For the uninitiated, fire glass and rocks are possibly some of the most puzzling components of a fire pit. Many may be wondering why you need to find the best rocks for fire pits when they’re not exactly used as fuel for the fire. Are they really necessary?
The definite answer here is yes. No matter what type you have, you will need the best gas fire pit glass rocks. Why? For wood fire pits, they’re very useful in lining the bottom of the pit.
With their help, you don’t need to use a lot of wood for kindling. For gas fire pits, not only do they add some visual interest to the pit but they can also affect the size of the fire depending on your choice of item.
If you’re getting a fire pit, let this quick guide help you find the right fire pit glass rocks for your setup.
Our Picks of 10 Best Rocks for Fire Pits:
To help you get better acquainted with the top rated rocks for fire pits, we’ve rounded up 10 products that are guaranteed to be excellent options for your backyard setup.
1. Celestial Reflective Tempered High Luster
Fire glasses are great options if you want to magnify the brightness of your fire pit. Not all products can do a great job in this but the Celestial Reflective Tempered High Luster Fire Glass can.
How?
It’s processed without using the tumbling method which causes the glass to become dull. It also has a reflective mirrored backing so it can boost the luster and brightness of your fire pit without an issue.
As this item also comes in ½” size, it promises a three-dimensional effect. It will also lengthen the appearance of the fire giving you a beautiful illusion without having to use a lot of fuel in the process.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- ½” size
- Tempered glass material
- Several color options
- Not tumbled
- Reflective mirrored backing
- Reusable jar packaging
- Made for propane and natural gas fire pits
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2. AZ Patio Firepit Recycled Glass
One of the best things about fire glasses is that there are options that are made from recycled material. Take the AZ Patio Firepit Recycled Glass for example. Made from recycled glass, it can be one of the most eco-conscious options in the market today.
If you’re worried about the quality, don’t be. These glasses are luminous and have reflective backing so it will also boost the brightness of your fire.
Like other fire glasses on this list, it’s also heat-tested, guaranteeing that it won’t be easily damaged by exposure to high temperatures.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- Recycled glass material
- metallic/mirror-coated backing
- ⅓” size
- 12 colors available
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3. Golden Flame Caribbean Reflective, 1/2-Inch
The Golden Flame Caribbean Reflective, ½-inch Fire Glass would be a nice choice if you insist on getting a tumbled product.
Despite the use of the said process, it remains to be highly reflective and luminous, promising great results for your fire pit.
As tumbling still remains as one of the best methods to eliminate the sharp edges and points of fire glasses, you don’t really have to avoid products made this way. This particular fire glass product is tumbled gently so it’s safe and easy to handle.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- Premium tempered
- ½” size
- Jewel-like color
- Gently tumbled
- Several colors available
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4. Stanbroil Caribbean Blue Reflective Fire Glass
Another option to make your fire pit dazzle is the Stanbroil Caribbean Blue Reflective Fire Glass. Made with premium quality materials and through premium tempering, this product promises to be the best filler option for your gas fire pit.
Its strongest suit is its consistent jewel-like appearance. It’s made very nicely that these glasses are some of the finest options you’ll find in the market.
They also don’t have discoloration issues so you’re guaranteed that you can use them for a long time.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- Premium tempered
- ½” size
- Propane and natural gas fire pit compatible
- Various colors available
- Mirrored backing
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5. Exotic Fire Glass – Tahiti Teal Reflective
Those who want to avoid getting small shards on their bag should check out the Exotic Fire Glass – Tahiti Teal Reflective.
The manufacturers guarantee thorough inspection of each bag they ship out. As a result, you don’t have to bother straining the contents of what you’ll receive to remove the small glass shards that can clog up your burner.
Another notable thing about this product is the fact that they sell 25-lb bags. With its price, it can offer better value for your money.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- ½” size
- Mirrored backing
- Various colors available
- Propane and natural gas fire pit compatible
- 25-lb bag size
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6. Onlyfire Reflective Cobalt Blue Fire Glass
Many fire glass products will promise to be very versatile but not all of them will deliver great results.
