Short answer: A 10-foot outdoor kitchen with a stone-veneer block island, granite top, mid-range built-in grill, side burner, outdoor fridge and storage, plus a gas line, a GFCI circuit and permits, costs an estimated $13,800 to $21,900. The island alone runs about $510 to $1,180 per linear foot installed, depending on how it is built.
$650–$1,030 per linear foot for a block island with stone veneer and a granite top, installed, before appliances (estimate; see method)
$5,430–$8,670 for a mid-range grill, side burner, outdoor fridge, door and drawers at manufacturers’ published prices (October 2026)
$15,000 landscape professionals’ average price for a standard outdoor kitchen; Realtors estimate 100 percent is recovered at sale (NAR/NALP, 2023)
+55% producer prices for structural concrete block, 2019 average to August 2026 (BLS PPI)
Most of the pages that rank for this search are written by companies that sell outdoor kitchens, and their national averages are borrowed from consumer cost sites. One vendor’s guide says the familiar $13,000 to $17,000 average “typically covers only the structure and labor,” not the grill or the fridge (Range Outdoor Living, March 2026). That is the right warning, and it shows why a single average is not much use: an outdoor kitchen is four separate purchases (the island, the countertop, the appliances and the utility hookups), and each one has its own price logic.
This page prices the four pieces separately and then adds them up. Island costs come from published prices for block, mortar, veneer and stucco, from manufacturers’ own prices for prefab islands and modular cabinets, and from 2022 Economic Census data on what masonry, electrical and plumbing contractors bill per worker-hour. Appliance prices are the makers’ published list prices, checked in October 2026. The arithmetic is in the method box near the end. For other project prices, see our cost guides.
Outdoor kitchen cost per linear foot, by build type
Islands are priced by the linear foot of counter: a straight 10-foot island is 10 feet; an L-shape with two 8-foot legs is about 16. The table covers the structure and the countertop on a level, existing patio, built to the usual 36-inch counter height and about 30 inches deep. Appliances, utilities and permits come later in the page.
| Build type | Product or materials per ft | Installed per ft | 10-ft island installed | What the price is built from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom: concrete block, stucco finish, granite top | $47–$66 materials + $107–$173 granite | $510–$790 | $5,100–$7,900 | Footing, 8x8x16 block, Type S mortar, cement-board deck, two-coat stucco base |
| Custom: concrete block, manufactured stone veneer, granite top | $93–$155 materials + $107–$173 granite | $650–$1,030 | $6,500–$10,300 | Same core, plus veneer at $7.16 to $14.55 per sq ft and veneer mortar |
| Modular: stainless steel cabinets with a granite or engineered-stone top | $539–$911 | $580–$990 | $5,800–$9,900 | Published cabinet prices of $364 to $570 per foot, tops at $175 to $341 per foot |
| Prefab: factory-built island, top included | $536–$1,122 | $570–$1,180 | $5,700–$11,800 | Manufacturers’ island prices with included appliances subtracted |
Uses the per-foot ranges and published appliance prices in this guide. Pick one appliance package. Modular cabinets include storage, so subtract about $1,070 to $1,350 for the door and drawers. Countertop factors approximate the per-foot difference from granite on a stone-veneer island. Pad price uses our $10 to $20 per sq ft poured-concrete estimate. Excludes sales tax and delivery; see How we built these numbers.
The result that surprises most buyers: a factory-built island is not cheaper per foot than a block island built on site. Kokomo Grills sells a 7-foot straight island with a 32-inch grill, an access door and a fridge for $8,495 (Kokomo Grills); subtract Kokomo’s own prices for those parts (fridge $1,123.75, 30-inch doors $498.75, grill $2,498.75 to $3,123.75) and the stucco-and-tile shell works out to about $536 to $625 a foot. RTA Outdoor Living’s 7-foot storage bar, which has a door-and-drawer unit but no cooking appliance, lists at $7,855, or $1,122 a foot (RTA Outdoor Living). A 4-foot Basalite concrete prep module with its countertop is $4,093.99, or $1,024 a foot (Bee Green Recycling & Supply).
