How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost in Los Angeles?
An outdoor kitchen in Los Angeles usually costs $6,000 to $16,000 for a grill island, $13,000 to $35,000 for a kitchen with a sink and refrigerator, and $40,000 to $85,000 or more for a full kitchen with a pizza oven, a bar and a cover. The spread is wide because an outdoor kitchen is four trades and a set of appliances, and the appliances alone can move the number by $10,000.
These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
For how we build them and how they fail, see outdoor kitchens, decks and pergolas. We build across Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Ventura County, western Riverside County and western San Bernardino County.
Cost by tier
| Tier | What it includes | Typical Los Angeles installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Grill island | 6–8 ft steel-stud island, cement board, stucco or veneer finish, built-in gas grill, side burner, storage door, concrete or granite counter, gas line, permit | $6,000–$16,000 |
| Kitchen with sink and refrigerator | 10–14 ft L-shape, grill, burner, sink with faucet and drain, outdoor-rated refrigerator, doors and drawers, dedicated GFCI circuit, gas line, plumbing and electrical permits | $13,000–$35,000 |
| Full kitchen with pizza oven, bar and cover | U-shape or two runs, premium grill, pizza oven, sink, refrigerator, bar overhang with seating, lighting, a cover with a vent hood, all permits | $40,000–$85,000+ |
These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
What drives the cost
- Gas line run length. The meter is usually on the side of the house farthest from the yard. The run is priced by the foot for trenching, pipe, a shutoff and sediment trap at the island, a pressure test and the inspection. Crossing an existing slab means cutting and patching it.
- Electrical circuit. A refrigerator, lights and outlets need a dedicated GFCI-protected circuit. Distance from the panel sets the price; a full panel with no free space is the surprise that adds the most, and we check it on the site visit.
- Counter material. Priced by the square foot of top, and there is more top than you think once the bar overhang is counted; a 12 ft L-shape with a bar has 30 to 40 square feet, so concrete versus porcelain is a real decision.
- Appliance grade. A 36 to 42 inch grill with infrared burners and a rotisserie from a premium line costs two to three times a solid mid-range grill. Our rule of thumb is that appliances should be about a third of the budget; when they are half, the island under them is being built too cheaply.
- The cover. A kitchen under a roof gets used in July at noon and in January rain, but a grill under a solid cover needs a vent hood and non-combustible materials above it, and the cover is a separate permitted structure; see our patio cover cost guide.
Line items behind the tiers
| Line item | Typical Los Angeles installed range |
|---|---|
| Island frame and finish, steel stud, cement board, stucco or stone veneer | $200–$450 per linear foot |
| Built-in gas grill, mid-range, 32–36 in | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Built-in gas grill, premium, 36–42 in | $4,000–$8,000+ |
| Outdoor-rated refrigerator | $700–$2,500 |
| Sink, faucet, drain and tie-in | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Pizza oven, insert or modular, installed | $2,500–$8,000 |
| Counter, concrete | $50–$120 per sq ft |
| Counter, granite or porcelain slab | $80–$150 per sq ft |
| Gas line, trenched, tested, with shutoff | $12–$30 per linear foot |
| Outdoor electrical, dedicated circuit, GFCI, lighting | $1,000–$3,500 |
| Permits, gas, electrical and plumbing combined | $300–$1,500 |
| Demolition and haul-away of an old slab in the way | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Difficult access, wheelbarrow only | $500–$1,500+ |
| Solid patio cover over the kitchen, Alumawood | $30–$55 per sq ft (insulated $45–$75) |
These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
Three worked examples
| Example | Scope | Line items | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 ft grill island, San Fernando Valley | Straight island against an existing patio, stucco to match the house, 36 in mid-range grill and side burner, poured concrete counter, 40 ft gas run, existing outlet on the patio wall, no new circuit | Frame and finish $1,400–$3,150; grill and burner $2,000–$4,500; counter $1,000–$2,400; gas line $500–$1,200; permit $300–$600 | About $6,000–$12,000 |
| 12 ft L-shaped kitchen, Orange County | Grill, burner, sink drained to the house sewer, outdoor refrigerator, three doors and a drawer stack, granite with a 12 in bar overhang, 50 ft gas run, new circuit from a panel with space, HOA submittal | Frame and finish $3,000–$5,400; grill and burner $2,500–$5,000; refrigerator $700–$2,500; sink and drain $1,000–$3,000; counter $3,200–$6,000; gas $600–$1,500; electrical $1,000–$3,500; permits $500–$1,200 | About $13,000–$28,000 |
| Full kitchen with cover, western Riverside County | 18 ft in two runs, premium 42 in grill, built-in pizza oven, sink, refrigerator, bar seating for four, porcelain counters, lighting, 300 sq ft insulated Alumawood cover with a vent hood | Frame and finish $5,400–$8,100; grill $5,000–$8,000; pizza oven $3,000–$8,000; refrigerator $1,000–$2,500; sink and drain $1,500–$3,000; counters $4,000–$7,500; gas $1,000–$2,500; electrical $2,000–$3,500; cover $13,500–$22,500; permits $1,000–$1,500 | About $38,000–$67,000 before the hood |
These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
What moved the second example was not the island but the sink, the refrigerator and the two utility runs, which is why a low bid that lists a beautiful island and says “gas and electrical by others” is not a low bid.
