Why use an appliance allowance instead of a fixed price?

Because grills range from $800 to $8,000 and the customer will keep shopping after they sign. A stated allowance means an upgrade is a documented difference rather than a renegotiation of your whole quote.

Who should run the gas line?

A licensed gas fitter, and say so on the estimate — either as a line you're subcontracting or as an explicit exclusion. Outdoor kitchens are the trade where an unlicensed utility connection becomes a serious liability, and the paperwork should reflect who's responsible.

Should the fire feature be quoted separately?

Yes. Burner, pan, media, and ignition are their own cost stack, and gas fire features have code requirements around clearance and shutoffs that a masonry line item doesn't capture.

Outdoor Kitchen and Fire Pit Estimate Template (Free)

What belongs on the estimate

Business name, license number, contact info
Customer name, property address, phone
Footprint and configuration — straight, L-shape, U-shape
Frame — steel stud or block, per linear foot
Veneer — stone, stucco, or tile, per square foot
Countertop — material and square footage
Appliance allowance — stated as an allowance
Gas and electrical — with licensing noted
Fire feature — burner, pan, media, ignition
Payment schedule and exclusions

The template

[Your Business Name] · License #________
[Phone] · [Email]

Estimate #____        Date: __________
Prepared For: [Customer Name]   Phone: __________
Property: _____________________________________
Configuration: [straight / L / U]  Length: ___ lf

--------------------------------------------------
Description                              Amount
--------------------------------------------------
Frame — ___ lf [steel stud / block]      $______
Veneer — ___ sq ft [material]            $______
Countertop — ___ sq ft [material]        $______
Appliance ALLOWANCE                      $______
   (grill, side burner, fridge, doors —
    difference billed at actual cost)
Appliance cutouts + installation         $______
Gas line rough-in (licensed fitter)      $______
Electrical rough-in (licensed electrician)$_____
Fire pit / fire feature                  $______
   Burner + pan + media + ignition       $______
Seating wall — ___ lf                    $______
Hardscape base beneath (if not existing) $______
Permit + inspection (at cost)            $______
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                 $______
Tax (if applicable)                      $______
Estimate Total                           $______

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
  ___% materials deposit at signing       $______
  ___% draw at frame + utility rough-in   $______
  Balance at completion                   $______

NOT INCLUDED: gas or electrical service upgrades,
trenching to the house, existing patio repair,
landscape restoration, appliance cost above allowance.
Valid ___ days. Change orders require written approval.

The allowance is the honest way to quote appliances

A customer who signs a quote will keep shopping grills for another month. An allowance turns that from a fight into arithmetic — they upgrade, you bill the difference at cost, and nobody feels ambushed.

Name who touches the gas

Gas connections on an outdoor kitchen are a licensing and liability question, not a convenience one. Either it’s your subcontracted line or it’s excluded in writing — there is no reasonable third option.

Watch the base underneath

An outdoor kitchen on an existing patio is only as stable as that patio. If the base is questionable, price a new one or exclude it explicitly — a settling slab under a masonry kitchen is an expensive problem with your name on it.

Skipping the copy-paste

Software with your frame, veneer, countertop, and allowance lines saved builds this estimate quickly and schedules the deposit and rough-in draw off the same record.