What a prefab or modular island buys is not a lower price per foot. It is a factory finish, a short install and the option to do it yourself: the product price is most of the installed price, because setting and leveling a finished island takes far less labor than laying block. A block island with a stucco finish stays the cheapest way to get a permanent structure when you are paying a crew, and the stone-veneer version costs about $140 to $240 more per foot, almost all of it veneer and the extra hours to set it.
One adjustment for modular kitchens: the cabinets are the storage. NewAge’s 32-inch stainless 2-door cabinet is $999.99 on sale ($1,109.99 regular) and its 3-drawer cabinet $1,359.99 ($1,519.99) (NewAge Products), so when you add an appliance package to a modular build, drop the separate access door and drawers, roughly $1,070 to $1,350 at the prices below.
What a finished outdoor kitchen costs, by length and appliance tier
These totals use the stone-veneer block island because it is the most common contractor build, then add one appliance package and the standard hookups: a natural gas line and a 20-amp GFCI circuit run about 30 feet from the house, plus permit fees ($1,880 to $2,970 for the three together; details below). A sink adds $1,310 to $3,440. A stucco finish takes about $1,400 to $2,400 off a 10-foot island. A 10-foot modular or prefab island with the same mid-range package and hookups comes to about $13,000 to $23,400, so the build type moves the total less than the appliance tier does.
| Counter length | Island and granite top only | With entry appliances, gas, power, permits | With mid-range appliances, gas, power, permits | With premium appliances, gas, power, permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft (grill island) | $3,900–$6,200 | $9,300–$13,900 | $11,200–$17,800 | $21,100–$26,600 |
| 8 ft | $5,200–$8,200 | $10,600–$16,000 | $12,500–$19,900 | $22,400–$28,700 |
| 10 ft | $6,500–$10,300 | $11,900–$18,000 | $13,800–$21,900 | $23,700–$30,700 |
| 12 ft | $7,800–$12,400 | $13,200–$20,100 | $15,100–$24,000 | $25,000–$32,800 |
| 16 ft (L-shape, two 8-ft legs) | $10,400–$16,500 | $15,800–$24,200 | $17,700–$28,100 | $27,600–$36,900 |
| 20 ft | $13,000–$20,600 | $18,400–$28,300 | $20,300–$32,200 | $30,200–$41,000 |
Two published figures land inside this table. The 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features, from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals, put a standard outdoor kitchen (an inset grill, stainless drawers, an ice chest, a sink and a concrete countertop on a veneered masonry island) at $15,000, the average from 160 NALP member firms surveyed in January 2023. And one prefab maker reports that its median 2026 order, covering panels, countertops and the appliances chosen, was $19,355, with straight-island orders at a $14,410 median, L-shapes at $22,521 and U-shapes at $33,994 (RTA Outdoor Living). Both exclude much of the site work, so treat them as checks, not quotes.
Per foot with everything in, the 10-foot mid-range kitchen works out to about $1,380 to $2,190. That is why per-foot figures from different sources disagree by a factor of two or three: some include appliances and hookups and some do not. Ask any contractor which one they are quoting.
Built-in grill and appliance costs, by tier
Appliances are the single largest line in most outdoor kitchens, and unlike labor they cost about the same everywhere. We priced three packages from manufacturers that publish prices on their own sites: a 30- to 32-inch built-in gas grill head, a side burner, an outdoor-rated refrigerator, a double access door and a drawer set. Several large brands sell only through dealers and publish no prices, so they are not in the table.
