Affordable Steel Grills


Our review process

Choosing a grill is no easy task. It can quickly escalate into an overwhelming experience. Luckily for you, we've already compiled and analyzed information on over 1,300 different grills and also looked at 89 data specifications for each one so that you won't have to. Out of these grills, we then took another look at 29 affordable steel grills using our leading AI technology. The following article will lay out the advantages and disadvantages and show you some of the more relevant information our research focused on, such as brand and body construction.

If you're looking to not spend too much, these are the important facts we think you'd want to know about affordable steel grills. Stainless steel grills are bacteria-resistant, protecting your food from contaminants while you're cooking. With excellent corrosion resistant, they will stay in great shape for long-term use. They are easy to clean, ensuring that you won't need to spend so much time dealing with messy spills or residue. However, they aren't great at retaining heat, so they are harder to keep hot as opposed to cast iron grills, which can reach and maintain incredibly high temperatures.

Our Top Ranking Grills:
Product NameBrandFuel TypeCooking AreaGrill Type
Best Overall Score
1
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Grill
Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Grill
Dyna-Glo
charcoal
1382 sq. in.
Runner Up
2
An image of RiverGrille GR1038-014612 Cowboy 31" Charcoal Steel Fire Pit Grill
RiverGrille GR1038-014612 Cowboy 31" Charcoal Steel Fire Pit Grill
RiverGrille
charcoal
884 sq. in.
fire pit grill
Best for Smoking
3
An image of RiverGrille CG2053904-RG Stampede 37.5" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill
RiverGrille CG2053904-RG Stampede 37.5" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill
RiverGrille
charcoal
1032 sq. in.
barrel grill
For Outdoor Kitchens
4
An image of Royal Gourmet CD1824A 24" Charcoal Steel Built-In Covered Grill
Royal Gourmet CD1824A 24" Charcoal Steel Built-In Covered Grill
Royal Gourmet
charcoal
590 sq. in.
covered grill
5
An image of Char-Griller 2828 Deluxe 29" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill
Char-Griller 2828 Deluxe 29" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill
Char-Griller
charcoal
830 sq. in.
barrel grill
Our Top Ranking Grills
Customer Rating
Brand
Dyna-Glo
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
1382 sq. in.
Grill Type
Customer Rating
Brand
RiverGrille
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
884 sq. in.
Grill Type
fire pit grill
Customer Rating
Brand
RiverGrille
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
1032 sq. in.
Grill Type
barrel grill
Customer Rating
Brand
Royal Gourmet
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
590 sq. in.
Grill Type
covered grill
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Griller
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
830 sq. in.
Grill Type
barrel grill
Best Overall Score
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Grill

The Dyna-Glo Charcoal Grill is perfect for any neighborhood cookout. This steel grill is highly durable and resilient to harsh elements. Featuring a freestanding design, this steel grill offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor kitchen. It includes a chrome plated grill grate, providing a rust-proof, corrosion-resistant, and wear-resistant exterior that is also visually appealing. With a smoker add-on, it is perfect for adding extra flavor to whatever you're cooking. Fueled by charcoal, it grills the meat and infuses a deep, smoky taste. This grill has heat-resistant handles to keep your barbecue tightly sealed. It features a temperature gauge, so you can maintain the perfect level of heat when you cook. Quickly and easily dispose of ashes accumulated while grilling with its ash pan.

    Pros
    • Smoker add-on gives your meat a smoky, slow-cooked taste
    • Charcoal cooks the food over a long period of time to ensure the meat remains moist for an authentic barbecue experience
    • Features a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to push it out of your way while you use your deck or patio
    Cons
    • Charcoal gets dirty and tougher to clean
Runner Up
An image of RiverGrille GR1038-014612 Cowboy 31" Charcoal Steel Fire Pit Grill

Cook delicious meals for your friends and family by using the RiverGrille Cowboy Charcoal Fire Pit Grill. This RiverGrille grill features a freestanding design, allowing you to roll it out of the way to save space when it's not in use. Made of steel, it is highly durable and resilient to harsh conditions. It uses charcoal, so it can cook the food over a longer period of time to develop a rich barbecued flavor.

