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A Solid Grill Doesn’t Have To Cost a Fortune—Here Are the Best Options Under $500

We tested grills for a month to find these

Best Gas Grills Under $500

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Let’s face it: Gas grills are less messy than charcoal grills and let you start cooking in just a few minutes, compared to the warmup required when using wood pellet or charcoal grills. They can be as easy to use as your home stove while still offering a great sear on your steak or making the perfect grilled chicken. But perhaps best of all, they also don't have to cost a ton of money.

We tasked our expert testers with finding the top gas grills at every price point, including under $500. Over the course of weeks, we put each one through its paces from assembly to cleaning. Along with evaluative data, each grill is rated on its usability, performance, ease of cleaning, features, and overall value to find the best gas grills that won't break the bank.

What We Like
  • Great performance at high temperatures

  • Good for beginner and expert grillers

  • Extremely easy to assemble despite size

What We Don't Like
  • Inconsistent heating across the grates

  • Slight learning curve to get consistent temperatures

If you think you're limited to small grills in the under $500 category, think again. After two weeks of testing, one of our favorite grills not only comes at the right price, it also has four powerful burners and different heating zones so you can cook for a crowd. Monument Grills designed this grill to give you a great experience from beginning to end, whatever your grill skill level.

The first win was assembly. Of the numerous grills we tested out side-by-side, this was one of the easiest to put together despite its size. Lighting was as simple as pressing the button, with the burners quickly responding to turning the dial. After realizing the heat focused more towards the back of the grill—the front part is great for indirect cooking—we were able to get a great sear at high heat.

We did find that it was worth it to do a preheat when grilling at lower temperatures to get to the right heat. In fact, one of our only downsides was a small learning curve when it came to the slew of heat settings. The higher heats tended to be more accurate to our settings than the lower ones. We also highly recommend oiling the porcelain-coated cast-iron grates beforehand to avoid any sticky issues. Monument Grills also makes a Clear View Lid version of this grill.

Dimensions: 54 x 19 x 46 inches | Cooking Area: 723 square inches | Burners: 4 | Power: 60,000 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 8 years (burners); 1 year (all other parts)

What We Like
  • Compact

  • Easy to move around

  • Even flame and independent temperature control

What We Don't Like
  • Food can stick to grill grates

Gas grills tend to be more expensive than their charcoal counterparts, but this one won’t break the budget. It doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles you’ll find on more expensive models, but it still does a great job grilling steaks and burgers, with plenty of space for more.

It offers 360 square inches of primary grilling space on the porcelain-coated grates, along with a handy warming rack that can keep finished foods at serving temperature. This grill has three burners that provide a total of 30,000 BTUs of cooking power for great searing or low-and-slow cooking for perfect barbecue ribs. We were very impressed with its even temperature that responds well to adjustments. This meant no surprises during testing—our food came out exactly as expected, but some did stick to the grates a bit.

Two metal side shelves are handy for holding sauces and plates, while the two wheels make it easy to move the grill as needed. We found the grill to be a little shaky when cutting meat on the side shelf, but overall, it was sturdy and convenient.

Dimensions: 51.2 x 24.1 x 43.5 inches | Cooking Area: 360 square inches | Burners: 3 | Power: 30,000 BTU/hour | Warranty: 5 years (burner); 2 years (firebox and lid); 1 year (everything else)

What We Like
  • Extremely easy to set up and operate

  • Spacious cooking area

  • Heavy-duty cast-iron grates

  • Large folding side tables

What We Don't Like
  • Somewhat heavy for a portable grill

Despite being a tabletop model, the Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill is every bit as powerful as a full-size grill. This sturdy little grill boasts 280 square inches of cooking space across its cast-iron grates, and its single burner delivers up to 12,000 BTUs per hour—more than enough for cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, veggies, and more. Plus, it starts up quickly and easily, thanks to its ignition button.

One of our favorite aspects of this grill is the folding side tables; they're spacious enough to hold a plate stacked high with food. We were also impressed with how quickly the grill heats up—easily reaching 400 degrees Fahrenheit in 5 minutes—and its durable construction is ideal for both taking on the road and whipping up dinner in your backyard. It is somewhat heavy for a "portable" grill, but that hasn't stopped us from tugging it around.

