If you have never messed with a fire pit before, you may think that rocks or glass are a waste of time. Do you really need to have them in your pit? However, most experts, when it comes to the pit, will say yes. This is true whether you are using a natural pit or one powered by propane.
There are many reasons why using rocks for your fire pit can be beneficial. If you are using a wood pit, then they can be used to hide the bottom of the pit and to give it a little more appeal. Plus, most of them hold heat really well, which means a decreased need for kindling to keep the fire going.
Rocks or glass for a gas fire pit are primarily for the looks and can be used to camouflage the burned grates. With that being said, you can imagine that there are tons of options available, which means you have a choice to make.
In order to help you with this, we took into consideration several factors, and when doing this, we came up with these five options that we think are the best rocks for fire pits. We looked at things like type, quality, budget, and eco-friendliness.
Type – when it comes to the type, we looked at both lava rock as well as glass. You should choose the one that works the best with the type of fire pit and aesthetic you are going for. For instance, an outdoor wood fire pit may be best with natural lava rock. Whereas a gas pit might benefit from a little dazzle with glass.
Quality – Other than the quality of the rock, you should also look at the quality of the product. For example, do they break easily or come with inconsistent sizing? For glass, you may also want to look at the reflectivity.
Budget – The next thing we considered was budget. This is a big one as you need to know how much you are willing to share and then choose the rock accordingly. What can you live without? Or not live without?
Eco-Friendliness – You will want to consider how the materials are made and if they are safe to use when it comes to environmental concerns. The good news is that most glass and lava rock we looked at are all very eco-friendly.
So if you are on the market for the right rocks for your fire pit, then keep reading, and hopefully, we will be able to help you with your decision.
Best Rocks for Fire Pit Reviews
Comparison Chart
Medium Lava Rocks 10 Pounds by American Fire Glass- Volcanic Fire Pit Lava Rocks for Indoor Log Fireplace, BBQ, Grill, Gas, Aquariums- All-Natural Decorative Landscaping Black- Made in USA- 1/2″ x 1″
Hiland Fire Pit Fire Glass Ice Clear, Extreme Tempature Rating, Good for Propane or Natural Gas, 10 Pounds, 10lbs, Clear
GASPRO 10 lbs Fire Glass for Propane Fire Pit, 1/2-Inch Reflective Fireplace Glass Rocks for Fire Pit Table, Cobalt Blue
Stanbroil 10-Pound Fire Glass Diamonds – 1/2 inch Luster Fire Glass for Fireplace Fire Pit and Landscaping, Amber Luster
1. American Fireglass LAVA-M-10
The first rock we will be looking at is from American Fireglass. It is a natural lava rock that not only can help your fire pit look even better but holds heat as well.
Review
- All-natural lava rock
- Indoor/outdoor use
- Available in multiple sizes
If you are looking for a more natural look, then there is a lot to love about these lava rocks from American Fireglass. The look of these lava rocks is outstanding. They are black lava rocks that are all-natural, and when you add them to your pit, you will see a marked improvement on the overall look of the pit.
The rocks also come in multiple sizes so that you can find just the right balance and customize the look to your tastes. As for efficiency and performance, this option also scores well here too. The lava rocks can withstand a lot of heat and tend to hold the heat really well. Not only that, but they are also compatible with both natural wood and gas pits.
However, just because they are crafted by nature doesn’t mean that the product doesn’t have a few flaws. The sizing of the rocks is pretty inconsistent. This can be annoying when you are trying to create a look for your pit. There have also been some reports of the rocks popping and exploding. These are not universal issues, but you should still be aware of these before you make your final decision.
If you are looking for a natural lava rock-look though, the few flaws that have been reported shouldn’t take away from all the amazing benefits this option brings to you.
Pros
- Rocks are aesthetically pleasing to look at
- Works well with gas fire pits
- Come in several sizes so you can customize look
- All-natural lava porous black lava rocks
- Rocks hold heat well for more efficient heating
Cons
- Some problems with popping or exploding
- Issues with the size consistency of the rocks
2. Hiland Fire Pit Glass
The next pit rock we are looking at is of the clear glass variety. Fire glass brings with it the ability to tackle high heat and can be used in both propane and natural fire pits.
Review
- Available in multiple colors
- Recycled fire glass
- Works for long term use
Fire glass can add a lot of color and pizzazz to your fire pit. This option from Hiland comes in multiple color options so you can find the one that works with your color scheme. There are fire glass options that come with sharp edges, but you won’t have to worry about that with this product. If you are working with a small fire pit, then this glass is the right size for you.
Speaking of the aesthetic, often with fire glass, you have to deal with lampblack. This is the soot that blackens the grates and other aspects of your fire pit. This model of glass, though, doesn’t seem to suffer from this problem whatsoever. So they will keep the reflective and beautiful look even after the fire.
That being said, there are a few things that we need to discuss before you make your choice. The glass size is inconsistent, which may lead to some extra time required to get the look you are aiming for. There have also been some individuals that have experienced a chemical smell when heated.
