Unbiased Portable Grills Review


Our review process

Ever ask yourself how you can enhance your next cookout? There are many options of grills to choose. How do you know which one is the best for you? Fortunately, our professionals took numerous hours getting together, researching, and evaluating more than 1,300 grills, each one having 89 different data specifications. Throughout our time reviewing each grill, we discovered 66 portable grills. Our end objective is to offer you useful details so that you can find the best grill for your home. We took into account first-hand customer reviews and included key aspects, notably body construction material and installation type. Therefore, we are excited to show you the following article that will discuss some of the pros and cons in order to assist you in getting the grill of your dreams!

Looking for something portable? Consider getting a portable grill. Portable grills typically include internal storage units, making them great for keeping all barbecuing supplies in one convenient place. They feature a compact design, which is excellent for smaller outdoor areas. However, they have a lower burner power, so it can take you a while to get your meal ready, especially if you're grilling bigger pieces of meat. Additionally, they often don't have safety mechanisms, so if you decide to get one, it's a good idea to read up on proper use.

Our Top Ranking Grills:
Product NameBrandGrill TypeFuel Type
Best Overall Score
1
An image of PGS A40 Propane Gas Cast Aluminum Portable Covered Grill
PGS A40 Propane Gas Cast Aluminum Portable Covered Grill
PGS
covered grill
propane gas
Runner Up
2
An image of PGS A30 Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
PGS A30 Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
PGS
covered grill
propane gas
Best Durable Option
3
An image of NAPOLEON T410SBNK Natural Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
NAPOLEON T410SBNK Natural Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
NAPOLEON
covered grill
natural gas
Best Affordable Option
4
An image of Char-Broil 463874717 Classic Propane Gas Portable Covered Grill
Char-Broil 463874717 Classic Propane Gas Portable Covered Grill
Char-Broil
covered grill
propane gas
Energy-Efficient Option
5
An image of Solaire SOL-IR17B Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
Solaire SOL-IR17B Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill
Solaire
covered grill
propane gas
Our Top Ranking Grills
Customer Rating
Brand
PGS
Grill Type
covered grill
Fuel Type
propane gas
Customer Rating
Brand
PGS
Grill Type
covered grill
Fuel Type
propane gas
Customer Rating
Brand
NAPOLEON
Grill Type
covered grill
Fuel Type
natural gas
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Broil
Grill Type
covered grill
Fuel Type
propane gas
Customer Rating
Brand
Solaire
Grill Type
covered grill
Fuel Type
propane gas
Best Overall Score
An image of PGS A40 Propane Gas Cast Aluminum Portable Covered Grill

Enjoy every barbecuing experience with the PGS Propane Gas Covered Grill. Built with two solid rubber wheels, this portable grill will be great for hosting, camping, or picnics. Equipped with a warming rack, it is ideal for preventing grilled food from getting cold until you are ready to eat. It has a portable design, so you can easily bring it for tailgating parties. This cast aluminum grill features a stainless steel cooking grate, supplying an easy-to-maintain, dependable, non-stick surface. Using propane gas, it distributes consistent heat across the cooking surface to minimize grill flare-ups. This portable grill features a Moon Rok tray, providing more even results. It has a Sure Start ignition, letting you quickly light your grill.

    Pros
    • Moon Rok tray allows the grill to achieves optimal heat distribution every time you cook
    • Sure Start ignition provides you with a quick and easy way to light your grill
    • Features a warming rack designed to keep food at the perfect temperature
    Cons
    • Cast aluminum construction is likely to scratch easily
    • Stainless steel cooking grate is less weather tolerant and more difficult to clean
    • Features a Sure Start ignition, losing its ability to work quickly if it gets too dirty
Runner Up
An image of PGS A30 Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill

Enjoy your favorite barbecue recipes with the PGS Propane Gas Covered Grill. This propane gas grill distributes consistent heat across the grill to minimize grill flare-ups. This PGS grill has a Sure Start ignition, helping you quickly light your barbecue. It features a portable design, which makes it outstanding for weekend trips. This grill features a Moon Rok tray, delivering more even results. Equipped with a warming rack, it is ideal for preventing cooked food from getting cold until you are ready to eat.