Dimensions: 51.4 x 19.5 x 15.5 inches | Cooking Area: 280 square inches | Burners: 1 | Power: 12,000 BTU/hour | Warranty: 5 years (cookbox, lid, burners tubes, cooking grates, plastic components); 2 years (all other parts)

What We Like
  • Highly mobile

  • Large cooking surface

  • Effective nonstick coating

What We Don't Like
  • Expensive for its size

  • Uneven heating, especially with lid open

  • Difficult to clean

The Weber Traveler is fairly expensive for a portable grill, but it’s from a top-notch brand whose quality never fails. Plus, it’s big enough to serve as an everyday backyard grill or fit into your car’s trunk for tailgating. The Traveler has a single 13,000-BTU burner that managed to heat the cast-iron grate to 660 degrees Fahrenheit in our testing. That’s more than enough power to sear steaks or char veggie kebabs, but it’s also easily adjustable to hold lower temperatures for cooking more delicate items, or to keep a pot of chili at a simmer. That grate is also porcelain-coated for a nonstick surface that kept fish filets intact and gave us hardly any trouble in the Lab.

The cooking surface on this grill is a whopping 320 square inches, which will hold 15 burgers or 20 hot dogs at once, and there’s even an attached prep table for chopping garnishes and filling plates. But the best feature is its fold-flat design that you can operate with just one hand. When you’re done cooking, the whole thing collapses down into a wheeled dolly configuration that’s simple to move around and store.

Dimensions: 42.7 x 43.6 x 37.2 inches | Weight: 49 pounds | Cooking Area: 320 square inches | Burners: 1 | Power: 13,000 BTU/hour | Warranty: 2 years (plastic components); 3 years (burner tubes, cooking grates); 5 years (cookbox, lid); 2 years (all other parts)

What We Like
  • Consistently accurate in temperature

  • Great for beginners

  • Extremely easy to assemble

What We Don't Like
  • Hot spots around edges of grates

When it comes to smaller grills like this 2-burner model, it can be harder to control the temperature than it is on larger grills. This is due to the smaller hood trapping heat, even when on low, so you quickly end up with a too-hot grill. But of the smaller 2-burners we've tested, this Char-Broil Performance model had one of the most accurate built-in thermometers so you can monitor the internal temperature.

It also heats its 395-square-inch cooking space quite evenly, with us only observing hot spots around the edges of the grate. When it did get slightly too hot inside, we were able to save our steaks and burgers since the burners are very responsive to changes on the dials. In the end, everything we tested came out perfectly cooked. Having an easy assembly and an even easier cleanup makes this a great grill for new grillers.

Dimensions: 44.5 x 22.4 x 45.3 inches | Cooking Area: 395 square inches | Burners: 2 | Power: 20,000 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 2 years (firebox, lid); 5 years (burners); 1 year (all other parts)

Final Verdict

No matter what your skill level is, you'll like the great performance from the Monument Grills 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill. If you want a budget-friendly option that's ideal for small spaces, we love the Char-Broil Classic Series 3-Burner Gas Grill, which performed well in our tests.

Weber Q2200 Propane Grill with steak and veggies

The Spruce Eats / Camryn Rabideau

How We Tested Gas Grills Under $500

We've tested gas grills directly in the homes of our expert food writers and in our Lab. Our Lab testers grilled and seared burgers, steak, salmon, and onions on each grill to thoroughly analyze every feature and the grill's performance. The grills were then rated on heat control and retention, size, features, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our home reviewers spent weeks using them in their backyards to see how the stood up to everyday cooking and cleaning. They were also able to offer additional insights including how easy they were to set up and store, and using these during typical weather conditions. After testing, our writers submitted their feedback on what they liked and didn't like.

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The Spruce Eats Team Tests Gas Grills

What to Look for in a Less-Expensive Gas Grill

Size

A grill with at least two burners offers more flexibility and temperature control. The different burners allow you to create multiple temperature zones, a key aspect if you want to cook mains and sides at the same time. Surface area is measured in square inches and is the most important measurement when evaluating size. A 450- to 500-square-inch grill is sufficient for most—these models can cook up to 24 burgers at a time. You'll also need to make sure your grill fits your allotted area. For those with limited outdoor space, make sure your measurements include a buffer zone for any floating embers.

While two burners might suffice, three offer even more flexibility. "I recommend getting a gas grill with at least three burners so you can set up an indirect heat zone for smoking and baking," advises Christie Vanover, Owner and Pitmaster of GirlsCanGrill.com.

