Buying guide · 2026
Can You Get an Outdoor Kitchen Without Hiring a Contractor? Mostly, Until You Need a Gas Line or a New Circuit
There are three serious ways to cook outdoors. An island can arrive in finished pieces, a grill head can go into an island of your own, or a premium grill can stand on its own cart. Here is what each really costs on your patio, and who each one suits.
By the research desk·Published 21 September 2026
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What a modular island really costs, standing on your patio
- The island$3,499 to $4,899
Mont Alpi at BBQGuys, from the 6 ft Compact to the 8 ft Original
- Freight to the curbIncluded, except remote-area fees
Curbside delivery with a lift gate, part of standard shipping, lower 48 only. Remote addresses can pay extra, even on free shipping
- Curb to patioYours to arrange
The driver leaves pallets at the curb. BBQGuys recommends at least two helpers
- A coverCheck the listing
Mont Alpi's warranty holds only while the island is kept under an all-weather cover. Deluxe models include one
- A pad, if you have none$1,000 to $3,000
A concrete patio for the kitchen, per HomeGuide
- A natural gas line$600 to $1,300 or more
Running a line to the grill, per HomeGuide, which notes outdoor runs typically cost more because of trenching. Not needed on propane
- The gas permit$100 to $300 or more
Nearly all gas line jobs need one, per HomeGuide
- Power for a fridge or lights$180 to $3,000
One new outdoor outlet (HomeGuide) up to full wiring and lighting (Angi). A dedicated circuit needs its own permit
- All in, on propaneAbout $3,500 to $4,900, plus a cover if the listing has none
The island on a patio you already have, assembled by you
- All in, with a new pad and natural gasAbout $5,400 to $12,500 or more
The island plus a pad, a gas line, its permit and power, before a cover or an electrical permit
| Line item | What it covers | Published figure |
|---|---|---|
| The island | Mont Alpi at BBQGuys, from the 6 ft Compact to the 8 ft Original | $3,499 to $4,899 |
| Freight to the curb | Curbside delivery with a lift gate, part of standard shipping, lower 48 only. Remote addresses can pay extra, even on free shipping | Included, except remote-area fees |
| Curb to patio | The driver leaves pallets at the curb. BBQGuys recommends at least two helpers | Yours to arrange |
| A cover | Mont Alpi's warranty holds only while the island is kept under an all-weather cover. Deluxe models include one | Check the listing |
| A pad, if you have none | A concrete patio for the kitchen, per HomeGuide | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| A natural gas line | Running a line to the grill, per HomeGuide, which notes outdoor runs typically cost more because of trenching. Not needed on propane | $600 to $1,300 or more |
| The gas permit | Nearly all gas line jobs need one, per HomeGuide | $100 to $300 or more |
| Power for a fridge or lights | One new outdoor outlet (HomeGuide) up to full wiring and lighting (Angi). A dedicated circuit needs its own permit | $180 to $3,000 |
| All in, on propane | The island on a patio you already have, assembled by you | About $3,500 to $4,900, plus a cover if the listing has none |
| All in, with a new pad and natural gas | The island plus a pad, a gas line, its permit and power, before a cover or an electrical permit | About $5,400 to $12,500 or more |
All figures checked on 21 September 2026 at BBQGuys, Mont Alpi, HomeGuide and Angi. We priced Mont Alpi because it is the island in BBQGuys' ads; cheaper kits on the same shelf start around $1,500. The last two rows add up the rows above. They are not a quote, because nobody publishes an installed total for your patio. As a cross-check, HomeGuide puts a pre-built modular kitchen at $7,000 to $16,000 installed, a price that includes shipping, kit assembly and hookups on a patio with utilities already in place. Better-equipped islands cost more. The Deluxe 7 ft, which adds a rotisserie, a cover and a cutting board, listed at $5,299, and the 8 ft Original in an L shape with a beverage center and kegerator listed at $11,911.
Prices move. Check today's against the table above.
