Grilling & Outdoor Cooking

Burners, BTU and Grates: How to Find the Best Gas Grill

Weber's Spirit E-210 leads our two- to four-burner propane and natural gas grills, compared on burners, BTU, grates and warranty, plus gas safety basics.

Two steaks searing over flames on a gas grill while a hand holds a glass bottle in the foreground
Steaks searing over the flames of an open gas grill.

On a restaurant line, the grill is where carne asada, pollo asado, whole cebollitas and ears of corn for elote get their char. At home, a gas grill does the same job with a turn of a knob: no charcoal to light, no waiting for coals, and a fire you can turn down when the chicken needs to finish gently. That control is why most backyards end up with one.

This guide covers two- to four-burner gas grills, propane and natural gas, from Weber, Char-Griller, Monument, Nexgrill and Royal Gourmet. For each we list burners, BTU, cooking area, grates, side burner, fuel and warranty, as the maker or the Amazon listing states them. We also explain what those numbers can and cannot tell you, because a big BTU figure on its own says very little about how evenly a grill cooks.

Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.

Quick verdict: which gas grill to buy

For most backyards, the best gas grill is the Weber Spirit E-210: two burners for a hot zone and a cool zone, porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, a cast aluminum cookbox and a 10-year limited warranty, with its numbers taken from Weber’s own page. If your house has a natural gas line, choose the Weber Genesis E-325 (Natural Gas) with its extra-large sear zone. For a side burner at a lower tier, the Monument Mesa 4+1; for gas, charcoal and a griddle in one grill, the Char-Griller Flex Fuel Plus 3-in-1; and for a hotter sear zone on propane, the Weber Spirit E-325. If you regularly cook for a crowd, skip the two-burner and look at the four-burners below.

The table compares the five picks we would steer most cooks toward, one for each kind of household. All seven grills are reviewed in full after it.

Five gas grills side by side

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

Grill Best for Burners & BTU Cooking area & grates Buy on Amazon
Most propane backyards, smaller patios 2 burners, 26,600 BTU 360 sq in; enameled cast iron View on Amazon
Homes with a gas line 3 burners, 39,000 BTU, plus sear zone 513 sq in; enameled cast iron View on Amazon
Monument Grills Mesa Series

Monument Mesa 4+1 Burner Propane GrillBest value with a side burner
A pot of beans next to the steak 4 + side burner, 62,000 BTU total 450 sq in; enameled cast iron View on Amazon
Gas, charcoal and griddle in one 3 burners, 30,000 BTU, plus charcoal side 1,260 sq in total; grates not stated View on Amazon
Hard searing on propane 3 burners, 31,000 BTU 360 sq in primary; porcelain-enameled cast iron View on Amazon

Product images from Amazon. 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

These seven grills run from a compact two-burner to four-burner carts with side burners, plus a grill-and-griddle combo, at several price tiers. Each review covers who the grill suits, the numbers that matter, and one honest reason to skip it.

1. Weber Spirit E-210 2-Burner Propane Grill – Compact and Even

Best overallWeber® Spirit® E-210 Gas Grill

Not every household needs four burners. Weber’s Spirit E-210 is a two-burner propane grill with 360 square inches of primary space and a 90-square-inch warming rack, 450 in all, and Weber rates the main burners at 26,600 BTU per hour. That is room for a family’s chicken thighs or a pound and a half of steak at once.

Two burners still give you two zones: one high for searing, one low or off for finishing thicker pieces with the lid down. Weber says the grill gets to temperature quickly and cooks evenly across the grates, and the grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron. The cookbox is cast aluminum, which Weber says resists rust and peeling.

It keeps the features of bigger Webers: stainless Flavorizer bars, a pull-out grease tray with a large drip pan, Snap-Jet ignition that lights each burner with a press and turn of its knob, a cabinet that hides the tank, and Weber Works side rails for snap-on accessories. Weber lists it at about 48 inches wide with the lid closed.

