🍳 How to Build a Camper Van Kitchen on Any Budget
March 25, 2026 · 6 min read
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The kitchen is where van life gets real. It's where you save hundreds a month by not eating out, where you impress yourself with one-burner pasta that somehow slaps harder than restaurant food, and where you inevitably set off your smoke detector at least once. Let's build yours. 🍝
Quick Cost Overview
- 🟢 Budget: $150 – $400 (camp stove + cooler)
- 🟡 Mid-range: $600 – $1,500 (built-in stove, fridge, sink)
- 🔴 Premium: $1,500 – $3,500+ (full galley with oven)
Kitchen Tiers Explained
🟢 Budget Kitchen — $150 – $400
Camp stove on a shelf, basic cooler or 12V cooler, no running water
- Portable butane or propane camp stove ($25 – $60)
- 12V electric cooler or regular cooler with ice ($50 – $200)
- Collapsible dish basin ($10 – $20)
- Simple plywood shelf or countertop ($30 – $80)
- Basic cookware and utensils ($30 – $50)
🟡 Mid-Range Kitchen — $600 – $1,500
Built-in 2-burner stove, 12V compressor fridge, basic sink with hand pump
- 2-burner propane stove (built-in) ($80 – $200)
- 12V compressor fridge (35–50L) ($250 – $500)
- Hand-pump or foot-pump sink ($60 – $150)
- 5-gallon fresh water tank + gray water tank ($40 – $80)
- Butcher block or laminate countertop ($80 – $200)
- Custom cabinetry below ($100 – $300)
🔴 Premium Kitchen — $1,500 – $3,500+
Full galley kitchen with electric pump sink, large fridge, oven, and solid surface countertops
- 3-burner propane stove with oven ($200 – $500)
- Large 12V compressor fridge (50–80L) ($500 – $900)
- Electric pump sink with faucet ($100 – $250)
- 20-gallon fresh water system with filter ($150 – $300)
- Solid surface or butcher block countertops ($200 – $500)
- Soft-close cabinetry and drawers ($200 – $600)
- Tile backsplash ($50 – $150)
Layout Options
Your kitchen layout depends on van length, where you sleep, and how much you actually cook. Here are the four most popular configurations:
L-Shape Kitchen
Best for: Longer vans (Sprinter 170", Transit EL)
Counter runs along one side wall and wraps across the rear. Maximum counter space, room for a large sink and stove side by side.
Galley (One Wall)
Best for: Any van length
Everything in a line along one wall. Simple to build, keeps the opposite wall free for a bed or seating. The most common layout.
Rear Kitchen
Best for: Shorter vans, weekend builds
Kitchen lives at the rear doors — great for cooking outside. Limits interior space but gives amazing airflow when doors are open.
Slide-Out Kitchen
Best for: Micro vans, stealth builds
A drawer-mounted stove and prep surface that slides out the rear or side door. Saves interior space but limited in bad weather.
Don't Forget Ventilation
Cooking in a sealed metal box without ventilation is a recipe for condensation, grease buildup, and carbon monoxide risk (if using gas). You need:
- A roof fan (MaxxFan or Fan-tastic) running while cooking — this is non-negotiable
- A cracked window on the opposite side for cross-ventilation
- A CO detector if using any gas appliance
- Consider a small splatter guard to protect walls from grease
Water Integration
If you're adding a sink, you'll need a fresh water tank and a gray water tank. For a basic hand-pump setup, a 5-gallon jug works fine. For an electric pump faucet, you'll want a proper 10–20 gallon tank mounted under the van or beneath your counter. Check out our DIY cost breakdown for water system pricing.
Pro Tips
- Mount your stove at a comfortable height — too low and cooking becomes a back killer
- Use a magnetic spice rack to save counter space
- Drawer slides are worth the investment — cabinets with doors are hard to access in a van
- Test your layout with cardboard mockups before cutting any wood
- A cutting board that fits over your sink doubles your prep space
Plan Your Kitchen Budget
Our free build cost estimator lets you pick your exact kitchen setup — stove type, fridge, sink — and see how it all adds up with the rest of your conversion.