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The best gas grills light instantly, heat evenly from edge to edge and hold steady temperatures, so weeknight burgers and holiday roasts both turn out right. We compared specs, expert testing and owner reviews to pick nine propane grills, from full-size three- and four-burner models to tailgate portables and a flat-top griddle. If you’re shopping off-season, fall and early winter are often good times to catch grill discounts.
Part of our Outdoor, Kitchen & Pet Buying Guides.
Quick picks
Price ranges: $ under $300, $$ $300-$700, $$$ $700-$1,200, $$$$ $1,200+.
| Product | Best for | Price range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Spirit E-325 | Best overall | $$ | See price |
| Weber Genesis E-325 | Best for entertaining | $$$ | See price |
| Napoleon Prestige 500 | Best premium | $$$$ | See price |
| Monument Grills Mesa 305 | Best value with side burner | $$ | See price |
| Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner | Best budget full-size | $ | See price |
| Weber Traveler | Best portable for tailgating | $$ | See price |
| Coleman RoadTrip 285 | Best portable with 3 zones | $$ | See price |
| Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Tabletop | Best budget tabletop | $ | See price |
| Blackstone 36″ Original Griddle with Hood | Best gas griddle | $$ | See price |
1. Weber Spirit E-325: Best Overall Gas Grill
The Spirit E-325 is the grill we’d point most families to first. It has three stainless burners plus a Sear Zone powered by boost burners, so you can put real crust on steaks without buying a premium model. Testers found the closely related Spirit EX-325 heats quickly and holds temperature steadily, and Weber’s warranty is one of the longest at this price.
Key specs
- Burners: 3 stainless main burners with Sear Zone
- Output: 31,000 BTU/hr
- Cooking area: 360 sq in primary, 450 sq in total
- Grates: porcelain-enameled cast iron
- Fuel: propane (natural gas version sold separately)
- Warranty: 10 years on cookbox, lid and burner tubes
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers consistently praise how evenly Spirit grills cook and how easy they are to keep clean. The main wish is more space or a side burner for larger gatherings.
2. Weber Genesis E-325: Best for Entertaining
Step up to the Genesis E-325 and you get a much larger primary cooking area and an extra-large sear zone, which Taste of Home made its top overall pick. It’s built for people who regularly cook for a crowd and want room for burgers, sides and a seared steak at once.
Key specs
- Burners: 3 stainless main burners plus a sear burner
- Output: 39,000 BTU/hr main burners
- Cooking area: 513 sq in primary
- Grates: porcelain-enameled cast iron
- Fuel: propane (natural gas version sold separately)
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners praise the solid build, quick and even heating and strong searing. Complaints include some plastic parts, the lack of a fuel gauge and water collecting on the lid under a cover.
3. Napoleon Prestige 500: Best Premium
If you want a showpiece, the Prestige 500 offers a large stainless cookbox, four burners, lit control knobs, stainless wave grates and one of the strongest warranties in the category. It’s the pick for serious backyard cooks who want room for a big spread and a grill built to last many seasons.
Key specs
- Burners: 4 stainless tube burners
- Output: up to 48,000 BTU
- Cooking area: 500 sq in primary, 760 sq in total
- Grates: stainless steel wave grates
- Warranty: Napoleon limited lifetime on major castings, lid, base and grids
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners like the heavy-duty build and premium details. The recurring note is that the back of the grill can run hotter than the front, so it takes a few cooks to learn.
4. Monument Grills Mesa 305: Best Value with Side Burner
The Mesa 305 packs features you usually pay more for: a side burner, a viewing window in the lid, lighted knobs and cast-iron grates. Taste of Home named it the best propane grill under $500. It’s a good fit for small families who want to simmer a sauce or boil corn while they grill.
Key specs
- Burners: 3 main burners plus a side burner
- Output: 48,000 BTU total including the 12,000 BTU side burner (Monument)
- Cooking area: 405 sq in primary, 570 sq in total
- Grates: porcelain-enameled cast iron
- Warranty: 8-year limited; propane only
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Buyers mostly highlight how many features they get for the money. Detailed long-term owner feedback is thinner than for Weber.
5. Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner: Best Budget Full-Size
For under $300, the Performance Series 4-Burner gives you four separate heat zones, cast-iron grates and a removable grease tray. It won’t sear like the Weber, but it’s a practical full-size grill for burgers, hot dogs and chicken on a tight budget.
Key specs
- Burners: 4 stainless burners
- Output: 36,000 BTU
- Grates: porcelain-coated cast iron
- Fuel: propane
- Warranty: 5 years burners, 2 years firebox and lid, 1 year grates and other parts
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers see it as solid value for casual grilling. The common trade-off is lower peak heat and lighter-duty parts than premium grills.
