What is fire glass and how much do you need?

Fire glass is a type of nonflammable tempered glass used in gas or propane fire pits in place of gas logs. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, fire glass is both decorative and functional. This durable glass is designed to withstand high temperatures and won’t melt, burn, or lose its color. It also doesn’t leave soot or ash or require any maintenance. For more information on choosing the best fire pit, consult our Fire Pit Buying Guide.

AuthenTEAK’s Fire Glass Calculator makes it easy to calculate how much fire glass you’ll need for your fire pit or fire table. You’ll need a tape measurer to measure the depth, width, and length of your fire pit. In general, we recommend 2–4 inches of glass depth for most fireplaces. For rectangular and square fireplaces, use the same front width as the back width. Make all measurements in inches. You may change the glass depth from the recommended to fit your needs.

A commonly asked question is whether fire glass should cover the burner of your fire pit or fire table. It’s fine to place some glass directly over the burner; we recommend using just enough to conceal the burner from view. Of course, we always recommend consulting the manufacturer's instructions before placing fire glass just to be safe.

When placed over or around a gas burner, fire glass allows the gas to pass through and fuel a flame on the surface of the glass. The flames will snake through the glass and appear as if they are dancing on top. Because fire glass retains heat, it will radiate temperatures outward and increase your fire pit’s heat output by about 3-4 times.

Though it may look like your fire glass is burning, fire glass does not actually burn and won’t create any fumes or smoke, making it a clean-burning choice. It also won’t crackle, pop, or change color.