Want to know how you can upgrade your outdoor space to be the best hangout zone?
Homeowners are doing just that by installing outdoor kitchens.
Outdoor entertaining exploded in popularity over the past several years.
Demand for outdoor kitchen installations isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Here’s why…
These days, adding an outdoor kitchen is one of the most popular home renovations.
Trends show 98% of home improvement experts believe investing in your outdoor entertaining space can help boost your home’s value.
That’s a lot of experts with the same opinion.
But what outdoor kitchen features are homeowners splurging on? And why is outdoor entertaining more important than ever?
We break down everything you need to know below.
In this article:
- Why Outdoor Entertaining Is Becoming So Popular
- The Top Outdoor Kitchen Features Everyone Is Talking About
- How Much Homeowners Are Spending on Outdoor Kitchens
- Which Generation Is Spending The Most On Outdoor Kitchens
- How to Get Started Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen Installation
Why Outdoor Entertaining Is Becoming So Popular
Outdoor entertaining took the world by storm.
After living inside for two years during the pandemic, people are making the most of their outdoor spaces.
Most people consider their backyard an extension of their indoor kitchen and living room.
If you own a home, you probably want your backyard to feel just as nice as the inside of your house.
Guess what? Homeowners are making that happen.
The demand for outdoor kitchens is booming.
The global outdoor kitchen market size was valued at $24.45 billion in 2024. And it’s expected to exceed $52 billion by 2033.
Outdoor kitchens were once a niche luxury. Now? They’re a must-have.
People want space to entertain guests.
Homeowners don’t want to be stuck inside when they can cook outdoors with a fully loaded kitchen.
They want to grill burgers without running back inside to grab spices.
They want pizza ovens outside. They want smokers that can cook a brisket while they mingle with guests.
The point is…
People want to live outside as much as possible.
If you search for outdoor kitchens in Las Vegas or any other city in the Sun Belt, you’ll find they’re increasing in popularity.
Areas where the weather is nice year-round are taking the biggest leap toward outdoor living.
What Outdoor Kitchen Features Are Trending?
Alright, you have the basics.
But what are homeowners really buying when they upgrade their outdoor space?
Behold, the trusty grill.
According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, nearly 70% of Americans own some kind of grill or smoker. Backyard BBQs are a longstanding tradition in the U.S.
Today’s outdoor kitchens include way more than just a grill, though.
Take a look at what homeowners are adding to their outdoor spaces:
- Pizza ovens are the new obsession. In fact, 50% of home building experts claim pizza ovens are one of the most popular outdoor kitchen appliances.
- Most homeowners aren’t settling for one type of grill either. Gas-grills, charcoal grills, infrared grills, and built-in smokers are some of the most common combos.
- Don’t forget about refrigerators! Many homeowners finish their kitchens with fridges so they can keep food and drinks cold outside.
- Full kitchens with countertops, sinks, cabinets, and ventilation are also extremely popular.
Go into any backyard today and you’ll likely find a grill of some sort. But standalone grills are no longer enough for homeowners who want to entertain guests.
They want the same functionality outdoors that they have indoors.
How Much Are Homeowners Spending On Outdoor Kitchens?
Don’t let the hundreds of appliance options trick you.
The average homeowner spends around $13k on their outdoor kitchen.
Higher end installations can cost $30k or more. About 22% of homeowners spend that much or more on luxury outdoor kitchens.
Here’s the average cost of outdoor kitchens by size:
- Grill + counter space: $5k – $10k
- Medium: $13k – $20k
- Large: $30k – $60k+
An outdoor kitchen can net you a return on investment of anywhere from 55% to over 200%. Standard outdoor kitchens can also increase your home value by 5-20%.
That’s crazy when you consider that your average pool only provides about a 7% return on your investment.
Outdoor kitchens are one of the best investments you can make for your home.
When it comes to increasing your homes resale value, nearly 83% of realtors believe that outdoor kitchens help homes sell for more money.
Who’s Spending Money On Outdoor Kitchen Installations?
Don’t believe us? Boomers and millennials are making big investments in their outdoor spaces.
Millennials, in particular, are cooking up major changes to their outdoor areas.
About 76% of millennials plan on purchasing items for their outdoor living space this year alone.
It’s not just millennials who are hungry for outdoor kitchen installations.
Here’s who’s digging into their wallets to improve their outdoor spaces:
- Millennials
- Baby Boomers
Everyone wants to spend time outdoors.
Millennials love the idea of outdoor kitchens because they grew up watching cooking shows on television. They also eat out of food media constantly.
Millennials want to be able to showcase their grilling, smoking, and cooking skills to guests.
But older generations are just as interested in outdoor kitchens.
Boomers have the money and want to spend money on comfortable places to entertain friends and family. They don’t want to be stuck inside when they can cook outside.
How To Plan Your Own Outdoor Kitchen Installation
So you want to build an outdoor kitchen of your very own?
Figure out how you want to use your outdoor kitchen first. Do you only grill on the weekends? Do you want to prepare full meals outside?
Think about how you’ll actually use your outdoor kitchen before you start buying appliances.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you entertain guests frequently?
- How much space are you willing to dedicate to an outdoor kitchen?
- What is your budget?
Outdoor kitchens can be as small as 100 square feet or as large as 400 sqft. You don’t need a huge backyard to add an outdoor kitchen.
Installations can even be broken up into sections if you have a smaller patio or backyard.
Over 84% of homeowners hire a contractor to install their outdoor kitchen, if not do some portion of the work.
Save yourself the headaches and hire a contractor to help you with plumbing, electrical, and gas lines.
Wrapping It All Up
Homeowners aren’t letting this trend cool down anytime soon.
Investing in your outdoor entertaining space has become more important than ever to homeowners.
Outdoor kitchens used to be a “fun” luxury install. Now they’re considered a must-have by homeowners and real estate experts everywhere.
Adding an outdoor kitchen to your property can give you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars back when it’s time to sell.
Not to mention, outdoor kitchens provide you with more entertaining opportunities and more living space.
The demand for outdoor kitchens is only growing by around 9% every year.
Outdoor living is predicted to be more important to homeowners in 2025 than it was last year.
This may not be a trend. This could be the new way we look at home improvement.
You can start small with a grill and some counter space. Or you can go all out and spend $60k on the kitchen of your dreams.
The choice is yours!
