Investing in a cheap grill now may get you through this season, but that machine is unlikely to last. The best grills enable you to whip up outdoor meals with ease and continue to deliver for years to come. Our top overall pick is the KitchenAid 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill, a spacious model with a side burner and prep table, but there are other options on our list that deliver as well.
There are important considerations to make when looking for quality grill, including whether you … [+] prefer a charcoal, gas, electric or pellet model.
There are essential factors to consider when seeking a quality grill, such as your preference for a charcoal, gas, electric or pellet model. However, the right grill ultimately needs to align with your lifestyle. “The main things to consider when purchasing a grill are the number of people that you plan on cooking for on a consistent basis and longevity,” says Paul Sidoriak, founder of Grilling Montana, a website dedicated to grilling recipes and guides. Grills that will endure years of use may cost more but can ultimately save you hassle down the road. We consulted Sidoriak and other grill masters for their insights on the best options for churning out burgers, steaks and more.
The Home Depot
KitchenAid 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Dimensions: 50 x 49 x 26 inches | Weight: 160 pounds | Total rack area: 486 square inches
Pros:
- Space-saving design
- Helpful side burner
- Easy propane tank replacement
Cons:
- Temperature gauge can fog up in humid conditions
- Cabinet doors are thin
Most people have some standards when it comes to a good grill: Minimum three burners, a solid cooking space and reliability. This KitchenAid grill offers all of that and more. Powered by propane, the grill heats up fast and is roomy enough to fit up to 20 burgers at once. That’s plenty of space to allow you to feed an army at your next outdoor gathering.
But you can do so much more than just burgers on this machine—you can easily whip up side dishes on the side burner. Prefer to chop veggies and other ingredients outside while you cook? There’s a side prep table to help. And, because any grill is an investment you’ll want to last, it’s reassuring to know that this device’s burners are covered under an impressive 10-year warranty.
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The Home Depot
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Dimensions: 22 x 27 x 40 inches | Weight: 37 pounds | Total rack area: 363 square inches
Pros:
- Nostalgic design
- Built-in thermometer
- One-touch cleaning system
Cons:
- No warming rack
- No temperature control
- Assembly can be time-consuming
If you’re in the market for an iconic grill that gets the job done, look no further than the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill. A version of this grill has been making barbecue dreams come true since 1951 and the brand’s grills are built to last thanks to a porcelain-enamel lid and body that can stand up to whatever Mother Nature dishes out.
More modern features include a built-in thermostat and a removable ash catcher with a one-touch element for easy emptying. While it doesn’t have a temperature dial like its propane-powered counterparts, this Weber does have a damper to allow you to release some heat to lower the firepower. Enjoy a roomy 363 square inches of cooking space, along with handy wheels to roll this grill to wherever the need strikes.
Amazon
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Grill
Dimensions: 52 x 27 x 45 inches | Weight: 114 pounds | Total rack area: 529 square inches
Pros:
- Easy starter
- Designed for even cooking and heat retention
- Large cooking space
Cons:
- Assembly can be tricky
- Reviewers claim there can be cold spots
If you have a larger family or enjoy entertaining a lot of people at once, you need a grill that can churn out plenty of food simultaneously. The Weber Spirit II E-310 features an impressive 529 square inches of grilling space, allowing you more than enough room to cook plenty of hot dogs, burgers, vegetables and more at once. There’s a folding table that you can flip down when you want extra space to walk around, along with six tool hooks to hold your essential cooking gear.
Enjoy the brand’s GS4 grilling system for quick and even heating. Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates are made to last, so you won’t have to stress about replacing your grill in a year or two. Two large wheels help you move your grill around as needed.
The Home Depot
Camp Chef XT 24 Pellet Grill
Dimensions: 24 x 47 x 50 inches | Weight: 110 pounds | Total rack area: 429 square inches
Pros:
- Large pellet hopper
- Easy ash-clean-out mechanism
- Easily adjustable smoke level
Cons:
- Searing box is additional expense
- Not smokey enough for some
Our favorite pellet smoker on the market, Camp Chef’s XT 24 Pellet Grill, is designed for backyard grillers who want a rich, smoky flavor in their meats without stepping all the way up to a smoker. Under the hood, there’s a generous 570 square inches of rack surface, and the hopper holds 18 pounds of pellets, which is enough for several hours of cooking. Controlling the SmokePro is designed to be straightforward: Just select a “Smoke Number” to control the intensity of the smoke taste. Then plug in a pair of meat temperature probes to simultaneously track your cooking progress.
