To help you find the best grill for your outdoor barbeque, we have tried out a multitude of top models, both propane and charcoal, testing them for grilling speed and efficiency, ensuring they could easily handle a wide variety of food stuffs. We also preferred items made from durable and high quality components, including cast iron cooking grates, and those with plenty of room to cook multiple ingredients at the same time.
The best product we tried was easily the Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, which features 450 square inches of cooking space, spread out over two burners, and an open cart design with six tool hooks and two large wheels for ease of movement. We also liked the high quality components on offer, including porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates. Keep reading to learn more about the Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill and the other items on this list.
Top 7 Best Grills
#1 Weber Spirit II E-210 (44010001) 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Effortless ignition, thanks to the company’s Infinity Ignition mechanism, with patented “Flavorizer Bars” for increased smoke and a fantastic ten year warranty, in addition to six tool hooks.
- Best propane
- Quick and easy ignition + 10 year warranty
- Patented “Flavorizer Bars” increase smoke flavor
- Some items on list have more control over burners
- Can be difficult to assemble
- Some items on list have more cooking area
The Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill is a stellar product and the best propane grill we tried, with a quick and easy ignition, thanks to Weber’s Infinity Ignition mechanism, and patented “Flavorizer Bars,” which increase smokey flavor. We also loved the six tool hooks located along the side of the grill and the fantastic ten year warranty, which comes standard with many Weber products. This product also gets plenty hot, thanks to burners that produce 26,500 BTU-per-hour.
Though the 450 square inches of cooking space is certainly decent, there are other items on the list that offer even more space to prepare ingredients. Additionally, the assembly will take a couple of hours, and does require standard household tools, such as a screwdriver. With a grill this nice, you’ll definitely want to invest in the best grill cleaner.
#2 Blackstone 1554 Professional Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Griddle flat top design with 4 independently controlled burners, offering maximum precision, 720 square inches of cooking area and a quick ignition button that is in line with our top pick.
- Best flat top & great for restaurant quality burgers
- 4 independently controlled burners
- 720 square inches of cooking area
- Griddle design not for everyone
- 90 day warranty
- Can rust if you aren’t careful
This Blackstone 1554 Professional Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill features a similar quick ignition mechanism to our top pick, which is great, and four independently controlled burners that produce 60,000 BTU, allowing for maximum precision while preparing food items. We also loved the 720 square inches of cooking space available, which is much more than the 450 square inches found with our top pick, and the four lockable wheels.
This is a griddle flat top design, however, which may not suit every consumer, particularly those looking for a standard grill. This item also comes with a 90 day warranty, which is on the lower end, particularly for a grill under $500. Another great four burner grill is the Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill, which comes in a sleek stainless steel finish and features a side burner to simultaneously cook up a side dish. To make your grille space perfect, try getting some of the best outdoor storage too.
#3 George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
Award: BEST FOR INDOORS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Can actually be used indoors, thanks to an innovative electric design, and features 5 heat settings, allowing for a fair amount of precision, with a fantastic nonstick coating.
- Great for apartments that don’t allow charcoal/gas
- 5 heat settings
- Nonstick coating works well
- Not much cooking area, compared to some picks
- Burners do not get as hot as propane or charcoal grills
- 1 year warranty is decent, but top pick has 10
This George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill features an innovative electric design that allows for indoor use, as it does not use propane or charcoal. It features five “burner” settings, allowing for a fair amount of temperature precision, and a highly functional nonstick coating. We also loved how easy it was to install and set up, with a fully removable stand, allowing for countertop cooking.
This grill, however, doesn’t have much cooking area, compared to some items on this list, with 240 square inches of surface area available. Additionally, these burners do not get nearly as hot as those found with traditional propane or charcoal grills. If you need to make your lawn look perfect for that upcoming barbeque, check out some of the best in patio, lawn, and garden.
