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Best Gas Grills Under $500: 6 Perfect Everyday BBQs

When the warm weather comes around, there’s no better activity than grabbing a few cold ones, preparing some steaks and firing up the grill. While charcoal grills are a firm favourite among grillers of all levels and persuasions, gas grills offer a faster, more convenient alternative. We review the best gas grills under $500 that make for a perfect everyday bbq.

Not only are gas grills quicker to fire up, they also don’t require you to get your hands dirty piling up briquettes or removing excess ash once you’ve finished. Since most gas grills use cast-iron grates and operate at high temperatures, they’re also way easier to clean.


Our Top Pick for Best Gas Grill Under $500

Taking first place of the best gas grills under $500 due to its performance, power and versatility, the Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill is our editor’s pick. Constructed by Weber, powered by natural gas, and providing 529 square inches of cooking space over three burners, the E-310 is a no-brainer for the serious griller. 


If you’re new to the grill game and are looking to get your feet wet, but don’t want to opt for the most budget grills on the market, keep reading. The grills listed below are packing some serious power for their price point and will keep your guests well-fed for the summer.

Of course, like most things in life, there’s always the opportunity to spend more money on a more expensive grill. But if you’re still unsure whether or not you’ll fully commit to the grilling lifestyle and don’t want the absolute beginner model, then this is a good compromise.

If you’re looking for a grill that won’t let you down and will keep firing for years to come, here are the best gas grills under $500.

6 Best Gas Grills Under $500

Gas GrillPros, Cons, and BBQDigest Award


Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro

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Best Mid-Range Grill


+ Affordable
+ High BTU output
+ Large cooking surface area

– Not as high quality as other grills on this list.


Monument Grills 4-Burner

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Most Feature-Heavy


+ Beautiful aesthetic and finish
+ Four burners and additional side burner
+ Four locking wheels for portability

– Difficult to find parts for if it breaks


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

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Editor’s Choice


+ Features the GS4 high performance grilling system
+ iGrill3 ready
+ 10 year warranty is proof of high quality

– Some may find it too small


Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill

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Best Budget Grill


+ Very affordable
+ 30,000 BTUs
+ 360 square inches of cooking space

– Lacks features and effectiveness


Flavor Pro 4-Burner Gas Grill with Multi-Fuel Flavor Drawer

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Best Multi-Fuel Grill


+ Uses dual fuel sources
+ Slide out flavor drawer
+ 725 square inches of cooking area

– One of the more expensive gas grills


Weber Q-3200

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Best Portable Grill


+ Portable
+ Works well in small apartments
+ Lightweight construction

– Lacks the power of other grills
– Only comes with two burners

A More Detailed Look At The Best Gas Grills Under $500

Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro – Best Mid-Range Grill

The Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro isn’t the cheapest grill on this list, but it does come in second. Equipped with three burners, porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates and a tough steel finish, the Grillin’ Pro betrays its modest price tag with some unusual and premium features. Two smokestacks extend from the top which give the grill the appearance of a smoker while simultaneously aiding with ventilation.

While cheap, the Grillin’ Pro is still a durable, long-lasting grill that should keep owners happy for years to come. It’s also quite powerful and high-performing, with a total combined output of 52,800 BTUs and a fairly large cooking area of 438 square inches. Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates and stainless-steel angled covers for flare-up prevention mean you’ll be able to achieve a perfect sear every time.

It comes standard with a side shelf and side burner, allowing you the option to be able to prepare salads and sauces alongside meats and other grillables. A 192 square inch warming rack also ensures that your food will never go cold while waiting for the last few pieces of meat to finish grilling.

The Grillin’ Pro is propane-fueled, so you’ll want to position it so that the rear, where the tank sits, is easily accessible for replacement. From this angle you can also adjust the propane tank if you need, as well as access the grease pan.

For its low price, this isn’t a bad piece of equipment, and it’ll certainly do its job. However, if you’re looking for something constructed from better materials or that is higher performing, you’ll have to spend a bit more money.

Features at a glance:

  • 40,800 BTU gas grill; 12,000 BTU side burner
  • 438 square inches of grilling space
  • 192 square inch warming rack
  • Hardy steel construction; side shelf for food preparation
  • Instant electronic ignition
  • Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates
  • Utensil hooks for grilling accessories

Monument Grills 4-Burner – Most Feature-Heavy

The Grills 4-Burner by Monument is not only a fairly powerful and decently-priced grill, it’s also a pleasure to look at. With a neat, gleaming stainless steel construction and finish, and two black-coated side shelves, this grill would look fantastic in any backyard.