| Component | Entry | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in gas grill head | RCS Classic 32 in, 48,000 BTU: $1,399 | RCS Premier 32 in: $1,649; Delta Heat 32 in: $3,487.21 | Twin Eagles C Series 30 in: $6,726.14; 36 in: $8,851.14 |
| Side burner | RCS single, 12,000 BTU: $394 | RCS double: $569; Delta Heat drop-in: $1,045.35 | Twin Eagles double: $2,339.77 |
| Outdoor refrigerator | Danby 4.4 cu ft: $679.99 list | RCS 5.0 cu ft: $1,899; Dometic 24 in: $2,787.78 | Twin Eagles 24 in: $4,146.59 |
| Double access door | RCS soft-close: $414 | RCS: $414; Delta Heat 30 in: $510.47 | Twin Eagles 30 in: $873.86 |
| Drawers | RCS double: $654 | RCS triple: $899; Delta Heat double: $836.05 | Twin Eagles double: $1,260.23 |
| Package total | $3,540–$4,760 | $5,430–$8,670 | $15,350–$17,470 |
| Bar sink with faucet (separate) | RCS 15 in with faucet: $214 | Delta Heat 15 in: $847.67 | Twin Eagles: $1,567.05, faucet extra |
The grill is 29 to 51 percent of each package, and it is where the tiers separate. The entry RCS head runs four 12,000-BTU burners (RCS); the Twin Eagles 30-inch uses 25,000-BTU burners and costs nearly five times as much (Twin Eagles). Most of the extra money goes to heavier stainless construction, burners, ignition and warranty rather than to cooking area. A built-in grill must also carry a safety listing: the model code requires permanently installed outdoor grills to be listed to ANSI Z21.58/CSA 1.6 or ANSI Z21.1 (IRC G2447.1), so check the label before buying an unbranded import.
Optional extras move totals quickly. A 36-inch outdoor vent hood is $2,804 from RCS (RCS) and $2,817.05 from Twin Eagles (Twin Eagles); a hood matters mainly when the grill sits under a roof, so follow the grill’s installation manual; Irvine, California, bars unlisted barbecues under combustible overhead construction outright (City of Irvine). A built-in gas pizza oven from Delta Heat lists at $7,033.72 (Delta Heat).
Outdoor countertop cost: granite, concrete, porcelain and stainless
Countertops are priced per square foot. An island 30 inches deep with a 2-inch overhang front and back needs about 2.67 square feet of top per linear foot, so a 10-foot island takes about 27 square feet, plus extra for any raised bar.
| Countertop | Installed per sq ft | Per linear ft of island | 10-ft island | Outdoor notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel (modular top) | Product only | $110–$137 | $1,100–$1,370 | Hot in direct sun; shows scratches |
| Granite, levels 1 to 5 | $40–$65 | $107–$173 | $1,070–$1,730 | Dense stones handle UV and freeze-thaw; reseal per fabricator |
| Granite, premium levels | up to $120 | up to $320 | up to $3,200 | Same stone family, rarer colors |
| Poured concrete, cast in place | $56–$113 (estimate) | $149–$301 | $1,490–$3,010 | Needs sealing; hairline cracks are normal |
| Porcelain or sintered stone (Dekton type) | $79.70–$140 | $213–$373 | $2,130–$3,730 | UV-stable; thin slabs need full support |
| Engineered stone rated for outdoor use | $136–$171 (product) | about $272–$341 | $2,720–$3,410 | Check the warranty; most quartz is indoor-only |
The quartz caution is not a matter of taste. Ordinary engineered quartz is bound with resin, and manufacturers write outdoor use out of their warranties: LX Hausys excludes “all outdoor or non-interior applications, regardless of coverage or exposure to the elements” from its Viatera quartz warranty (Viatera warranty). If a quote lists quartz for an outdoor island, ask for the maker’s outdoor rating in writing.
For a do-it-yourself concrete top, the materials are cheap: Quikrete’s countertop mix yields about 0.60 cubic feet per 80-pound bag (Quikrete data sheet), which works out to roughly $5.60 a square foot at 1.5 inches thick at the $26.99 bag price. Premixed countertop blends from specialty suppliers run more, about $9.67 a square foot for the Z Counterform mix at 1-5/8 inches (Concrete Countertop Solutions). The labor, forms and finishing are what you pay a pro for.
