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A grill cart gets your grill off the ground. An outdoor kitchen island is a different purchase entirely – a permanent or semi-permanent structure that turns a patio corner into an actual cooking station, with counter space, storage, and usually a spot for a side burner or mini fridge. This guide is specifically about the modular island kits, not portable carts, because that distinction changes both the price and the decision-making.
Who This Category Is For, and When to Skip It
An island kit makes sense if you host regularly, you’ve decided your patio is a permanent entertaining space rather than something you’ll reconfigure next year, and you’re willing to either DIY an installation weekend or hire someone for gas/electrical hookups. It also makes sense if you’re tired of prepping food inside and running trays back and forth to a standalone grill.
Skip it if you rent, if your outdoor space is likely to change in the next few years, or if you grill a few times a month and a cart with a small side table would solve 90% of the actual problem for a fraction of the cost. Island kits are a real investment – most complete setups land between $2,000 and $8,000 once you add the grill head itself, counters, and any built-in appliances – and that money is much harder to recover if your situation changes than the cost of a $200 cart.
What These Kits Actually Include (and What They Don’t)
This is where people get surprised. A “kit” typically means the modular stainless steel cabinet frames, doors, and drawer units – not the grill head, not the countertop material, and often not the side burner or fridge. Budget for those separately, and budget for the countertop specifically: stone or concrete counters commonly add $500-1,500 depending on size and material, on top of the frame kit price.
| Kit | Price Tier (frames only) | Modularity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| NewAge Products | $1,500-4,000 | High – mix-and-match cabinet modules | DIYers who want to design their own layout |
| Bull Outdoor Products | $1,200-3,500 | Moderate – set configurations | Buyers who want a simpler, guided build |
| Summerset | $2,500-6,000+ | High – premium finishes and options | Larger budgets, higher-end finish expectations |
| RCS (Redi Chef) | $1,800-4,500 | Moderate-high | Cooks who want a specific grill-head pairing |
NewAge Products
- Set Includes: 1 x 32 in. Sink Cabinet, 1 x 32 in. Bar Cabinet, 1 x 40 in. Grill Cabinet, 1 x Performance 40 in. Grill – LP, 1 x…
- Aircraft-grade aluminum frames with soft-close cabinet hardware
- 33 in. Performance Grill supplies up to 36,000 total BTUs. 36 in. and 40 in. Performance Grill supplies up to 48,000 BTUs
NewAge’s outdoor kitchen line is built around true modularity – individual cabinet units (drawers, doors, a bar cart module, a fridge module) that you select and arrange to fit your specific footprint rather than buying one fixed configuration. That flexibility is the main draw for DIYers designing around an odd-shaped patio or an existing structure like a pergola. The trade-off is that pricing adds up quickly once you start selecting multiple modules, and the finish is a step below Summerset’s premium options at a comparable module count.
Bull Outdoor Products
- What is included in this Bull outdoor kitchen bundle? This bundle includes the Bull Angus 30-inch 75,000 BTU built-in grill hea…
- Are these components built for outdoor durability? Yes — all items are constructed from high-quality 304 stainless steel, engin…
- How does this bundle improve outdoor kitchen functionality? It combines high-performance grilling, organized storage, concealed…
Bull sells more in set configurations than fully custom modules, which is a genuine advantage for anyone who finds open-ended customization more stressful than helpful. Their grill head lineup is also well regarded independently of the island kits, so pairing a Bull grill with a Bull island avoids compatibility guesswork on cutout dimensions – a real headache when mixing brands. It’s a strong choice for someone who wants a guided, lower-decision-fatigue build.
Summerset
Lineups and configurations in this category change often — check current models, sizes, and pricing directly on Amazon.
Search on Amazon →Summerset sits at the top of this list on finish quality – heavier gauge stainless, tighter door and drawer tolerances, and more refined hardware than the other three. That shows up in the price, and it’s the right call if the outdoor kitchen is a visible, central part of your home’s outdoor living space rather than a functional add-on tucked in a corner. For a purely functional setup where showroom finish isn’t the priority, it’s more kitchen than most households need.
- #443 Stainless Steel Construction, Assisted Hood, & Cooking Grates for Built-To-Last Natural Gas
- 12,000 BTU Stainless Steel Tube Burners Give the Heat You Need For Grilling
- Flame Tamer System Evenly Distributes Heat While Keeping Your Burners Clean
RCS (Redi Chef)
Lineups and configurations in this category change often — check current models, sizes, and pricing directly on Amazon.
Search on Amazon →RCS’s modules are designed around close pairing with their own grill heads and outdoor appliances, which simplifies sourcing if you’re building the whole station from one manufacturer rather than mixing brands. It sits in a similar price range to NewAge but with somewhat less configuration flexibility, trading some of that open-ended customization for a more predictable, pre-matched build.
- Ample Space: The kitchen island incorporates a spacious storage cabinet; Open shelf in the middle for easy access storage of pl…
- Durable Countertop: Measuring 33.46” x 19.69”, this tabletop is crafted from quality stainless steel, resistant to high tempera…
- Convenient Accessories: With a Condiment Rack, three Integrated Hooks, and a Paper Towel Holder, this outdoor grill cart ensure…
The Costs Nobody Mentions on the Product Page
Beyond the frame kit itself: a gas line run to the island (often requires a licensed plumber, commonly $300-800 depending on distance from your existing line), a concrete or paver base if you don’t already have a stable patio surface, and electrical if you’re adding a fridge or lighting. None of this is optional once you commit to a built-in setup, and skipping the professional gas line work is not a place to cut corners for safety reasons. Get a rough quote for these before you fall in love with a specific kit – the frame price is often the smaller half of the total project cost.
