Are you ready to enter the wonderful world of freshly grilled steaks and badass rack of ribs?
Grilling is one of the most fun outdoor experiences available. There’s nothing quite like getting the grill nice and toasty, and then tossing a lean tenderloin on it so that you can watch it brown and take on that freshly grilled flavor.
Gas grills are an alternative to wood and charcoal grills that ensures a quicker cook time than either of the other two options.
With this said, it can be hard to find a great gas grill and even harder to find a relatively cheap model that works well. This is why we created this guide so that you can find the best gas grill under 300 dollars.
Table of Contents
Quick Consideration List
Our Top Picks for Gas Grills Under 300$
#1 (Editor's Choice) - The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Grill is our Editor's Choice as the best option for the average customer. It is a mid-size option that is also moderately priced. It comes with plenty of food-prep space and features about 480 square inches of primary cooking space and also a side burner with an extra 180 square inches of secondary cooking space. (Full Review)
#2 - The Dyna-Glo Black & Stainless Premium Grill is a great option for those of you who are looking for a powerful and high-quality grill within the budget price. It features 350 square inches of primary cooking space and about 547 square inches of total cooking space. This 2 burner version is capable of 30,000 total BTUs and is priced at the top of our budget. (Full Review)
#3 - The Weber 54060001 Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill is the smallest product featured in this best gas grills under $300 list. It features about 280 square inch of cooking space and produces about 12,000 BTUs but the main advantage of this grill is its portability. So, if you are looking for a portable grill, this might be the one. (Full Review)
#4 - The Fuego Element F21C is probably the best looking grill on this list. It features 346 square inches of cooking space and produces about 21,000 BTUs. The technology used on this grill makes it possible to reach temperatures of 500°F in just 5 minutes and up to 650°F without any problem. It is ideal if you don't have a lot of space and are looking for a good-looking and well designed product. (Full Review)
#5 - The Char-Broil Classic 280 is the cheapest option on this list. It features 280 square inches of primary cooking space and 170 square inches of secondary cooking space. Its 2 burners are capable of producing 20,000 BTUs and its side burner produces about 8,000 BTUs. It is ideal for those who don't want to spend a lot of money but still want a powerful and fully functional grill. (Full Review)
#6 - (New Edition) - Blackstone 36" Griddle Grill is the only flat griddle style in this list. This model has quickly become one of the most sold model and that's thanks to its incredible performance and efficient design. Its 4 individual-controlled burners are capable of producing around 60,000 BTUs, distributing it to the 720 square inches of cooking space. (Full Review)
Best Gas Grills Under 300 Comparison Table
Grill Name | Editor's Rating | Price Range | Cooking Area/Power | Dimensions (in) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$$ | 480 Sq. In. (46,000 BTU) | 56 x 25 x 45.5 | |||||
$$$ | 350 Sq. In. (30,000 BTU) | 45.8 x 23 x 46.1 | |||||
$$ | 280 Sq. In. (12,000 BTU) | 25.1 x 51.4 x 26 | |||||
$$$ | 346 Sq. In. (21,000 BTU) | 21 x 44 x 21 | |||||
$ | 280 Sq. In. (28,000 BTU) | 19.8 x 56.5 x 43 |
Reviews of the Best Gas Grills Under 300 Dollars
Char-Broil Stainless Steel Series – (Updated Model)
Note: Char-Broil has recently updated this model and this is the new, improved Stainless Steel series. You can find the review for the original, discounted model below this section or by clicking here.
The original Char Broil 4 Burner 475 Performance has been for a long time, one of the best models you can consider picking for under our budget.
Recently, the Char-Broil has decided to update this model with a new reinforced Stainless Steel upgrade, still for under our price point.
The newly Char Broil Performance 475 comes with an exclusive stainless steel finish for increased durability and giving this unit a nicer style and sleek design.
The all 4 four burners are stainless steel too, which emit flame from the top, allowing better even cooking.
The grease pan is also reinforced in this model, now being porcelain coated, making it more durable and easy to clean.
The grates are still porcelain coated cast iron material, and based on a lot of reviews, they are very durable and made to last.
Other worth mentioning improved feature of this model is the improved electric ignition of the side burner, which is capable of producing up to 10,000 BTUs of cooking heat.
