We Tested Over 50 Outdoor Grills. These 9 Are the Best.
Our top gas, charcoal, pellet and electric grill picks.
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A good outdoor grill is easy to use and can help you make a quick, delicious weeknight meal or one fit for a party. There are different types, from gas to charcoal, pellet and electric, and different sizes, from full-sized to portable. Each has its pros — and cons — and many people own more than just one.
In a survey we conducted this year, we learned that almost 71% of 507 outdoor grill owners owned a full-sized gas grill, about 20% owned a full-sized charcoal grill and nearly 12% owned a full-sized pellet grill. Almost 47% owned at least two different types of outdoor grills. When shopping, most people said a grill's overall size was most important to them, followed by the fuel type and cooking capacity. When it comes to grilling itself, nearly everyone said their favorite part about grilling was the taste of the food, and many enjoyed the act of cooking outside with minimal cleanup.
These stats line up with many of the findings my team and I have come across after testing more than 90 outdoor grills in the Good Housekeeping Institute, including full-sized gas grills, charcoal grills and pellet grills, as well as portable grills and more. I've personally had my hands on 50 grills and counting since I started working at Good Housekeeping in 2019. When we test grills, we first consider the fuel type and then assess how evenly they heat, how well they sear food at high temps, how well they cook food at lower temps, whether they flare up and how many ease of use features they include.
These are the best outdoor grills you can buy in 2025, according to testing and long-term use.
Weber Genesis SX-335 Smart Gas Grill
Pros
- Heats evenly
- Includes premium features like oversized shelves, lots of storage and a large warming rack
Cons
- Though chicken was tender and juicy, fatty thighs caused small flare-ups on medium heat
Type of grill: Gas | Number of burners: 3 | Dimensions: 48.5“ H x 62“ W x 27“ D | Primary cooking area: 513 sq. in.
I tested the black version of this grill in 2021, and it still stands out as one of our top-tested grills. When it launched, I was impressed with all of the premium features like its solid build, oversized side shelves, ample storage space and a warming rack that unfolds, making it double the size of most other grills. (I love using this feature after searing food on the main grates and allowing it to gently finish cooking up top.)
In our tests, this grill heated bread more evenly than most other models I tested. It also got a nice, deep sear on the steak and cooked quickly with no flare-ups. Chicken also cooked nicely and developed a golden-brown color with crispy skin on medium heat with minor flare-ups. Since I’ve tested this Weber, it’s been set up in a consumer tester’s home, where they use it for quick, weeknight meals and entertaining. The signature grates are a little wider than other grill brands, made of porcelain-enameled cast iron and easy to clean to keep looking fresh.
One of the best parts about this grill is its smart compatibility. It has a digital screen built into the side table that tracks the inside temperature of the grill, and it comes with probes you can use to monitor the internal temperature of your food directly from the screen or the app on your phone. You can program it to alert you when your food is ready.
If you’re looking for add-ons, this grill is designed to be used with Weber’s line of Crafted accessories, which include a griddle insert, grilling basket and more. They can be stored in the side compartment of the grill.
Nexgrill 4 Burner Stainless Steel Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner
Pros
- Includes high-end features at a good price
- Scored as high for ease of use as many of our top-tested grills
Cons
- Previously-tested model got hot quickly so keep an eye on food
Type of grill: Gas | Number of burners: 4 | Dimensions: 46.54“ H x 51“ W x 22.24“ D | Primary cooking area: 461 sq. in.
Nexgrill has held the title of our best-value outdoor grill brand for years. While you can still buy the refurbished version of the grill (which heated evenly in our tests) on Amazon, the brand recently released an updated version of their popular four-burner grill. This new grill is also made of stainless steel with the same ease-of-use features we touted in the past: it has two side shelves, tool holders, hidden storage, access to the propane tank from the front and four wheels for smooth movability.
In our experience, the stainless-steel grates produce nice sear marks and allow the grill to get nice and hot, so keep an eye on food to avoid burning. It’s a fraction of the price of many of our top-performing grills with a great reputation.
Two consumer testers have used their Nexgrill for years without needing to replace it.
Pros
- Large, comfortable stay-cool handle
- Sturdy
Cons
- Minimal under-grill storage
Type of grill: Charcoal | Dimensions: 22.5"D x 22.5"W x 27"H | Primary cooking area: 363 sq. in.
