--- title: "How to Plan an Outdoor Kitchen: Layout, Cabinets, Code" description: "Plan an outdoor kitchen in order: zones, appliances, layout, cabinets, venting and code. Includes Endura HDPE sizes, grill base rules and a checklist." url: https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-plan-an-outdoor-kitchen publisher: Innovation Cabinetry phone: +1-888-206-1088 find_a_dealer: https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/find-dealer --- ![Sage Endura outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/_astro/ic-endura-sage-08272024-1-1.DXcdpZNp_Z1uPyH.avif) Guide # How to plan an outdoor kitchen Plan an outdoor kitchen in this order: choose how you will cook, pick the appliances, set the layout, then size the cabinets around the appliance cutouts. Check venting, utilities and local code before you order. Buy the cabinets through an authorized dealer so a pro can confirm every dimension. Updated October 29, 20269 min read ## Appliances first Pick the grill, side burner and refrigerator before you size cabinets. The appliance maker sets the cutout. ## Zones, not rooms Group cook, prep, clean, cold and serve areas so you do not walk across the patio for every step. ## Vent and insulate Endura grill bases ship with precut ventilation and need an insulated jacket or liner. Follow your grill maker. ## Check code early Gas lines, power, water and wind rules vary by city. Ask your building department before you order. Outdoor kitchen planning checklist, in order Step What to decide Who confirms 1\. Cooking style Gas grill, ceramic smoker, side burner, or a mix You and your dealer 2\. Appliances Make and model of each built-in, plus cutout sizes Appliance maker 3\. Layout Straight run, L-shape or island, and traffic paths You, designer or dealer 4\. Cabinets Base, wall, grill base, corner, fillers, panels Authorized dealer 5\. Utilities Gas, power, water, drains, lighting Licensed trades 6\. Code and permits Building, gas, electrical, wind and fire rules Local building department 7\. Install Level base, anchoring, countertop, vents Licensed contractor or experienced installer ## What should you decide first when you plan an outdoor kitchen? Decide how you will cook before you draw anything. Write down each appliance you want, such as a grill, side burner, ceramic smoker or refrigerator. Appliance makers set the cutout sizes, and the cabinets are built around those cutouts. Work in this order and you avoid most reorders. Most planning mistakes come from doing the steps out of order. People pick a color, then a layout, then find the grill does not fit. The table near the top of this page lists the seven steps in a safe order. This guide walks through each one. Start with three questions: - Who cooks, and how many people usually stand in the space? - Do you cook mostly with gas, or do you want a ceramic smoker or kamado-style grill too? - Do you need cold storage and a sink outside, or will you carry items from the indoor kitchen? Your answers set the size of the run. A grill and a prep counter fit in a short straight run. A sink, a refrigerator and seating call for an L-shape or an island. ## How do you lay out an outdoor kitchen? Lay out the kitchen in zones: cook, prep, clean, cold and serve. Keep the cook zone and the prep zone next to each other, and keep the cold zone within a few steps of both. A short, clear path between zones matters more than a large footprint. ### Pick a shape Three shapes cover most patios. Shape Good fit for Watch for Straight run Narrow patios and house walls Limited counter on each side of the grill L-shape Corners and tighter cook-prep triangles Corner cabinet access Island Open patios and guests who gather around Anchoring, since a free-standing island must be fixed in place The Endura installation guide says free-standing islands must be anchored to the patio slab or deck. It calls a structural base designed to secure islands to concrete slabs or deck surfaces the most reliable method. Your installer should plan that before you order. ### Give each zone room Leave landing space on both sides of the grill, so a hot pan or a tray has somewhere to go. Put the sink near the prep area, not the grill. Keep trash and recycling near the prep area as well. Endura offers a wastebasket pull-out and roll-out trays as accessories, and each has its own installation sheet linked on the [Endura RTA page](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/endura-rta-landing-page). ### Think about the corner A corner is where layouts get tight. Endura lists a universal concealed corner cabinet in its RTA assembly guides, so you can use the corner for storage instead of leaving it empty. Ask your dealer how the corner opens and what clearance it needs. ## Which cabinets does an outdoor kitchen need? An outdoor kitchen usually needs grill base cabinets, base and sink cabinets, wall cabinets, [fillers](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/filler), a [toe-kick](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/toe-kick) or bare legs, and a few accessories. The Endura line lists each of these. Pick them after the appliances are chosen so every opening matches. Here is what the Endura RTA guides and catalog list, grouped by job. Job Endura cabinet or part Source document Hold a grill or side burner Grill base cabinets in 1, 2 and 4 door sizes RTA assembly guides Hold a ceramic smoker Ceramic smoker and grill base pedestal, 2 door RTA assembly guide Prep and wash Base and sink cabinets, 1 and 2 door RTA assembly guides Store above the counter Wall cabinets, 1 and 2 door RTA assembly guides Use the corner Universal concealed corner RTA assembly guide Hide a refrigerator side Refrigerator panel RTA assembly guide Close gaps Fillers, finish panels and toe-kick RTA installation sheets Store gas and trash Propane pull-out, roll-out trays, wastebasket pull-out RTA installation sheets For the standard sizes, the Endura catalog lists a base cabinet height of 34.5 inches and depths of 24, 27 and 30 inches. Bar-back cabinets have a raised 6 inch backsplash and stand 40.5 inches tall. The Endura page lists total overall height as adjustable from 34 inches to 35.875 inches. Confirm all sizes with your dealer, because the catalog and the product page do not list every size the same way. ### Choose the door style and color Endura comes in five door styles: [Club, Moderno, Oxford, Regent and Sedona](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/endura). It comes in 14 colors in the 2025 brochure: 11 solid matte and 3 Decograin finishes. Order a sample before you decide, because screens do not show color exactly. ## What material should outdoor kitchen cabinets use? Choose a material that will not rot, swell or rust in your climate. Endura cabinets use 3/4 inch marine-grade [HDPE](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/hdpe), which the brochure says is UV and weather-resistant and never needs sanding or painting. Wood is the weak choice outdoors in humid places. One outdoor kitchen seller that builds with concrete puts it this way: “Wood is susceptible to warping, rotting, swelling, insect damage, and not to mention” a fire risk under a hot grill. That seller has its own product to sell, so read it as one view. Many makers reach the same basic point about wood. For a full comparison of stainless steel, HDPE, wood and stone, read the [outdoor kitchen cabinet materials guide](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/outdoor-kitchen-cabinet-materials). Endura hardware matters too. The brochure lists 304 stainless steel 6-way adjustable hinges with a soft-close mechanism, and adjustable rust-resistant 304 stainless steel legs. The legs are what lift the cabinet off a wet patio. Read the [adjustable leg](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/adjustable-leg) entry for how they level a run on a sloped slab. ## How do you plan for grills, venting and heat? Plan the grill cabinet with the grill maker’s manual open. Endura says a grill or side burner needs an insulated jacket or liner in place before you install it. Endura base grill cabinets ship with precut ventilation, and your grill maker or local code may require more. The Endura installation guide gives these points in plain words: 1. Use a grill insulated jacket or liner with Endura cabinetry. The guide says to always do this for proper insulation and safety. 2. Remove the doors and the false-front of a grill cabinet to make installation easier. 3. Cut the false-front for the liner according to the grill or burner maker’s instructions. Account for the countertop thickness when you mark the cut. 4. Add ventilation if the appliance maker or code requires more than the precut openings. 5. Hire a licensed professional for gas appliances and insulated jackets. Many grill retailers offer installation. Another cabinet maker states the same rule for its own product: “Always follow the appliance manufacturer’s installation requirements.” Treat that as the rule for every brand. ### Put vent covers on the end cabinets Side ventilation openings are standard on all Endura base cabinets. The Endura vent cover sheet says the final cabinets in a run must be fitted with vent covers for proper airflow, and that at least two covers are required. It also warns that uncovered openings may let debris, pests or small animals into the grill base. The [vent cover sheet](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ENDURA-RTA_Vent_Installation_Guide.pdf) shows the four steps. If the grill cabinets sit against a wall, the Endura filler sheet explains how to keep the vents from being blocked. It uses a 3 inch by 30 inch filler cut into strips. Your installer should read that sheet before the cabinets go in. ## What do code and permits mean for your plan? Local building codes come first. The Endura installation guide tells you to observe local building codes before you install cabinets and appliances. Gas, electrical, plumbing, fire