One thing that distinguishes the Camp Chef from other pellet grills is the ash clean-out mechanism—it’s a single-release tray that can quickly be carried away. That’s a significantly easier and less messy option than what’s offered by many other pellet grills.
Lowe’s
Blackstone 4-Burner Liquid Propane Flat Top Grill
Dimensions: 62 x 22 x 36 inches | Weight: 120 pounds | Total rack area: 720 square inches
Pros:
- Large cooking surface
- Powerful heating
- Solid construction
Cons:
- Too heavy to be easily portable
- Not ideal for smaller meals
- No grill marks
Flat-top grills might seem more at home in a diner than in your home, but make no mistake: These beauties deliver excellent performance in your backyard, too. This Blackstone grill, for one, gives you a spacious 720 square inches of cooking space for all the burgers, meats and veggies you could possibly need. Thanks to four electrically ignited burners, you can get a consistent temperature across the cooking surface or create four independent cooking areas, delivering 60,000 BTUs in total.
The grill is built like a tank—it’s made with a black powder-coated steel frame with two rigid side shelves and is topped with a cold-rolled steel cooking surface—and it rides on four heavy-duty casters (two of them lock) for easy maneuverability. In addition, its grease management system makes cleanup much less onerous. Grease is automatically funneled into a drippings pan, which you can empty and clean separately.
Walmart
Char-Broil Kamander Charcoal Kamado Grill
Dimensions: 44 x 27 x 46 inches | Weight: 117 pounds | Total rack area: 469 square inches
Pros:
- Insulated double-wall construction
- Easy airflow control
- Warming area included
Cons:
- Not a true ceramic design
- Temperature control can be tricky to master
- Can be tough to extinguish
This is Char-Broil’s take on the popular “kamado” style grill—a modernized version of the traditional Japanese earthenware cooking urn. While true kamados are ceramic, which makes them excellent at retaining heat along with smoke and other flavors, this model uses insulated double-wall steel construction to affordably mimic the characteristics of ceramics.
The Kamander offers 327 square inches of grilling surface and another 142 square inches for warming. It also offers an innovative approach to airflow management. Instead of putting the air intake at the hard-to-reach bottom, Char-Broil utilizes a top-mounted intake damper, which is much easier and more convenient to control. Additionally, it features removable ash and drip pans for simple cleanup.
Amazon
Weber Summit S-460 Built-In Propane Grill
Dimensions: 31 x 34 x 51 inches | Weight: 233 pounds | Total rack area: 580 square inches
Pros:
- Sturdy and high-quality
- Gorgeous design
- Backlit controls
Cons:
- Tricky installation
- Smoker box has more airflow than some prefer
- Rotisserie takes time to master
A built-in grill is a no-brainer for those with the budget: It gives you a polished, streamlined look that fits right into your backyard décor. If you’re debating which one to invest in, we recommend the Weber Summit S-460 for a few reasons. For starters, it features a sizable cooking area to help you fire up a whopping 20 burgers at once. The grill also offers a built-in rotisserie and sear station, so you can have plenty of different meats going at once. An included smoker box allows you to add extra flavor to your cuisine, while backlit controls help you easily control the cooking action, even after dark.
The Home Depot
Weber SmokeFire EX6 Wood Pellet Grill
Dimensions: 57 x 30 x 46 inches | Weight: 208 pounds | Total rack area: 1,008 square inches
Pros:
- Enormous grilling area
- Wealth of smart and connected features
- Large pellet capacity
Cons:
- More expensive
- Assembly is a two-person job
Think of the Weber SmokeFire EX6 as the “minivan of pellet grills.” Accompanying its enormous 1,008-square-inch grilling surface is a huge hopper that can hold an entire 20-pound bag of pellets, meaning it can run all afternoon without a refill.
Integrated into the SmokeFire is an electronic control system; the grill has a large, colorful digital display that helps you ignite the pellets and gives step-by-step grilling guidance, which it can send to your phone via Bluetooth. You can use the Weber Connect system to monitor temperatures remotely, boost the smoke for additional flavor, shut down the grill and more. Yes, this is one of the more expensive grills you will encounter, but the combination of enormous grilling capacity, pellet loading technology and digital controls makes it the envy of anyone who likes to smoke foods in their backyard.