Looks aside, there’s enough potential power under the hood to give any meat a serious sear without too much effort. It contains four main burners and an additional stainless steel side burner, and pumps out a combined 60,000 BTUs. With 513 square inches of grilling space and a generous 210 square inch warming rack, the Grills 4-Burner won’t leave anyone hungry.

As one of the best gas grills under $500, it also comes with a few premium features. An electronic ignition system will ensure your gas grill always starts, and a built-in thermometer allows you to grill more precisely. It also comes standard with porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates, and enamel flame tamers to prevent flare-ups.

Powered by propane, the tank is stowed away neatly in the storage doors of the cart, which itself sits on four locking wheels. Another little advantage, because this means you can move your grill easily if you decide to change location.

Another awesome feature is the ClearView lid. Not only does it contain a built-in thermometer, but it also allows you to see inside the grill even with the hood down.

This grill won’t break the bank, but you will still have a very decent piece of equipment on your hands that can grill with the best of them.

Features at a glance:

  • 4 Main burners and stainless steel side burner with combined output of 60,000 BTUs
  • 513 square inches of grilling space
  • 210 square inch warming rack
  • Porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates
  • Enamel flame tamers
  • Electronic ignition system
  • Built-in center mounted thermometer
  • Black coated side shelves with tool hooks for easy tool access

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill – Editor’s Choice

Weber knows a thing or two about making grills. As an all-American company with a history stretching back to 1893, they’ve had a lot of time to hone their skills. The Weber Spirit II E-310 exemplifies this perfectly.

Pushing out 30,000 BTUs across three burners and providing 529 square inches of cooking space, the E310 is compact but with just enough space to grill effectively. Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates ensure a good sear on whatever touches them, and folding-side tables make prepping food a breeze.

As with all of the grills in Spirit II line, the E310 comes standard with the GS4 high-performance grilling system, which pushes grilling performance to the next level. It’s composed of four main features: an upgraded igniter, burners, flavorizer bars and a grease-management system.

This grill is also smart. Compatible with iGrill3 technology, you can monitor the temperature of the grill directly on your phone thanks to an internal, digital thermometer. And like all Weber products, the E310 comes with a ten year warranty, meaning with the cost of purchase you’re getting peace of mind and quality assurance.

As far as the best grills under $500 go, it’s hard to do better than the E310. Its combination of high quality features and performance, moderate price tag, and guarantee of quality, makes it a no-brainer if you want a decent grill.

Features at a glance:

  • 30,000 BTUs
  • 529 square inches of cooking space over three burners
  • GS4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled Flavorizer Bars, and grease management system
  • Open cart design
  • Folding side tables
  • Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates
  • Six built-in tool hooks and two large wheels
  • Built-in lid thermometer

Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill – Best Budget Grill

The Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner is perfect for budget buyers. The Classic 360 is a great introductory grill and one that’s certain not to bankrupt you. However, don’t expect grilling miracles.

Powered by three burners putting out a combined output of 30,000 BTUs, this grill has a decent amount of power. With 360 square inches of cooking space over porcelain-coated grates, the Classic 360 can accommodate quite a few burgers or steaks. You can also move cooked food over to the 170 square inch porcelain-coated swing-a-way rack to keep everything hot before serving.

The built-in stainless steel inline burners are better than pancake burners, but unfortunately they don’t offer quite the same heat distribution as more expensive grills. That being said, if you’re new to the grilling game or just want a cheap grill, you could do worse than the Classic 360.

Features at a glance:

  • 30,000 BTUs
  • 360 square inches of cooking space over porcelain-coated grates
  • Convectional cooking system
  • 170 square inch porcelain-coated swing-a-way rack for warming
  • Three stainless steel in-line burners
  • Porcelain-coated steel lid and firebox
  • Metal side shelves measure provide extra storage and prep space

Flavor Pro 4-Burner Gas Grill with Multi-Fuel Flavor Drawer

If you can’t decide between using gas or charcoal, the Flavor Pro 4-Burner allows you to cook with either or both at the same time. It features four stainless steel burners that together pump out 40,000 BTUs. It also comes equipped with porcelain-coated cooking grates that provide even heat distribution and excellent sear marks.

