We've Tested More Than 80 Grills and These Ones Came Out on Top (2024)

Weber grills consistently rise to the top in our outdoor grill tests. They have solid builds with porcelain-enameled cast iron grates that heat evenly and create nice grill marks.

This Genesis EX-335 Smart Grill toasted bread the most evenly in our gas grill test and made a delicious steak with beautiful grill marks, a juicy pink center and no flare-ups. It has top-of-the-line features, including two temperature probes so you can monitor the internal temperature of food directly on the control panel or via the Weber Connect app.

In addition to being a smart gas grill, it's loaded with other standout details like a flashlight that attaches to the lid handle; knobs that illuminate when they're in use; large, sturdy side shelves and plenty of storage space. It has three burners, a searing section and a side burner. If you can do without the smart features and are looking to spend a bit less, consider the Weber Genesis E-335, which also performed well in our tests.

It can be tough to find a great quality grill for under $500, but the NexGrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill is an A+ choice for the price tag. In our tests, it showed an impressively even heating pattern and was excellent at searing steak. It delivered perfect grill marks with no noticeable smoking or flare-ups.

It earned top scores for ease of use with its two side shelves, concealed storage space and convenient access to both the propane tank and grease drainage system. It includes a side burner as well and has a gleaming stainless steel exterior.

Iconic in the industry and well-loved by consumers, it's no surprise this Weber kettle is a popular choice (and its slightly less expensive version, which has an exposed ashtray, has more than 8,000 five-star reviews on Amazon).

It's powered by charcoal and features an enclosed ash collector below the grill that makes cleanup easy; just use the lever to swipe the ash into the metal bin. The structure is sturdy but still lightweight, with solid accessories and a removable lid that can be rested on the side of the grill, and it can be rolled around easily for storage. In our tests, the handles stayed cool during cooking and it was easy to load and maintain the charcoal during the cooking process.

For an upgraded pick, consider Weber's Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill that's built-in to a rolling cart. It offers a prep area and a larger bottom shelf and it ignites with the push of a button so you don't have to use a separate chimney starter to light the coals. Home testers told us they love the ease of it all.

When it comes to cooking, this three-burner stainless steel grill is just about perfect. In our test, it turned out steaks with gorgeous grill marks that were beautifully rare and juicy. Chicken came off the grates golden brown, moist and tender — and all this with barely any flare-ups. After using it consistently for more than three years, it still turns on effortlessly, heats quickly and evenly, doesn't produce flare-ups and has stood up to the New York City elements.

We appreciate the many features that make it pleasant to use like sturdy side shelves, tool holders and a shelf to stash extra items. We also appreciate the propane tank holder that lets you know how much gas is left in the tank (a feature on many Weber grills). It comes with porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates that have held up nicely over the years.

Electric grills are great for people who live in areas where they're not allowed to use gas or charcoal, like on a balcony in an apartment building. They're also great for new grillers who prefer to skip the flame.

This electric grill from Weber is a great small outdoor grill and reaches high temps that create nice sear marks on food and cook it quickly. While it takes some time to preheat, the digital display lets you know when it reaches your desired temperature. It has dual cooking zones so you can cook foods at two different temperatures like you would on a gas or charcoal grill (i.e. one side can sear, while the other side is set to a lower temperature so you can cook the inside slowly or use it to gently cook veggies).

This Weber Pulse is small enough to be used as a tabletop grill or with a grill cart (sold separately), and the control panel comes off so it can be stored in a case indoors while the rest of the grill can remain outside. In our tests, we found the grill to be easy to use, and it cooked a strip steak with beautiful sear marks to 145ºF in about 8 minutes. Chicken thighs came out juicy and golden, too, in under 30 minutes.

For those looking for a small outdoor grill or to grill on-the-go, this gas grill from Weber doesn't compromise quality. It works with both a small propane tank or a standard-sized one depending on your needs.

In our tests, it heated evenly and made good steak and chicken thighs with no flare-ups. It has a built-in thermometer and an oversized handle that stayed cool during tests. The side shelves, which are a unique feature that most portable grills don't have, fold in when the grill is not in use. It's lightweight compared to other portable grills we tested and can be carried by one person. It can also be set up on a cart for a standing grill experience.

These ceramic egg-shaped grills that are known as Kamado grills are most often powered by charcoal. Their thick, heavy walls make them better at maintaining temperature than your traditional charcoal grill so you can smoke foods for a long time or cook at high temps like 750ºF.

This version from Kamado Joe stands out in the category for the brand's attention to detail. The shelves are made of a plastic material that won't wear over time, the rim of the base allows for a soft close and a good seal, the vent on the top of the grill is labeled and it has a built-in thermometer. It comes with a two-tiered grilling grate so you can better control your grilling experience, a grate removal tool, an ash removal tool and a pull-out ashtray.

