How to Choose the Best Outdoor Grills for Your Needs

A great outdoor grill should be simple to use and help you whip up anything from a quick weekday dinner to a feast for a crowd. You’ll find all kinds—gas, charcoal, pellet, and electric—in sizes that range from big backyard setups to small ones you can take on the go. Each one has its own perks and downsides, which is why many people own more than one.

In a recent survey with 507 grill owners, nearly 71% said they use a full-sized gas grill. About 20% went with charcoal, and close to 12% had pellet grills. Almost half of the people we talked to owned more than one type of grill. When picking a grill, most folks said the overall size mattered most, followed by the kind of fuel it uses and how much food it can cook. When it’s time to grill, most people said the best part was how the food tastes, plus how easy it is to cook outside without a big mess.

These results matched what we’ve seen after trying over 90 grills. That includes full-sized gas, charcoal, pellet, and portable grills. We always start by looking at the fuel type, then test how evenly the grill heats, how well it sears at high heat, how it handles low-temp cooking, if it flares up too much, and what extra features make it easier to use.

Here are the top outdoor grills to buy in 2025, based on hands-on testing and long-term use.

1. Best Overall

Weber Genesis SX-335 Smart Gas Grill

Pros:
✔ Heats food evenly
✔ Loaded with premium features like big side shelves, roomy storage, and a large warming rack

Cons:
✘ Chicken thighs caused minor flare-ups when cooked on medium heat

This grill made a big impression when we first tested it in 2021—and it still does. Its strong build, extra-large shelves, handy storage, and a unique warming rack that doubles in size make it a standout. That warming rack is a favorite—it’s perfect for finishing food gently after searing it.

In our tests, this model cooked bread more evenly than most others and seared steak beautifully. Chicken turned out juicy with golden, crispy skin, even with just a few small flare-ups. One of our testers still uses it at home for quick dinners and entertaining.

Its smart features make grilling even easier. A digital screen on the side tracks the grill’s inside temperature and comes with probes to check your food’s doneness. You can monitor everything from the screen or your phone and get alerts when your food is ready.

2. Best Value

Nexgrill 4-Burner Stainless Steel Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner

Pros:
✔ High-end features at a budget-friendly price
✔ Easy to use, just like some of our top-rated grills

Cons:
✘ Gets hot quickly—keep an eye on your food

Nexgrill has been our top value pick for years. The latest version of their popular four-burner grill keeps the features people love: sturdy stainless steel, roomy side shelves, tool hooks, hidden storage, and easy front access to the propane tank. It also moves around easily with four wheels.

During testing, the stainless-steel grates gave food beautiful sear marks and helped the grill heat up fast—sometimes too fast, so don’t walk away while cooking! Two of our home testers have used their Nexgrill for years without needing a replacement.

3. Best Charcoal

Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill

Pros:
✔ Cool-to-touch handle
✔ Sturdy and reliable

Cons:
✘ Not much storage space underneath

Weber’s classic kettle grill has been around since 1956—and for good reason. Its shiny porcelain-enamel body looks great and holds up against rust. It’s lightweight and easy to roll around the yard or patio.

The handles stay cool, and there’s a shield on the lid to help protect your fingers. Plus, the lid hooks onto the side of the grill when not in use.

In testing, it cooked a flavorful smoky steak and juicy chicken thighs. You can move the coals around to create a hot zone and a cooler zone. The ash catcher below is enclosed, so cleanup isn’t messy.

If you want an upgrade, check out the Performer Deluxe model—it’s built into a cart, includes prep space and a bottom shelf, and lights the coals with just the push of a button. Home testers say it makes grilling easier.

4. Best Gas

Weber Spirit 4-Burner Grill E-425

Pros:
✔ Strong performance with a large sear zone
✔ Durable side shelves

Cons:
✘ Bread didn’t heat super evenly, but it didn’t hurt the grilling results

Weber recently updated its Spirit series, and this model stands out with smart changes. Now, each burner knob lights automatically with a single turn—no need to press an extra button. It has four burners and a powerful sear zone that covers half the cooking space, plus a closed cabinet for storage.

The glossy side shelves feel sturdy and have tool hooks built in. The handle is now stainless steel, giving it a solid, high-quality feel. Just like other Weber grills, the cooking grates are coated with porcelain enamel for easy cleaning.

In our tests, steak cooked fast and developed a great sear, while chicken turned out juicy and evenly done. We even grilled some peppers and onions in the sear zone—they came out flavorful and beautifully charred.