and wind rules can all apply. Confirm the rules with your local building department or installer before you order. The Florida Building Commission site states that the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), took effect on December 31, 2023. The same site announces an update cycle, so ask your building department which edition applies to your permit. This guide does not give legal or code advice. Wind is a Florida concern. The Endura guide says that in regions prone to high winds, such as rooftops or tornado and hurricane-prone areas, building codes may require securing the cabinetry to an immovable structure. That could mean a wall, a floor or a concrete base. Your installer and building department decide what applies on your site. ## How should you prepare the site and the cabinet run? Prepare a level, solid base and check the slope before cabinets arrive. The Endura guide says to check the floor pitch side to side and front to back, find the highest point, and start there. The first cabinet sets the level and the height for every cabinet after it. The Endura installation guide asks for a level, square and plumb run. It warns that skipping this step leads to doors and drawers that will not adjust well and to trouble fitting the countertop. The base cabinet target is 34 1/2 inches before the countertop. Gather these before the install day: Item Why it matters Two or more people The guide recommends a minimum of two people, because cabinets are heavy 2 ft and 4 ft levels Used to check each cabinet in every direction Stainless steel or outdoor-rated screws, no smaller than #8 x 1 1/4 inch For cabinet-to-cabinet joins. The guide bans drywall screws, nails and staples Plastic shims Help with leveling if needed A saw for plastics and wood To trim end panels, toe-kick and fillers Countertop adhesive Endura names MightyTAC for the dog bone openings in the front rail The guide says that using unauthorized fasteners will void product warranties. See the full steps in the [Endura RTA assembly and installation guide](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/endura-rta-assembly-and-installation). ## What about the countertop, appliances and utilities? Order the countertop after the cabinets are set and level, and have a pro fabricate and install it. The Endura guide strongly recommends professional fabrication and installation. Utilities are separate work. Turn off the electrical, water and gas supplies that the work affects before you start, and use licensed trades for the connections. Endura cabinets have dog bone shaped openings in the front cabinet rail. The guide says to fill each one with a suitable countertop adhesive before you set the countertop. This helps the countertop bond to the cabinet. Plan utility runs on paper first: - Where does the gas line enter, and where does the propane pull-out sit if you use one? - Where do the power outlets and lighting go, and are they protected from weather? - Where does the sink drain, and what is the slope? Your licensed trades answer these. Cabinet planning only needs the openings and the clearance. ## How do you care for an outdoor kitchen after it is built? Clean Endura cabinets with soap and water and a soft cotton cloth. The care sheet lists acceptable cleaners, including hand washing liquid soap, glass cleaner and a 10 percent chlorine bleach dilution. It tells you to avoid abrasive cleaners and chemical sprays. A pressure washer may be used at no greater than 1500 PSI. Keep open containers of caustic chemicals out of the cabinets. The care sheet says they can corrode the hinges. For the warranty terms, the Endura RTA warranty sheet states that hinges and leveling legs carry a five year limited warranty. The brochure lists a limited lifetime warranty for the line. Register your warranty on the warranty page after your dealer installs the kitchen. ## Next step Take your appliance list and a sketch of the patio to a dealer. They can check the cutouts and order the right Endura parts. See the [Endura outdoor kitchen cabinets](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/outdoor-kitchen-cabinets) and then [find a dealer](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/find-dealer) near you. ## Frequently asked questions ### What should I plan first in an outdoor kitchen? Plan how you cook first. List the appliances you want, then get each cutout size from the appliance maker. Cabinet sizes follow the appliances, not the other way around. Share the list with an authorized dealer so the cabinet run matches your grill, side burner and refrigerator. ### Do I need an insulated jacket for a built-in grill? Endura installation instructions say to always use insulated grill jackets or liners with Endura cabinetry. Check your grill maker's manual too, because it sets the jacket rules for that model. A licensed professional should install gas appliances and jackets. ### Do outdoor kitchen cabinets need ventilation? Endura base