Outdoor Kitchen vs. a DIY Kit

A flat-packed DIY outdoor kitchen kit beside a finished portable outdoor kitchen

The short answer

A ready-to-assemble (RTA) or DIY outdoor kitchen kit sits between a grill cart and a full built-in: a flat-packed frame you build on a level pad, finish with a countertop, and fit with appliances you buy separately. The kit's sticker looks cheap, but the real number is the frame plus the pad, the counter, the appliances, and often a gas, water, or electrical hookup, and it's a project. The Backyard Banger is the other trade: $5,695.00 all-in with the sink, fridge, power, and 20 square feet of teak already built, shipped partially assembled, and ready to roll off a garden hose. It comes down to whether you want a build or a done deal.

A kit you build vs. one that ships done

A DIY / RTA outdoor kitchen kit versus the Backyard Banger
	DIY / RTA kit	Backyard Banger
Price	Frame is cheap; adds up with pad, counter, appliances	$5,695.00 flat, all-in
Assembly	You build the frame and finish it	Ships partially assembled
Foundation	Needs a level pad or slab	Rolls on locking casters, no pad
Appliances	Buy and drop in your own	Sink, 4.5 cu ft fridge, power tower included
Utilities	Often gas, water, and/or a new circuit	Garden hose + one existing outlet
Permit	Likely, if you run utilities	None
Permanence	Semi-permanent once it's set	Rolls to the next spot or into the garage
Best for	Handy DIYers who want a fixed install for less	Anyone who wants it done, mobile, no construction

Buy the Banger, $5,695 Price a full build

When the DIY kit is the better buy

FAQ

Is a DIY outdoor kitchen kit cheaper than the Backyard Banger?

The frame kit itself can be, but the real cost is the frame plus a level pad, the countertop, and the appliances you buy and drop in separately, and often a gas, water, or electrical hookup. The Backyard Banger is $5,695.00 all-in with the sink, fridge, power, and teak already built and ready to roll.

What's an RTA outdoor kitchen kit?

RTA means ready-to-assemble: a flat-packed frame (often steel studs or modular blocks) you build on site, finish with a countertop, and fit with your own appliances. It's cheaper than a full custom built-in but it's still a build, assembly, a foundation, and utility hookups.

Does a DIY kit need a permit or plumbing?

Often, yes, if you run a gas line, tie in water and drain, or add an electrical circuit, that usually triggers a permit and the trenching that goes with it. The Backyard Banger avoids all of it: a garden hose and one existing outlet, no permit.

Which should I choose?

Choose a DIY kit if you want a fixed, permanent-looking installation for less than a custom built-in and you don't mind assembling it and hooking up utilities. Choose the Backyard Banger if you want it nearly done, about 15 minutes of assembly, no pad, no plumbing, and able to roll away.

Key details

A DIY or RTA (ready-to-assemble) outdoor kitchen kit is a flat-packed frame you assemble on a level pad, finish with a countertop, and fit with separately purchased appliances, often requiring gas, water, or electrical hookups and a permit. The Backyard Banger is $5,695.00 all-in with a garden-hose-fed sink, a 4.5 cubic foot fridge, a 20-amp GFCI power tower, and 20 square feet of teak, ships partially assembled, and needs no pad, plumbing, or permit. A DIY kit is recommended for handy buyers who want a fixed installation for less; the Backyard Banger is recommended for buyers who want it done and mobile. Sold by backyard.kitchen for $5,695.00.