#4 Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr. Kamado Grill
Award: BEST CHARCOAL
WHY WE LIKE IT: Offers extremely even heating up to 700 degrees, thanks to triple walled insulation, with a portable form factor that makes it perfect for camping and tailgating, among other social gatherings.
- Great for camping
- Even heating, with triple walled insulation
- Does not require a lot of charcoal to function
- 153 square inches of cooking area
- Can be difficult to clean
- 1 year warranty is decent, but top pick has 10 years
This Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr. Kamado Grill offers extremely accurate and even heating capabilities, from 200 degrees to 700 degrees, thanks to triple walled insulation and a built-in thermometer. The portable form factor makes it ideal for camping and tailgating, among other social functions, and the cast iron grates produce perfect grill marks. We also liked that the Japanese kamado design does not necessitate a lot of charcoal in order to function.
Though it heats ingredients evenly and thoroughly, there is not a lot of cooking space on offer, just 153 square inches. Also, it can be somewhat difficult to clean, though we did appreciate the ash pan, which is easy to dump. You may need to invest in some additional grill cleaning tools, like a good grill brush. For camping trips where you need to leave the grille behind, bring along the best portable grille instead.
#5 Weber 1141001 Go-Anywhere Gas Grill
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly item that still does a great job at grilling, thanks to a push-button ignition system, portable form factor and porcelain-enameled, steel cooking grate.
- Extremely portable
- Push-button ignition system works great
- Gets extremely hot, well above 500 F
- Grill surface is not cast iron, though can be purchased
- Small cooking area
- Needs an adapter for 20 lb propane tanks
The Weber 1141001 Go-Anywhere Gas Grill is an extremely budget-friendly product that still offers extreme heat, thanks to a propane-based design, and features a similar auto start push-button ignition system as found with our top picks. We also loved just how portable this grill is, weighing just 13 pounds and featuring a handle for easy movement. Though the main burners only feature a 6,500 BTU per hour input, we found that this item got more than hot enough to cook meat and other ingredients.
This grill does not immediately work with standard-sized 20 pound propane tanks, however, requiring the purchase of an adapter, though it does work with smaller tanks right out of the box. Additionally, the cooking surface area is on the smaller side, with just enough room for a couple of burgers or one large steak. Despite the limited grilling surface, this small grill is still functional with enough cooking power, and it’s portable thanks to the grill size so you can have some hot dogs for yourself or a whole backyard barbecue wherever you want. If you prefer the taste of a charcoal grille, click here for the best charcoal grill.
#6 Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Stainless Tabletop Grill
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Award: EASIEST TO USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely easy to use and install, operating instantly once connected to a 20 lb propane tank, with a portable form factor, stainless steel components and a design that excels with large cuts of meat, including whole chickens.
- Portable form factor, weighs just 20 lb
- Stainless steel components
- Excels with large cuts of meat
- Difficult to maintain low temperatures
- 3 year warranty could be longer
This Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Stainless Tabletop Grill is extremely easy to set up and use, igniting as soon as you connect to a 20 pound propane tank and turn it on. The design is portable, weighing just over 20 pounds, and the stainless steel components, including the two 20,000 BTUs burners, are all of a high quality. We also found that this product excelled with large cuts of meat, even whole chickens, thanks to a two burner system that allows the meat to first be seared and then placed over the cool side of the grill for slow oven-style cooking.
Though the 276 square inches of cooking space available is certainly decent, considering the portability on offer, it is still less than what is found with several other items on this list. We also found that it was somewhat difficult to maintain low temperatures of around 200 to 250 degrees fahrenheit, so it might not be the best product to use as a smoker. Another similar option is the KitchenAid 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill, which utilizes 3 stainless steel burners and a sear side burner, which is great for searing meats.
#7 Z Grills ZPG-7002E 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill
Award: BEST SMOKER COMBO
WHY WE LIKE IT: Grill and smoker combo unit, with a design that also excels with roasting and braising, featuring a highly accurate digital temperature controller and a quick-start ignition system in line with our top pick.
