There are few things in life as fun as an outdoor barbecue with your friends and family. Everyone gets together to enjoy themselves and eat some delicious food. For a memorable barbeque experience, you will need a good grill. So, allow us to help you organize your perfect barbeque with the leading outdoor grills in 2025.
An outdoor grill is a device that applies heat from below to cook food. It is the heart and soul of any barbeque. When buying an outdoor grill, several factors need to be considered, such as size, fuel type, price, fuel consumption rate, and extra features. It needs to be practical, reliable, and not cost you a fortune.
Buying one without doing your research can cause you to make a bad investment, so isn’t it great that we have already done this research for you? Today, we will be talking about what to look for when buying an outdoor grill and teaching you all about them. Let’s get grilling!
This charcoal outdoor grill is classic for a reason. It is similar to the original 22-inch kettle with minimal alterations. Even though this one has a compact design, the flexible cooking area of 363 sq-inches can accommodate up to thirteen well-seared burgers.
This outdoor grill features a hinged steel grate for easy input of charcoal without having to remove the grate completely. The porcelain-enameled lid traps the heat and smoke while the food cooks on the grate. Furthermore, Weber offers one-touch cleanup paired with a removable aluminum ash catcher for quick and easy cleaning of their outdoor grill. The assembly is also pretty straightforward with clear instructions provided on the digital app.
| Rust-proof aluminum dampers | Hinged steel grate for easy access |
| Incorporated lid thermometer | Available in three different colors |
With a completely steel body, the Blackstone outdoor grill features a sleek and stylish design. It is extremely spacious with a cooking area of 720 sq-inches that allows you to cook for the entire neighborhood if you’re game. The side panels offer great convenience by further enlarging the grilling space.
This propane-powered grill has four stainless steel burners, each 15000 BTUs, with an independent temperature control system for a well-circulated heating supply. It is super easy to set up and start. Powered with electric ignition, you can start it real quick with the help of a push-button without any fuss. Also, this outdoor grill is movable and equipped with four caster wheels for easy portability.
| Electric push-button ignition | Huge 720 sq-inches of cooking space |
| Four 15,000 BTU burners | Four heavy-duty caster wheels |
Weber’s charcoal grill is one of the most versatile and durable options at a friendly price point. The steel-plated grill grate provides a generous cooking space of 363 sq-inches that can easily serve meals for your average family of four to five people.
The kettle bowl and dome-shaped lid come with a porcelain-enameled layer for enhanced durability. While the two of them work on retaining the heat, the aluminum dampers on the top and bottom allow for precise temperature control. This outdoor grill requires simple cleaning with a detachable aluminum ash catcher. It takes no more than fifteen minutes to assemble and requires almost no tools, so you’ll be good to go when cookout time comes.
| Durable steel construction | Steel-plated cooking grate |
| Dome-shaped porcelain lid | Detachable ash catcher |
Made out of cast iron, the Blackstone flat top outdoor grill is one of the lightest options you’ll find on the market. Despite its compact size, this grill has a sufficient grilling area of 260 sq-inches to serve a whole family. The griddle top is constructed of a cold-rolled steel surface. It comes with a stainless steel “H” style burner for quick and even heating with a total heat output of 12000 BTUs.
This grill incorporates a battery-powered ignition system for a fast start-up using economical 1-pound propane bottles. The grease management system is another great feature that adds to its versatility. Moreover, with the Blackstone outdoor grill, your post-meal cleanup becomes a breeze.
| All-metallic construction | Battery-powered ignition system with propane burners |
| Compact size for portability | Built-in grease catcher |
The Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill is all set to bring more life to your backyard barbeque nights. Made using cast aluminum, this outdoor grill’s body is extremely sturdy. Even with a smaller cooking area of 189 sq-inches, this grill makes up for it with an already-assembled frame, saving you a ton of time.
This compact grill’s burner produces a whopping 8500 BTU per hour using liquid propane as fuel. The grill also boasts fold-out side tables, a thermometer on the lid, and an electronic ignition so that you can start cooking with just the press of a button.
| Easy to assemble | Compact 189 sq-inch cooking space |
| Built-in thermometer for temperature control | Works with AAA batteries |
Now that you know all about the best that the outdoor grill market has to offer, let’s spice things up by equipping you with all the knowledge that you will need when looking for one.
In today’s article, we’ll be looking at these two types of outdoor grills:
The two types vary based on the fuel that is used to power them. Let’s now take a brief look at the main characteristics of the two types of outdoor grills and assess their differences.