6. Weber Traveler: Best Portable for Tailgating
The Traveler folds onto its own wheeled cart, so you can roll it to a tailgate or campsite and pop it up to standing height. Its 320 square inches of cast-iron grates are the largest of the portables here, enough for a dozen burgers at once.
Key specs
- Burner: 1 stainless burner, 13,000 BTU/hr
- Cooking area: 320 sq in
- Grates: porcelain-enameled cast iron
- Weight: 49 lb
- Warranty: 5-year limited
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers like how quickly it sets up and how much food fits on it. The most common drawbacks are its weight and the single heat zone.
7. Coleman RoadTrip 285: Best Portable with 3 Heat Zones
The RoadTrip 285 has three independently controlled burners, so you can sear on one side and keep food warm on the other, which is rare in a portable. OutdoorGearLab ranked it near the top of a large group of portable grills for even cooking and quick setup.
Key specs
- Burners: 3 adjustable burners, 20,000 BTU total
- Cooking area: 285 sq in
- Grates: porcelain-coated cast iron
- Weight: about 49 lb; lid thermometer
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Campers and tailgaters like the multiple heat zones and how it rolls on its wheels. Weight and size are the usual complaints.
8. Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Tabletop: Best Budget Tabletop
Men’s Journal named this its best portable gas grill. Two burners give you dual-zone cooking on a tabletop, and at about 26 pounds it’s easy to carry to a picnic table or tailgate. It’s a smart pick for small patios and balconies where full-size grills don’t fit (check your building’s rules first).
Key specs
- Burners: 2 burners, 10,000 BTU each (20,000 total)
- Cooking area: 275 sq in
- Grate: stainless steel
- Weight: about 26.5 lb
- Warranty: 3-year limited
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Buyers like the two-burner flexibility at a low price. The main limitation they mention is needing a sturdy surface to set it on.
9. Blackstone 36″ Original Griddle with Hood: Best Gas Griddle
A flat-top griddle isn’t a grate grill, but it’s the most popular alternative for pancakes, smash burgers, fried rice and fajitas. The 36-inch Blackstone gives you a huge steel cooking surface with four independent zones, and the hood helps melt cheese and steam vegetables.
Key specs
- Burners: 4 stainless tubular burners, 60,000 BTU total
- Cooking surface: 769 sq in steel
- Fuel: propane
- Includes a hood
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners love how much food it cooks at once and how versatile it is. The learning curve is seasoning and protecting the top from rust between uses.
How to choose the best gas grill
- Fuel type: Propane uses a portable tank. Natural gas connects to your home’s gas line and is cheaper to run but needs a hookup. Many grills come in both versions, so buy the right one.
- Cooking area: Focus on primary square inches, since warming racks inflate the total. About 400-500 sq in suits most families; go bigger if you entertain often.
- Burners and heat zones: Three or more burners let you cook with direct and indirect heat. A sear zone or sear burner helps with steaks.
- BTU in context: More BTUs aren’t automatically better. Lid seal, build quality and heat distribution matter more.
- Grates: Porcelain-enameled cast iron holds heat and sears well. Stainless steel resists rust and is low-maintenance.
- Build and warranty: Check the warranty on the cookbox and burners, which ranges from about 1-5 years on budget grills to 10 years or more on premium ones.
- Portability and extras: For portables, check weight, wheels and setup. For full-size grills, consider side burners, storage and lighting.
FAQ
Can I convert a propane grill to natural gas?
Only if the manufacturer sells a conversion kit for that model. Otherwise, buy the natural gas version from the start. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and have a qualified technician handle any gas conversion.
How long does a 20 lb propane tank last on a gas grill?
A full 20 lb tank holds roughly 430,000 BTU of fuel. A 30,000 BTU grill on full blast would use it in about 14 hours, and most cooking happens at medium, so it typically lasts longer than that.
Are more BTUs better on a gas grill?
Not on their own. Even heat, a well-sealed lid and heavy grates matter more than raw output. A well-designed grill with fewer BTUs can sear better than a budget grill with more.
Cast iron or stainless steel grates: which is better?
Cast iron, usually porcelain-coated, holds more heat and gives better sear marks but can chip or rust if neglected. Stainless steel is more rust-resistant and easier to care for.
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- Outdoor, Kitchen & Pet Buying Guides
Sources
We compared specs, expert testing and owner reviews from: Tom’s Guide, Men’s Journal, Taste of Home, OutdoorGearLab, Bob Vila, and manufacturer and retailer spec pages from Weber, Napoleon, Monument Grills, Char-Broil, Cuisinart and Blackstone. Owner feedback is summarized in our own words from public reviews. Photos courtesy of Unsplash.