Updated on Oct. 14, 2024
Are you an easy burger flipper or a serious cook who spends 12 hours babying barbecue? The best grill brands have something for both styles of cooks.
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Whether your outdoor kitchen is decked out or you just need a fast, easy grill for cookouts, there’s a grill brand that’s perfect for you. When it’s time to shop, the best grill brands have all kinds of innovations. First, you need to decide if you prefer the convenience of gas grills or the control and flavor of charcoal. Some grills double as smokers, while others, like Kamodo-style ceramic grills, have a steeper learning curve but come with serious bragging rights. You might also prefer indoor grills instead.
Drew Curlett, a private chef and cooking instructor in Baltimore, Maryland, says that when determining the best grill brand for you, the first thing to think about is your fuel source. “Propane gas grills are convenient; the more money you spend on them, the higher BTUs you’ll get. A hotter grill means better grilling, especially if you can easily turn a knob to control the temperature.”
“Charcoal grills are cheaper, but if you go too cheap, you’ll probably end up with a grill that does a lousy job of cooking your food,” he adds. When it comes to choosing a charcoal grill, finding the best grill brands that are known for quality is key.
Here are the best grill brands to check out before you put on the burgers.
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Since its first kettle grill came on the market in 1952, Weber has been one of the best grill brands on the market. It’s evolved far past charcoal grills in the 70+ years since, developing a wide range of styles including gas, electric and pellet grills. Known for their rock-solid durability, smart features, and ease of use, Weber grills are as beloved by the pros as backyard barbecuers. Weber offers solid multi-year warranties and great customer service.
While the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is a classic choice, we love the upgraded features of the Weber’s deluxe charcoal grill. It’s set into a stand on wheels, making it simple to position on a deck or patio. Even though this is a charcoal grill, it has a gas ignition system that makes lighting briquettes simple. The round kettle style performs well as a smoker by letting you line up the top vent to pull smoke over the food.
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Char-Broil is a grill brand that never disappoints. Known for its high quality, special features and longevity, a Char-Broil grill will last for years, even with daily use. Many of their grills come with the TRU-Infrared cooking system, which ensures even heat distribution and cuts down on flare-ups for consistently great results. They have user-friendly controls, and are designed for easy cleaning. In addition to gas and charcoal grills, Char-Broil also manufactures outdoor griddles, electric grills and portable models for camping or tailgating.
This backyard performer gives you the click-and-cook ease of a gas grill with serious heat and control. It puts out 36,000 British thermal units (BTUs) of heat with a 565-square-inch area for cooking. The cast-iron grates are porcelain-coated, so they won’t rust, and food is less likely to stick. An upper set of swing-away grates keeps things warm or can be used for toasting buns. The 10,000-BTU side burner has a flat lid, so you can use it for an extra work surface when you’re not heating sauces or side dishes.
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When you’re ready to move beyond hot dogs and hamburgers and get serious about low-and-slow cooking, it’s time to consider a pellet grill. Traeger invented the system of using an auger to pull wood pellets into a fire pot, allowing precise temperature control and deep smoke penetration. This versatile electric pellet grill allows smoking, roasting, braising and even baking! That sort of innovation is why Traeger is one of the best grill brands on the market today.
The powder-coated finish will last for years, and the drip tray catches grease and moves it away from the food. Porcelain grill grates are easy to clean and resist sticking. Two included meat probes let you monitor your food without lifting the lid and letting heat escape.
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When you’re headed out to tailgate, hang at the beach or spend the weekend camping, a portable propane grill can save a lot of trouble, particularly when getting rid of ash and hot coals. Coleman is known for reliability when it comes to outdoor gear, so it’s no surprise that they’re one of the best grill brands when portability is a priority.
Coleman’s gas camping grill has that covered. It’s small but still provides up to 20,000 BTUs of heat, with a stove-like burner on one side and a small grilling burner on the other. Built-in wind guards on both sides can double as work surfaces on calm days. Pressure control keeps the heat steady, even when the fuel runs low.
