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We Tested 15 Weber Grills—Here Are Our 8 Favorites

From charcoal or gas to pellet or electric, we found options for any occasion

Best Weber Grills

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

There's a reason Weber is nearly synonymous with classic, quality grills. The brand has been around since the '50s when the founder first invented the kettle grill. Since then, the company has kept the iconic bowl-shaped charcoal grill but also introduced gas grills, electric grills, wood pellet grills, and more—not to mention a range of grilling accessories, from grill thermometers to briquettes.

To help find the right Weber grill for you, we tested popular models for months and rated each one on setup, heat retention, heat control, size, versatility, and overall value. Many steaks, burgers, veggies, and more were grilled to make sure these Weber grills are truly the best.

What We Like
  • Automatic propane starter

  • Great for beginners and experts

  • Easy to adjust the dampers

What We Don't Like
  • Have to remove grate to adjust fuel

Weber has improved its iconic kettle grill through the decades and its latest version is nearly perfect. The Weber Performance Deluxe 22-Inch comes with updated key features, which will make your grilling sessions exceedingly easy. To start, the grill is embedded within an easy-to-move cart that features an extra-large side table and enclosed charcoal storage.

As you might know, starting a charcoal grill usually begins with simply getting the coals warmed up in a chimney starter. But not so with this Weber! It comes with an auto-start gas ignition that consistently lit the coals for us. Keeping the temperature steady was also effortless. You can place the lid in different positions for the best top damper placement, with the bottom damper easy to adjust when your flame gets too hot. During our smoking test, we were able to keep the grill within a range of 10 degrees for several hours, making this a great option for cooking with indirect heat.

Another great component is the hinged grate's circular insert where you can quickly add charcoals while cooking. You do have to take the whole grate off to re-adjust your fuel though, one of the few downsides. When grilling time is over, this again has an advantage over older kettle grills. The ash is swept into the bottom catcher for easy disposal once it's cooled, while everything else only needs a quick wipe-down.

Dimensions: 48 x 30 x 43.5 inches | Cooking Area: 363 square inches | Type: Charcoal | Warranty: 5 years (cleaning system, plastic components), 10 years (bowl, lid); 2 years (all other parts)

What We Like
  • Even heating surface and few flare-ups

  • Compatible with Weber’s iGrill 3

  • Easy-to-read fuel scale

  • Grease management system makes it easy to clean

What We Don't Like
  • Hood isn’t as deep as other models

  • Inconsistent thermometer

If you’re looking for a well-built gas grill to sizzle your steaks, the Weber Spirit II E-310 is our top pick for a gas grill. This offers three burners with an output of 30,000 BTUs per hour, and it features the brand's GS4 grilling system, which includes porcelain-enameled "Flavorizer" bars and an efficient grease management system. There's also an improved ignition that we thoroughly enjoyed.

The grill has 529 square inches of cooking space across its enameled cast-iron cooking grates, providing plenty of room for all your burgers, steaks, and veggies—we found it ample enough for a family of five. We experienced even heating and few flare-ups during our testing, but we still think it's worth its price.

Two aspects we didn't like are the smaller hood can translate to too-high heat when kept closed, and the built-in thermometer was consistently inaccurate. You'll want to make sure you have a second thermometer on-hand and be prepared for a small learning curve.

This grill's open cart design provides additional storage space for your favorite tools, and it has integrated hooks on the side tables, as well. The grill is available in several colors, and it has an easy-to-read fuel gauge next to the propane tank to let you know how much fuel you have remaining.

Dimensions: 45.5 x 52 x 24 inches | Cooking Area: 529 square inches | Type: Gas | Power: 30,000 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 10 years

What We Like
  • Durable and easy to transport

  • Quick assembly

  • Cast-iron cooking grates help retain heat

What We Don't Like
  • Doesn't display temperature

  • Long preheat time

For an electric grill that performs great wherever there is a power outlet, choose the Q 1400 from Weber. This compact but mighty electric grill delivers great flavor and doesn’t require propane or charcoal. Instead, plug the unit into an electrical outlet, adjust the temperature setting, and then get ready to grill.

The key to using the Q 1400 successfully is to wait a sufficient amount of time for the grill to come to temperature. Once you do, the 189 square inches of cooking space can handle the grilling needs of anywhere from one person to four or more—depending on what you’re cooking up. We were really impressed with the meal created using this grill, especially the quality sear marks it left on veggie shish kebabs, hanger steak, zucchini slices, and marinated chicken breast. Though we did miss the true smoky flavor that can only come from wood and charcoal.

With porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, you’ll get excellent heat retention and easy cleanup, as we've seen during tests. The Weber Q 1400 is a great choice if you live in a condo or other small space where the use of gas and charcoal grills may be restricted or if you want an easy-to-use unit that only needs to be plugged in. This is the smaller of Weber’s two electric grill models. If you need a little more space, look to the larger Q 2400.

Dimensions: 14.5 x 27 x 16.5 inches | Cooking Area: 189 square inches | Type: Electric | Warranty: 5 years (cookbox, lid assembly, burner tubes, cooking grates, and plastic components); 2 years (everything else)

What We Like
  • Classic, compact design

  • Tried-and-true cooker makes amazing food

  • Great for beginners

  • Easy to move and assemble

What We Don't Like
  • Charcoal fuel takes more effort than gas or pellets

  • Built-in thermometer can be inaccurate

The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is a classic option for anyone who loves grilling with charcoal, and you can't beat the reasonable price for such a well-made product.

The 22-inch diameter gives 363 square inches of cooking space within the porcelain-enameled lid and base. Both times we've tested it, the assembly has been short-and-sweet, and moving it into place was a breeze. From there, it turned out pork, burgers, steaks, chicken, veggies, and even grilled pineapple with fabulous results.

Beginners will quickly be able to learn the correct damper positions in order to achieve a consistent temperature, as we did. One thing to note is the inaccurate temperature on the built-in dial. We observed off readings and ended up relying on a secondary thermometer.

When cooking, the grate has a hinged design to add more charcoal. For the more fearless among us, they'll use this as is, but if you want to be a little more careful, it's easier to take the whole grate off. Another feature that makes the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill great is its one-touch cleaning system, which sweeps ash into a removable high-capacity container for easy disposal. It's intuitive to use, and any ash it misses can quickly be brushed away.

Ultimately, we are clearly fans of the Weber brand—one main reason being because of the simplicity. "It’s a step up from cooking over a campfire, with the flame safely contained in the kettle," says one of our expert grill testers and cookbook author Donna Currie. "While it’s certainly a basic grill without any frills, it’s also very easy to use, and just as simple to clean when cooking is done. While I’ve since moved up to other heavier, more complex grills, I’d heartily recommend a Weber kettle for anyone looking for a basic charcoal grill. It does everything it needs to do."

Dimensions: 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches | Total Cooking Area: 363 square inches | Type: Charcoal | Warranty: 10 years (bowl and lid); 5 years (cleaning system and plastic components); 2 years (everything else)

What We Like
  • Simple operation with lots of automation

  • Excellent at maintaining temperature during cooking

  • Reaches 500 degrees within 10 minutes

  • App is easy to use

What We Don't Like
  • App doesn't always allow customization

  • Only two probes included

Weber finally released its very first pellet grill—the SmokeFire EX4—and while the first generation of the wood pellet grill had a few problems that needed to be addressed, the second iteration of the product is a worthwhile splurge. This grill boasts 672 square inches of grilling space across two levels of grates, and it offers an impressive temperature range of 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to be used for both grilling and smoking.

The SmokeFire EX4 has a 20-pound pellet hopper, as well as a DC-powered engine designed to prevent auger jams. The grill is also equipped with a number of smart features like two meat probes that let you keep an eye on the doneness of your food and allows you to control and monitor the grill from your smartphone via Wi-Fi. It can even walk you through the grilling process, letting you know when it's time to flip food—a handy option for novice grillers.

Both times we tested it, we found the grill was really easy to use, as it's easy to light, has immaculate temperature regulation, and practically operates itself. It was the fastest pellet grill to reach 500 degrees, achieving it in under 10 minutes. We successfully cooked a smoky half chicken using the bone-in chicken program as well as perfectly melty cheeseburgers using the cheeseburger program (just note that this only allows you to cook them well-done, so if you like yours less cooked, you can grill them without selecting the program). It was also one of the better pellet grills when it came to searing steaks.

After testing this grill, we set it aside for a while, but when we got back to using it, we really appreciated the ease of use and the great smoky flavor without a lot of fuss, particularly for making ribs. The fact that it self-feeds ensures that it can continue cooking for six hours with little attention from us unless we need to work with the meat itself. We're less likely to fire it up for shorter cooks, but we do like having it on hand when it’s the right tool for the job.

