When looking for the best grill, there's no shortage of brands and fuel types to choose from. But whether it's the OG charcoal kettles to the flat-top griddles that have spiked recently in popularity, I know you'll want good value-for-money, a sturdy and dependable design that's not too tricky to assemble, and most importantly, an excellent cooking performance. And because every single grill in our guide has been tested by a member of the Tom's Guide team, I'm here to help you find the perfect choice for you.
While there are few things I love more than using my beloved grill to entertain friends and family, I'll be the first to admit that recommending an overall 'best grill' is a tall order. There are so many things to consider: style, size, type, and the sort of space you're working with. Not to mention, the all-important price.
The quick list
Here’s the best grills you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.
If you love cooking with gas, this grill hits all the marks. It's a mid-price model but its performance exceeded that of much more premium models when we put it to the test. Everything from assembly to cleaning was designed with user-friendly features in mind.
The Kamado Joe Konnected is so easy to use that it can start a fire at the touch of a button. It makes incredibly good grilled and smoked food, and dedicated pitmasters will love the detailed temperature feedback.
The versatile Traeger Woodridge Pro works as a grill and a smoker, but it really shines for authentic set-it-and-forget-it pellet smoking. It's intuitive to use with a premium feel, and offers mighty smart features that don't overcomplicate things.
You get a lot of grill for under $500 with the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545. A capable option for high-heat grilling and slow-and-slow smoking, it's also got smart capabilities and looks pretty good, too.
Weber's first foray into flat-top griddles is a smashing success, winning a rare 5-star rating from our reviewer Kate. It comes pre-seasoned, heats evenly, and offers a super low-maintenance construction that's ideal for beginner griddle-users.
The Ninja FlexFlame is Ninja's first attempt at a propane grill, and it offers all the ingeniuity you'd expect from a Ninja product. It's got a pellet chamber to infuse your food with an authentic smoked flavor, but can also sear and even be converted to a griddle with the use of add-ons.
Best gas grill
For a thick juicy pork chop with criss-cross grill marks, you can’t beat the Weber Spirit EP-425. Want to smoke a turkey? Turn the heat down and you’ll get a moist flavorful bird with a burnished skin. This grill evenly cooks with minimal flare-ups, whether you cook on high or low.
A recently-rebooted version of Weber's iconic Spirit II line, the Spirit EP-425 is the best grill on the market. It's backed by an impressive 10-year warranty, which is a testament to the quality of the design, and reviewer Kate found that assembly was straightforward and well thought-out.
Without taking up too much space, this grill offers an impressive capacity. And if you want to cook for one or two people, just turn on one of its four burners.
Weber has added its SearZone tech (formerly only available on the more premium Genesis line) to the new Spirit grills, and it's an excellent way to guarantee a good sear on your steaks and burgers.
See our full Weber Spirit EP-425 review
Best charcoal grill
I've tried dozens of grills in my career and the Kamado Joe Konnected is simply the best if you're looking for charcoal. Its smart display is full of detailed feedback for grilling obsessives but it's also so simple to use that first timers can master it first time.
For the uninitiated, kamado grills have ceramic chambers which can generate and maintain a lot of heat, which can be hard to master for a beginner. However, this ingenious smart grill can control its own temperature. You can even start a fire completely handsfree – just fill it with charcoal and press start and this will get to exactly the desired temperature. It's even easier to use with the app, and it's the rare large appliance app that actually works.
This grill made delicious peri chicken, salmon so soft you could barely stick a fork in it, and perfectly charred salmon. Ramping up the temperature, it made astonishingly good steaks and hamburgers. If you're intimidated by smoking, this machine makes it easy to make fall-apart Memphis pork ribs, as well as a lemon garlic chicken and buffalo wings.
The only drawbacks are the high price and relatively small cooking area. The food is delicious, and it's easily big enough for a family of four, but you might need to plan around the grill space for a cookout.
Read our full Kamado Joe Konnected grill review
Best smoker
Grilling enthusiast (and seasoned Tom's Guide reviewer) Dan Cavallari was thrilled to test this new release for us. And thankfully, the Traeger Woodridge Pro more than lived up to his expectations. For those who love authentic smoking, Traeger is a brand that needs no introduction. But if you're wondering if it deserves its glowing reputation, Dan found that it offered a luxurious and high-quality finish that justifies the $1,000 price tag.
As for how it performed, our review found that the Traeger Woodridge Pro is more than capable of grilling at heats up to 500°F. It won't compare to the flame-grilled charm of a charcoal grill, or the top heat of a powerful gas grill, but it definitely did the job of achieving a smokey char on the skin of some chicken thighs and managed to get that classic griddle-marked pattern on burgers and hot dogs.
