Charcoal also produces more heat, which can be desirable if you plan to use your fire pit as a heater for your outdoor entertaining area during colder weather. Gel fuel canisters contain an alcohol gel that catches fire quickly and doesn’t produce smoke or smell. However, this type of fuel usually only burns for a few hours, which may be advantageous if you only need to use your fire pit for short sessions. We built our fire pit on the lawn from regular retaining wall blocks lined with clay fire bricks, but you can also build your pit on a cement or stone patio.