cabinets have side ventilation openings, and the last cabinets in a run need vent covers. Grill base cabinets also ship with precut ventilation. Your appliance maker or local code may require more, which can be cut in the field. ### How high is a standard outdoor base cabinet? The Endura installation guide sets the target for base cabinets at 34 1/2 inches before the countertop goes on. Adjustable legs set the height. Plan for your countertop thickness and any under-counter appliance when you set the final height. ### Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen? Often yes, especially when you add gas, power or plumbing. Rules differ by city and county. Call your local building department before you buy, and ask your contractor which trades must be licensed for the work. ### How do I buy Endura outdoor kitchen cabinets? Innovation Cabinetry sells through authorized dealers, not directly to homeowners. Use the dealer finder to reach a dealer, who can help you lay out the run, pick a door style and color, and order the right parts. ## Terms on this page - [Stainless steel (304 vs 316)](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/stainless-steel) - [Adjustable leg](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/adjustable-leg) - [Base cabinet](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/base-cabinet) - [HDPE](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/hdpe) ## Sources 1. [Florida Building Commission: Florida Building Code home page](https://www.floridabuilding.org/c/default.aspx) 2. [Innovation Cabinetry: Endura RTA installation guide (PDF)](https://innovation-marketing-materials.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ENDURA_RTA_Installation_Guide.pdf) 3. [NatureKast: Frequently asked questions](https://naturekast.com/faq) 4. [RTA Outdoor Living: Outdoor Kitchen Tampa guide](https://rtaoutdoorliving.com/?p=56369) Written by Innovation Cabinetry and checked against the sources above on October 29, 2026. Codes, standards and product details change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Endura RTA assembly and installation guideAssemble each Endura RTA cabinet with its own guide, then install the run in order: unpack, fit the legs, level the first cabinet at the highest point, clamp and screw the cabinets together, add fillers, toe-kick and vents, then adjust the hinges last. Use two people and outdoor-rated fasteners.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/endura-rta-assembly-and-installation) - [Outdoor kitchen cabinet materials comparedThe best outdoor kitchen cabinet material depends on your climate and your upkeep plan. Stainless steel is common in all climates, polymers such as HDPE suit wet, humid places, and sealed wood suits mild ones. Near salt water, check the hardware grade as well as the box. Ask for the spec sheet before you buy.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/outdoor-kitchen-cabinet-materials) - [How to choose kitchen cabinet colorsChoose kitchen cabinet colors in four steps. First, check how much natural light the room gets. Second, decide between painted color, wood grain or gloss. Third, match the door style to the color. Fourth, order a sample and view it in your own kitchen at different times of day.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/choosing-kitchen-cabinet-colors) - [Frameless vs face frame cabinetsFrameless cabinets have no front frame, so doors cover the whole box and you get wider openings. Face frame cabinets have a wood frame on the front, which adds rigidity and allows inset doors. KCMA says a properly built frameless cabinet is equally durable. Pick by look, access and installation, then confirm certification.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/frameless-vs-face-frame-cabinets) - [Multi-family cabinet specification guideTo specify cabinets for a multi-family project, write down the door profile and color, the box and shelf material, the hinges and drawers, the ADA units, the certifications you require, and the delivery plan. Then check the shop drawings against your architectural plans before anything is built.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/multi-family-cabinet-specification-guide) - [Hurricane Season and Your Outdoor Kitchen: A ChecklistThe Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and activity peaks around September 10. Built-in outdoor kitchen cabinets cannot move indoors, so you prepare the loose items, the gas and the drainage around them. Do this before a storm is in the forecast.](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/blog/hurricane-season-outdoor-kitchen-checklist) ![Whisper Blue Urban shaker kitchen with an island and stools](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/_astro/ub-whisper-blue-gallery-image-1980x1080-1.4YXlLAS7_Z1qUWbv.webp) ## See it in your own space Dealers near you design, quote and install Innovation Cabinetry. Send your ZIP code and the team matches you with one.