In this article, we’ll cover several big questions that you may have about the prospect of building an outdoor kitchen: the cost, the benefits, and if you don’t want to go fully custom, what makes up a modular outdoor kitchen. Then, we’ll go over some of the best outdoor kitchen brands in North America, any of which can be the ticket to the most amazing backyard experiences. This will cover L-shaped outdoor kitchens, U-shaped outdoor kitchens, modular outdoor kitchens, as well as outdoor kitchen frame kits and even more outdoor kitchen ideas. Soon enough, everyone will be begging for an excuse to come over. Let’s jump in!

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Kitchen Outside?

It’s hard to come up with a definite cost for an outdoor kitchen before a few questions are answered and long before the design process takes place. First, know your budget and stick to it. It’s all too easy to add a little here, add a little there, and before you know it, your outdoor kitchen has “eaten” a big chunk of change (although we will say, it’ll probably be worth it in the end).

After budget, the second consideration is how much space you have available for an outdoor kitchen project. A bigger outdoor kitchen will naturally cost more.

The third consideration is whether you want to go fully custom, semi-custom/modular (which you may opt to have someone assemble, or do it yourself, and add features as budget allows), or fully DIY. This choice is closely tied to your budget.

Let’s look at a custom outdoor kitchen as the high end. Some landscaping companies will be able to make a very rough estimate at how much it may cost. A semi-reliable number you can follow is around $1,500 per linear foot. That is to say, that a 10 foot custom outdoor kitchen may cost around $15,000 with all the bells and whistles. Keep in mind that there are plenty of ways to bring that cost down, but it’s a good number to have in mind as you begin the design process.

How Much Should You Budget For An Outdoor Kitchen?

It’s important to have a budget for any improvement projects, indoors or out. The outdoor kitchen is no different. Every design consideration should be made within the bounds of the budget. You can keep the previous number of $1,500 per linear foot in mind as you come up with the best number for your project. A very basic DIY outdoor kitchen may run as little as $5,000, but you don’t want to limit your future outdoor cooking capabilities. The average outdoor kitchen can be built from around $15,000, but the sky's the limit!

Is It Worth It To Build An Outdoor Kitchen?

Absolutely! An outdoor kitchen is one of those improvements that people inevitably comment, “I wish I had done this sooner.” We all know food tastes better when cooked outdoors and shared with loved ones. The outdoor kitchen will easily become one of the most important features of your home and a new center of your family’s outdoor lifestyle.

When it comes time to sell your home, the outdoor kitchen will surely be one of the most attractive assets on the property. It will be listed in the description of the home right alongside classics like a pool, a pond, the number of cars that can fit in the garage, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. No matter how much you spend on the outdoor kitchen, it will come back in a huge return on investment, often twice as much as the original budget.

But let’s go back to the budget. If a fully custom outdoor kitchen isn’t feasible, definitely check out modular kitchens as a great alternative that gives you plenty of options within your budget.

What Is A Modular Outdoor Kitchen?

A modular outdoor kitchen is a structure that has been designed and built according to a plan. This type of outdoor kitchen is also known as an outdoor kitchen kit. Modular outdoor kitchens are designed to be assembled by the homeowner on site. This greatly reduces the cost because it doesn’t involve the help of an outdoor kitchen designer, landscape designer, or even a landscaping contractor if you’re handy. Even if you do employ someone to build a kit kitchen, you’ll still save plenty on design fees.

Although it doesn’t allow for as much creativity in the design of your outdoor kitchen, a modular outdoor kitchen will make everything much simpler and much cheaper. There are some amazing modular outdoor kitchens out there, too, so don’t think you’ll need to skimp on amenities. Keep reading and check out some of the best modular outdoor kitchens on the market.

Challenger Designs Outdoor Kitchens

Challenger Designs is an Indiana-based company that works to build some of the best grill carts, outdoor kitchens, and garage workspaces on the market. The company builds two award-winning grill carts: the Torch and the Spark, both with a sturdy food preparation surface, lots of storage underneath, and strong caster wheels so you can move your grill cart wherever you need it.