The wheeled stand is helpful for moving it around, as it's very heavy.A smart version was released last year, which has a digital display that monitors the grill's cooking temperature and connects to temperature probes so you can keep track of how your food is cooking. It impressed us so much that it also won a GH Kitchen Gear Award!

Pellet grills are electric smokers that are powered by pellets (aka compressed pieces of wood that look like rabbit food). They can reach low temperatures and cook for hours without you having to check on them. They can also be used to bake food at higher temperatures and even grill around 500ºF although they usually don't produce the best sear marks.

Traeger's Ironwood 885 is one of our favorite pellet grills. It's sturdy but straightforward in design. In our tests, it cooked ribs nicely, leaving behind a subtle smoke ring. It also cooked a reverse steak well and some of the best brisket we ever tasted. It connects to an app, which monitors the ambient temperature, the internal temperature of your food, thanks to a couple of included probes and the pellet level.

Traeger offers an assortment of pellet grills, including smaller sizes in every model type. The Timberline is one of their top-of-the-line pellet grills that's decked out in smart features. It even comes with an induction burner so you can sear food or even fry outdoors.

We've tested more than 80 grills since 2011, including gas grills, charcoal grills, Kamado grills, pellet grills, electric grills and portable grills. (And that number doesn't even include indoor grills!)

To determine which new grills to test, we first scour the internet and popular retailers for newcomers, keep our eyes peeled at industry trade shows like CES and the Builder's Show and communicate with brands to learn about their latest models and innovations.

From there, we request samples to test and either put them together ourselves or hire an outside company to help. When we assemble the grills ourselves, we take notes on how easy or hard it is and record how long it takes, but we don't score the process since it's easy enough to buy grills pre-assembled (which we recommend!) and everyone's skill level (and patience level) is different.

We cook steak and chicken on charcoal grills as well, but we weigh ease of use more heavily since it's harder to control charcoal as a variable. When we test pellet grills, we cook steak, chicken and ribs.

In terms of ease of use, we value clear instructions, labeled parts and simple assembly. We also consider helpful accessories like shelves, side tables, tool holders, built-in thermometers, wheels, types of igniters and more.

After we complete our testing, we compare all of our notes to determine which performed the best.

✔️ Fuel type: The first thing to consider is what type of grill you'd like. The two main types are gas and charcoal. Gas is easy to use while charcoal is trickier to master but delivers a smokier taste. There are also Kamado grills that use charcoal and pellet grills that use wood pellets. (More on the pros and cons of each below.)

✔️ Size: Once you narrow down the type of grill you'd like to buy, think of how much room you have to use and store it, as well as how many people you're cooking for at a time. Three-burner gas grills are ideal for families of four or fewer but can still handle the occasional party. A 22-inch diameter is common for charcoal grills. If you don't have a lot of room, consider a portable grill that's typically much smaller but does the trick in terms of turning out a delicious meal.

✔️ Accessories: While side shelves and tool holders may not seem important, they make the overall grilling experience smoother. We also like shelves underneath the grill for storage, a quality set of wheels, tank holders for gas grills and more.

When buying a new outdoor grill, the two biggest players are gas and charcoal, but electric, Kamado and pellet grills are also fair game. When selecting what type of grill to buy, consider how often you'll be grilling, the amount of space you have for storage, what flavors you prefer and the amount of time and attention you'll want to spend cooking. Here are the basics on each:

✔️ Gas grills are popular for good reason. They offer excellent temperature control, plus they ignite with the push of a button, heat up quickly and are easy to clean. It's the go-to option for no-fuss grillers who plan to barbecue frequently. Just keep in mind that you'll need fuel from a propane tank or natural gas line on your property.

✔️ Charcoal grills use briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. Charcoal is more hands-on and takes time to heat up and cool down, but it imparts a better, smokier flavor than gas because it often gets hotter. It's best for grilling purists.

✔️ Kamado grills use charcoal to heat but are often made of ceramic and have thicker walls than classic charcoal grills. They can reach very hot temperatures, like a pizza oven, and they retain heat well for low-and-slow smokes.

✔️ Electric grills plug in and can't be beat for ease of use or convenience — especially grills that can be used indoors. Just don't expect steaks or burgers cooked on an electric grill to taste like the ones from a real BBQ although they're becoming better and better.

✔️ Pellet grills are a growing category. They use electricity and hardwood pellets made out of wood scraps to heat. Pellets provide a delicious, authentic hardwood flavor to food but can be costly.

Once you've picked a grill, you're going to need a few more necessities to elevate your barbecuing experience. Checkout some of our expert-approved roundups:

• Grilling accessories
• Grill tongs
• Grill baskets
• Grill brushes
• Grill cleaners