Over the past decade, outdoor kitchens have become all the rage. Tens of thousands of Southern California homeowners have added kitchens to their landscape design to both entertain guests and better enjoy their property.

Hiding away in their backyard oasis, Los Angeles area residents can easily retreat from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. The cost of outdoor kitchen installation, once seen as a luxury for custom homes, has become one of the hottest home improvement projects of even the typical homeowner.

Your home expands well beyond the four walls of your house. Adding outdoor living spaces is a more cost-effective measure than building an addition. Backyard transformations also typically require far less red tape than adding square footage to structures.

How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?

As with any home improvement, projects range drastically depending upon added features and scope of work. Outdoor kitchens can be as simple as a basic grill and refrigerator housed in a pre-fabricated island unit, or be as elaborate as a custom-built , full-working kitchen with dining areas for dozens of guests.

The overall cost of outdoor kitchen installation ranges anywhere from $6,000 to $60,000+. This cost is for kitchen elements only, not the patio space they require to be built upon. If you’re adding a patio to your landscape design, and contemplating the addition of a kitchen, this article will guide you as you begin to plan the backyard of your dreams.

Most backyard kitchens Pacific Outdoor Living installs are part of a larger project that incorporates multiple elements such as a patio, plantings, and structures. However, there are some instances where a Los Angeles area homeowner will add a kitchen to an existing outdoor living space. It can be done, but just adds a degree of challenge when running utility lines.

We know that $6,000-$60,000 is quite the price range, so we will explain what comprises these costs to help you begin planning your outdoor kitchen budget.

Basic Cost of Outdoor Kitchen Elements

The selection of components drastically affects the cost of an outdoor kitchen. Exterior appliances need to withstand much harsher elements than the climate-controlled environment interior. These durable, long-lasting components can easily make up anywhere from $3,000-$15,000+ of your outdoor kitchen budget.

• Cabinetry: If a pre-fabricated, combination unit is not used, outdoor kitchen cabinets can cost $300-$600 per cabinet. Many outdoor kitchen cabinets are made of stainless steel and durable enough to withstand nature’s harsh elements.
• Utility Hook-ups: Water, fuel, and electric lines need to be ran to outdoor kitchen areas under patio surfaces or in adjacent landscape areas. The cost of plumbing and electrical services will add $1,000-$4,000.
• Grills: The most popular of outdoor kitchen components, grill inserts are either installed within custom hardscape materials or added as a part of pre-fabricated islands. These BBQ islands offer form and function with additional counter space and storage for utensils. Grill inserts alone can easily cost $3,000-$10,000. Combination, pre-fabricated islands including a grill insert, refrigerator, and counter can range from $3,000-$10,000.
• Refrigerators: Basic coolers, wine coolers, and beer dispensing units are the second most popular feature. Some of the smaller refrigeration units can be part of pre-fabricated grill island cost listed above. Larger coolers and other custom refrigeration features could add another $1,000-$5,000 to the cost of outdoor kitchen installation.
• Bar Counter: Most homeowners who add a BBQ island for grilling also elect to have another surface installed, slightly above the cooking surface. This higher counter conveniently places a dining area nearby. The cost of adding this counter could increase outdoor kitchen costs by another $1,000-$4,000 on a custom installation. Some pre-fabricated units include this additional surface.
• Pizza Ovens: Both wood-fired and gas-fueled outdoor pizza ovens can add an additional $7,000-$15,000 to your outdoor kitchen cost. Available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and build materials, the right outdoor pizza oven can easily become the centerpiece of your backyard kitchen.

Additional Outdoor Kitchen Cost Factors

Dozens of outdoor kitchen enhancements are available for a backyard like no other. Here are some of the features Southern California property owners add:

• Structures: Adding a structure over your outdoor kitchen can help to provide a little shade to full protection from sun and rain. These structures can be as simple as a semi-open trellis to a pavilion equipped with a roof, pillars, and rain gutters. The cost for adding a structure can typically add anywhere from $6,000-$15,000.
• Lighting: Professionally designed and installed lighting will allow outdoor kitchens to be better utilized. This lighting can be as simple as a few fixtures installed on the side of your home to dozens of lights housed within an overhead structure. Lighting can add anywhere from $1,000-$3,000 to outdoor kitchen costs.
• Automation: Tech lovers can add control panels to their backyard kitchens to control surrounding lights or audio and video equipment. This addition can add $1,500-$3,500 to your outdoor kitchen cost.

Finding a Southern California Outdoor Kitchen Installer

Pacific Outdoor Living has created thousands of unique outdoor kitchen designs for Los Angeles area homeowners. The average outdoor kitchen we install prices between $6,000-$12,000. However, we also install many large, exciting backyard transformations.

Whether you’re planning a small addition of a pre-fabricated grill combo for approximately $6,000 or creating a backyard resort for $60,000+, we would be excited to discuss your project.

We love outdoor kitchen projects of all sizes!

We understand that planning outdoor projects can come with both a degree of uncertainty and excitement. Our landscape design team and certified, in-house installers will do their best to answer your questions.

As you search for answers to “How much does an outdoor kitchen cost?”, Pacific Outdoor Living’s goal is to help you to make the best choices for your property. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about costs, the process, or the latest and greatest outdoor kitchen features.