Why we like it

  • 26,600 BTU over 360 sq in (Weber)
  • Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates
  • Cast aluminum cookbox
  • 10-year limited warranty

Key specifications

Model E-210 (1501000)
Burners 2
BTU (main) 26,600
Cooking area 360 sq in primary + 90 sq in warming rack
Grates Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Side burner None
Fuel Propane
Warranty 10-year limited

Why we recommend it

It is our pick for most backyards because the parts that decide how a grill cooks are all here and all stated by Weber: two separate zones, porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, stainless Flavorizer bars and a cast aluminum cookbox, with a 10-year limited warranty. It suits couples, small families and narrower patios, and anyone who would rather not pay for burners they will not use. Our best cheap gas grill guide treats it as the step-up pick.

Skip it if you regularly cook for a crowd. With two burners and 360 square inches, a party means cooking in rounds.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Compact footprint
  • Cast iron grates
  • Long warranty for its size

Cons

  • Only two zones
  • No side burner
  • Small for big groups

Check price on Amazon

2. Weber Genesis E-325 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill – Big Sear Zone on a Gas Line

Best for natural gasWeber® Genesis E-325 Gas Grill for Outdoor Cooking

If your patio already has a natural gas stub, a natural gas grill means no more running out of propane halfway through a cookout. Weber’s Genesis E-325 in its natural gas version was in stock when we checked; the propane version was showing low stock, so this pick is for gas-line homes.

A retailer’s copy of Weber’s spec sheet for this model (1500534) gives 39,000 BTU for the three main burners and 13,000 BTU for the sear zone burner, over 513 square inches of primary area, plus a 128-square-inch warming rack. Weber describes the sear zone as extra-large, with room for several steaks at once, and says its tapered PureBlu burners create a consistent flame and even heat across the grilling surface, with raised flame openings that let debris fall away instead of clogging the ports.

The grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron, which holds heat well and leaves deep marks on skirt steak or halved chiles. Weber’s Flavorizer bars sit between burner and grate to catch drips, vaporize them and steer grease away from the flame, and a pull-out tray under the cookbox collects the rest. The cooking grates also accept Weber Crafted inserts, sold separately, including a griddle, which is handy for fajita vegetables.

Why we like it

  • Extra-large sear zone with its own 13,000 BTU burner (spec sheet)
  • Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates
  • Flavorizer bars and pull-out grease tray
  • 12-year limited warranty (listing)

Key specifications

Model 1500534
Burners 3 PureBlu burners plus sear zone
BTU (main) 39,000; sear zone 13,000
Cooking area 513 sq in primary + 128 sq in warming rack
Grates Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Side burner None (Weber’s E-335 adds one)
Fuel Natural gas
Warranty 12-year limited

Why we recommend it

Choose it if you have a natural gas line and want a mid-size grill with a proper searing area. The sear zone and cast iron grates suit thin cuts that need a hard, fast char, and the gas line means the grill is always ready.

Skip it if you do not have a gas line. A natural gas grill cannot run on a propane tank as sold, and one retailer marks this exact model as discontinued, so stock may not last.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Dedicated sear zone
  • Cast iron grates
  • Never runs out of fuel on a gas line

Cons

  • Needs a natural gas hookup
  • No side burner
  • Listed as discontinued by one retailer

Check price on Amazon

Pieces of chicken charring over open flames on a large outdoor grill, with smoke rising
Chicken pieces charring over open flames on an outdoor grill.

3. Monument Mesa 4+1 Burner Propane Grill – Side Burner at a Lower Tier

Best value with a side burnerMonument Grills Mesa Series

Monument’s Mesa 415BZ puts four main burners and a side burner on a stainless steel cart, with a combined rating of 62,000 BTU. The listing does not split that figure between the main burners and the side burner, so use it for comparison with care.

The cooking area is 450 square inches on porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, plus a 180-square-inch warming rack, 630 in total. Monument describes a sear zone with U-shaped fire holes and a flame tamer with densely spaced V-shaped holes that it says reduces hot spots, and claims the sear zone reaches 650°F in 10 minutes. That is the maker’s figure, not ours, but it is the right design idea: something between burner and grate that spreads the flame.

The Clearview lid has a window and a temperature gauge, and the knobs light up white when off and red on high. Monument lists a 2-year warranty on the grill, 8 years on the stainless steel burners and 1 year on electrical parts. It is a good fit for a cookout where the meat goes on the grates and a pot of frijoles or a pan of rice stays warm on the side.

