How Much Does it Cost to Build a Grill Island?
Ready to take your backyard BBQ island ideas to take it to the next level? If grilling outdoors is your passion, you want more than just a freestanding outdoor grill. You love the convenience and functionality that a complete outdoor kitchen offers.
We’re talking about… an outdoor kitchen with island grills, an outdoor kitchen island with sink, an outdoor kitchen island with refrigerator, or a combination of an outdoor kitchen island with sink and refrigerator.
One of the first questions you ask before starting an outdoor kitchen project is, “how much does it cost to build outdoor kitchen grill islands?” The cost of outdoor kitchen projects varies, depending on the location, utilities, appliances, and other factors. It’s important to understand these factors to help you gauge your budget.
We'll go over the specifics in this article, starting with the cost factors…
Cost to Build Outdoor Kitchen Islands
1. Location
When estimating the cost of your backyard BBQ island project, the location is very crucial. What state are you from? Both labor and material expenses vary between states.
Building Permit: $150 - $2,000
Does your project need a permit? On average, building permits can cost $2000, but an outdoor kitchen might cost as low as $150, depending on where you live.
Additionally, the further your outdoor kitchen is from your home, the more expensive it is.
2. Space
How much space will you use for your outdoor island grill?
Existing space: FREE
You won't have to worry about this expense if you already have an outdoor kitchen or an existing patio for your grill island. Unless you want to extend your patio or outdoor kitchen to add extra amenities.
New space: $1,500 - $5,000
If you don’t have an existing space yet and are planning to build one for your grill island, this is usually the cost of building a patio large enough to accommodate an average-sized outdoor kitchen with grill island.
3. Utilities
You don't have to worry about the installation costs if your patio or outdoor kitchen already has utilities. Otherwise, you need to install utility lines which will likely have the following estimated costs:
- Natural Gas Line: $15 - $25 per linear foot
- Propane Gas: $3 - $5 per gallon
- Electric: $50 - $100 per hour
- Water sink and plumbing: $500 - $2000
4. Materials
How will you use your grill island? Is it only for grilling or is it also be used for entertaining? Will there be kids or older guests? You wouldn't want a slippery floor, right? The ideal flooring and countertop materials should be grease and stain resistant, easy to clean, and able to handle both high and low temperatures. A better alternative could be to use materials like concrete, sealed pavers, or natural stones.
Here are the estimated costs of material options, ranging from the most basic to luxury and specialty materials.
Materials for Flooring: $1 - $140 per square foot
- Porcelain or ceramic tile: $1 - $50 per square foot
- Marble tile: $5 - $50 per square foot
- Wood: $3 - $50 per square foot
- Concrete: $70 - $140 per square foot
Materials for a Base: $3 - $400 per square foot
- Wood (framing): $3 - $50 per square foot
- Brick (framing/finish): $8 - $45 per square foot
- Stainless Steel (framing/finish): $67 - $225 per square foot
- Tile (finish): $2 - $7 per square foot
- Stucco (finish): $3 - $9 per square foot
- Stone veneer (finish): $6 - $17 per square foot
- Natural stone (finish): $15 - $30 per square foot
- Granite (finish): $45 - $400 per square foot
- Concrete (finish): $70 - $140 per square foot
Materials Countertops: $1 - $400 per square foot
- Porcelain or ceramic tile: $1 - $50 per square foot
- Wood: $3 - $50 per square foot
- Quartz: $45 - $155 per square foot
- Granite: $45 - $400 per square foot
- Concrete: $70 - $140 per square foot
- Stainless Steel: $67 - $225 per square foot
5. Appliances
Should you save less or spend more to get the best quality?
Listen, if you compromise the quality of your appliances in order to save money, you’ll end up spending more on repairs and replacements in the long run.
The best outdoor kitchen appliances and best outdoor kitchen components should be built to last a lifetime. You wouldn't have to worry about maintenance or replacements if you invested in high-end equipment, plus the lifetime warranty that comes with your purchase makes it worth the money!
Also if you’re going for stainless steel appliances for your outdoor island bar and grill, they need to be made of at least 304 stainless steel. They are strong, weather-resistant, and long-lasting.
Grills
Do you prefer a gas grill, electric grill, or charcoal grill? Well, it all comes down to personal preference, taste, and needs.
Featured: American Made Grills AMG Muscle 54" Hybrid Freestanding Gas Grill
Gas Grills: $500 - $5,000 and above
- Built-In Gas Grills
- Economy: $700 - $1,000
- Premium: $1,000 - $3,000
-
Luxury: $5,000 and up
- Freestanding/Portable Gas Grill
- Economy: $500 - $1,000
- Premium: $1,000 - $4,000
- Luxury: $5,000 and up
Did you know that gas grills are excellent for outdoor cooking? They're easier and quicker to use!