Gas, electric and water hookups: costs and the code rules
Utility runs are where vague quotes hide money. The figures below assume the kitchen sits about 30 feet from the house across open lawn, with no concrete to cut. Materials are published retail prices; labor uses what electrical and plumbing contractors bill per worker-hour, from the 2022 Economic Census, updated to 2026 with BLS earnings data.
| Hookup | What the model code requires | Materials | Installed estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas line, about 30 ft | Plastic pipe only underground, with a tracer wire; at least 8 in deep for an individual line to a grill (12 in for other buried gas piping); a shutoff valve within 6 ft of the appliance | $214: 3/4-in PE pipe ($49.99 per 100 ft), two risers ($64.99 each), tracer wire ($23.99), gas ball valve ($9.98) | $860–$1,390 (5 to 9 hours) |
| 20-amp GFCI circuit, about 30 ft | GFCI protection on outdoor receptacles and outlets; weatherproof “extra-duty” in-use covers; UF cable 24 in deep, PVC conduit 18 in, or 12 in for a GFCI-protected 20-amp, 120-volt residential branch circuit | $209: 50 ft of 12/2 UF-B ($84), two weather-resistant GFCI receptacles ($23.99 each), two in-use covers ($28.31 each), breaker ($6.98), conduit | $840–$1,340 (5 to 9 hours) |
| Sink water and drain | Connect to the sanitary drainage system through a trap; where winter design temperature is 32°F or lower, bury water pipe at least 12 in deep and 6 in below the frost line | $55: 1/2-in PEX ($27.97 per 100 ft), 40 ft of 1-1/2-in PVC drain ($5.79 per 10 ft), P-trap ($3.96) | $1,100–$1,880 (8 to 14 hours), plus the sink |
The electrical rules carry the bracketed NEC numbers in the IRC text: outdoor receptacles need GFCI protection under NEC 210.8(A)(3), the 2023 code extends it to all outdoor outlets under 210.8(F), and wet-location receptacles need an in-use cover listed as “extra-duty” under 406.9(B)(1) (IRC E4002.9). The trench depth matters for cost: a GFCI-protected 20-amp circuit can be buried at 12 inches instead of 24 (IRC Table E3803.1), which is less digging if the inspector accepts it.
Two ways to cut this line. Put the kitchen against the house, near the gas meter and an exterior outlet, and the runs shrink to a few feet. Or use propane: a 20-pound cylinder in a vented cabinet needs no gas line, at the cost of refills (see operating costs below). Skipping the sink saves the most: drain lines have to slope and tie into the house sewer, which is why the sink is the costliest hookup. Kitchen sinks are not on the model code’s list of fixtures allowed to discharge to a graywater system, so a sink that drains onto the lawn is not code-compliant (IRC P2601.2).
Do you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen?
Usually, for at least the gas and electrical work, and often for the island too. Rules are local, so here is what five cities publish:
- Frisco, Texas: an outdoor kitchen is an “Outdoor Amenity” at $75 plus $25 for each additional element, capped at $150. Electrical permits are $50, and plumbing permits $50 plus $7 per fixture and $5 for a gas-piping system of one to five outlets (Frisco fee schedule, effective October 1, 2026). A kitchen with a grill, power and a sink comes to about $180 to $240 in fees, depending on fixture counts and whether the $50 application fee printed just above that section applies.
- Prosper, Texas: defines an outdoor kitchen as a grill with a sink and a “grilling station” as one without; either must sit at least 3 feet from any property line, and plans must show outlets, gas lines and water lines (Prosper submittal guide).
- Tustin, California: “A building permit is required for the construction of a residential barbecue,” plus a plumbing permit for gas work and an electrical permit for wiring. The city’s guide asks for polyethylene gas pipe at least 18 inches deep and a shutoff within 4 feet, stricter than the model code (Tustin barbecue guide).
- Irvine, California: heating elements must be at least 2 feet from the property line and no more than 4 feet above grade (City of Irvine).
- Scottsdale, Arizona: a gas line to an outdoor appliance needs a plumbing “minimum permit,” and work done without a permit is fined double the permit fee (City of Scottsdale).
