire pit need less clearance than a wood-burning one?
Much less. Listed gas burners produce a controlled flame with no flying embers, so manufacturers certify 36 to 48 inches to combustibles. Wood fires throw embers, and the International Fire Code responds with a 25-foot separation from structures and combustible material for recreational fires.
How close to a swimming pool can I put a fire bowl?
No fire code publishes a pool-edge clearance for gas fire features. What is regulated is the electrical work: NEC Article 680 sets separation and bonding rules for receptacles, transformers and equipment near a pool, which applies directly to electronic ignition systems. Have a licensed electrician size and place that equipment.
Will installing too close void my warranty?
Yes, if the damage relates to the clearance. Warranty coverage is conditioned on installation per the manufacturer's instructions, and clearance to combustibles is one of those instructions. Firegear goes further and states explicitly that failure to provide proper enclosure ventilation voids the warranty on its own.
Do I need a permit for a gas fire pit?
In most jurisdictions yes, because you are running a fuel gas line. The National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 / NFPA 54, is the standard your plumber works to, and your local building department enforces its adopted edition plus amendments. Call before you dig, not after the pad is poured.
What clearance does an outdoor electric fireplace need?
Modern Flames requires combustible items to stay at least 3 feet from the front of the heater, with the base a minimum of 2 inches above the floor. Only 16 Modern Flames models are outdoor-rated, and those must be installed under a patio cover, away from direct water and direct sunlight.
Sources and accuracy note. Every figure above is transcribed verbatim from the manufacturer's own installation manual or technical bulletin: American Fyre Designs fire pit, fire table and fire bowl instruction sheets; The Outdoor Plus Fire Pit Manual and Self-Contained Unit Manual; Prism Hardscapes Moderno and Embarcadero installation guides; Firegear Outdoors Pro Series H-Burner instructions; HPC Fire Tech Talks, Gas Fire Pit Clearances; Real Flame fire table owner's manual; Fire by Design All Weather Ignition System manuals; Slick Rock Concrete match-lit burner instructions; Fire Pit Art published safety guidance; Modern Flames Landscape Pro Slim and Landscape Pro Multi owner's manuals. Code language is quoted from the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 / NFPA 54, and from International Fire Code 307.4.2 and 307.4.3 as adopted locally.
Where a manufacturer publishes no clearance, we say so rather than borrow another brand's number. No figure here is our own estimate. Manuals are revised without notice, so the manual that shipped with your unit supersedes this page. All gas fire features must be installed by a licensed gas technician per local codes, and local code governs whenever it is stricter. Questions on a model? Talk to our team.