Why we like it

  • Four burners plus a side burner
  • Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates
  • Flame tamer designed to reduce hot spots (Monument)
  • 8-year warranty on burners

Key specifications

Model Mesa415BZ (M415BZ)
Burners 4 stainless steel, plus side burner
BTU (main) 62,000 total including side burner; split not stated
Cooking area 450 sq in primary + 180 sq in warming rack
Grates Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Side burner Yes
Fuel Propane
Warranty 2 yr grill, 8 yr burners, 1 yr electrical

Why we recommend it

Choose it if you want four burners and a side burner without moving up to the Weber price tier. The cast iron grates and the flame tamer are the parts that matter for even cooking.

Skip it if you want a long whole-grill warranty or a clear main-burner BTU figure; the listing gives neither.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Side burner included
  • Window lid with gauge
  • Long burner warranty

Cons

  • Main BTU not separated
  • Two-year grill warranty
  • Smaller primary area than its rivals

Check price on Amazon

4. Char-Griller Flex Fuel Plus 3-in-1 Grill – Gas, Griddle or Charcoal

Best multi-fuelChar-Griller Flex Fuel Plus 3 in 1 Gas and Charcoal Grill Griddle and Smoker Combo 30000 BTUs Outdoor BBQ with Flat Top Griddle Insert Dual Fuel Backyard Grill Station

This Char-Griller is three cookers in one station. One side is a gas grill with three stainless steel burners and push-button ignition, the other is a charcoal grill and smoker, and a pre-seasoned flat-top griddle replaces the gas grates when you want it, so you can sear over gas, cook fajita peppers and onions on the flat top, or light charcoal for a smokier fire.

The listing gives 1,260 square inches of cooking space across the whole grill and 30,000 BTU on the gas side. That total counts both sides, so do not compare it directly with a single-chamber grill; compare the side you will use most. Three burners sharing 30,000 BTU is a modest gas side next to the Genesis above, which is the price of carrying a charcoal chamber as well.

On the charcoal side, an adjustable tray and two dampers manage the heat and smoke. The listing states a 5-year limited warranty but does not break it down by part, and it does not give the grate material or say whether there is a side burner. It also takes up more room than a one-fuel grill, so measure your patio first.

Why we like it

  • Griddle insert included
  • Gas side and charcoal side in one grill
  • 1,260 sq in total cooking space (listing)
  • 5-year limited warranty (listing)

Key specifications

Model CG30281224
Burners 3 stainless steel on the gas side
BTU (main) 30,000
Cooking area 1,260 sq in total, both sides
Grates Not stated on the listing
Side burner Not stated on the listing
Fuel Gas and charcoal, separate sides
Warranty 5-year limited (listing)

Why we recommend it

It suits the cook who wants one appliance for steak, fajita vegetables on a flat top and a real charcoal fire. For Mexican cooking that griddle insert is a real advantage: onions and peppers stay on the steel instead of falling through the grates.

Skip it if you want the simplest possible gas grill, or a stronger gas side. Two fire chambers mean more to clean and more patio to give up.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Three cooking modes
  • Large total area
  • Griddle in the box

Cons

  • Modest BTU on the gas side
  • Grate material not stated
  • Takes up more room

Check price on Amazon

Ears of husked corn grilling on the grates of a stainless steel gas grill
Husked corn turning golden on a gas grill.

5. Nexgrill 4-Burner Stainless Propane Grill with Side Burner – Stainless Grates, Cabinet Base

Best stainless gratesNexgrill Propane 4 Burner Gas Grill

Nexgrill’s 720-0830H is a stainless steel cabinet grill with four 12,000 BTU burners, 48,000 BTU in total, plus a 12,000 BTU side burner. The listing gives 462 square inches of primary cooking space and a 164-square-inch warming rack.

The grates are stainless steel rather than cast iron. Stainless will not rust if the coating chips, because there is no coating, and it is easy to scrub; cast iron holds more heat and leaves heavier marks. On paper this grill has a lot of output for its area, about 104 BTU per square inch, which should help it recover heat when the lid opens.

Electronic ignition, a lid thermometer, side prep tables and a double-door cabinet on four casters complete it. The listing gives a 1-year warranty, the shortest of our top picks, so think of it as a solid mid-tier grill rather than a lifetime one.