Their outdoor kitchen kits come in three models: the Canyon Series, the Coastal Series, and the Custom Design, each covering a whole range of outdoor living applications. To round up their product line, Challenger Designs also designs and builds high quality garage workspaces and cabinets.

The company has made a big name for themselves in outdoor kitchens. The catalog of outdoor kitchens from Challenger Designs includes the Canyon Series and Coastal Series.

The Canyon Series is a permanent masonry outdoor kitchen structure that is built into your outdoor living space, complete with weather-resistant aluminum cabinet and cupboard inserts.

The Coastal Series is a standalone outdoor kitchen unit that comes fully complete and ready to use upon arrival, including various arrangements of cabinetry, grill bases, sinks, and countertops. The Custom Design option allows you to build the perfect outdoor kitchen arrangement for your backyard: it’s the ideal choice if you don’t have a “home” in mind for a new outdoor kitchen and would like to explore some options.

The Coastal 90.125 WGRDD from Challenger Designs is a comprehensive outdoor kitchen design that has weather sealed cabinets and cutouts for every necessary outdoor cooking appliance. The gorgeous countertop allows for lots of preparation space and a commanding presence for your outdoor lifestyle.

Trex Outdoor Kitchens

Trex, Inc. is a large home improvement company based in Virginia, providing some of the best outdoor living products around the world. Trex is one of the leading providers of decking materials, but they have expanded far beyond just the surface level.

These days, the company also offers railings, outdoor lighting, fencing, pergolas, stairs, and much more. Trex also has a fantastic reputation of building completely customizable high quality outdoor kitchens. Each model is made with long lasting and easy to clean stainless steel and practically every component can be customized to your outdoor living requirements and the aesthetics of your home and landscape.

When you choose Trex to build your outdoor kitchen, you’re putting your trust in a company that knows how to make some incredible outdoor living spaces. Each outdoor kitchen from Trex is built to a unique luxury design where the homeowner chooses what’s important to them.

Trex offers far beyond just the outdoor kitchen structure and the cooking appliances, they let you integrate the outdoor kitchen into your entire outdoor living space. Each component is built with stainless steel that’s complete with a powder coating so it will look amazing for years to come and let you spend more time cooking than cleaning.

The Key West cabinet from Trex offers lots of versatility in the design and build of a custom outdoor kitchen. Each panel is constructed and assembled independently, allowing for nearly countless color combinations. With a strong construction and elegant texture, it will look great in any modern landscape setting.

Mont Alpi Outdoor Kitchens

Mont Alpi is an outdoor living company based in California that has made an indelible mark in the grilling industry. Moving beyond building outstanding grills, Mont Alpi has been building a range of all-inclusive outdoor kitchen islands. They also provide other outdoor living products, such as refrigerator units, grill carts, pizza ovens, fire pits, kegorators, and more. With any sort of outdoor cooking application, the variety of products from Mont Alpi will cover everything a homeowner needs, no matter if they’re novices or experienced outdoor cooks.

Building an outdoor kitchen with Mont Alpi begins with choosing either an outdoor kitchen island, a BBQ island, or a combination of standalone units that make up a movable outdoor kitchen unit. There are two island grill options: the MAi400 and MAi805, of which there are a few different variations full of storage space and food preparation areas.

Make sure to also consider the BBQ island model, the Island 957 from Mont Alpi, which can handle the most heavy duty grilling opportunities. Besides these options, there are plenty of ways to customize your outdoor kitchen and make it truly special and memorable.

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens is a subsidiary of the Connecticut-based Danver Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets, one of the leading industry professionals in outdoor living. While Danver covers a wide range of outdoor kitchen cabinets, Brown Jordan is the brand of outdoor kitchen designs that covers all sorts of entertainment spaces. The gorgeous cabinetry provided under the Danver and Brown Jordan umbrellas will be the anchor for your family’s outdoor living space.

