DIY Outdoor Kitchen Ideas: 5 Inexpensive Builds, Priced

In most DIY outdoor kitchen ideas, the kitchen part is easy and the island is where the work is. The grill, doors, fridge and sink drop into openings. Your job is to build the kitchen around those openings. Get them right, and an inexpensive weekend project on the patio or the back deck can look like a contractor built it. We sell the stainless steel appliances and storage that go into DIY islands every day. Here, we explain what people build, what it costs and the mistakes we see in customer photos.

Jump to a Build

• The inexpensive block island with a built-in grill
• The steel-frame island you finish yourself
• The wood-framed island, done safely
• The reclaimed-materials kitchen
• The pre-built island you set in place

Five DIY outdoor kitchen ideas, cheapest first

1. The inexpensive block island with a built-in grill

For this backyard build, you stack concrete block and secure it with mortar or glue. Finish it with stucco, tile or stone veneer, then add a poured or slab countertop. It is the cheapest way to build a permanent kitchen. The block for a six-foot island costs a couple hundred dollars. Leave an opening for a gas built-in grill for your island, from $1,699 for a Summerset Sizzler. Leave another for doors underneath, from $224. You can cut in everything else later if you plan the openings now.

2. The steel-frame island you finish yourself

A bolt-together steel frame does the same job as block in an afternoon. The Videl Signature Collection 1 includes two knock-down frames that make a 72″ island. You also get the grill and double doors for $4,566. You add cement board and a finish that matches your patio. The larger collections include a side burner and more doors. The “equipment only” versions suit you if you already have a frame.

Check Price

3. The wood-framed island, done safely

Wood framing is the easiest to cut, but it worries us most. A gas grill built into a wood box needs an insulated liner around it. The grill manuals require it. You can frame in wood and wrap it in cement board, but budget for the liner. Summerset’s liners run $749 to $1,049 depending on the grill. Ask us which liner fits before you order. It changes the opening size.

4. The reclaimed-materials kitchen

You can use old brick, leftover pavers or a slab of granite from a kitchen remodel. Reclaimed islands can look good and cost almost nothing in materials. Anything near the grill has to be non-combustible. Save the salvaged wood for the bar top on the far side.

5. The pre-built island you set in place

With this option, your DIY work is placing the island and hooking it up. That may be the amount of work you want to take on. A complete outdoor kitchen island from Videl arrives ready to cook from $5,181. Fire Magic’s concrete-look islands assemble on site from sections. You still run the gas and power, but you skip the rest of the building work.

Check Price

The appliances and storage you will drop in, with prices

• Grill: gas built-in grills from $1,699 for a Summerset Sizzler. Choose propane or natural gas before you buy.
• Storage: Outdoor kitchen doors start at $224. Outdoor kitchen drawers start at about $450, and door-and-drawer combos start at $1,119.
• Cold: An outdoor refrigerator starts at $749. Outdoor-rated models that can stay fully exposed start at $1,649.
• Water: An outdoor kitchen sink starts at $369. The Fire Magic double sink includes the faucet. Plan the drain before the counter goes on.
• Extra burners: Add a side burner for pots from $549, or a built-in griddle from $1,549.

The mistakes we see most

Cutting the openings before the parts arrive

Every brand publishes cutout sizes for its appliances. Those sizes are all slightly different. Order your parts first, measure them, then cut. If you must cut early, follow the spec sheet on the product page without adding extra space. A loose door will keep rattling.

Forgetting the gas grill needs air

Propane is heavier than air and pools in a closed box. If you keep the tank inside the island, one of the doors must be vented. The island also needs a vent opening low on the side. Summerset’s vented doors cost $329. Their tank pull-out drawer combo costs $1,419.

No power in the island

The grill’s lights and ignition, the fridge and the hood all need an outlet inside the island. Run one outdoor outlet on its own circuit before the counter goes on. That saves you from opening the island up later.

A counter that is too shallow

Most built-in grills need close to 30 inches of depth, including the back clearance. Build the island 30 to 32 inches deep and 36 inches tall. At that size the counter feels like a real kitchen.

How much does a DIY outdoor kitchen cost?

A block-and-stucco island usually costs a few hundred dollars in materials, plus the countertop. Most of your budget goes toward equipment. A grill and doors get you cooking for about $2,000. A grill, doors, drawers and a fridge cost closer to $4,500. Adding a sink and a side burner takes it past $5,500. You can find the full breakdown by tier in what an outdoor kitchen costs. For the step-by-step build order and which trades to call, read how to build an outdoor kitchen.

Questions people ask

Can I build an outdoor kitchen with no gas line?

Yes. You can put a propane tank in a vented cabinet or go electric. The Fire Magic electric built-in grill costs $2,186 and needs only an outdoor outlet.

Do I need a permit?

You usually need a permit for the gas line and often for the electrical work. You rarely need one for the island itself. Call your building department before you lay the first block. Even on a DIY build, hiring a licensed plumber and electrician for those jobs is money well spent.

What is the simplest outdoor kitchen design?

A straight run on the patio is the easiest to frame and cook at. Put the grill in the middle, doors underneath, a fridge at one end and counter space at the other. On a deck, keep the island light. Read our outdoor kitchen on deck rules first. You can find more layouts and prices in our outdoor kitchen ideas post.

How do I work out the steel framing for a DIY island?

Start with your layout on paper, then place the grill, doors and drawers. Each opening needs a beam above and a column on each side. Add columns at the island’s sides and back. The Videl Signature Collection 1 skips the framing take-off with two steel frames that ship flat and latch together. They’re sized for the included Gran Fuego 36 grill and 36 inch double doors. Together, they form a straight 72 inch island, 36 inches tall and 32 inches deep. Cover the frame with cement board, then tile, stone or stucco. The only other step is the gas connection.

Send us the sketch

Whichever of these DIY outdoor kitchen ideas you choose, send us a drawing before you cut. Include the wall length, the grill you want and where the gas and power come in. We will list every opening size and check that the parts fit together. Find everything on our outdoor kitchen page. We offer free shipping on most brands (exceptions apply), no sales tax (except WY), and real people to talk to before you order.