It's in the smoking performance that this grill shines, though. Dan proclaimed that it is "ideal for set-it-and-forget-it smoking". He made some incredibly flavorful ribs and juicy, fall-apart brisket with next-to-no supervision. And its app is user-friendly too. No convoluted setup process or troublesome pairing issues. Instead, it serves to make grilling and smoking accessible, offering guided videos on seasoning and setting up your grill and recipes that can be used to get started.
If you're not one for smoking, this won't be the grill for you. But if you're interested in straddling the worlds of low-maintenance meat smoking and high-heat grilling, you should look no further.
Read our full Traeger Woodridge Pro review
Best under $500
Buying the best grill can be expensive, so when freelance reviewer (and full-time grilling enthusiast) Dan Cavallari tested the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, he was happy to overlook some of its quirks on account of its very reasonable price point. This is a pretty smart grill for under $500. It has a temperature probe included, ideal for tracking your meat remotely when smoking, but also helpful for checking that chicken or steaks are well-cooked when searing.
In testing, Dan was able to make a 5-pound beef brisket in 5 hours. His main complaint is that to top up your hopper you need to open the hood of the grill and let out some heat. When it came to grilling, despite the offset fire, his tri-tip steak was still well-seared. It just took a bit more work to ramp the temperatures up.
The biggest issue with this grill is that it doesn't quite go low temperature enough for a super low and slow roast. The temperature ranges from 250 to 650°F, so it gets hotter than the Traeger Woodridge Pro, but can't hit the same 150°F low point. If you're someone who's new to smoking and wants a gadget that can do both and won't cost the earth, this is a really solid option.
Read our full Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker review
Best griddle
The Weber Slate is the first flat-top griddle from the brand best known for its iconic charcoal and gas grills, and while it's more expensive than the likes of Blackstone, it has something few brands can offer: a pre-seasoned surface that's rust-resistant. Our Managing Editor Kate has been testing this griddle for over a year and has yet to face any issues with rusting, removing one of the worst bits of owning a griddle: de-rusting for the summer.
During testing, Kate loved the expandable storage table available with the Slate 36. It has a huge cooking surface, although as of 2025 it comes in a smaller size for those who don't have so much space in their yard. Kate found that the grill heated evenly, for the most part, but as with all griddles it will run hotter directly above the burners.
When cooking everything from smash burgers to fried eggs, Kate found that the Slate was incredibly forgiving thanks to its non-stick pre-seasoned surface. If you're hoping to upgrade on your griddle or simply want a user-friendly option, look no further.
Read our full Weber Slate 36 review
Most versatile
Ninja's FlexFlame is its most expensive launch, ever. It's an ambitious one, too. Combining smart controls with a conventional propane design, Ninja created this grill to act as a propane grill, smoker, griddle, and more, with the use of add-on accessories.
Managing Editor Kate Kozuch has tested plenty of grills, and was worried that the FlexFlame would "fall into the 'jack of all trades but master of none' category", but after testing for a few weeks, the Ninja stood out to her for its versatility and ease of use.
First of all, assembly was one of the easiest processes she's experienced from a grill. She was grilling within the hour, which is a sign of easy assembly but also the FlexFlame's speedy pre-heating.
The grill held true to its claim that it can reach 600 degrees Fahrenheit in just 7 minutes, and she was particularly impressed by how convincingly it delivered a smokey flavor using the in-built pellet container. Everything from burgers to ribs tasted fantastic, and once she got used to the low-level whirring noise of the convection smoking, Kate had no mishaps when cooking.
Ninja does offer a lot of settings with this grill, but if you want to use them all, the added cost can add up quickly. And no matter which mode you're using, you'll need to plug your grill into a power socket to get the most out of its smart features, which could be a limiting factor for those with a large yard, or no access to outdoor power outlets.
Read our full Ninja FlexFlame review
Best for flame grilling
It's hard to beat flame grilling. The Breeo Live-Fire combines the brand's iconic fire pit designs with a new and totally expansive grilling combo kit. Our expert tester Dan tried out the pricey but versatile Firemaster Bundle which includes a Live-Fire Grill, Skillet Rest, Outpost 25 Grill, Flat Top 24 searing plate, Kettle Hook 24, 1.5 Gallon Kettle, X-Series 24 Lid, and the Outrig Tri-Hook. However, if you don't want extras like a kettle or an outrig, you can opt for a less expensive bundle that still offers flat-top and direct flame grilling, as well as heaps of storage for your fuel.
Dan cooked up a feast when he tested this grill. He flame-grilled two cowboy steaks to perfection, as well as some marinaded shrimp, vegetables, sweet potatoes, and even cooked beets in the kettle attachment (which he warns you'll have to season to prevent sticking, as it's cast iron.)
Although Dan found that you need to invest quite a lot of time setting up your cooking station, especially compared to the likes of gas grills, he found it was very easy to use the Breeo once it was up and running. The grilling grate was easily raised and lowered to adjust proximity to flames, although he was less keen on the disc, which he found to be unsteady during testing.