Why we like it

  • Four 12,000 BTU burners plus a 12,000 BTU side burner
  • Stainless steel grates
  • Double-door cabinet on four casters
  • Electronic ignition

Key specifications

Model 720-0830H
Burners 4, plus side burner
BTU (main) 48,000; side burner 12,000
Cooking area 462 sq in primary + 164 sq in warming rack
Grates Stainless steel
Side burner Yes, 12,000 BTU
Fuel Propane
Warranty 1 year

Why we recommend it

It suits cooks who prefer stainless grates to enameled cast iron and want a side burner with a published BTU rating. The output is generous for its size.

Skip it if warranty length matters to you; one year is short next to the Weber picks.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • High output for its area
  • Stainless grates
  • Side burner BTU stated

Cons

  • 1-year warranty
  • Stainless grates hold less heat than cast iron

Check price on Amazon

6. Royal Gourmet GD401C 4-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle Combo – A Flat Top for Fajitas

Best grill and griddleRoyal Gourmet GD401C 4-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle Combo with Cover

Royal Gourmet’s GD401C splits one propane cooktop into two zones: a grill side of 314 square inches and a flat-top griddle side of 296 square inches, according to the listing. The listing title rates its four burners at 48,000 BTU in total. It stands on folding legs rather than a cabinet, with two fixed side tables, and it comes with a heavy-duty fabric cover.

For fajitas, the split is the point. Sear the steak on the grill side, then move sliced peppers and onions to the flat top to soften and char at the edges, the way a restaurant would on a plancha. The griddle is 3 mm ceramic-coated steel, which the listing says resists oxidation with little upkeep. Our best outdoor griddle guide covers full-size flat tops if you find yourself using the griddle more than the grates.

A large grease tray and grease cup lift out for emptying, which the listing says reduces the risk of flare-ups. The listing does not state the grill grate material, the burner material or how the four burners are split between the two sides, and the warranty is one year on all components.

Why we like it

  • Grill and griddle zones side by side
  • 3 mm ceramic-coated steel griddle
  • Grill cover included
  • Removable grease tray and grease cup

Key specifications

Model GD401C
Burners 4 (material not stated)
BTU (main) 48,000 total (listing title)
Cooking area 314 sq in grill + 296 sq in griddle
Grates Grill grate material not stated; ceramic-coated steel griddle
Side burner None listed
Fuel Propane
Warranty 1 year, all components

Why we recommend it

Choose it if fajitas, smash tacos and grilled vegetables are on your weekly menu and you want a grill and a flat top working at the same time, on a frame that folds down for tailgating.

Skip it if you want a cabinet grill with storage or a long warranty; each cooking zone is also smaller than the main area on the full-size grills here.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Grills and griddles at once
  • Cover in the box
  • Folding legs

Cons

  • Grate material not stated
  • Smaller zones than a full-size grill
  • One-year warranty

Check price on Amazon

7. Weber Spirit E-325 3-Burner Propane Grill – A Sear Zone on Propane

Best propane sear zoneWeber® Spirit® E-325 Gas Grill

The Spirit E-325 is the three-burner step up from our top pick, on propane. Weber’s page gives 31,000 BTU per hour from the main burners, 360 square inches of primary space and a 90-square-inch warming rack, 450 in all. That is the same cooking area as the E-210, so what you are paying for is the third burner and the sear zone, not more room.

Two of the three knobs are red Boost Burners, which Weber says give 40% more power in the Sear Zone. The listing adds porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, a cast aluminum cookbox that it says resists rust and peeling, stainless Flavorizer bars, a slide-out grease tray with a large drip pan and Snap-Jet ignition.

Weber lists it at 48.3 inches wide with the lid closed, and the listing and Weber’s page give a 10-year limited warranty. Weber Works side rails take snap-on accessories, sold separately. Neither source lists a side burner.

Why we like it

  • 31,000 BTU over 360 sq in (Weber)
  • Boost Burners for the Sear Zone
  • Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates
  • 10-year limited warranty

Key specifications

Model E-325 (1500789)
Burners 3, two with Boost
BTU (main) 31,000 per hour (Weber)
Cooking area 360 sq in primary, 450 sq in total
Grates Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Side burner None listed
Fuel Propane
Warranty 10-year limited

Why we recommend it

It suits a cook who sears steak for carne asada or fajitas often and wants a hotter zone than the E-210 gives, on a tank rather than a gas line.

