Which Is the Best Cheap Gas Grill? Budget Picks That Cook Evenly

A cheap gas grill can cook a very good plate of carne asada. What it usually cannot do is cook evenly from edge to edge, hold its heat when the lid opens, or survive several summers of rain. The trick to buying at the low end is knowing which corners a maker has cut and which ones matter to the food.

This guide covers lower-priced propane grills from Monument, Nexgrill, Royal Gourmet, Charbroil and Kenmore, plus Weber’s Spirit E-210 as a step up for anyone who can stretch the budget. For each we list burners, BTU, cooking area, grates, side burner, fuel and warranty, as the maker or Amazon listing gives them. We do not quote prices, which change constantly; we describe price tiers in words instead.

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Quick verdict: which cheap gas grill to buy

The table compares those five picks. All eight grills are reviewed in full after it.

Five budget gas grills compared

Burners, BTU and cooking area for our five standout budget picks, as each maker or Amazon listing states them.

Product images from Amazon. Specifications as stated by each maker or Amazon listing; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best cheap gas grill

These eight grills sit in the lower price tiers for full-size gas grills, with the Weber as a mid-tier step up. Each review says who the grill suits, which numbers to trust, and one honest reason to skip it.

How to choose a budget gas grill that cooks evenly

At the low end, a few details decide whether a grill cooks evenly or burns one side of the steak. These are the five we would check first.

1. Grates first

Grates are where cheap grills save the most, and where it shows. Cast iron, bare or porcelain-coated, holds heat and spreads it, so a cold steak does not suck all the heat out of one spot. Porcelain-coated steel is thinner and holds much less heat. If the listing does not say, as with two picks here, look closely at the product photos. Clean any grate hot, with a scraper or brush; our best gas grill brush guide covers the tools.

2. BTU per square inch, not BTU

A big BTU number on a big grill means less than it seems. Divide the main-burner BTU by the primary cooking area to compare grills fairly. On the listing figures, the Royal Gourmet four-burner works out to about 99, the Kenmore about 79, the Weber about 74 and the Royal Gourmet GL3001 about 62. Higher is not automatically better, because a heavier grate and a tighter lid matter too, but a very low figure warns you the grill will struggle to sear.

3. Burners and zones

Two burners are enough for two to four people: one hot, one low. Three let you sear, cook through and hold. Four on a small grate give you narrow zones, but they are useful for a full taco spread. More burners also mean more fuel when they are all on.

4. Warranty as a quality signal

Many budget grills carry one year on every part. A longer warranty on burners, like Monument’s 8 years, or on the whole grill, like Weber’s 10, is the maker’s own bet that the parts will last. It is the most honest durability figure you will find on a listing.

5. Side burner and storage

A side burner lets you keep beans, rice or salsa going outdoors. A closed cabinet hides the tank and keeps tools dry. Both are nice to have; neither changes how evenly the grill cooks, so choose them only if you will use them.

How we narrowed down these eight grills

We looked for full-size propane grills in the lower price tiers on Amazon in the United States that were in stock when we checked, from brands that publish model numbers and specifications. We weighed the parts that affect cooking, grates, burners, BTU per square inch and lid, above extras, and treated the warranty as the best available sign of build quality. Specifications come from the brands’ Amazon listings and, for the Weber, from Weber’s own page; where a listing contradicts itself, as with the Nexgrill’s cooking area, we say so. We left out low-stock models such as several Charbroil Performance grills, Dyna-Glo models and Royal Gourmet’s cabinet grills, and unbranded sellers. We have not cooked on these grills for this guide and did not draw on outside equipment reviews.

Safety basics for any gas grill

Cheap or not, follow the manual that comes with the grill. The U.S. Fire Administration’s outdoor fire safety guidance adds these basics:

• Use propane grills only outside; the USFA warns indoor use can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep the grill well away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep a 3-foot safe zone around the grill for children and pets.
• Open the lid of a gas grill before lighting it, and do not walk away while it is lit.
• Clean the grill after each use; grease left behind can start a fire.
• Do not store or use a grill on a porch or balcony.

Keep it covered between cookouts, too; our best gas grill cover guide explains what to look for.

Getting restaurant results from a budget grill

• Preheat longer. Close the lid and give a lower-output grill extra time to heat before the meat goes on, so the grates are hot enough to sear.
• Cut thin for carne asada. Thin skirt or flap steak cooks fast over high heat, which suits a grill that cannot hold heat for long. Rest it, then slice across the grain.
• Use the zones for pollo asado. Cook chicken through over medium with the lid closed, then char it over high at the end. A thermometer tells you when it is done.
• Add a pan. A cast iron skillet on the grates handles fajita peppers and onions that would fall through. See our best cast iron skillet and best fajita skillet guides, and how to eat fajitas for serving.
• Warm tortillas last. A few seconds a side over the low zone, or on a comal on the side burner; our best comal for tortillas guide covers the pan.

Budget gas grill questions, answered

What counts as a cheap gas grill?

We mean the lower price tiers for a full-size, freestanding gas grill with a lid and at least two burners, below the mid-tier Weber and Broil King models. Prices change too often to quote, so check the listing.

What is the best budget gas grill brand?

No single brand wins at every price. Monument stands out for its 8-year burner warranty, Nexgrill for cast iron grates and side burners at the low end, and Royal Gourmet and Kenmore for compact, simple carts. Weber is the step up if you want a longer warranty.

What is the best value gas grill?

For value, look for cast iron grates and a warranty longer than one year. On those terms the Monument Mesa 3+1 is our pick, with the Weber Spirit E-210 as the higher-tier option that should last longest.

Are cheap gas grills worth it?

Yes, if you choose one with heat-holding grates and use it well: preheat with the lid closed, cook thin cuts over high heat and keep it covered. Expect a shorter life than a mid-tier grill, which the shorter warranties reflect.

Is a two-burner gas grill enough?

For two to four people, usually. Two burners give you a hot zone and a cool zone. If you host often, a three- or four-burner grill saves cooking in rounds.

Our final word on budget gas grills

Buy the Monument Mesa 3+1 if you want cast iron, a side burner and a long burner warranty without moving up a price tier. Step up to the Weber Spirit E-210 if you can, choose the Nexgrill 3-Burner for a side burner at the lowest tier, the Nexgrill Deluxe 2-Burner for a small patio, and the Royal Gourmet OK4002T if four burners matter most. For mid-tier and premium grills, including natural gas models, see our main best gas grill guide.

Cooking for everyone this weekend? Mexican food for a group has menu ideas, or skip the grill and let us cook: see the menu or call to order.