No one wants to be stuck cooking or preparing food inside while everyone else is enjoying time outside.

An outdoor kitchen can be the perfect solution and really enhance your home and property. But before you can bring the indoors out and create an entertainment space, you’ll need to crunch some numbers and figure out what everything will cost.

Outdoor kitchen prices have a wide range, depending on what elements you want to include in the space. You could get a basic outdoor kitchen for $9,000 to $13,000 or a high-quality grill and space for $20,000 to $50,000. On the other hand, you could also spend up to $100,000 for a luxury kitchen, outdoor patio, and fire-pit with all of the bells and whistles. There are options for almost any budget.

Here’s a look at what goes into the price of an outdoor kitchen — plus ways to save money.

Type of Materials

You have a wide range of options when it comes to your outdoor kitchen hardscaping materials. Try to find a balance of what you like and will last with what you can afford.

For countertops, you can choose from things like granite (about $60 to $80 per square foot), concrete (about $70 per square foot) and bluestone (about $60 per square foot).

You also need to choose what type of structure and cabinets you want, whether it be brick (about $50 per square foot), stone ($35 to $50 per square foot), stucco ($12 per square foot) or something else.

If your budget is the top concern and you can’t quite afford the material you want, you can use something less expensive to build the structure — and then add your desired material as a veneer.

Location & Size

Where you want the kitchen in your yard is another contributing factor to the cost.

If you want the kitchen closer to the house, it may cost less because you can rely more on existing walls, utilities and appliances inside the home.
On the other hand, if you want the outdoor kitchen to stand alone further away from the home, it will need more components to be self-sufficient. There can be additional costs for this type of kitchen, like running all of the utilities.

The size of the kitchen will also play a role in the price. The larger it is, the more materials, time and labor it will take, which will up the cost.

Added Enhancements

There are several features that will really enhance the outdoor kitchen, and installing them at the same time as the kitchen can save you money — compared to adding them later.

A patio and sitting wall are perfect complements to an outdoor kitchen. They will give you and your guests a place to relax, while creating more usable space.

To extend your outdoor kitchen’s use well into the night, you can add landscape lighting.The lights will improve safety and also give your kitchen that wow factor you’re after.

You can add light plus warmth with an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. These can range from $5,000 - $15,000 depending on size, materials and if you want gas or wood.

Design the Space

Before you can break ground on the outdoor kitchen area, you need to have a design.

Landscaping companies charge for designs differently, so the cost for that can vary. At Seasonal Concepts, we charge for our landscape design services. You wouldn’t start ordering lumber and concrete to build a home without a plan, and landscaping is the same way.

A few hours of a crew waiting around or a couple hours of rework on a project far exceed any design costs. The design will not only help you envision the space, but it will also make sure you and the contractor are on the same page from start to finish.

A good design is a must for any outdoor kitchen project.

Where to Cut Costs

You probably don’t have an unlimited budget for the outdoor kitchen, so think about what’s most important to you. Our landscape designers can help you decide what would work best, but it’s always best to have a budget or an idea in mind of what you are willing to spend. Material costs vary quite a bit. By having a budget, you will be able to get what you want, without overspending.

There are some elements you don’t want to skimp on — like high-quality hardscape materials and the grill (we make our grills custom)— but there are other places you might be able to save money.

Start by thinking about what appliances are must haves and which ones you could live without. For example, you might not need a sink in the kitchen if you have ones close by indoors. Outdoor sinks need to be inspected by your local plumbing inspector, and can add quite a bit of cost. But other components like refrigerators might be more of a necessity outdoors and don’t require anything more than electrical. It really depends on your cooking style and wants.

Create a list ranking what’s most important to have in your outdoor kitchen, and share that with the contractor.

Hire an Experienced Contractor

One place you definitely don’t want to cut costs is with the company you hire.

Installing an outdoor kitchen is an investment in your property, so make sure you’re using a landscaping company you can trust to do a good job.
If not, you could end up spending more to fix their mistakes — If you think hiring a professional to do the job is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur. You need someone who listens and creates high-quality work.
Seasonal Concepts will talk with you about your expectations, project wants, time frame and budget during our initial meeting about your outdoor kitchen. Anything else to add to the initial meeting?

Before starting the project, one of our designers will create a  design to show you how your space will look. We will also give you samples of the materials so you can pick out your favorites. Once we have a design and plan in place, we can start working on making your outdoor kitchen dream a reality. 

Call Seasonal Concepts at 630-302-1009 or fill out the contact form to set up a meeting with one of our team members to talk about your outdoor kitchen. We look forward to talking with you!

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