How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost? 3 Vivid Cost Examples
The biggest detail standing in the way of an outdoor kitchen usually isn’t construction, but price. We’ll help you avoid guessing your outdoor kitchen cost.
If you need a quick and general answer, an outdoor kitchen cost can start from:
- $1,000 or so for a DIY project
- $5,500 for a 10′ structure built by a professional crew
- $21,000 for the more luxurious build with higher-end appliances
Your final price will depend on the size, number, and quality of your appliances. It’ll also depend on finishes and location.
The average nationwide cost given above shows a price range, but as you plan a structure for your own backyard, it’s worth getting into specific project cost examples.
I’ll take a look at some of the more common outdoor kitchen cost figures and what you should expect before getting started.
How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?
Just how much can your outdoor kitchen cost vary? The outdoor kitchen in the viewer’s left photo is around $3,500, while the second photo is around $20,000.
Let’s break down the costs bit-by-bit so you can start budgeting properly.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost vs Size
Size is one of the most important elements of budgeting an outdoor kitchen. First of all, you’ll need to pay a contractor for the structure’s linear feet.
Second of all, the size you choose will set the limit for the number of appliances. The table below will give you a good estimate on what you’ll need to save up for.
| Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total length | up to 10′ | 16′ | 20’+ |
| Includes | grill, cooktop, sink, storage | grill, cooktop , sink, storage, fridge | grill, cooktop, sink, storage + |
| Price | $3,000 – $7,500 | $4,800 – $12,000 | $6,000 – $21,000 |
Usually, the contractor will give a price by multiplying the length of your structure by $350 – $750 (depending on finishes and your location). This amount of money covers details like the framework, finish, countertops, and the floor surface.
Each appliance you add will also increase the size of your outdoor kitchen with its dimensions and landing spaces. The purpose of adding landing space is to make using your outdoor kitchen more convenient. Taking this detail into account now will reduce your need to remodel later.
Cost of Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
There are four basic appliances to factor into your outdoor kitchen cost: a grill, burner, refrigerator, and sink. If you want to increase home value with an outdoor kitchen, I recommend including all of them.
If you’re not worried about home value, then only include what you know you’ll use. For some homeowners who only cook outside once or twice a week, an outdoor grill with a burner and roomy countertop space is more than enough.
A Grill Will Cover Several Recipes and Cooking Styles
The most common grill choice for an outdoor kitchen is a gas grill. The cost will vary depending on brand and quality, usually in the $500-$5,000 range.
During the decision process, it may be helpful to know that a 3 burner is going to be enough for a family, while a 5-6 burner is a great choice for homeowners who love entertaining.
A grill is the king of an outdoor kitchen, but there are other appliances to consider, too. For a wide variety of recipes, you’ll want to have:
- an additional kamado grill (prices start at $320)
- a side burner to cook vegetables and sauces (starting at $300)
- a power burner to cook stocks, frying, and boiling (starting at $1,000)
An Outdoor Fridge is Useful for Food Prep and Drink Mixing
Another practical addition to your outdoor kitchen is an outdoor refrigerator. An outdoor-rated refrigerator starts at $300, but high-end products with drawers can cost up to $5,000.
However, an expensive fridge isn’t always the longest lasting. I recommend finding a fridge that offers a two or three-year warranty to give you peace-of-mind in case it fails. Your outdoor kitchen cost isn’t just in the upfront price, but what you could pay a few years down the line.
While you can always go inside the house for your regular fridge, an outdoor fridge snips down the back-and-forth.
An outdoor kitchen sink gives you space to wash food or rinse off your hands without going back inside. The sink itself is usually pretty inexpensive at $70 or so, but more special examples, like copper ones, can cost up to $600.
What makes an outdoor sink more expensive is the installation aspect. For example, adding new plumbing lines that can cost up to $1,000.
A Pizza Oven to Fulfill All Your Outdoor Cooking Goals
If you’re a huge fan of baking pizzas or breads, a custom pizza oven is around $1,000+. This is one addition you should be fully committed to since it takes up a lot of space.
A more affordable option you can try is a portable pizza oven. The great thing about portable pizza ovens is you can hide them while unused. This will free up more space for entertaining, relaxing, or pulling out other appliances.
To sum things up: $2,000 is usually enough to get good quality appliances, but for the high-end, $5,000 may not be enough. You can trim down your budget if you omit a sink, refrigerator, or a side burner.
Omitting these appliances makes more sense if your outdoor kitchen is located close to the house: distant ones need to be fully functional.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost for Finishes
If you’re working with a contractor, their help will be part of the overall budget. It’s also worth knowing though that your finish choice will influence your outdoor kitchen cost drastically.
As you can see in the pictures above, stucco is an inexpensive option, whilst a stone finish is a luxurious one. Stucco has a tendency to buckle and crack, while stone is much longer lasting.
Below is a brief price comparison of different finish materials.
| Stucco | $3- $6 per sq. ft. |
| Manufactured stone | $15 – $25 per sq. ft. |
| Standard brick | $25 – $35 per sq. ft. |
| Natural stone | $25 – $45 per sq. ft. |
Countertops can be easy to overlook compared to grills or fridges, but they’re a vital part of your outdoor kitchen cost. The best material option for outdoor countertops are granite and quartzite.
However, both of these stones are a little on the pricey side. If you need to save some money, check out the price comparison table below:
| Tile | $10 – $20 per sq. ft. |
| Granite | $45 – $200 per sq. ft. |
| Stainless steel | $70 – $100 per sq. ft. |
| Concrete | $60 – $70 per sq. ft. |
Outdoor Kitchen Cost: Location
We’re halfway to finishing up your outdoor kitchen cost! The cost of your outdoor kitchen depends on your location as well as your neighborhood.