In many places the gas fitter and electrician must also hold their own trade licenses, separate from any landscape or contractor license. Our state-by-state licensing guide covers the landscape side, and how to check a contractor’s license walks through the lookups.
This page is general information, not legal or safety advice. Gas and electrical work carries fire and shock risk, and code editions and local amendments differ; confirm requirements with your local building department before you build or hire.
Where the money goes on a 10-foot kitchen
At the midpoint of our estimates, a 10-foot stone-veneer kitchen with mid-range appliances, gas, power and permits comes to about $17,900. Appliances take the biggest share, about 39 percent, and the mason’s labor about a third. Block, mortar and veneer are under 7 percent of the total, which is why a cheaper stone barely moves the price and a cheaper grill does.
Outdoor kitchen prices by state
Labor is about 70 percent of a block island’s installed price at our midpoint, so the island tracks local masonry wages. Appliances do not: a grill head costs the same in Mississippi as in Massachusetts. The table scales only the island by each state’s median brickmason wage; use it to sanity-check a quote, not to replace one.
| State | Brickmason median wage | Electrician median | Plumber median | 10-ft stone-veneer island, installed (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $45.78 | $37.58 | $45.39 | $8,900–$14,100 |
| Massachusetts | $45.65 | $38.18 | $45.14 | $8,900–$14,100 |
| Illinois | $43.26 | $47.87 | $48.05 | $8,500–$13,500 |
| New York | $40.58 | $37.86 | $37.26 | $8,100–$12,800 |
| California | $33.20 | $36.62 | $35.01 | $7,000–$11,100 |
| United States | $29.87 | $30.38 | $30.67 | $6,500–$10,300 |
| Arizona | $28.49 | $29.36 | $29.84 | $6,300–$10,000 |
| Texas | $27.12 | $28.16 | $28.77 | $6,100–$9,600 |
| Florida | $25.37 | $27.52 | $25.44 | $5,800–$9,200 |
| Georgia | $24.35 | $28.04 | $27.50 | $5,700–$9,000 |
| North Carolina | $24.01 | $27.31 | $27.44 | $5,600–$8,900 |
| Mississippi | $23.47 | $29.26 | $26.67 | $5,500–$8,800 |
For a fuller picture of trade wages where you live, our landscaping cost guide breaks down landscaping labor costs by state.
What an outdoor kitchen costs to run
Running costs are small next to the build. The table assumes the grill’s main burners at full output for an hour, which overstates a normal cook, and a fridge left on all year.
| Item | Energy use | Price used | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry grill on natural gas, 1 hour at full output | 48,000 BTU = 46 cu ft | $15.34 to $26.45 per 1,000 cu ft | $0.71–$1.23 per hour |
| Entry grill on propane, 1 hour at full output | 48,000 BTU = 0.52 gal | $2.598 per gallon | $1.36 per hour |
| Grill with main burners plus rear infrared, 60,000 BTU (RCS Premier) | 58 cu ft or 0.66 gal | Same prices | $0.89–$1.70 per hour |
| Outdoor fridge, Danby 4.4 cu ft | 300 kWh per year | 18.31 cents per kWh | about $55 per year |
| 100 grilling hours plus the fridge | about $126–$191 per year |
Summer gas is pricier than the annual average because fixed charges are spread over less gas, which is why the July 2026 figure is the high end. The bigger ongoing costs are not energy: in freezing climates the water line has to be drained each fall, and stone, grout and concrete tops need periodic resealing.
Is an outdoor kitchen worth it?
On paper, yes. In the NAR and NALP 2023 survey, Realtors estimated that a $15,000 outdoor kitchen recovers $15,000 at sale, 100 percent of its cost, tied with an overall landscape upgrade and behind only two recurring services (lawn care and landscape maintenance) among the 11 outdoor projects. Only 1 percent of Realtors, though, had recommended sellers add one before listing, and its “Joy Score” from homeowners, 9.0 out of 10, was the lowest of the 11 projects, even as 99 percent of owners said they had a greater desire to be home afterward (NAR/NALP, March 2023).