The novel flavor drawer allows you to inject real smokehouse flavor into your food. Combined with the rapid ignition system, the flavor drawer can light charcoal, wood chips, whole logs, and pellets and have them ready for cooking in 10 minutes.

With an incredibly roomy 725 square inches of cooking surface, you’ll also be able to handle larger pieces of meat such as ribs, whole chickens and spit roasts.

All of these features are contained within a heavy-duty stainless steel hood, frame and body that will ensure your grill withstands any and all harsh weather conditions. It pushes the upper price limit when it comes to the best gas grills under $500, but its performance and features make it worth it.

Features at a glance:

  • 4 stainless steel burners
  • 40,000 BTUs
  • Porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates
  • Slide out flavor drawer for easy multi-fuel usage
  • 725 square inches of cooking area
  • Electronic ignition
  • Adjustable smokestack dampers
  • Slide out ash tray for easy cleanup
  • Durable stainless steel construction

Weber Q-3200 – Best Portable Grill

If you need a portable grill or you live in a small space such as an apartment, you may want to go with a smaller grill such as the Weber Q-3200. With a weight of around 80 pounds, it’s not exactly light, but it’s definitely smaller than some of the 200 pound monsters on this list.

With a smaller frame comes less room for grilling and other features. With only two burners powered by liquid propane, the Q-3200 still puts out a respectable 21,700 BTUs. That being said, the primary cooking space is still pretty roomy with just under 400 square inches available.

There are some other nice features on the Q-3200 including removable, folding work tables, an interior thermometer and sensitive burner control dials. A removable catch pan allows you to get rid of any grease and drippings easily, making the grill that much easier to clean.

The body and lid of the Q-3200 is constructed of aluminium, which isn’t as tough as the stainless steel of other grills on this list. That being said, it is lightweight, and being from Weber, it’s likely to last for years to come.

Features at a glance:

  • 21,700-BTU
  • 393 square inches of primary cooking space
  • Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates
  • Removable, folding work tables
  • Built-in lid thermometer
  • Electronic ignition Infinite control burner
  • Aluminum lid and body
  • Glass-reinforced nylon frame
  • Removable catch pan

How to Pick the Best Gas Grill Under $500: A Buyer’s Guide

Size: Burners and Cooking Space

Size is a key determining factor when buying a grill. The number of burners as well as the total surface area available for cooking are two crucial considerations.

Burners offer flexibility and specificity when it comes to temperature control and precision cooking. Surface area, usually measured in square inches, determines just much you can cook at any given moment.

As a general rule, you want your grill to have at least two burners and between 400 and 500 square inches of cooking space. With that you’ll be able to grill up to 24 burgers at a time.

Side Tables/Preparation Areas

The beauty of a grill allows you to cook almost any dish quickly and conveniently. A grill with side tables means you’ll need even less trips to the kitchen and can prepare all of your food in one location. Depending on your space requirements, you may want to look for grills that have folding tables and preparation areas.

Features

Instant ignition, indirect cooking grates, warming racks, side burners or propane gauges – these are just some of the features which some of the best gas grills under $500 come standard with. As you spend more money on a grill, you’ll start to see more premium features such as wireless thermometers and backlit control knobs.


Frequently Asked Questions

Should I have any safety concerns when grilling?

In general, grilling is a very safe activity, however that doesn’t mean you should be careless. When using liquid propane, always make sure that your propane tank is attached securely. If you have any doubts or suspect that it might not be fitted properly, hold off on using it until you’re absolutely sure.

Gas grills also get extremely hot. So next time your grill is in full swing with the lid down, just be wary of the hood’s temperature, especially if there are kids around.

And lastly – always make sure that your grill is turned off when you’re finished using it. It never hurts to give all your control knobs a final check before heading inside.

What are the benefits of infrared grills?

Infrared grills use a radiant heat cooking system instead of a convection cooking system. They essentially heat the meat directly instead of the air around it. Many people prefer this method for a variety of reasons:

  • It heats up the grill extremely quickly
  • It provides an even heat across the grilling surface
  • Infrared grills cook food faster
  • It provides a more quality sear to steaks
  • Drastically reduces flare ups

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