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The 17 best BBQs for mouthwatering summer cookouts
Grill, roast and smoke your way to the perfect cook-out with our pick of the best BBQs available
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The best BBQs can transform your summer, not to mention your tastebuds. Next-level kebab for dinner. Slow-cooked American ribs for lunch. Tender joints. Skewers of delicious grilled halloumi and veg. Even rotisserie chicken — all and more await, so dig out those flip-flops and start clacking your tongs, because the BBQ bash season is creeping ever closer.
Imagine: you've got the top-end smart speaker for some banging tunes, and the best beer dispenser for a constant flow of golden nectar, but no BBQ. A veritable disaster for your British summer future. So what you need to do is check out our roundup of the best options from charcoal grills and wood-fire BBQs to pellet-fed, low and slow options and simple fire pits to get you in the mood.
We’ve included options across different price tags, to help you find the best BBQ for your needs. From ease of use and versatility, to extra functionality, here’s everything you need to know:
What’s the best BBQ 2024?
Without forcing the metaphor too hard, Weber’s Genesis series really is the prime cut, coming with pretty much everything you could possibly want or need from a BBQ. Customisable grill plates, plenty of serving and storage space, and smart tech to help you cook makes this the essential accoutrement to your garden.
What's better than a portable BBQ? One that has a built-in air fryer for crispy chips, wings and pork shoulders whenever you need it. Ninja's Woodfire Electric is a supreme cooking device for an affordable price.
Weber's portable set has all the grilling space you need to feed a few mouths when cooking on your travels. Just as comfortable on the road as it is in the garden, the Lumin is an exceptional cooker for small gatherings.
- Best overall BBQ: Weber Genesis EPX-435, £2,229 at weber.com
- Best budget BBQ: Tramontina 36cm Portable Charcoal Grill with Lid, £100 at robertdyas.co.uk
- Best portable BBQ: Campingaz 2100 gas grill, £279 at amazon.co.uk
- Best wood-fire pellet BBQ: SmokeFire (2nd Generation) EX6 GBS Wood Fired Pellet Grill, £1,294 at weber.com
- Best BBQ for travellers: Weber Traveler Gas Barbecue, £490 at weber.com
- Best electric BBQ: Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker, £250 at ninjakitchen.co.uk
- Best egg BBQ: Pig Bluey, £250 at snafflingpig.co.uk
Skip to: What are the most important features to look out for when choosing the best BBQ? | Charcoal, pellet or gas… Which barbecue fuel is best? | How do I clean a BBQ | How we test the best BBQ
What are the most important features to look out for when choosing the best BBQ?
The main thing you need to keep an eye out for is solidly-made grills and griddle plates in either cast iron (often porcelain enamelled) or stainless steel. Cast iron retains its heat and is naturally non-stick, but is heavy and – unless enamelled – takes some maintenance to keep looking clean. Stainless steel heats quickly and is generally easier to clean up after cooking, but the wider space between the bars makes it less suitable for pro-style searing. Hybrid BBQs give you options to use both, with swappable accessories to jump between grilling and searing.
In most cases, either type will have plenty of additional griddle and cooking options, including pizza stones, pans for larger cuts of meat, and additional cooking space, side shelves and tool hooks for when the party stretches beyond just a few mates and their buns.
Talking of space, how big the barbecue needs to be will depend on your own garden set-up, but if you’re cooking for up to four, a 1,800cm2 squared grill surface area will suffice. If you’re cooking for up to six adults, look to get around 2,000-2,500cm2. For anything more, well... good luck to you. Remember, you’ll need a grill with a good ash catcher to scoop up the excess and one that has as high a cooking temperature as possible for hassle-free searing.
You might also want to get one with a built-in thermometer so you know exactly how hot your meat and veggie food is getting without the guesswork (though you can always get the Weber Connect Smart Grill hub to get your timings down to a T), as well as one that potentially has a warming rack for pre-heating your food. Top brands will offer convection grills for faster warming up and special designs for better airflow and a hotter drum.
Hosting an outdoor feasts is a very serious affair, and you’re going to need the best tools to sort out the sort of garden cuisine you can be proud of – particularly if you’re looking to avoid the dreaded charcoal burgers and singed sausages. However, the world of BBQs has gotten significantly better over the years, and we’ve evolved past simply stoking a fire in a big empty oil drum. Charcoal grills and wood-fire BBQs are full of useful features like smart temperature control, interchangeable griddles and top-quality drip trays to make sure your food is cooked to perfection with minimal fuss. Speaking of which…
Charcoal, pellet or gas… Which barbecue fuel is best?
The classic charcoal vs gas BBQ debate has been raging for decades, but to recap: the best gas BBQs heat up instantly, so there’s no faffing about waiting for things to get going, though you need to keep a supply of propane handy. For that convenience, a lot of the smoky flavour imparted by hot fat dripping onto the fuel is lost. Flavour bars and briquettes do replicate this effect, but it’s not quite the same. Cooking successfully with charcoal takes more skill and patience, which many people enjoy, but should only really be attempted by confident chefs. If you want the convenience of both, then skip the rest and buy anything from the ingenious Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 range.
But what about wood pellets? A relative newcomer to the UK barbecue scene, these electric grills – Traeger and Weber have the best options – feature large hoppers where you pour specially formulated (and often flavoured) hardwood pellets, which are then automatically fed into a combustion chamber. With thermostatic controls, it’s possible to maintain temperatures for hours, which makes them ideal for slow-roasting classics such as pulled pork or a rack of ribs with a heavenly smoky flavour. Aimed at the amateur pitmaster, they can be a bit overkill for most alfresco chefs and if you want to add smoky flavour you can always buy an inexpensive smoker box.
How do I clean a BBQ?
Cooking on a BBQ is a plate-load of fun, but the cleaning up afterwards is far from our favourite part of the process. Scrubbing the metal grills with a scourer and bowl of water is a nightmare task, but it must be done to keep it fresh and clean for the next time you fire it up, so what you really need is a step by step guide to get you through the rough bits.
Step 1: As soon as you've finished cooking –yes, you probably want a beer and a self-congratulatory rest, but there's cleaning to be done– scrape away all the excess food with a BBQ scrape and put it all in the bin. Keep the BBQ burning on a low temperature for a few minutes to clear away any excess grease.
Step 2: Turn off the BBQ and let it cool for a few minutes. Once cool, remove the grills and any additional cooking surfaces and place in hot soapy water. Let it soak before taking a scourer or grill brush to clean thoroughly. To make this process easier you can use baking powder in the water to lift off tough-to-remove grease or simply by an oven grill cleaning bag.
Step 3: Once you're done, dry thoroughly and spray a light covering of canola oil on any of the grills and plates to avoid rusting until your next cooking session.
Step 4: Put the cover back on the BBQ to protect it from the elements and get prepared for the next cook.
How we test the best BBQ
While we're hardly confident in our ability to sear a pristine steak, we are certain in our ability to spot a BBQ that can make a good go of it, so the below options are all hand-picked and tested by our editors to ensure supreme heating and cooking from dummy newbies to expert outdoor chefs. We assess the quality and number of materials on offer, how easy it is to set up and use and the overall value for money, as well as any additional features like smartphone connectivity and auto-temperature regulation.
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