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For $1,000, a wide range of gas grills with durable builds, versatile functions, and even cutting-edge smart technology are available. These higher-end grills, which boast heavy-gauge steel construction with stainless steel burners, cooking grates, and heat plates, are more durable than their less-expensive cousins. Many come with technology that expands their functionality, including special searing burners, rotisserie kits, and even smoker boxes. Features not always found on cheaper gas grills, such as side burners, are standard on most grills at this price point.
With so many features to consider, it can be tough to decide on the right one. This guide explores the important factors to consider when shopping for the best gas grill under $1,000.
- BEST OVERALL: Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Gas Grill
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Weber Spirit E330 Lp Black Grill
- BEST NATURAL GAS: Dyna-Glo Premier 5-Burner Natural Gas Grill
- BEST LARGE GRILL: Monument Clearview 6-Burner Gas Grill
- BEST DUAL FUEL: KitchenAid 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
- BEST BUILT-IN: Kitchenaid 4 – Burner Built-In Propane Gas Grill
- MOST PORTABLE: Blaze Professional Portable Gas Grill
What to Consider in the Best Gas Grills Under $1,000
While selecting the right type of gas grill is important, so too are other factors, such as size, build quality, number of burners, and warranty. Ahead, learn more about these and other important attributes of gas grills.
Types of Gas Grills
The three primary types of grills at the under-$1,000 price point are portable, freestanding, or built-in. Portable gas grills are compact enough to fit in a car’s trunk or the back of a pickup truck. Some have built-in handles for easy carrying, while others fold up and wheel around. Portable grills typically weigh less than 50 pounds, which is lightweight enough for one or two people to lift and carry. Most portable grills are designed to rest on a tabletop, counter, or some other elevated surface. Some models feature foldable legs, allowing them to function as freestanding grills.
Freestanding grills consist of a firebox with around 500 square inches of cooking surface. Unlike portable grills that require a tabletop, freestanding grills are supported by an aluminum or steel metal frame. This metal frame typically sits on casters or two wheels, which enables the user to maneuver the grill around a deck or patio.
Built-in grills, which comprise the high end of the gas grill market, consist of a cook box and lid with no supporting frame. Built-ins are designed to fit inside a stone or brick outdoor kitchen. They typically have all stainless steel construction and high-end internal parts.
Size of Grill
Size, which is determined by the amount of cooking surface the grill offers, ranges dramatically, from portable units with around 150 square inches of cooking surface to freestanding and built-in grills with cooking surfaces from as small as 300 square inches to more than 600 square inches. Of course, the size of the grill’s cooking surface relates directly to the size of the grill itself.
Also consider how much space the grill will occupy on a deck or patio before making a purchase. When considering cooking surface size, look at the grill’s primary cooking surface, not its total cooking surface. The total cooking surface includes the grill’s warming rack space.
Material & Quality
Gas grills at the less-than-$1,000 price point have a higher quality build than cheaper grills. Whereas a more affordable grill may use thinner sheet metal, cast aluminum, plastic, and painted metal, expect to find heavier gauge stainless steel sheet metal on a $1,000 grill with stainless steel burners, heat plates, and cooking grates.
This heavier construction can endure extreme heat without warping, resulting in a more stable grill. Since stainless steel also is better able to endure the elements, grills at this price level are also more durable than less-expensive grills.
Number of Burners
The number of burners a grill has dictates how well the burners can heat the cooking surface. A grill with a larger cooking surface requires more burners to ensure even heat distribution. Since most grills that cost around $1,000 have larger cooking surfaces, the best barbecue grills should have at least three burners.
When assessing burners, also consider how much heat they produce. A gas grill burner’s output is measured in BTUs. Most gas grill burners produce between 10,000 and 12,000 BTUs. To determine how well a grill’s burners can heat a cooking surface, calculate its heat flux by dividing the grill’s total BTU output by the total square inches of cooking surface.
For example, a grill with 600 square inches of cooking surface and four 12,000-BTU burners has a heat flux of 80. For a gas grill to adequately heat its cooking surface, it should have a heat flux between 80 and 100 (although grills with separate sear burners may have less).
Smart Features
Some $1,000 grills have smart features that help make grilling easier, such as, for example, Bluetooth connections that allow the chef to monitor meat temperature from a smartphone. A small box on the front of the grill houses a Bluetooth unit and multiple ports for wired meat thermometers.
Grates
Gas grills have either porcelain-coated, cast-iron grates or stainless steel grates. Most higher-end grills use stainless steel cooking grates with thick rods. The thicker the rods, the better the grate can retain heat.
Stainless steel cooking grates with thick rods do a better job of creating those sought-after grill marks on steaks and burgers than grates with thinner rods or porcelain-coated iron grates. Stainless steel grates also last longer than porcelain-coated iron, which will begin to rust once the porcelain coating wears off.
Versatility
One of the perks of spending more money on a gas grill is that many models at the $1,000 level have useful extras that make the grill more versatile, including rotisserie kits, smoker boxes, sear burners, and powerful side burners. Some gas grills also feature dual-fuel capability, which allows the chef to convert the grill from propane to natural gas with an additional conversion kit.