Electric Grills: $1,000 - $5,000
- Built-in Electric Grills: $1,000 - $,2000
- Post-mount Electric Grills: $1,000 - $2,000
- Freestanding Electric Grills: $5000 and up
Charcoal Grills: $200 - $4,000
- Kamado Grills: $800 - $2,000
- Built-in Charcoal Grills: $800 - $4,000
- Freestanding/Portable Charcoal Grills: $200 - $2,000
Grill Parts and Accessories
Additional components and accessories you can add to your outdoor BBQ grill to improve your cooking experience.
Grill Parts: $1,000 - $10,000
- Side Burners/Power Burners: $1,000 - $2,500
- Griddles: $1,000 - $6,000
- Pizza Ovens: $1,000 - $10,000
- Outdoor Island Vent Hoods: $200 - $5,000
- Other grill parts: $20 - $1,500
Grill Accessories: $30 - $5,000
- Rotisserie Kits: $300 - $500
- Insulating Liners/Insulating Jackets: $100 - $2,000
- Outdoor Cabinets for Grill Islands / Doors & Drawers: $200 - $2,000
- Grill Covers: $30 - $200
- Smokers: $100 - $300
Other Appliances
If you want a modern outdoor grill with sink, refrigerator, and beverage centers, here are the estimated costs for each. The island grill can also be modified with grill parts and accessories such as outdoor kitchen island cabinets, doors, and drawers.
Refrigeration & Ice Makers: $400 - $7,000
- Island Fridge/Outdoor Refrigerators: $400 - $4,000
- Kegerators: $1,000 - $7,000
- Ice Makers: $2,000 - $4,000
Beverage & Refreshment Centers: $100 - $1,000
- Beverage Centers: $1,000 - $3,000
- Sinks & Faucets: $100 - $600
- Prep Station: $1,000 - $2,000
Outdoor Heating: $100 - $20,000
- Outdoor Heaters: $500 - $5,000
- Outdoor Fireplaces: $500 - $15,000
- Fire Pits: $100 - $20,000
Type of Grill Island
The type of outdoor grilling islands also affects the overall cost. Are you planning to build it from scratch? Or would you prefer to purchase a pre-assembled one? Let's break it into 3 types and see how they differ from one another.
1. Built from scratch: $10,000 - $30,000 and up
Building a grill island from scratch requires a professional builder or contractor. This type of grill island option is more personalized, giving you a lot of flexibility in the outdoor grill design and features.
2. Modular: $2,000 - $5,000
Featured: Mont Alpi 805 Deluxe Island Grill with Fridge Cabinet Module MAi805-DFC
Usually made up of single-piece components or pieces assembled into various modules that have already been put together for you like building blocks. They are a more practical choice since the factory-made components can easily be transported into your patio and you won't need any heavy machinery.
3. RTA: $2,000 - $10,000 and up
Featured: Mont Alpi 805 Black Stainless Steel Island with Fridge Cabinet
If you want convenience, quality, and efficiency… Ready-to-Assemble outdoor kitchen island with barbecue islands are worth looking into. RTA outdoor kitchen with grill islands comes pre-finished. These BBQ Grill Islands & Outdoor Kitchen Kits are outdoor kitchen packages delivered to you and only require minimal assembly.
They give you the flexibility in your BBQ island designs that suits your needs without the high cost of a built-from-scratch option. This is where RTA really excels in terms of convenience.
Outdoor Grill Island Kits
- Mont Alpi Grill Islands - Based on the Mont Alpi 805 Island Grill reviews, Mont Alpi Island Grills are among our top-selling grill islands. Mont Alpi 400 Deluxe Island and Mont Alpi 805 Deluxe Island Grill series.
- Blaze Outdoor Grill Island / Blaze BBQ Islands - Blaze Island Grills offers grill parts and accessories to complete your unfinished BBQ island kits.
- American Outdoor Grills - AOG grill islands and BBQ outdoor kitchen islands are easy to assemble and affordable.
- Fire Magic Grill Islands - Fire Magic Island Grills offers Fire Magic BBQ Islands and L-shaped Outdoor Islands for a more elaborate layout.
Final Word
If you’re looking to invest in something that will give your backyard a real wow factor, why not look into adding an outdoor kitchen? The best way to go about this is by getting an outdoor BBQ island. It’ll really complete the look of any yard or patio, and it will bring a lot of added value to your house over the years.
It is important to consider the cost to build an outdoor kitchen and all of the factors that go into making such a big purchase. With so many options on the market and lots of factors to consider, there are bound to be mistakes made when selecting new appliances and accessories. We hope this article served as your personal cost guide.
A grill island isn't just more fun, it's also a smart investment!
How to build an Outdoor Kitchen Island? Learn more about how to build a BBQ island in this Step-by-Step Guide.
Shop for BBQ Grill Island Kits & Outdoor Kitchen Island Kits at Flame Authority now!
Need assistance? Contact us or call our customer service representative at 1-800-923-4556 or email us at support@flameauthority.com
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