How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Gloucestershire, UK?

Imagine hosting friends and family and consistently running back and forth into your house to pick food and drinks. It’s a scenario that any host would prefer to avoid, right?

Fortunately, there’s a way around it with the help of an outdoor kitchen. Best of all, if you’re on a budget, there are a variety of options to fit your ideal setup.

If you’re from Gloucestershire and have plans for one, you’ll need to understand the factors that affect outdoor kitchen cost, the ideal kitchen for your budget, and tips to make the process as painless as possible. 

What affects your budget?

Before you plan how much you want to spend on your outdoor kitchen installation, you’ll need to consider the different factors that affect your budget. You should prioritise these four factors.

Materials 

Besides materials being a major portion of how much you’ll spend, they also affect the appearance and functionality of your outdoor kitchen. They also affect the durability and maintenance needs of your space. 

There are three common countertop material options: granite, stainless steel, and concrete. Here’s more about each material:

• Granite not only appears attractive but is durable, resists scratches, avoids stains, and withstands extreme temperatures. It typically costs between £50 and £100 per square foot. 
• Stainless steel is resistant to rust, stains, and microorganisms like bacteria. It also adds a modern look to your outdoor space and takes minutes to clean. You’ll pay between £75 and £150 per square foot. 
• Concrete is great if you’re looking for customisation because it can be moulded into all kinds of shapes and sizes of various colours. It’s also a durable material that will last years before you need to do any maintenance or replacement. It costs between £60 and £120 per square foot. 

Labour 

Labour is a significant part of realising your ideal outdoor kitchen. However, you’ll need the help of people with a variety of skills broken down into three important elements:

• Construction takes care of the structural work, assembling units and finishing touches that cost from £150 to £250 per day. 
• Plumbing on sinks and water-related utilities costs £30 to £50 per hour.
• Electrical work for appliances and lighting costing between £30 and £50 per hour.

You may also need to take project management fees into account, which could add 10%–15% to the overall project cost. 

Appliances 

Your outdoor kitchen would be incomplete without a stack of appliances that make it easy to cook and access your favourite drinks. The most common appliances that affect your outdoor kitchen cost are grills, ovens, and refrigerators, ideal for different budgets. 

Grills cost between £300 and £3000, ovens £500 to £2000, and refrigerators £200 to £1500. 

Extras 

While the basics will provide the hosting and entertainment value you’re looking for, adding a little spice with extra features to your outdoor kitchen installation may not hurt. Here are five features you might want to incorporate into your outdoor space:

• Fire pits add warmth on cooler nights and range from £200 to £3,000. 
• Seats, like standalone furniture or custom-made ones, provide a cosy place to relax, ranging from £200 to £2,500.
• Outdoor lighting enhances the ambience, especially at night, ranging from £100 to £1,000.
• Canopies or pergolas add a shade that allows you to use your outdoor space during any weather. They range from £500 to £5,000.
• An outdoor bar allows you to conveniently mix and serve your favourite drinks and costs between £500 and £2,500. 

What outdoor kitchen cost fits your budget?

Once you have a good idea of the features and factors, you’ll need to figure out how to bring them together in a way that meets your ideal outdoor kitchen cost. There are three options available, from the most affordable and basic to the more costly custom-built ones with all the bells and whistles. 

They are basic, mid-range, and high-end outdoor kitchens. 

Basic outdoor kitchen

A basic outdoor kitchen fulfils all the essential components of an outdoor kitchen while requiring the least amount of money, time, and effort. The cost ranges from £5,000 to £10,000, which gives you a standalone grill, a small prep area, and open shelves for storage. 

Each feature costs:

• Grills from £500 to £1,500.
• Prep area from £200 – £500.
• Open shelves from £100 to £300.

Mid-range outdoor kitchen 

A mid-range outdoor kitchen installation, although slightly more expensive, provides greater functionality and ample storage space for a more comprehensive cooking area. You’ll get built-in grills, multiple prep areas, cabinetry, and sinks at a total outdoor kitchen cost ranging between £10,000 and £15,000. 

Each feature costs:

• Built-in grills range from £1,500 to £3,000.
• Prep areas range from £500 to £1,000.
• Cabinetry from £1,000 to £2,500.
• Sink from £300 to £800.
• Electrical and plumbing, from £1,000 to £2,000. 

High-end outdoor kitchen

If you aspire to have the ultimate outdoor kitchen, you will need to invest between £15,000 and £20,000+ for top-tier utilities and features. This includes premium appliances, extensive countertop space, refrigeration units, and luxury finishes.

A high-end outdoor kitchen is the closest you’ll get to a full indoor kitchen. 

Each feature costs:

• Premium appliances from £3,000 to £6,000.
• Extensive countertops from £2,000 to £4,000.
• Refrigeration units from £1,000 to £2,500.
• Luxury finishes from £2,000 to £5,000.
• Electrical and plumbing from £2,000 to £3,500.

Tips for a smooth outdoor kitchen installation process 

While there will be a few hiccups along the way, our experience shows you can ensure they are as minimal as possible. Here are two that go a long way:

• If you’re a handyman, you should take on some simple tasks like building cabinets to save you some money. However, you should leave complex tasks of outdoor kitchen installation, like plumbing and electrical work, to professionals. 
• Peak seasons, like spring and summer, have higher labour costs because of greater demand, which means off-peak periods have friendlier rates. 

Wrap-Up 

Building an outdoor kitchen not only enhances the value of your property but also turns it into a great hosting space. However, it comes at a cost, which means understanding your budget and what it can get you makes the process effective. 

With the Gloucestershire outdoor kitchen cost ranging from as low as $4000 to more than £20000, it is likely there’s an ideal one to fit your budget.

Designing your perfect outdoor kitchen can feel like a big task, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. If you’d like some guidance or a bit of expert advice, we’re here to help. Feel free to reach out at [email protected] —we’d love to chat and see how we can make your vision come to life.