BTUs

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and it measures the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In terms of gas grills, the number of BTUs indicates gas output and how much heat a grill can generate. However, it isn’t a great measurement of efficacy. Look for a grill with a large temperature range instead—premium models may have infrared burners that can climb as high as 700 degrees or more.

Features

Choose a gas grill that has an automatic starter and a removable upper cooking grate for indirect cooking (ideal for buns, veggies, and large cuts of meat). A propane gauge is a huge advantage and a side burner is also nice to have but is often underutilized. Premium features include built-in LED lights and wireless temperature monitors.

Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Grill with burgers and hot dogs grilling
The Spruce Eats / Angelica Leicht

FAQs

How do you clean a gas grill?

Every time you use your gas grill, you'll want to clean off the grates using a grill brush or other tool. This is easiest to do while the grill is still warm, as food particles and grease haven't hardened yet. If you have cast iron grates, you'll also want to brush some oil onto the grates after cleaning. You should also brush off the sides and lid of your grill after each use.

Periodically, you'll also want to deep clean your grill. Every month or so, it's important to clean off the barrier above the burners, and once a year, take your grill apart to inspect the burners and clean the grilling chamber thoroughly with soap and water.

How many BTUs should a gas grill have?

A general rule of thumb is that a gas grill should produce 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch of cooking area. By that math, a 200-square-inch grill should produce between 16,000 and 20,000 BTUs per hour. However, don't base your decision on BTUs alone—you'll also want to look at the grill's max temperature, as well as the quality of its build, both of which will affect its performance.

How do you start a gas grill?

To start cooking on a gas grill, open the valve of the propane tank all the way, and open the lid of the grill. Most modern gas grills have an igniter button, in which case, you'll simply turn the first burner on high and push the button. For grills without an igniter button, use a long match or lighter wand to light the initial burner. From here, you can turn the other burners to high, then close the lid to let it pre-heat.

What temperature do you cook steaks on a gas grill?

When grilling steaks, you'll want the grill temperature to be between 450 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that the grates themselves need to be at least 500 degrees to create sear marks, which is why it's important to let your grill pre-heat for 10 to 15 minutes before you start cooking.

How do you convert a propane grill to natural gas?

Not all propane grills can be converted to natural gas. Always consult your owner's manual to see if your grill can safely be converted to natural gas, and if it can, it's important to purchase a conversion kit directly from the manufacturer. (In particular, Char-Broil grills can often use both fuel types, and the company sells its own conversion kit.) There are sometimes third-party conversion kits sold online, but keep in mind they are not always safe and will likely void your grill's warranty.

How do you use a smoker box on a gas grill?

If your grill has a smoker box, you can cook delicious, flavorful food quite easily. Start by soaking wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes, which will prevent them from catching on fire. Pre-heat your grill for 10 to 15 minutes, then place the wood chips into the smoker box using tongs. Close the lid of the box, as well as the grill's lid, and wait for it to start producing smoke. From here, you can lower the grill temperature and arrange your food on the grates over the unlit burners.

Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Grill with shish kebabs and hamburgers grilling
The Spruce Eats / Angelica Leicht

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

While she got her grilling start on a charcoal grill, Donna Currie fell in love with the convenience of gas grill cooking when she realized she could grill any night of the week without having to wait for charcoal to burn down. When she needed a new gas grill, she spent a lot of time shopping, researching, and comparing to know exactly what to look for in a grill.

This roundup was updated by Camryn Rabideau, product tester and grill expert for The Spruce Eats. She's done firsthand testing of the Weber Q2200—a top-rated gas grill—as well as the Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker and more.

This roundup was updated by The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace and The Spruce Eats Writer Jason Horn, who both compiled testing data from our in-house Lab as well as insights from our home testers' full product reviews.

Sources

Additional reporting by
Camryn Rabideau,
Camryn Rabideau
Camryn Rabideau is a writer and product reviewer. She's an expert on all things home, including kitchen appliances, grills, and other cooking gadgets.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Siobhan Wallace,
Siobhan Wallace

Siobhan is a writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. She has a Master's degree in Food Studies, passed the WSET Level 2, Wines, with Distinction, and has written two cookbooks.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
and
Jason Horn
Jason Horn
Jason Horn has been writing about food and drinks for more than 15 years and is a Commerce Writer for The Spruce Eats. He once convinced Matthew McConaughey that a hot dog is indeed a sandwich.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
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