A grill purchase almost never starts as idle curiosity. It starts with a trigger. The old grill finally rusted through after eight summers of neglect, you just moved into a place with a yard or a balcony for the first time, or you are trying to figure out what is even allowed before a landlord or HOA notices a new propane tank on the patio. This guide walks through the real decision points that come after that trigger, not just a glossary of grill types, so you end up with a model that fits your space, your budget and the rules you actually have to follow.
Check the Rules Before You Buy Anything
This is the step most buying guides skip, and it is the one that causes the most returns. Renters and condo owners are often working with real restrictions, not just preferences. Buildings with 20 or more units commonly prohibit propane and other liquefied gas grills entirely, and many leases ban charcoal outright because of fire risk. Balconies frequently carry a minimum clearance rule, often somewhere around 10 feet from the building or at least 30 inches from any wall, and rooftops are usually off limits to both gas and charcoal no matter the distance. Electric grills are the near-universal exception. Because they have no open flame and no stored fuel, most properties that ban gas and charcoal still allow them.
Read your lease or HOA covenant before you buy, since the exact numbers vary by city and by building. If you land in the electric-only category, do not assume that means bland food. The burns a small amount of real wood pellets for actual smoke flavor while still plugging into a standard outdoor outlet, which solves the biggest complaint people have about electric grills tasting flat. We cover the full range of electric options, including a full-size model and a budget pick, in our outdoor electric grill guide.
Breaking Down the Different Types of BBQ Grills
Each type of grill brings a different flavor profile and a different day-to-day routine. Weigh cost, size, versatility and how much fuss you actually want to deal with before you settle on one.
Charcoal Grills, the Classic Choice
Charcoal grills deliver a smoky flavor gas cannot fully replicate, and they tend to be inexpensive and portable. Swapping wood chips changes the flavor profile, with mesquite and hickory working well for steaks and apple or cherry pairing nicely with pork.
Drawbacks: charcoal grilling is messier and smokier than the alternatives, and a full chimney needs about 30 to 45 minutes before the coals are ready. Bigger groups need a bigger grill and more charcoal, which means more smoke and more ash to deal with. Most apartment buildings and many HOAs do not allow charcoal at all.
Gas Grills for Speed and Convenience
Gas grills, whether propane or natural gas, heat up with the turn of a knob and stay low-maintenance once you own one. They generally cost more upfront than charcoal grills, but you make that back in time saved every single cookout.
Drawbacks: gas cannot burn wood or charcoal, so you lose the smoky flavor. Propane tanks need refilling, which can stall a cookout at the worst moment, and natural gas requires a line run to the grill, an extra cost most people do not plan for.
Electric Grills for Renters and Small Spaces
Electric grills solve the fuel and open-flame problems of charcoal and gas at once. No tank to refill, no smoke, and a fast heat-up, which makes them the default choice when a lease or HOA rules out anything else.
Drawbacks: you need access to an outdoor-rated outlet, cooking surfaces run smaller than full-size gas grills, and cheaper models cannot get hot enough for a real steakhouse sear.
Wood Pellet Grills for Versatility
Wood pellet grills burn compressed wood pellets and use electricity to auger fuel into the fire automatically, which lets you smoke, roast, grill or bake at the push of a button.
Drawbacks: pellet grills run larger and pricier than a basic gas grill, they need power, and ash removal adds another maintenance task to the list.
Kamado Grills for Heat Retention
Kamado grills are usually egg-shaped ceramic cookers known for holding heat and moisture better than metal grills, which makes them capable of grilling, smoking and even baking pizza.
Drawbacks: kamados are heavy, expensive and take some practice to run well, plus they share the ash cleanup and long heat-up time of any charcoal grill.
Match the Grill to Your Actual Situation
The types above answer “what exists.” The situations below answer “what should I actually buy,” which is a different question.