Usually, the more distant an outdoor kitchen is from the house, the higher the budget.
First of all, a kitchen close to the house means several utilities are already in place. Secondly, an indoor kitchen is pretty close, so outdoor appliances like a sink, refrigerator and burners can be left out. Lastly, your house can provide a roof and floor for your outdoor kitchen by proximity.
You don’t want to overlook outdoor kitchen covers. These additions will protect your appliances, reduce glare, and potentially protect you from rain and snow.
Covers can easily double the budget of an outdoor kitchen, so check out the quick price range table below:
| Pergola | $300 – $15,000 |
| Gazebo | $300 – $20,000 |
| Roof | $7,000 – $11,000 |
What’s another reason why prices vary so much? The reason is that labor value depends on the neighborhood. To save some money on your outdoor kitchen cost, it’s worth starting construction in the off-season or hiring crew from a cheaper area.
If you need more easy money-saving tips, check out my guide on building an outdoor kitchen on budget.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost Estimate: Patio Outdoor Kitchen
Patios have plenty of advantages such as a built-in floor, roofing, and close proximity to the house. Usually, the only work you have to do is just getting all your appliances in place.
I have an estimate below for an outdoor kitchen with small roofing, as well as a burner and grill built-in. The entire set-up is around 20 sq. ft. and the deck is already in place:
| Electricity | $400 |
| Plumbing | $500 |
| Kitchen construction with grill, burner, sink, and storage | $5,800 |
| Countertop | $560 |
| SUM | $7,260 |
Outdoor Kitchen Cost Estimate: Designer Outdoor Kitchen
The above photo is a WWOO-02-01 outdoor kitchen model that you can buy on the WWOO designer site. This outdoor kitchen is made entirely of concrete.
In the picture above, a different grill is installed, but the set-up originally comes with the Large Big Green Egg Bundle. The price may be a little surprising, but what you’ll enjoy is a unique, prefabricated design that could suit a smaller outdoor kitchen well.
| WWOO-02-01 with Large Big Green EGG | $9,000 |
| Installation | $1,730 |
| SUM | $10,730 |
It is worth knowing that a Large Big Green Egg Bundle alone is about $1,900.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost Estimate: Gazebo Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen with a gazebo is quite a project. I have an example from Florida I’m going to use to give you an idea of a similar outdoor kitchen cost.
The gazebo size is around 20×20 ft, while the pad is 22×27 ft and the walkway is close to 8 ft. This is a pretty luxurious and large outdoor kitchen, so it’s going to be a little pricey by default.
Below is a rough estimate of what each part of the kitchen would cost:
| Roof | $7,000 |
| Stamped concrete | $4,000 |
| Electricity | $1,000 |
| Plumbing | $1,000 |
| Recessed lights and inner lights | $400 |
| Stone guy labor and material | $4,100 |
| 6 Stone Pallets | $1,500 |
| Appliances | $4,000 |
| Granite countertop | $2,000 |
| SUM | $25,000 |
How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Add to Home Value?
Spending thousands of dollars on a backyard addition is a little easier when you treat it as an investment. It’s nice to have an additional party spot and a fancy cooking space, but how much does could your outdoor kitchen cost add to home value?
Curb Appeal Will See a Massive Boost From an Outdoor Kitchen
According to a report by the National Association of Realtors® a well-furbished outdoor kitchen offers a 100% recovery for curb appeal. That doesn’t even cover additional benefits such as a higher ROI and being in the top ten most desired features for homeowners.
The pandemic in 2020 contributed heavily to outdoor kitchens as social isolation made home dining and entertaining grow.
Your Home Will Be More Enjoyable Than Ever
Did you know outdoor kitchens averaged a 9 out of 10 on the outdoor remodeling projects joy score? All the warm memories and delicious meals you’ll look forward to will be worth the outdoor kitchen cost.
Recouping Costs is Easier Thanks to Modern Research
The modern era is filled with reliable studies and insights to help you feel confident about your investment. The average price of an outdoor kitchen hovers around $14,000 with:
- an inset grill
- stainless steel drawers
- ice chest
- outdoor sink
- 60 sq ft of concrete countertop (made from veneered masonry stone),
For example, an estimated cost recovered from the sale of the property could be $10,000 (so 71%). It could be higher or lower depending on other elements of your outdoor kitchen, such as a fridge or an HDPE kitchen island.
Average prices still won’t give you the full picture on an outdoor kitchen cost, though, since the final price can also include cost recovery and making money on your investment.
In 2020 the American Institute of Architects published a Home Design Trend Survey Kitchen and Bath:
Most notably, outdoor kitchens will continue growing as a trend, as outdoor kitchens is are a top-rated feature by nearly 50%. They even beat out other in-demand items like a home office or coffee bar!
In other words, buyers are going to be looking more and more for outdoor kitchens – it’s worth keeping this in mind as you renovate.
The Berkeley Craftsman is another case of the overall renovation. It’s prior worth was $833,000: after renovation it hit a stunning $1.35 million.
Both the home’s exterior and interior were vastly updated up to a more coherent color scheme. Even though the inside of the house looks very modern and inviting, the CEO of Voila Design Home, Tiffany Fasone, stated that an outdoor kitchen “had the most impact”.
You Have a Lot of Power Over Your Outdoor Kitchen Cost
Budgeting your outdoor kitchen can seem extremely difficult with so many working parts. However, recent insights and helpful guides will ensure your project is a successful one.
We’re here to ensure you only choose the materials, finishes, and designs that suit you best. If you need even more help narrowing down your outdoor kitchen budget, don’t miss the following guides:
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