It’s no secret that we spend a lot of our time at home in the kitchen. Whether it’s drinking morning coffee, preparing dinner, or entertaining guests, the kitchen hosts it all. More and more kitchens are being designed with modern open layouts. At the heart of these open spaces is a beautiful kitchen island. Find out how much you can expect to pay for a kitchen island of your very own.
Benefits of a Kitchen Island
To ensure full usability, islands are more suitable for an open concept kitchen as opposed to a narrow layout. Kitchen islands work great in an open space, but do take up a great deal of that space. Planning ahead and consulting with a pro will help you determine if a kitchen island is right for your home.
One of the main benefits of a kitchen island is space. An island adds counter space and additional storage for your kitchen. Along with this, an island can hold appliances such as a sink or dishwasher, creating more counter space on your existing counters as well as adding additional storage underneath them. Relocating appliances to a more central location of the kitchen can also improve the flow of your space.
Additional counter space provided by an island will also give you more room to prepare and cook meals. With additional outlets, the island can become an alternative and more open workspace to use appliances as opposed to crowded corners underneath your existing cabinets.
Not only acting as a workspace, but an island also adds more casual seating to your home, whether to eat a quick meal or to entertain guests, you have an area other than your dining room table to enjoy a nice meal or conversations with guests.
How Much Will Your Kitchen Island Cost?
The average cost of installing a kitchen island ranges from $3,000-$5,000. However, the price can range from as low as $100 and as high as $10,000. This is because the price of a kitchen island is based on the size, material, appliances, and whether or not it is custom. With so many options when it comes to islands, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget.
The size of your kitchen island is going to have an impact on the overall price. While having a huge kitchen island may seem like a great idea, it is best to consult with a pro to choose an appropriate size for your space. Choosing the right size will allow for maximum storage as well as making sure not to interfere with the flow of your kitchen and layout.
The cost of your island will be determined by the materials that you choose for your cabinets and countertop. It is popular to match your material to existing cabinets in the space to keep order, however, is not always possible with prefabricated units. Read about the costs of common kitchen cabinet materials and kitchen countertops to get an idea of the average costs.
Adding appliances to your island, while beneficial, adds more costs to the overall price. If you have pre-existing appliances in the space, the plumbing will have to be moved to accommodate the new location. If your pre-made island does not have cutouts for appliances you will have to either hire someone to do so, or you will have to order a custom island to accommodate the appliances.
There are pre-made islands available that are cheaper than a custom island. The downfall of premade islands is that you may not be able to add additional appliances to the structure and you may not be able to match your existing cabinet material. Customizing your island gives you full range in deciding the size, material, and whether or not you want additional appliances, but comes at a higher price.
Below are the average costs of Kitchen Planning & Renovation services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Calgary | $14,539 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $15,181 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Hamilton | $20,005 | $200 | $50,000 |
| Oshawa | $23,931 | $1,700 | $45,000 |
| Ottawa | $20,816 | $400 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $13,483 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $11,342 | $250 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 1533 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
The benefits of installing a kitchen island outweigh the costs of installation. An island will add more countertop space, more storage, and an alternative area to gather and eat. Outside of this, it’s a kitchen project that will quickly make a sale when on the market. Becoming the focal point of your kitchen, the island can be customized to your design. An island can bring together the flow of not only your kitchen but also your entire floor. Talk to a pro today to install a kitchen island in your existing kitchen, or to fully renovate your space.
Article updated June 2022.