Just like the previous model, this improved series has already proved to offer great performance, increased durability and tons of useful features, all packed into an affordable price and under our price point.
Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Grill - (Discounted Model)
Char-Broil is kind of a classic when it comes to grilling. Whether it’s charcoal or propane, Char-Broil grills can be found around the country.
This classic 4-Burner has a classic styling that provides a good cook with some noteworthy extras.
As for this unit, firstly, it is very good for those of you who want to cook up a week’s worth of food in one shot.
This is because it has 480 square inches of primary grill surface area and If the primary cooking area is not enough for your needs, you can use the additional 180 square inches of secondary porcelain-coated cooking area. Both these cooking surfaces make this classic grill the one with the largest surface area in this guide, with a total of 660 square inches.
This grill features 4 stainless steel burners, which are durable and provide about 36,000 BTUs of cooking power and one secondary side burner which puts out about 10,000 additional BTUs. These burners are started by an electronic ignition system which offers a reliable spark with every quick push, making the initial start of the grill very easy.
Also, we found that this particular grill spreads a nice, even heat across all of the burners, which virtually eliminates unevenly cooked foods.
Several users like the porcelain coated grates, which make them rust resistant and easy to clean and maintain.
Also, if you are a Char-Broil fan and customer, you can access their community corner on their website for several maintenance tips and tricks, quick recipes and several other useful grilling-related articles.
Pros
Cons
The next product to consider as your next purchase is the Dyna-Glo Black & Stainless Grill.
This specific grill is designed to be able to be fit in a relatively small space. It’s part of Dyna-Glo’s “Smart Space” series of grills; but fortunately, it doesn’t sacrifice grill space for a thinner form factor as this grill still has 547 square inches of total cooking space, from which 350 square inches are primary cooking space and 197 square inches are secondary cooking area.
The grill is relatively basic; it only has two burners, but for many grillers, this is ample room to cook up some meat or veggies. The burners are very easy to ignite; Dyna-Glo uses a push-button ignition system that is electronic and reliable.
Additionally, the grill also has a fairly high-quality level of heating power. When you click the electric ignition, the 2 burners get up to 30,000 total BTU of steady power. This heating energy is provided by way of two P-shaped burners that are enamel-protected.
We were pleased to find out that this grill maintained a fairly even heating so that food cooked thoroughly without overcooking.
One cool feature of this product are its folding side tables, allowing you to free up even more space when you are not using the grill.
Also, this product comes with a built-in stainless thermometer
Pros
Cons
Weber Q2200 - Best Portable Gas Grill Under $300
The Weber 54060001 Q2200 uses a small form factor so that you can easily take it with you to your outdoor events. As a matter of fact, there’s even a warming plate that works pretty well to keep your food warm and your buns slightly toasted.
Under the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, it features one stainless steel burner, producing about 12,000 BTUs which heat about 280 square inches of total cooking area.
The initial fire is started by an electronic ignition system and the grill runs on disposable 14.1 or 16.4 oz. LP cylinder or, if you want, you can buy the additional LP adapter hose for 20 lb. tanks.
If you find yourself consistently hitting up your local park, then this is the grill for you. It has handles on its side that are very ergonomic. In addition, you can purchase griddle platforms to use with the grill so that you can make things like eggs, flapjacks, or bacon when you’re out on a camping trip.
Pros
Cons
The next option to consider is the Fuego FELG21C. The Fuego FELG21C was designed by former Apple Designer Robert Brunner, and it certainly does have a unique design for a gas grill. As a matter of fact, it is even thinner in size than the Smart Space product by Dyna-Glow.
One of the coolest features of this product is its lid. It holds heat in very well, which means that you can put it on, and you’ll have an almost convection oven-like internal environment for your foods to cook in. When not in use, you can place the hood onto one of the Element’s handles.
This grill also has an easy-to-use single knob control that lets you control the products dual burners. This provides a reasonable level of convenience, and also reduces the need for additional knobs. Finally, there are two burners that can burn at 24,000 BTU. If you choose to use the outer burner, you can have a more indirect heat.
Even though its compact design makes it a perfect grill for small patio/balcony
The cooking surface can reach temperatures of 500
Other useful features of this grill are the electronic push-to-start ignition button, built-in lid thermometer, the tank storage space under the burners section
Pros
Cons
Char-Broil Classic 280 - Best 2-Burner Gas Grill Under $300
Additionally, the main burner can generate 20,000 BTU, which is plenty of power for most grill applications.