Weber introduced their iconic kettle in 1956. It has a porcelain enameled lid and body that gives it a premium shine and feel and has proved to be rust-resistant over the years. Overall, it's lightweight and can be rolled around easily.
The handles stay cool to the touch when using them, and a shield on the top of the lid helps protect your fingers from accidentally touching the hot surface. The lid can be hung on the grill when not in use.
In our tests, we could heat the grill evenly and easily with lit coals, cook a delicious smoky steak, and then four chicken thighs. The coals can easily be positioned to create two cooking areas (one for direct cooking and one for indirect cool.) The ash collector on this model is enclosed to prevent mess. There's limited storage.
For an upgraded pick, consider Weber's Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill, which is built into 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.
Weber Spirit 4-Burner Grill E-425
Pros
- Powerful, with a large sear zone
- Sturdy side shelves
Cons
- Bread didn't heat the most even, but it didn't seem to affect grilling
Type of grill: Gas | Number of burners: 4 | Dimensions: 26.6"D x 51.8"W x 46.2"H | Primary cooking area: 428 sq. in.
Weber updated their line of Spirit grills this year. One of the main differences includes a new way to light the grill – instead of turning the knobs and pressing the igniter, each knob is now equipped with auto-ignite for a one-step lighting process. This version, most comparable to the popular Spirit II E-310, has four burners, a sear zone that spans half of the cooking zone and enclosed storage space. It's also a bit more powerful with 5,000 extra BTUs.
This grill's side shelves are sturdy with a glossy finish and have tool holders on either side. The handle is also now made of stainless steel instead of plastic and has a heavier feel. The grates are porcelain-enameled like those on Weber's gas grills.
The steak cooked quickly, and the chicken cooked evenly in our tests (even though the bread didn't heat as uniformly). We also utilized the sear zone to grill some peppers and onions, which charred nicely and developed a lot of delicious flavor.
RELATED: Best Weber Grills
Monument Grills Eminence 605 Advanced Stainless Natural/Propane Gas Grill
Pros
- Heated evenly
- Powerful
Cons
- Took a long time to assemble
Type of grill: Gas | Number of burners: 6 | Dimensions: 24.4"D x 63.4"W x 47.9"H | Primary cooking area: 640 sq. in.
While we just started testing this new grill from Monument Grill, we were impressed with how evenly it heated bread and how well it cooked steak and chicken. It's very powerful, so we had to cut the time to grill the bread in half to avoid burning, and we cooked the chicken on medium-low heat. Overall, there were some flare-ups, but we didn't experience any burning.
It's a large grill with six burners and a powerful side burner designed for searing. It also comes with a rotisserie attachment and an additional infrared burner built into the back of the grill. While we haven't tested these features yet, we were surprised to see them in a grill at this price point — typically, they're found in more expensive models. Even the digital control panel that can connect to your phone was a nice, elevated touch.
Other features that stood out were the amount of storage below the grill and the included waste basket. One thing to note: It took a professional more than four hours to assemble, and he suggested assembling with two people. We look forward to seeing how this grill performs in consumer testing – it's our first time testing a grill from this brand.
Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
Pros
- Lightweight but powerful
- Has nice ease-of-use features like folding shelves and an easy-to-access drip tray
Cons
- Not as powerful as other models
Type of grill: Gas | Number of burners: 1 | Dimensions: 16.5"D x 40.9"W x 15.5"H | Primary cooking area: 189 sq. in.
Our best overall portable grill is a Weber. It's ideal for small spaces or bringing on the go. It has a relatively large cooking area and gets nice and hot, plus it works with both a small propane tank and 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 use. The side shelves, which most portable grills don't feature, 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.
Traeger Ironwood 885
Pros
- Sturdy but straightforward design
- Connects to an app
Cons
- Pricey
Type of grill: Pellet | Dimensions: 27"D x 53"W x 47"H | Primary cooking area: 885 sq. in.
Pellet grills are electric smokers powered by pellets (compressed pieces of wood that look like rabbit food). They can reach low temperatures and cook for hours without you checking 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-seared steak well and was some of the best brisket we ever tasted. It connects to an app, which monitors the ambient temperature and 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. Their latest line is called the Woodridge, offering a friendlier price point with digital controls.
Kamado Joe Classic Joe II
Pros
- Large, with plenty of cooking space
- Can smoke using low temps or grill up to 750ºF
Cons
- Requires a learning curve
Type of grill: Kamado style (charcoal) | Dimensions: 18"D x 18.11"W x 36"H | Primary cooking area: 250 sq. in.