Amazon
Coleman Portable Propane Grill
Dimensions: 29 x 18 x 11 inches | Weight: 25.6 pounds | Total rack area: 225 square inches
Pros:
- Light and portable
- Dual independent burners
- Good cooking space for overall size
Cons:
- Small propane tank runs out faster
- Doesn’t get as hot as larger grills
Not everyone has a backyard to permanently set up a grill; you might only have a small balcony or fire escape on which to cook. If that’s the case—or if you do have a backyard but want a portable grill you can take tailgating or to the neighbor’s house—Coleman’s Portable Propane Grill is a compact, elegant solution. Despite a fairly small footprint (it’s just 29 inches long, weighs 25.6 pounds and is easily carried with two hands), the machine has 225 square inches of grilling space and two adjustable burners with two independent temperature zones.
The grill accepts standard one-pound propane cylinders and has an electronic ignition system for fast starts. On the underside, there’s an easily removed water pan for catching grease. And if you need to customize your cook, the cast-iron grates are easy to remove and can be swapped out for optional griddles and stove grates.
Lowe’s
Char-Broil Black 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Dimensions: 47 x 40.5 x 20 inches | Weight: 45 pounds | Total rack area: 454 square inches
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Included bottle opener
Cons:
- No side burner
- Not enough space for larger parties
If you’re looking for a starter grill that’ll last you until you’re ready for an upgrade, this three-burner option from Char-Broil is a good choice. The 454 square inch cooking rack offers enough space to cook 20 burgers, 20 chicken tenders or 12 steaks at once—plenty to feed yourself and a few guests. The grill has rust-resistant stainless steel burners, as well as porcelain-coated cast iron grates for durability.
The grill’s 32,000 BTU output isn’t the most powerful you’ll find, but it’ll get the job done for most backyard cooking needs. The propane grill is relatively lightweight at 45 pounds, making it simple to wheel around your deck or patio as needed. While this is a basic model, it does come with its own mounted bottle opener, so you can crack one open while you cook.
How We Chose The Best Grills
To find the best grills on the market, we started by identifying popular models across all categories: charcoal grills, gas grills, pellet grills, electric grills and more. We considered the advice our experts shared on what to look for in a quality grill, including durable elements, size requirements and power sources. We then analyzed each grill’s features, focusing on factors like cooking space, weight, cooking power and additional elements to enhance your outdoor grilling experience. Each grill we recommend required great reviews, which is why we only included models with an average of four or more stars.
What To Look In Grills
There are several major factors to consider when buying a grill. Here are the various items to keep in mind as you begin your shopping expedition.
Type
There are four main types of grills to choose from:
- Gas: One of the biggest perks with a gas grill is ease of use, says Mixon. With gas, you can simply fire up the grill, and it’s ready to cook within minutes. One con to consider, though, is that “you really don’t get the smoky flavor that you get from charcoal or a smoker,” Mixon reminds us.
- Charcoal: Sidoriak suggests that charcoal grills are an ideal choice for individuals who are “flavor connoisseurs.” However, it’s worth noting that charcoal can be messy and not everyone is willing to tackle that level of cleanup.
- Pellet: Mixon describes pellet grills as “the hottest trend in grilling right now.” He highlights that they are clean, easy to use and excellent for achieving that coveted wood flavor. However, the biggest drawback is that you need to have pellets readily available whenever you want to grill.
- Electric: Sidoriak suggests that electric models can be a “great solution” for indoor cooking. Additionally, they are often a suitable option for apartment buildings with strict codes against propane, wood-burning or charcoal grills. However, the main downside is that you likely won’t get as much flavor as you would with a pellet or charcoal grill.
Number Of Burners
Most grills come with four burners, but you’ll find petite models with as little as one burner and massive options with eight burners. Choosing the number of burners comes down to how many people you plan to feed at once. “Be realistic about your lifestyle—do you pride yourself on flipping 87 burgers at one gathering?” say the Longos. “Or are you the type of person who enjoys individually wrapped frozen salmon filets for that one time you have a craving for grilled fish? Do not over-buy. Small grills work just as well as large grills.”
