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These top grillers are stylish master chefs.
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
The centrepiece of any alfresco summer gathering, a BBQ is a garden must-have.
But there are lots of factors to consider when investing in a new one (or your first one), from the size of your garden to the number of people you intend to feed and whether it blends well with the aesthetic of your outdoor furniture.
That's why we enlisted the help of an expert tester to find the best BBQs you can buy, for every budget and garden. These are our top garden grills:
Charcoal BBQs are famed for creating that signature smoky flavour. They are the certified hotties of the market, capable of reaching sizzling temperatures, and thanks to the proper live fire experience, they also add a touch of drama to proceedings.
These versatile cookers tend to be the star pick for slow cooking and serious barbie pros, but loading the charcoal and getting them lit can require practice and patience. If you do decide that a charcoal BBQ is best for you, opt for a self-cleaning number such as our expert’s favourite, the Big Green Egg.
Gas BBQs are a touch easier to control and they also have plenty of other benefits. For starters, they heat up faster than charcoal models and give you more control over your cooking temperature, which is particularly helpful for preparing fish and vegetables.
They also require less admin. They’re easier to clean and you can forget having to dispose of all that heavy used charcoal once dinner's finished. However, gas BBQs can’t reach the same high temperatures as charcoal ones, so you may not be able to sear your food to quite the same level.
Can’t decide between charcoal and gas? There are some hybrid models on the market, including this Outback Jupiter BBQ, which our expert loved.
The first thing you need to think about is what size BBQ you'd like and whether you want one that's compact or a crowd-feeder. This will help you decide how many burners to go for, as the more a barbie has, the bigger it tends to be.
Having more burners also gives you greater control over your cooking, allowing you to set different sections of the grill to different temperatures for different foods.
Also linked to the size of your BBQ is where you plan to store it. Side tables are useful when prepping food, but if garage or shed space is tight, look for ones that fold down. Similarly, if you can store the gas canister within the body of the BBQ, that will help save space.
Another key factor to consider when investing in a BBQ is whether there are any extras you’d like. Warming plates, for example, are helpful additional grills built into the lid of BBQs that offer you extra cooking space, or somewhere to keep food that's cooked while you’re waiting for the rest of your sausages to brown up.
And when it comes to grills, some BBQs have sections that can be replaced or adapted with accessories. Take the Everdure By Heston Blumenthal FURNACE, which comes with a pizza stone. Or you can buy a rotisserie attachment that’s ideal for anyone looking to ace an alfresco Sunday roast.
To find the best BBQs to invest in, our expert homes tester uses each one to cook up a full menu of burgers and sausages (both meat and plant-based), steaks, chicken breasts, corn on the cob and vegetable kebabs. For every dish, they look for appetising searing marks, evenly browned exteriors, and moist, perfectly cooked centres.
They also assess the grill's heat distribution and try any side burners. Each is then scored according to its performance, ease of use, design and accompanying instructions and information. These are our hottest picks.
With its classic looks and outstanding performance on test, this large barbie is a must-buy in our book. It was easy to set up and has integrated gas storage and accessible controls. Its lid was heavy, but the handle stayed cool throughout cooking.
On the cooking side, our food was near perfect thanks to cleverly designed grills that use infrared technology for flawless heat distribution. Its four gas burners are great if you like to cook multiple dishes at once. A real BBQ lover's grill.
| Number of burners | 4 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | Yes |
| Grilling area | 77.2 x 44.5 cm |
| BBQ dimensions | H120.9 x W145.5 x D54cm |
| Materials | Stainless steel frame with cast iron grates |
| Additional features | Electric ignition, built-in bottle opener, tool hooks, warming rack |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
Fine. We’ll admit it. We’re a little bit obsessed with the Big Green Egg. This dome-shaped charcoal cooker takes just 20 minutes to heat up and, thanks to its included ‘conveggtor’, it can also be used as a traditional oven. You can cook pretty much anything with this versatile piece of kit, and it scored full marks in almost all our cooking tests – think golden roast chicken, burgers with ideal char and the kind of sausages that will redefine your love for the humble hotdog. We were also highly impressed with its slow-cooking and smoking capabilities (CC: melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork).
Aside from its distinctive look and versatile BBQ credentials, it’s also oh-so easy to keep clean. You’ll need to invest in natural lump charcoal and firelighters to get grilling, but once you’ve served up your tasty creations, you simply close the lid and the Egg will self-clean. It uses sizzling heat to burn off any leftover food scraps and then you simply sweep the ash away. No fuss, no mess, just exquisite alfresco flavours.
| BBQ dimensions | H80cm x W56CM x D69cm (not including nest) |
|---|---|
| Materials | Ceramic, stainless steel grill |
| Guarantee | Lifetime warranty |
| Fuel type | Natural wood charcoal |
If you’re someone who'd proudly refer to themself as a barbie artiste, then we have a feeling you’re going to love this smart model from Weber. Impressive features include an extendable warming rack, a steak-ready dual-sided sear grate and, best of all, a Wi-Fi-enabled app that connects to your phone for instant temperature alerts and alarms. That’s right, no more burnt sausages with this by-the-second app – especially as you can save the cooking times for your favourite recipes and switch the BBQ to Bluetooth mode if your Wi-Fi doesn’t stretch to your garden.
