As you consider the idea of adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard… you’ll soon realize there’s more to account for than just the cost of your outdoor kitchen.
You’ll have to contend with site preparation, building a deck or patio, and utilities. Which leads you to wonder… “What will the all-in cost be for my outdoor kitchen?”
It’s a huge question that deserves to be answered, but that very answer is a constantly moving target. As manufacturers of ready-to-assemble outdoor kitchens, we are deeply acquainted with the cost of a full outdoor kitchen project. Even though we only provide the outdoor kitchen, we frequently speak with customers about their budget for the entire project. As such, we’ve gleaned a good deal of insight as to what an outdoor kitchen can cost from start to finish.
In this article, you will learn about all the categories that contribute to outdoor kitchen cost and what each category will cost, so you can begin to create a realistic budget for this project.
What Will the All-In Cost be for my Outdoor Kitchen?
Depending on your situation in particular, a complete outdoor kitchen project could cost anywhere from $10,000 – $100,000+.
Unfortunately, the ultimate cost of an outdoor kitchen is difficult to state as a solid number. There are an immense amount of factors at play that will influence the final cost of your outdoor kitchen project. Material choice, labor market, and the scale of your project in particular will all impact the cost.
A good way to try and determine cost is by evaluating each category involved in an outdoor kitchen project, and calculating an estimate for each depending on the scale of your project.
What Will Site Preparation Cost?
In order to have a solid foundation for your outdoor kitchen to sit on, you will need to prepare an area first. Costs for this will look different depending on whether this is new construction, or you’re demolishing an existing structure to build fresh.
For new construction, you just need a gravel or sand base prepared for your deck or patio to sit on. The cost for this will be around $1-$5 per square foot, depending on your area.
If you first need to tear down an existing deck or patio, there will be a higher upfront cost involved. While most contractors will charge a minimum of $1,000 for base removal, there are different price ranges depending on the material:
- $2-$6 per square foot for concrete slab removal
- $3-$8 per square foot for concrete slab removal that requires heavy machinery
- $2-$10 per square foot for paver patio removal
- $5-$15 per square foot for deck removal
On top of the cost of deck or patio removal, you will still have to pay $1-$5 per square foot to add a gravel or sand base to the install location.
Wondering What Your Future Outdoor Kitchen will Cost?
What Will Utilities Cost?
Depending on the outdoor kitchen appliances you choose… you could need gas, electric, and even water lines run to your outdoor kitchen island.
Below are some estimated price ranges including materials and labor:
- Gas lines cost about $15-$50 per linear foot
- Electric lines cost about $10-$25 per linear foot
- Water lines cost around $50-$200 per linear foot
One thing to note about utility installation is that the labor involved with trenching (digging) is going to be the highest portion of the cost. If you hire your plumber or electrician to also dig the trench… you are paying a premium for that labor. To keep costs down, hire a regular laborer to dig the trench, and bring your electrician and plumber in only to lay the wire/pipes and get everything connected.
What Will the Patio or Deck Cost?
The cost of your patio or deck will vary greatly depending on your material choice. The following price ranges include materials and labor:
- Concrete Patio: $6-$12 per square foot
- Stamped Concrete Patio: $20-$25 per square foot
- Paver Patio: $10-$25 per square foot
- Composite Deck: $13-$35 per square foot
What Will the Outdoor Kitchen Cost?
Outdoor kitchen cost falls into a wide price range, depending on materials, labor, and if you are going to DIY any part of the project or not. The following price ranges include cost of materials (island structure + appliances) only.
- A DIY outdoor kitchen made with the cheapest materials possible (not recommended) can cost around $600-$800 per linear foot
- A manufactured outdoor kitchen that you can assemble yourself (like RTA) will run you around $1,200-$1,600 per linear foot
- A completely scratch-built, custom design from a contractor with luxury appliances will cost around $2,500-$3,000+ per linear foot
What if I Want to Add an Overhead Structure? What Will that Cost?
Although not required for an outdoor kitchen project… many homeowners like to add a shade structure like a pergola or gazebo at around the same time. The following price ranges are for materials only:
- Modular Pergola: $10-$40 per square foot
- Scratch-Built Pergola: $30-$65 per square foot
- Luxury Pergola: $50-$170 per square foot
- Modular Gazebo: $30-$70 per square foot
- Scratch-Built Gazebo: $60-$100 per square foot
Estimate Your Outdoor Kitchen Cost
By now, you should have a good understanding of what each element of an outdoor kitchen project will cost… so you can begin to make calculations based on your backyard space, and formulate a rough budget.
With all this information about cost flurrying around in your mind… you might be hoping for a more concrete way to get an estimate on outdoor kitchen cost in particular. For that, we have a free online cost calculator to help you do just that. Simply answer a few questions about the design you’re dreaming of, and you’ll get a rough estimate of what your future outdoor kitchen will cost.
Crunch some numbers, and we’ll catch you in the next blog!