As their name suggests, charcoal-powered outdoor grills run on charcoal. The smokey aroma of this fuel lends a distinct taste and crispiness to the meat cooked on charcoal grills. Generally priced at the lower end, charcoal outdoor grills are also greatly preferred due to the high level of control that they grant their users.
Propane-fuelled outdoor grills, on the other hand, run on propane. The clean-burning of this fuel means that there is no ash, soot, or tar all-around your grill. So, cleaning this type of outdoor grill is a breeze. Moreover, propane-powered outdoor grills are generally more expensive but a lot easier and more convenient to use because of the speedy setup.
When shortlisting the best outdoor grill models for you, our team focused on two main factors: ease of assembly and ease of cleaning. Both of those factors help you to spend more time cooking and eating rather than doing maintenance on them. We recommend that you do the same when you’re looking to buy one.
Always remember that when you purchase something, you should feel good about spending time using it and reaping benefits from it. In the case of an outdoor grill, this equals you spending time cooking and eating. However, if you’re spending too much of your valuable time assembling it or bringing it into working condition, something is wrong.
Our team ensured that all our top-picked outdoor grills were easy to assemble. Concise yet informative instructional manuals and minimal usage of tools during assembly are the keys to success in this department. Many grills also have online, video, or app-based instructions to help you get your grill up and running even faster.
We will reiterate; more time should be spent enjoying your new purchase and less time doing not-so-enjoyable tasks. Unless you’re someone who enjoys cleaning (we’re not judging), this means that your new outdoor grill should take minimal time to clean. So, we ensured features like ash catchers and drains for grease management that would help you clean up your grill after a great grilling session in no time!
We recommend that you think about these two factors when in the market for a new outdoor grill:
As far as portability goes, we recommend looking for grills that are either lightweight or have some sort of wheels or handles that can make moving around much less difficult. A compact grill is best for outdoor use since it is portable and easy to store.
However, a smaller size should not have to come at the expense of a less cooking area. Even the most compact grill should have enough cooking area for 4-6 burgers. This translates to at least 150 sq-inches of cooking space.
Colors and design are the two key factors that make your grill elegant and aesthetically pleasing. Granted, these aesthetics should never top its functionality, but it won’t hurt anyone if you had a solid-looking grill. Many grills come in several color options and occasionally feature a few sizes depending on the manufacturer. It is up to your personal preference which kind of grill you’ll target when purchasing one, but it’s always a good idea to go with the one that makes you feel the best while cooking. A happy cook is a good cook!
Let’s roll the curtains on this buyer’s guide section by taking you through some additional tips that will help you buy the outdoor grill of your dreams:
The BTU rating of the burner unit is its heat-producing capacity. Your grill should be capable of producing around 8000+ BTU per hour to reach a suitable cooking temperature. Lower BTU will mean it will take longer to cook your food, or even impossible to use the grill to cook certain things at all. Many portable grills will also have more than just a single burner, with some reaching as high as four or six, but the BTU count is the main signifier of a powerful grill.
This goes without saying, but you must also look for outdoor grills that are meant to last. From rust-resistant grill grates to heavy-duty footing, a well-made grill will ensure that you can keep grilling for generations to come. With portable grills especially, accidents can always occur, so it’s a good idea to invest in a grill that will stand up to any beating it takes from falls or scrapes.
Always try to look for features that make the grill easier to use, such as ergonomic design and a quick ignition system. The fuel source should also be easy to install and the grill should preferably come with an in-built temperature control system. Some grills also feature foldable side tables that can be very useful when cooking to free up your hands when table or counter space is lacking.
The factors that differentiate an outdoor grill from the basic ones are a decent cooking area, portability in the form of heavy-duty wheels, and a high heating capacity. We also recommend looking out for convenience features like easy ignition, effortless cleaning, and undemanding assembly and fuel-loading abilities.
The exact cooking area that you need will obviously depend on your preferences. If you often find yourself cooking for the entire neighborhood, you'll need at least 500 sq-inches of cooking area. This will allow you to flip around 24 burgers at the same time. You can go for smaller ones if you're sure you'll never find yourself in a grilling competition with the other dads of the neighborhood or if you have a small family.
Weber Inc. is the OG when it comes to outdoor grills. In 1951, George Stephen created the original round charcoal kettle grill. Today, their Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill can truly be termed as being the best-of-the-best when it comes to outdoor grills on Amazon.