    Pros
    • Charcoal cooks your food for a long period of time to ensure the meat remains soft for an authentic barbecue experience
    • Features a freestanding design, enabling you to push it out of the way to save space when it's not in use
    • Cheap
    Cons
    • Features a manual ignition, taking more time to get to the ideal cooking temperature
    • Charcoal gets incredibly dirty and tougher to clean
Best for Smoking
An image of RiverGrille CG2053904-RG Stampede 37.5" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill

Transform your grilling experience by using the RiverGrille Stampede Charcoal Barrel Grill. This RiverGrille grill has a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to push it out of your way when you are done preparing your food. With two wagon style wheels, it will be excellent for hosting, camping, or picnics. It has a steel slat side table, which adds ease to the grilling process. Featuring a chrome plated warming rack, it is perfect for preventing prepared food from getting cold until the moment you sit down to eat. This freestanding grill has cool touch handles to keep your barbecue securely closed.

This RiverGrille grill features a smoker add-on, giving your food a smoky taste. Fueled by charcoal, it cooks the food for a long period of time to ensure the meat remains soft. Quickly and easily get rid of ashes accumulated while grilling with its ash pan. This steel grill is able to withstand harsh conditions.

    Pros
    • Designed with a smoker add-on for incredibly juicy and tender results with a rich, smoky flavor
    • Equipped with a chrome plated warming rack to keep food at the perfect temperature
    • Uses charcoal, cooking your meat to give it an authentic smoky flavor
    Cons
    • Uses charcoal, getting dirty and harder to clean
For Outdoor Kitchens
An image of Royal Gourmet CD1824A 24" Charcoal Steel Built-In Covered Grill

If you enjoy hosting family and friends, consider investing in the Royal Gourmet Charcoal Covered Grill. This steel grill comes with a warming rack, which allows you to keep your prepared food at the ideal temperature while you continue cooking. It is designed with cool touch handles to keep your grill securely closed. It is equipped with a built-in temperature gauge and has adjustable air vents, allowing you more control over your grill.

This steel grill features a built-in design, making it the perfect addition to any permanent outdoor cooking space. Fueled by charcoal, it grills your food for a long period of time to ensure the meat remains juicy. Featuring a steel construction, it is able to withstand harsh environments. Quickly and conveniently discard ashes accumulated while grilling with its removable ash tray.

    Pros
    • Warming rack helps keep your food warm
    • Features fixed side shelves, offering extra space for food preparation
    • Charcoal cooks the food over a long period of time
    Cons
    • Uses charcoal, getting incredibly dirty and harder to clean
Additional Picks
An image of Char-Griller 2828 Deluxe 29" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill

If you're someone who loves backyard barbecues, the Char-Griller Deluxe Charcoal Barrel Grill should be your go-to grill. This barrel grill includes a cast iron cooking grate, offering you a high-quality surface that you can rely on for a long time. Featuring a freestanding design, it provides greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor dining space. It comes with a warming rack, which helps keep food hot without it overcooking. Fueled by charcoal, it grills the food over a long period of time to develop a rich barbecued flavor. Quickly and easily dispose of ashes accumulated during cooking with this barrel grill's easy-dump ash pan. This steel grill is highly durable and resilient to harsh elements.

    Pros
    • Warming rack helps keep your food from cooling down
    • Features a side shelf, providing extra storage room for all your utensils and accessories in order to say goodbye to mess and clutter
    • Uses charcoal, cooking the food over a longer period of time to develop rich, smoky flavors for an authentic barbecue experience
    Cons
    • Cast iron cooking grate takes a long time to get warm
    • Charcoal gets incredibly dirty and harder to clean
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS730CBO-D-KIT Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

Cook delicious meals for the entire family by using the Dyna-Glo Charcoal Barrel Grill. This grill includes a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, providing an extremely hard finish that protects against weathering. It is equipped with cool touch handles to keep your grill tightly sealed. With a freestanding design, it offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor dining space. By utilizing two oversized steel wheels, this barrel grill is perfect for hosting, camping, or picnics. It is fitted with a collapsible steel front workstation to provide an expanded working space.

This barrel grill features a temperature gauge and uses adjustable air vents, so you can control the temperature within your grill by choosing how much oxygen enters the chamber. Using charcoal, it grills your food slowly to develop deeper flavors. It features a removable ash catcher and has a removable charcoal grate, making grill cleanup quick and easy. Built from steel, it is able to withstand harsh environments.

    Pros
    • Uses charcoal, barbecuing the meat to give it an authentic smoky flavor
    • Features a freestanding design, enabling you to push it out of the way to save space when it's not in use
    • Equipped with a collapsible steel front workstation to offer an expanded working area
    Cons
    • Charcoal takes more time to get to its ideal temperature
An image of RiverGrille SC2210401-RG Cattleman 29" Charcoal Steel Barrel Grill

The RiverGrille Cattleman Charcoal Barrel Grill is a superb choice for those who enjoy a tasty barbecue experience. This steel grill has cool touch handles to keep your barbecue securely closed. It has a steel slat side table, so you can enjoy extra work space. With two wagon style wheels, it is excellent for parties, camping, and picnics. This charcoal grill features a freestanding design, which enables you to save space when it's not in use. It comes with a chrome plated warming rack, which allows you to prevent your prepared food from getting cold while you continue cooking.