The beginning of any customized outdoor kitchen design from Brown Jordan is in the huge variety of cabinetry. For those that want a little flourish from some professional architects, there are three outdoor kitchen models to choose from. The Traditional outdoor kitchen from Brown Jordan lets you add on the rustic feel of your landscape and home. The ELEMENTS outdoor kitchen from Brown Jordan makes a bold statement of minimalist modern design that fits in all sorts of contemporary spaces. The TECNO outdoor kitchen from Brown Jordan combines ingenious functional design with elegant, yet muted colors. Any choice of these three can make an incredible impact on your beautiful landscape and home.

If you can wait until next summer, the CUBE outdoor kitchen from Brown Jordan is an exciting step forward in the design of outdoor kitchens. With something this forward thinking and intriguing, you’ll have one of the most talked about outdoor living spaces in the whole area and have some gatherings to remember.

Marbella Outdoor Kitchens

Marbella Outdoor is a proud cabinetry and outdoor kitchen manufacturer located in Georgia. Each beautiful cabinet set and outdoor kitchen is made custom from the ground up. It all starts with the base of high-quality wood and metal materials and a few excellent appliances in mind. With a large amount of cabinet designs available, you can work with Marbella Outdoor to pair the best look with each appliance and build the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.

Start your beautiful outdoor kitchen design with a look at the range of cabinets available from Marbella Outdoor. By working with the available space and a few excellent outdoor kitchen appliances, you can start to put together a few of your favorite cabinet ideas. You can work with the aesthetics of your home and landscape to pay tribute to and enhance all that your property has to offer. All your guests will marvel at the best outdoor kitchen they’ve seen in ages!

The Brazilian Cherry/ Door Style: Madrid outdoor kitchen example from Marbella Outdoor is just one of the many outdoor kitchen projects that they’ve installed in an outdoor living space. The warm tones of the wood look great in any rustic backyard application that takes advantage of brick or other natural-stone inspired pavers.

NewAge Outdoor Kitchens

NewAge Products, Inc. is a Canadian company based in Ontario and they have made it their mission to make the perfect storage units in all sorts of home and landscaping applications, including outdoor kitchens. Their products provide storage in all parts of the interior of the home, including the garage, the indoor kitchen, and other areas that require storage. They also work with building outstanding indoor flooring. In the outdoors, outdoor kitchens are a famous specialty of the company.

NewAge has developed a series of outdoor kitchen sets. When it comes to custom builds, they will cover every aspect needed in your outdoor kitchen, from the stone materials that make up the gorgeous structure, the beautiful cabinetry, the outstanding appliances, the essential storage, all the way to the matching furniture. This allows you to put together the perfect outdoor kitchen for your landscape. With years of successful projects and a wide portfolio, you can even seek inspiration from the company itself.

The Classic Series Stainless Steel Cabinets line from NewAge lets you select every piece of your outdoor kitchen or select from a combination of different cabinets and other kitchen components. The Classic Series can really elevate any outdoor living space and bring a modern feel to your outdoor cooking.

Cal Flame Outdoor Kitchens

Cal Flame is a California-based company that has been building highly popular outdoor grill products for many years now. The roots of the company lie in making high quality grills that become the center of your outdoor kitchen and entire outdoor living space. They supplement these excellent products with both custom design-built BBQ islands, accompanying fire features, dazzling entertainment centers, and more accessories. You can work with the basics or start from scratch to build the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.

Cal Flame offers design models of Pavilion Islands or LBK Islands, both structures that come expertly fit to hold everything a basic outdoor kitchen will need. The Pavilion line comes complete with a grill and a refrigerator unit as well as sinks, preparation areas, and other appliances. The LBK, or “Luxury Backyard Kitchen,” line offers a wide array of high-end units that can revolutionize any outdoor living space. From there, make sure to check out additional fire features and entertainment centers to make your backyard the best gathering place around.