Read together, those numbers say: build an outdoor kitchen because you will cook in it, and expect a fair share of the money back if you sell later, but do not build one to sell a house. The 100 percent figure is Realtors’ estimate for a standard-quality kitchen on an average house, not an appraisal, and it is three years old. Since 2019, producer prices for structural concrete block are up 55 percent, cut stone 48 percent and household cooking appliances 41 percent (BLS PPI), so the $15,000 kitchen of early 2023 costs more to build today.
- Structural concrete block
- Cut stone and stone products
- Household cooking appliances
- Steel mill products
Source: BLS Producer Price Index series WPU133111, WPU1395, WPU124101, WPU1017 Annual averages rebased by us to 2019; August 2026 values are preliminary.
Show the numbers
| Structural concrete block | Cut stone and stone products | Household cooking appliances | Steel mill products | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2020 | 104 | 103 | 103 | 90 |
| 2021 | 108 | 110 | 110 | 172 |
| 2022 | 121 | 128 | 129 | 187 |
| 2023 | 136 | 135 | 135 | 157 |
| 2024 | 146 | 138 | 136 | 143 |
| 2025 | 150 | 141 | 137 | 146 |
| Aug 2026 | 155 | 148 | 141 | 187 |
Prefab vs modular vs custom outdoor kitchen: what you give up
| Criterion | Prefab island | Modular cabinets | Custom block island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed per linear ft, with top | $570–$1,180 | $580–$990 | $510–$790 stucco; $650–$1,030 stone |
| Share of price that is labor | Small; mostly product | Small; mostly product | About 70 percent |
| Do it yourself | Yes, if you can move heavy sections and level them | Yes; cabinets bolt together | Only with masonry skills |
| Layout | Fixed sizes and cutouts | Fixed cabinet widths, flexible order | Any shape and length |
| Appliance choice | Often bundled, or fixed cutouts | Cabinets sized to common grill widths | Any, if cutouts follow the maker’s spec |
| Storage | Doors and drawers extra | Built in | Doors and drawers extra |
| Base needed | Level patio; check the maker’s load and footing requirements | Level patio | Concrete footing or slab under the block |
| Later changes | Replace a section | Swap a cabinet | Cut and rebuild masonry |
Our take: if a crew is building it, a stucco block island with granite is the best value per foot, and it can go any shape. If you want to do the assembly yourself, modular cabinets are the most forgiving; you save the labor line and get storage built in. Prefab islands make most sense when you want a finished look delivered and have no interest in managing trades, and they cost about what a custom build does.
DIY or hire, and red flags in an outdoor kitchen quote
Doing the island yourself saves the biggest line: on a custom block island the labor is $350 to $700 per foot at what masonry contractors bill. Setting a prefab or modular island saves far less, about $30 to $80 a foot. Gas and electrical work is different: it needs permits, inspections and, in many places, a licensed tradesperson, and mistakes are dangerous. Keep those to licensed pros even if you build the rest. If the kitchen sits on a new patio, price that separately; our paver patio cost guide and pavers vs. concrete comparison cover the slab underneath, and a sloped yard may need the kind of block work in our retaining wall cost guide.
Watch for these in a quote:
- One lump sum. A usable quote separates the island, the countertop, each appliance by model number, each hookup and the permits. Without that you cannot compare bids.
- Appliance allowances below list price. An allowance of $1,500 “for the grill” buys an entry head at best. Check the model against the manufacturer’s site.
- No gas or electrical permit. All five cities above require a permit for the gas work or the kitchen as a whole. Unpermitted work can be fined (double the fee in Scottsdale) and can complicate a sale.
- Standard receptacles or flip covers outdoors. The code calls for GFCI protection and extra-duty in-use covers.
- Indoor quartz on an outdoor island. Ask for the outdoor warranty in writing.
- No footing for a masonry island. A 10-foot block island uses about 66 concrete blocks before veneer and countertop; it needs a slab or footing that can carry that weight.
