The Pavestone Fire Pit Calculator is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to construct a fire pit. This tool helps you determine the exact amount of materials needed and the dimensions of the fire pit, based on your specific input parameters such as the outer diameter and the preferred depth of the pavers. It ensures accuracy and efficiency in planning, reducing waste and helping you budget effectively.
Formula of Pavestone Fire Pit Calculator
To help you understand how the calculator works, let’s break down the formulas it uses:
Inner Diameter (ID):
ID = OD – (2 * PUD) – (2 * SJ)
Outer Circle Radius (OCR):
OCR = OD / 2
Inner Circle Radius (ICR):
ICR = ID / 2
Paver–Base Length (PBL):
PBL = OCR – PUD – SJ
Paver–Top Length (PTL):
PTL = ICR + PUD + SJ
Paver–Height (PH):
PH = PUD (This assumes the paver has a consistent height throughout)
Taper Angle (TA):
a. Calculate half the difference between the base and top lengths:
Half Difference (HD) = (PTL – PBL) / 2
b. Calculate the arctangent of the half difference divided by the paver depth:
TA = arctan(HD / PUD) * (180° / π) (convert radians to degrees)
These calculations will allow you to determine the necessary dimensions and the number of pavers required for your fire pit, tailored to your specific design preferences and space availability.
Table of General Terms and Pre-Calculated Values
To further aid in your project, below is a table of general terms used in fire pit construction and some pre-calculated values typically used:
| Term | Definition | Example Values |
|---|---|---|
| Outer Diameter (OD) | The total diameter across the fire pit. | 60 inches |
| Inner Diameter (ID) | The diameter across the inside of the fire pit, excluding pavers. | 48 inches |
| Paver Unit Depth (PUD) | The depth of one paver unit. | 6 inches |
| Side Joint Width (SJ) | The width of the gap left between pavers. | 1 inch |
| Number of Paver Units (N) | Total pavers used in one ring. | 40 pavers |
Example of Pavestone Fire Pit Calculator
Let’s go through a sample calculation using the Pavestone Fire Pit Calculator for a fire pit with an outer diameter of 60 inches, a paver unit depth of 6 inches, and a side joint width of 1 inch:
- Outer Circle Radius (OCR): 30 inches (which is 60 inches divided by 2)
- Inner Diameter (ID): 46 inches (calculated as 60 – 2*6 – 2*1)
- Inner Circle Radius (ICR): 23 inches (which is 46 inches divided by 2)
- Paver–Base Length (PBL): 23 inches (calculated as 30 – 6 – 1)
- Paver–Top Length (PTL): 30 inches (calculated as 23 + 6 + 1)
Using these calculations:
- The Inner Diameter is 46 inches.
- The Inner Circle Radius, where the inside edge of the pavers will line up, is 23 inches.
- The length at the base of each paver will be 23 inches.
- The length at the top of each paver, facing the fire pit center, will be 30 inches.
- The height of each paver is assumed to be uniform at 6 inches.
These dimensions help determine the exact shape and size of the pavers needed to construct the fire pit correctly.
Most Common FAQs
A: The ideal size for a fire pit typically ranges from 36 to 44 inches in diameter. This size is spacious enough to handle a good-sized fire while being small enough to fit in most outdoor spaces.
A: The number of pavers needed depends on the dimensions of the fire pit and the pavers themselves. The Pavestone Fire Pit Calculator can compute the exact number based on the outer diameter (OD) of the fire pit and the dimensions of the pavers you plan to use.
A: The taper angle for the pavers can be calculated using the formula for the taper angle TA which is the arctangent of the half difference divided by the paver depth, multiplied by 180/π to convert the result from radians to degrees. The half difference (HD) is calculated as half the difference between the base length and the top length of the pavers.
