Gas vs Charcoal Grill: How to Choose the Right Grill
Carly Vicknair - Senior Marketing Specialist, Coverstore
Carly is a Senior Marketing Specialist who brings product expertise and real customer insight to her writing on outdoor living and cover care.
The gas vs charcoal grill question decides most of the rest for you, so it is worth settling before you set foot in a store. Walk into any hardware store or major retailer in the summer and you are surrounded by hundreds of grills. Do your research first, and this guide will get you started.
Gas vs Charcoal Grill: The Main Decision
Neither one is better. They are built around opposite priorities. Charcoal trades time and cleanup for flavor. Gas trades flavor for speed and control. Everything else, price, size, brand, follows from which of those you care about more.
| Gas | Charcoal | |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Clean, lets marinades come through | Deep and smoky, can add wood chunks |
| Time to cooking | Around 10 minutes | Longer, plus a cool down before cleanup |
| Heat control | Turn a knob | Manage coals and vents by hand |
| Cleanup | Wipe the grates | Remove and dispose of ash each time |
| Typical price | $100 to $5,000 | $20 to $2,000 |
| Best for | Weeknights, burgers, hot dogs, fish, vegetables | Weekends, thick steaks, chicken, low and slow |
Choose Propane or Gas If
You grill on weeknights, you want to be cooking ten minutes after you decide to, and you would rather wipe down grates than shovel ash. Gas also holds a steady temperature without attention, which makes it far more forgiving if you are new to grilling.
Choose Charcoal If
Flavor is the point. In the propane vs charcoal grill debate this is the one thing gas cannot answer, and no amount of convenience closes the gap for people who care about it. Charcoal also gets hotter for searing, and the cheapest charcoal grills cost a fraction of the cheapest gas grills.
A Note on Health
Gas burns cleaner, but the difference is small enough that it should not decide your purchase. If you grill over charcoal, use natural briquettes or lump charcoal and skip the lighter fluid.
Key Factors When Buying a Grill
Usage
What are you planning on cooking most frequently? Are you looking to sear steaks or slow roast a chicken? Grill corn and veggies or flip burgers and hot dogs? All of the above?
Price
Two people can walk into a store, buy different grills, and one spends 500% more than the other. Grills range from $15 to $15,000. Once you have settled on a type, check prices online before you go so you are not surprised by what you see.
Space
Measure the space before you buy. Your grill should sit at least 10 feet from your house or anything flammable. Think about where it will live the rest of the time too, outside, in a shed, or in the garage, because that decision affects what you need to protect it.
Grate Material
Worth checking before you buy, because it is expensive to change later. Cast iron holds heat well and gives the best sear marks, but it rusts if you neglect it. Porcelain coated grates are easier to clean and will not rust while the coating is intact, though the coating chips. Stainless steel sits in between, durable and low maintenance, usually at a higher price.
Portability
Decide early whether the grill needs to move. A portable charcoal grill or portable gas grill is the right call for camping, tailgating, a balcony, or a patio too small to give a grill permanent floor space. Most weigh under 30 pounds and fold or latch shut for transport.
Portability now reaches beyond the classic mini grill. A portable pellet grill or portable pellet smoker gives you wood smoke away from home, and a portable electric grill suits balconies where open flame is banned. The tradeoff is always cooking area, so check the grate dimensions rather than the overall footprint, since a compact body can still hide a usable surface.
Full size grills move too, just not far. Most cart style gas grills have wheels for rolling into a garage or shed, while ceramic and built in grills do not move at all. That distinction decides whether you are protecting the grill with storage or with a cover.
Types of Grills
There are several types of grills, with numerous sub types beneath those.
Gas Grills
Gas grills are the most popular type of grill, and you have hundreds of options to choose from.
Usage
Typically powered by propane or natural gas, they are easy to light and easy to clean. You are unlikely to get a rich smoky flavor out of one. Ideal for fast cooking meats such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and bratwurst, and for vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and corn.
Price
Small gas grills start around $100, and larger ones with extra features run to $5,000. Fuel type affects price too, with natural gas grills tending to cost a little more than propane. Improvenet has a useful overview of the benefits and drawbacks of natural gas.
Space
Most gas grills have wheels, so you can move them and roll them into a garage or shed when they are not in use. Natural gas grills are the exception, since they connect to a gas line and have to stay put. If you have an outdoor kitchen, a built in grill drops straight into the countertop. Built in grills cost more and often carry high installation costs, but they finish an outdoor kitchen properly. Shop BBQ grill covers for cart style gas grills.
Popular Brands
Nexgrill, Weber, Dyna-Glo, Blackstone, KitchenAid, Char-Griller, Broil King
Charcoal and Kettle Grills
Usage
Charcoal grills provide the smoky flavor gas cannot, which makes them ideal for grilling, smoking, and searing. They take longer to heat and longer to clean. For family camp outs or a small backyard, a small charcoal grill is the way to go, and it can be inexpensive while still delivering a classic barbecue taste.
Price and Space
Prices run from a $20 portable kettle grill to a $2,000 ceramic or stainless steel model. Many grillers use a charcoal grill as the centerpiece of their outdoor space, and large ceramic grills come in a range of colors. They are heavy, so moving one into a garage for storage is unlikely, which makes a cover more important rather than less. See kamado grill covers.
