Best gas grills 2020: for novices and experts alike

The best gas grill is the one that's suited for your particular needs. Whether you're planning to prepare a small feast every other weekend, or you require something that can quickly and efficiently pump out hot dogs and hamburgers for a ton of people, there is a gas grill to accommodate. Gas grills are also easy to maintain and a prime choice to consider if you're new to the barbecue.

There are a few price points to consider when choosing your budget for a gas grill. There are grills readily available under $100, but they're usually not very good for long term use. If you're planning to take grilling to a hobbyist level, spend a few hundred more on something that will last you for years as you hone your craft. More experienced gas grillers will like our higher-end picks for their breadth of features. 

Keep reading for our pick of the best gas grills as well as our top buying tips, and if you want even more great buys you'll find the best charcoal, gas, electric and portable options in our best barbecue guide. 

Best gas grills 2020

For beginner grillers looking to spend a bit of coin on their barbecuing kit, the Weber Spirit II E-310 delivers a nice balance of quality and consistency. The E-310 offers Weber's powerful cooking prowess in a mid-sized package, available in various colors to integrate into any style backyard. 

Light and colorful 

The E-310 is one of the lightest grills available with three burners, and its side wheels mean you can move it around as you see fit. It's available in a variety of color finishes for the hood, including red and sapphire.

Flavorizer Bars

The E310's three burners can manage a maximum of 30,000 BTUs within its 529 square inches of cooking space. It utilizes what Weber refers to as its 'flavorizer bar system,' which is just a fancy name for its porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates, standard in most gas grills. Reviewers note the bar system is efficient at routing drips down into the grease tray. Unfortunately, the E310 doesn't come equipped with a side burner, making your grilling spread a little one-note.  

Integrated smarts 

The Weber Spirit II E-310 works with the iGrill smart thermometer, which lets you monitor your grill's specifications from feet away, so you're not tethered to the grill. There's also an integrated propane scale to let you know how you're doing on gas before you fire up the grill. 

• Buy the Weber Spirit II E-310 

If you're operating on a steep budget but still want to grill some meat and veggies from time to time, the Expert Grill 3-burner is a striking good buy for under $100. Though it's billed as a Wal-Mart exclusive, this particular model has popped up through other retailers from time to time. 

Gets the job done 

The Expert Grill isn't the most style-forward gas grill, but the basics are all there. There are three steel tube burners, each with a 9,000 BTU heat output, for a total of 27,000 BTUs. The Expert Grill also offers 300 square inches of cooking space, which can fit a little more than a dozen burger patties at a time.

Space for side-dishes

You don't typically expect grills this cheap to come with plenty of prep space, but the Expert Grill features two spacious side shelves. Along with an additional 150 square inch warming rack for cooking buns and corn on the cob, it's a veritable grilling station for less than $100.  

Little bang for the buck

While this is an excellent buy for a beginning griller looking to start somewhere, the Expert Grill has no temperature control and is thus prone to overcooking. 

• Buy the Expert Grill 3-burner 

The Napoleon TravelQ 285's price tag is a bit on the steep end for a grill, but if you're road-tripping or spending your weekend tailgating, you might consider this stylish little grill a worthy investment. 

Feast-worthy grilling 

The TravelQ has 285 square inches of grilling space available, enough to get out a dozen burgers at once. Its two burners are capable of up to 12,000 BTUs of heat output, and because there's less surface area than a regular-sized grill, the temperature stays relatively even throughout. However, more delicate meats like fish can be prone to overcooking, so you'll want a steady eye when you're using it. 

Light enough 

At 26 pounds, it's not a big haul for car campers. There's even an optional RV adaptor kit for connecting it to an external propane tank. Or you can buy the wheeled, stand-up version for small patios and balconies. 

• Buy the Napoleon TravelQ 285

If what you're shopping for is a gas grill that can cook for a ton of people for under $500, the Royal Gourmet GB8000 offers some serious bang for the buck. 

Big grillin' 

This grill packs a ton of firepower. The GB8000 has eight burners with 13,000 BTUs each, totaling 104,000 BTU output in total. There are two sets of regulators included so you can cook a few different things at a time.

Spacious

The GB8000 has 950 square inches of cooking surface. That's plenty of room to grill dozens of hot dogs and burgers at the same time for a large gathering of people. There are also two folding side tables for side dishes and prep work and two levels of heavy-duty shelving underneath for extra storage. 

Helpful maintenance

Cooking for a ton of people also means cleaning up after them. The GB8000 has two draw-out grease drip pans that make it accessible to maintain this whopper-of-a-grill after the party is over. 

• Buy the Royal Gourmet GB8000

You can't go wrong with a classic like the Char-Broil Classic 3-burner grill. It's everything you need for under $200. 

The basics 

The Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner puts out up to 30,000 BTUs of heating power across 360 square inches of cooking space. That's a lofty amount for a grill in this price range, not to mention an additional 170 square inches for the warming rack. 

Solid option

The Char-Broil Classic is certainly everything you need, though it's missing a bit of flair, like additional hooks for hanging tools. At the very least, it's got electronic ignition, porcelain-coated grates, and stainless steel burners. There's even a mini prep table on either side of the grill to offer an extra hand. 

Wheel it around 

The benefit of the Char-Broil Classic's build is that you can easily wheel it around the patio or the backyard to find that inspiring grilling spot. 

• Buy the Char-broil Classic 360 3-burner

How to buy the best gas grill 

Size matters 

The best gas grill has all the room you need for cooking, plus a little extra for side-dishes and food preparation. Size matters here, especially if you're operating within a small backyard, though you can find reasonably sized grills with enough cooking space for occasional entertaining. 

Burners

Take a look at how many burners the gas grill has. If there are several it offers far greater flexibility as you'll be able to adjust the temperature in different areas of the grill to best suit the type of food you're cooking. 

Added features 

Gas grills worth the cash tend to include the nice-to-have extras, like an embedded temperature gauge and ample storage for tools and things.  

What is the best gas grill? 

To recap, if you're looking for a great-value all-rounder, we recommend the Weber Spirit II E-310. Suitable for beginners and keen chefs alike, it has plenty of cooking space to easily handle the majority of backyard barbecues. 

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