Warranty
Quality brands back up their gas grills with solid warranties. Look for a grill with a 10-year rust warranty on its cook boxes, lid assemblies, and burner tubes. A reputable brand should cover their cooking grates with a 5-year warranty and all other parts of the grill with a 2-year warranty. If a brand doesn’t offer this kind of coverage on its grills, the build quality may not be up to snuff.
Our Top Picks
The list below takes into account all these considerations to narrow the field of the best gas grills under $1,000 to some of the top models on the market, including freestanding, built-in, and portable grills that are solidly built with useful additional features.
Best Overall
Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Gas Grill
Weber’s Genesis line of grills presents a noticeable step up from its collection of Spirit gas grills, which also are impressive. Though most of the Genesis grills cost more than $1,000, the E-335 is under that price in a unit with a painted enamel coating instead of a stainless steel finish.
Its three gas burners, which produce 39,000 BTUs of heat, are supported by an additional sear burner to create a brown crust on steaks and burgers. Other thoughtful features include “flavorizer” bars, which prevent flare-ups while producing flavor-infusing smoke, and compatibility with Weber’s iGrill app-connected meat thermometers. Though the lids are painted black, all the grill’s internal parts are stainless steel for added durability.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 513 square inches
- Burners: Three burners plus sear burner
- BTUs: 39,000
Pros
- Sear station
- Quality construction
- Concealed Propane tank
Cons
- Painted enamel versus stainless steel
Best Bang for the Buck
Weber Spirit E330 LP Black Grill
Though Weber’s Spirit E330 may lack the stainless steel finish of other grills at a similar price, it makes up for it in functionality. The highlight of this grill is its sear burner, which is nestled between two of the Spirit’s three main 10,000-BTU burners. This 7,500-BTU burner provides a significant boost to the two adjacent burners, creating the intense heat needed to sear the proper char on steaks, chops, and burgers. The E330’s side burner a 10,000-BTU burner.
The Spirit’s cabinet-style bottom conceals the propane tank, which Weber’s new Spirit II series doesn’t have. An electric ignition and heavy-duty casters round out the E330’s features.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 424 square inches
- Burners: Three burners plus sear burner
- BTUs: 32,000- and 7,500-BTU sear burner
Pros
- Sear station
- Powerful side burner
- Enclosed cabinet for the propane tank
Cons
- Black enamel finish instead of stainless steel
Best Natural Gas
Dyna-Glo Premier 5-Burner Natural Gas Grill
It’s tough to find many stand-alone natural gas grills, let alone one that boasts the ample size of this Dyna-Glo model. Thanks to five 12,000 BTU burners, the grill’s 550-plus-square-inch cooking surface features plenty of cooking zones, which give the grill a heat flux that’s significantly higher than most other gas grills. Moreover, it’s equipped with a 12,000-BTU side burner.
Its tankless natural gas connection frees up ample under-grill space for storing grill tools. Though the Dyna-Glo natural gas grill is one of the larger models on the market––the grill measures more than 5 feet wide––its all-stainless steel finish makes it attractive. Casters and a broad handlebar on the side table make maneuvering the grill around the patio easier. A purchase of this Dyna-Glo grill includes a 10-foot natural gas hose.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 550 square inches
- Burners: 5 burners
- BTUs: 60,000 BTUs
Pros
- Ample heat output
- Huge under grill storage space
- Stainless steel finish
Cons
- Thinner sheet metal construction makes it less durable than other grills
Best Large Grill
Monument Clearview 6-Burner Gas Grill
With more than 630 square inches of primary cooking space and an additional 260 or so square inches of warming rack, this monster from Monument can handle large backyard cookouts. Its stainless steel cooking surface is supported by five main burners and one internal sear burner, giving the chef multiple heat zones. And it has a side burner to heat sauces.
Monument also places a window that stretches the entire length of the lid, allowing the chef to monitor the food and maintain the grill’s internal temperature by eliminating the necessity to constantly open the lid. Other notable features include a smokebox and rotisserie kit. However, at more than 5 feet wide, this grill covers a large space.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 630 square inches
- Burners: Six burners
- BTUs: 96,000 BTUs
Pros
- Sear burner and side burner
- Massive cooking surface
- Stainless steel cooking grates
- Lid window
Cons
- Takes up a significant amount of space
Best Dual Fuel
KitchenAid 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
KitchenAid offers versatility for those who want to add a natural gas connection to their outdoor kitchen. The gas grill comes ready to use as a propane gas grill but converts to natural gas with the purchase of a conversion kit.