Your Own Cooking Capabilities
The Longos say it’s also important to “determine where you are on the grilling spectrum.” Gas grills are great for beginners, they point out, while certain smokers are for the more advanced griller—and there are plenty of options in between. Kamado-style grills also require a certain skillset, although it’s possible to learn to use any grilling machine. Consider the type of cooking you plan to do. If you’re partial to smash burgers and comfortable making them, a flat-top grill may be more your speed than a model with grates.
Side Burner
Side burners aren’t a necessity, but they’re definitely a good option to have. “I like to have a side burner to be able to do my beans and bacon, or to sauté something to go with the meal I’m prepping,” Mixon says. A side burner can also be helpful when it comes to separating raw ingredients, as well as for quickly toasting items, like buns and tortilla wraps. You can even use a side burner to cook smaller items if you don’t feel like heating up your entire grill to make, say, a chicken breast. If it comes down to spending an extra $150 on a grill with a side burner, Mixon says, “I would spend the extra money.”
Warranty
Many grills come with some type of warranty, and that’s an important feature given that this is an investment that might be repeatedly exposed to the elements. Most warranties are between one and five years, although some will stretch beyond that. Keep in mind that some brands will have varying warranties between models—you’ll want to double check that a warranty you like applies to the grill you’re buying. When factoring in your grill’s warranty, Sidoriak recommends keeping in mind how long you theoretically want to keep your grill around. “Are you keen to buy something that you’re happy to use for five to six years or do you want something you can hand down to children?” he says. “There’s a huge discrepancy between the two.” Few brands will have warranties that extend beyond 10 years, though.
What’s The Difference Between Gas And Charcoal Grills?
It seems like most people start out with a charcoal grill, but many eventually make the switch to gas. Both have a lot of pros and cons, though, and which one you get often comes down to your needs and grilling style. Charcoal grills are generally cheaper—hence why they’re great starter models—and they’re often more portable. They’re also far simpler than gas alternatives: You only need a bed for the charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid to help get them started. Gas grills, in contrast, need a fuel source like a tank of propane as well as fuel lines, valves and burners to deliver a carefully-controlled flame to the grilling surface. And most gas grills also include a starter mechanism to light the gas.
Who Makes The Best Grills?
Today’s grill market is more robust than ever before, offering several big names that deliver quality cooking apparatuses. Many people have a preferred brand based on their own experience or recommendations from friends. Major players in the home grilling space include KitchenAid, Weber, Char-Broil and Coleman. However, some brands excel in specific types of grills. For instance, Blackstone is renowned for its wide selection of flat-top grills, establishing itself as a prominent player in that segment of the market. Ultimately, the best grill is one that meets your needs, providing enough room to feed the guests you’ll inevitably cook for.
What Is The Time To Buy A Grill?
There are several times throughout the year when grill prices tend to be at their lowest. “The very best time to buy a grill is at the end of the season when retailers offer clearance-level pricing in an effort to sell through most of their stock to clear space for new fall items,” says shopping expert Trae Bodge. However, you’re not limited to finding good prices only during this time. “You may also find deals at the beginning of grilling season—late spring or early summer—over 3-day weekends and deal events like Prime Day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday,” Bodge adds. Whenever you plan to buy a grill, Bodge recommends comparing and tracking prices to ensure you’re getting the best deal at that moment.
Are Weber Grills The Best Grills On The Market?
Weber is a prominent name in the grill industry, offering a variety of models to cater to different needs. In fact, we included four Weber models in our best list because they are regarded as the top options in their respective categories. The brand manufactures electric, gas, wood pellet and griddle grills, along with accessories to enhance your grilling experience. Weber grills are renowned for their quality craftsmanship, and many of the brand’s products come with extensive warranties. Due to these factors, Weber products are widely regarded as a top choice for grills.
Meet The Experts
For even more comprehensive guidance on selecting a grill, we sought advice from the following experts:
- Myron Mixon is a five-time BBQ world champion and judge on BBQ Pitmasters.
- Paul Sidoriak is the founder of Grilling Montana, a website dedicated to grilling recipes and guides.
- Maddie and Kiki Longo are Canadian-based grill masters.
- Trae Bodge is a lifestyle journalist and shopping expert.
