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Grilling is a great way to make delicious food while spending time outdoors, but it can be tricky to sort through the hundreds of available models to find the best grill for your backyard. Whether you need a travel-friendly grill for camping or want to become the local pitmaster, we’ve tested top-rated grill options for every cook.
From wood pellets to propane to charcoal, we found that the best grills have a powerful heating element, useful design features, and can withstand outdoor wear and tear. For maximum flame-fired flavor, our reporters have used the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill for years. The bottom charcoal basin, built-in cleaning system, and three available sizes make the Weber Kettle a simple and enduring classic. We also love the Traeger Pro 575, a pellet smoker that’s great for just starting: you can set the temperature with a dial and still get the wood-fired taste and texture.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and reviews kitchen gear.
Our top picks for the best grills
Best pellet grill: Traeger Pro 575 – See at Amazon
Best gas grill: Weber Spirit II – See at Amazon
Best Kamado grill: Kamado Joe Classic II – See at Amazon
Best charcoal grill: Weber Original Kettle – See at Amazon
Best BBQ smoker: Char-Griller Grand Slam XD – See at The Home Depot
Best portable grill: Weber Traveler – See at Amazon
Types of grills
Best pellet grill
Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill
This hands-off smoker runs on wood pellets and has a temperature dial, making it easier to use for wood-fired flavor than charcoal grills.
A key factor in choosing one of the best grills for you is size, which will depend on what you intend to cook. The Traeger Pro 575 won’t take up much space in your backyard and has 575 square inches of cooking area. You can easily fit multiple racks of ribs, chickens, a large brisket, and pork butt.
The Pro 575 pellet grill is built with thick steel and porcelain grates inside, allowing for precise temperature control when smoking meats, veggies, and more. The grill is powered by wood pellets, an indirect heating source that is easier to manage than charcoal. You get the wood-fired flavor and the ability to set the temperature with a front dial. It is our top pick in our best pellet smokers guide.
While Traeger offers a variety of other models (including the Timberline, which we also loved), the Pro 575 is a great value for those just getting started with pellet smokers. In our testing, we found the top temperature couldn’t give us a sear, but did effectively braise.
Find more of our picks in the best pellet smokers guide. And if you’re a Traeger loyalist, check out our guide to the best Traeger grills.
Best gas grill
Weber Spirit II E-310 LP Gas Grill
This medium-sized grill is easy to use with three burners for even cooking, side shelves for convenient prep, and a warming rack perfect for long cooks.
The rated gas grills are ideal for home cooks who want to grill without a steep learning curve. The Weber Spirit is so convenient and easy to use that we have two models (the E-210 and E-310) featured in our guide to the best gas grills. The Spirit E-310 has a midsize cooktop and a storage shelf, making it great for families and small groups.
The grill has three powerful burners under “Flavorizer Bars” that give you perfectly even char. Inside is a warming rack to keep food warm while the rest of your meal cooks or toast buns for burgers and hot dogs. This grill also has a grease management system for easy clean-up, with a removable tray that catches drippings to avoid grill flare-ups.
It’s easy to hook the Spirit up to a propane tank, allowing for consistent temperature maintenance while still achieving that fired flavor. While gas grills come in a wide variety of sizes, this medium-sized option from Weber offers enough cooking surface for a variety of meals without taking up too much space in your yard.
Check out more of our picks for the best gas grills.
Best kamado
Kamado Joe Classic II
The Kamado Joe Classic II is a ceramic-lined grill with a teardrop design that burns charcoal efficiently, doubles as a smoker, and retains heat best.
Ceramic Kamado grills originated about 3,000 years ago, and the design is still used today. We test the best Kamado grills alongside other charcoal grills, and our top pick is the Kamado Joe Classic II.
Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe are the top brands we’ve tested in the category, with the Kamado Joe Classic II just edging out the BGE. The quality of the build is essential on any grill, and an exceptional level of craftsmanship goes into the Kamado Joe. It has a sturdy frame, multiple grate levels, an ash catchment system, and more.
Beginners may find the Kamado grill easy to overheat — even experienced grillers should expect some trial and error to figure out the right amount of charcoal. That challenge is part of what makes this grill so special: once it gets hot, it stays hot longer than other types of grills. You can cook between 225 and 750 degrees Fahrenheit while maintaining consistent heat.