    Pros
    • Features a Moon Rok tray, ensuring optimal heat distribution every time you cook
    • Sure Start ignition makes lighting your grill quick and easy
    • Designed with a warming rack to keep food at the perfect temperature
    Cons
    • Stainless steel construction limits heat movement, affecting your food
    • Features a stainless steel grill grate, getting dirty easily and requires intense cleaning
    • Sure Start ignition loses its ability to work very fast if it gets too dirty
Best Durable Option
An image of NAPOLEON T410SBNK Natural Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill

Rely on the NAPOLEON Natural Gas Covered Grill for a delicious barbecue experience you can share with your family and friends. This portable grill has four large stainless steel main burners and Wave cooking grids, which achieve a well-spread surface area across the grate. It features a portable design, which makes it outstanding for camping or hosting parties. Equipped with a side burner, it is great for preparing a whole meal all at once. This portable grill has folding side shelves, which enable you to keep more of the things you need in close proximity. It has locking wheels for additional stability when cooking. Using natural gas, it is great for providing a greener alternative for all your barbecuing needs. Featuring a stainless steel body, it is built to last.

    Pros
    • Stainless steel construction is durable and built to last
    • Side burner allows you to prepare your whole meal outside
    • Features folding side shelves, providing extra storage space if needed
    Cons
    • Stainless steel construction limits heat transfer, affecting your food
    • Features a cast iron cooking grate, requiring constant oiling to prevent rusting
    • Runs on natural gas, costing more than a grill that uses charcoal
Best Affordable Option
An image of Char-Broil 463874717 Classic Propane Gas Portable Covered Grill

Rely on the Char-Broil Classic Propane Gas Covered Grill for an authentic barbecue experience you can share with your friends and family. This portable grill features a piezo starter, so you can ignite the burner with ease and get cooking. It has a swing-away warming rack, which allows you to keep your prepared food at the ideal temperature while you continue barbecuing. Using propane gas, it distributes heat evenly across the cooking surface to ensure consistent results every time. It features a portable design, so you can conveniently bring it on weekend trips. This weather-resistant portable grill is suitable for both patio barbecues and fall parties. Produce the indirect and direct heat needed to create a two-zone cooking area with this portable grill's four large stainless steel main burners. With the two work surfaces, you can save time by prepping while you cook.

    Pros
    • Piezo starter ignites the grill quickly
    • Swing-away warming rack helps keep food hot
    • Features side shelves, allowing you to conveniently organize all your utensils
    Cons
    • Piezo starter loses its functionality quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Propane gas is not ideal for slow roasting or for smoking meat
Energy-Efficient Option
An image of Solaire SOL-IR17B Propane Gas Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill

If you're a person who enjoys backyard barbecues, the Solaire Propane Gas Covered Grill is the grill for you. This propane gas grill distributes consistent heat across the cooking area to reduce grill flare-ups. This grill features a push-button rapid-spark electronic ignition, letting you quickly start up your barbecue. It features a portable design, which makes it great for weekend trips. With an infrared burner, it gives you access to high-intensity heat when grilling and searing food.

    Pros
    • Uses an efficient infrared burner, offering access to high-intensity heat when grilling and searing
    • Features a push-button rapid-spark electronic ignition, helping you easily light your grill
    • Stainless steel construction is incredibly resistant to corrosion and rust
    Cons
    • Infrared burners become difficult to move once you have set it up
    • Stainless steel design tends to fade with extended use
    • Features a stainless steel cooking grate, getting dirty easily and requires intense cleaning
Best for BBQs
An image of Star Manufacturing 6136RCBF 36'' Natural Gas Stainless Steel Open Grill

Enjoy your time barbecuing with the help of the Star Manufacturing Natural Gas Open Grill. Using natural gas, this Star Manufacturing grill is excellent for reducing unnecessary waste and exposure to harmful chemicals, such as carbon monoxide. This stainless steel grill performs for much longer thanks to its increased durability and overall resiliency. It features a portable design, which makes it outstanding for weekend trips.