Skip it if you need more grate space; it has the same 450 square inches as the E-210.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Hotter sear zone
  • Long warranty
  • Weber flame-spreading hardware

Cons

  • No more room than the E-210
  • No side burner

Check price on Amazon

How to choose a gas grill

Brand names matter less than a handful of design choices. These are the six we would look at first.

1. Burners are heat zones

Each burner is a zone you can set on its own. Two burners give you a hot side and a cool side, enough for a family. Three let you sear, cook through and hold. Four let you run a restaurant-style setup: hot for carne asada, medium for pollo asado, low for corn and cebollitas, and one off for resting meat or warming tortillas. More than four is for big parties.

2. BTU versus heat distribution

BTU (British thermal units per hour) measures how much gas the burners can burn, not how hot or how evenly the grates cook. A bigger grill needs more BTU just to heat its extra area, so the raw number flatters large grills. A fairer quick check is to divide the main-burner BTU by the primary cooking area. On the figures the makers give, the Nexgrill works out to about 104 BTU per square inch, the Weber Genesis about 76 and the Weber Spirit about 74.

Even that ratio is only part of the story. What spreads heat evenly is the hardware between flame and food: Weber’s Flavorizer bars and Monument’s flame tamer, for example. Thick grates and a well-built cookbox and lid hold heat so the grill recovers when you open it. Treat a listing that leads with a huge BTU number and says little about these parts with some caution.

A stainless steel grill built into an outdoor kitchen counter under a wooden pergola beside a pool
A built-in grill under a covered patio, the kind of spot a natural gas line can reach.

3. Grates

Porcelain-enameled cast iron holds a lot of heat and gives strong sear marks; the coating protects the iron but can chip if you bang it with metal tools, and bare iron under a chip can rust. Stainless steel grates, especially thick solid rods, resist rust and scrub clean easily, but thinner stainless holds less heat. Porcelain-coated steel, found on cheaper grills, is the lightest and least heat-retentive. Whatever you choose, scrape the grates while they are hot; our best gas grill brush guide covers the tools.

4. Side burner or not

A side burner is a single stove burner bolted to the shelf. For a Mexican cookout it earns its place: beans, rice, a pot of consomé, a pan for frying chiles or warming salsa, all without running back to the kitchen. If you never cook sides outdoors, skip it and keep the shelf space.

5. Propane or natural gas

Propane grills run on a refillable tank that sits in the cart, so you can put the grill anywhere safe in the yard. Natural gas grills connect to your home’s gas line, never run out mid-cook, but stay where the line is. Most grills are sold as one or the other; a grill set up for one fuel is not meant to run on the other as sold, so buy the version that matches your patio.

6. Warranty and build

The warranty is the maker’s own estimate of how long the grill should last. Here they range from one year on all parts to 12 years on the Weber Genesis. Read the split: a long burner warranty with a short one on everything else is common on mid-tier grills. Cast aluminum and stainless cookboxes resist rust better than painted steel.

How we chose these seven grills

We started from what a restaurant kitchen asks of a grill: separate heat zones, grates that hold heat, a way to spread the flame evenly, and enough room to cook a full meal at once. We then looked at two- to four-burner propane and natural gas grills sold on Amazon in the United States and kept only those showing as in stock when we checked. Specifications come from the makers’ pages where we could read them (Weber’s pages for the Spirit E-210 and Spirit E-325), from a retailer’s copy of Weber’s spec sheet for the Genesis E-325 when Weber’s own page was unavailable, and otherwise from the brands’ Amazon listings. The Weber Spirit E-210 comes first because its key numbers come from the maker’s own page and it has the zones, grates and flame-spreading hardware we look for. The Char-Griller’s details come from its Amazon listing alone, and that listing leaves out the grate material, which is one reason it sits lower.

We left out Broil King, Napoleon, Dyna-Glo and most Weber Spirit and Genesis propane models because they were showing low stock or were unavailable when we checked, and we left out unbranded sellers. We have not cooked on these grills for this guide, and we did not draw on outside equipment reviews; everything here comes from the makers, the listings and our kitchen’s view of what a grill needs to do.

Small flames and sparks rising through the grates of an outdoor grill at dusk
Flames and sparks rising through a grill grate at dusk.

