Best Electric Grills of 2026
Outdoor electric grills for balconies and patios where gas and charcoal are not allowed.
An electric grill is the answer where gas and charcoal are not allowed, like many balconies.
In our electric grill reviews, the good ones get properly hot. They keep that heat when the lid opens.
Check the cord length and the outlet you will use before you buy.
We tested 10 electric grills for this guide. Most of them do well on how easy they are to keep clean. Where most fall short is how long they last, so that is where the picks below stand apart.
Our picks
- Best overall
Fire Magic EL500i-4Z1E-W Built-In Electric Grill A published 700F ceiling with two elements, a real divider and a probe each, the highest ceiling any electric grill here publishes. $7,087.50 at Amazon - Best electric grill for balcony
Weber Lumin Compact Electric Grill Cast iron under porcelain on a 26.00 pound body Weber says can be left outside in the rain. $399 at Amazon - Best electric grill for steak
Weber Lumin Electric Grill Weber publishes a 600°F ceiling and keeps the grate small enough that 1,560 watts still bites, but the power cannot grow. $499 at Amazon - Best electric grill for the money
Cuisinart FlavorBoost 8-in-1 Outdoor Electric Grill Smoke, convection and a probe at $379.95 is rare, though the eight-mode count oversells what changes. $379.95 at Amazon - Best electric grill under $300
George Foreman GFO201R Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill Plug in, turn the probe dial, wait ten minutes; the grill base unclips from its tube and moves to the counter in one lift. $129.99 at Amazon
Prices are what the retailer charged when we last checked. More on each pick below.
Best electric grill overallFire Magic EL500i-4Z1E-W Built-In Electric Grill
Buy the EL500i-4Z1E-W if the island is going in anyway and the gas is not. Price the electrician, the liner and the cover before comparing it with a gas head. This grill will never let you cook where fire is banned. It lets you build an outdoor kitchen with nothing stored inside it.
Good to know: Near $6,948.90 at a dealer before the electrician, the insulating liner, the wind deflector and the cover.
Best electric grill for balconyWeber Lumin Compact Electric Grill
Weber did not build a weaker Lumin here. It built the same element with less metal to heat. That is a real difference, not a downgrade. Take the Compact if 180 square inches suits your table, knowing the saving is modest.
Good to know: The heating element carries two years while the cookbox, lid, grates and plastics all carry five.
Best electric grill for steakWeber Lumin Electric Grill
Weber did not shrink a gas grill and hand it a cord. It built the grill that steams, smokes and sears where flame is not allowed. Keep the grate small, keep the watts concentrated, and electric stops sounding like an apology.
Why it won this award: Weber publishes a 600°F ceiling and keeps the grate small enough that 1,560 watts still bites, but the power cannot grow.
Good to know: Around $499.00 buys 242 square inches and no legs, and Weber's stand asks $179.99 more before it stands up.
Best electric grill for the moneyCuisinart FlavorBoost 8-in-1 Outdoor Electric Grill
The eight is marketing arithmetic. Strip the labels and you get an outdoor convection oven with a 500F grill plate. Bolted to its left side is one genuinely novel drawer. Buy it for that drawer, and count your hours of smoke first.
Why it won this award: Smoke, convection and a probe at $379.95 is rare, though the eight-mode count oversells what changes.
Good to know: Nonstick ceramic is the wear item, the warranty excludes wear, and all four service parts showed out of stock.
Best electric grill under $300George Foreman GFO201R Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
The GFO201R is a counter grill that visits the patio. Treat the stand as a way to cook outside on a nice evening. If carrying it back indoors suits you, it grills thin food for a crowd.
Good to know: A two-piece screwed pedestal tube and clip-in feet carry the grill; the maker names no material beyond the plate's coating.
Questions people ask
What is the best electric grill?
Our top pick is the Fire Magic EL500i-4Z1E-W Built-In Electric Grill. Buy the EL500i-4Z1E-W if the island is going in anyway and the gas is not. Price the electrician, the liner and the cover before comparing it with a gas head.
What is the best value electric grill?
The Cuisinart FlavorBoost 8-in-1 Outdoor Electric Grill. Smoke, convection and a probe at $379.95 is rare, though the eight-mode count oversells what changes.
How much should I spend on an electric grill?
Most of the electric grills we tested cost between $210 and $400. Our top pick costs about $7,088. Across all our scores, paying more buys a little, and much less than the price tag suggests.
Which brand makes the best electric grills?
Of the brands we tested at least twice here, Weber did best across its 4 models, ahead of Cuisinart. A single great model matters more than the badge, so judge each electric grill on its own.
Are electric grills allowed on balconies?
Often yes, where gas and charcoal are banned, but never assume. Building rules and local fire codes vary widely. Check your lease or condo rules before you buy one.
Can you use an electric grill in the rain?
Only if the maker says it is rated for outdoor use. Keep the plug and controls dry, and use a protected outdoor outlet. When in doubt, wait for the rain to stop.
Do electric grills use a lot of electricity?
They draw a lot of power while heating. Use a wall outlet on its own circuit if you can. Most makers advise against extension cords. Check the manual before using one.
Do electric grills taste as good as gas?
They brown and mark food well, and the flavor is close to gas. Neither gives the smoke of charcoal or wood. A hot preheat and a closed lid make the biggest difference.
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. For balcony is the top scorer made for one, for steak and for the money go to the top Heat Performance and Value scores, and the price pick to the top scorer under $300 at the retailer we checked. How we score.
Looking for something else? See all our best grill guides.