Financing and Phased Builds
Given the total project cost, a meaningful number of buyers phase their outdoor kitchen build over more than one season rather than buying everything at once – installing the frame and grill head in year one, adding a side burner or fridge module in year two, and finishing with a stone countertop once the budget allows. Modular kits like NewAge and RCS are specifically well suited to this approach since modules can be added incrementally without redoing the earlier work. If a phased build is realistic for your budget, ask about it specifically when comparing kits, since some configurations are easier to expand later than others depending on how the frame sections connect.
Some manufacturers and retailers offer financing options for larger orders, which is worth asking about directly if the full project cost is a stretch – comparing the financing terms carefully against simply saving toward a smaller initial build, since interest costs on a multi-thousand-dollar purchase add up quickly if the terms aren’t favorable.
Common Mistakes When Planning a Built-In Kitchen
The single most common planning mistake is measuring the island footprint without accounting for clearance space around it – people, chairs, and a swinging grill lid all need room, and a kitchen that looks right on paper can feel cramped once it’s actually installed. Leave at least three feet of clearance behind and to the sides of the cooking zone if you expect more than one person moving around it during a cook.
The second mistake is under-planning storage before ordering. It’s tempting to size the island around the grill head alone and treat cabinet space as an afterthought, but most owners report wanting more enclosed storage than they initially budgeted for once they’re actually using the space for utensils, extra propane, and serving dishes. Err toward one more cabinet module than feels necessary at the planning stage.
The third is forgetting climate exposure in the material choice. Stainless steel grades vary meaningfully in corrosion resistance – 304-grade stainless holds up far better than lower grades in humid or coastal climates, and it’s worth confirming which grade a specific kit uses rather than assuming all “stainless steel” island frames are built to the same standard. This matters more in the first two winters of ownership than any other spec on this list, since it’s the difference between an island that still looks new after several seasons and one that starts showing surface rust.
Grill Head Compatibility and Cutout Dimensions
One detail that trips up a surprising number of first-time buyers: island kits are built around specific cutout dimensions for the grill head, and mixing brands (a NewAge frame with a grill head from a different manufacturer, for example) requires carefully checking that the cutout matches before ordering anything. Buying the frame and grill head from the same manufacturer, as Bull and RCS both encourage through their bundled packages, removes this risk entirely. If you’re mixing brands to save money or get a specific grill head you prefer, get exact cutout measurements for both pieces before committing to either purchase – a mismatch discovered after installation is an expensive problem to fix.
Resale and Long-Term Value
Unlike a portable grill or cart, a built-in island is effectively part of the property once installed – it doesn’t move with you if you sell the house, and it’s worth thinking about accordingly. A well-built, reasonably neutral-looking island (avoiding overly personalized color choices or unusual layouts) tends to be viewed as a genuine value-add by future buyers in the way a well-kept patio or deck is, while a highly customized or poorly finished build can occasionally become a liability that a buyer factors into an offer. This isn’t a reason to avoid personalizing your kitchen, but it’s worth keeping resale in mind if there’s any chance of selling within the useful life of the installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these kits be installed without professional help? The cabinet frame assembly itself is a reasonable DIY project for someone comfortable with basic tools and a weekend of work. The gas line and any electrical work should go to licensed professionals regardless of how comfortable you are with the rest of the build – this isn’t a place to save money by cutting corners.
Do these kits work on an existing patio, or do I need new concrete? Most kits can sit on an existing stable paver or concrete patio as long as the surface is level; a genuinely uneven or unstable surface needs to be addressed first; either way, confirm your specific kit’s base requirements before ordering.
How long does a full outdoor kitchen island project typically take start to finish? Once materials arrive, a straightforward frame assembly can happen in a weekend, but total project timeline including gas line permitting, any electrical work, and countertop fabrication commonly runs four to eight weeks depending on your area’s contractor availability and permit process.
Maintenance Once It’s Installed
Stainless steel frames need periodic cleaning with a proper stainless cleaner rather than abrasive pads, which can scratch the finish and, counterintuitively, make the surface more prone to future staining by creating microscopic grooves that trap grime. A quick wipe-down after use and a more thorough clean seasonally keeps the frames looking new far longer than reactive cleaning only when spots become visible. Countertops need their own material-specific care – sealed stone needs periodic resealing, while concrete counters benefit from a food-safe sealant reapplied on a schedule appropriate to your climate and sun exposure.
The Recommendation by Use Case
If you want to design your own layout and don’t mind the module-by-module cost adding up, NewAge Products gives you the most flexibility. If you’d rather follow a guided configuration and want grill-and-island compatibility handled for you, Bull Outdoor Products is the more straightforward build. If the outdoor kitchen is a centerpiece feature and budget is secondary to finish quality, Summerset is the option that will still look sharp in ten years. And if you’re building the entire station – grill, side burner, storage – from one manufacturer for simplicity, RCS’s matched ecosystem removes the most guesswork. Whichever you choose, get the gas and electrical costs quoted before ordering the frame kit, not after.
