Check out this list of the best budget-friendly outdoor propane grills under $500, $300, and even $200. Outdoor cookers from Weber, Char-Broil, Char-Griller, and more!
- Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro
- Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner
- Megamaster 720-0804
- Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 3-Burner
- Weber Q2200
- Cuisinart CGG-306
- Char-Broil Classic 280
- Char-Griller Dual 2 Burner
- Royal Gourmet GG2102
- Weber Q1000
- Weber Spirit II E-310
- Fuego F21C-H Element
- Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner
- Weber Q3200
- Char-Broil Performance Tru Infrared
When shopping on a budget, you never want to feel like you’re having to compromise on quality for the sake of saving money.
This list is here to show you that you can get a lot of bang for your buck, and you can get a fantastic propane grill within the constraints of a relatively tight budget.
- Best Budget Gas Grill: Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro
The perfect backyard grill on a budget. With over 40,000 BTUs of power and 600 square inches of cooking area, the E3001 offers a lot compared to its more premium peers. - Runner-Up: Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner
Impressive 46,000 BTU power and decent grill area make this a worthy runner-up. - Best Budget Option: Char-Broil Classic 280
A small but sturdy cooker that combines stainless steel build and Piezo ignition system to provide an easy, quick, and durable unit.
Note: The links above will take you to Amazon to see latest prices and customer reviews (Affiliate)
If you can’t find something you like on this list then check out our best gas grill guide, where we also take a look at high-end options.
Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro
This grill from Char Griller gives you one of the best returns in terms of pure power, packing in an impressive 40,000 BTUs spread over 3 burners.
Even compared to more high-end models this is pretty strong, so its modest price makes this grill a real bargain.
Across its burners it offers 436 square inches of cooking space, giving you plenty of room to cook with. This combined with its strong grill power means that your outdoor cooking operation will be an energy-efficient, smooth-running machine.
As a bonus, it has a 192-square-inch warming rack which gives you a great means of keeping cooked food before you serve it. It also has a 12,000 BTU side burner to allow you to give a nice sear to your meat after you’ve grilled it, or cook more modestly size food, like vegetables.
It’s also a great-looking piece of kit. It resembles some of the offset smokers that experienced grill enthusiasts use, and its black steel construction means it’ll demand respect on your patio.
Ultimately with a budget grill, you want some sort of assurances that it will be durable enough to last you a long time. There’s no point in buying anything if it falls apart on the second use, regardless of how much it costs.
No need to worry with this grill. It’s made with excellent steel construction, and finished with a black powder coated matte. As well as this, it has porcelain coated grill grates, which make it not only durable but also excellent at distributing heat across the surface of your grill.
It has an electric ignition system to make starting the grill up remarkably easy. It also has a removable drip tray to help you easily clean up any greasy run-off.
All in all, if I were to design my ideal budget gas grill then this would be it. It has plenty of power, is roomy enough to let you cook everything you want, and is built to last. It also has the kinds of bonus features that you’d normally see on higher end grills. All within a reasonable budget.
Just a short duration is required for this grill to get you to go. You just need to light this grill using the electric ignition and watch how the 40,800 BTU grill can do in just minutes. The great features such as porcelain-coated cast-iron grates, stainless steel thermometer, and a stay-cool handle ensure you get the great experience that would induce nothing but a bliss-inevitable experience.
It is a very heavy grill since it’s designed from heavy steel materials that are powder-coated to enhance longevity even when used outdoor. Warming rack, stainless steel thermometer, and burner tubes are some of the equipment that you will find in the box.
You can feed your family and friends with this grill anywhere since its size and model allows you to carry it to any place of your choice and grill even more. It is still a good option to opt for if you are looking for a grill that doesn’t utilize much space but serves great since this grill is only 438 square inches by area.
- PREMIUM LIQUID PROPANE GAS GRILL - 40,800 BTU 3 Burner Gas BBQ Grill with a 12,000 BTU side...
- CONSISTENT AND EVEN HEAT - Three burners with independent control knobs deliver continuous and...
- LARGE COOKING AREA - 630 square inch total cooking area delivers great taste and bbq flavor:...
Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner
The Char-Broil Performance 300 grill isn’t named that just as a marketing ploy. It really does great performance.
It has 36,000 BTUs of cooking power which, although not as much as the Char-Grill above, is still a remarkable amount of power given its low cost. Not only this, its side burner has 10,000 BTUs, giving the grill a combined power of 46,000 BTUs.
It has 475 square inches of cooking space across its grill grates. It also has 175-square-inch warming rack to allow you to keep food warm before you serve it up.
Like many of the best gas grills it has porcelain-coated iron grates. If you’re unfamiliar with these, porcelain acts in two fantastic ways. One is that it helps create a protective shield over your grates, protecting it from the effects of constant exposure to heat and moisture.
It also offers excellent heat distribution. A lot of cheap grills suffer from ‘hot spots’ whereby certain areas across a grill are hot while other remain very cold. Porcelain helps distribute the heat more evenly, meaning that you can have more confidence that your meat will be cooked properly and safely, regardless of where it’s placed on the grill.
This porcelain coating isn’t just reserved for its main cooking grates however, as its swing away warming rack also has coated grates.
The grill has an easy-to-use electric ignition system, making heating up your grill a breeze. While this kind of feature might seem like an obvious thing to include, far too many cheaper gas grills have a manual system which can be much more tedious to light.
As added bonuses, it has side shelves to help give you more room to prepare food outdoors on. It also has a drip-tray that’s placed at the foot of the grill chamber during cooking. This helps catch any water or grease run-off from your meat while it cooks. The benefit of this is that it makes clean-up afterwards much simpler and pain-free. It also allows you to remove it during cooking for you to empty and replace.This helps prevent any nasty build-up of smoke.
All in all it’s a well-built, study, powerful grill with generous cooking space. A worthy runner-up.
Check out some more of the best 2-burner gas grills
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 16 burgers, 8 chicken breasts or 6 steaks on 300-square-inches of...
- BTU RATING: This grill has a 24,000 BTU rating.
Megamaster 720-0804
This grill just looks mean and I love it.
This menacing-looking grill from Megamaster is fantastic value for money, largely owing to two key factors: It’s massive, and it’s powerful.
It’s one of the largest grills on this list, and if cooking area size is important to you then this might be the best option for you. It has 543 square inches of cooking space. That’s not all though as it also has a 210-square-inch warming rack, giving you a total of over 750 square inches of cooking area.
But for me, the size isn’t the most impressive thing about the Megamaster. Oh no. What’s most striking is its mightily impressive 54,000 BTUs of power. Shared between a generous 6 burners, that is a mighty amount of power to cram into a budget grill. But the Megamaaster does it easily. And then some.
Just like the two grills above, it has an easy-to-use electronic ignition system to help get things going quickly and without fuss.
Also just like the other grills, it has porcelain-coated grates to help with cooking heat efficiency and durability. Not just that though, but it has porcelain flame tamers which help protect the burners themselves from wear and run-off from the meat.
Just like its appearance might suggest, this is an extremely durable piece of equipment.
Unfortunately, the grill doesn’t have a side burner, so if a quick means of searing your meat without disturbing your grill is key then you might want to look elsewhere.
However if something big and powerful is top of your list, then this is the grill for you.
- 568.5 sq. In. Of total cooking space
- 3-Stainless Steel burners with electronic ignition
- 40, 500 BTUs of cooking power
Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 3-Burner
Dyno-Glo have a long history of building powerful yet affordable grills, so it’s no surprise that one of theirs makes it on to this list.
This grill comes with 36,000 BTUs of power spread over 3 burners and 503 square inches of cooking space.
This might seem slightly lower to a couple of the other grills on this list, but its generous cooking space more than makes up for it.
It also has heavy-gauge, porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, making its 36,000 BTUs far more efficient as your grill will retain heat to sear foods much more efficiently. Its firebox containing its burners are also porcelain-enameled, ensuring that your grill is well protecting from long term wear or rust.
Weber Q2200
I’ll admit, this is a bit of a strange looking grill, but it has an awful lot to offer.
The Weber Q2200 is a compact grill with just a single burner offering 12,000 BTUs of power. However this is a compact grill designed for portability, and it doesn’t fail to do just that. In fact, considering its modest size it actually manages to pack in an awful lot.
