What a BBQ island costs, and what the quote must include
No honest price fits every yard. Here is what moves the number, item by item, and which parts are other licensed trades.
Big B's Bbq's and Beehives Inc holds Arizona contractor license ROC 153059, active and renewed through March 31, 2028.
Big B's Bbq's and Beehives Inc, ROC 153059
A BBQ island's cost depends on its size and finish, the grill and appliances you choose, and any gas, electrical and plumbing work it needs. We publish no price, because no single number fits every yard, and any figure we printed would be a guess. A real number comes from a quote for your island in your yard: request one below or call 480-807-5499.
What moves the number
Six things move the cost of a BBQ island. This page gives no figure for any of them; your quote should name each one.
| What moves it | What it covers | What the quote should say |
|---|---|---|
| Size and layout | The island's length, its shape (straight, L or U) and how many cooking and prep zones it holds. A longer island takes more material and more labor. | What the quote should sayThe length and shape it prices |
| The counter and finish | The core, the facing on it (stone veneer, tile or stucco) and the countertop. Each finish is priced by its material and the work of setting it. | What the quote should sayThe facing and countertop it includes |
| The grill and appliances | Built-in grills, side burners, refrigerators and sinks are products sold by their makers. Setting an appliance in place is one licensed scope; the gas, power or water line that feeds it is another.Source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors | What the quote should sayWhich appliances it includes, and who installs them |
| Gas, electrical and plumbing | A gas line to the grill, power for lights or a refrigerator, water and a drain for a sink. Each is a licensed trade of its own.Source: Arizona Registrar of Contractors | What the quote should sayWho connects each line, and under which license |
| A permit for new gas piping | In Phoenix, any new gas piping needs a city permit, a city inspection and a gas clearance. Other towns set their own rules.Source: City of Phoenix | What the quote should sayWhether a permit is needed, and who applies for it |
| HOA design review | In a planned community, a design review or architectural committee may need to approve the plans. Arizona law says that approval shall not unreasonably be withheld.Source: Arizona Revised Statutes | What the quote should sayWhether your HOA must approve the plans, and who submits them |
Who decides each part
Some of these you choose, some are other licensed trades, and some are set by rules outside the job. Sorting them that way shows which lines of two quotes can be compared directly.
You choose
Decided with you, and priced by the island you pick.
- Size and layout
- The counter and finish
- The grill and appliances
Licensed trades
Each its own license; ask who does each one.
- The gas line
- The electrical
- Any plumbing
Rules outside the job
Set by the city or the HOA, not by any quote.
- A permit for new gas piping
- HOA design review
Questions to ask any contractor before you compare quotes
Ask every contractor the same questions, us included. The answers make two quotes comparable.
- Is your license active, and what work does it cover?Arizona licenses name a classification, and some are restricted to named work.
- Who connects the gas and the electrical?Gas, electrical and plumbing are licensed trades of their own. Ask who does each, and under which license.
- What does the quote include?The grill and appliances, the gas line, the electrical, any plumbing and the permits: ask which are in the price and which are not.
- Can I see more than one written estimate?The Attorney General advises getting several, each listing the work, the materials, the completion date and the price.
- Can I look up your license?Anyone can look up an Arizona contractor license with the Registrar of Contractors and call the phone number it lists.
- Do I pay for the work up front?The Attorney General advises against paying for home work in advance.
- What warranty, if any, comes with the work?Ask for any warranty terms in writing, from every contractor you compare.
Weighing a kit or a prefab island first? Read custom, prefab or kit, or see what goes into our BBQ islands.
Questions about cost
How much does a BBQ island cost?
It depends on the island's size and finish, the grill and appliances, and any gas, electrical and plumbing work. We publish no price. A real number comes from a quote: request one, or call 480-807-5499.
What is the average cost of an outdoor kitchen?
We publish no average. The averages online come from retailers' and vendors' guides, and an outdoor kitchen's cost moves with the same items as a BBQ island's: size, finish, appliances and the licensed trades for gas, electrical and plumbing.
Why are built-in grills so expensive?
A built-in grill is a product its maker prices, made to be set into a counter and fed by a gas line. The grill, the work of setting it and the gas line to it are separate lines in a quote, and the gas line is a licensed trade of its own.
Is it worth having an outdoor kitchen?
It depends on how often your household cooks or sits outside, and in which months. We make no promise about resale value.
Sources
- Gas Clearance: Requirements for Existing Structures (TRT/DOC/00930), City of Phoenix
- A.R.S. 33-1817, design review and architectural committees in planned communities, Arizona Legislature
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-102 and R4-9-103, the license classifications for gas, plumbing, electrical and appliance work, Legal Information Institute
- Contracting in Arizona? Here's What You Need to Know!, Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Attorney General Mayes Reminds Arizonans to Protect Themselves from Home Construction Scams, Arizona Attorney General