3 Propane BBQ Grills We Love (and 1 We Hate – A Lot!)
Looking for a new propane gas grill to get you through all of those summer cookouts? You’re going to love our best three, highly-rated propane BBQ grills to buy for your backyard. With these tips and recommendations on which ones to buy (and not buy) you’ll be well on your way to the best steaks of your life! We even share price points to suit your budget!
Hip Tip: Grills are sometimes difficult to assemble. If you don’t want the hassle, contact the store you’re purchasing from. Many stores and websites offer appliance assembly for a small fee. Fees will vary per store.
1. Best propane grill under $220.
Char-Broil Performance 36,000 BTU Gas Grill with Side Burner
Buy it at Target | $185 – sale price! $219.99
Here’s why we love it:
- Electronic ignition for easy lighting
- Heat retention cast iron grates
- Removable, easy-to-clean grease pan
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grates
- Rust resistant
- Resistant to acidic and alkaline chemicals
- Ensures heat retention
- Easy to clean
- Durably constructed
- Easy to use exterior temperature gauges
- Side burners and shelves for additional cook and prep space
- Beautiful, classic stainless steel design
*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.
“Great grill for a great value! I was a chef for 15 years, and I love cooking on this grill! Suitable to cook a full dinner for a 2-5 person family or host a nice sized cookout with brats and burgers. It has high-quality materials where they count and it’s easy to put together. I would definitely buy this grill again, and I’m certain it will last 10+ years with consistent grilling. Do yourself a favor and buy this grill!”
– Will ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Best propane grill under $500.
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Buy it at The Home Depot | $449
Here’s why we love it:
- Built with the powerful GS4 grilling system
- iGrill 3 compatible (sold separately)
- An app-connected thermometer that monitors your food from beginning to end
- Easy-to-read fuel gauge so you know when it’s getting low
- 4 colors to choose from
- Flavorizer bars for an irresistible smokey flavor
- 10-year warranty on all parts
- Porcelain-Enameled Cast-Iron Cooking Grates
- Convenient features
- Warming rack
- Hook for all your grilling tools
- 529 sq. in. of total cooking area
- Guaranteed to ignite every time
*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.
3. Best propane grill to splurge on.
Weber Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Buy it at The Home Depot | $1,249
Here’s why we love it:
- Built with the powerful GS4 High-Performance Grilling System
- Distributes even heat consistently
- Ensures that food grills evenly
- 10-year warranty on all parts
- Easy-to-clean 7mm stainless steel cooking grates
- Sear station for quick, beautiful sear marks
- 844 sq. in. of total cooking area
- Side burner to sauté or simmer other foods while grilling
- Flavorizer bars for an irresistible smokey flavor
- iGrill 3 compatible (sold separately)
- An app-connected thermometer that monitors your food from beginning to end
- Convenient features
- Warming rack
- Hooks for all your grilling tools
- Side tables for storage or prep space
- Infinity ignition that will ignite every time
- Stainless steel burners for ultimate heat distribution
- Grease management system to help prevent flare-ups
- Spacious grill cabinet for storage
*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.
“This grill is a beast! We love to grill out and entertain, so this grill was a no-brainer for our family. We’ve owned it for almost 4 years now, and it’s done a perfect job grilling every single time (and that’s coming from someone who had ZERO grilling experience prior to owning this grill). It came with a convenient packet so you know how to cook every type of food perfectly, it truly cooks so perfectly I’d go as far to call myself a grill master. LOL! We’ve grilled meals for our family of 5 up to hosting an 80 person house warming party and I wouldn’t trust any other grill manufacturer but Weber after owning this beauty!”
– Tracy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here is the worst propane grill to spend your money on.
Char-Griller Double Play 1,260 sq., in. 3-Burner Gas and Charcoal Grill | $299
Sure, it looks like a stunner when it’s new. However, many owners have spoken, and it turns out this entire line of grills isn’t so great after all. Plus, according to Consumer Reports, the Char-Grill brand is one of the worst-rated grills overall, with a disappointing rating of 44 out of 100. 😱
Here are some of the reasons people are complaining:
- Rusting – lots of rusting
- Multiple parts, including the outside, rust after a few months
- Some parts that end up rusting aren’t able to be replaced
- Made with cheap and inexpensive metal
- Not built to last
- Electric starter breaks easily
- Grates rust and break easily
- Faulty drip compartment
- Results in messes on deck or patios
- Has been known to cause fires
- Faulty connection to propane tank causing dangerous leaks
- Terrible customer service
- Many orders have come with broken or missing parts
Here’s what some owners had to say about this grill:
“This is a terrible grill and one that will not last. When I originally purchased this grill, I thought it was a great deal and offered the best of both worlds being gas and charcoal. I took great care of it and made sure it was cleaned frequently. The grill was covered at all times when not in use with the custom cover made specifically for it (Don’t get me started on the durability of that thing).
After two years, the grates were starting to break down and I was seeing a decent amount of rust forming on in the inside of the firebox lids. It got so bad that every time I would open or close the grill, rust would fall down on whatever was on the grates. This thing quickly found itself in its rightful home of a scrap yard. The only ‘good’ to come of this was that I got 20 bucks for the scrap metal… guess that will go toward the purchase of a new, non-Char-Griller, grill.” – Luke
“One year in, and the gas grill grates are rotted out. The gas won’t even flow on high. All of the metal on my grill is rusting even though I have properly prepared and stored it since day one. I will never buy another Char-Griller ever again. If you want to buy something that lasts, I recommend buying another brand. I’m a seasoned griller and would never recommend this product.” – Steve
“Char-Griller won’t stand by their warranty. I had this grill for 6 months and had a fire after cooking. Then things started breaking, I sent photos, and no help at all from their customer service even though I registered the grill after purchasing it. DON’T BUY THIS GRILL, BUYER BEWARE!” – Ray
Sara (sara@hip2behome.com) loves sharing decor that inspires people on a budget and finds joy in traveling to new places.
Make your summer a smokin’ good time with this Big Green Egg knockoff!
Weber all the way! We have one that was handed down to us from my parents and it’s over 20-years old and still going strong! When it eventually does die, we’ll for sure replace it with another Weber
Oh man..my sister in law just got the poorly rated one for Mother’s Day. Yikes!! She was so excited too. 🙁
We have a Char Broil Infrared grill and there is no going back. No more flare ups and the grill rack is stainless steel. And meat does not dry out on this grill.
We are on our second Weber grill. The first one lasted 10+ years, and it’s demise was my fault (we live on a farm and I had to chase a cow back in the pasture-lol-and the searing portion of the grilling got away from me!)
They are high quality, from the grates to the stand/cart. Not to mention, you can get replacement parts from Amazon. 😊
I loved reading your story about the demise of your grill! You don’t hear that very often, Wanda!