Some people wonder: how much does an outdoor kitchen add to home value? An outdoor kitchen is an appealing addition to your home. It’s practical and makes your home feel bigger by giving you more usable living space.

If you are considering building an outdoor kitchen before selling your home, definitely plan to sell during the spring and summer seasons. This is when people will have the outdoors and grilling at the forefront of their minds.

Outdoor kitchens, like most renovation projects, will cost you more money than you get back. But they can add great value to your home, for these four reasons:

• Practicality
• Appeal
• Timing (When to Sell Your Home)
• Your Home Will Feel Bigger

Practicality

An outdoor kitchen is an investment that will last you 10 or more years, as long as you maintain the space and clean your appliances consistently.

You can host barbecues, enjoy parties and socials with friends and family, or cook for yourself in the outdoors.

If you cook more often on your grill during the spring and summertime, you’ll be able to keep your indoor kitchen much cleaner.

Appeal

Everyone wants their home to ‘look nice.’ An outdoor kitchen, although it takes some work, is one of those rooms that could really sway your buyers. Think of it like a pool. Although it may not be #1 on everyone’s priority list, a well-built and maintained pool, like an outdoor kitchen can generate a lot of positive appeal – and catch the attention of neighbors, visitors, and friends.

To prospective buyers, an outdoor kitchen will look incredibly attractive. It might even be the tipping point for purchase! Maybe other houses don’t have an outdoor kitchen, but yours does, which may be valuable for some buyers – especially those who are avid grillers.

Timing

What will make your outdoor kitchen even more appealing? Sell your home in time for the spring or summer season and the buyer will be visualizing themselves using the kitchen! If everything’s covered and packed up for winter, your outdoor kitchen won’t be doing you any favors to help sell your home. But in the summer, it’s a great bonus feature and selling point.

Your Home Will Feel Bigger

The final perk to building an outdoor kitchen is that it’ll make your home feel bigger. Especially in the summer, you’ll be outside more often cooking lunch and dinner. You could also set up some tables and chairs and make your outdoor kitchen a place for the family to hang out and enjoy the weather.

Keep reading to learn more about outdoor kitchens and how they can add value to your home

How much does an outdoor kitchen cost?

On the low end, expect to spend about $2000-3000 on your outdoor kitchen. This price tag can reach up to $20,000 or even higher depending on the quality of the materials used and the number of appliances and accessories you purchase for your outdoor kitchen.

For a low-end kitchen, you might consider a grill, patio, and countertop.

You can find a quality grill on a budget under $500. Check out this Weber Spirit II Propane Grill from Amazon. It’s a great grill.

On the higher end, you might consider a grill above $1000, like one of these:

• Weber Genesis II Gas Grill
• Weber Summit Gas Grill

In terms of outdoor countertops, the larger the countertop the more expensive it will be. The cost will also depend on the type of material for your counters. Twenty to 30 square foot countertops are typical, which would be between 4.5 and 5.5 feet on each side, assuming the sides are the same length.

HomeAdvisor lays out countertop pricing per square foot for several different types of materials. Based on these numbers a typical 20 sq ft. granite countertop would cost between $1200 and $1600.

Similar to countertops, patios will become more costly as they increase in size and the quality of materials. On the low end, you could aim for a budget concrete patio that is about 100 sq. ft for around $1000. But, it is more common to see patios about twice that size at 200 square feet.

Poured concrete and gravel patios are the cheapest options for your outdoor patio. Concrete pavers are about the middle of the pack in terms of price, and stone costs around $20-$24 per square foot. You’ll need to hire a professional builder for this installation.

Compare the pricing of your outdoor patio depending on its materials here.

Finally, depending on your budget, you may consider a professional-quality outdoor range hood as well. You can purchase one from Proline Range Hoods for around $1,500 – $3,000.

What does an outdoor kitchen need?

Here are a few things you need to get the most out of your outdoor kitchen:

• Patio
• Outdoor bar
• Outdoor range hood
• Stainless steel grill

Not everyone will need these four things, and some will want to deck out their outdoor space even more, maybe with some water features. But, these are additions you can purchase to enjoy your outdoor kitchen to the fullest. Invite friends and family, host barbecues, or enjoy dinner by yourself under the sun in your newly renovated outdoor kitchen.

Do you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen?

For most outdoor kitchens, you likely won’t require a permit. The first thing you need to ensure is that you are building your new outdoor kitchen on your property. One thing is for sure: you don’t want to begin building on your neighbor’s land!

Beyond that, it’s a good idea to contact your city clerk and ask them a few questions.

First, ask about your area’s zoning requirements. Each city (and sometimes county) has specific requirements for what you can build, how high you can build it, and where you can build it among other rules. 

Small projects such as putting in a patio or installing a range hood likely won’t run you into any trouble, but it would be good to double check the requirements for large renovation projects. Most zoning requirements restrict the construction of fences, sheds, swimming pools, and other similar structures.