Onlyfire Reflective Cobalt Blue Fire Glass, however, can be a safe choice for indoor fireplaces and outdoor firepits, making them some of the most versatile picks today.
Fire glasses aren’t always recommended for fireplaces because their material doesn’t get to breathe nicely in them.
This is addressed by premium tempering, making such items more suitable to the said fire features. As this item is premium tempered, it can be a good choice if you want to jazz up your fireplace.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- ½” size
- Premium tempered
- Mirrored backing
- Various colors available
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7. Starfire Glass 10-Pound Fire Glass, Reflective Supreme
If you’re dreaming of having a glittering flame on your fire pit, you should check out the Starfire Glass 10-Pound Fire Glass, Reflective Supreme.
This item promises great luminosity thanks to its Reflective Supreme bonded coating. With this special treatment, it can produce a beautiful gleaming fire that will add a lot of charm to your backyard.
What sets this product apart from the other fire glasses on this list is its construction.
Aside from its Reflective Supreme bonded coating, it’s also premium tempered and gently tumbled. This means that it’s highly durable and versatile. It also guarantees easy and safe use.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- ½” size
- Premium tempered
- Gently tumbled
- Reflective Supreme bonded coating
- Various colors available
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8. Golden Flame 10-Pound Deep Pacific Blue Reflective
Despite their claims of gentle tumbling, lots of fire glass products still end up with very sharp shards and edges. If you want to avoid those at all costs, the Golden Flame 10-Pound Deep Pacific Blue Reflective Fire Glass Fire-Drops is for you.
Unlike the other items listed above, this isn’t made from crushed glass. These are actual glass beads so they’re smooth and rounded.
They may not have the same visual effect as the others but it’s way safer. Determining the quality of this item is also easier as it’s quicker to see any imperfections among the glass beads.
Features:
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- Glass beads
- ½” size
- Polished finish
- Premium tempered
- Various colors available
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9. Bronze – Fire Glass for Indoor and Outdoor Fire Pits
Fire Pit Essentials’ Bronze-Fire Glass for Indoor and Outdoor Fire Pits will give you lots of options when it comes to selecting the best filler for your fire feature. So if you’re very particular with the look you want, you should check out this item.
What’s so special about the Bronze Fire Glass, you might be wondering? Its biggest draw is its reflective and regular varieties.
So if you’re going for a certain look, you have options to choose from with this item.
Features:
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- Fire glass
- ¼” size
- Polished options available
- Wide range of colors available
- Available in reflective and regular varieties
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10. Tahitian Blue – Fire Glass Dots 10 Pounds, 3/8 Inch
Another option for those who aren’t big fans of crushed glass options is the Tahitian Blue-Fire Glass Dots 10 Pounds ⅜ inch from Fire Pit Essentials.
These are glass beads so they’re rounded and will not have any sharp edges. As a result, they’re way easier and safer to handle.
Features:
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- Glass beads
- ⅜” size
- Available in various colors and finishes
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What Kind of Rocks Can Be Used in A Fire Pit?
When searching for good rocks for fire pits, one of the first things that you’ll need to do is to identify which kinds of rocks you can use for the said fire feature.
If you still remember your geology classes, you might have an idea that you can’t put all kinds of rocks on your fire pit. Some cannot take handle exposure to high temperatures and might crack and break as a result.
So if you want to know the best filler options for your fire pit, you first need to know which rocks are suitable for fire pit use.
Here are the most popular options that you can opt for:
Lava/Volcanic rock
Lava or volcanic rocks are possibly the most popularly used filler materials for fire pits because they’re definitely tolerant of very high heat.
These lava rocks for gas fireplace are formed from the lava erupted from a volcano, hence the name. This also explains why they can handle exposure to very high temperatures.
There are quite a few reasons why they’re top picks as fire pit rocks. Aside from being able to handle high temperatures, they’re very affordable. They certainly do not cost a lot so they’re very budget-friendly filler options.
They’re also good for drainage. So even if you live somewhere that gets a good amount of rainfall, you don’t have to worry about these rocks trapping the water inside your fire pit.
As a result, you can still easily light up your fire pit when you need to.
