The Best Gas Grills to Buy in 2023, According to Our Test Kitchen
Updated: Apr. 27, 2023
If you love the convenience of grilling with gas, our Test Kitchen pros picked out the best gas grills for your outdoor cooking needs.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
There’s nothing quite like relaxing on your patio on a warm summer night, cooking up some burgers on the grill for friends and family. Grilling is a beloved pastime for many families, and if your grill has seen better days, it might be time to invest in a new grill.
Debating a gas vs. charcoal grill? There are benefits to each type of grill, but some perks of gas grills are that they’re simple and easy to use, and that they give you more precise temperature control. Plus, gas is often cheaper than charcoal, and when cooking, you don’t have to worry about overpowering your food with smoke. Wondering where to start on your search for the best gas grill? Our Test Kitchen and shopping experts found the best gas grills for every aspiring grill master.
Best Gas Grills
Covering every budget, grilling style and experience level, here are our picks for the best gas grills of 2023:
- Best Overall: Weber Genesis II E-335 Natural Gas Grill
- Best Budget: Char-Broil Performance Propane Gas Grill
- Best Splurge: Weber Genesis Smart Gas Grill
- Best Tabletop: Weber Q-1000 Portable Propane Gas Grill
- Best on Amazon: Master Cook Propane Gas Grill
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Best Overall Gas Grill
Weber Genesis II E-335 Natural Gas Grill
If you’re willing to pay a little more for a high-quality grill, you won’t be disappointed with this model from Weber, a well-known and trusted grill brand. As one of the best gas grills, the Weber Genesis II E-335 runs on natural gas, and it gives you superior control over its spacious cooking grate thanks to three independent burners, a side burner and a unique “searing station,” which heats up quickly to put beautiful sear marks on your meat.
Plus, this natural gas grill gets the seal of approval from our Test Kitchen: “We’ve had our grill for almost 10 years and it’s holding on strong,” says our Recipe Editor and Tester, Alicia Rooker. “No issues. It’s easy to clean.”
Pros
- Highest-quality natural gas grill
- Stainless steel elements
- 3 burners, plus 1 side burner
- Expandable top cooking grate
- Sear station
- Dual-cabinet storage
- Pull-out grease tray
- Warming area
Cons
- On the pricey side, but it’s a worthwhile investment
- Some shoppers dislike that the temperature monitor requires plugging in
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Best Budget Gas Grill
Char-Broil Performance Series 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
A gas grill at an irresistible price point? Check! This oversized gas grill is ideal for cooking up food for a crowd. It has an impressive number of burners, including a side burner and sear zone, and its stainless steel heating elements emit flame from the top to deliver more even cooking. Pro tip: Tack on the professional assembly for a fuss-free set-up.
“It’s a great grill for the money,” says Senior Food Stylist Shannon Norris. “I’ve had it for about three years and it still works great. There are some parts that have started to rust and wear out, like the drip tray, but I love the huge size for entertaining.”
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Liquid propane grill
- Electric ignition
- 5 burners and 1 side burner
- Medium-sized cooking area
- Stainless steel and cast-iron elements
- Removable porcelain-coated grease pan for cleaning
- Dual-cabinet storage
- Professional assembly available
- Three-year protection plan available
Cons
- Cover not included
- Requires assembly, which takes a while, according to reviewers
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Best Splurge Gas Grill
Weber Genesis 4-Burner Smart Gas Grill
Topping our list as the best splurge-worthy grill, the Weber Genesis Smart Gas Grill isn’t the grill you grew up with it. We give it high marks for it’s smart technology, 994 square inches of cooking area (enough to fit 28 burgers!), extra-large sear zone and prep area. It’s basically the cooler big brother of the Weber Genesis II-335 Natural Gas Grill thanks to its enhanced cooking area and Weber Connect smart grilling technology. You’ll get real-time temperature alerts, so everything from burgers to grilled veggies are grilled to perfection. Talk about one of the best gas grills!
“If you’re like me and love the convenience of a gas grill, then the Weber Genesis is the way to go,” says Taste of Home‘s Prep Kitchen Manager, Catherine Ward. “I appreciate the large surface area of grates because I’m often grilling for a crowd. But it’s equally efficient to grill a couple of burgers when it’s just the two of us at home. Weber is known for quality products that last. This grill won’t disappoint.”
