The 205 square inches of cooking space can fit up to eight burgers at a time for efficient grilling. This grill features durable die-cast aluminum, a stainless steel cooking grate, convenient carrying handles, a push-button ignition start, and a lid-mounted temperature gauge. With 200 square inches of cooking space, you can grill for a tailgating crowd or a backyard portable bbq BBQ. After testing five propane models, we’re confident that the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best portable gas grill. In our tests, the Q 1200 outperformed the competition at both high-heat searing and low-and-slow grilling, with the fewest flare-ups. It has a cast-aluminum firebox that evenly distributes heat across its 189-square-inch grilling grate.
We grilled bone-in chicken to test for flare-ups and how well both the gas and charcoal grills could sustain a medium-low cooking temperature over 45 minutes. More space between the coal bed and the grilling grate lessens your chances of ending up with charred food. The extra room also allows for more coals, so you have the option of longer cooking time. You can also create hot and cold spots for searing and indirect cooking.
You can also take your pick from modern options that range from infrared grills to pizza ovens, all of which come in a myriad of sizes and shapes. It’s not the lightest grill at around 50 pounds, but two front-facing locks keep the lid secure, and there are tubular handles for transport. The grill works with 1-pound propane cylinders or a 20-pound tank with the included adapter.
The Weber Q series may be the best of the portable grills we’ve tested, but they also cost the most. But Weber’s warranty covers most of the unit for five years, so we think the price is justified. If you have enough space for a full-size grill, you’ll probably be happier with one of our full-size gas or charcoal picks. Their capacity and their compact size aren’t ideal for cuts of meat that require slow or indirect cooking, such as roasts or pork shoulder. This flatpack grill is a great companion for beach days and camping trips alike, since not only does it have a stainless steel grilling grate, but it also doubles as an above-ground fire pit. You can safely get a bonfire going without disturbing the site, no matter where you are—or how wet the ground is.
Wirecutter’s Michael J Kennelly used the Weber Q 1200 we tested to grill on his roof in Brooklyn from 2019 to 2020. They said the two-part grate was a little more annoying to deal with than the one-part grate on older Weber Q models, but it made up for it in ease of cleaning. They also noted that the burner tubes needed to be wiped down occasionally to make sure the grill would light effectively, especially if it’s only used occasionally. It was easy to clean out the grease tray underneath, and they found they didn’t need to buy Weber’s specialty tins—instead, they just lined the catch pan with aluminum foil and pulled it off when done. But, they said, investing in the bonnet cover and the collapsable cart were both well worth it. And they liked that the propane canisters can be bought at any hardware store for about $6.
The Petite Gourmet has an elongated burner beneath a rectangular grate, while the Gonzo Grill has a round burner beneath a round grate. For a given temperature setting on each, the Gonzo grill top presents a more uniform temperature than the Petite Gourmet. You have more options to move your food around to different temperature zones on the rectangular grates, but you have greater uniformity of cooking conditions across the top of the Gonzo. Our thorough testing process began with scouring the internet for the latest and greatest products across the portable grill market. Next, we narrowed our selection to create a manageable, yet comprehensive list of the best products available. We bought all these products at retail cost to allow us to conduct an extended, objectively honest, and comparative review.
If you’re not sure whether a portable grill is the best type for you, start with our grill buying guide. CR members can access our comprehensive grill ratings of all the portable and full-sized grills that have come through our labs. Let’s closely compare the smallest grills in our test regarding control. The Cuisinart Petite Gourmet and Eureka Gonzo are very similar in size and weight.
Gas grills are better for people who want to grill more than once a week and can sacrifice a little heat and the classic taste of charcoal for convenience. UNA Grill comes with a leather strap handle for easy carrying. Available in five colors, built to last and made with eco-friendly materials. Napoleon’s 22″ portable bbq Pro Cart Charcoal Kettle Grill puts a few spins on the familiar kettle design. In fact, the hinged lid with a handle on the front, spins in a rotary motion 180 degrees. It’s hard to beat a Weber kettle, but Napoleon holds its own and adds some unique features to make the 22″ Pro Cart a viable alternative.
It’s also a very small grill and very light, which kept it from being as effective as the heavier charcoal grills I tried. It also wasn’t as easy to move as the GoBQ because…nothing was as easy to move as the GoBQ. The Cuisinart gas grill is definitely lighter and a bit more portable than the Weber. It also feels slightly less sturdy while grilling, but is not flimsy by any means. At just over $100, it is the best portable grill on a budget — especially if you don’t plan to use it more than a handful of times per summer.