The Best Gas Grills, According to Our Ridiculously Rigorous (and Very On-Brand) Testing

Gas grills are the first choice for most Americans, and have been for many years. Their appeal is clear: no need to get your hands dirty with charcoal and ashes, just hit the ignition and set your cooking temperature with the control knobs. (You can read about all the differences between gas and charcoal grills right here.) A recent survey by The Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) revealed that of the 70% of adults in the US who own a grill or smoker, 63% have gas grills. Manufacturers know you love 'em, so they keep rolling out new models year after year.

A dizzying array of gassers is available with prices from under $100 to more than $20,000. To grab your attention, manufacturers of cheap grills often include bells and whistles like cut-rate sear burners, side burners, rotisseries, and lights to entice you to buy their flimsy, low-quality junkers, built with low-grade stainless steel and held together with crummy fasteners that will rust and break apart after a couple of seasons. 

If you buy a $200 grill and have to replace it every couple of years, you might find yourself a decade later having shelled out $1,000. For that amount, you could have bought a better grill that would outperform those rust buckets and last for decades. On the other hand, many folks just want a cheap, disposable grill that they can use until it gets nasty, then head off to the hardware store for a shiny, new, low-cost replacement. (Not that we condone such a wasteful approach.)

There's something for everyone in the vast gas grill market. People always ask, "What's the best gas grill? What should I buy?" Better to start by asking yourself, "How much do I want to spend, and how big of a grill do I need?"

Editor’s note: This review was originally published in 2021 and in collaboration with Max Good of amazingribs.com. We’ve kept the relevant text from our original review (like the introduction and criteria section), but, in 2023, we re-tested grills at our Lab and updated our top picks to be more comprehensive of the current marketplace/offerings.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill

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Three burners, Weber performance and reliability, and a favorable price point? Sign us up.

The Best Large-Format Gas Grill Under $500

Monument Grills Stainless 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill

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This budget-friendly grill offers an expansive cooking surface and excellent performance. It strikes the right balance between capacity and value—and looks pretty dang sharp, too.

The Best Two-Burner Gas Grill

Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

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This is an ultra-responsive grill with exceptional heat retention. The compact size and reliable Weber name make this one an easy pick.

Another Good Two-Burner Option

Char-Broil Signature Series Amplifire 2-Burner Gas Grill

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A compact grill with Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared technology that eliminates flare-ups and yields consistent heating.

The Best Gas Grill for Versatility

Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill

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Not only is this grill available in three colors, it has an extra-large sear zone and an expandable grate for additional cooking surface.

The Best Gas Grill Splurge

Weber Genesis EX-325S Propane Gas Smart Grill

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This is a high-performance gas grill that integrates with your phone for perfect timing, every time.

The Tests

• Assembly Test: We assembled each grill, timing how long it took to do so. 
• Onion Heat Map Test: We cooked onion rounds on medium-high (evenly spaced across the entire cooking area), to evaluate how evenly the grill heated. 
• Burgers Test: We cooked 12 burgers on each grill, to assess its even cooking and searing abilities. 
• Fish Test: We cooked fish fillets on medium-high heat, seeing how the grills did with a delicate protein.
• Steak Test: We cooked steak on each grill, using both indirect and direct heat and evaluating searing.
• Usability Tests: Throughout testing, we evaluated how easy the grills were to ignite and use.
• Cleanup Tests: Twice throughout testing, we cleaned each grill per the manufacturer’s instructions. 

The Criteria: What We Look for in a Gas Grill

Price

For most of us, price is one of our main priorities when choosing a new grill. You can get decent, low-cost equipment, but you have to be realistic: a $200 grill won't be as well made as a $1,000 grill. On the other hand, if you have room in your budget for premium or luxury grills, your expectations should shoot up along with the price tags.

Size

Condo dwellers and campers may want small, portable grills, and there are plenty to choose from. For everyone else, we recommend going as big as your patio and pocketbook allow. Even if you don't have a large family or host a lot of parties, bigger is better. For one thing, you don't want to crowd the grill. On top of that, most gas grills have a limited low-temperature range, only going down to about 400°F even with all burners on low. So if you want to do a roast at a moderate temperature or try your hand at low-and-slow pulled pork, you need a two-zone setup with some burners shut off to create a moderate, indirect zone with heat supplied by the lit burners and the meat on the opposite side. It’s an effective grilling technique, but it forces you to only cook on half your grill. That means a small, two-burner grill gets really small.

We recommend a minimum of three burners for flexibility and versatility, otherwise, your grilling menu will be limited. (However, we do have two two-burner picks, from Weber and Char-Broil, for those who are seldom grillers, on a budget, and/or truly short on space.) And be sure to get a model with a lid—gas grills without lids are good for simple grilling, like cooking burgers over direct heat, not roasting chickens and turkeys.

Heat Flux vs. BTUs

Manufacturers tout the number of BTUs (British thermal units) their gas grills can produce, but that number can be very misleading. BTUs don't indicate how much useful cooking heat a grill generates; they just tell you how much fuel it burns. Naturally, larger grills with more burners will burn more fuel and have a higher BTU rating.