You Are Working With a Tight Budget
You do not need to spend $500 to get a grill that lasts several seasons. The gives you two stainless steel burners, 280 square inches of cooking space and porcelain-coated grates for well under $200, and its simple piezo ignition means fewer parts to fail down the road. For more options in this price range, our roundup of the best budget gas grills under $200 compares seven models side by side.
You Cook for a Crowd Often
Hosting regularly changes the math. Look for at least three burners so you can run a hot zone, a medium zone and a keep-warm zone at the same time, and prioritize a grill built to survive daily use rather than the cheapest square-inch price. Our guide to durable, long-lasting gas grills is built around exactly that use case.
You Want Smoke Flavor Without Babysitting a Fire
Charcoal delivers flavor but demands attention. A pellet grill gets you most of the same smoke character with a set-it-and-monitor workflow instead of constant vent adjustments. Our pellet smoker comparison breaks down which models hold temperature best over a long cook.
You Need Something Portable for Tailgates or Camping
The is built around this exact use case. It weighs 28 pounds, runs on small disposable propane cylinders or a full tank with an adapter hose, and its cast-aluminum body holds up to being tossed in a truck bed without feeling flimsy. It shows up in our budget grill roundup above alongside cheaper tabletop options if portability matters more than price.
Specs That Actually Matter
BTUs Are Not the Whole Story
A high BTU number sounds impressive, but BTUs measure fuel burned, not cooking performance. What actually predicts a good sear is heat flux, meaning total BTUs divided by cooking surface area. Aim for roughly 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch. A smaller grill with a good heat flux ratio will out-cook a bigger grill that spreads the same heat over more space.
Burner Count Sets Your Cooking Flexibility
One burner cooks food but gives you a single temperature zone. Two burners let you sear on one side and finish on the other, which covers most home cooking needs. Three or more burners add a dedicated warming zone, useful if you host often or cook multiple dishes at once.
Size Guide by Group
Standard grills: about 40 x 45 cm of grate space, ideal for four to six people. Large grills: three or four burners, best for eight or more. Portable grills: smaller cooking area in exchange for going anywhere, the right pick for camping or beach trips.
Materials and Ease of Assembly
Stainless steel burners resist rust longer than coated steel. Porcelain-coated grates are the easiest to clean, cast iron gives the best sear but needs occasional seasoning, and a grill with wheels and foldable side shelves is worth the small premium if patio space is tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a gas or charcoal grill on my apartment balcony?
Check your lease and local fire code first. Buildings with 20 or more units commonly ban propane and other liquefied gas grills outright, and charcoal is frequently banned on balconies and rooftops due to fire risk even where it is allowed in a backyard. Electric grills are the option most properties still permit, since they have no open flame or stored fuel.
What size grill do I actually need?
Match the grate space to how many people you typically cook for, not how many you might someday host. Roughly 150 to 250 square inches covers one to four people, 300 to 400 square inches handles four to six, and anything above that is built for bigger gatherings. A grill that is too big for your normal group wastes fuel and takes longer to heat.
Is a natural gas hookup worth the cost over propane?
Only if you grill often enough that never running out of fuel mid-cook outweighs the installation cost of running a gas line. For occasional grilling, a propane tank you can swap at any hardware store is simpler and cheaper to set up.
How long should I let a new grill burn off before cooking on it?
Run any new grill on high with the lid closed for 15 to 20 minutes before the first cook. This burns off manufacturing residue and packaging oils and helps season the grates.
What is the biggest mistake first-time grill buyers make?
Buying based on price or looks alone without checking what fuel type is actually allowed where they live. Finding out after delivery that a propane grill is against the lease is a common and avoidable problem, which is why it is worth confirming the rules before you order anything.
Choosing a grill comes down to three questions in order: what are you actually allowed to use, what situation are you buying for, and which specific model fits that situation without overspending. Work through it in that order and the right grill becomes obvious a lot faster than scrolling through spec sheets.
Last update on 2026-08-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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