Footprint First: The Best Gas Grill for Small Patio Spaces

A townhome patio or a small back deck can still hold a real gas grill. You do not need a tabletop model on a folding stand; you need a full-size two- or three-burner cart that is narrow, not too deep, and has side shelves that fold or drop out of the way when the grill is not in use. That is enough grill for carne asada for four, a tray of elote and a stack of warm tortillas.

This guide covers eight full-size two- and three-burner propane grills from Broil King, Monument, Kenmore, Charbroil, Permasteel, Royal Gourmet and Nexgrill, all chosen for a small footprint. For each we give the width and depth exactly as the maker, a retailer or the Amazon listing states them, because footprint is what decides whether a grill fits. If you are in an apartment, read the section on balcony rules before you buy anything.

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Quick verdict: which small-patio gas grill to buy

The table compares the five picks we would steer most small-space cooks toward. All eight grills are reviewed in full after it.

Five small-footprint gas grills side by side

Burners, BTU and footprint for our five standout picks, as each maker, retailer or Amazon listing states them.

Product images from Amazon. Dimensions and specifications as stated by each maker, retailer spec sheet or Amazon listing; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best gas grill for small patio spaces

These eight grills are all full-size carts, not tabletop or portable grills, and all run on a standard 20-pound propane tank. They run from 43 to about 56 inches wide. Each review covers who the grill suits, the footprint and the numbers that matter, and one honest reason to skip it.

How to choose a gas grill for a small patio

On a small patio the cooking numbers matter less than the space numbers. These are the five things we would check, in order.

1. Measure the spot, then the grill

Measure the space where the grill will stand, then subtract room to work. You need to open the lid fully, stand in front of the knobs and step back from a flare-up. Compare that with the grill’s stated width with the shelves up, its depth, and its height with the lid open if the maker gives it. Check that the spot is also well away from the house wall, any railing and anything overhead; the safety guidance below gives the details.

2. Folding and drop-down shelves

Side shelves can add 15 inches or more to a grill’s width. Shelves that fold or drop down let the grill sit narrower between cookouts. The Kenmore goes from 51 to 32.5 inches, the Monument and Permasteel have folding shelves, and the two Broil Kings have drop-down shelves. The Charbroil, Royal Gourmet and Nexgrill have fixed shelves, so their stated width is the width they always take.

3. Two burners or three

Two burners give you a hot side and a cool side, which covers most cooking for two to four people. Three let you sear, cook through and hold at once: hot for skirt steak, medium for chicken, low for corn and tortillas. On a small patio a compact three-burner, like the Royal 320 or the Royal Gourmet GG3001S, often costs only a few inches of width over a two-burner.

4. Grates and cookbox

Cast iron grates, bare or enameled, hold heat and give the best sear; porcelain-coated steel is lighter and holds less. A cast aluminum cookbox, as on the Broil Kings, will not rust through, which matters when a small-patio grill lives outdoors all year. Keep it covered; our best gas grill cover guide covers sizing.

5. Where the propane tank goes

A cabinet base hides the 20-pound tank and keeps the patio tidier; an open cart is lighter and easier to roll. Either way, the tank stays with the grill outdoors, never stored indoors or in a garage.

Balcony and apartment rules: check before you buy

A small patio at a house or a townhome with its own ground-level yard is usually fine for a gas grill, as long as you follow the clearances in your grill’s manual. Apartments and condos are different. NFPA 1, the Fire Code, says that for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, no grill or similar device may be used or lit on any balcony, under any overhanging portion, or within 10 feet of any structure, and none may be stored on a balcony. That is the 2018 edition’s section 10.10.6, as quoted by the Nashville Fire Marshal’s Office, which enforces it.

Cities and states adopt different editions and amend them, and some allow exceptions, so the rule where you live may be stricter or looser. Your lease, HOA rules and local fire marshal have the final say. Ask before you buy a gas grill for a multifamily building, not after.

