Choose in three steps. First the kind of grill, which decides how you cook: gas, charcoal, kamado, pellet, griddle or electric. Then the size, from how many people you feed. Then the budget, where paying more buys a sturdier grill, though the score rises less than the price.
Step 1: choose the kind of grill
Each card shows the best one of that kind we have scored. Tap one to learn how to choose within that kind.
Gas grill About $750 Fast weeknight cooking with even heat at the turn of a knob. 
Charcoal grill About $140 Smoky flavor and hard searing for the least money. 
Kamado About $1,400 Grilling, smoking and pizza in one heavy, efficient cooker. 
Pellet grill About $850 Wood smoked food with almost no effort. 
Gas griddle About $400 Breakfasts, smash burgers and stir fries on a flat top. 
Electric grill About $130 Balconies and kitchens where flames are not allowed. How the kinds compare on our scores
Here are the six kinds placed by their average Ease of Use and Heat Performance, across the 144 grills we have scored. The further up and to the right, the easier to cook on and the better the heat.
Heat Performance, higher is better ↑
Kamados lead on heat (8.9) and pellet grills on ease (8.7). No kind leads on both, which is why the choice comes down to how you like to cook.
| Kind | Best for | Typical price | Typical main grate | Our average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas grill | Fast weeknight cooking with even heat at the turn of a knob. | About $750 | 432 sq in | 8.19 from 53 |
| Charcoal grill | Smoky flavor and hard searing for the least money. | About $140 | 363 sq in | 7.90 from 21 |
| Kamado | Grilling, smoking and pizza in one heavy, efficient cooker. | About $1,400 | 250 sq in | 8.41 from 12 |
| Pellet grill | Wood smoked food with almost no effort. | About $850 | 540 sq in | 8.00 from 20 |
| Gas griddle | Breakfasts, smash burgers and stir fries on a flat top. | About $400 | 520 sq in | 7.96 from 16 |
| Electric grill | Balconies and kitchens where flames are not allowed. | About $130 | 154 sq in | 7.75 from 22 |
Typical price is the middle current price of the ones we have scored, and typical grate the middle main cooking area from the makers' specs.
Step 2: choose the size
Size a grill by its main grate, the area right over the heat, not the total with warming racks. Makers print both, and the total can be half again as large.
Count the most food you cook at once, not the usual. If you host a few times a summer, size for those days, or plan to cook in two rounds.
Our guide to what size grill you need goes deeper. Here are three common sizes drawn to the same scale, each filled with as many burgers as fit with room to flip.
Step 3: set the budget
Prices run from about $130 for a typical electric grill into the thousands for a built-in gas grill. Across the grills we have priced, the average score rises from 7.82 under $300 to 8.27 at $1,000 and up. The biggest gains are in Build Quality and Heat Performance; the Value score falls. Our study of whether price matters sets every score against its price.
- Spend on what you cook on: the cookbox, the burners or firebox, and the grates. These wear out and decide how long the grill lasts.
- Save on extras: lights, side burners, cabinet doors and app control are nice, but none of them cooks a better steak.
- Read the warranty: it is the maker's own bet on how long the grill holds up. Our guide to how long grills last compares them by kind.
Choose within your kind
- How to choose a gas grillSize, build, burners and what the BTU number hides.
- How to choose a pellet grillControllers, hoppers, and the reliability trade.
- How to choose a smokerOne question narrows six types to one or two.
- Gas vs charcoal grillThe first choice most buyers make, on our scores.
- Types of charcoal grillsKettles, barrels, kamados and more.
- How does a kamado grill work?And whether one is worth it.
Questions people ask
- What type of grill is best for a beginner?
- A gas grill or a pellet grill. Both light with a button and hold the heat you set, so you can learn to cook before learning to manage a fire. On our scores, pellet grills are the easiest kind to use.
- What size grill do I need for a family of four?
- About 400 to 450 square inches of main grate. That fits a dozen burgers, or dinner and a side of vegetables at once.
- How much should I spend on a grill?
- Enough to get a sturdy cookbox, good grates and a long warranty in the kind you want. Past that, extra money buys finish and features more than better food.
- Can I use a grill on an apartment balcony?
- Often only an electric one. Many buildings and fire codes ban open flame and propane tanks on balconies, so check your lease and local rules first.
- What are the main types of grills?
- Gas, charcoal, kamado, pellet, flat top griddle and electric. Our guides to types of charcoal grills and types of smokers go deeper on each family.