Pros
- Natural gas grill with smart grilling technology
- Real-time temperature alerts
- 4 burners and one side burner
- Extra-large sear zone and prep table
- Expandable top cooking grate
- Dual-cabinet storage
- Stainless steel elements
Cons
- On the pricey side
- Cover not included
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Best Tabletop Gas Grill
Weber Q-1000 Portable Propane Gas Grill
If you want to take your grill on the go, the Weber Q-1000 is a trusted companion for campers and tailgaters. As one of the best gas grills for tabletop cooking, this portable grill runs on 14- or 16-inch liquid propane cylinders (there’s also an optional adapter to hook it up to a 20-pound tank), and it features one elongated stainless steel burner that heats up its decently sized cooking grate.
“The grill is the perfect size for cooking for two people and was easy to use,” says our Senior Food Stylist, Josh Rink. “I particularly like that it uses small gas tank canisters—no lugging giant or heavy tanks around!”
Pros
- Portable
- Disposable drip tray
- Push-button ignition
- Cast-iron cooking grates
- Arrives fully-assembled
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Cover not included
- Because it’s a tabletop grill, it only includes one burner
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Best Gas Grill on Amazon
Master Cook 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Amazon is home to some of the best gas grills, including this Master Cook Propane Gas Grill with three burners. We chose it for the combination of affordable price point and medium footprint, which makes it ideal for smaller yards. Plus, it boasts two side shelves that easily fold down for compact storage. Buyers confirm it distributes heat evenly, so you don’t have to worry about constantly moving food around to get the perfect sear. Bonus: This gas grill earns top marks from over 1,700 Amazon shoppers.
“This grill is the perfect size for our family!” writes verified Amazon reviewer Whitney W. “It’s not large taking up space, but holds a lot of food on it. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, so it made it very easy to assemble. The grill has a variety of heat levels to quickly cook food, sometimes we don’t need to use all three burners, but I like the options.”
Pros
- Affordable price point and easy Amazon availability
- Three burners
- Porcelain-enamel wire cooking grates
- Two foldable side tables that double as prep area
- Compact for smaller yards or storage areas
- Stainless steel control panel
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Not as tricked out as some gas grills
- No cabinet storage
- Assembly required
What to Look for When Buying a Gas Grill
As you’re trying to find the best gas grill, there are several important features to take into account:
- Fuel type: The best gas grills either run on liquid propane or natural gas. Liquid propane comes in both small and large canisters, depending on your grill size, and is available from most home improvement stores. Natural gas grills, on the other hand, must be connected to a built-in gas line in your home, so make sure you have a natural gas hookup before you buy.
- Cooking area: Some grills are bigger than others. Get a sense of how many servings you can cook at once by noting the size of the product’s cooking area, which is usually measured in square inches.
- Number of burners: Unlike charcoal grills, gas models often have multiple independently-controlled burners. This allows you to precisely regulate heat in certain areas, which is beneficial when you’re cooking several different foods at once.
- BTU: British thermal unit, commonly abbreviated as BTU, is a measurement of heat, and without getting too specific, it measures the total heat output of all burners per hour. Most experts recommend looking for a grill that produces 80 and 100 BTUs per square inch (so 8,000 to 10,000 BTU per 100 square inch), but keep in mind that a higher BTU also translates into more gas consumed.
- Portability: If you want to be able to move your grill—whether that means dragging it out of the shed to get it ready for summer or packing it up to go camping—look for features like a lightweight design, caster wheels and/or a locking lid.
- Additional features: The best gas grills often come equipped with a host of features, from warming racks and electronic igniters to side burners where you can boil a pot of water. Weigh the benefits of these features against the additional cost, as they inevitably drive up the price of the grill.
How We Chose the Best Gas Grills
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test. Â
FAQ
How many years should a gas grill last?
The average gas grill lifespan is about three years. When properly cleaned and cared for, however, the best gas grills can last well beyond five years. For example, high-quality gas grill brands, like Weber, can last up to 10 years. Some indicators that it might be time to replace your gas grill include difficulty lighting the grill, gas leaks, low flame and lots of smoke.
Originally Published: April 27, 2023