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysThe routes, one at a time
No construction
Modular island
From about $1,500checked 2026-09-21
- What arrives
- Fully assembled modules, per Mont Alpi's page for its Original MAi400. BBQGuys lists the 8 ft MAi805 at 600 lb
- Gas
- Mont Alpi ships propane-ready. BBQGuys' natural gas listings include the conversion kit, which Mont Alpi's own site calls optional
- Example we priced
- Mont Alpi Original 8 ft (MAi805), $4,899 at BBQGuys, which owns Mont Alpi
- No framing, no cutout and no masonry. BBQGuys says the pieces connect without a contractor
- Most ship in 1 to 3 weeks by BBQGuys' estimate, against 3 to 6 months for a custom build
- It can move with you. BBQGuys says modular kitchens are generally treated as personal property, not permanent improvements
The catch
Freight stops at the curb. The driver will not bring a 600 lb island up the driveway, so you need at least two helpers to get it to the patio.
Wrong for you if you want a custom shape or stone to match the house. A built-in grill head in your own island does that.
Other routes: Your own island, No kitchen at all
Your own island
Built-in grill head
About $500 to over $5,000 per BBQGuys' guide, island extrachecked 2026-09-21
- What arrives
- The grill head only. The island, cutout and counter are yours to build or buy
- Gas
- Blaze says every gas connection on its grills should be made by a qualified technician
- Example we priced
- Bull Angus 30 in (model 47629), $2,839 at BBQGuys. Bull is not among the brands BBQGuys says it owns
- Any shape and any non-combustible finish, including stone that matches the house
- Drops into an island you already own if the cutout fits. Blaze lists its LTE+ 32 cutout at 30⅝ by 21¼ inches
- Long burner warranties at this level. Bull covers cast burners and grates for life on its current gas grills, so check the model you order is one of them
The catch
The island around it is a construction project. Blaze requires a non-combustible enclosure and at least 18 inches of clearance from anything that burns, and a propane island needs vents near the bottom.
Wrong for you if you want to cook this season with no build. The modular island or the cart is faster.
Other routes: No construction, No kitchen at all
No kitchen at all
Premium grill on a cart
About $3,250 for the one we pricedchecked 2026-09-21
- What arrives
- A finished grill on its own cart, 304 stainless outside, 183 lb
- Gas
- The one we priced runs on propane. A natural gas cart still needs a line to the patio
- Example we priced
- Blaze Premium LTE+ 32 in on a cart, $3,248 at BBQGuys, which owns Blaze
- Cooking the week it arrives, with no build and no cutout
- Goes with you when you move
- Lifetime parts coverage on the Blaze burners, if you register the grill within 30 days
The catch
It is a grill, not a kitchen. There is no long counter, no fridge and no sink, so if you want somewhere to prep and serve, you will end up buying the island anyway.
Wrong for you if you want the counter and the fridge. That is the modular island.
Other routes: No construction, Your own island
Every route, side by side
Price at BBQGuys
- Modular island
- From about $1,500. Mont Alpi about $3,500 to $12,000
- Built-in grill head
- About $500 to over $5,000 per BBQGuys' guide, island extra
- Premium grill on a cart
- About $3,250 for the Blaze we priced
Gas work
- Modular island
- No line on propane. Natural gas needs a line, a licensed pro and a permit
- Built-in grill head
- A qualified technician connects it, Blaze says
- Premium grill on a cart
- No line on propane, though Blaze says a qualified technician should connect it
If you move
- Modular island
- Can go with you, BBQGuys says
- Built-in grill head
- Stays with the island
- Premium grill on a cart
- Goes with you
Ready to cook
- Modular island
- Most ship in 1 to 3 weeks, per BBQGuys
- Built-in grill head
- When the island is finished
- Premium grill on a cart
- When it arrives and the gas is connected
Prices checked at BBQGuys on 21 September 2026. The grill-head range is BBQGuys' own buying-guide figure, and the island floor is the cheapest on the first page of its island shelf.