Dimensions: 47 x 43 x 33 inches | Cooking Area: 672 square inches | Type: Wood pellet | Warranty: 3 years (cooking grates, pellet slide, burn pot, heat baffle, pellet grate, controller bezel, electrical components); 5 years (all other parts)

What We Like
  • Available for both gas or charcoal

  • Lightweight

  • Legs double as lid lock

What We Don't Like
  • Awkward tank layout

  • Uneven heating

Weber is quite possibly the biggest name in gas grills, but its high-end models cost a pretty penny. The 13-pound Go-Anywhere is the brand’s least expensive model, but it still offers solid performance and clever design. The 6,500-BTU burner was able to get the stainless-steel grate up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit for good searing on a strip steak, but it doesn’t hold heat as well as cast iron and we found some drastic temperature fluctuations when opening the lid and adding food. (Nonetheless, our test fish filet was tender and flaky, and the steak got to perfect medium-rare.)

We love the fact that this grill’s legs fold up to lock the lid in place—it’s a small feature but just makes a lot of sense and adds to its easy portability. However, the way the propane cylinder attaches is kind of annoying: It hangs off the side of the grill at an angle, and you need to set the unit on the edge of a table or other flat surface as the tank hangs down below the legs.

If you’re more of a charcoal fan, Weber also makes a charcoal-powered Go-Anywhere that’s even a little cheaper than the gas version. As long as you know how to manage a charcoal fire, it offers pretty much the same setup and performance as the gas version. We cooked corn, burgers, and brats over charcoal in testing and got good results with everything except the sausages: They charred on the outside before cooking through and need a lower temperature than other foods.

Dimensions: 14.5 x 21 x 12.2 inches | Cooking Area: 160 square inches | Fuel: Propane, charcoal | Power: 6,500 BTU/hour | Warranty:

What We Like
  • Extremely easy to set up and operate

  • Spacious cooking area

  • Heavy-duty porcelain-enameled cast iron grates

  • Large folding side tables

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

  • Catch pan didn’t fit properly

The Weber Q 2200 Propane Gas Grill is one of our top picks for portable grills by any brand. Though a bit of an investment, the gas grill pays off with its convenience. It's easy to start, easy to use, and heats up quickly and powerfully, delivering 12,000 BTUs of heat per hour. The 280-square-inch cooking area consists of porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, which should be enough to serve three to four people (pretty good for a portable model).

The grill was able to achieve high temperatures as well as larger models, and was even able to sear meat. When brought on the road for lunchtime cookout, it was incredibly easy to transport in the back of a truck.
There are two side tables so you can prep on the go, and they fold up easily when it's time to pack up. Lastly, we found it easy to assemble and attach a 1-pound gas canister. Our tester called it "pricey, but worth it" for anyone who regularly grills on the go. If you do want something a bit cheaper or smaller, we've also tested and recommend the Q 1200.

We do want to note that Weber has updated the Q 2200 to the Weber Q 2800N+, which has a "plus burner" that can be used for an extra burst of heating when combined with the regular burners, or it can be used on its own for low-and-slow cooking at temperatures down to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While the design is similar to the 2200 and it still has the two side trays, it looks a bit more upscale and is available with or without a stand.
Another option in the Q line is the Weber Q 3200, available in both propane and natural gas models.

Dimensions: 15.5 x 51.4 x 19.5 inches | Cooking Area: 280 square inches | Type: Gas | Power: 12,000 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 5 years (cookbox, lid assembly, burner tubes, cooking grates, and plastic components); 2 years (everything else)

What We Like
  • Impressive performance

  • Ample amount of cooking space

  • Easy to assemble

  • Comes with two probe thermometers

What We Don't Like
  • App doesn't control burners

  • Would benefit from an additional sear burner

Weber's Genesis line offers high-quality grills without super-premium prices, and its EX-325S is designed for easy grilling so you can enjoy each and every party. We tested the smart and more basic model, and while both gave us an impressive performance, the addition of the app gave us a more modern experience.

That impressive performance begins the moment this arrives at your door. After a straightforward setup, all you need to do is push the ignition button and connect it to the Weber Connect app on your phone. There you'll see the ambient temperature, as observed by its very accurate built-in thermometer, and monitor the temperature of your food via the two included probe thermometers. The app doesn't allow you to alter the flame, one of the few drawbacks to the EX-325S.

As we tested this over the course of two weeks, it rarely had any faults. The 513 square inches of cooking space was consistently even in heat, with some slightly hotter temperatures observed directly over the burners. The sear zone produced delicious steak, though you might want an additional burner like we did. It's even great for beginners since the app includes everything you need to know for grilling and maintaining a gas grill. It's truly one of the best gas grills available.

Dimensions: 61.5 x 27 x 48.5 inches | Cooking Area: 787 square inches | Fuel: Gas | Power: 39,000 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 3 years (Weber Connect); 10 years (cooking grates, burner tubes, Flavorizer bars); 12 years (lid, cookbox); 5 years (all other parts)

Final Verdict

For a gas-powered grill, the Weber Spirit II E-310 is our top choice thanks to its three burners, compact design, and useful features. If you're looking for the classic Weber black charcoal grill, you can't go wrong with the Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch Charcoal Grill.

Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Grill

The Spruce Eats / Angelica Leicht

How We Tested

We tested popular models of pellet, gas, charcoal, and electric grills at our Lab where we thoroughly analyzed every feature and each grill's overall performance. The grills were rated on various attributes including heat control and retention, size, features, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. We also sent popular Weber grills to our expert grillers and home product testers, who tested each out for weeks to determine which grills are truly the best.

We Observed

  • The setup process: When it come to assembly, it’s just a one-time chore and can be outsourced for customers who aren’t handy with tools. On the other hand, learning how a grill is assembled can be useful if troubleshooting is required later.
  • Its specialties: There’s a large difference between charcoal grills and gas grills. It’s hard to say that one is better than another—it’s really a matter of personal preference.
  • Smart capabilities: Smart grills have features that can automate some of the cooking, but again, it’s personal preference. Some cooks like to be right there, poking and prodding and adjusting during the cook. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

We Rated

  • Ease of Use: Does the grill make cooking easy, or is it a chore to light it, use it, and put it away? If a grill doesn’t make cooking easy—and even better, fun—then it’s not a good choice.
  • Performance: Does it heat well and retain heat? Do meats get good grill marks? Does food cook evenly? The important thing is to be able to produce tasty food every time.
  • Design: Is it aesthetically pleasing? While good looks are nice, it’s more important that the grill is built to do the work it’s supposed to. Awkwardly placed handles, ashtrays that are hard to get to, and wheels that are too small can take points away from any grill.
  • Ease of Cleaning: After the cooking comes the cleaning. Is the ashtray easy to empty? Are the grates easy to clean? Many grills simply burn food residue away, but sometimes the grates need to be scrubbed.
  • Value: Is it worth the cost? A bargain grill shouldn’t be expected to do the same things a high-end grill can do. On the other hand, a high-end grill shouldn’t be priced beyond what the extra features are worth.
Testing the temperature on the Weber Performer Deluxe

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

What to Look for in a Weber Grill

Size

Whether you regularly cook for a crowd or simply cook for one, you need the right size grill. Too big and you'll be wasting fuel, too small and you'll be eating dinner last. For grilling, the two important rules to follow are that you'll need about a pound of meat per person and that you'll need 72 square inches for each of those servings. For a family of four, 400 to 500 square inches is sufficient—that allows enough room for sides, extras, or the occasional dinner guest without being too big a grill for everyday use.

If you know that you'll be cooking multiple different types of food or meats, you might also need to consider multiple burners on a larger grill. This'll give you more temperature zones, and make getting everything to the table so much easier. Lastly, you need to make sure your grill fits your allotted space, and/or is able to move, should you need to store it or bring it on a road trip.

Fuel

Charcoal, gas, and wood pellets all have their pros and cons. Charcoal is easy to pick up at just about every grocery store, home improvement store, or gas station, so you won’t need to make a special trip. But you'll need to have a charcoal starter on hand, will have to wait for everything to cool down before you can dispose of it, and need to deal with the messy ash afterward.

On the other hand, gas is more convenient once you have it—you simply turn a knob to start the fire, and there’s no need to wait for coals to burn down before you begin cooking. But you'll need a special hook-up for natural gas, or to run to the store for liquid propane. Gas-cooked foods also can lack a certain charred grilling taste preferred by some.

If you want to use a wood pellet grill, you'll definitely get great-tasting food, though you'll have to plan in advance to have pellets on hand. Since wood pellet grills work by indirect heat, you'll be able to smoke food as well, without any accessories. You will need to make sure there's an electric outlet nearby since most need to be plugged in for the ignition and the auger.

Grill Material

Sun, rain, snow, hail, and wind are bound to take a toll on the outer surface of your grill, so it's important to pick a material that's very durable. While stainless steel can discolor from high heat, it won’t rust or corrode with rain and snow. Enameled or powder-coated steel is durable, but eventually, it can crack or chip, leading to rust underneath.

Inside the grill, your grate material is also very important. Stainless steel grates are inexpensive and lightweight, but you'll need to clean them with a great grill brush after every session. Porcelain-coated grates can last a long time if taken care of properly. Don't use metal tools or brushes on them to avoid the coating chipping off. Uncoated cast-iron grates will need to be maintained like cast-iron cookware. In return, they will stay heat up enough to help cook your food and give you picturesque grill marks.

Shish kebabs grilling on the Weber Q1400 Electric Grill

The Spruce Eats / Michelle Piccolo

FAQs

How do you clean a Weber grill?

