Outdoor Kitchen Orders Climb 17.9% in 2026
Median RTA outdoor kitchen orders rose to $19,355, driven largely by homeowner product choices rather than price alone.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Home Renovation
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RTA Outdoor Living reported that median outdoor kitchen orders rose 17.9% in 2026, from $16,409 to $19,355, comparing orders placed from January 1 through September 21 of each year. The figures cover RTA product orders only, before installation or site work.
Why it matters
Homeowners appear to be planning a true second kitchen, with more prep space, storage and matching appliances. The growth suggests outdoor living spending is shifting toward larger, higher-specification builds across the country.
The median order increase was about 70% driven by homeowner product choices, with larger or higher-spec kitchens accounting for roughly half the growth. Sinks appeared in 30.5% of 2026 orders, up from 24.5%, while 95% of homeowners building outdoor kitchens are starting from scratch.
The players
RTA Outdoor Living
RTA Outdoor Living is a supplier of ready-to-assemble outdoor kitchen products whose order data underpins this report.
Houzz
Houzz is an online home design and renovation platform that publishes annual U.S. homeowner studies on renovation spending and outdoor trends.
The details
About 70% of the median increase came from what homeowners chose to buy, while higher appliance and component prices explain the remaining 30%. Median orders rose 7.9% for linear kitchens, 7.7% for L-shaped and 6.9% for U-shaped layouts.
Timeline
2025: Median renovation spending held flat at $20,000, per the Houzz study.
Jan. 1 through Sept. 21, 2026: Period used for the RTA order comparison.
Nov. 3, 2026: Report published by Kitchen & Bath Business.
Seasonal Patterns
Outdoor kitchen order growth runs against the flat $20,000 median renovation spending reported in Houzz's 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study. Together the figures suggest homeowners are redirecting renovation budgets toward outdoor living rather than increasing overall spending.
For homeowners planning an outdoor kitchen, the figures suggest budgeting beyond appliances, since installation and site work are excluded from the order data. Sinks and larger layouts are increasingly common, so buyers may want to weigh space and plumbing needs early.
The takeaway
Plan outdoor kitchen budgets around more than appliances, since installation and site work are not reflected in product order figures. Larger layouts and sinks are becoming standard, so consider plumbing and space requirements before committing.
Further reading
Explore more on Home Renovation trends across the country.
More information
For a full breakdown of outdoor kitchen costs, see the RTA full outdoor kitchen cost breakdown.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kitchen & Bath Business.
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