The Best Grills of 2023

Find the perfect grill for your family and outdoor space with our expert appliance guide.

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Updated on August 15, 2023

If you're looking for a new grill this year, you may find yourself overwhelmed with all of the different types available, but if you ask yourself a few questions beforehand, you'll be able to find the best grill for your household. That means deciding what your budget is and what type of cooking you plan to do: A person who plans to take their grill with them camping is going to end up with a different grill than someone who wants to plan quick weekday meals before Monday Night Football.

Below, we break down the types of grills that suit your every need, from limited outdoor space (or no outdoor space) to those who want that perfect sear with incredibly high heat. All of the options can fit every budget and need, but all also promise one thing — you're going to have delicious meals all season long.

What type of grill is best?

Ultimately, choosing a grill comes down to deciding if gas or charcoal is your best bet.

Gas grills are known for their convenience — they ignite at the push of a button and allow you to control the heat with the turn of a knob. They're generally more expensive than charcoal grills, but with that higher price comes a few added conveniences: They're easier to clean (you don't have to dispose of the burned charcoal bricks, for example), they heat up incredibly quickly and the flame can easily be adjusted and controlled. They do require a propane tank, which will need to be replaced fairly infrequently.

Charcoal grills burn hotter than gas grills, and you can use wood to impart a natural, smoky flavor to your foods. That means they'll have that classic taste that you might not achieve as easily with a gas grill. They're also more affordable and they also have the ability to travel with you: Take them camping or to the beach for hot dogs and hamburgers anywhere. As for the cons, they take longer to heat up, and the ash that charcoal leaves behind requires more clean-up. Finally, the temperature is controlled only by letting the fuel die or adding more fuel to the base, which does require more attention and care.

Still not sure which grill is best for you? Try both: a gas grill for everyday grilling and a charcoal grill for more occasional barbecuing. If your budget is ample, look for a grill that offers both options in one unit, which is called a combo grill and will give you the best of both worlds.

Electric grills are perhaps the only choice available for apartment dwellers, but they do allow people with limited or no outdoor space to enjoy a seared burger or hot dog on occasion.

Kamado grills are egg-shaped, ceramic charcoal options that allow for more even heating than traditional charcoal grills and can even be used for smoking certain foods.

If you really are interested in smoking your food, pellet grills allow for real-deal smoking along with some light temperature control.

Check out our picks below for grill options in all of these categories.

Best Gas Grills

Perfect for families and beginners, because you can use it quickly and without fuss.

Gas grills are convenient and offer more control than other kinds of grills. They require either a propane tank or a natural gas line (natural gas grills need to connect to your home's gas line, but you'll never have to refill a tank) to work, they light up instantly and can be heated to exact temperatures, making them easier to use for beginner cooks. Heat them up to a high temperature to get the sear without the smoky flavor, or let things cook low and slow. This has a large surface area for bigger meals, and the burners ensure easy, even cooking.

$253.16

This Char-Broil gas grill features a sleek cart design and stainless steel burners that emit flame from the top for even cooking and added durability. This grill is made to last with rust-resistant, porcelain-coated, cast-iron grates for easy cleaning and a porcelain-coated steel swing-a-way warming rack. It also comes with a lid-mounted temperature gauge, removable porcelain-coated grease pan, two locking wheels, large metal side shelves and an electronic igniter.

Best Charcoal Grills

Perfect for patio spaces and those who want high heat and classic, smoky flavors.

Charcoal grills are your classic choice; they burn with charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal and require lighter fluid, an electric starter or instant lighting charcoal to begin working. Charcoal grills don’t have temperature dials, so you can’t control the heat to an exact temperature, but you can achieve higher heat with these over any other grill type. This means you’ll get that perfect sear on proteins like steak or veggies without overcooking them. You’ll also get that classic smoke flavor in everything you cook on this. This is the perfect grill if you’re looking for a simple, affordable option that doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles — just smoky goodness. They're best suited for patio spaces and not the best for small balconies because of the embers that can float up. You'll need to keep a close watch on your food, as the coals don't always burn evenly.

$29.97

The Cuisinart Charcoal Grill offers the perfect solution for all your on-the-go grilling needs. This compact grill is lightweight and easy to transport but still offers more than 150-square-inches of grilling space. The firebox is enamel coated, giving it strength and durability to survive the harshest grilling conditions. The dual-venting system helps control the heat so you can cook slow and low or up at searing hot temperatures. For added convenience, the lid is secured by three durable locks and the ashtray is accessible for easy cleanup.

Best Kamado Grills

Perfect for smoky flavor with a little more control over temperature.

Another subtype of a charcoal grill is the kamado grill. They're egg-shaped, so they have more internal temperature control, and the grates are typically ceramic so they’ll ensure more even cooking (but still not as even as gas). They still require charcoal, but the temperature is a little easier to control because of the lid.

$267.68

This portable kamado grill features a 314-square-inch cooking surface utilizing a cast iron cooking grid. Various cooking styles allow you to make anything from pizza to barbecue. This versatile grill can smoke, sear, roast, grill and bake. The chic shell is constructed from powder-coated steel and a porcelain enamel steel interior.

Best Combo Grills

Perfect for those who can't choose between charcoal and gas grills and love certain elements of both.

Combo — or hybrid — grills are exactly what they sound like: They're a combination of gas and charcoal grills (or other types of grills). If you want the ease of a gas grill to get a big meal done with precise temperature control but still want the option of a high-heat, smoky steak or shrimp dinner, this is the easiest way to never have to choose between one or the other.

$497

With the Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker by Masterbuilt, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and so much more. Set the temperature on the digital control panel or your smart device, and the DigitalFan maintains the desired cooking temperature. The GravityFed charcoal hopper holds more than 12 hours of charcoal, and gravity ensures you have constant fuel to the fire. The reversible cast-iron grates are perfect for smoking or searing, and in just 13 minutes, this grill can reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Best Electric Grills

Perfect for small households and apartment balconies. The indoor grills are great for those without outdoor space.

Electric grills are the only type of grill that can be used indoors — as long as you buy an indoor model — because all it needs is a simple outlet to work. They're a fun, easy way to make a few burgers or chicken breasts when you're bored with your stovetop, but they're not going to have the same sear and versatility as other kinds of grills. However, this is the one for you if you don't have significant outdoor space or you're a household of one.

$111.97

This indoor griller can be used as a full grill — and also a panini press, a contact grill and a griddle. It has clear LCD digital displays and can go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The dishwasher-safe cooking plates are nonstick, too.

Best Pellet Grills

Perfect for the family that wants to barbecue in addition to grilling their food and loves to experiment.

Pellet grills are basically a combination of smokers and grills, and they require wood chips to get to work. This is the grill for you if you love barbecue and you're willing to spend a little more to get the versatility of using different kinds of wood pellets for different kinds of flavors. Use applewood or cherry for a sweet smoke, or try out maple or hickory for something different. The pellets sit in a storage container on the side and are fed into the cooking chamber and heated up. There's also an element of temperature control that you don't see in charcoal grills, so you can use high heat for searing or low and slow for real-deal barbecue.

$397

This classic, modern pellet grill has 700-square-inches of cooking surface — along with an upper rack — and a flame broiler for direct flame cooking. It's perfect for grilling, smoking, chargrilling and barbecuing. There's an LED control board, and the grates are made from powder-coated steel.

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