3 Propane BBQ Grills We Love (and 1 We Hate – A Lot!)

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man standing next to stainless steel weber grill outside

Looking for a new propane gas grill to get you through all of those summer cookouts? You’re going to love our best three, highly-rated propane BBQ grills to buy for your backyard.

With these tips and recommendations on which ones to buy (and not to buy) you’ll be well on your way to the best steaks of your life. We’re even sharing price points to suit your budget!

Hip Tip: Grills are sometimes difficult to assemble. If you don’t want the hassle, contact the store where you’re planning to make your purchase. Many stores and websites offer appliance assembly for a small fee, which will vary by store. 


1. Best propane grill under $200.

Char-Broil Grill with chicken and sausage

Char-Broil Performance 36,000 BTU Gas Grill with Side Burner

Buy it at Lowe’s | $199

Here’s why we love it:

  • Electronic ignition for easy lighting
  • Heat retention cast iron grates
  • Removable, easy-to-clean grease pan
  • Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates
    • Rust resistant
    • Resistant to acidic and alkaline chemicals
    • Ensures heat retention
    • Easy to clean
  • Durably constructed
  • Easy to use exterior temperature gauges
  • Side burners and shelves for additional cook and prep space
  • Beautiful, classic stainless steel design

*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.

“Great grill for a great value! I was a chef for 15 years, and I love cooking on this grill! Suitable to cook a full dinner for a 2-5 person family or host a nice sized cookout with brats and burgers. It has high-quality materials where they count and it’s easy to put together. I would definitely buy this grill again, and I’m certain it will last 10+ years with consistent grilling. Do yourself a favor and buy this grill!” 

– Will ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


2. Best propane grill under $500.

black and stainless steel weber grill in store

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill 

Buy it at The Home Depot$479

Here’s why we love it:

  • Built with the powerful GS4 grilling system
  • iGrill 3 compatible (sold separately)
    • An app-connected thermometer that monitors your food from beginning to end
  • Easy-to-read fuel gauge so you know when it’s getting low
  • 4 colors to choose from
  • Flavorizer bars for an irresistible smokey flavor
  • 10-year warranty on all parts
  • Porcelain-Enameled Cast-Iron Cooking Grates
  • Convenient features
    • Warming rack
    • Hook for all your grilling tools
  • 529 sq. in. of total cooking area
  • Guaranteed to ignite every time

*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.

“If you are on the fence about spending the extra money for a Weber gas grill, do it! It is worth every penny. I was looking for a replacement for our hand-me-down gas grill that we acquired a year prior. 
The cooking performance of this grill is excellent. It cooks evenly, heats up fast, and gets very hot. I’ve always been skeptical of how food tastes on gas grills (compared to charcoal), but Weber wins my heart over with their “Flavorizer Bars”. It hardly flares up – no burning, charring, or hockey pucks! The grates are wide, which is great for grilling smaller things like veggies and hotdogs. Plus, they leave a nice sear mark. The quality is top-notch!”
– Casey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. Best propane grill to splurge on.

stainless steel weber grill sitting outside

Weber Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill  

Buy it at The Home Depot$1,249

Here’s why we love it:

  • Built with the powerful GS4 High-Performance Grilling System
    • Distributes even heat consistently
    • Ensures that food grills evenly
  • 10-year warranty on all parts
  • Easy-to-clean 7mm stainless steel cooking grates
  • Sear station for quick, beautiful sear marks
  • 844 sq. in. of total cooking area
  • Side burner to sauté or simmer other foods while grilling
  • Flavorizer bars for an irresistible smokey flavor
  • iGrill 3 compatible (sold separately)
    • An app-connected thermometer that monitors your food from beginning to end
  • Convenient features
    • Warming rack
    • Hooks for all your grilling tools
    • Side tables for storage or prep space
  • Infinity ignition that will ignite every time
  • Stainless steel burners for ultimate heat distribution
  • Grease management system to help prevent flare-ups
  • Spacious grill cabinet for storage

*Note that this grill can only be used with a standard 20 lb propane tank. It cannot be converted to natural gas. Trying to convert to natural gas could result in serious safety issues and will also result in the voiding of any warranty with the manufacturer.

“This grill is a beast! We love to grill out and entertain, so this grill was a no-brainer for our family. We’ve owned it for almost 4 years now, and it’s done a perfect job grilling every single time (and that’s coming from someone who had ZERO grilling experience prior to owning this grill). It came with a convenient packet so you know how to cook every type of food perfectly. It truly cooks so perfectly I’d go as far as to call myself a grill master. LOL! We’ve grilled meals for our family of 5 up to hosting an 80 person house warming party and I wouldn’t trust any other grill manufacturer but Weber after owning this beauty!”