Do you need a contractor?
For the island itself, mostly no. BBQGuys says modular components connect without a contractor. Custom kitchens are the opposite. BBQGuys says they are typically built by a licensed contractor.
Gas is where a professional usually comes back in. Blaze wants a qualified technician on every gas connection to its grills, and BBQGuys says a new gas line or dedicated circuit needs a permit regardless of kitchen type. If anyone digs, call 811 a few business days ahead. It is free.
So the no-contractor promise comes closest to true for a modular island on propane, on a patio you already have, with no new circuit. Even then, BBQGuys' cost guide says appliances that use water, gas and electricity need professional installation. Add natural gas, a fridge on its own circuit or a new pad, and you are hiring more help, whether a plumber, an electrician or someone to pour the concrete.
Who builds the island
- Modular island
- You, with helpers
- Built-in grill head
- You or a contractor
- Custom masonry kitchen
- A licensed contractor, typically
Permits
- Modular island
- Any new gas line or circuit needs one
- Built-in grill head
- Any new gas line or circuit needs one
- Custom masonry kitchen
- Usually, for building, gas and power
Time, per BBQGuys
- Modular island
- Most ship in 1 to 3 weeks and assemble in hours to a weekend
- Built-in grill head
- As long as the island build takes
- Custom masonry kitchen
- 3 to 6 months end to end
Typical installed cost, per HomeGuide
- Modular island
- $7,000 to $16,000, on a patio with utilities in place
- Built-in grill head
- $3,000 to $10,000, before the gas line
- Custom masonry kitchen
- $20,000 to $35,000 for a large build
Who you are buying from
BBQGuys began as a local grill store in Baton Rouge in 1998 and launched its first website in 2000. It is owned by the investment firm Brand Velocity. BBQGuys says it is an authorized dealer for every brand it sells, so the maker's warranty covers what you buy.
Its public ratings are mixed. Trustpilot gives it 3.3 from 671 reviews, with 58 percent five-star and 31 percent one-star. The BBB page today shows no rating while the profile is under review.
Comfortable with the store?
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysWhat delivery day looks like
Freight ships with curbside delivery and a lift gate included, to the lower 48 states only. The pallets stay at the curb, and the driver will not bring them up the driveway. In-home delivery is not included and may not be available at any price. BBQGuys suggests having at least two helpers ready.
Open every carton that day. You have 5 calendar days to report damage or missing parts.
Got your helpers lined up?
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysPropane or natural gas
Mont Alpi's islands ship propane-ready and run off a tank, so there is no gas line to dig. Two rules come with it. Propane is heavier than air, so an island needs vents near the bottom, and BBQGuys says never to store a propane tank directly below a grill.
Natural gas is usually cheaper to run, BBQGuys says, because utility gas costs less than propane refills. It needs a line and a permit, both priced in the table above. BBQGuys' natural gas Mont Alpi listings ship set up for propane with the conversion kit in the box. Blaze says conversion on its grills is a job for a licensed gas professional. Mont Alpi's pages do not say whether its conversion needs one.
Settled on a fuel?
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysHow this review was built
- 1.Read BBQGuys' ads in Meta's public Ad Library and noted which it had kept running longest
- 2.Priced islands, grill heads and carts at BBQGuys on 21 September 2026, from its product pages, listings and buying guides
- 3.Checked each maker's own site for specs, warranty terms and price
- 4.Read BBQGuys' shipping, returns, price-match and financing pages, and its Trustpilot and BBB listings
- 5.Took installed costs from HomeGuide and Angi, safety rules from the Blaze manual and BBQGuys' guides, and ownership from BBQGuys' own press release
What we could not verify
- BBQGuys advertises a BBB grade on its own site. The BBB shows no rating today while the profile is under review, so we print no grade
- No Google rating could be confirmed, and Trustpilot notes BBQGuys has not invited reviews recently
- We read only the first page of BBQGuys' 174 complete islands, so the cheapest may be below about $1,500
- Assembly time comes only from BBQGuys, which says a few hours to a weekend. No independent source times it
- Some BBQGuys product pages would not load for us, so a few prices come from its listing pages instead
- Whether Mont Alpi requires a licensed pro for its natural gas conversion. Blaze does for its grills; Mont Alpi's pages only say its islands convert easily
- We have not bought, assembled or cooked on any of these. This is read from published sources on the date shown
If you remember one thing
- Want a kitchen this season on a patio you already have? Buy the modular island and run it on propane.