Grilling safely with gas

Follow the manual that comes with your grill first. The U.S. Fire Administration’s outdoor fire safety guidance adds these basics for gas grills:

  • Use propane, charcoal and pellet grills only outside; the USFA warns 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.
  • 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.

For leak checks, hose connections and relighting, follow the steps in your grill’s manual, which are specific to its valves and regulator.

Cooking Mexican food on a gas grill

A gas grill is built for the dishes a taqueria cooks over fire. Here is how a kitchen would use the zones.

  • Carne asada: marinate thin skirt or flap steak, then sear it over the hottest burners with the lid open, turning once. Rest it over an unlit burner, then slice across the grain for tacos.
  • Pollo asado: start bone-in chicken over medium heat with the lid closed so it cooks through, then move it over high heat at the end to char the skin. A thermometer takes the guesswork out of when it is done.
  • Elote: grill husked corn over medium-high, turning until the kernels blister in spots, then dress it with mayonnaise, crumbled 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 on the grill. Our best fajita skillet guide covers the sizzling platters, and how to eat fajitas explains the build at the table.
  • Tortillas: warm them over a low zone for a few seconds a side, or on a comal on the side burner. Indoors, our best comal for tortillas guide does the same job.
Marinated chicken and steaks cooking side by side on a large barbecue grill
Chicken and steaks cooking side by side on a large grill.

Gas grill questions, answered

What is the best gas grill brand?

There is no single best brand; each maker has strong and weak models. Weber backs its grills with long warranties and publishes detailed specs. Char-Griller’s Flex Fuel Plus adds a charcoal side and a griddle. Monument and Nexgrill offer side burners at lower tiers with shorter warranties, and Royal Gourmet sells a grill-and-griddle combo. Broil King, Napoleon and Dyna-Glo also make gas grills but were showing low stock or out of stock on Amazon when we checked.

Which gas grill gives the best value for the money?

For most cooks, value means even heat, cast iron or heavy stainless grates and a warranty that covers the burners for years. On those terms the Weber Spirit E-210 and Monument Mesa 4+1 stand out among our picks. If the budget is tight, our best cheap gas grill guide goes further down the price range.

Are more BTUs better on a gas grill?

Not by themselves. BTU tells you how much gas the burners can burn. Divide it by the primary cooking area for a fairer comparison, and look at the flame tamers, grates and lid, which decide how evenly that heat reaches the food.

What do Consumer Reports and Wirecutter recommend?

We did not consult their reviews for this guide, so we cannot speak for them. Everything here comes from maker specifications and Amazon listings, read from a restaurant kitchen’s point of view.

Is a side burner worth it?

If you cook sides outdoors, yes. For a Mexican cookout it handles beans, rice, salsa and frying chiles next to the grill. If you do not, it only adds width.

How long should a good gas grill last?

The warranty is the best guide you have. Among our picks they run from one year to 12 years. A cover, regular grate cleaning and emptying the grease tray all help any grill last longer.

Our final pick for the backyard

Buy the Weber Spirit E-210 for most propane backyards. Choose the Weber Genesis E-325 if you have a natural gas line, the Monument Mesa 4+1 for four burners and a side burner at a lower tier, the Char-Griller Flex Fuel Plus 3-in-1 if you want gas, a griddle and a charcoal side in one grill, and the Royal Gourmet GD401C if you want a grill and a griddle side by side. Whatever you buy, keep it covered, keep the grease tray clean and follow the safety basics above.

Short on space or heading out? See the best small gas grill picks for patios, parks and campsites.

Narrower picks: the best natural gas grills and the best stainless steel gas grills.

Want a flat-top on your gas grill? See our guide to the best gas grill griddle inserts.

Grates worn out? See our guide to the best gas grill grates.

By size: the best gas grills for small patios and the best large gas grills.

Want to simmer beans or salsa while you grill? See our guide to the best gas grills with a side burner.

Related guide: Best 4 burner gas grill.

Related guide: Best 3 burner gas grill.

Related guide: Best rotisserie kit for grill.

Related guide: Best infrared grill.

Feeding a crowd once the grill is hot? Mexican food for a group has ideas for the menu, and our best cast iron skillet guide covers a pan that works on the grates and the stove. Or let us do the grilling: see the menu or call to order.

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