The Best Grills, Tested and Reviewed

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Cook up some fine barbecue with one of these high-quality electric, gas, or charcoal grills.

Head outdoors, put on some music, grab a drink, and fire up the grill. From simple burgers and hot dogs to steaks, kebabs, and ribs, a wide variety of meals can be prepared on a grill. Grilling can be a nice change from a routine and an enjoyable experience for many people, but the best part is often the delicious meal prepared for family and friends.

Gas and charcoal are the two most common fuel options for an outdoor grill, while electricity can also be used for both indoor and outdoor grills. While the fuel type is an important factor to think about when deciding on the best grill for your next get-together, there are more features to consider.

We conducted hands-on testing of dozens of grills of varying types and sizes to produce our list of some of the best grills on the market.

1. BEST OVERALL: Weber Spirit II E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner Gas Grill
3. UPGRADE PICK: Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Natural Gas Grill
4. BEST FLATTOP GRILL: Cuisinart CGG-0028 28-Inch Two Burner Gas Griddle
5. BEST CHARCOAL GRILL: Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
6. BEST ELECTRIC GRILL: George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
7. BEST KAMADO GRILL: Kamado Joe Classic Joe II Charcoal Grill
8. BEST SMALL GRILL: Char-Broil Performance Series 2-Burner Gas Grill
9. BEST PORTABLE GRILL: Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
10. BEST SMOKER-GRILL COMBO: Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 Charcoal Grill

How We Tested the Best Grills

To create our list of the top grills, we assembled dozens of grills of all types, including gas, charcoal, electric, flattop, and kamado grills. During construction, we evaluated how easy each grill was to put together and also considered overall build quality. Once assembled, we tested each grill’s cooking performance by grilling chicken, steak, and burgers.

We noted each grill’s ability to both sear and cook food evenly while evaluating how easy it was to control cooking temperatures. We also tested additional features, including side burners, smart connectivity, sear burners, and smoker functions. After cooking with each grill, we noted how easy (or hard) each grill was to clean. Finally, we also took note of space for hanging and storing grill tools.

Our Top Picks

We chose the list of products below because they highlight grill options with durable construction, innovative design, and a range of different sizes and fuel sources. By selecting grills that consider these factors and those mentioned above, there’s sure to be a grill on this list that’s ideal for preparing food your whole family can enjoy.

Best Overall

Weber Spirit II E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

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The Weber Spirit II E-310’s exceptional build quality and performance make it the best all-around grill we tested. The Weber is rock-solid: Heavy-gauge sheet metal with a thick enamel coating give it a sturdier feel than many of the other grills we used. The Spirit II’s quality parts also fit together nicely—we didn’t experience any swaying or bowing while cooking. It also comes equipped with durable cast-iron grill grates.

The Spirit II E-310 features Weber’s GS4 cooking system, which is an impressive setup. It includes an electronic ignition, high-performance burners, flavorizer bars, and a grease management system. It also comes with two large side tables, and you can purchase a convenient app-connected thermometer if you so choose.

The grill starts with the push of a button, and its three burners register sear-worthy temperatures of around 550 degrees Fahrenheit. At such a high temperature, we had little trouble achieving grill marks on our test steak and burgers. The flavorizer bars (that seemed like a marketing gimmick to us at first) actually did make for more flavorful food by vaporizing meat drippings as they fell through the grate.

We did have a few gripes with the Spirit II, though. The propane tank is positioned on the side, meaning the tank is visible, and it also has no side burner. Overall, these are minor issues given the Weber Spirit II’s reasonable price, high performance, and durable construction. You would have a hard time finding a better all-around grill than the Spirit II E-310.

Product Specs

• Type: Propane
• Cooking surface: 529 square inches
• British thermal units (BTUs): 30,000

Pros

• Sturdy construction with heavy-gauge sheet metal and durable enamel coating
• Includes attractive features, including flavorizer bars and optional smart control
• 3 burners create high temperatures for searing meat and vegetables

Cons

• Open cabinet design allows propane tank to be fully visible
• Does not include a side burner

Get the Weber Spirit II E-310 grill at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Best Buy, or Weber.

Best Bang for the Buck

Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner Gas Grill

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The Char-Broil brand is known for the value it provides with its line of gas grills. Among the many models it offers, this four-burner model is perhaps the best of the bunch. You get a lot at a price under $400, including 425 square inches of cooking surface. We were able to fit plenty of burgers, steaks, and kabobs on board while still having enough space between the food for flipping and turning. We also liked the four burners, which gave us plenty of options for creating multiple heat zones and grilling different kinds of food simultaneously.

There is a bit of a trade-off in power with the Charbroil. At 9,000 BTUs each, the burners were only able to get the cooking surface temperature up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which made it harder to achieve a good sear on steaks and burgers. It did, however, do a nice job of evenly heating the cooking surface at lower temperatures.

We loved the fact that the Char-Broil looks a lot more expensive than it is. It features all-stainless steel construction, with the exception of the frame, giving it an attractive overall look. We did find it odd that Char-Broil does not include any hooks for grill tools, and there’s no storage space under the grill. Also, the positioning of the propane tank leaves it partially exposed, which detracts somewhat from the grill’s aesthetics.

