So, you’re thinking about buying a grill. If you’ve done any sort of research, you’ll know there are a lot of options. So where do you begin? While it may seem overwhelming at first, we’ve created a step-by-step buying guide to walk you through the process of choosing the best grill for you!

Gas Type

The first decision you’ll have to make is how you want to power your gas grill. Your options are limited to Natural Gas or Propane. In good news, the type of gas fueling your grill will not affect the way your food tastes. So, the only thing you must base your decision on is convenience. 

Propane Gas Grills are much more portable than natural gas grills because they aren’t attached to a house’s fuel line. However, you will have to purchase a propane tank to fuel your grill. Typically, these come in 20-pound measurements and can be found at a lot of supermarkets or hardware stores. Propane grills are great if you will be moving your grill around your backyard or traveling with it. The only drawback is you will have to continuously refill your fuel source depending on how often you use your grill. 

Natural Gas Grills are most convenient when you already have natural gas lines set up in your home. For example, if you have a natural gas-powered fireplace. In this case, you won’t have to worry about going out to the store to stock up on more gas, as it will flow freely from your home’s line. This gas type is more common with built-in grills but is also available in freestanding models. You never have to worry about running out of fuel mid-cookout!

Configuration

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in front of your brand-new grill, the savory smells wafting up to your nose. In your fantasy were you standing in front of a grill built into an outdoor kitchen or island? Or was your grill standing all on its own attached to a wheeled cart?

Built-in Grills are exactly what they sound like. They are grills built into an existing structure such as a BBQ island or kitchen. These grills are sometimes part of a larger set of outdoor kitchen equipment and can be bought as a matching set to elevate your outdoor style. These grills are often durable, a pleasing design choice, and add value to your home. 

Freestanding Grills are attached on a movable cart or standing legs. These grills are mobile and may be an ideal choice for someone who likes to switch up the arrangement of their outdoor furniture frequently. Typically, these grills have a space below the grill to store a propane tank if necessary. Finally, when shopping around for a freestanding grill we recommend looking for a model with side shelving to give you a bit of space to prep and hold food before and after you get it on the grill. 

Sizing

The main factor to consider when choosing a grill size is how many people you are planning to grill for. Sizes range from small, medium, large, and extra-large so there will be an ideal grill size for your needs. Bear in mind that the amount of people these grills will feed is an estimation, every person can consume a different number of burgers!

Small grills include any grill 26 or fewer inches. If you’re a casual griller with a small family a small grill is perfect for you. These grills usually only have between 1 and 3 burners and can cook about a dozen burgers at a time. Because of the smaller size, these grills are not particularly adapted to be able to have separate heat zones like some of their larger counterparts. On the plus side, these grills are much more easily transportable. 

Medium grills include grills between 27 and 33 inches. These grills will have between 2 and 4 burners. If you have a medium-sized family, or if you enjoy inviting the neighbors over for a grilling a medium grill will be a good choice for you. Or if you have a small family but are an avid griller, a medium grill may also be a good choice for you because this size grill is when extra side burners or a rotisserie burner start to become available. 

Large grills include grills between 34 and 42 inches. If you have a large family, a family with a large appetite, or if you frequently host cookouts, a large grill may be worth investing in. These grills can have anywhere between 3 and 6 burners, so you can easily separate your food into different heat zones. Large grills will easily support your grilling experiments with slow roasting or cooking with indirect heat. 

Extra-Large grills include any grill 43 inches and over. These gigantic grills are really for the biggest grilling enthusiasts. Are you the go-to person to cater for a neighborhood cookout, do you love hosting family reunions, or are cooking of a herd of hungry sports fans at a tailgate? Then you may want to consider an extra-large grill. These grills can have up to 8 individual burners, and often feature more specialized burners such as rotisserie or searing. If there is any type of grilling trick you want to try out, this grill will certainly host you. 

Class

Class refers to the level of prestige each grill carries with it. The highest class is Luxury with the highest-quality materials and the most feature options but is the most expensive class. The luxury class is then followed by Premium class, Practical class, and Economy class. The class a grill is in is often dictated by the length of its warranty. Before you purchase a grill double-check the grill's warranty because it is incredibly useful knowledge, and it indicates the quality of the grill and the length of its useable lifetime. 

Luxury Class, as previously stated are crafted from top-of-the-line materials. These grills usually come with lifetime warranties proving the confidence their manufactures have in the designs. Luxury grills also have the widest range of temperature and are highly consistent and reliable in their temperature precision. These grills are designed to be the centerpiece of a gathering and you will find no shortage of beautiful designs and a long list of extra features. 

Premium Class grills are usually built entirely out of 304-grade stainless steel, indicating they are durable and long-lasting. Some of these models will have lifetime warranties, others will have extended warranty lengths so be sure to check before purchase. Premium Class grills will also be host to a long list of accessories and sizes so you will be able to personalize your grill for your experience. Premium grills are easy to control and are reliable to keep internal temperatures consistent. 

Practical Class grills are made with powder-coated stainless steel or painted steel. These more wallet-friendly grills can have warranties for up to 10 years. The heat retention for the inside of these grills is good, but they generally don’t go over a heat range of 500°F, so searing may be a bit more difficult. Practical class grills will also have various features available with your grill, but the list of high-tech and extra add-ons will be shorter than Premium or Luxury classes. 

Economy Class grills are the most affordable, but the materials are usually not nearly as durable as the other classes. Warranties of these models are much shorter and usually will reflect the usable lifespan of the grill. These grills don’t offer precise temperature gauges. You also will not get many extra features available on the grills of this class. 

What do you plan on cooking?

The final question to ask yourself is what are you going to be cooking up in your kitchen? 

What’s your favorite meal? Perhaps you love a steak with visible sear marks. Then you’re going to want to search for a grill that can reach higher temperatures or has an infrared feature.

Or maybe you like a gentle slow-cooked roast. Then you may want to look into accessories such as a wood chip smoker box to add to your grill. If you love hosting others for grilling and stay up late into the evening, many grills feature LED control knobs, or internal lighting so you can grill even in the dark.

Remember with such a wide arrange of grilling features available, you will be able to find everything you need to complete your grilling journey. 

We’re here to help!

If you have any questions about a grill call us at 866-848-3473 or send us an email! Or if you are interested in getting a fire pit installed for some genuine campfire cooking, we got you covered! We are on the Fireplace Deals website after all. Or check out our other Learning Center articles to expand your fireplace knowledge. 

• BBQ Smoker Buyer's Guide
• Top Gas Fire Pits for Decks
• Best Gas Grills