    Pros
    • Stainless steel design is highly resistant to corrosion and dust
    • Natural gas emits almost zero pollutants and is environmentally-friendly and energy efficient
    Cons
    • Stainless steel design limits heat transfer, affecting your food
    • Features a cast iron cooking grate, taking a considerable amount of time to heat up
    • Runs on natural gas, costing more than a grill that utilizes charcoal
Best for Smoking
An image of Grilla Kong 24" Charcoal Ceramic Portable Grill

For the perfect combination of functionality and performance, choose the Grilla Kong Charcoal Grill. This ceramic grill is made with a stainless steel cooking grate, which gives you an optimal non-stick surface that you can rely on for a long time. Fueled by charcoal, it grills the food over a long period of time to develop stronger flavors. It features convection grilling, which cooks the food from he inside out, so it will stay juicy and flavorful. This ceramic grill has a portable design, which makes it outstanding for a day at the beach. It is equipped with a solid handle to keep your grill tightly sealed. This ceramic grill features a precise temperature control, so you can maintain the perfect level of heat while you cook.

    Pros
    • Features dual side shelves, giving you extra room to hold plates and utensils
    • Charcoal cooks your food for an extended period of time
    Cons
    • Ceramic construction is a lot more fragile than other materials
    • Includes a stainless steel grill grate, getting messy easily and requires intense cleaning
    • Uses charcoal, taking more time to get hot
Additional Picks
An image of Trailblazer Wood Pellet Stainless Steel Portable Covered Grill from REC TEC Grills

Host outstanding dinner parties by using the Trailblazer Wood Pellet Covered Grill from REC TEC Grills. Made with rollerblade-style wheels, this portable grill is excellent for parties, camping, or picnics. It has a BullPen thermometer, which enables you to easily check the temperature to produce tender results. It has a portable design, which makes it outstanding for weekend trips. This portable grill uses wood pellets for various cooking methods, including smoking, roasting, or braising meat.

    Pros
    • Stainless steel construction is durable and built to last
    • Uses wood pellets, offering multiple cooking options smoke, roast, or braise meat to your personal taste
    Cons
    • Stainless steel design limits heat transfer, affecting your food
    • Wood pellets are more difficult to find than other fuel types
An image of Char-Broil 463773717 Classic Liquid Propane Portable Covered Grill

If you're someone who is looking to transform your backyard, you should consider buying the Char-Broil Classic Liquid Propane Covered Grill. Create the indirect and direct heat needed for two-zone cooking with this propane grill's three large stainless steel main burners. With the two work surfaces, you can save time by prepping while you grill meat. It features a portable design, which makes it outstanding for weekend trips. Featuring a swing-away warming rack, it is great for keeping food hot until you are ready to eat. This Char-Broil grill has a piezo starter, so you can effortlessly ignite it. It runs on liquid propane, cutting down grilling time, so you can feed all your family and friends quickly and efficiently. This weather-resistant portable grill is suitable for both backyard barbecues and outdoor parties.

    Pros
    • Piezo starter allows you to light your liquid propane grill effortlessly
    • Swing-away warming rack helps keep food hot without it overcooking
    • Features side shelves, allowing for extra storage room for everything you need in order to avoid unnecessary mess and clutter
    Cons
    • Piezo starter loses its ability to work very quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Liquid propane costs more than a grill that uses charcoal
An image of Traeger TFB29PLB Bronson Wood Pellet Portable Grill

Take your dining experience to the next level by preparing a delicious meal for your family and friends with the Traeger Bronson Wood Pellet Grill. This Traeger grill has durable wheels, so you can easily roll it around and secure it in place to ensure that it stays stationary while you cook. It features a portable design, so you can easily take it for tailgating parties. It has an electronic auto start to make lighting your wood pellet grill as easy as possible with a simple push of a button. This grill uses wood pellets, offering multiple cooking options smoke, roast, or braise meat to your personal preferences.