5. Best Large Grill

Monument Grills Eminence 605 Advanced Stainless Natural/Propane Gas Grill

Pros:
✔ Even heating
✔ Very powerful

Cons:
✘ Took over four hours to assemble

This is a new grill we’ve started testing, and so far, it’s making a great impression. It heated bread evenly and cooked steak and chicken really well. It’s super powerful, so we had to shorten the cooking time on some foods to avoid burning. We used medium-low heat for the chicken, which turned out perfect.

This six-burner grill includes a strong side burner for searing and even has a rotisserie attachment and an infrared back burner—features you usually only see on more expensive grills. There’s also a digital control panel that links to your phone, so you can check cooking progress from anywhere.

It offers tons of storage and includes a waste bin inside. One heads-up: assembly takes time. A pro spent over four hours putting it together and recommended having a second person to help. We’re excited to see how it performs in the long run.

6. Best Portable

Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill

Pros:
✔ Lightweight but powerful
✔ Handy folding side shelves and drip tray

Cons:
✘ Not as strong as full-sized grills

This small but mighty Weber grill is perfect for balconies, tailgating, or camping. It offers a generous cooking area for its size and gets hot enough to grill steaks and chicken well. It works with both small and standard propane tanks, depending on what’s more convenient for you.

In testing, it cooked evenly with no flare-ups. The built-in thermometer and big, stay-cool handle are nice touches. Unlike most portable grills, it includes folding side shelves that tuck away when you’re done.

It’s light enough to carry solo and fits onto a cart if you want a raised cooking setup.

7. Best Pellet Grill

Traeger Ironwood 885

Pros:
✔ Solid, simple design
✔ Connects to app for easy control

Cons:
✘ Expensive

Pellet grills use compressed wood pellets and electricity to give food a rich, smoky flavor. They can cook low and slow or get hot enough to grill around 500ºF. The Ironwood 885 from Traeger is one of our top choices for this type of grill.

In our tests, it cooked ribs with a great smoke ring, nailed a reverse-seared steak, and produced one of the best briskets we’ve ever tried. You can connect the grill to Traeger’s app and monitor your food with included temperature probes. The app also tracks the grill’s internal heat and pellet levels.

Traeger offers a wide range of pellet grills, including smaller options. The newer Woodridge series even gives you digital controls at a lower price point, making pellet grilling more affordable.

8. Best Kamado Grill

Kamado Joe Classic Joe II

Pros:
✔ Great cooking space
✔ Excellent temperature control—low and slow or super hot

Cons:
✘ Takes time to learn

Kamado grills are great for holding steady temperatures and getting really hot. They can smoke meat at low temps (around 200ºF) or go up to 750ºF for a perfect sear. The Classic Joe II from Kamado Joe stands out with smart features.

It’s shaped like an egg and made with thick ceramic walls that keep heat in. The handle and side shelves are built to last, and the lid closes softly for a tight seal. The top vent is clearly marked, which helps with airflow and temperature control.

This model includes a two-tier cooking grate, a tool for moving the grates, an ash tool, and a pull-out ashtray for easy cleaning. It also comes with a wheeled stand—helpful since it’s quite heavy. There’s a newer smart version with a digital display that tracks temperature and connects to food probes. It impressed us enough to win a Kitchen Gear Award.

9. Best Electric Grill

Weber Lumin Outdoor Electric Barbecue Grill

Pros:
✔ Super versatile—grills, steams, smokes
✔ Can char food well

Cons:
✘ Smaller than most full-size grills

If you can’t use gas or charcoal where you live, like in an apartment, this electric grill is a great choice. It gets hotter than most electric grills—over 600ºF—so you can still get those tasty char marks.

The Weber Lumin comes with two small grates that can be swapped out for a grill basket or steam tray. The steam tray also holds wood pellets if you want to add a smoky flavor.

During testing, the steak had deep grill lines, and the chicken came out tender. This model won a Kitchen Gear Award for being user-friendly, versatile, and high-performing. It’s available in five fun colors, too.

Pellet vs. Kamado vs. Electric Grill: Quick Comparison

Recommendations Based on Your Needs

• Want to cook low-and-slow brisket, ribs, and smoke meats easily with tech help?
  → Go with the Traeger Ironwood 885.
• Love authentic charcoal flavor and want pro-level heat control for searing and smoking?
  → Choose the Kamado Joe Classic II.
• Need something compact, electric, and easy to use in a small outdoor space or apartment?
  → Pick the Weber Lumin.