Clean the grates of your grill with a stainless steel grill brush, being sure to remove all pieces of debris that have gotten stuck. If you want to clean your grill grates before you start grilling to remove any burned-on particles, turn the grill on to high heat, allow it to heat up, and then use the grill brush to scrub away burned food bits before you begin grilling. To clean the outside of your grill, wipe it down with a paper towel and the appropriate type of cleaner for the material of your grill: stainless steel cleaner for steel grills, glass cleaner for porcelain grills.

How do you light a Weber grill?

Start by opening the lid to the grill. This prevents gas from building up inside of it. Then, completely open the propane tank’s valve slowly and pause to allow time for the gas to travel through the gas line. If your model has a “start”  knob, turn it to high. Finally, click the ignition for each burner individually. You should hear and see each burner ignite after you’ve done that.

Weber Original Kettle Grill with chimney starter

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

How do you oil Weber grill grates?

Weber grill grates do not require any oiling or seasoning. You can just brush the grates down with a grill brush if they have any debris on them. Additionally, oiling the grates can result in them becoming sticky once the oil has heated beyond its smoking point, which will inevitably happen. If you’re experiencing issues with your food sticking to your Weber grill, oil the food, not the grill grates.

Do you need to season a Weber grill?

You don’t need to season a Weber grill. The grates are made of cast iron, but they are coated in porcelain. The porcelain coating prevents food from sticking, so the grates don’t need seasoning. Only very old models of Weber grills would require seasoning, and because they are very old, that surely happened a long time ago. If you purchase a new Weber grill, you don’t need to worry about seasoning it.

Can a Weber grill get wet?

Weber grills are not waterproof. Therefore, they are able to get wet. You should avoid this if you’re using it, because water entering the cook box will make the fire go out. Weber grills are weatherproof, meaning they can be left out on your patio year-round when not turned on. However, they will last longer and hold up better if you put a cover on them. A cover will protect your grill from getting stained by rain and rusting.

Can you smoke meat on a Weber grill?

Yes, you can smoke meat on a Weber charcoal grill, also known as a kettle grill. The simplest way to use your kettle grill as a smoker is to place all of your charcoal briquettes on one side of the grill and your meat on the other. Adding a few small chips of wood to the charcoal will give your meat a more traditionally smoked flavor. Be sure to soak the wood in water for several hours first. Placing a pan of water underneath the grates where you will be putting your meat will help to catch drippings, keep the meat more moist, and enable the smoke to adhere better to the meat. 

Smoke coming out of the Weber Smokey Joe

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Key Takeaways

You can’t go wrong with a Weber grill. The good news is that no matter what kind of grill you’re looking for, Weber has one, whether it’s a charcoal grill, an electric grill, or a gas grill.

Three things to think about when buying a Weber grill:

  1. First, who will you be cooking for? If it’s a single person or a couple, a small grill will suffice. Larger families, or grillers who like to host parties will want something larger.
  2. Second, where will you use the grill? If you’ve got a huge patio, grill size doesn’t matter as much. If it’s a tiny space, something smaller or easily portable is better.
  3. Third, what will you be cooking? If you’re only cooking the main dish – steaks, burgers, chops, etc. on the grill, you don’t need as much space, but if you plan on cooking the whole meal on the grill, you’ll need a lot more space for the corn, saucepots and fruit skewers. Cooking with charcoal or pellets (or smoking with wood) adds flavor, whereas gas grills add the charred, smoky flavor without the woody essence. 

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace compiled testing data from our official Lab as well as insights from our home testers' full product reviews to compile this roundup. Jason Horn, The Spruce Eats commerce writer, also contributed to this roundup. Raised in Chicago, he knows that hot dogs should never be topped with ketchup.

This was originally written by Erica Puisis, a writer and interior design expert, who has been writing about all things home and lifestyle for The Spruce since 2017.

This article was updated by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. She's written close to a dozen pieces on all styles of grills and done firsthand testing of smokers and grills featured in her articles. Ariane Resnick, who also updated this article, is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has more than 20 years experience in the food and writing spaces and believes in a joy-filled approach to health and wellness.

Donna Currie is a writer, cookbook author, and product tester for The Spruce Eats. She updated this story to include long-term insights about several Weber grills she has used for months and months.

Additional reporting by
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
and
Ariane Resnick
headshot for ariane resnick
Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author who takes great joy in shattering the image of what, and how, nutritionists eat.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Originally written by
Erica Puisis
Erica Puisis
Erica Puisis is a writer specializing in home and design. She writes about kitchen products for The Spruce Eats and has also contributed to TechDigg and Smart Home Solver.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
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