Permits
Every gas line needs a plumbing permit and every circuit needs an electrical permit, in every city in our service area; a sink drained to the sewer needs a plumbing permit as well. The island itself is usually below the threshold for a building permit unless it is a tall block structure or carries a roof; a new cover over the kitchen needs its own building permit showing the hood and the clearances. The inspector reads the grill manufacturer’s manual for the clearance to combustibles beside and above the cooking surface, and so do we, before the frame goes up. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections; they are in the proposal, not a change order.
Timeline
A grill island takes two to three weeks once the grill is on site. A kitchen with a sink and refrigerator takes four to eight weeks from permit to first cookout: trenching, rough-in and inspection in the first week, frame and cement board in the second, counter template, fabrication and set in the third and fourth, then appliance set, final inspection and gas tie-in. A full kitchen with a cover runs eight to twelve weeks, because the cover is framed and inspected first. The usual delay is a specific grill or pizza oven on a long lead time, so we order appliances before we break ground and hold the counter pour until every one is in the yard.
In a bigger project, the gas and electrical trenches go in before the pavers or the slab and the island goes in after; see our backyard remodel cost guide and the sequence on our outdoor living page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic outdoor kitchen cost in Los Angeles?
A grill island with a built-in gas grill, side burner, storage door, concrete or granite counter and the gas line typically runs $6,000 to $16,000 installed, permit included. These are typical Los Angeles budgeting estimates, not a price list or a quote. Your project can come in lower or higher depending on the house, the scope and the finishes; the only real number is a written proposal after a site visit.
What is the most expensive part of an outdoor kitchen?
Usually the appliances, then the utility runs. A premium grill and a pizza oven together can cost more than the island that holds them, and a long gas run plus a new circuit from a full panel is the next biggest surprise. The island frame and finish, which is what most people picture as the kitchen, is rarely the biggest line.
Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, for the gas line and for any electrical circuit, in every city we work in, and for a sink drain tied to the sewer. The island itself usually does not need a building permit unless it is a tall masonry structure or supports a roof. A cover over the kitchen needs a building permit that shows the hood and clearances. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections as part of the job.
Can I use propane instead of running a gas line?
You can, and a propane tank in a vented cabinet is a legitimate way to skip the trench on a small island far from the meter. Most of our clients regret it within a year: the tank runs out mid-dinner, and a built-in grill empties a 20 lb tank quickly. If the kitchen has a sink or a refrigerator, the trench is being dug anyway, and the gas line should go in it.
What counter material is best for an outdoor kitchen?
Granite in a darker color is the safest choice: it takes heat, ignores sun and shows the fewest stains. Poured concrete can be cast around the appliances, but it needs sealing and will develop hairline crazing that most owners accept. Porcelain slab is heat-proof and UV-stable and needs a fabricator with porcelain experience. Tile is the budget option and the most maintenance.
How long does an outdoor kitchen take to build?
Two to three weeks for a grill island, four to eight weeks for a kitchen with a sink and refrigerator, and eight to twelve weeks for a full kitchen under a new cover, measured from permit issuance. Appliance lead times are the usual delay, so we order the grill and any pizza oven before we break ground and template the counters after they arrive.
Get a written outdoor kitchen price
The number depends on where your gas meter and panel are, what the island sits on and which appliances you want. The site visit is free, takes about two hours, and you will have a written proposal within 48 hours with the utilities, the structure and the appliances broken out separately.