Best Built-In Grills of 2026
Grill heads made to drop into an outdoor kitchen island.
A built-in grill is the heart of an outdoor kitchen, and it should outlast the counter around it.
Heavy stainless steel, solid burners and a long warranty matter more here than anywhere else.
Measure your cutout first. A top score in our grill reviews is no use if it will not fit.
We tested 17 built-in grills for this guide. Most of them do well on how solidly they are made. Where most fall short is value for money, so that is where the picks below stand apart.
Our picks
- Best overall
Fire Magic Choice C430i Built-In Grill Every metal part a cook touches is 304 or 16-gauge stainless, and Fire Magic warrants this burner shape for life. $3,737.70 at Amazon - Best built-in grill for the money
Fire Magic Aurora A660I Built-In Grill Captured around $4,790.60 on the Amazon listing on record, while two dealers list the same SKU at $6,945.30 and $8,265.00. $7,438.50 at Amazon - Best built-in flat top grill
Broilmaster B-Series 32-Inch Built-In Gas Griddle Cooking surface, lid, control panel and drip tray are each fully welded 304 stainless, a better build than any bolted griddle offers. $1,829 at Amazon - Best built-in grill under $5,000
Napoleon Built-in 500 Series 32 Lifetime cover on burners, grids, hood and castings, and no lamps, transformer or infrared panel aboard to fail in year eleven. $1,679 at Amazon
Prices are what the retailer charged when we last checked. More on each pick below.
Best built-in grill overallFire Magic Choice C430i Built-In Grill
Buy the C430i if the island is yours and the grill answers to nobody else. The cooking hardware matches a Fire Magic that costs nearly twice as much. What you give up is a locking screw, a channel, a clock and a wind deflector.
Good to know: 46,000 BTU into 432 square inches is plenty of fire, but two valves buy only two settings across the width.
Best built-in grill for the moneyFire Magic Aurora A660I Built-In Grill
The A660I is where Fire Magic stops selling width and starts selling depth. The 23 1/2 inch cutout is the real purchase. The electric half is genuinely good and genuinely covered for one year. Buy it by SKU, and check the price twice.
Why it won this award: Captured around $4,790.60 on the Amazon listing on record, while two dealers list the same SKU at $6,945.30 and $8,265.00.
Good to know: A qualified installer is a warranty condition, and the island must also carry a weather-proof GFCI receptacle.
Best built-in flat top grillBroilmaster B-Series 32-Inch Built-In Gas Griddle
Broilmaster answered a griddle's failure points by welding most of them out of existence. Give it a gas line, a power run, and an installer who stands behind the work. Do that, and the plate stops being something you maintain.
Good to know: The dealer figure buys a bare head; enclosure, sleeve, gas line and electrical run are all separate.
Best built-in grill under $5,000Napoleon Built-in 500 Series 32
The 700 Series 32 spends its extra money behind the food and after dark. The 500 spends all of its fire under the food. If you sear far more than you spit-roast, this is the one to buy.
Good to know: Lighting is one push per knob, but propane in an island demands a vented, isolated cylinder bay plus a non-combustible frame or liner.
Questions people ask
What is the best built-in grill?
Our top pick is the Fire Magic Choice C430i Built-In Grill. Buy the C430i if the island is yours and the grill answers to nobody else. The cooking hardware matches a Fire Magic that costs nearly twice as much.
What is the best value built-in grill?
The Fire Magic Aurora A660I Built-In Grill. Captured around $4,790.60 on the Amazon listing on record, while two dealers list the same SKU at $6,945.30 and $8,265.00.
How much should I spend on a built-in grill?
Most of the built-in grills we tested cost between $3,740 and $7,440. Our top pick costs about $3,738. Across all our scores, paying more buys a little, and much less than the price tag suggests.
Which brand makes the best built-in grills?
Of the brands we tested at least twice here, Fire Magic did best across its 7 models, ahead of DCS. A single great model matters more than the badge, so judge each built-in grill on its own.
Does a built-in grill need to be vented?
Yes, if it runs on gas. Leaked gas can collect inside the island, so the enclosure needs vent panels. Follow the maker's cutout and venting instructions exactly. A licensed installer should do the gas connection.
Can I use a regular grill as a built-in?
Usually not. A cart grill is not made to sit in a cabinet. Its heat can damage the island. Built-in grills are designed for it. Some need an insulated jacket if the island has wood framing.
Why are built-in grills so expensive?
They are built to stay outdoors for many years, often from heavy stainless steel. They also carry more burners and longer warranties. Installation, gas lines and the island itself add to the total.
How we picked
Every pick comes from our own testing, scored the same way across six things that matter to an owner. The overall pick is the highest Avid Griller Score, and for the money the top Value score. Flat top is the top scoring built-in griddle, and the price pick the top scorer under $5,000 at the retailer we checked. How we score.
Looking for something else? See all our best grill guides.