The firebox on this product is actually porcelain coated, which means that it can easily handle the heat generated by the burners.
This product doesn't feature an electronic ignition system but the piezo ignition system seems to be very reliable and spark quickly with every push.
There is also adequate space on this product; the primary surface has about 280 square inches of cooking area, while the secondary cooking surface provides you with another 170 square inches of space.
The plastic side shelf offers you some extra cooking space and a built-in
The only thing I don't like about this grill is the usage of several plastic components but with its cheap price point, they are still acceptable.
Pros
Cons
Blackstone 36" Griddle Grill - Best Flat Griddle Grill Under $300
The Blackstone 36-inch Propane Gas grill is a new entry model to the outdoor cooking grills. It has quickly gained one of the top spots as the Best Sellers on several online marketplaces.
It has a lot of good reviews and people are really loving its durability, functionality and features.
On the outside, it features a black powder-coated steel frame and a outdoor-only flat top griddle station.
The cooking surface is made of thick rolled steel which gives this model a very good heat retention and distribution. In total, the cooking surface is around 720 square inches, making it big enough to cook a lot of food for large families or gathering. Blackstone states that its maximum capacity is 28 hamburgers, 72 hot dogs or 16 steaks at the same time.
All this cooking surface is powered by four stainless steel burners, producing more than 60,000 BTUs of heat in total. Thanks to its multiple heat zones, you can cook several foods at the same time or just keep them warp with low temperature.
With such combination of features, this model can be easily cooking steaks, hamburgers and any other food, just like a traditional grill.
And, since it is a griddle-style, you can cook foods such as ham, bacon, eggs, patties etc., perfect for breakfast. You can even heat soup in an oven-safe pan.
The ability to use one burner and turn off the other, gives you the freedom to cook two different foods at the same time, at different temperatures.
On the bottom, there is a bottom shelf for food storage and on both sides, there are located two side shelves for more preparation space.
Other features which are worth mentioning, are the front and rear grease drain, making it easy to use and clean up as well as for professional use.
Overall, this product has quickly become one of the best propane gas griddle grills out there, with amazing performance and great durability. And, all of this under our price range, making it affordable for everyone.
Pros
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Factors to Consider When Buying a Gas Grill
Before you make your choice, first it's important to consider some of the main factors when it comes to picking the right product for your needs and preferences.
Siz e
The first thing to consider when picking and probably one of the most important one, is the size. The consideration for the "Size" factor is separated into two parts.
First, is the size you have find to put your grill. You need to have in mind that if you don't have a big, spacious yard, then you probably pick a small, compact product.
Second, is the size of the grill and how much are you planning to cook at once. Will you be cooking just a few burgers and meat for yourself or you need a 4-burner grill which will cook food for a group of friends and family. In most of the cases, a 4-burner grill is the most used one. You can decide to only use 1 or 2 burner when you are alone and use the full power only when you really need it.
Durability
No one wants to buy a new grill each year. Even though the lifetime warranty doesn't usually come to the affordable price products, you can still spend less and get a product which can last for the rest of your life with the proper maintaining.
How to Proper Clean Your Grill
The customers reviews are also one thing to read when it comes to finding out how durable a unit is. You will definitely find out some reviews based on durability,
Power
In the grilling world, the power of one unit is measured in BTUs. To pick the best grill under 300 dollars, you first need to read the BTU power under each product description, so you will create an idea of the power the grill will produce. But, do keep in you mind that larger grills with big cooking surface need more BTUs to heat the whole thing, so try to think how the provided power relates to the overall size of the unit.
Heat Distribution
Heat Distribution is another important factor to consider when choosing an outdoor cooking device. You need a grill which provides even heating, so the cooking will be much easier. Even though there are some good tutorials on how to fix uneven cooking, still if your chosen product has hot spots, then some of your food will cook faster than the rest and some of them will still come out uneven.
The best thing to do when it comes to heat distribution is to read the customers reviews. If the product has hot spots, you will definitely find some customers complaining in the reviews.
Extra Features
When you are searching for your next grill, you may want to consider the extra features. I am talking for features like digital thermometer for easy temperature measurement, side burners for cooking side dish alongside the meat, the cooking grates type etc.