- A grill under a roof with no hood or clearance plan. Ask which installation instructions and listing the builder is following.
To find contractors, our directory of licensed landscapers lists firms from state license records, with license number, status and the date the record was retrieved.
How we built these numbers
We do not have our own job data. Every estimate is published material or product prices plus labor hours priced at what contractors bill per worker-hour. Prices were checked October 14, 2026; ranges are estimates, not quotes. Our general approach is on the methodology page.
Labor rate. From the Census Bureau’s 2022 Economic Census (EC2223BASIC), masonry contractors (NAICS 238140) took in $28.59 billion, spent $7.93 billion on materials and $1.82 billion on subcontracted work, and logged 205.8 million construction-worker hours: $91.61 of revenue per worker-hour after materials and subcontracts, which covers wages, benefits, equipment, overhead and profit. We scaled that by the change in BLS CES average hourly earnings for masonry contractors (series CEU2023814003, $32.81 in 2022 to $36.04 in August 2026, preliminary), giving $100.63 per worker-hour. The same method gives $126.14 for electrical contractors (NAICS 238210; CES $35.80 to $43.80) and $130.14 for plumbing contractors (NAICS 238220; CES $35.46 to $42.69). Materials then enter at retail cost with no markup, because the contractor’s materials margin is already inside the billed rate.
Custom island, per linear foot (30 in deep, 36 in counter height). Footing 30 x 12 x 6 in, 1.25 cu ft, at 0.60 cu ft per 80-lb bag (Quikrete), priced from a 60-lb bag at $4.26 (0.45 cu ft; Menards) to an 80-lb bag at $7.25 (Bee Green); 0.3 cu ft of core fill and 2 ft of #4 rebar ($8.99 per 20 ft, Menards). Block: 6.6 8x8x16 units (two faces, four courses, 10 percent for ends and cuts) at $2.48 (Menards) to $4.44 (Bee Green). Mortar: 13 blocks per 80-lb bag of Type S mason mix (Quikrete) at $12.85 to $12.98. Counter deck: 2.67 sq ft of 1/2-in cement board at $1.07 to $1.09 per sq ft (PermaBase and Durock 3×5 sheets at Menards). Finish on 5.5 sq ft of face: two-coat stucco base at 10 to 12 sq ft per bag at 3/4 in (Quikrete), $12.99 to $13.59 a bag; or manufactured stone at $7.16 to $14.55 per sq ft plus 10 percent waste, with scratch and setting mortar at 17 sq ft per bag per coat (Quikrete), priced at the Type S bag price as a proxy. Materials total $47 to $66 per foot with stucco and $93 to $155 with stone. Labor is our planning assumption, not a measured rate: 3.5 to 5.5 worker-hours per foot with stucco and 4.5 to 7.0 with stone, covering footing, block, appliance openings, counter deck, finish and cleanup (a two-person crew finishes a 10-foot stone island in about three to four and a half days). Granite: 2.67 sq ft at $40 to $65 installed. Poured concrete tops: materials $5.62 to $12 per sq ft (Quikrete countertop mix at $26.99 per 0.6-cu-ft bag at 1.5 in, up to a premium mix from Buddy Rhodes) plus 0.5 to 1.0 worker-hours per sq ft, for $56 to $113 per sq ft. The finish coat of stucco, steel angle over openings and color are not priced separately.
Modular and prefab. Modular: NewAge cabinet prices of $364 per foot (33-in grill cabinet, sale) to $570 (3-drawer cabinet, regular), tops at $175 (granite) to $341 per foot (engineered stone, regular), plus 0.4 to 0.8 worker-hours per foot to set, level and join. Prefab: $536 per foot (Kokomo 7-ft island less its own grill, fridge and door prices) to $1,122 (RTA 7-ft storage bar), plus 0.3 to 0.6 worker-hours per foot to set and level.
