In the words of Alton Brown, “I grill, therefore I am.” A grill is right up there with summertime essentials like bathing suits and sunscreen⁠—and just like both, choosing one is a very personal experience. To help you sort through the noise, we’ve done the hard research for you, selecting fantastic options for a wide range of grill needs. One thing they all have in common? They guarantee a job well-done (or medium-rare, if that’s more your thing). From gas and electric to charcoal and pellet, read on for our top recommendations.

Our Top Picks

• Best Outdoor Grill: Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Propane Grill
• Best Budget Outdoor Grill: Dyna-Glo 5-Burner LP Gas Grill with SearPLUS Burner and Side Burner
• Best Splurge Outdoor Grill: Weber Genesis II EX-335 3-Burner Propane Gas Smart Grill
• Best Charcoal Grill: PK Grills Original PKTX Grill and Smoker
• Best Electric Grill: Weber Pulse 2000 Electric Grill
• Best Pellet Grill: Camp Chef SG24 Pellet Grill and Smoker
• Best Kamado Grill: Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill
• Best Standing Portable Grill: Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
• Best Tabletop Portable Grill: Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill

How We Picked These Products

Considering our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances Lab have over the years evaluated plenty of grills (more than 50 of them, in fact!), we naturally turned to their Kitchen Tech Experts to see which grills were really grate (see what we did there) and which went up in smoke.

As part of the in-depth testing process, GHI's lab panel evaluated a variety of models in terms of all the aspects that factor into a successful backyard BBQ, including ease of use, performance, accessibility, flare-up prevention, heat distribution and retention, portability, and smoke production. They even evaluated which options had handy accessories and attachments⁠—like concealed gas tanks, side tables, and storage capabilities⁠—and gauged just how convenient these bonus features actually were.

No matter your grilling needs, there's a just-right grill for you. Here are the best outdoor grills you can buy in 2022. Need more grilling advice? Try these must-have grilling accessories.

Weber

Amazon

$1079.99

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Boasting three burners, the Weber Genesis II E-335 is great for families and those looking for a larger appliance with the grilling capacity to feed a big backyard gathering. Available in liquid propane or natural gas styles, this grill comes fully-loaded with a side burner and sear station so you can have multiple foods going at once.

Unlike other options, this grill features a gas level indicator to let the user know how much propane is left in the tank. It also drains grease directly into an easily removable disposable container. Though the Good Housekeeping Institute noticed “some sticking because grates are cast-iron,” testers found that the Weber Genesis II models were among the few to heat with total uniformity and “evenly grilled chicken to a safe internal temperature without any excessive charring.”

Dyna-Glo

Home Depot

$279.00

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With a built-in thermometer and condiment shelf, porcelain cast iron grates, five primary burners, and one side burner, it’s safe to say the Dyna-Glo is dynamite! In terms of its interface, this grill is as user-friendly as it gets⁠—simply turn each individual knob to operate, no button-pressing required.

That being said, you'll need to keep a watchful eye on the food you’re cooking, as the Good Housekeeping Institute tester found their “bread completely burned” and steaks were “overcooked” and charred. However, this can easily be combatted if you cook on a slightly lower heat and regularly monitor the internal temperature of your food to ensure it’s fully cooked⁠—a bit of extra work, sure, but we think it’s worth it for the price.

Weber

Home Depot

$1239.00

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No, you’re not getting déjà vu⁠. The Weber Genesis II EX-335 Smart Grill is, just like our top pick, the standard Weber Genesis II E-335. Except it’s, well, smarter.

This model has everything we love about its less tech-y counterpart (like a gas level indicator, disposable grease draining container, and cast-iron grates) but comes upgraded with convenient smart technology. Praised by the Good Housekeeping Institute for earning “a perfect score for evenness of heating,” one tester even said this grill was hands-down “the most even out of all the ones I tested.”

If you’re willing to spare the extra expense, this Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled grill is one of the most user-friendly options on our list—it can even send you an alert when your food has reached your desired level of doneness.

PK Grills

amazon.com

$600.00

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We don’t care what the calendar says, it’s not truly summer until you step outside and breathe in the glorious, smoky smell of a charcoal barbecue. Durable rubber wheels, a solid handle, a stainless steel grate, and two vents each on the bottom and top of the grill make the Original PKTX the ultimate charcoal grill.