The Weber brand is famed for making durable and high performing grills, and this is no different.
It offers 280 square inches of cooking space, which is a lot for a compact grill. It also offers porcelain-enameled grates, which means that if you’re set to carry this thing around with you a lot for camping, tailgating, or trekking, then this thing will last.
It has a cast aluminum lid for extra protection, and an easy-start electric ignition system.
If you’re after something compact and portable without compromising on overall quality, then this is the grill for you.
Cuisinart CGG-306
This tabletop stainless steel grill from Cuisinart covers you in every aspect. The time taken by a grill before it gets ready for grilling is the least of the worries you can have when you are using this grill. It takes less than 10 minutes to get ready for grilling. Users do not need to have matchboxes or any other tools required for ignition since Cuisinart CGG-professional tabletop gas grill has an effective and powerful two-burner system that is electrically ignited.
Two burners have controlling knobs each; it’s a unique feature that most burners do not have. Besides, the grill offers flexibility and convenience to the user since it has folding legs, locking cover plus a handle; these features make it easier for the user to carry it and use it in different places such as in picnics, in camps, beaches and so on. Also, it has an in-built thermometer for temperature control. Again, Cuisinart CGG-306 professional tabletop gas grill offers is the best choice for users who want to grill or roast big pieces of meat.
This grill is all about taking grilling to the next level. If you like grilling in different areas apart from home then, it’s the best option for you since it has all the requirements that make a portable grill.
Besides, with this grill, you can grill meat in or whatever you want to in bulk. Also, it is good for you if you are looking for a grill that takes quite a little time to get ready for grilling.
- 146-SQUARE-INCH ENAMELED STEEL COOKING GRATE: 146-square-inches of enameled steel grates give...
- 8, 000 BTU: burner works with 1 lb. Propane tank: features an 8, 000 BTU burner, a push to...
- COMPACT DESIGN: The grill measures 19 x 11. 5 x 10 inches and weighs only 10 lbs. , making it...
Char-Broil Classic 280
If you have been looking for a grill that can accommodate a good number of burgers at a go plus other amazing features and physically appealing then, with no doubt, this can be the best option for you.
Its box may seem to be quite heavy, and that’s the strong material that was used in its construction. There are steel burners, metal slide shelves with tires.
Have you ever wanted to own a grill that has in-line burners, offers high to low heat control and other greater features? Then don’t be stuck anymore since this grill is the solution. It has all that you want in a grill. Also, this grill is highly portable with a capability of grilling up to 12 burgers at the same time. Above all, this is the grill that is easy to use, rust-resistant and easy to clean. Therefore, you’re covered in all aspects.
Assembling of this grill won’t be hard if users can strictly follow the manual. Besides, you should have someone else who would help you in assembling to avoid difficulties in the process.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 8 burgers, 4 chicken breasts or 2 steaks on the 280-square-inch...
- BTU RATING: This grill has a 20,000 BTU rating with two 10,000 BTU burners. *BTU is a...
Char-Griller Dual 2 Burner
Just a short duration is required for this grill to get you to go. You just need to light this grill using the electric ignition and watch how the 40,800 BTU grill can do in just minutes. The great features such as porcelain-coated cast-iron grates, stainless steel thermometer, and a stay-cool handle ensure you get the great experience that would induce nothing but a bliss-inevitable experience.
It is a very heavy grill since it’s designed from heavy steel materials that are powder-coated to enhance longevity even when used outdoor. Warming rack, stainless steel thermometer, and burner tubes are some of the equipment that you will find in the box.
You can feed your family and friends with this grill anywhere since its size and model allows you to carry it to any place of your choice and grill even more. It is still a good option to opt for if you are looking for a grill that doesn’t utilize much space but serves great since this grill is only 438 square inches by area.
- Total cook area: 870 square inches
- Primary cook area: 606 square inches
- Easy dump ash pan
Royal Gourmet GG2102
The inevitable grill is again here with you. With a 300 square inch area and a 105 square inch rack, this grill can surely take grilling to the next level.
Once you open the box, some of the materials that you will see include; hose, propane tank, and porcelain-coated iron grates.