- Digital temperature controller
- 700 square inches of cooking space
- Auto-start ignition & wood pellet very efficient
- Wood pellets do not get as hot as charcoal or propane
- Somewhat difficult to install
- Can be difficult to remove unused wood pellets
This Z Grills ZPG-7002E 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill is a fantastically designed product that combines a smoker and a grill into one handy unit, with added roasting and braising capabilities. The digital temperature controller easily maintains a desired temperature and the auto-start ignition system works effortlessly, a feature in line with our top pick. We also loved the 700 square inches of cooking area available, which is certainly on the larger side.
This is a wood pellet-based system, however, and does not get as hot as charcoal or propane grills, maxing out at around 450 degrees fahrenheit, despite having burners that operate at 25,000 BTUs. Additionally, we found the setup to be somewhat frustrating, though it does come with all of the necessary tools.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we first made sure that each item we chose could easily cook a wide variety of ingredients with delicious results. To that end, we populated the list with a nice mix of different grill types, including charcoal and propane, for standard grilling, and wood and electricity-based items, to suit certain consumers. We also tended to pick products with high BTU ratings, especially with propane grills as a high BTU tends to conserve fuel.
We also wanted to make sure we included grills for every budget, under $1000, under $500 and under $200, and those manufactured by well known and respected brands, such as Weber. We made sure to pick items with plenty of surface area, as much as 750 square feet, but also mixed it up with lighter offerings, which typically sacrifice some surface area for the sake of portability, such as our number five pick, the Weber 1141001 Go-Anywhere Gas Grill.
Grills with added functionality were also preferred. Our top pick has six tool hooks running throughout and other picks can be used indoors, thanks to an electricity-based design, and some even double as a smoker. Finally, we liked products that were made from ultra-durable components and those that came with long-lasting warranties, as lengthy as ten years.
Best Grill Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Grill Type
There are many types of grills out there, with different heating elements, that each offer their own benefits. Propane-based grills get extremely hot, as much as 700 degrees fahrenheit or more, and are often accompanied by auto-ignite buttons, as gas can ignite easily. Charcoal grills can get nearly as hot as propane-based models, while not needing the additional weight of a propane tank, which can weigh 20 pounds or more, though they are somewhat more difficult to ignite. If it’s not crucial for you to have a multiple burner gas grill that can reach such a high heat, electric grills might interest you. Electric grills can often be used indoors, thanks to the absence of smoke, while wood-based grills are great for smoking, though do not get as hot as other grill types. Also with infrared burners on those infrared grills, they minimize flareups and provide even cooking temps and heat distribution, yet they take a bit of getting used to if you’re more familiar with traditional grills. - Cooking/Surface Area and Portability
If you are looking to cook for a large gathering, then you are going to want to maximize your grilling area. Look for something in the 700 square inch range, as that will be enough room to cook many items at once. Larger grills, however, are often quite heavy and intensive to install. If you are willing to sacrifice some cooking area, you may want to invest in a portable grill, which is often the perfect size for one or two people. - Additional Features
Grills come with all manner of additional features. Our top pick, for instance, boasts a number of tool hooks running throughout, for easy placement of tongs and the like. We also feature picks that can be used indoors, even in apartments, and those that double as smokers, roasters and braisers. You may also want to pick a grill with a digital temperature controller, if you are looking to maximize precision, particularly during long cooks. Many grills also come with warming racks for keeping food warm or to cook at a lower temperature above the direct heat from the main cooking surface, which is another nice extra feature. - BTUs and Heat Output
BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a measurement of the total heat output and fuel consumption per hour of your combined grill burners. Think of BTUs as more of a fuel efficiency rating more than a gauge to measure the heat output of your grill. To that end, a higher BTU does not mean a hotter grill, though it can mean you can maintain a maximum temperature without blowing through your fuel reserve. The higher the better, more or less, but don’t fret about a low BTU, especially with portable grills.