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Find the right grill for your backyard, budget, and cooking style.
From gas and charcoal to pellet smokers and portable grills, Grills.co helps you compare options, understand the tradeoffs, and buy with confidence.
Gas · Charcoal · Pellet · Portable · Outdoor Kitchens
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Five questions. One recommendation.
Tell us where you'll cook, who you cook for, and what tradeoff you prefer. We'll surface the right grill type and three products to consider.
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Grill Finder
Five short questions. We'll suggest the best grill type and a few products to consider.
Buying guides
Best grills by category
Best Gas Grills
Fast startup and predictable heat for weekday cooks.
Browse picks →Best Pellet Grills
Set-and-forget smoking with wood-fired flavor.
Browse picks →Best Charcoal Grills
High heat and classic smoky flavor.
Browse picks →Best Portable Grills
Compact picks for camping and tailgating.
Browse picks →Apartment & Balcony Grills
Small-footprint and electric-friendly options.
Browse picks →Built-In & Outdoor Kitchen
Drop-in gas grills for permanent installs.
Browse picks →At a glance
Compare the major grill types
Five categories, six dimensions. Use this overview to narrow your shortlist before reading a full buying guide.
| Type | Startup | Flavor | Fuel cost | Learning curve | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | Fast | Mild | Low–Med | Easy | Weeknights, families |
| Charcoal | Slow | Strong | Low | Medium | Weekend cooks, sear |
| Pellet | Medium | Wood | Med | Easy | Smoking, set-and-forget |
| Kamado | Slow | Strong | Low | Medium | Smoke + sear versatility |
| Electric | Fast | None | Med | Easy | Apartments, balconies |
| Flat-top | Fast | Mild | Low–Med | Easy | Smash burgers, breakfast |
Need detail on each type? See our grill type explainers.
Featured
Latest buying guides
Best Portable Grills for 2026
Portable grills should set up in under five minutes, fit in a vehicle, and still produce a real meal. We rank by build, cook area, and travel-friendliness.
Best Pellet Grills for 2026
Pellet grills are the easiest path to wood-fired flavor. We rank models by temperature control, hopper capacity, build quality, and the size of the cooks the average household actually plans for.
Best Grills Under $500 for 2026
A real grill under $500 should still feel built to last 5+ years. We focus on warranty length, steel thickness, and honest cooking area — not paper specs.
Best Smokers for Brisket (2026)
A 12-pound brisket needs 10–14 hours of steady low heat. We pick the smokers that hold a temperature, hold enough fuel, and produce the right kind of smoke.
Best Gas Grills for 2026
Three- and four-burner gas grills that balance build quality, warranty length, and real-world cooking area. We rank by category fit, not flash.
Best Grills for Beginners (2026)
Beginner grills should hide the learning curve, not the cost. Our picks balance forgiveness, warranty length, and the kind of build that holds up while you learn.
Plan ahead
Designing an outdoor kitchen?
Built-in grills, hood ventilation, side burners, and counter depth — the order you decide them in matters. Start with our outdoor cooking setup guide before you pour concrete.
From the grill
Latest recipes
Classic Burgers on a Gas Grill
A no-shortcut burger recipe for a gas grill. Two-zone setup, simple seasoning, and an internal temperature guide so you don't have to guess.
Grilled Chicken Thighs
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the most forgiving cut on a grill. This is the technique for crisp skin and juicy meat — every time.
Smoked Pork Shoulder (Pulled Pork)
An 8-pound pork shoulder for pulled pork. Forgiving, beginner-friendly, and feeds 12 people from a single cook. Pellet grill or kamado.
Beginner Smoked Brisket
A 12-pound brisket for first-time smokers. Pellet-grill friendly, with charcoal/kamado notes. Includes the wrap and rest technique that turns a good cook into a great one.
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Editorial promise
How we recommend grills
We don't fake hands-on testing. Recommendations are built from manufacturer specifications, warranty details, retailer documentation, buyer needs, and clear category fit.
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Clear criteria
Every guide names the dimensions that drive its picks.
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No fake hands-on claims
When a product hasn't been tested in person, we say so.
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Affiliate transparency
Disclosure on every monetized page. Commissions never set the rankings.
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Practical advice
Buying guides include "who should avoid this" — not just praise.