If you are looking for a grill that can be used for heavy grilling involving family and friends.it is the type of grill that ensures your family and everyone gets fed at a go. Besides, its controlling knobs ensure you effectively control the heat to achieve a nice grill.
Even though this grill has wheels that make it mobile, it may not be effective to carry it to different areas for grilling. Therefore, if you need a grill that will not induce a job in carrying, you may be required to go for other grills.
- 2 - durable in-line stainless steel tube burners, totally 24,000 BTU output with 12,000 BTU...
- Totally 405 sq. In. Cooking surface, with 300 sq. In. Of primary cooking grates on...
- Electronic ignition system offer fast and reliable startup for every time using. 2 side metal...
Weber Q1000
Its design is unique and totally different from other grills in the market. With features like porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, glass-reinforced nylon frame, cast aluminum lid, and body, and push-button ignition, this grill is no wonder a topnotch for different grilling.
Apart from setting your eyes on an impressive grill, you will also see these when you open the box; grip and side handle, split grates, and one stainless steel burner.
It is with no doubt the best grill for you if you want a grill that is impressive and more portable. Besides, you may also be in search of a grill that has different valve settings that will enable you to set the heat you require for your grill.
Its size cannot give you a perfect grill for a bigger number of people. That means this cannot be your choice if you want a grill that will grill some burgers for a good number of you unless you want to just enjoy its appearance.
Good care should be taken in handling this grill plus the other grills considering that they use gas to run which can be so dangerous. Precaution measures shouldn’t be ignored for safety purposes.
- One stainless steel burner produces 8500 BTU-per-hour to heat 189 square-inch total cooking...
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
- Fully assembled out of box. Dimensions - lid closed (inches): 14.5H x 27W x 16.5D inches
Weber Spirit II E-310
Weber’s E-310 has amazing features. It has an infinity ignition, powerful burners, flavorizer bars and grease management systems. This combination guarantees a seamless grilling experience. If you are impatient like me, you’ll want to consider this because the infinity ignition means we’ll be grilling the first time, every time we put it on. The flavorizer bars catch the juices from your food and sizzles the juices to add more flavor to your food. The juices the flavorizer bars miss flow into the grease management system. The grease management of this grill is so efficient, thus reducing the risk of flare-ups. All you have to do is replace the disposable drip tray under the cookbox frequently. It also has reversible cooking grates. One side of the cast iron grate is thin, and the other side is wide.
All you need to do is choose which side is best for whatever you want to cook. This grill is really wonderful because cast iron grates maintain heat very well and also produces tastier food, because cast iron retains seasonings as you cook with it. The weber grill has an open cart design, a foldable side table and hooks integrated with the side table. This is perfect, because it lets you keep all your essential tools at arm’s reach and the side table is perfect for storing seasonings.
There is also a warming rack, so food grilled first is as hot and as fresh as the last. Summarily, this grill has three burners, porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates, it has a stainless-steel heat deflector, the primary cooking area, warming rack area and total cooking area are 424, 105, and 529 square inches respectively. It also has a fuel gauge, and this helps you know when to refill, so you never run out of gas halfway through your grill. A total of six hooks are integrated with the side table. This weber grill is a must have and goes for $499 on amazon. What’s more it comes with a ten years warranty and if you buy a grill cover and disposable drip tray together with it, you pay $518.15, now that’s a great deal. Guess how much you’ll save? I’ll leave that for you to figure out. It’s suitable for parties and cookouts.
See our full Weber Spirit II E-310 review
- Boasts the GS4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled...
- Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates
- 529 Square inches of cooking space over three burners. Left Table down width - 42 inches
Fuego F21C-H Element
This fuego grill is one of the most compact and portable grills out there, with dimensions of 21” x 21”, an electronic ignition and BTU (British thermal unit) output of 22,000/hr, it is perfect for a small patio or balcony. It’s cast iron grilling grate measures 346 square inches and has an optional griddle and pizza stone. It has a hinged lid at 45 o. due to it’s size, it doesn’t use up as much gas as it’s larger companions.