A much more useful indicator of a grill's searing power is heat flux,* which calculates BTUs per square inch by dividing the total BTUs of all the main burners by the square inches of the primary cooking surface. On average, heat flux for a gas grill is around 85 BTUs per square inch from the main burners, excluding additional sear, side, and rotisserie burners.

Thermometers

Whatever grill you choose, we cannot emphasize this enough: Don't pay any attention to the built-in dial thermometers. Those ancient bimetal heat estimators can be off by 50°F to 100°F. Furthermore, they're usually located in the lid, not down on the grill surface where the food is. Knowing the temperature there is useful only if you plan to eat the lid.

To achieve your backyard dreams, you absolutely need accurate digital thermometers, including both instant-read thermometers to get quick, accurate readings anywhere you want in a piece of meat, and probe thermometers, which can track the progress of cooking and sound an alarm when your target temp is reached. Based on our reviews, we recommend the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE and ThermoWorks Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer, respectively.

How We Picked Our Winners

For this review, our testers assessed gas grills on their heating speed and consistency, responsiveness to temperature adjustments, build quality, and overall cooking performance. We also assessed pain points like hot spots, sticking, flare-ups, food falling through grates, and how much of a hassle it was to clean each grill after use. We even looked at details like a grill’s maneuverability, design features, and knob construction.

In short, we took this job pretty seriously!

The Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill

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Weber’s Spirit II E-310 is a winner in our books thanks to its just-right size and reliable performance. This is the grill to go for if you’ve been eyeing the E-210 but aren’t quite sure just two burners will cut it. 

Our tests indicated that, once the E-310 is warmed up, temperature control knobs are responsive within 30-to-60 seconds. Heat is mostly evenly distributed, with the very center of the grill getting slightly hotter than the edges—not uncommon! We did experience some flare-ups while flipping burgers, but there was no negative impact on the result.

Put simply, the Weber Spirit II E-310 is capable enough for experienced grillers while remaining easy enough to use so as to not be intimidating to newbies. Between the Weber quality and longevity, the reasonable price point, and the practical 529 square-inch cooking surface, this grill is a tough one to beat. Overall, this grill was a joy to cook with and we recommend it wholeheartedly.

Price at time of publish: $569.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 529 square inches
• Number of burners: 3
• Number of wheels: 2
• Warranty: 10 years
• Good to know: Includes 2 side tables and 6 tool hooks; compatible with this cover

The Best Large-Format Gas Grill Under $500

Monument Grills Stainless 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill

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This grill is easy to assemble, easy to ignite, and easy to move around thanks to its four caster wheels. We found it easy to cook with, too.

The spacious cooking surface means you can efficiently feed a crowd, and while burgers cooked further back on the grates had more defined grill marks than those toward the front, burgers, buns, and onions alike all came off with ease and great flavor. Fish skin did stick to the grates during our tests, but not to the detriment of the meal as the flesh was nicely cooked. Steaks came away with well-defined grill makers and nice, deep-brown caramelization.

We appreciated this gas grill’s quality construction, side burner, and responsive temperature controls. This is a large-format grill with solid performance at a great value, with one of our testers remarking that “a grill with this much cooking surface can usually cost double of what this Monument sells for.”

Price at time of publish: $379.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 723 square inches
• Number of burners: 4
• Number of wheels: 4
• Warranty: 1 year
• Good to know: Includes rotisserie kit and 2 side tables; compatible with this cover
  

The Best Two-Burner Gas Grill

Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

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This grill is small, yet spacious. Build quality is to Weber’s usual high standards, along with clear assembly instructions and straightforward cleaning. With its dual burners, we think the Spirit II E-210 is ideal for two-person households (for large-format meals, though, you'll want something bigger). Otherwise, “this grill is very versatile and can be used for grilling pretty much anything—including larger cuts," our tester said.

The Spirit II E-210 occupies an interesting position in the gas grill market. On one hand, it’s an excellent performer that's fairly priced. On the other hand, because this is just a two-burner grill, it’s possible you’ll want to upgrade to something larger before this model has run its course. But at the time of publishing this grill is available for just $449—a full $100 below retail price—so it just might hit the sweet spot if you buy now.

Price at time of publish: $449.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 450 square inches
• Number of burners: 2
• Number of wheels: 2
• Warranty: 10 years
• Good to know: Includes 2 side tables; compatible with this cover

Another Good Two-Burner Option

Char-Broil Signature Series Amplifire 2-Burner Gas Grill

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What makes the Char-Broil Amplifire unique is its TRU-Infrared grates. This technology means there are no hot spots or flare-ups, and since the grates are enamel-coated cast iron, the cooking surface is also nicely nonstick. For these reasons, we think this grill is a strong choice for beginning grillers who may prefer to ease themselves into the craft. Its tidy footprint means it’s also suitable for smaller outdoor spaces, like patios or balconies. Just fold down the side tables and tuck it away.

We were impressed with the Amplifire’s performance, with its even heat distribution and grates that—thanks to direct infrared heat—produced defined, well-caramelized grill marks on burgers, onions, and steaks alike. One drawback of all that contact is that the grates collect drippings from fats and oils, leading to increased smoke and burned bits. This wasn’t troublesome enough to be a dealbreaker, though.