- Want stone or a custom shape, or already own an island? Buy the grill head and budget for the build separately.
- Only need somewhere to cook? Buy the grill on a cart and skip the kitchen.
- Whatever you pick, a new natural gas line means a licensed plumber or gas fitter and a permit. Price that in before you buy.
- Check the maker's own site before you pay. One island we priced was listed $350 lower there, before shipping, which BBQGuys includes free.
No constructionA whole kitchen on a patio you already have, with no build
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysYour own islandA custom shape, stone to match the house, or an island you already own
Bull Angus 30 in, about $2,840 at BBQGuysNo kitchen at allThe cooking without the kitchen, and nothing to leave behind if you move
Blaze on a cart, about $3,250 at BBQGuysWhere it earns the money, and where it does not
Works in its favor
- Rival brands of island, grill head and cart on one site, with prices shown up front
- Freight includes a lift gate at the curb, and most orders over $49 ship free in the lower 48
- No restocking fee on returns
- A free 3D design of your kitchen, and help finding a local installer
- Price match on identical items against local stores and named online retailers, including Home Depot, Lowe's and Wayfair
Counts against it
- BBQGuys owns Mont Alpi, Blaze and PCM, and names a Blaze grill its best built-in and its best freestanding gas grill. Read its picks with that in mind
- Returns must be unassembled and within 30 days, and shipping both ways comes off the refund, freight included
- Public ratings are mixed, with 3.3 from 671 reviews on Trustpilot and no BBB rating while the profile is under review
BBQGuys is a sensible place to buy any of the three routes, because it carries rival brands side by side and prices them in the open. Get the gas work priced before you fall for an island.
Read the catches and still interested?
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysWhat happens after you click
- 1You land on BBQGuys' own site, with prices shown and a normal checkout
- 2You can ask BBQGuys for a free 3D design and a price before you order anything
- 3Financing runs through Affirm at 0 to 36 percent APR, after a soft check that does not affect your credit score. Not every buyer gets 0 percent
Questions people actually ask
Is Mont Alpi cheaper anywhere else?
On 21 September Mont Alpi's own site listed the 8 ft Original (MAi805) at $4,549, and BBQGuys listed it at $4,899 with free shipping. Compare the delivered price, not just the sticker. Mont Alpi's site is not one of the retailers BBQGuys will price match.
Does a modular island add value to my house?
Do not count on it. BBQGuys says modular kitchens are generally treated as personal property rather than permanent improvements, so they typically do not factor into a home appraisal the same way. Published return-on-investment figures disagree too widely to quote.
Prices move. Check today's before you buy.
Islands from about $1,500 at BBQGuysSources (36), each captured and dated
These open in a new tab.
