Go by the main grate, not the total area on the box. Under 250 square inches feeds one or two people, 250 to 400 feeds two to four, 400 to 550 a family of four to six, and 550 or more six or more. Size for the biggest meal you cook often, not the everyday one.
Grill size by number of people
| Main grate | Feeds | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 sq in | 1 or 2 people | Portables and tabletop grills |
| 250 to 400 sq in | 2 to 4 people | Kettles, kamados and small carts |
| 400 to 550 sq in | 4 to 6 people | Three burner carts and large kamados |
| 550 sq in and up | 6 or more | Four burner carts, built-ins and big pellet grills |
Here is what those sizes hold, drawn to the same scale and filled with as many burgers as fit with room to flip.
Main grate, not total area
Makers print two figures. The main grate is the area right over the heat, where you sear and grill. The total adds the warming rack above it, which only keeps food warm or finishes it gently. Across the 60 grills we have scored that print both, the total is typically 44% bigger than the main grate.
Main grate over the heat. Size a grill by this.
Warming rack above it, away from the heat. Makers add it in to print a bigger "total".
Typical size by kind of grill
The middle main grate of the grills we have scored, by kind.
Square inches of main grate, the middle value of each kind.
Bigger is not always better
A grill much bigger than you need takes longer to heat, burns more fuel every cook, and takes more room on the patio. If you cook for two most nights and host a few times a summer, a medium grill and two rounds on party days may suit you better than a big one.
Measure the spot first, and leave the clearance your grill's manual gives from walls, railings and anything that burns.
The best grill we have scored at each size
Questions people ask
- What size grill do I need for a family of four?
- About 400 to 450 square inches of main grate: a dozen burgers at once, or dinner and a side of vegetables together.
- How many burners do I need?
- Three for most families. Three or more burners also let you cook with one side off, which you need for roasts and whole chickens.
- Is a 22 inch kettle big enough?
- For four to six people, yes. The 22 inch Weber kettle's grate is 363 square inches, round, with room for a two zone fire.
- What size smoker do I need?
- Enough to lay a whole brisket flat, 14 to 18 inches long. Our guide to choosing a smoker covers it.
- Does a bigger grill use more fuel?
- Yes. A bigger cookbox has more air and metal to heat, so it burns more gas or charcoal for the same meal.