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When ceramic grills first appeared on the market, only one brand was available, and it could cost more than $1,000 to get in the game. These days, there are plenty of competitors, so prices have come down considerably. We believe that Char-Griller is one of the best grill brands if you’re ready to try this traditional Japanese style of grilling.
Char-Griller’s Akorn Kamado Grill gives you the same smoky flavor of big egg-shaped grills at a fraction of the cost. Its triple-walled steel construction holds heat efficiently up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and the 20-inch diameter grate can hold plenty of food. Adjustable top and bottom dampers maintain even temperatures, allowing you to use less charcoal.
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Utah-based Blackstone has been marketing griddles since 2005, and their products have always been popular among backyard barbecue enthusiasts. Their popularity skyrocketed, however, when a series of TikTok videos extolling their virtues went viral in 2021. This best grill brand has various griddle styles from which to choose, but they all have one thing in common: a flat top made from cold-rolled steel, an ideal material for even heat distribution and controlled cooking.
Blackstone’s classic model features a 36-inch solid steel griddle top with 769 square inches of cooking surface. With 60,000 BTUs, it features four independent cooking zones that can be adjusted to variable temperatures, so while your burgers are cooking at high heat on one end, you can caramelize onions and warm buns on the other. If you’re investing in one of these popular grills, check out the best Blackstone accessories.
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Napoleon is renowned for its unwavering dedication to quality, producing grills with top-notch design, premium materials and inventive features that deliver unparalleled performance. Engineered for precision cooking, each grill boasts the distinctive “wavy” grill grate design, ensuring even heat distribution and culinary perfection with every use. They’re also known for groundbreaking features, like the Jetfire ignition system, which makes fire-starting foolproof.
The Prestige Pro series of gas grills is at the forefront of their impressive lineup. The Napoleon 665 features a whopping eight burners, including infrared side and rear burners. It’s about as powerful as grills get, with 99,000 total BTU distributed over an impressive 1140 square inches of cooking area. It can also be used for more than grilling: you can smoke foods using its integrated smoker tray and slow-roast foods with the rear infrared burner and rotisserie.
The kind of cook you are will determine what type of grill you need. Charcoal grills give smoke and flavor if you don’t mind lighting coals and managing fire. Gas grills are as simple as clicking a button, but they may not provide all the flavor you expect from cooking outdoors. Then, there are places where no grills with flames are allowed, like apartment balconies, which call for an electric grill.
I’m an award-winning journalist and author who’s been writing about food for close to 40 years. Over the course of my career, I’ve gathered intel and recommendations from some of the country’s most highly regarded chefs and pitmasters. Living in South Carolina, barbecue is more than just food to me. I consider it my love language and take everything about it, from the ingredients to the equipment, seriously.
In professional cooking circles, the best grill brands are no secret. The brands on this list are the ones you’ll find in the backyards of professional chefs, cookbook authors, and grilling authorities. The pros recommend these grills time and time again, and our research backs those recommendations up. We looked at the materials, design, and special technologies and features. Additionally, we read hundreds of real-world customer reviews to see how non-pros fared when using these grills.
Materials such as heavy-gauge steel can last longer, and trusted brand names have track records. While these things can cost more, they also mean you get a piece of outdoor cooking equipment that can last for years—not just a few summers.
It depends on the construction and how exposed the grill is to the weather. Paying a little extra for a grill cover will go a long way in helping your grill last for years.
Everyone wants a grill for Memorial Day, but Labor Day is the best time to buy a quality grill on sale.
It’s impossible to say whether one is better than the other. It all depends on personal tastes and use. Napoleons are far pricier than the cheapest Weber grills, but they also come with a lot of bells and whistles. However, the pros love Weber’s kettle grills, which are excellent for anyone who enjoys actively tending to a fire.
Many pitmasters use custom-built grills or professional-grade models unsuitable for home use. However, when grilling at home, they turn to our listed brands. (That’s why we recommended them!)