Hookups and totals. Hookup labor hours (gas 5 to 9, electric 5 to 9, water and drain 8 to 14 for a 30-ft run in open ground) are planning assumptions priced at the trade rates above; materials are Menards.com list prices. Permits use the Frisco, Texas schedule. Totals add the island range times length, one appliance package and the hookups, rounded to $100. State figures multiply the island range by 1 + 0.69 x (state brickmason median / U.S. median – 1), where 0.69 is labor’s share of the midpoint stone island. Excluded throughout: sales tax, delivery, design fees, demolition, roofs, lighting, a new patio, and unusual access or soil. Published averages from NALP members (NAR, 2023) and one prefab maker’s 2026 order data were used as checks, not inputs.
Outdoor kitchen cost questions
How much should I budget for an outdoor kitchen?
For a 10-foot island with a mid-range grill, side burner, outdoor fridge and storage, plus gas, power and permits, budget an estimated $13,800 to $21,900. A 6-foot grill island with entry appliances starts around $9,300; a 16-foot L-shape with premium appliances can pass $35,000. Add $1,310 to $3,440 for a sink.
How much does it cost to install an outdoor kitchen?
Installation labor for a custom block island runs about $350 to $700 per linear foot, or $3,500 to $7,000 for 10 feet. Setting a prefab or modular island costs far less, about $30 to $80 a foot. Gas and electrical hookups add roughly $860 to $1,390 and $840 to $1,340 for 30-foot runs.
Is $10,000 enough for an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, for a compact one. A 6-foot stone-veneer grill island with entry-tier appliances, a gas line, a GFCI circuit and permits comes to an estimated $9,300 to $13,900. At $10,000 you are choosing between a smaller island with better appliances or a longer island with entry ones; a sink or a premium grill pushes past it.
Is it worth getting an outdoor kitchen?
If you will use it. Realtors in the 2023 NAR/NALP survey estimated a $15,000 outdoor kitchen recovers 100 percent of its cost at sale, but only 1 percent recommended adding one before listing. Build it for your own cooking and entertaining, not as a pre-sale upgrade.
How much do built-in grills cost?
At manufacturers’ published prices in October 2026, a 32-inch built-in gas grill head runs $1,399 (RCS Classic) to $3,487.21 (Delta Heat), and premium 30- to 36-inch heads run $6,726.14 to $8,851.14 (Twin Eagles C Series). The island, gas line and installation are extra.
Is a built-in grill worth it?
Only as part of a kitchen you will keep. A built-in head locks you into a cutout size, needs a gas line or a vented propane cabinet, and must carry an ANSI Z21.58 or Z21.1 listing under the model code. When a head wears out, a replacement has to fit the existing opening, so note the maker’s cutout dimensions.
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost per square foot?
Builders price islands by the linear foot, not by area. A 30-inch-deep island covers 2.5 square feet per linear foot, so $650 to $1,030 per linear foot for a stone-veneer island equals roughly $260 to $412 per square foot of footprint, before appliances. Countertops are the one part priced per square foot: $40 to $65 for standard granite.
How much does a covered outdoor kitchen cost?
Add the cost of the roof structure itself, which is priced separately from the kitchen, plus a vent hood for the grill: $2,804 to $2,817.05 for 36-inch outdoor hoods from RCS and Twin Eagles. Check that the grill is listed for use under the roof you plan; some cities, Irvine among them, prohibit unlisted barbecues under combustible overhead construction.
Sources
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- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, average hourly earnings, specialty trade contractors (CEU2023814003, CEU2023821003, CEU2023822003), 2022 annual to August 2026 (preliminary). Accessed October 2026.
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- International Code Council, 2024 International Residential Code, Chapter 24 Fuel Gas (G2415, G2420, G2447), 2024 edition. Accessed October 2026.
- International Code Council, 2024 International Residential Code, Chapter 39 Power and Lighting Distribution (E3902), 2024 edition. Accessed October 2026.
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- City of Frisco, Texas, Permit Fee Schedule, Effective October 1, 2026. Accessed October 2026.
- Town of Prosper, Texas, Outdoor Kitchen/Grilling Station Permit Submittal, Rev. April 2025. Accessed October 2026.
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