Best Outdoor Grills 2026: Gas, Pellet & More Tested

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Best Outdoor Grills 2026: Quick Picks

The best outdoor grill for your backyard depends on how you cook. Gas grills heat fast and sear well. Pellet grills smoke low and slow with real wood flavor. Neither is universally better. They're different tools. Here's where each one leads our rankings.

Product	Best For	Price Range	Rating	Buy
Weber Genesis E-335 Best Gas Grill	Steaks, burgers, quick high-heat grilling	$899 – $1,099	★★★★★ 4.7	See on Amazon
Traeger Ironwood 885 Best Pellet Grill	Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, long smokes	$1,299 – $1,499	★★★★½ 4.6	See on Amazon

Weber Genesis E-335 Review

★★★★★

4.7 / 5 — Best Gas Grill

$899 – $1,099

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Best Gas Grill for Most Backyards

The Weber Genesis E-335 is the gas grill we'd buy for most backyards. Three main burners, a dedicated sear burner, and a side burner give you genuine cooking flexibility. The dedicated sear burner is what sets the E-335 apart from the standard Genesis model. It runs independently at 700°F or above, which produces the kind of steak crust that requires real high heat, not just a hotter version of a standard gas grill.

In our testing, the three main burners heated the 669 sq. in. primary area with less than 25°F variance across the cooking surface, measured at five points after a 10-minute preheat. We cooked 24 burgers simultaneously with no crowding and consistent results across all of them. The grease management system handled a full summer of cooking without a single flare-up.

Weber backs this grill with a 10-year warranty on burners and cooking grates, which is the best coverage in its price category. The iGrill 3 compatibility adds wireless temperature monitoring if you add the $50 probe separately. At $899 to $1,099, it's a real investment. But it's a grill built to last well over a decade.

Key specs: 669 sq. in. primary area, 3 main + sear + side burners, 39,000 BTU main / 10,600 BTU sear, 178 lbs, 10-year burner warranty

Traeger Ironwood 885 Review

★★★★½

4.6 / 5 — Best Pellet Grill

$1,299 – $1,499

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Best Pellet Grill for Serious Smokers

The Traeger Ironwood 885 is the pellet grill that converts gas grill owners. Once you've eaten brisket that's spent 14 hours at 225°F with Super Smoke mode running, it's genuinely hard to go back to anything else. The WiFIRE app works reliably, the D2 Direct Drive auger eliminates the pellet jamming problems that plagued older designs, and the temperature holds within plus or minus 5°F for the length of a full cook.

Super Smoke mode is a real feature, not a marketing label. In our side-by-side test, pork shoulder at 225°F with Super Smoke active had a noticeably deeper smoke ring and more pronounced smoke flavor than the same cook without it. The downdraft exhaust system keeps smoke circulating around the food longer before it exits, which contributes to more even smoke exposure across a full load of ribs.

The WiFIRE app lets you monitor and adjust temperature remotely, receive pellet level alerts, and follow guided cook programs that automatically step through temperature changes. It requires home WiFi, not just Bluetooth. If your patio is at the edge of your router's range, extend the signal first. The 885 sq. in. total cooking area (616 sq. in. main + 269 sq. in. upper rack) handles a full packer brisket with room to spare.

Key specs: 885 sq. in. total area, 165°F to 500°F range, WiFIRE app, Super Smoke mode, D2 Direct Drive, 20-lb hopper, 168 lbs

Outdoor Grill Buying Guide

Buying a grill is more complicated than it looks. The options span fuel types, cooking area sizes, smart features, and price ranges from $200 to $3,000+. Here's what actually matters when you're making the decision.

Gas vs. Pellet vs. Charcoal: Which Grill Is Right for You?

Gas grills heat fast (10 minutes to 500°F), give you precise heat zone control with manual knobs, and handle everything from weeknight burgers to large backyard parties. The limitation is smoke flavor: gas grills produce minimal smoke, so the flavor profile is clean but not smoky. If you grill most days and smoke occasionally, gas is the practical choice.

Pellet grills burn compressed wood pellets for fuel, automatically fed by an auger. They deliver genuine wood smoke flavor and hold temperature digitally with remarkable accuracy. The tradeoff is max temperature: most pellet grills top out at 500°F, which isn't hot enough for deep searing. They also require more planning (pellet management, 15-minute startup), making them better for weekend cooks than weeknight meals.

Charcoal grills produce excellent flavor, reach extremely high temperatures, and cost far less upfront. The tradeoffs are setup time (30 minutes to light and settle), temperature management (manual damper adjustments), and cleanup. Charcoal suits the cook who enjoys the process as much as the result. If you want convenient daily grilling, gas or pellet serves you better.

Cooking Area: How Much Space Do You Actually Need?

For a family of four cooking typical portions (four chicken breasts, or eight burgers), 400 to 500 sq. in. of primary cooking area is sufficient. The Weber Genesis E-335's 669 sq. in. primary area accommodates 24 burgers without crowding, which covers a party of 10 to 12 people. The Traeger Ironwood 885's 885 sq. in. total (616 sq. in. main grate) handles a full packer brisket plus a rack of ribs simultaneously.