It also has a drop through residue system that lets grease drop directly on the residue tray. This makes it easy to clean, so if you are a lazy folk or you just love to procrastinate cleaning, you’ll really love this one. This Fuego has a unique dual zone burner. The outer zone provides slow, constant heat, while the inner zone provides quick intense heat. You basically get two burners in one, because each of these zones are controlled separately. It heats up to 500 degrees in 5 minutes. Due to it’s small size, it doesn’t have side shelves and a warming rack. This grill is one of a kind and it sells for just $349. It’s perfect for our bachelors and spinsters.
- 346 sq. in. Grilling Area | Over 14 Burgers At Once
- 22,200 BTU/hr. Combined Dual Zone Burners | for Direct & Indirect Grilling
- 500°F In Just 5 Minutes & 300°F-650°F Overall Temps
Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner
The Char Broil Performance is made from stainless steel, has 4 burners, a 425 square inch cooking surface. It’s BTU output is 36,000, it has porcelain-coated, rust resistant, cast iron grates and the primary cooking surface is 23 inches wide and 18.5 inches deep. The manufacturers boast that this space can cook 20 burgers at the same time. So, if you have a large family or you love having massive cookouts, you might want to consider this.
Read our full Char Broil Performance grill review
The rust resistant grates and removable grease tray are also a plus because you won’t have to spend so much time and energy cleaning. This Char Broil grill also comes with a warming rack that measures 20.2 inches wide and 7.2 inches deep. It’s ignition system is electric and with just the push of a button, you are good to go. The side shelves are also made of stainless steel, it also comes with a temperature gauge on the lid that helps you monitor the temperature of the grill.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound propane tank, not...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 24 burgers, 20 chicken breasts or 12 steaks on 475-square-inches of...
- BTU RATING: This grill has a 36,000 BTU rating.
Weber Q3200
The Q3200 is a compact grill from Weber. The Q3200 is known for it’s split cooking grate design. The cooking grates can be removed and replaced with a flat griddle attachment that let’s you cook stuff like pancakes, crepes, bacon, etc. It is what you’ll call, not too big but at the same time it’s not too small. It’s just the right size if you are looking for something portable. Like our other grills, it has a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate and an electric ignition.
Its lid and body are made from cast aluminum. It has a “grill out” handle light that is powered by AAA batteries, this handle light makes it easy for you to cook at night, and an infinite control valve adjustability, this locks in cooking temperature regardless of how high or low it is. The total cooking area and warming rack area are 468 and 75 square inches respectively. Summarily, the Weber Q3200 has cast iron cooking grates, an open cart design, cast aluminum body and lid, electric ignition, a bottom shelf, a built-in lid thermometer, a removable catch pan, removable foldable side tables, a tank holder and a removable catch pan.
- Two stainless steel burners produces 21,700 BTU-per-hour to heat 393 square-inch total cooking...
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
- Grill-Out handle light. Battery type: AAA
Char-Broil Performance Tru Infrared
This Char Broil grill is perfect for any occasion. It’s quite large having 450 square inches of primary cooking space, it is made entirely of stainless steel, including the burners and it is equipped with TRU-infrared cooking technology. The benefits of infrared burner technology are awesome. It prevents flare ups because the special cooking grate at the core of the TRU infrared technology, ensures that heat is spread evenly across the top of the grill.
In fact, this grill is so good that I’ve featured it before on my list of the best infrared grills.
Since the heat is spread evenly, there are no hot or cold spots. Food cooks evenly and faster with less gas and there’s greater temperature control. The stainless-steel burners of this grill have heat tents, it has an electric ignition system, a lidded side burner, and a temperature gauge. Summarily, it has rust resistant and easy to clean porcelain-coated grates, an electric ignition system, a swing-a-way warming rack, TRU-infrared cooking technology, 24,000 BTU’s for the three burners and 10,000 BTU’s for the side burner. This Char-broil grill really gives you value for your money. It is perfect for parties and family gatherings and helps you grill tastier food due to it’s TRU infrared technology.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 16 burgers, 6 chicken breasts or 4 steaks on 600-square-inches of...
- COOKING TECHNOLOGY: TRU-Infrared cooking technology prevents flare-ups, delivers even heat and...
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