If you’re installing additional plumbing or electrical, be sure that it conforms with your local building codes and follows safety regulations.

It is also best practice to consider your local building codes. These tell you how you need to build your structure to comply with safety and legal requirements. A builder can ensure that you are compliant with everything and should be able to obtain all your required permits.

Outdoor Kitchens for Cold Climates

For outdoor kitchens in cold climates, an enclosed or covered patio is the way to go. This will keep your outdoor kitchen well protected from the elements. Also, you may consider adding some patio heaters from Amazon to keep the space warm and cozy.

How do you winterize an outdoor kitchen?

You can certainly make the space more accommodating to the cold climate, but there are several things that you need to do to prepare your outdoor kitchen for the cold:

1. Turn off all incoming water.

In the winter, all running water will freeze which may damage your pipes, so be sure to turn off your water before the winter months hit.

2. Drain your water lines.

Once you turn off your water, not all of it will move out of the pipes. Some water will sit in the pipes and cause the same problem: freeze and lead to potential damage.

3. Open drain valves.

The final step having to do with your water pipes is to open your drain valves. This way, any water that makes its way into your pipes will drain automatically. It won’t build up over time and cause you any issues in the future.

4. Clean your stainless steel grill.

In the winter season, you probably won’t be grilling as much. Before it gets too cold, give your grill a nice thorough cleaning so that when you are ready to fire it up again, it’s nice and clean.

Check out our list of the best kitchen degreasers on the market to clean your outdoor grill.

5. Clean out your sink.

Similar to the outdoor grill, you won’t be using your sink when it’s freezing cold outside. Give it a thorough clean so that you don’t have any dirt and grime lingering for several months.

6. Polish cabinetry.

If you have outdoor cabinets, buy wax cleaner, stainless steel polish, or wooden polish to help them endure through the cold winter months.

7. Move all exposed furniture inside or under an enclosed patio.

If you live in a place with wet, snowy, or otherwise harsh winters, be sure to move all your outdoor furniture – chairs, tables, plants, water features, etc. – into your garage, home, or under an enclosed patio. When the sun comes out again in the spring and summer, you can break out this furniture again.

Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

Now that you’ve learned more about outdoor kitchens and their value in your home, we wanted to give you some inspiration for your outdoor kitchen remodel.

One of the most worthwhile upgrades you can purchase for your outdoor kitchen is an outdoor vent hood. Sometimes people purchase a hood to cover their stainless steel grill, while others purchase a large range hood to cover two grills, a grill and a green egg, or a range and a green egg, to name a few different combinations we’ve seen.

At Proline, we believe a range hood is essential to your home. It makes your experience in the kitchen enjoyable and keeps your air clean and fresh.

We have compiled over 100 unique range hood ideas in this article and we have a full section devoted to outdoor kitchens. Check out our photos here.

We also have several articles to help you find inspiration and personalize your outdoor kitchen space. Check them out below.

• 6 Outdoor BBQ Ideas for the Spring and Summer Seasons
• 6 Inspiration Outdoor Kitchen Bar Ideas
• 5 Keys to Building an Outdoor Kitchen

Do decks add value to a home?

A deck will return about 72.1% of your investment, according to Remodeling’s 2020 Cost Value Report. The average wooden deck cost $14,360 to install and homeowners recouped $10,355 upon resale. Although you won’t gain back all your money, decks are still something to strongly consider – they have a lot of benefits and they are very popular in today’s homes.

A deck is incredibly practical. It increases the square footage of your home at a relatively cheap cost. Think about the alternative, like building another room in your home, which is much more pricey. They also make a lot of sense to install in areas where you have great sunny weather year-round. Not to mention that it can be an attractive addition to your outdoor space.

How much does a paver patio add to home value?

A paver patio is an elegant addition to your home. A 2018 study found that “The projects that gave consumers the greatest desire to be at home include a new pool (92 percent), statement landscape (87 percent), landscape upgrade (85 percent), and a new patio (84 percent).”

The study also found that nine percent of realtors surveyed said adding an outdoor patio is a worthwhile investment, while three percent of those closed a deal as a result of this project.

While these studies do not address paver patios specifically, it’s clear that patios are highly sought after in new homes. Further, a paver patio is reliable, ahead of concrete and gravel in terms of quality, and below stone, which is the most expensive. So, you won’t be in danger of going with a material that is too cheap, and you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank with an expensive stone patio.

That’s it for our article on outdoor kitchens. We hope that this gave you the tools to decide if adding an outdoor kitchen is worth your time, and if so, how you want to renovate your outdoor kitchen.

Related Articles

• 6 Outdoor BBQ Ideas for the Spring and Summer Seasons
• Why do I need an outdoor range hood?
• 4 Best Outdoor Range Hoods from Proline Range Hoods

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