While the upcoming features may not be a huge deciding factor when it comes to picking your next gas grill, still for some people can make a difference.
You can watch the video down below for more factors to consider when choosing your next grilling unit.
Detailed Grill Choosing Video Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Use a Gas Grills Indoors?
While there might be some people how use propane gas grills indoors, it is not recommended to use your outdoor grill inside, even if you are planning to cook in your garage. The main reason is that gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide, which can be very dangerous for you, even on small amounts.
If you think that you can use ventilation and always circulate the air, then you should consider another high risk involved with using outdoor designed grills inside your house. It is not a good idea to keep a tank of compressed propane inside. The best possible solution is to install and leave the tank outside the house and use the grill in a ventilated room inside.
How Many BTUs Do You Need in a Gas Grill?
When you purchase a grill, it is recommended to compare the BTUs to the size of the useable cooking space. Try to look for 80-100 BTUs per square inch of cooking space. This is also the perfect balance for more efficiency when it comes to fuel consummation.
Do I Need a Side Burner?
The side burner is not a must feature to your grill. It really depends on how much of a bbq fanatic you are. The side burner is mostly used to prepare side dishes or warm up sauces and aren't always a great option for main cooking.
If you are planning to position the grill not close to your kitchen, then the side burner would be a useful feature to have.
Do I Need a Rotisserie?
Rotisserie, just like the side burner, it is not a must-have feature in your gas grill. It is mostly used by bbq enthusiast for some cooking methods, like spit-roasting but if you are just planning to use your next grill for simple cooking techniques, then you may skip this one.
What are the Best Brands for Propane Gas Grills?
While the major leading manufactures like Weber have been on the market for a lot of years now, the development of technology and inovation has made a lot of recent-founded companies grow quickly and dominate the niche market of cooking grills.
If you want the ultimate winner from the manufactures, we would probably say that Weber is still one of the producers who doesn't disappoint with their product quality and features. Their products are built to last and their fan base is always growing.
This is also impacted by a lot of amateur manufacturers entering the market and disappointing a lot of customers, which eventually end up buying the best, so they don't get disappointed again.
However, there are still a lot of other manufacturers, which offer the same high quality products like Weber. Some of these companies including Dyna-Glo, Cuisinart, Char-Broil etc.
How Long Should a Gas Grill Last?
The life span of a gas grill depends on a lot of factors, including the build quality, maintaining, how often do you use it etc.
If you have continuously cleaned and properly maintained, you should expect for it to last up to 10 years without issue.
However, if you don't properly maintain it, leave it out in the rain without cover, or rarely clean, then the lifespan is reduced drastically, for some customers complaining for their product rusting or stopped working properly in less than 2 years.
For example, a Weber Model will probably need new grates and flavorizer bars in about five years of regular usage. These two parts are also the most common replacement you will do to your Weber. Burners are rarely replaced, probably after 5-10 years of heavy usage, also depending on other factors. During a long lifespan, the burners are recommended to be replaced at least once.
Can You Convert Propane to Natural Gas Grill?
Yes, you can convert it but it is not the easiest process and not everyone can do it. You have to change some valves and orifices because they are designed for a lower gas flow. The easiest and the safest way to convert a liquid propane grill to a natural gas is with a included conversion kit from the manufacturer. Only specific models have the kits included, so make sure to check the 'What's Included' list before buying.
You can read this tutorial or watch this video for a more detailed step-by-step guide.
Which is the Best Gas Grill Under $300?
Each of the grills that we’ve reviewed will provide a lot of value, but each has its own features and uses that make it greatly differentiate from the others. Some are more portable, while some are designed to save you space.
Out of all of the featured grills, we find that the Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner is the clear winner. It is a stainless steel good looking grill with a lot of power. It produces 36,000 BTUs from its main 4 burners and 10,000 BTUs from the side burner, which combined with the massive cooking surface area, are more than enough for you to use on your patio or anywhere else. All these features and a lot of other additional ones, make this product the best possible option for most of people.
Additionally, if you don't need such a big grill, the runner up of this list is the Dyna-Glo 2 Burner Premium Grill, which is slightly more expensive than our first winner, even though it is smaller and less powerful.
I have Char-Broil Classic 280 for 2 years. I didn’t have any problem and it works great. Thank you for good content and sharing informations with others!