Outdoor Kitchen Orders Climb to $19,355 Median

Homeowners adding outdoor kitchens are choosing larger, higher-spec builds, so budget for installation beyond the product price.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Home Renovation

Outdoor Kitchen Orders Climb to $19,355 Median

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Median orders for ready-to-assemble (RTA) outdoor kitchens rose 17.9% in 2026, to $19,355, according to RTA Outdoor Living, with the increase driven largely by homeowners choosing larger, higher-spec kitchens. The figures cover RTA product orders placed from Jan. 1 through Sept. 21, 2026, before installation or site work.

Why it matters

The increase reflects homeowners planning a real second kitchen, with prep space, storage and appliances to match, rather than a simple grill station. About 70% of the median order increase came from product choices, while higher appliance and kitchen component prices account for the remaining 30%, so budgets are rising for reasons beyond inflation alone.

The median RTA order climbed from $16,409 to $19,355, and orders overall grew 20.8% over the same period. Sinks now appear in 30.5% of 2026 orders, up from 24.5%, and refrigerators appear in 60.3%.

The players

RTA Outdoor Living

A seller of ready-to-assemble outdoor kitchen products whose order data tracks consumer spending on backyard cooking spaces.

Houzz

A home renovation and design platform whose annual U.S. Houzz & Home Study tracks national renovation spending and homeowner behavior.

The details

RTA Outdoor Living compared orders placed from January 1 through September 21 in each year and split the increase into product choice and price components. Roughly half of the growth came from larger or higher-spec kitchens, and median orders rose 7.9% for linear layouts, 7.7% for L-shaped and 6.9% for U-shaped. The Northeast posted the largest regional median increase at 27.1%, followed by the West at 17.5%, the South at 16.7% and the Midwest at 14.7%.

Median renovation spending was flat at $20,000 in 2025, according to the Houzz U.S. Study.
RTA order comparison covers January 1 through September 21, 2026.
Kitchen & Bath Business published the report on November 3, 2026.

The Home Front

Overall renovation spending held flat at $20,000 in 2025 according to the Houzz U.S. Study, so the outdoor kitchen growth represents a reallocation of household renovation budgets rather than a broader rise. The trend fits a pattern of homeowners investing in outdoor living space as a home-extension project.

If you are budgeting an outdoor kitchen, plan for the rising median order size and include installation, site work and any electrical or gas hookups, which should be handled by a licensed professional. Compare the full cost breakdown before committing, since product prices alone do not capture the total project cost.

The takeaway

Outdoor kitchens are becoming larger, better-equipped projects, so price the full installation rather than the product alone. Keep a record of appliance and sink specifications when you shop, since those choices drive most of the cost increase.