In addition to its dual-fuel capability, the KitchenAid comes with a set of formidable features, including a 13,000-BTU ceramic rotisserie burner and a 15,000-BTU burner for searing. Similar to other grills at this price point, the main cooking surface measures some 522 square inches, which is heated by four 10,000-BTU burners. With a stainless steel finish, KitchenAid’s four-burner grill makes it an attractive addition to the outdoor living space.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 522 square inches
- Burners: Four burners
- BTUs:40,000 BTUs
Pros
- 13,000-BTU ceramic rotisserie burner
- 15,000-BTU searing side burner
- Dual-fuel capability
Cons
- Requires the purchase of conversion kit to use natural gas
Best Built-in
Kitchenaid 4 – Burner Built-In Propane Gas Grill
Despite its $1,000-plus price, this gas grill from KitchenAid offers similar features as higher-end built-ins, including a rotisserie burner, sear burner, and full stainless steel construction. And, while not as large as pricier built-in gas grills, it still offers about 550 square inches of primary cooking surface, more than enough to serve a family of four.
Heat shields positioned above the main burners prevent flare-ups while producing more smoke to add flavor to the food. Instead of the cheaper ceramic-coated iron grates, this grill features stainless steel cooking grates, making it easier to achieve those perfect grill marks.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface: 500 square inches
- Burners: Four burners plus sear burner
- BTUs: 48,000 BTUs
Pros
- Affordably priced built-in gas grill
- Stainless steel construction
- Rotisserie and sear burners
- High BTU output
Cons
- Smaller cooking surface than other built-in grills
Most Portable
Blaze Professional Portable Gas Grill
If serious about tailgating, consider the Blaze Professional gas grill. With rock-solid construction and a high output burner, it’s one of the best portable grills to take along to the stadium parking lot or campground. Its 12,000-BTU burner coupled with the cooking grate’s thick 12-mm hexagonal-shaped rods gives it excellent heat retention and the ability to sear meat. The Blaze’s “flame tamer” system below the grate prevents flare-ups while creating even heat distribution.
Thick-gauge stainless steel construction, which includes the burner and flame guard, gives this grill exceptional durability. And, with 201 square inches of cooking surface, it’s larger than most portable grills. However, its heavy-duty construction creates a total weight of just over 50 pounds, making it one of the heavier portable grills on the market.
Product Specs
- Cooking surface:201 square inches
- Burners: One burner
- BTUs: 12,000 BTUs
Pros
- Solid heavy-gauge stainless steel construction
- 12-mm-thick hexagonal stainless grate
- Flame-tamer design creates heat while reducing flare-ups
Cons
- Expensive for a portable grill
- Weighs 50 pounds
Our Verdict
With its durable construction and useful features, such as a sear station and smart meat thermometer system, the Weber Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Gas Grill is one of the best models at this price point. Those with large families or who entertain frequently may want to consider the Monument Clearview 6-Burner Gas Grill, with six burners and 630 square inches of cooking surface.
How We Chose the Best Gas Grills Under $1000
We considered several criteria when choosing our top grills under $1,000. Durability is vital when it comes to gas grills, and a grill that costs upwards of $1,000 should be able to endure the elements for many years. With that in mind, we primarily chose grills with thicker gauge steel construction both in the body as well as on the burners and interior heat distributors.
A grill at this price point should also have additional features that make it easier to cook, including sear burners, side burners, and specialized cooking kits, such as a rotisserie or smoking box. We also favored grills with cutting-edge technology, such as smart temperature monitoring systems. Brand is critical in grills, and no brand dominates the under-$1,000 market like Weber, which is well-known for build quality and performance.
FAQs
If you’re wondering when’s the best time to get a great deal on a gas grill or why natural gas grills carry a premium price, keep reading for answers to these and other commonly asked questions about these outdoor appliances.
Q: When is the best time to buy a gas grill?
The best time to get a deal on a gas grill is in the fall when demand for outdoor cooking appliances begins to drop.
Q: Why are natural gas grills, on average, more expensive?
Price has to do with the fact that natural gas grills are more expensive to build. A propane grill includes a 2-foot hose and a regulator combo, while a natural gas grill includes a longer 10-foot hose and a brass fitting that works with the home’s gas line. This longer hose and higher-end fitting increase the total price of the grill.
Q: How many burners do I need?
That depends on the size of the grilling surface and how you plan to grill. The more burners a grill has, the more evenly the grill can heat the cooking surface. Having access to a greater number of burners also helps the chef create more cooking zones, making it easier to grill various foods at different temperatures simultaneously.
Q: Which is healthier, propane or natural gas?
While neither fuel type presents much of a health risk for an outdoor grill, natural gas is lighter, which means it will rise safely away into the air more quickly than denser propane gas, which can linger longer around the living area.
Q: How do I properly clean my gas grill?
Use a scraper and wire brush to remove residue from the grates inside the lid and cooking box. Brush all the loose particles into the grease tray and then dump them in a trash bag. Wipe the interior and exterior of the grill using a damp rag or sponge. Never hose down a gas grill: It causes water to get into its nooks and crannies that takes longer to dry, leading to rust.
Q: Where should I store my gas grill?
While it’s best to store a gas grill out of the elements in a shed or garage, it isn’t possible for everyone. Instead, buy a high-quality grill cover to protect the grill from wet weather.
Q: How long will my gas grill last?
Depending on how well you take care of it, you can expect your gas grill to last 10 to 15 years.