Essential Fire Glass Buying Guide for Gas Pits : BBQGuys

25 Aug.,2025

 

Essential Fire Glass Buying Guide for Gas Pits : BBQGuys

Fire Glass Sizes

Standard fire glass comes in a variety of sizes for any gas fire feature, though our experts recommend half-inch diameter for most outdoor fire pits—it’s easier and more economic. Smaller sizes, like quarter-inch or half-inch, offer better heat distribution and a consistent flame. That said, some prefer the aesthetic of larger glass pieces as they provide a more bold appearance. Different sizes possess different weights and volumes, so you’ll need to calculate how much you need for your fire pit. Thankfully, our Fire Glass Calculator does that math for you.

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Accessible Text Version for Fire Glass Sizes Infographic

Accessibility Text Version for Fire Glass Sizes Infographic

Here’s a helpful size comparison chart to guide your fire glass buying journey.

  • The width of a penny is 0.75 inches.
  • The infographic displays the visual width of a penny compared to a two-and-a-half-inch slide rule, with markers for each diameter of fire glass.
  • One-fourth-inch diameter fire glass is about the width of one-third of one penny.
  • One-half-inch diameter fire glass is about the width of two-thirds of one penny.
  • Three-fourths-inch diameter fire glass is about the width of one penny.
  • A one-inch diameter fire glass is about the width of one and one-third pennies.
  • A two-inch diameter fire glass is approximately the width of two and a half pennies.

Fire Glass Shapes

Where fire glass comes in many sizes, there are also different shapes of fire media. There’s no shortage of them: glass nuggets, beads, cubes—the list goes on. As to which shape of fire media you should buy, that depends completely on personal preference and the overall décor of your outdoor space. It’s also worth mentioning that many shapes can be mixed together for an especially eye-catching display.

Reflective vs. Non-Reflective Fire Glass

It’s also important to consider aesthetics when deciding whether to go for reflective or non-reflective fire glass. Again, this is very much a matter of preference, but both types differ in their appearance and how they interact with light. Let’s explore why that is.

Reflective Fire Glass

Reflective fire glass is treated and polished on one side, which bounces light like a mirror. Place this polish facing a flame, and the fire’s light will reflect through shimmering glass and produce a dancing effect. This is especially complementary to features that incorporate different types of fire media, logs, and other décor. Mix colors of reflective fire glass, or pair it with stainless steel, and the reflective fire glass will do all the heavy lifting in your mesmerizing centerpiece.

Non-Reflective Fire Glass

Without the mirror’s edge, light penetrates throughout non-reflective glass to swap that glistening glimmer for softer ambience. If you plan to use a single color of glass, especially black, this is your better choice. Non-reflective fire glass blends flame lights to showcase a somber aesthetic. Use this glass with smaller fire bowls or fire urns to maximize atmosphere. And remember: you can mix reflective and non-reflective glass.

How Much Fire Glass Do I Need?

To know exactly how much fire glass is needed to fill your fire feature, you’ll need the physical dimensions of that feature. Once you’ve got those measurements, plug them right into that Fire Glass Calculator for your exact volume needed. We recommend piling fire glass no higher than 1–2 inches over the top of the burner. Any further and you’ll make that flame work harder to push through the glass. Always consult those owner’s manuals for further details.

Other Types of Fire Pit Decor

In addition to the shapes and sizes of your fire glass there are accessories available to you and your fire pit. These decorative elements—such as fire pit branches, stones, and lava rocks—hold up to high heat without discoloring or cracking, enhancing your set piece with a personalized finish. As most fire pit décor appears as natural elements use them thoughtfully to build displays or scenes that enhance your outdoor space.

About Fire Glass Colors

Fire glass colors come in a seemingly never-ending spectrum. While we invite you to think differently, our design experts tell us the most popular colors of fire glass ordered by our other clients are black, clear, copper, and blue. Be sure to check out our Free Outdoor Living Design service, where our experts can help you find the perfect fire glass to complement your fire feature. Trust our guidance and you’ll have that toasty, romantic, downright evocative firelight in no time!