Kamado grills are known for their excellent temperature retention and ability to reach really high temps. That means they can smoke food for hours at temps around 200ºF and get as hot as 750ºF for a nice sear
Like other kamado grills, this one from Kamado Joe is egg-shaped with thick, ceramic walls. It stands out in the category for the brand's attention to detail. The handle and side shelves are made of plastic material that won't wear over time like competitors', the rim of the base allows for a soft close and a good seal, and the vent on the top of the grill is labeled. It also comes with a two-tiered grilling grate to control your grilling experience better (add or move coals around when needed), a grate removal tool, an ash removal tool and a pull-out ashtray.
The wheeled stand helps move 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 track how your food is cooking. It impressed us so much that it won a Kitchen Gear Award.
Weber Lumin Outdoor Electric Barbecue Grill
Pros
- Versatile (can grill, steam and smoke food)
- Can char food
Cons
- Small compared to a full-sized grill
Type of grill: Electric | Dimensions: 23.55"D x 19.45"W x 12.52"H | Primary cooking area: 242 sq. in.
Electric grills are a good option for people who live in areas where they can't use a gas or charcoal grill (like on a balcony in an apartment building.) They're known for not getting hot enough to produce a smoky outdoor grill flavor, but this one from Weber offers a good stand-in. It reaches over 600ºF.
It comes with two half-sized grill grates comparable to Weber's signature porcelain-enameled grates. You can swap them out during cooking to use the included grill basket or steam tray, which doubles as an area to hold your pellets for smoking
In our tests, steak got deep grill marks and was able to char. Chicken cooked nicely, too. This grill won a Kitchen Gear Award for its performance, ease of use, innovation and versatility. It comes in five colors.
Other notable grills we tested
- The Ninja Woodfire is a small electric grill that can grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate. While it can get quite hot and cool quickly, the grill results reminded us too much of air-fried food.
- We're still testing the Ninja FlexFlame, Ninja's first outdoor gas grill, and are quite intrigued. Not only can it grill, but it can also be used as a smoker, griddle and pizza oven.
- We've performed a handful of tests on the Napolean Rogue Pro. It's a powerful grill with a beautiful design and wavy, stainless steel grates that help prevent food from falling through. It got hot in our tests and seared food well, but we had to turn it down low to help prevent flare-ups. We're still experimenting with it before we set it up for consumer testing.
- PK Grills makes one of our favorite charcoal grills, but it's pricey. The PK300 Portable Cast Aluminum Grill has thick walls while remaining lightweight and easy to handle. It's rectangular with a large cooking area that's easy to set up for indirect cooking. It doubles as a smoker with four vents for better temperature control and air circulation.
- The PK GO is a portable-sized charcoal grill and smoker from PK Grills. The lid and base can be used separately, like a hibachi-style grill. It's a small investment at $399.
- We tested the electric grill from Current Backyard. Some consumers liked how easy it is to use, but others missed the smoky grill flavor.
How we test outdoor grills
We've tested more than 90 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 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 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.
When we test grills, we assess performance and ease of use.
✔️ Heat distribution test: We perform this test on gas grills by covering the surface with sliced bread and heating on medium to identify hot spots.
✔️ Steak test: We then cook a steak on high to see how well it sears, how quickly it cooks and if it causes any flare-ups.
✔️ Chicken test: After the steak, we test chicken thighs at a lower temperature to assess how the grill performs on a longer cook.
✔️ Pellet grill test: When we test pellet grills, we cook steak, chicken and ribs to evaluate the effectiveness of the smoker at different temperatures.
✔️ Ease of use tests: 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.
✔️ Consumer testing: After we complete our testing, we set the grills up in consumer homes for long-term testing.
What to look for when buying the best grill
✔️ 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- and four-burner gas grills are ideal for families of four or fewer people but can still handle the occasional party. A 22-inch diameter is standard 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 when making 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.
What type of grill is best?
When buying a new outdoor grill, the two biggest players are gas and charcoal, but kamado, pellet and electric 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, 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. Remember 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 retain heat well for low-and-slow smokes.
✔️ 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.
✔️ Electric grills plug in and can't be beaten 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 an authentic BBQ, although they're improving.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, where she oversees all kitchen appliance content and testing. This is her fifth season testing grills for Good Housekeeping, and she has had her hands on 40 grills and counting. She's a trained cook, recipe developer and grilling aficionado.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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