Price at time of publish: $429.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 420 square inches
• Number of burners: 2
• Number of wheels: 4
• Warranty: 10 years (burner), 2 years (grate/lid), 1 year (other parts)
• Good to know: Includes 2 side tables; compatible with this cover
  

The Best Gas Grill for Versatility

Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill

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Yep, this grill brings us up to a new price point, but as the old saying goes: you get what you pay for. The Weber Genesis E-325s packs a remarkable 787 square inches of cooking surface into a three-burner grill, and it’s loaded with clever features to help you make the most of it.

There’s an extra-large sear zone, which we found especially great for steak and pork. Equally useful is the expandable top cooking grate, perfect for anything that can benefit from being finished over indirect heat—think vegetables, delicate fish, or burger buns. And for regular ‘ol grilling? Well, the E-325s excels there, too, with strong heat retention, minimal flare-ups, and grates that yield clean grill marks with even caramelization.  

But, is it really worth the price tag? Our consensus is yes. We think the E-325s is well-made and likely to last a decade or more. We also liked its wheels that locked, expandable top cooking grate, and larger side table.

Price at time of publish: $999.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 787 square inches
• Number of burners: 3
• Number of wheels: 4
• Warranty: 12 years (cookbox/lid), 10 years (burner tubes/grates), 3 years (electricals), 5 years (all other parts)
• Good to know: Includes 2 side tables and pull-out grease tray; compatible with this cover
  

The Best Gas Grill Splurge

Weber Genesis EX-325S Propane Gas Smart Grill

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In truth, the EX-325s is nearly the same grill as the E-325s. They have the same size cooking area, they both have the extra-large sear zone and expandable top grate, and they both delighted us with their outstanding performance. They’re also less than $200 apart—so what’s the difference? 

There’s one more set of bells and whistles with the EX-325, which features Weber Connect smart technology. That’s right—your grill (and its thermometers) can sync with your phone to allow real-time monitoring, complete with flip and and serve notifications. While we don’t especially think of grilling as a hands-off activity, we admit that this function could prove useful. Step away worry-free to answer the door and welcome guests, take a quick bathroom break, or, hey, why not grab another beer?

Fortunately, the technological learning curve is minimal. We thought the app was intuitive to use from the get-go. One of our testers summed it up nicely, saying that this grill is “no frills but with frills—enough to make me want to buy it.”   

Price at time of publish: $1,179.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 787 square inches
• Number of burners: 3
• Number of wheels: 4
• Warranty: 12 years (cookbox/lid), 10 years (burner tubes/grates), 3 years (electricals), 5 years (all other parts)
• Good to know: Includes 2 side tables and smart connectivity; compatible with this cover

The Competition

• Dyna-Glo Premier 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill, Black (DGP3321CNP-D): We found this grill easy to use, but it struggled with searing and cooked inconsistently.
• Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner (720-0925P): This spacious grill just didn't put out enough heat. Though it does have a side burner and is very inexpensive.
• Napoleon Prestige 500 Gas Grill: This grill was exceedingly easy to operate and just a joy to use, though we found it heated too unevenly.
  

FAQs

What's the difference between a gas grill and a charcoal grill?

There are many! For a TL;DR, check out the chart below or read our in-depth guide about the differences between gas and charcoal grills right here. When it comes to price, it's easier to stick to a lower budget with a charcoal grill—you can even get a good one for $99. A good gas grill will set you back further. When it comes to quick cooking, a gas grill will serve you well, but if you prefer longer, slower cooks where you want that smoky charcoal flavor, charcoal grills are best. Temperature-wise, charcoal grills can get much, much hotter—up to 1,200 degrees. They also can help you achieve that low and slow temp, whereas a gas grill's range is more limited.

Gas vs. Charcoal Grills
	Gas Grills	Charcoal Grills
Flavor	Good for fast-cooking foods	Superior for slow cooks
Smoking	Hard to trap smoke	Built for smoking
Temp Range	Around 225°F to 600°F (with no infrared sear zone)	As low as you want to 1200°F and up
Temp Control	Very easy to set and maintain	Requires practice and constant attention
Fire Up/Cool Down Time	5 to 10 minutes	About 30 minutes
Clean Up	Occasionally emptying grease trap and cleaning bars	Regularly disposing of ash and cleaning bars

How do I improve my gas grill's performance?

If you want to improve the performance of your gas grill (no matter which model you choose) invest in a set of GrillGrates. They'll help you build significantly more heat and improve your searing ability, while also evening out gas grills' hot and cool spots. You can read more about GrillGrates here.

Is a Weber grill worth the money?

Weber's Weber Spirit II E-310 is our favorite gas grill under $1000 and, we think, well worth the investment. It's easy to use and clean, is durable, and performs well. Weber also has excellent customer service.

What's the best way to store a grill?

We recommend buying a compatible cover and storing the grill in a dry, covered place when not being used for a long period of time or in order to protect it from inclement weather.