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Outdoor fireplace

Choosing the Perfect Spot for an Outdoor Fireplace in Your Garden

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Imaginfires
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Key takeaways:

Not sure where to place an outdoor fireplace? From a safety perspective, you need to ensure that your fireplace is positioned away from fences, sheds, trees, and narrow pathways. You’ll also need to consider which direction the wind is blowing to reduce smoke and improve heat distribution. Beyond just safety, your fireplace should create a natural focal point for seating and entertaining, and you should be able to move comfortably throughout the space. Bioethanol fireplaces are the ideal option for all types of outdoor spaces – they’re completely smokeless, require no installation or maintenance, and can be positioned in your favourite spot with no restrictions.

Outdoor bioethanol fireplace

Adding an outdoor fireplace to your garden can completely transform the look and feel of your space. Whether you want a stylish focal point for entertaining guests or a cosy spot for those relaxed evenings, choosing the right location is just as important as choosing the fireplace itself.

In the UK, our gardens are often smaller and boundaries are usually closer to neighbouring properties, making outdoor fireplace placement a little more challenging. You need to consider wind direction, safety clearances, seating layouts, and garden flow to ensure your fireplace is comfortable, practical, and beautifully positioned.

So, where should you place an outdoor fireplace? Here’s everything you need to consider when choosing the perfect spot for your outdoor fireplace.

Think about safety and clearance

Safety should always come first when selecting the perfect patio fireplace location. Outdoor fireplaces generate heat, and depending on the fuel type, they may also produce smoke or open flames. If you position your fireplace too close to a fence, shed, tree, or garden furniture, then you could be putting yours and your family’s safety at risk.

As a general rule of thumb, your fireplace should have:

  • Plenty of clearance from fences and garden boundaries

  • Adequate distance from low-hanging branches or pergolas

  • Enough surrounding space for seating and foot traffic

  • A stable, level surface underneath

The bioethanol fireplace advantage:

Bioethanol fireplaces are often considered a safer option for outdoor living spaces because they burn cleanly without smoke, sparks, or flying embers. They’re incredibly easy to install and can be placed pretty much anywhere in your garden – just make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe clearance distances.

Consider wind direction

Outdoor bioethanol fireplace

One of the most common mistakes that people make when placing an outdoor fireplace is ignoring the wind direction. If you position your fireplace in a windy spot, this may cause the smoke to blow towards guests or neighbouring gardens.

Before installing your fireplace, spend some time observing how the wind moves through your garden. Take note of:

  • Which areas feel most sheltered

  • Where wind tends to funnel between fences or walls

  • Which areas are still comfortable during windy evenings 

The bioethanol fireplace advantage:

Bioethanol fireplaces don’t produce smoke, which means wind direction is far less of a concern compared to traditional wood-burning fires – you don’t need to worry about smoke drifting towards guests or neighbouring properties. Just ensure that flammable objects are kept at least 1 metre away to prevent items from being blown into the flames.

Make your fireplace a natural focal point

An outdoor fireplace should feel like a natural extension of your garden design. Rather than placing it awkwardly at the edge of your patio, you should think about how it can anchor your outdoor seating area and become a natural focal point.

Ask yourself:

  • Where do people naturally gather in the garden?

  • Which part of the garden feels most inviting in the evening?

  • What view will the fireplace create from inside the house?

The bioethanol fireplace advantage:

Bioethanol fireplaces are available in a wide range of styles, from traditional woodburner-style designs to sleek, contemporary models – so you can choose the right design to suit your garden aesthetic. They’re extremely flexible, meaning you can position them freely within your outdoor seating areas to create a natural focal point.

Avoid blocking pathways and access

Outdoor bioethanol fireplace

You may be tempted to place your fireplace in the centre of your patio for maximum visual impact, but it’s important that you don’t obstruct any walkways or garden access points. Your outdoor fireplace should never make your outdoor space feel cramped or difficult to navigate.

Make sure you leave enough room for:

  • Opening doors

  • Walking between seating and dining areas

  • Accessing steps or pathways

  • Safe movement around the fireplace

The bioethanol fireplace advantage:

Bioethanol fireplaces are much more flexible than traditional wood-burning models. Many designs are compact and easy to position, so you can maintain open walkways and create a more spacious garden layout. Biofires are also portable, meaning you can switch up your layout and move your fireplace around as many times as you like.

Why bioethanol fireplaces are the ideal option for your garden

Looking for a fuss-free fireplace option for your outdoor space? Our bioethanol fireplaces are an excellent choice for all types of gardens, giving you all the benefits of a traditional wood-burning fire with none of the drawbacks.

Here’s why biofires work so well in outdoor spaces:

  • Smokeless – enjoy the beauty of real flames without the mess or unpleasant odour of smoke

  • Ambience over heat – creates mood and character rather than giving off masses of heat

  • No installation needed – simply unpack, position in your favourite spot, and light!

  • Easy to use – you don't need to spend hours stacking wood or struggling to get your fireplace lit

  • Flexible and portable – easily move your fireplace around your garden as you please

  • Wide range of designs – from traditional woodburner-style models to sleek, contemporary styles

  • Minimal maintenance required – just an occasional clean or wipe-down needed

Explore our outdoor bioethanol fireplace collection to find the perfect model for your space.

Browse our outdoor biofires

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I use a biofire outdoors?

    Many of our customers do use their bioethanol fire outdoors, but please remember to position them well away from any flammable items, especially those models that have an open front. There may be an unexpected gust of wind that could cause a fire if the flame touches anything flammable!

    Also whilst there is the same amount of heat generated by ethanol fires when used outdoors as indoors, the space being heated is obviously much larger and therefore the heat level will feel less than when used indoors.  

    So if being considered for outdoor purposes, usage of bioethanol fireplaces outdoors  should be mainly used to create a nice relaxing vibe for your space. 

    Advantages of Using Bioethanol Fireplaces Outdoors

    Remember that another advantage of biofires is that since there is no smoke, and no chimney required, our freestanding range can be easily moved between indoors and outdoors.  

    Also, at the end of a pleasant summer evening, there's none of the somewhat overwhelming strong smell of smoke on clothes that some other alternatives leave you with! 

  • Do I need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

    Short answers are always nice, aren’t they? Do you need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace?

    No.

    Therefore, one of the most significant benefits of bioethanol fireplaces is their versatility. 

    You’re no longer constrained to gas or electric fires if you don’t have a chimney. And you can use a beautiful bioethanol fireplace anywhere - a house, a flat, a home office, a garage - basically, wherever you want to enjoy a cosy, warming flame. 

    And it won’t cost you a fortune to install your biofire. 

    In fact, installation is as simple as unpacking your biofire, placing it in your desired spot, and lighting it. Warm and cosy in less than an hour.

    Why don’t biofires need a flue or chimney?

    It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? A real flame and no flue or chimney. But it’s true. 

    Burning wood and coal produces smoke, soot, ash, and a LOT of mess. And wood and coal burning are heavily associated with air pollution in urban areas. 

    On the other hand, bioethanol fuel burns cleanly without polluting the air inside or outside of your home. And this means you don’t need a flue or chimney with a bioethanol fireplace — better for the environment and better for you. 

    Can I get a false flue for my bioethanol fireplace?

    Yes. We sell false flues that magnetically connect to the top of your biofire. The upper end of the flue curves to a right angle, making it look like your flue connects to the outside. 

    Of course, there’s no need for a flue with a biofire — but if you want that traditional woodburner look, complete it with a beautiful false flue. 

    What happens when you burn bioethanol?

    Bioethanol needs oxygen to combust, so it burns some of the oxygen in the room. This is why we recommend ensuring your room is ventilated — keep your internal door open to ensure airflow, or open a window every couple of hours if it’s feeling stuffy. 

    While it sounds a bit worrying that your fire uses oxygen in the room, it’s precisely the same with any fire: wood, coal, or bioethanol — they all produce flames that use up oxygen from the room. 

    What emissions do you get from burning bioethanol?

    We all know that wood and coal produce smoke, soot, and ash. These flames also send out tiny carcinogenic particles into the air, which can be health hazards, especially if you’re prone to respiratory problems. 

    However, the only emissions from burning bioethanol are:

    • Carbon dioxide — about the same amount as burning two candles
    • Water vapour — but you won’t notice it in the room. 

    That’s it. Just a little carbon dioxide and water vapour. 

    This makes bioethanol much safer and better for the environmentthan fossil fuels. 

    And your house plants will love it — they’ll absorb the carbon dioxide produced by your biofire and thrive! 

  • Can I move my bioethanol fireplace?

    Since many of our bioethanol fireplaces require absolutely no installation, these can easily move to different rooms or different locations. You can experiment as many times as you like. They are not fixed to one location!. Whichever room you decide to locate the bioethanol fire, please ensure that the room is well ventilated. This means not putting the biofire in an air sealed room, but in rooms that have some natural circulation.  Never move the biofuel fireplace whilst lit or with any biofuel inside the burner box. Always ensure that the unit has cooled completely before moving it. Allow at least 30 minutes for the stainless steel fuel box to cool.

  • Can bioethanol fireplaces be used as a primary heating source?

    Bioethanol fireplaces are mainly designed as a decorative or aesthetically-pleasing item that can enhance the ambiance of a space, whilst offering some additional, supplementary heat from a warming flame.  

    What to consider when using a bioethanol fireplace as a heating source?

    • Heating capacity: Bioethanol fireplaces generate radiant heat, which can warm up immediate surroundings and create a cosy atmosphere.
    • Supplemental use: They are most effective when used as a supplemental heat source in conjunction with other heating methods.
    • Ideal for smaller spaces: Bioethanol fireplaces are well-suited for smaller rooms or well-insulated areas where they can make a noticeable difference.

    Need more information on using bioethanol fireplaces for heating purposes? Please contact our team today to find out more.