The Char-Broil does come with some nice extras, including a large warming rack on the interior and a side burner for cooking sauces and side dishes. We found the Char-Broil to be one of the easier grills to clean. The bottom tray slides completely out, making it easy to clean off drippings and food bits post grilling.

While the Char-Broil may not reach quite the level of performance of some of the pricier gas grills out there, the size of its cooking surface and handsome appearance make it an excellent grill for the money.

Product Specs

• Type: Propane
• Cooking surface: 425 square inches
• BTUs: 36,000

Pros

• Large cooking surface can handle a lot of food at once
• Can create multiple cooking zones with 4 burners
• Large removable tray under the burners makes cleanup easy

Cons

• Doesn’t get as hot as other gas grills

Get the Char-Broil 4-burner grill at Amazon or Wayfair.

Upgrade Pick

Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Natural Gas Grill

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With its smart controls, advanced grilling features, and thoughtful storage design, Weber’s Genesis series of smart grills takes gas grilling to another level. For starters, the Genesis EPX-335 features significantly more cooking space than Weber’s smaller Spirit line of grills. This model boasts nearly 800 square inches of cooking surface broken up over three cooking zones. We found this to be ample space to grill hamburgers, kabobs, and steaks simultaneously at varying temperatures.

Weber gas grills are known for their high performance, and the Genesis didn’t disappoint. Thanks to its dedicated sear burner, we recorded surface temperatures of more than 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which was significantly higher than other gas grills we tested. Needless to say, this intense heat allowed us to sear a nice crust on our steaks and burgers.

What also sets the Genesis EPX-335 apart are its digital controls and smart capability. The control panel on the side burner allows you to monitor the grill’s temperature and includes multiple ports for smart meat thermometers. Once set up, we used the Weber Connect app to monitor the grill temperatures and digital thermometers as well as set timers and alerts.

The EPX-335 is also solidly constructed, with its heavy-gauge sheet metal, cast-iron hood, thick enamel coatings, and cast-iron grill grates. This grill is certainly built to last.

We also liked the control knob lighting and the built-in LED hood lighting that cast a bright light over the grill surface—both made it easier to grill at night. The EPX-335 has two side tables, which are notably larger than those on other grills. It offers ample storage in the grill cabinet and a side cabinet that opens under one of the side tables.

While the Genesis EPX-335 grill comes with a steep price tag, its outstanding performance, smart controls, and quality construction make it worth the cost.

Product Specs

• Type: Natural gas
• Cooking surface: 787 square inches
• BTUs: 39,000

Pros

• 4 burners create very high surface temperatures for searing
• Large cooking surface can handle a lot of food at once
• Durable heavy-gauge sheet metal and cast-iron construction
• LED lighting for controls and cooking surface; ample storage space

Cons

• Takes up a lot of space at more than 5 feet wide

Get the Weber Genesis EPX-335 grill at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, BBQ Guys, or Weber.

Best Flattop Grill

Cuisinart CGG-0028 28-Inch 2-Burner Gas Griddle

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A high-quality cooking surface and a surprisingly portable design make the Cuisinart the best all-around flattop grill we tested. The sturdy rolled-steel cooktop is powered by two 15,000-BTU burners, which heat the surface to temperatures above 600 degrees Fahrenheit. After seasoning the cooktop (a process that takes about 45 minutes), we used the dual-burner system to cook steak and chicken fajitas, and we loved the char we were able to get.

We really liked having two cooking zones to work with. We seared meat on one side while cooking our veggies at a lower temperature on the other. The Cuisinart also has two grease cups—a design that made collecting grease from the surface much easier than with the single grease tray most other flattop grills have.

Our only gripe was with temperature control. One of the advantages of a flattop grill is its ability to cook food you can’t cook on a grill, such as pancakes and eggs. With the Cuisinart, we found it a little more challenging to keep the temperature low enough to avoid overcooking these more delicate foods.

The Cuisinart’s 644 square inches of cooking surface is smaller than other full-size flattops; however, we didn’t feel limited, even while cooking for six people. In fact, we found Cuisinart’s smaller size to be an advantage. While most flattop grills fold up for transport, we found the Cuisinart more portable than most. At just 17.5 inches high by 28 inches long (when folded up), we found it much easier to load into the trunk of a car than other full-size flat tops. This small size makes it easier to store too.

With its compact size, quality construction, and excellent performance, the Cuisinart is a great all-around flattop grill, especially for those who may already have a gas or charcoal grill taking up real estate on their deck.

Product Specs

• Type: Propane
• Cooking surface: 644 square inches
• BTUs: 30,000

Pros

• Quality construction with a rolled-steel cooktop
• More compact and portable than most full-size flattops
• Powerful burners heat cooking surface to high temperatures
• Grease management system makes it easy to clean

Cons

• Can be difficult to control heat when cooking at lower temperatures

Get the Cuisinart grill at Amazon, The Home Depot, BBQ Guys, Wayfair, or Cuisinart.

Best Charcoal Grill

Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill