Best grills in 2024

Peak grilling season may be behind us, but you'd be missing out if you didn't use your grill to cook up a feast into fall and beyond. Cooler temperatures can actually make grilling a more enjoyable experience, and if you opt for something low and slow, you could even leave your smoker in the yard for a few hours while you cosy up indoors. 

While there are few things I love more than using my beloved grill to entertain friends and family, I'll be the first to admit that recommending an overall 'best grill' is a tall order. There are so many things to consider: style, size, type, and the sort of space you're working with. Not to mention, the all-important price. 

After 5 years of testing market-leading grills, I've picked the trusty Weber Spirit II E-310 as my overall best grill in 2024. It's ideal for most people, with the convenience of gas, a range of size options, plenty of portability, and a price point that many shoppers could stomach. When I tested it, I found it did a great job of adding smokey flavor, and thankfully, building wasn't too traumatic. If you have a higher budget, or you've got a penchant for charcoal, you should buy the Kamado Joe Classic I, which looks fantastic and offers durability and heat-retention that punches well above its weight. 

The quick list

Here’s the best grills you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews. 

Best gas grill

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For a thick juicy pork chop with criss-cross grill marks, you can’t beat the Weber Spirit II E-310. Want to smoke a turkey? Turn the heat down and you’ll get a moist flavorful bird with a burnished skin. This grill evenly cooks with minimal flare ups, whether you cook on high or low. 

This smart grill is compatible with Weber's iGrill3 system, which means you can buy a compatible thermometer (sold separately, which is a shame) and monitor the progress of your food remotely using the Weber app. 

Assembly was remarkable straightforward for such a capable grill. Its large wheels make it super portable, but it also feels secure when in use. Although Weber undeniably sells more powerful grills, the Weber Spirit II E-310 gets the balance right between price and performance. 

The Weber also includes a full array of convenient features, including a shelf where you can stash things like mitts and paper towels, tool hooks, a side table that can be raised and lowered for space-efficiency, and a temperature gauge to show the internal temperature of the grill while you let it pre-heat. 

See our full Weber Spirit II E-310 review

Best charcoal grill

The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill has a grate that’s big enough for a whole mess of hamburger patties. However, because it’s easy to adjust the heat by opening and closing the vents in the bottom and in the lid, this grill is remarkably versatile and can definitely go beyond burgers and brats. It can turn out a perfectly seared medium-rare porterhouse or thoroughly-cooked chicken with a crispy golden-brown skin. The grate is hinged on both sides so it’s easy to add more briquets if you’re having a party and turning out hot dogs throughout the evening. 

Extras include a thermometer in the lid and hooks for hanging up your tools. A heat shield underneath the lid handle makes it easy to lift without singeing your hand, and the lid rests on the side of the grill while you flip the steaks or baste the ribs. Underneath the kettle, there’s a big bucket called an ash catcher; you use a lever to sweep the ashes into it and then it’s easy to remove and empty without leaving a trail of ashes along the way. 

This grill is available in three sizes: 18, 22, and 26 inches, so you can choose one that best suited to cooking food for just you and a few people, or a whole family. The only thing missing are side tables.

Best Kamado grill

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Cooks who love to try new things, and want to expand their repertoire beyond the basics, will love a kamado grill. The best of the bunch is the Kamado Joe Classic 18-inch KJ23RHC. This ceramic baby is heavy and will set you back a big chunk of change, but it will reward you with unparalleled control over the heat. 

That way you can cook an artisanal pizza in mere minutes, smoke a pork butt for hours, as well as grill everything in between. What you don’t get is a lot of room to load on the burgers – so you should expect to cook about 8 to 10 at once.

While you can use briquettes, you’ll get the best results if you use lump hardwood charcoal. This kamado comes with a wheeled stand and has side tables for resting your basting sauce and a cold one. When it’s time to clean up, all you have to do is slide out the ash drawer and dispose of the ashes. Safely of course.

Best smart grill

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Our Smart Home Editor Hunter put the Brisk It Origin 580 through its paces in his yard, and he's now a full-blown AI cooking convert. The Brisk It uses Vera AI, which creates personalized recipes and talks you through every step as you go, creating a hands-free cooking process that's perfect for beginners.  

Hunter asked the Brisk It to make him a recipe that would be finished in under 4 hours, using a 2 pound pork loin, and the AI app told him exactly how to prepare his grill to get a perfect result. 

It probably goes without saying, but if you're not keen on smart tech or pairing every new purchase with another new app, this won't be for you. But if you love smoked meats and don't know where to start, this smart grill will walk you through the process. 

See our full Brisk It Origin 580 A.I. Powered and WiFi Grill review

Best pellet grill

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If you enjoy outdoor cooking on a regular basis, the Traegar Timberland XL is what you need. The Traeger Timberline XL is the latest version of the company’s flagship line of grills, and is the state of the grilling art at its most advanced.  In addition, it allows you to cook a wide range of delicious foods at once, on its three grates (two of which are adjustable), providing a total of 1,320 square inches of cooking surface.

It's loaded with impressive features such as an updated, full-color touch display, four buttons for accessing various features, dial for adjusting the temperature and navigating menus and Wi-Fi connectivity. The induction cooking feature is ideal for sauteed vegetables, caramelized onions, and charred corn. 

Performance-wise, it grilled meats to perfection, ranging from juicy burgers, roast chicken, fall-apart-tender ribs and succulent smoked salmon. It even did well in searing romaine lettuce and toasting croutons if you fancied grilled Caesar salad. Plus, it has a handy storage space underneath to store all your accessories and grilling essentials. 

Bear in mind, it is twice as expensive than its predecessor. However, the Timberline is a great way to grill, making it a worthwhile investment.  

Read our full review for the Traeger Timberline XL grill

Best barrel charcoal grill

If you want to do more than sling hot dogs and burgers on your charcoal grill, the Royal Gourmet is ideal. It has a crank that lets you raise and lower the charcoal pan to help control the heat. When you want to quickly grill brats, move the coals right below them. To slowly smoke a side of salmon without flare-ups, lower them. 

There’s even a door underneath the grates that makes it easy to keep adding charcoal as the hungry crowd thickens. Plus you’ll find you need a lot of charcoal to keep the Royal Gourmet burning, so make sure you stock up before the party starts. 

This model has side tables to hold your tongs and trays and platters. You’ll also find a thermometer in the lid to give you a rough idea as to how hot it is under the grill, a warming rack that’s helpful for heating buns, and an easy to remove ash tray. Below the grill there’s a bottom shelf to keep extra charcoal or a roll of paper towels.  

Best pellet grill on a budget

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill makes the process of smoking pretty much stress free. You add hardwood pellets to a hopper, set a target temperature, and the grill does the rest. It has an electronically-controlled thermostat that works like the one in your indoor oven. The only caveat is that if the temp you want is super-hot to get a steak browned and crusty on the outside and rosy on the inside, you won’t be getting it from this grill which tops out at 500°F.   

If you want to go about your yard work, or even just loll in a hammock while your ribs are smoking, you can connect the Traeger to an app which will let you know when it’s time to baste, raise the temp to finish them off, or alert you that they’re ready to serve.

Best flat top griddle

Instead of grates, the Blackstone 36" Griddle Cooking Station has the kind of large flat cooking surface you see in diners. That gives you room for 28 burgers at once, and means your hot dogs and shrimp won’t fall through the slats. 

Underneath are four burners that you can set to different temperatures, so you can keep garlic bread warm on low while simultaneously searing some steaks. Just keep in mind that you won’t get grill marks, and won’t be able to smoke ribs or brisket. 

On one of the side tables, there’s a built-in cutting board that can be removed for cleaning. There’s also a place to hang a roll of paper towels and hooks to hang a trash bag. On the bottom, there’s even a shelf to give you some storage space. The Blackstone is easy to assemble, but remember that you will have to clean the griddle top and season it before you fire it up for the first time.

Best portable grill

If you want to grill away from home, the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best portable grill. You can depend on it for the same great cooking results you get from all Weber grills. Rather than a big tank of LP gas, it uses 14- or 16-ounce propane cylinders, which last about a couple of hours. Most likely you’ll be taking it to a park or beach, and using it for quick-cooking items like steaks or chicken breasts (or a couple of lobsters you pick up at the shore) but not for smoking a turkey or a shoulder of pork, so a single cylinder should do per outing.

It has side tables that are just as handy on the road as when you’re grilling in the backyard, but they fold up for travel so the grill is easy to transport. Other conveniences include a lid thermometer and an easy to remove and clean drip pan.  

Best compact grill

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If you love grilling outdoors, but lack backyard space the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill is the ideal choice. Despite its small stature, primed for tabletop use in cramped spaces, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill boasts an array of cooking modes. Features range from grill smoker, air fry and bake to reheat, proving how versatile this grill is.

It's easy to use via a neat control panel, and simply turn the power dial to select one of seven cooking functions. Best of all, it has a Woodfire Flavor Technology button for injecting additional smoke into your food. 

With impressive results, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill excelled in grilling juicy beefburgers, however, you might need to experiment with the temperature for foods such as salmon. However, if you're only looking to cater for a small household, or just want to grill a small quantity, this is great value for money. 

Read our full Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review.

How to choose the best grill

Before you decide which grill is right for you, there are several factors you need to consider. First, you need to decide which fuel-type is best for you. You should also think about which style of grill you want. Once you've made up your mind, you can narrow down your options based on the best features and overall design. Here are some guidelines to help get you started. 

Grill fuel types

Propane Gas: A popular option because it's easy to light, quick to heat and simple to clean. Whether you're cooking on a high temperature or need a slow burner, propane gas will produce good results. If we're being picky, some say it doesn't produce as much of a barbequed flavor as charcoal grills, but it's the best for convenience. Generally, it's good to use for grilling all year around. 

Most gas grills will be hooked up to a tank of liquid propane gas. If you already use a tank to fuel your kitchen range, then that can also be connected to your grill, meaning you would never run out of gas! Some models can also be connected to the natural gas line in your home. 

Don’t be wowed by BTUs. While they tell you how much gas the grill uses, and in theory should tell you how powerful it is, more BTUs doesn’t necessarily mean higher heat or better cooking. 

Charcoal: These grills require effort to light, control, and clean up. But hands down,  they give the smokiest flavor. Charcoal grills may use standard briquettes or the more expensive hardwood lump charcoal, but both types have their advantages.

Charcoal grilling is also more time consuming than using gas, since charcoal requires 15 to 20 minutes of burning time before reaching cooking temperatures, and has more involved cleanup when you're done.

Pellet: Using hardwood pellets, this type of grill produces distinctive deep smoky flavor. You fill the hopper with pellets and the grill’s electronics do the rest, maintaining a very even temperature. They’re particularly good for slow cooking foods like a pork roast, brisket, or side of salmon.  However, pellet grills don’t sear as well as other types of grills so if your idea of a great meal is a crusty steak, this isn’t the type for you.   

Grill styles

There are also several styles of grill, which vary based on fuel type and design.

Kettle grills take up the least space and lets you build a deep bed of briquets to hold in heat. That makes it good for longer cooking items like chicken or ribs as well as for searing steaks and burgers.

Barrel grills are, you guessed it, like a barrel lying on its side. They use a large quantity of briquets and can cook a lot of food at once; but they tend to burn out sooner so they’re better for hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks than brisket or turkey breast. 

Kamado grills look a bit like traditional kettle models, but are made of heavy ceramic instead of lightweight sheet metal. The kamado design was popularized by the Big Green Egg brand, but similar ceramic designs are now offered by several companies.

While they’re not cheap, they hold in heat and give you lots of control for cooking all kinds of food, making them very popular with serious cooks who like to grill. The ceramic construction retains heat well, making them well suited to non-traditional grilling for dishes like pizza and deserts, but they’re heavy, use a lot of briquets, and don’t have a very big cooking surface.

You may also want to check out how to clean a grill or how to sharpen a knife when carving your delicious grilled meats.

What type of grill offers the best flavor?

If want to master that authentic, smoked taste, charcoal grills are known to give the best flavor.  While gas grills are said to offer the cook more control, without the risk of burning or scorching foods that are often associated with charcoal grillers. 

Do you like pizza? Check out our Ooni Fyra 12 review, as well as our Breville Pizzaiolo review.

Regardless of what type of fuel you use or style of grill you prefer, there are other things to look for in any grill you might consider buying, from the overall quality of construction to convenience features that make grilling safer and cleaning up easier.

Construction: A grill that’s built of thick metal or stainless won’t rust. A thicker material will also hold in heat better. It should sit firmly on the ground so it can’t be easily knocked over or even blown over. Look for stainless steel or bronze burners which are durable and won’t rust.

Wheels or Casters: At least two wheels on a grill make it easy to move it from place to place.

Lid: A tight fitting lid holds heat in.

When to replace your grill

Most brands will offer two kinds of warranty: one will cover labor, which typically lasts for up to two years, and a secondary warranty for parts, which will usually last much longer. This coverage can last for the lifetime of the grill, and will cover all of the essential parts, such as the burner, cooking grids and the housing. Your grill’s lifespan will also depend on how well you take care of it. For instance, here are 7 grilling mistakes you didn’t know you were making. 

First of all, you should keep it clean, which means covering it when it’s not in use and sheltering it from the elements. These are just some of the 5 tips to make your grill last longer — and perform better. If you opt for a grill which is made of durable materials, such as cast iron or stainless steel, these can last for as long as 20 years. We don’t recommend buying an extended warranty because these tend to cost more than any potential repairs during the grill’s lifetime. 

If any repair costs are half the value of a new grill, we suggest buying a replacement. Similarly, if you notice any rust or cracks in the firebox, you’re better off investing in a new grill. If cracks appear in the gas hose and regulator, then you’ve got a potential gas leak on your hands, so you should at least replace those parts before using your grill again.   

What accessories do you need for grilling?

You'll also need to make sure you have the right tools for grilling up a feast. These include quality grill tongs, spatula, skewers for handling smaller ingredients, a meat thermometer, and of course, grill gloves for extra safety. 

And don't forget the clean-up! You'll need one of the best grill brushes to keep your grill clean from stuck-on food and extend the life of the grill grates. More importantly, you want to ensure your food is tasty at all times!

Features to look out for

If you haven’t looked for a new grill in some time, you might be surprised at how attractive the entry-level models can be. Many of these are now available in stainless steel, which gives your backyard a more modern appeal. If you buy one of the latest models, you can also benefit from some of the new features on offer.

Some grills come with built-in containers to hold your wood chips and on occasion, a smoke chamber. You might also come across sear stations, rotisseries, side burners and built-in thermometers, all of which have their uses. Like many other appliances, grills are getting smarter too with some offering Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. With this, you can get notified when it’s time to flip the burgers, baste your dish or serve up. It can even let you know when it’s running low on gas. 

Be on the lookout for hooks on which to hold your tools as well — it’s a simple, but useful addition which you can find regardless of the price. Side tables are convenient as well for placing dishes. Removable ash catchers and drip pans are also good to have as they help with cleaning up. 

If you prefer to cook indoors, here are 7 things I learned from using my George Foreman grill. 

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