Popular Brands
Vision Grills, Char-Griller, Nexgrill, Dyna-Glo, KitchenAid, Weber, Americana, Kamado Joe
Electric Grills
Usage
An outdoor electric grill suits people who do not want to deal with gas or charcoal. Some apartment buildings allow them on balconies and porches where open flame is banned, but always check your lease and local rules first. If you love grilling but have no space for charcoal or gas, an electric grill will do the job. Some brands make electric smokers, which are an easier alternative to a traditional smoker.
Price and Space
A standalone electric grill starts around $70, with nicer models up to $500. Built in electric grills are more expensive, typically $800 to $1,000. They tend to be small, which is exactly why they work for people with little space to spare.
Popular Brands
Royal Gourmet, Weber, George Foreman, Americana, GrillPro, Masterbuilt
Smokers
Usage and Price
For the ultimate smoky barbecue flavor, a dedicated meat smoker is the grill for you. Built for slow cooking, a bbq smoker suits anyone with a secret recipe for brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder. Prices run from about $70 to $1,000, and smokers can be powered by charcoal, wood, electricity, or propane.
Space
Smokers are bulky and awkward to move, but not usually so large that storing one outside is a problem, unless your backyard is small. Since most stay outdoors year round, protect yours with a smoker cover.
Popular Brands
Nexgrill, Masterbuilt, Weber, Camp Chef, Smoke Hollow, Pit Barrel Cooker, Traeger
Pellet Grills
Pellet grills burn compressed wood pellets fed by an electric auger, which means you get wood smoke flavor with something close to gas grill temperature control. The tradeoffs are that they need an electrical outlet, and the hopper has to stay dry, because wet pellets swell and jam the auger. That makes covering a pellet grill less optional than covering a gas grill.
Flat Top Griddles
A griddle swaps grates for a solid steel cooking surface, which suits breakfast, smash burgers, and anything that would fall through a grate. There are no flare ups and no grate marks. The surface is bare steel, so it needs seasoning and it will rust quickly if left uncovered.
Where Your Grill Will Live
This is the part people skip at the store and regret at home. Decide where the grill goes before you decide which grill to buy, because placement rules out some options entirely.
Clearance and Safety
Keep at least 10 feet between the grill and your house, fence, garage, or anything else flammable. Never grill under an overhang, a pergola roof, or a low tree branch. Check what is directly above the grill as well as around it.
Decks and Patios
On a wood or composite deck, a grill mat protects the surface from grease and stray embers, and it is far cheaper than repairing a deck board. On concrete or stone, grease stains are the main risk rather than fire.
Balconies and Apartments
Many buildings and municipalities prohibit charcoal and propane on balconies outright, which is why a balcony grill is usually an electric one. Check your lease and your local fire code before buying anything, because this is the single most common way people end up with a grill they cannot legally use.
Small Patios and Tight Yards
For a small patio grill, measure the footprint with the side shelves down, since that is how it will sit most of the time, and leave clearance on all sides. A portable or compact model beats an oversized grill you have to shuffle around every time you want to sit outside.
Grill Accessories
Attachments
You can buy attachments for most of the grill types above, including grill baskets and toppers, side shelves, and smoker boxes. A smoker box on a gas grill is the cheapest way to get some smoke flavor without buying a second cooker. Attachments let you customize a grill to your needs without spending thousands.
Cleaning Supplies
Keeping your grill clean matters, especially if you are grilling hamburgers one night and chicken the next. Read how to clean and protect your grill for the tools and equipment you will need.
A Cover
If you plan on storing your grill outside, a cover is a must. It protects against weather and it discourages insects and small rodents from nesting inside. You are likely spending upwards of $100 on the grill itself, so protecting it is the obvious next step. Explore our grill covers for protection year round, and if you are storing the grill through the cold months, our guide on how to winterize a grill walks through the rest.
Choosing a Grill FAQs
Is a gas or charcoal grill better?
Neither, they are built for different priorities. Gas is ready in about ten minutes, holds temperature with a knob, and cleans up by wiping the grates. Charcoal takes longer at both ends and produces ash, but delivers smoky flavor gas cannot match and gets hotter for searing. Pick based on whether convenience or flavor matters more to you.
What is the best grill for a beginner?
A propane gas grill. Temperature control is a knob rather than a skill, there is no fire to build, and cleanup is quick, so you spend your first season learning to cook rather than learning to manage coals.
How far should a grill be from the house?
At least 10 feet from the house, the garage, fencing, or anything else flammable, and never underneath an overhang, pergola roof, or overhanging branch. Check above the grill as well as around it.
Can I use a grill on an apartment balcony?
Often only an electric one. Many leases and local fire codes ban charcoal and propane on balconies. Check both before you buy, because the restriction is on the fuel rather than the grill size.
Are cast iron or porcelain coated grates better?
Cast iron holds heat better and gives stronger sear marks, but needs seasoning and will rust if neglected. Porcelain coated grates clean easily and will not rust while the coating is intact, though the coating can chip. Stainless steel sits between the two on both durability and price.
How much should I spend on a grill?
Grills run from $15 to $15,000, so the honest answer is that it depends on how often you cook and for how many people. Set the type first, then check prices online before going to a store, and budget for a cover as part of the purchase rather than an afterthought.
Protect Your New Grill
Whichever type you land on, shop covers by grill brand, model, or size, with custom options for shapes that do not fit anything standard.
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