Best charcoal grill
Look for charcoal grills constructed from thick steel or made from steel with an enamel coating. You won’t find a better balance of durability and great cooking ability than the Weber Kettle Charcoal Grill — we’ve had this grill for years, and it still works as well as the day we first tested it.
The design of Weber’s original kettle grill has held strong for 70 years, making it one of the best grills year after year and the top pick in our guide to charcoal grills. The circular grill is simple yet efficient, with a bottom charcoal basin for even heating. The design features vents at the top and bottom, which allows for temperature adjustment. Pair it with one of the best charcoal chimney starters, and you’re all set.
We recommend the 22-inch Original Kettle Grill from Weber, but 18-inch and 26-inch models are also available. While the 22-inch isn’t a large capacity grill, it still has a generous cooking area to grill multiple steaks or enough burgers for a small group. When it comes time to clean, you can use the built-in cleaning system to sweep ashes into the bottom catcher. Once you’re ready to cook, stock up on the best charcoal for grilling.
Our guide to the best charcoal grills has options for upgrades, barrel-style, and more.
Best BBQ smoker
Char-Griller Grand Champ XD
If you’re serious about making BBQ, this is a great smoker made from heavy duty steel with plenty of room to add charcoal and wood fuel for low and slow smoking.
Cooking with hardwood and charcoal requires a lot of time and attention. Smokers require a learning curve, but the Char-Griller Grand Slam has built-in features to make it easier.
A smoker constructed from thick steel is imperative to keep heat in and withstand elements when left outside. The Char-Griller Grand Slam is a barrel-shaped smoker made from heavy-duty steel with a large cooking area. This smoker can be used for both grilling veggies and meat as well as low and slow-smoking sessions. It is our top pick in our barbecue smokers guide.
The large charcoal basket and firebox allow you to load the smoker with enough fuel to last for hours, maintaining an even temperature throughout the cooking process. There are three thermometer ports to monitor temperatures. When it comes time for cleaning, there’s a grease clean-up valve and ash pan that can be easily dumped.
Read more about what to look for in the best barbecue smokers.
Best portable grill
Weber Traveler Portable Propane Grill
To grill on the go, this is the best option because it’s foldable, features two wheels for portability, but once it’s set up, it offers plenty of cooking space.
The Weber Traveler gas grill makes it easy to grill on the go. This portable grill has a folding design with two wheels that can maneuver through sand, gravel, and grass. It takes less than 10 minutes to break it down and set it up, allowing you to store it for backyard use, take it camping, or use it at a tailgating party.
Although it only has one burner, it features a decent-sized cooking area and reaches high enough temperatures for roasting meat and veggies. The grill is designed to use small propane tanks for fuel, but you can switch to standard-sized propane tanks with an adapter. This is one of the best grills for beginners because of the low investment and easy learning curve.
How we test grills
Owen Burke/Business Insider
This guide to the best grills is made up of our top recommendations from our individual grill guides. For more details on our tests with each grill, check out our full guides and read the “how we tested” section.
Grill accessories
We’ve found some essential grill accessories in our grill testing and personal barbecue experience. Of course, you won’t need the best smoker pellets if you’re using a gas grill, so focus on the type of grill you want and add the relevant extras to your cart.
Kona 360° Clean Grill Brush
The Kona 360° Grill Brush works in all directions to clean any and all grates, and comes with sturdy bristles that won’t end up stuck in your grill, or your food.
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
The hands-down favorite among the experts, the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter is well-constructed, offers two handles for easier and safer use, and sells at a reasonable price for its high quality.
Grill FAQs
How do you clean your grill?
Cleaning your grill is essential for grilling safety and keeping your grill in great shape for years of use. One of the simplest ways to clean your grill is to use a grill brush that will do all of the hard work for you. Using the best grill brush constructed with quality bristles and an easy-to-hold handle will make quick work of cleaning your grill grates. For harder, stuck-on food, you can also use a grill scraper.
How do you remove rust from a grill?
Despite efforts to avoid it, rusting can happen on even the best grills. To clean it, start with a cool grill. Use a good-quality grill brush or a grill brick to scrub off rust. If you’re trying to clean stubborn rust, you can make a paste by mixing water and baking soda. Apply the paste to your grill grates, allow it to sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub.