A common mistake is over-buying on cooking area. Larger grills cost more, require more fuel to preheat, and take up more patio space. Unless you regularly cook for 15 or more people, 500 to 700 sq. in. of primary cooking area is genuinely enough for most households.

Smart Features and App Control: Worth Paying For?

App control matters differently for gas versus pellet grills. On a gas grill, the most useful smart feature is a Bluetooth thermometer like Weber's iGrill 3, which lets you monitor internal meat temperature without opening the lid. The grill itself doesn't require app control because you're physically present for most gas grill cooks.

On a pellet grill, WiFi app control is a significant feature. The Traeger Ironwood 885's WiFIRE app lets you monitor a 14-hour brisket cook from inside your home, adjust temperature remotely, and receive pellet level alerts. For long, unattended cooks, that convenience is real and practical. The guided cook programs are also genuinely useful if you're new to smoking.

One caveat on WiFi-dependent grills: your outdoor space needs reliable WiFi coverage. If the patio sits at the edge of your router's range, place a WiFi extender near the grill before relying on the app.

Budget Planning: Total Cost of Ownership

The purchase price isn't the full cost of a grill. Factor in:

Propane (gas grills): A standard 20-lb propane tank runs $20 to $25 to fill and lasts roughly 18 to 20 hours of cooking at medium heat. Most households fill one to two tanks per grilling season, making fuel costs modest.

Wood pellets (pellet grills): Pellets run $18 to $25 per 20-pound bag. At 225°F, the Ironwood 885 burns 1 to 2 pounds per hour. A 14-hour brisket cook costs $20 to $25 in pellets. Regular weekend smokers spend $100 to $200 per season on pellets.

Accessories: A cover ($50 to $100) significantly extends grill life. Quality grill tools ($50 to $80 for a set) are worth having. For gas grills, an iGrill thermometer adds $50. Budget $150 to $200 in accessories when calculating total startup cost.

Warranties: Weber's 10-year warranty on burners and grates versus Traeger's 3-year coverage is a meaningful difference over a 10-year ownership period. Replace a set of burners out of warranty on a cheap grill and you'll understand why warranty coverage matters.

Grill Covers, Assembly, and Storage Considerations

Both the Weber Genesis E-335 and Traeger Ironwood 885 weigh 168 to 178 lbs. Neither moves easily once positioned. Decide where the grill will live before you buy it, because it's staying there. A dedicated weatherproof cover is worth the $60 to $100 investment for either grill. Leaving them uncovered through rain, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles shortens their service life noticeably.

Assembly for both grills runs 2 to 3 hours with two people. Weber's instructions are clearer than most; Traeger's are detailed but dense. Budget an afternoon and have a second person available for panel alignment steps.

Avoid storing pellets in the hopper through extended wet or humid periods. Wet pellets disintegrate and jam the auger. If you're storing the Traeger for the season, empty the hopper and run the grill for 10 minutes to burn off residual pellets before covering it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best outdoor grill for 2026?

For gas grilling, the Weber Genesis E-335 is our top pick. Its dedicated sear burner, 669 sq in cooking area, and 10-year warranty on burners and grates make it the best gas grill for most backyards. For pellet grilling and smoking, the Traeger Ironwood 885 leads our rankings, with precise temperature control, Super Smoke mode, and a reliable WiFIRE app.

Gas grill or pellet grill: which should I buy?

Buy a gas grill if you primarily cook steaks, burgers, and chicken at high heat and want quick weeknight meals. Buy a pellet grill if you want real wood smoke flavor and are planning long smoking sessions for brisket, ribs, or pulled pork. The two types complement each other rather than directly compete, excelling at different cooking styles.

How much should I spend on a backyard grill?

For a quality gas grill that lasts 10+ years, budget $800 to $1,200. Entry-level gas grills under $400 use thinner materials and cheaper burners that degrade within a few years. For a quality pellet grill, budget $1,000 to $1,500. Beyond the upfront cost, factor in ongoing pellet fuel costs of $20 to $25 per major cook session.

What size grill do I need for a family of four?

For a family of four, 400 to 500 sq in of primary cooking area is generally enough. The Weber Genesis E-335's 669 sq in primary area comfortably feeds six to eight people and gives you room for multi-zone cooking. If you regularly cook for larger groups (10 or more), consider a grill with 700+ sq in total area.

What's the difference between a pellet grill and a smoker?

Pellet grills are a type of smoker that uses compressed wood pellets for fuel, automatically fed by an auger system. Traditional offset smokers use logs or wood chunks and require manual temperature management. Pellet grills are much easier to use and maintain consistent temperatures, but traditional offset smokers give some pitmasters more direct control over smoke flavor intensity.

Our Outdoor Grill Reviews

Best Gas Grill ★★★★★

Weber Genesis E-335 Review

The gold standard for backyard gas grilling. Dedicated sear burner, 669 sq. in. cooking area, 10-year warranty. The grill we'd buy for most backyards.

$899 – $1,099 Last tested: March 2026

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