This steel grill is able to withstand harsh elements. Quickly and easily discard ashes accumulated during cooking with this steel grill's ash pan. With a smoker add-on, it is great for adding more flavor to whatever you're preparing. It has a temperature gauge, so you can achieve the perfect level of heat while you are grilling. This charcoal grill enables you to conveniently control the temperature, ensuring juicy results each and every time.

    Pros
    • Smoker add-on gives your meat a smoky, slow-cooked flavor
    • Chrome plated warming rack helps keep your food at the perfect temperature without it overcooking
    • Charcoal cooks your food slowly
    Cons
    • Charcoal makes it harder to have better temperature control from low to high
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS675CB-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

For greater assembly and mobility, you'll want to hear about the Dyna-Glo Charcoal Barrel Grill. With two oversized steel wheels, this charcoal grill will be excellent for hosting, camping, or picnics. It has a folding front shelf, which adds convenience to the grilling process. This freestanding grill is made with a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, providing a strong, heat-resistant, and won't fade or peel. With a freestanding design, it offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking area. It features cool touch handles to keep your grill securely closed. This steel grill is highly durable and resilient to harsh environments. Using charcoal, it cooks your food slowly to develop deeper flavors. This charcoal grill features a temperature gauge and adjustable air vents, which provide increased control over the heat in your grill, offering a more customized cooking experience.

    Pros
    • Uses charcoal, cooking your food over a longer period of time to ensure the meat remains soft
    • Features a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to push it out of your way while you are using your deck
    • Folding front shelf adds ease to the grilling process
    Cons
    • Charcoal takes much more time to heat up
An image of Nexgrill 810-0025 Charcoal Steel Freestanding Covered Grill

The Nexgrill Charcoal Covered Grill is a great choice for any neighborhood cookout. This charcoal grill features a freestanding design, enabling you to move it out of the way to save space when it's not in use. Featuring a warming rack, it is great for keeping food hot until you are ready to eat. It includes a porcelain-enameled cast iron grill grate, which has a strong exterior that protects surfaces from any physical damage or harmful exposure.

This charcoal grill cooks the food over an extended period of time to ensure the meat remains moist. This steel grill is highly durable and resilient to harsh environments. Quickly and easily get rid of ashes accumulated during grilling with this charcoal grill's removable ash catcher. It has a built-in thermometer and adjustable air vents, giving you more control over the heat in your grill.

    Pros
    • Warming rack helps keep food hot without it overcooking
    • Features a tool holder, giving you the flexibility to barbecue like a pro by having all your utensils easily accessible
    • Charcoal cooks your food slowly
    Cons
    • Features a porcelain-enameled cast iron grill grate, causing rust and tarnishing much easier than stainless steel or normal cast iron
    • Uses charcoal, taking more time to get to its ideal temperature
An image of Char-Griller 2123 Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

Cook up the perfect home-grilled meals by using the Char-Griller Charcoal Barrel Grill. This steel grill has a warming rack, so you can heat up other food while you cook your main course. It features a cast iron cooking grate, which offers you a high-quality surface that you can rely on for a long time. Using charcoal, it enables you to conveniently control the temperature, ensuring tender results each and every time. This steel grill is able to withstand harsh elements. Made with a freestanding design, this steel grill provides greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking space. It has a removable ash catcher, helping to make cleanup a hassle-free process.

    Pros
    • Warming rack helps keep your food from cooling down
    • Features a storage rack, providing convenient storage space so you can keep your work space organized and clutter-free
    • Uses charcoal, cooking the food slowly to develop deeper flavors for an authentic barbecue experience
    Cons
    • Cast iron cooking grate takes a long time to heat up
    • Charcoal takes more time to get hot
Here's Some More Information To Think About When Purchasing Your Next Affordable Steel Grill:
Discover What Kind of Cooking Grates You Need for Your Affordable Steel Grill
Grills with Chrome Plated Grates

If you want an affordable steel grill with a chrome plated grate design, you can find a great one here. Chrome-plated grates have a low maintenance build, so it won't be a hassle to make sure that they stay in good condition over time. The grates are easy to clean, so most standard grill brushes will do the trick. They have construction ideal for infrequent use, which suit beginner cooks.