- Meta Ad Library, BBQGuys ad running since 18 February 2026: "No contractors, no construction, no unexpected costs. Meet Mont Alpi's modular outdoor kitchen islands."captured 2026-09-20
- PR Newswire, BBQGuys announces acquisition of Mont Alpi (9 September 2025): the purchase, its existing ownership of Blaze and PCM, and its owner Brand Velocity Groupcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Our History and Evolution: a local store in Baton Rouge in 1998, first website in 2000, private equity ownercaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Safe Purchase Guaranteed: authorized dealer of each brand it sellscaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Shipping and Delivery: curbside delivery and lift gate included on freight, two helpers, lower 48 only, 5 day damage window, remote-area fees, free shipping over $49captured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Returns: 30 days, unused and unassembled, shipping both ways deducted, no restocking fee, installed items excludedcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Price Matching: identical in-stock items from local or online competitors, the 15 named online retailers, and the exclusionscaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Financing: Affirm, 0 to 36 percent APR, soft credit checkcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Design Services: the free personalized 3D renderingcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Design Center: help connecting buyers to a local contractorcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Custom vs Modular Outdoor Kitchen: no contractor for modular, licensed contractor for custom, permits for any new gas line or circuit, timelines, personal propertycaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Outdoor Kitchen Cost: the usual hidden costs of utility lines, shade and landscaping may still apply to island kits, and appliances that use water, gas and electricity need professional installationcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Complete BBQ Islands: 174 islands listed; the first page ran from a TYTUS kit at $1,499.99, with the Mont Alpi Compact 6 ft at $3,499captured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Mont Alpi Original Series 8 ft island (MAi805): $4,899 with free shipping, 600 lb, and the 8 ft L-shaped configuration at $11,911 on the same pagecaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Mont Alpi Deluxe 7 ft (MAi400-D): $5,299captured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Mont Alpi FAQ: natural gas islands on BBQGuys ship configured for propane with the conversion kit in the boxcaptured 2026-09-21
- Mont Alpi, Original Series MAi805: its own listed price of $4,549captured 2026-09-21
- Mont Alpi, Original Series MAi400: each module delivered fully assembled, ships propane-ready, optional natural gas conversion kitcaptured 2026-09-21
- Mont Alpi, Deluxe Series: rotisserie kit, weather cover and chopping board includedcaptured 2026-09-21
- Mont Alpi, Warranties: coverage holds only when the island is protected by an all-weather covercaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Built-in vs Freestanding Grills: grill heads at roughly $500 to over $5,000, framing and cutouts neededcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Bull Angus 30 inch built-in, model 47629: $2,839captured 2026-09-21
- Bull Outdoor Products, grill warranty PDF: lifetime cover on cast stainless burners, the insert assembly and the grates of its current gas grillscaptured 2026-09-21
- Blaze, Premium LTE+ 32 inch built-in: the cutout of 30⅝ by 21¼ inchescaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Blaze Premium LTE+ 32 inch propane grill on cart: $3,248, 304 stainless, 183 lbcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Best Built-In Gas Grills: the Blaze Premium LTE+ named best overall built-in gas grillcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Best Gas Grills: the Blaze Premium LTE+ 32 on a cart named best freestanding gas grillcaptured 2026-09-21
- Blaze, Premium LTE+ manual PDF: gas connections by a qualified technician, non-combustible enclosure, 18 inch clearances, conversion by a licensed professional, lifetime burner cover with registration in 30 dayscaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, Propane vs Natural Gas: propane is heavier than air and islands need vents, natural gas cheaper to runcaptured 2026-09-21
- BBQGuys, DIY Outdoor Kitchen FAQ: never store a cylinder directly below a grillcaptured 2026-09-21
- HomeGuide, Outdoor Kitchen Cost: pre-built modular installed, built-in island installed, custom masonry, concrete patio and outdoor outlet pricescaptured 2026-09-21
- HomeGuide, Gas Line Installation Cost: $600 to $1,300 to a grill on average, more outdoors because of trenching, permits of $100 to $300 or more, licensed plumbers or gas fitterscaptured 2026-09-21
- Angi, How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost: electrician at $800 to $3,000, and permits for building, electrical, plumbing and gas workcaptured 2026-09-21
- 811: the free national call-before-you-dig service, a few business days aheadcaptured 2026-09-21
- Trustpilot, BBQGuys.com: 3.3 from 671 reviews, 58 percent five-star and 31 percent one-starcaptured 2026-09-21
- Better Business Bureau, BBQGuys.com: not rated, profile under reviewcaptured 2026-09-21