Though it lacks an ash cleaner and a tool holder, this model makes up for its shortcomings by pulling double-duty as a grill and a smoker. The Good Housekeeping Institute was wowed by this grill’s ease of use and “really nice” design, which they remarked was “relatively easy to put together” because the “body sits right on top, [so there is] no need to screw [anything] together.”

Weber

Home Depot

$779.00

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Live in a community where traditional grills aren’t allowed, but don’t want to miss out on all that summer barbecue fun? You might benefit from the Weber Pulse 2000 Electric Grill, which boasts a removable control panel and storage case to protect it from the elements and dual cooking zones to grill different foods at once. It also comes equipped with a digital thermometer that really comes in handy given this model's slightly slower preheat time.

With convenient features like digital temperature control and Weber Connect App compatibility for remote monitoring, the Good Housekeeping Institute said “In our tests, we found [the Weber Pulse 2000] to be easy to use and it cooked a strip steak with beautiful sear marks to 145ºF in about eight minutes. Chicken thighs came out juicy and golden, too, in under 30 minutes.”

Pro-tip: If you really want to get the most bang for your buck, this option can also serve as a tabletop grill!

Camp Chef

Amazon

$674.99

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Featuring a side table, rear smokestack, and two wheels on the right side and a hopper on the left with long, transparent windows to monitor your pellet supply, it’s safe to say we really love the design of the Camp Chef SG24—it even comes with a bottle opener! This cute, compact grill has two smoke settings (low and high), porcelain enamel grates, and offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can set the temperature on the grill itself or within the user-friendly app. It also comes with multiple convenient add-ons for the ultimate barbecue, like a bottle opener and two probes. That being said, it’s good to note that the SG24's small screen is a little hard to read (especially in the sun), it takes about 20 minutes to shut down, and it’s loud, heavy, and somewhat cumbersome to move. But who said some deliciously smokey food wasn’t worth a little extra effort? Noting that their steak and ribs “didn’t shrivel as much” and the “[chicken] came out crispy and juicy” compared to other options, the Good Housekeeping Institute appreciated that the “vented drip tray allows for flames to touch food but doesn’t allow for flare ups.”

Kamado Joe

Walmart

$1300.00

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From searing steaks to baking pizzas and pastries, there’s a lot you can do using the Kamado Joe Classic II's large 18-inch cooking surface. This stable charcoal grill is designed with a wider and more shallow base and offers thoughtful features like a large handle and four wheels for easy transport, two foldable shelves with tool holders, a slide-out ash tray, and even a grate gripper to add more coals as you cook. Though the Good Housekeeping Institute found the thermometer to be less responsive than others, this model blew its competition out of the water in terms of heat retention, which testers attributed to the “large gasket around [its] base to keep air and heat in [and] prevent slamming.” In addition to being easy to use and assemble, the Classic II also has a vent on top that’s clearly marked so you can control how wide it’s opened or closed.

Coleman

Amazon

$290.00

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Chances are, you can’t lug that behemoth of a grill sitting on your patio with you wherever you go. Luckily, you won’t have to with the Coleman RoadTrip 285, which is perfect for camping, tailgating, and picnics. Boasting sturdy collapsible legs and two wheels for easy pulling, this ultra-portable grill is a breeze to transport. It also features a large drip pan, a surprisingly large cooking surface, and side tables that not only slide in and out, but also fold flat for when you’re on the go. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s lab panel was particularly impressed with the RoadTrip 285’s ability to quickly heat up and produce “nice grill marks” thanks to its cast iron grates, which they said “offer direct and indirect cooking areas [that cause] minimal flare-ups.” The only caveat? The 1 lb. propane tank can be a pain to attach.

Oklahoma Joe's

Wayfair

$158.00

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Who knew grilling could be so cute? With the Oklahoma Joe's Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, you’ll no longer have to sacrifice quality and flavor for easy storage and portability. Testers noted this grill “requires a learning curve,” specifically in terms of stacking and monitoring coals, but overall they were big fans of this small model. However, the sturdy design⁠—which features adjustable racks, a removable ash catcher, and big, easy to grip handles⁠—makes the Rambler a winner in our book.