Neither of these two issues is one that every user has experienced, and so if you are looking for a luxury look in your fireplace, you can’t go wrong with this as you option from Hiland, especially if you have a smaller pit.
Pros
- The glass comes in a wide range of color options
- Perfect size glass for small fire pits
- Comes with smooth edges for safer use
- The product doesn’t experience lampblack or reaction to heat
- The glass is aesthetically pleasing to look at
Cons
- Issues with the consistency of the glass size
- Occasional reports of a chemical smell
3. GASPRO Fire Glass
GASPRO brings us the next fire glass we will be looking at. This time it is a ½” reflective glass that is tempered and ready to sparkle in your fire pit.
Review
- Polished fire glass
- Comparable for use with natural and gas pits
Fire glass or rocks may be a luxury, but one that you want to invest in. If this is the case, then you will want an option that is both budget-friendly and offers high levels of performance. This fire glass from GASPRO does just that. It comes in a wide range of colors and is polished to perfection.
This gives the rocks an amazing reflectivity and a stunning look when it comes to the aesthetic. The glass also heats up pretty fast. In fact, it actually heats up faster than lava rock. So if you want a fast burner, then you might opt for this product.
However, even though this fire glass is a pretty good choice, there are still some drawbacks to using them in your fire pit. The glass size seems to be a big concern. Even if you choose the size, many say that it is not consistent throughout the bag. The glass also has been reported as coming with some pretty sharp edges, so you will need to be extra careful.
If you are careful and don’t mind inconsistent sizing (which can be a good thing to give your layout texture and depth), then maybe going with this fire glass would be a good option.
Pros
- Comes in a wide range of color options
- Price versus value is pretty good
- The glass is polished well and offers nice reflectivity
- Colors and polish gives it a nice look
- Fore glass heats up quicker than lava rock
Cons
- Issues with the consistency of glass pieces size
- Some come with sharp edges that can cut
4. Stanbroil Fire Glass
If you are looking for a beautiful luster and something different for your fire pit, then the Stanbroil fire glass could be a fine selection for you. It comes in multiple colors and is crafted with high-quality eco-friendly materials.
Review
- Comes in 6 different colors
- Premium quality fire glass
- Compatible with fire and natural gas
Though this fire glass may not come in as many colors as some of the other options, there is still a good selection that will allow you to choose the right one for you. There are also many other attributes that this fire glass has that make it easily one of the best options available today.
It’s nice to look at and can be moved easily to different pits if necessary. Aesthetically it gives the user a beautiful color and reflectivity that will elevate their pit to new heights. This fire glass also can withstand pretty high temperatures even over a long period of time. All of that combined makes this fire glass quite the investment.
Like with all things, though, there are some flaws that could cause some to pause when considering this as an option. The first is that it only comes in one size bag – 10 lbs. That means if you are working with a small pit, this may not be a good choice (though you can use it in other ways, we are sure.). Other than that, some customers experienced cracking and popping when using these fire glass pieces.
On the other hand, maybe you are working with a large pit, and the big bag may not be as much of an issue as it is for others. The positive aspects of this fire glass far outweigh the few issues that we have just looked at.
Pros
- Capable of withstanding high heats for an extended time
- Glass is aesthetically pleasing to look at
- Comes in a wide range of colors
- Offers a nice reflectivity and efficient
- Able to be used in dual fire pits
Cons
- Only comes in a 10 lbs. bag
- Some issues with cracking and popping
5. Midwest Hearth Lava Rock
Our last entry is another lava rock offering that gives your fire pit a nice and earthy look. Not only that, but the Midwest Hearth lava rock also heightens the performance of your pit.
Review
- Made of all-natural lava rock
- No artificial color added
- Compatible with natural and gas pits
Once again, we are looking at lava rocks, which are a great choice, no matter what type of fire pit you have. They give you a natural look that makes your pit just a bit more rustic than the fire glass we have been looking at. The rock comes in a beautiful color and, of course, is eco-friendly.
One of the most annoying things about lava rock is the bag often comes with tons of dust from transporting it. This lava rock seems to escape that flaw as there is little dust in the bag. The overall size is nice as well, and the price isn’t bad either.
Now, like with most of the products we have looked at, there are some factors that detract from the overall performance and appeal of these lava rocks. As many lava rocks do, there have been some instances of popping and exploding, which can be dangerous. The other issue is, of course, with the size consistency of the rocks.
Though these are both issues that are not ones that happen all the time, it is still important to know about them. Even these two flaws couldn’t take away from what these lava rocks bring to your pit.
Pros
- Rocks come with a rich color
- Large-sized rocks for enhanced usability
- Price versus value is outstanding in comparison to other options
- The product doesn’t have a lot of dust
- All-natural eco-friendly materials
Cons
- Issues with size consistency of the rocks
- Some problems with popping and exploding
Final Thoughts
In the end, the choice of whether to go with glass or rock is up to you. The one thing we are sure of is that it is a necessity to add to your fire pit both for more efficiency and a better look.
We tried to make sure there was an option for everyone so that your decision-making process would be easier. Hopefully, the options we have taken a look at above and have deemed the best rocks for fire pits has given you some ideas.