Fire glass in fire pit - DreamCast Design and Production

There is something magical about Glass…whether it’s the transparency of it, the versatility of its functions or even merely for aesthetic reasons. It is such a significant piece of material back in the old world as it is today, and its many other uses are continuously evolving. With modern technology, ways have been devised to make glass more multifaceted. One of them is by turning it into use with a decorative fire pit or a fireplace medium. This is not your typical broken glass pieces though. This is a very special glass material called Fire Glass. Fire Glass is made of recycled glass (thus, we can say, it is sustainable). 

The glass pieces are put through extreme heat and then flashed “quenching” them with high pressure air. This process is called tempering. The rapid cooling on the exterior reduces the temperature way faster than the interior of the glass which causes tension within the glass pieces. The opposite temperature of extreme heat and the flashed cooling process makes the fire glass incredibly strong compared to regular glass. Fire glass is completely non combustible. It can withstand high heat, therefore, it makes a great medium on any fire feature. Another characteristic that makes fire glass more exquisite are the colours available. We can all agree that a splash of colour makes a huge difference in a space! The charm that the glass adds on its own is only enhanced by the appealing colours especially when lit with frolicking flames.

Needless to say, it does look fabulous! This fire pit topping definitely adds more glamour and pizazz to your modern outdoor fire pit. That’s just the colour part of it. You can also learn more about lava rock on our other blog post here

For more information, please visit Colored Reflective Fire Glass.

What are the advantages of Fire Glass? 

– Fire glass does not leave soot in your fire pit – No mess, no fuss in cleaning your burner 

– Safe to use and no toxic pollutants emitted in the air 

– Completely non combustible and will not explode 

– It will not burn or discolour for years and years 

– Very low maintenance

There are many types and shapes of Fire glass but the two most popular types are the reflective and the non-reflective kind. Reflective fire glass is chemically treated and is varnished on one side to achieve a mirror like effect especially when lit. The mirror effect heightens the reflective characteristics of the fireglass causing a cozy glow and shimmer of the dancing flames.
Non reflective fire glass on the other hand stays true to its original colour. It may not reflect the flames but it gives out some kind of tantalizing fluid- like effect whilst on fire.  In conclusion, reflective fire glass emits lights outwards while the non reflective fire glass permeates through the glass. Both styles are equally stunning and oozing with modern

As much as fire glass has a very low maintenance, it is best to keep it cleaned once or twice a year. It can be done by turning over the glass or moving them around and flipping over the other side that does not get sun exposure. It is also advisable to put a lid or some kind of cover on the fire pit to increase the longevity and lifespan of the fire glass. Another way to clean the fire glass is to wash them with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution. Scoop the dirty fire glass, put them in the bucket of the solution and rinse them thoroughly. It is important that all the fire glass is dried completely after washing. In tempered glass trapped moisture causes the fire glass to expand when lit and makes crackling, scary, popping sounds. The sound could be a little bit disturbing.

The beauty of this fire pit filler is that it does not have to be the only medium to use for the fire pit. It can be combined with other types of medium like the lava rock, river stones and other coloured fire glass or glass beads for an even more impressive look!

Check out our Linea 60 with Black Fire glass on the linear fire pit accessories video, and see how the fire glass toppings make it look ultra modern. 

See modern fire pit accessories lit up! Learn about the accessories available for your DreamCast Firepit in this video featuring the Linea 60 Fire Table. This beautiful fire table can be run on propane or natural gas at 190K BTU and is available in a wide variety of colors and accessory options. In this video, we’ll show you a selection of the accessories you can enhance your DreamCast Fire Pit with. Watch more video on our Youtube channel.

Want more information on Blasting Glass Beads? Feel free to contact us.