The 5 Best Gas Grills of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Our Favorite

The Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill was our clear overall favorite because of its top-notch performance, great design, and useful features. As a close runner-up, we have the Weber Genesis EX-325s Smart Gas Grill, which upgrades our top pick with smart technology, like connectivity to a user-friendly app.

The Tests

To determine the best gas grills, we tested top-rated models over two rounds. In the first round, we analyzed 13 grills, starting with their ease of assembly. Then, we checked how long it took to heat each grill to various temperatures, noting the full temperature range. Next, in separate trials, we grilled onion rounds at medium-high heat, beef burger patties at high heat, and burger buns at medium heat to evaluate heat distribution, cooking uniformity, and searing ability at different temperatures. Finally, we assessed how easy or not it was to clean the gas grill according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Throughout these tests, we paid close attention to overall ease of use, performance, design, and value.

For the second round of testing, we took the 10 best performers from the first round and put them through two more trials. First, we grilled skin-on, center-cut fish filets, checking for the grill’s nonstick ability and noting how well the gas grill handled a delicate protein. Next, we grilled strip steaks to check each grill’s performance with indirect heat grilling and searing. Our testers took note of overall performance (responsiveness of control knobs, the doneness of the food, etc.) and ease of cleaning after grilling.

Factors to Consider

Size

While it’s important to factor in the overall dimensions of a grill, you should also account for the number of burners and the measurement of its cooking area (noted in square inches). The more burners you have, the more temperature zones you can create, which is useful for indirect heat cooking and preparing different foods at the same time.

For the required amount of cooking area, you can estimate about 70 to 100 square inches per person. For an average-sized family, a gas grill with between 400 and 500 square inches of cooking space should work just fine. If you regularly host large barbecues, then you may want to go bigger than that, looking into 600 or 700 square inches of cooking area or more.  

Construction

When buying a gas grill, sturdy construction is crucial since you want something that won’t wobble during use and will stand the test of time. Additionally, a well-made lid is important since that’s what traps the heat inside, affecting how well and fast your food is cooked.

Another key area to look at is the grates. These may be made out of cast iron, porcelain-coated cast iron, stainless steel, or porcelain enamel-coated steel. Each material has its benefits: Cast iron is the most durable and gives a great sear, while steel is often the most affordable and easy to clean. What you prefer ultimately depends on what you like to cook and how much you’re willing to put in money and effort-wise.

Heat Output

The heat output of a grill is measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units. The overall BTU rating of a grill generally factors in all of the main burners, which is why you’ll see smaller gas grills with just two burners having a significantly lower BTU rating than larger grills with four or six units. In general, having a higher BTU rating or heat output means that a grill probably uses up more fuel. When buying a grill, don’t focus solely on scoring something with super high heat output. It’s necessary to consider what the overall temperature range is and how well the grill retains heat.

Features

On the whole, gas grills offer more features than charcoal grills. These may be something simple like wheels so you can move your grill around or a removable grease tray so you don’t need to make your own out of foil to catch fat drippings. The features can also be more advanced like a built-in thermometer to ensure you’re grilling at just the right temperature or a side burner to prepare a side dish without having to run back into the house to use the stove. Other features you may or may not want in your gas grill include heat zone separators, built-in lights, and viewing windows. 

Price

Gas grills can cost as little as $100 and can go up to the thousands. Remember that when you’re choosing a gas grill, think of it as an investment. Going for something of lower quality and on the cheap end may just mean you need to replace it sooner and more often, which can add up. When looking at a gas grill’s price, consider its size, construction quality, and special features to determine its overall value.

Other Gas Grills We Tested

Strong Contenders

Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Gas Grill ($551 at Amazon)

This is a versatile, attractive grill with a fair price for the high quality results it delivers. However, its simplicity means that as someone becomes more experienced with grilling, they may want to move onto something with more space and advanced features. 

Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner Gas Grill ($330 at Charbroil.com)

While this gas grill is beginner-friendly and does a decent job at a very affordable price, there are concerns about how well the construction will hold up over time. It’s possible you’ll have to spend more money in the long run if this one breaks or needs replacing after a year or so.

Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner ($299 at Home Depot)

Given this grill’s price, we were impressed by its large size with four main burners, a side burner, and 562 square inches of cooking area. However, we noticed inconsistency, particularly with its heat output and distribution when trying to achieve a sear. 

Dyna-Glo Premier 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill ($334 at Amazon)

While grilling, our testers found the grill fairly accurate and easy to control with the lid closed, making it particularly suitable for those just starting out. This gas grill is on the lower end of the price spectrum, and that was clear in the quality of the materials. 

What Didn't Make the List

The other gas grills that we tested didn’t make our top list for a variety of reasons, including uneven heat distribution, lack of heat retention, and low-quality construction. Altogether, these qualities not only made it harder and less enjoyable to grill food properly but also decreased the overall value and potential longevity of the grill. 

One model that underperformed during our tests was the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro 40,800-BTU Gas Grill. This gas grill was difficult to use due to its many hot and cold spots, which require more experience to manage and cook on.

Our Expertise

Cindy Brzostowski is a freelance writer and avid home cook who has previous experience in cookbook publishing (and has left more than her fair share of messes on the kitchen floor while cooking). Her writing has been featured in Allrecipes, Blue Apron, The Kitchn, and EatingWell among other publications. For this article, she analyzed insights from our in-house tests and conducted market research to determine which gas grills are worth buying.