Read our full Breeo Live-Fire Grill review
Best smart grill
AI is everywhere at the moment, and it's often a gimmicky buzzword designed to sell a few extra units. Thankfully, that isn't the case with Brisk It's Zelos grill.
You tell this grill's AI chatbot what you want to cook and it will give you a recipe, but it's not just a chatbot – it will then take the recipe to cook whatever you've got.
Our tester Dan asked it for a recipe for smoked chicken thighs, which it gave him, and at the touch of a button it cooked some smoked chicken thighs almost to perfection – Dan found they needed a couple of minutes more than the AI said, but the resulting dish was delicious.
There are only three real drawbacks to this machine. It has a relatively small grilling area that's fine for a family of four but will struggle for more. The build quality is fine but can't touch something like the Kamado Joe Konnected. More significant is that this grill struggles at higher temperatures. The steaks Dan made with this are blown out of the water by what you can achieve on the Weber Spirit EP-425.
See our full Brisk It Origin 580 A.I. Powered and WiFi Grill review
Also tested
Tom's Guide testers have tried dozens of grills over the years, and while not all of them can make our list of the very best, they still have features that make them worth recommending.
Some excel at one task, like smoking, but are weaker at others, so we felt we couldn't include them in the main guide. Some are old but gold grills recently upstaged by newer models, and now available for a much lower price.
How we test the best grills
We heart grills. As Tom's Guide's Senior Home Editor, I've got over five years of experience testing grills, and other members of the team such as Mike Prospero and Matthew Murray also love to get hands-on with everything from smoker grills to smart electric hybrid grills.
At Tom's Guide, we're always looking at the latest grill releases, as well as continually testing the tried and true classics that feature in this guide. When testing a grill we adapt our criteria to the type of product we're using.
For example, a charcoal grill will have different functionality to a pellet grill or even a griddle. Across the board though, we look for consistent and even heating, ease of use and cleaning, how manageable it is to assemble, and how well it performs in the all-important cooking tests.
How to choose the best grill
Before you decide which grill is right for you, there are several factors you need to consider. First, you need to decide which fuel-type is best for you. You should also think about which style of grill you want. Once you've made up your mind, you can narrow down your options based on the best features and overall design. Here are some guidelines to help get you started.
Propane Gas
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A popular option because it's easy to light, quick to heat and simple to clean. Whether you're cooking on a high temperature or need a slow burner, propane gas will produce good results. If we're being picky, some say it doesn't produce as much of a barbequed flavor as charcoal grills, but it's the best for convenience. Generally, it's good to use for grilling all year around.
Most gas grills will be hooked up to a tank of liquid propane gas. If you already use a tank to fuel your kitchen range, then that can also be connected to your grill, meaning you would never run out of gas! Some models can also be connected to the natural gas line in your home.
Don’t be wowed by BTUs. While they tell you how much gas the grill uses, and in theory should tell you how powerful it is, more BTUs doesn’t necessarily mean higher heat or better cooking.
Charcoal
These grills require effort to light, control, and clean up. But hands down, they give the smokiest flavor. Charcoal grills may use standard briquettes or the more expensive hardwood lump charcoal, but both types have their advantages.
Charcoal grilling is also more time consuming than using gas, since charcoal requires 15 to 20 minutes of burning time before reaching cooking temperatures, and has more involved cleanup when you're done.
Pellet
Using hardwood pellets, this type of grill produces distinctive deep smoky flavor. You fill the hopper with pellets and the grill’s electronics do the rest, maintaining a very even temperature. They’re particularly good for slow cooking foods like a pork roast, brisket, or side of salmon. However, pellet grills don’t sear as well as other types of grills so if your idea of a great meal is a crusty steak, this isn’t the type for you.
Types of grills
Grill styles
There are several styles of grill, which vary based on fuel type and design.
Kettle grills take up the least space and lets you build a deep bed of briquets to hold in heat. That makes it good for longer cooking items like chicken or ribs as well as for searing steaks and burgers.
Barrel grills are, you guessed it, like a barrel lying on its side. They use a large quantity of briquets and can cook a lot of food at once; but they tend to burn out sooner so they’re better for hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks than brisket or turkey breast.
Kamado grills look a bit like traditional kettle models, but are made of heavy ceramic instead of lightweight sheet metal. The kamado design was popularized by the Big Green Egg brand, but similar ceramic designs are now offered by several companies.
While they’re not cheap, they hold in heat and give you lots of control for cooking all kinds of food, making them very popular with serious cooks who like to grill. The ceramic construction retains heat well, making them well suited to non-traditional grilling for dishes like pizza and deserts, but they’re heavy, use a lot of briquets, and don’t have a very big cooking surface.
