An outdoor kitchen can supplement a home’s deck, porch, or patio, providing an outdoor relaxing space for your family and friends, while encouraging them to spend more time enjoying fresh air. Because you don’t need to move appliances or commodities from the indoors, an outdoor kitchen can enhance your mealtimes in nice weather. This cost guide will show homeowners different options and costs associated with building an outdoor kitchen.
The most basic outdoor kitchens consist of an outdoor grill and a countertop. Grills can be gas, coal, or electric, and they form the basis around which other kitchen components are placed. Good quality grills cost between $1,000 and $15,000 depending on their quality and durability, while installing a countertop easily transforms a barbecue grill into an integral part of an outdoor kitchen. However, the food preparation space should be placed next to the grill or cooking area, clearly marking it as a kitchen and dining location. Most homeowners spend between $3,360 and $5,070 on countertops depending on the project size and materials.
More ambitious outdoor kitchens may have sinks in addition to a grill, countertop, refrigerator, and eating area. An eating area for six people with chairs and a table can be acquired for around $600, a sink for $350, and a good refrigerator for between $500 and $200.
Outdoor kitchens occur in two forms, which can influence cost. Understanding the difference can help you plan and budget better. A “perimeter kitchen” which costs between $900-$100,000 is built right outside the house, sharing a patio cover, overhang, or wall with the home’s exterior. Here you don’t need as many utilities due to the proximity of the indoor kitchen; a grill and a countertop may suffice. On the other hand, a “satellite kitchen” is independent of the main house, usually placed as part of your landscaping. It therefore must be self-sufficient in terms of utilities, which adds to the cost. Due to its need for extra features that may not be needed in a perimeter kitchen, its minimum cost of installation exceeds that of the perimeter kitchen by 10%-100%.
Appliances and countertops need a framework for holding them in place, and typically measure around 7-feet long by 3-feet wide to allow for the mounting of the grill and refrigerator, and to leave space for prep, as well as a side oven. They can be either custom-built or prefabricated. Prefabricated frameworks cost around $200-$400 per linear foot depending on material, while custom frameworks cost around $400-$600 per linear foot.
Flooring, islands 1, and countertops installation costs vary with the different materials used. Below are some common materials and their costs:
For a fully functional kitchen, several appliances are needed. The final cost of an outdoor kitchen therefore depends on their costs. Below is a table of some common appliances:
Appliance | Type | Brands | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Grills | Built-in 4 | Blaze 32-Inch 4-Burner Blaze Professional 34-Inch Lynx 30-Inch | |
Grills | Drop-in | Cal Flame G3 3 Burner Bull Outdoor Products BBQ 57568 Brahma Bull Outdoor Products 87048 Lonestar | |
Refrigerators | Electric | Samsung RH25H5611SR Frigidaire Gallery FGHI2164QF Kenmore Elite 74093 | |
Sinks | Undermount | Blanco 440163 KOHLER K-3361-4-NA Staccato Houzer EHD-3118-1 Elite Series | |
Sinks | Top-mount | Houzer-EHD-311 Riverby | |
Cabinets | Stainless steel Marine polymer grade Teak | – | $1,000-$2,000 $500-$2,300 Varies |
Whatever material you decide to use, they should be able to withstand the outdoor weather and elements. Try choosing durable materials such as stainless steel and moisture resistant wood. The upfront costs for these materials may be higher, but can save you in the long run by requiring less maintenance and fewer repair costs.
The physical effort needed to put up an outdoor kitchen varies from simple tasks such as moving items, to intensive construction and laying of pipes and wires:
Cost to install an outdoor kitchen varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.