How we picked these eight grills

We started with what a restaurant kitchen wants from any grill: separate heat zones, grates that hold heat and enough room to cook a meal at once. Then we added the small-patio filter: full-size two- and three-burner propane carts with a stated footprint, preferring folding or drop-down shelves. We left out tabletop and portable grills, which our other guides cover, and we did not repeat any grill from our related gas grill guides, apart from one Kenmore three-burner that shares a platform with a pick on our cheap-grill page, kept here for its folding width.

Every grill was showing as in stock on Amazon when we checked; Weber’s Spirit two-burner already appears in several of our guides, and Napoleon’s and Broil King’s smallest models were showing low stock. Specifications come from Charbroil’s and Nexgrill’s own pages, from retailer spec sheets for the Broil King, Permasteel and Royal Gourmet dimensions, and otherwise from the Amazon listings. We have not cooked on these grills for this guide, and we did not draw on outside equipment reviews.

Grilling safely in a small space

Small patios put the grill closer to walls, doors and people, so the basics matter more. Follow your grill’s manual first. The U.S. Fire Administration’s outdoor fire safety guidance adds these points for gas grills:

• Use propane grills only outside; the USFA warns that indoor use can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Place 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 to keep children and pets safe.
• Open a gas grill’s lid before lighting it, and do not walk away from a lit grill.
• Clean the grill after each use to remove grease that can start a fire.
• Do not store or use a grill on a porch or balcony.

Cooking Mexican food on a small grill

A two- or three-burner grill does everything a taqueria needs on a weeknight; you just cook in a sensible order.

• Carne asada: run one burner on high and sear thin skirt or flap steak with the lid open, turning once. Rest it over the cool side while you warm tortillas, then slice across the grain.
• Pollo asado: start chicken thighs over medium with the lid down so they cook through, then finish over high to char the skin.
• Elote: grill husked corn over medium-high, turning until it blisters in spots, then dress it with mayonnaise, cotija, chile powder and lime.
• Fajitas: sear the meat on the grates and cook the peppers and onions on a griddle insert or a cast iron pan; our best fajita skillet guide covers the sizzling platters.

Small-patio grill questions, answered

What size gas grill fits a small patio?

Most full-size two- and three-burner carts run 43 to 56 inches wide and 21 to 24 inches deep, based on the figures for our picks. Add space to stand in front of it and to open the lid, and keep the clearances your manual gives from walls and railings.

Is a two-burner gas grill big enough?

For two to four people, usually yes. A two-burner like the Monument Mesa 200S gives you a hot and a cool side. If you often cook for five or more, a compact three-burner adds a third zone for a few inches more width.

Can I use a gas grill on an apartment balcony?

Often not. NFPA 1 bars grills on balconies, under overhangs and within 10 feet of any structure for buildings other than one- and two-family homes, though local codes vary. Check with your landlord, HOA and fire marshal first.

What is the difference between a small gas grill and a portable one?

The grills here are full-size carts on wheels that stay on the patio. Portable and tabletop grills are lighter, sit on a table or folding legs and often run on small one-pound bottles. See our best tabletop gas grill and best portable grill guides for those.

Do folding side shelves really save space?

Yes, when the grill is stored. The Kenmore’s listing gives 51 inches with the tables up and 32.5 inches folded. The saving only helps between cookouts; you still need the full width while you cook.

Our final pick for a small patio

Buy the Broil King Royal 320 Shadow if you want three burners, cast iron and a long warranty in a compact frame. Choose the Monument Mesa 200S for two people, the Kenmore 3-Burner if the grill must fold away, the Charbroil Pro Series for a grill and griddle in one, and the Permasteel 2-Burner if every inch counts. For more sizes and fuels, our best gas grill guide covers the full range, and the best small gas grill picks include carry-size models.

Cooking for a crowd on a small grill? Mexican food for a group has menu ideas that work in batches. Or let us do the grilling: see the menu or call to order.