– Tracy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Here is the worst propane grill to spend your money on.

black double char-grill sitting outside

Char-Griller Double Play 1,260 sq., in. 3-Burner Gas and Charcoal Grill | $299

Sure, it looks like a stunner when it’s new. However, many owners have spoken, and it turns out that this entire line of grills isn’t so great after all. Plus, according to Consumer Reports, the Char-Grill brand is one of the worst-rated grills overall, with a disappointing rating of 44 out of 100. 😱

Here are some of the reasons people are complaining:

  • Rusting – lots of rusting
    • Multiple parts, including the outside, rust after a few months
    • Some parts that end up rusting aren’t able to be replaced
    • Made with cheap and inexpensive metal
    • Not built to last
  • Electric starter breaks easily
  • Grates rust and break easily
  • Faulty drip compartment
    • Results in messes on deck or patios
    • Has been known to cause fires
  • Faulty connection to propane tank causing dangerous leaks
  • Terrible customer service
  • Many orders have come with broken or missing parts

Here’s what some owners had to say about this grill:

rusty black grill sitting outside with flakes of paint and rust in bottom pan

“This is a terrible grill and one that will not last. When I originally purchased this grill, I thought it was a great deal and offered the best of both worlds being gas and charcoal. I took great care of it and made sure it was cleaned frequently. The grill was covered at all times when not in use with the custom cover made specifically for it (Don’t get me started on the durability of that thing).

After two years, the grates were starting to break down and I was seeing a decent amount of rust forming on in the inside of the firebox lids. It got so bad that every time I would open or close the grill, rust would fall down on whatever was on the grates. This thing quickly found itself in its rightful home of a scrapyard. The only ‘good’ to come of this was that I got 20 bucks for the scrap metal… guess that will go toward the purchase of a new, non-Char-Griller, grill.” – Luke 

hole in back of grill with dirty grates

“One year in, and the gas grill grates are rotted out. The gas won’t even flow on high. All of the metal on my grill is rusting even though I have properly prepared and stored it since day one. I will never buy another Char-Griller ever again. If you want to buy something that lasts, I recommend buying another brand. I’m a seasoned griller and would never recommend this product.” – Steve

black broken igniter button

“Char-Griller won’t stand by their warranty. I had this grill for 6 months and had a fire after cooking. Then things started breaking, I sent photos, and no help at all from their customer service even though I registered the grill after purchasing it. DON’T BUY THIS GRILL, BUYER BEWARE!” – Ray 


Make your summer a smokin’ good time with this Big Green Egg knockoff!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 14

  1. Evelyn

    We purchased a 3-burner with sear Weber grill about 8 years ago from Lowe’s. We paid $800, it was on sale down from $1,000. It’s been a great grill, it still looks like new with using a cover. Very easy to use, well worth the money. Solid build, nice looking too.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Oh wow! Glad to hear how well it has held up through the years, Evelyn! Thanks for commenting!

  2. SuzyHomemakerGoneBad

    Yep. We had a Char-Grill propane grill and it rusted through in only 2 years. 😒

    • marie

      Same here too!

    • jennap

      Hi there! I do believe that is a slightly different model but still a great sale price!

  3. Brandonnlenee

    I have a char grill for about 7 years now and still works today with no issues.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      SWEET! Thanks for letting us know how well it has been working for you!

  4. Kim

    I’ve had a Holland grill for 12 years or so, absolutely love it, and I highly recommend

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      That’s amazing to hear, Kim! Thanks a bunch for your recommendation!

  5. Hipgrandma

    We bought the Char Broil one last year at Lowe’s on sale for $149. We love it. Still looks like new. Cooks well. There are reviews about hot spots, but we haven’t found that. Would definitely purchase again

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Nice! Good to know how much you have been loving it!

  6. Suzanne H

    I believe we have the older version of the 1st grill. I will be honest, we are NOT good about covering it and it still fires up without a problem, gets really hot and cooks great. I do need to replace the grates; I noticed they have some rust now but we’ve had the grill for 7 years. The irony is my husband ran out to Lowe’s and grabbed the cheapest thing he could find when we were set to have a cookout and realized our grill had died. I think we paid $199.

  7. Jim Nason

    If you are going to spend under 1G for a gas grill, get a Weber at whatever price point you can afford. Before I got married in 1994, my soon to be wife burned out 2 Charbroils in 5 years. (The box the last Charbroil grill came in still stores our Christmas tree ornanments. Grill lasted 2 year, box has lasted 26 years. I think the designers were working on the wrong thing.) For our housewarming and wedding Dad gave use a Weber Genesis 1000. That lasted 16 years.. Yes I had to buy some “flavorizer” bars, and a new gas hose and regulator. Get it , you can buy the parts forever. It was replaced by a Weber Genisis 320 in 2009. That grill is still on my back deck performing admirably. It has been joined by a Weber Performa Charcoal grill. Spend a little more, get better grilling and get something that lasts 10 to 15 years.

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