Undoubtedly one for the serious burger enthusiasts, this is an expensive piece of kit that will also take you a hot minute to construct. But for that big spend and lengthy building process, you’ll get expertly charred sausages and steaks with restaurant-quality sear marks. In fact, this BBQ scored 10/10 on most of our food testd – it even earned the high accolade of juicy chicken champ, searing the breast on the outside and remaining entirely moist throughout.
There’s also a night light should the sausages still be in demand come sundown. See, we said it was one for the barbie artistes.
| Number of burners | 4 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | Yes |
| Grilling area | 86 x 48 cm |
| BBQ dimensions | H115 x W91 x D66 cm |
| Materials | Porcelain enamelled lid with cast iron grates |
| Additional features | Electronic ignition, grease scraper included, tool hooks, warming rack |
| Guarantee | 12 years |
This sleek, foldable BBQ would be perfect for small gardens. It has just one burner, but there’s ample grill space for a few people and its side table and tool hooks are handy for outdoor prep.
Cooking towards the centre of the grill produced the tastiest results. It would also make a classy camping companion, but you’ll need to carry a spare gas canister around as the ones it uses are small.
| Number of burners | 1 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | No |
| Grilling area | 2065cm2 |
| BBQ dimensions | H95cm x W111cm x D58cm |
| Materials | Porcelain enamel, stainless steel and cast iron cooking grates |
| Additional features | Tool hooks, all-weather wheels |
| Guarantee | 5 years |
This compact two-burner fits the bill if you’re after more flexibility than a one-burner can give but don't want to size up too much. You can also remove the attached workspace when not in use and there’s room for the gas bottle on board.
We liked that it had a side burner for preparing sauces or side dishes, and our burgers, steaks and chicken all came off the grill cooked and mouth-wateringly tasty. Just be aware that the lid can get hot and its wheels don’t lock. Find a flat spot and this won’t be a problem.
| Number of burners | 2 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | Yes |
| Grilling area | 64 x 42 cm |
| BBQ dimensions | H122 x W140 x D61 cm |
| Materials | Porcelain enamel lid with cast iron grates |
| Additional features | Removable wooden chopping board, tool rack, integral spark ignition, magnetic bottle opener, warming rack, grease cup |
| Guarantee | No guarantee listed |
More than just its pretty colours (although the pastel mint and vibrant orange colourways do look seriously stylish), this three-burner has a lot to offer when it comes to cooking. Designed in partnership with experimental chef Heston Blumenthal, a pizza stone is included, and you can also buy a rotisserie accessory or a teppanyaki plate for it.
It heats up in minutes, so guests won’t be waiting for long before they can tuck in, and aside from some cold spots along the front edge, it warmed evenly.
| Number of burners | 3 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | No |
| Grilling area | 2915 cm2 |
| BBQ dimensions | H107cm x W131cm x D74cm |
| Materials | Aluminium body with cast iron grill plate |
| Additional features | Rotisserie accessory, plastic base tray, pizza stone |
| Guarantee | 5 years |
If your approach to garden furniture is all-wood-everything, then this BBQ will fit in seamlessly thanks to its wooden-effect shelving. The side trays don’t fold down so you'll need ample space to store it, but with three burners (and therefore up to three cooking zones), it’s versatile enough to feed a decent-sized gathering.
The grill heated fairly evenly and cleaned up well. We’d have liked its two wheels to lock, but otherwise it’s excellent value and looks good too.
| Number of burners | 3 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | No |
| Grilling area | 60 x 42 cm |
| BBQ dimensions | H122 x W60 x D103 cm |
| Materials | Steel, wood effect painted steel shelves |
| Additional features | Electric ignition, tool hooks, warming rack, wheels |
| Guarantee | No guarantee listed |
Another one with enough colours for you to coordinate it with your outdoor sofa, this BBQ brings flexibility to your garden; choose between cooking with its four gas burners or its charcoal basket. Its middle grill plate can also be lifted away so you can use a wok, while a removable chopping board, shelves and tool hooks all make it a dream to use.
The gas canister needs to be stored separately, but its porcelain hood helped distribute heat excellently and all our food was delicious. The magnetic bottle opener is a savvy design feature too – one for parties.
| Number of burners | 4 |
|---|---|
| Side burner | Yes |
| Grilling area | 64 x 42 cm |
| BBQ dimensions | H122 x W140 x D61 cm |
| Materials | Porcelain enamelled lid with cast iron grates |
| Additional features | Removable wooden chopping board, tool rack, integral spark ignition, magnetic bottle opener, warming rack |
| Guarantee | No guarantee listed |
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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