Lava rocks for gas fireplace also come in a few different colors. This makes them quite decorative as well. However, they don’t look too different from logs and embers so your fire pit will still have that classic appeal.
Fire glass
If you want something flashier, then you should check out fire glasses. As their name suggests, these fire pit fillers are made from glass so they have a nice reflective quality to them.
It gives off a magical and ethereal effect to fire pits, making them fancier alternatives to lava rocks.
The fun thing about fire glasses is that you have so many options to choose from. You can take a pick among the different makes, shapes, sizes, and colors available.
You can go for crushed glass or beads, for starters. You have so many color and finish options. There are also different sizes to choose from as well as material options.
When it comes to choosing colors, it’s up to your decor’s theme and color scheme. As for the size, it’s better to stick with larger options as they tend to make flames appear bigger.
You can, however, layer it with smaller glasses on top to add variety and movement to your fire pit.
River rock
While river rocks are also largely used as fire pit rocks, we don’t always recommend it. They tend to absorb a good amount of moisture so they can take a while to dry out.
This means that they won’t be easy to light up and may even pose risks to your home when lit on fire.
Do Rocks Explode in a Fire?
Since we’re already on the topic of fire pit rock dangers, it must be said that rocks can explode in a fire. As mentioned above, there are certain types of rocks that can explode in a fire.
River rocks are at the top of this list because they tend to absorb a lot of moisture.
However, just about any type of rock can explode when it’s lit up while still wet. The heat can cause the moisture trapped inside to boil and expand, creating pressure inside the rock.
It can then break the rock which can cause it to shoot out of your fire pit. This can hurt anyone standing near the fire pit, so it has to be avoided at all costs.
To avoid any accidents, it’s best to make sure to dry out the rocks inside your fire pit when it got rained on before you light it up again.
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Rocks for Fire Pit?
Now that we have discussed the finer points of the best fire pit rocks, the only thing left to talk about is how to actually choose one.
So for that, here are four of our top tips to help you make a good choice:
1. Choose between fire glass or rocks.
The very first thing that you need to decide on when buying fire pit rocks is to choose whether to get fire glasses or rocks. Each type has its own charm, so you have to carefully weigh your options.
Rocks are easy options, especially since lots of commercial fire pits include a bag of them for free. You can just opt to get additional rocks to fill your pit.
You might not even have to think about which color to get if you’ll only need to match the ones you got for free.
If you want fire glasses, you should be prepared to think things through. For one, you need to choose whether to get shards or beads. Beads are easier to handle but they don’t have the raw appeal shards have.
You’ll also need to choose from the various colors available to you. This can be quite challenging as there are so many options available.
Then, you should pick out the finish you want as they come in unpolished, regular, semi-reflective, and reflective varieties.
You should have a clear vision of how you want your fire pit to look like when making this choice. To make things easier for you, though, there are sellers that offer samplers so you can test out different looks for your fire pit first.
2. Be very particular about the pack’s quality.
Aside from the appearance, you should also be very particular about the quality of the fire pit rocks you’re getting. These items are meant to last a long while, so you have to make sure that they’re of excellent make.
To determine the quality of the item you’re eyeing, read reviews. If you’re planning on getting fire glasses, stay away from the ones that turn black and emit toxic fumes.
If you’re going for lava rocks, look out for the ones that are extremely dusty and brittle. Again, these items should last a while, so they have to be well-made in order to do a good job.
3. Set a budget.
Fire pit rocks come with a very wide price range. So to make the process simpler for you, you might also want to set a budget. Doing so will help you narrow down your options and help you make a choice with more ease.
4. Consider eco-friendly options.
Fire glasses and rocks are already ec0-friendly since they help build more heat without using too much fuel but there are still greener options out there.
For fire glasses, you can find some that are made from recycled materials so you might also want to check those out.
Final Verdict
If you’ll think about it, getting the best fire pit rocks is both a challenging and easy task. It’s challenging because you have to wade through a lot of options in order to find your perfect match.
It’s easy because you have lots of options and if you know what you’re looking for, there’s no reason to be daunted by the chore.
With the help of this guide, we’re confident that your search for the right fire pit fillers will be made easier.
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