Grills with Cast Iron Grates

There are six affordable steel grills with a cast iron grate design. Cast iron grates are capable of circulating temperature evenly, making them excellent for ensuring that food is thoroughly cooked. These grates have heat retention technology, delivering a perfectly cooked meal quickly and efficiently. They have non-stick coating, so you can cook without the need for extra greasing. One downside is that they are quite heavy, making them more cumbersome and harder to handle and install. On top of that, these grills need careful maintenance since the grates can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and cleaned immediately after. Now that you're feeling more confident about cast iron grates, check out this highly-ranked affordable steel grill.

Grills with Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron Grates

If you want an affordable steel grill with a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate design, you can find a great one here. Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates have a high-quality design, offering greater grilling. The grates have heat retention technology, delivering a perfectly cooked meal quickly and efficiently. They have a non-stick coating, so you can easily remove grease after you are done grilling. Something to consider is that they require a good amount of maintenance since they can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and can't be cleaned with all types of detergent.

Make Sure You Choose the Best Cooking Area for Your Affordable Steel Grill
Over 700 Sq. Inch Grills

Not sure if you should get a more than 700 sq. in. grill? We'll try to help you decide by giving you the information that you need. Large grills are excellent for neighborhood gatherings, so they will allow you to host countless neighborhood block parties or birthday celebrations without worrying about making enough food. They can grill up to 16 chicken pieces, 20 sausages, 8 steaks, and 16 burgers at a time. They have a rotisserie feature, so you can barbecue whole chicken to perfection with ease. They are typically equipped with eight burners and are often built with multiple grates, so you have a spacious surface area to cook on. They are often manufactured with side burners, providing extra cooking space, perfect for making side dishes or sauces while grilling. Manufactured to function at varying temperatures all at once, they enable you to simultaneously grill items at high temperatures while slow cooking others at lower heat settings. Interested in a more than 700 sq. in. grill? Here's one to take a look at.

Under 500 Sq. Inch Grills

Not sure if you should get a less than 500 sq. in. grill? We can help you decide by giving you some important facts. Providing plenty of space to comfortably cook, small grills let you prepare all of your favorite dishes. Created with simultaneously searing at high temperatures and slow cooking at low temperatures in mind, they are typically designed with two burners so that you can simultaneously sear at high temperatures and slow cook at low temperatures. They are no hassle to move, so you can place them anywhere you want in your yard or patio. Now that you know a bit more about less than 500 sq. in. grills, and you want to get one, take a look here.

500-700 Sq. Inch Grills

Debating whether to get a 500-700 sq. in. grill? We can help you make your decision by giving you the information that you need. Medium-sized grills supply enough space to cook for the whole family, so you can make tasty food that will please everyone. With these kinds of grills, you can cook up to 12 pieces of chicken, 15 sausages, 6 steaks, and 12 burgers at the same time. They are often designed with eight burners, so you can grill different types of food simultaneously. They are designed to function at varying temperatures all at once, so you can simultaneously sear items at high temperatures while slow cooking others at lower heats. Now that you know more about 500-700 sq. in. affordable steel grills, and you want to get one, take a look here.

Which Is the Ultimate Grill Type for Your Affordable Steel Grill?
Fire Pit Grills

If you're looking for a grill that gives tons of smoky flavor, then fire pit grills might be what you need. Have a look at this affordable steel grill might be the right choice. Fire pit grills feature an open flame for establishing a warm energy. They are great for versatility, so you can utilize the warmth and entertainment of an open flame and whip up campfire dishes such as s'mores and hot dogs. They are ideal for preparing food for large crowds, so you can easily grill up a storm every weekend.

Kamado Grills

The following will help you narrow down what to look for when considering kamado grills. You can check out this affordable steel grill if these types of grills are what you're looking for. Kamado grills have ventilated heat regulation, so you can cook food at an even temperature without it burning or overcooking. Designed to reach varying high and low temperatures in a short period of time, they have a ceramic construction, so you can roast your meat at very low temperatures or grill your meat at high temperatures. They preserve flavor and moisture due to the constant rotation of the grill's interior, so they enable for whole meat to be grilled evenly and thoroughly.

Covered Grills

The following guide will help you narrow down what to look for when considering covered grills. You can check out this affordable steel grill if these types of grills are what you're looking for. Covered grills feature ventilated heat regulation, modifying high temperatures to ensure that your food is properly cooked. They have consistent temperature distribution, so meat can be grilled to the ideal temperature while the lid is closed. They are perfect for preparing food for large crowds, so you can always host memorable barbecues.