The Pavilion GPV3100 from Cal Flame is a large L-shaped outdoor kitchen that not only has everything a kitchen needs as well as bar seating for up to 8 people. This attractive kitchen island will make any outdoor gathering much more interactive and fun and look great in the sun’s glow.

RTA Outdoor Kitchens

RTA Outdoor Living is a revered company based in Indiana that puts its promise right in the name: RTA stands for “ready to assemble.” The company is focused on coming up with expertly designed outdoor kitchens and helping homeowners build the perfect custom outdoor kitchen. With an impressive catalog of outdoor kitchen models expressing a whole range of landscape aesthetics and outdoor lifestyles, RTA’s portfolio can serve as the perfect solution or a whole set of inspiration as they help you embark on a custom outdoor kitchen design of your own.

Each outdoor kitchen set from RTA Outdoor Living is designed to fit into a different type of backyard. Some are compact, while others really open up in an expansive space. They build Linear Islands, L-Shaped Islands, Grill Islands, and Bar Islands to act as a fantastic anchor for any type of outdoor gathering. There is also a range of accessories and add-ons that improve their outdoor kitchen sets, including fire features that build a comprehensive outdoor living space altogether.

The G7 L-Shape Refrigeration Island with Refreshment Bar from RTA Outdoor Living is a sleek and elegant outdoor kitchen that has everything you need to cook outside at any time and host the perfect get-together with all your friends and family. Everything will be delivered to your home and ready for assembly!

Coyote Outdoor Kitchens & Grills

Coyote Outdoor Living is a company based in Texas that has made their mark on the lifestyles of families across America for many years. They offer a range of cooking products, refrigeration units, cabinetry, ventilation, and of course pre-built and ready to assemble outdoor kitchen kits. Each outdoor kitchen kit comes complete with a fully built structure that is designed by RTA Outdoor Living, Coyote Outdoor Living’s full service outdoor kitchen partner. Coyote then offers their own line of incredible grills and other cooking appliances as a set.

Grill units from Coyote Outdoor Living are well known for their durability and reliability. Their incredible backyard grills can use gas, wood pellets, or charcoal as fuel. Their product line also includes smokers, portable grills, and outdoor burners designed to make some highly versatile outdoor kitchens. With any one of these amazing products, you’ll be able to cook practically anything in your backyard.

The 8’ Pellet Grill Island Bar from Coyote Outdoor Living is a series of five different outdoor kitchen designs, each with their own brilliant variances in style, materials, and color. You can choose between Stacked Stone or Weathered Wood and a few different color variations so your friends and family will feel comfortable in your backyard as you serve up their favorites.

BetterPatio Designer Outdoor Kitchens

BetterPatio is one of the subsidiaries of Better Brands, a leading outdoor living company in the United States. They offer a wide range of designs, such as BBQ islands, modular outdoor kitchens, and L-shaped outdoor kitchens. To ensure the highest quality in their outdoor kitchen offerings, they partner with several leaders in the industry, including Cal Flame, RTA Outdoor Living, and Mont Alpi. They will even deliver everything straight to your backyard and stay with you every step of the way as you set it up.

The selection of BBQ Islands from BetterPatio alone will give you some great perspective into what it takes to build a perfect outdoor living space. The BBQ Island will be just the start of your outdoor cooking lifestyle and you can begin to add other outstanding features, such as beverage making equipment, pizza ovens, side burners, griddles, and more. You can even look beyond the outdoor kitchen and shop around for fire features and patio furniture to make your friends and family feel even more comfortable.

The 8-Foot L-Shaped Outdoor BBQ Kitchen Island from Cal Flame is one of the most popular products in the BetterPatio catalog. This outdoor kitchen comes complete with a fantastic Cal Flame grill, a side burner, and a sink on the counter, while underneath there is lots of storage and a refrigeration unit. One side of the kitchen island has enough space for 4 to 6 bar seats.

Hopefully this article has whet your appetite and you’re ready to get going on your outdoor kitchen project… just in time for next summer’s fun!

Outdoor Kitchen Kits: A Roundup of the Best Options