    Pros
    • Electronic auto start makes igniting your wood pellet grill quick and easy
    • Uses wood pellets, allowing you to select from a variety of cooking methods either smoke, roast, or braise meat to your preferences, the choice is up to you
    Cons
    • Electronic auto start loses its functionality very quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Wood pellets are more difficult to find than other fuel types
If You Need Help Making Your Choice, Here's Some Additional Information About the Portable Grills Available:
Make Sure You Choose the Best Cooking Area for Your Portable Grill
Over 700 Sq. Inch Grills

Debating whether to get a more than 700 sq. in. grill? We can help you make an informed choice by giving you some important facts. Large grills are perfect for big parties, giving you lots of room for tons of food. They can cook up to 16 chicken pieces, 20 sausages, 8 steaks, and 16 burgers at one time. Generally manufactured with side burners, they provide extra grilling space. Large grills typically feature a rotisserie kit, slow-cooking your chicken to create delicious, juicy, and flavorful results. They often include eight burners and usually feature multiple grates, so you'll have extra space to grill and warm your food. Built to operate at varying temperatures at the same time, they let you simultaneously grill food items at high temperatures while slow cooking others on lower heat settings. Feel ready to decide on the right portable grill for you? You can get started here.

Under 500 Sq. Inch Grills

Interested in less than 500 sq. in. grills? Here are a few things you should know about them. Feel free to check out this great portable grill in the meantime. Small grills are great for the whole family, giving you plenty of room to cook your meals with comfort and space. They often include two burners, ensuring that food can simultaneously sear at high temperatures and slow cook at low temperatures. Typically easy to move around, small grills can be placed anywhere in your yard.

500-700 Sq. Inch Grills

Want to learn more about 500-700 sq. in. grills? Well, keep reading the following paragraph to learn more about portable grills. Medium-sized grills can cook up to 12 chicken pieces, 15 sausages, 6 steaks, and 12 burgers at the same time. Providing enough space to comfortably cook, they let you prepare all of your favorite dishes. They usually feature eight burners, allowing you to cook different food items at the same time. Medium-sized grills let you prepare various dishes at different temperature levels. Now that you know more about 500-700 sq. in. grills, and you want to get one, here's one that we recommend.

Here's What's Important About Grill Type for Portable Grills
Rotisserie Grills

Think that rotisserie grills are right for you? Then check out this portable grill after you finish reading about them. Rotisserie grills have an extensive surface area, so you can prepare an entire chicken or roast. They often feature a spike and motor, allowing you to grill anything from tender legs of lamb to large roasts like turkey. These rotisserie grills help meat preserve flavor and moisture, which is done by frequent and constant rotation of the grill's interior, achieving only the best results. However, they require a drip pan, so it's important to add some moisture to the pan since there is always the risk of the grease causing a flare-up.

Kamado Grills

Think that kamado grills are right for you? Then check out this portable grill after you finish reading about them. Kamado grills have ventilated heat regulation, ensuring a safe level of airflow. They help meat retain flavor and moisture, which is done by frequent and constant rotation of the grill's interior, achieving only the best results. Designed with ceramic materials, they provide varying high and low temperatures to be reached in a little amount of time.

Covered Grills

Think that covered grills are right for you? Then check out this portable grill after you finish reading about them. Covered grills feature ventilated heat regulation to ensure that combustion stays at a consistent level. They circulate heat at a consistent rate, so meat is cooked to the ideal temperature. With a larger surface and flame for grilling multiple food items at the same time, they are perfect for making an entire meal for a large, hungry crowd.

Find Out What Kind of Cooking Grates You Need for Your Portable Grill
Grills with Stainless Steel Grates

If you want a portable grill with a stainless steel grate design, you can find a high-quality one here. Built with anti-corrosion properties, stainless steel grates provide long-term durability even after repeated use. These grates are designed with heat retention technology, reducing fuel consumption while grilling. They are simple to clean, so most standard grill brushes will do the job. The grates have a low maintenance construction, designed for quick clean-up. They feature a non-stick surface, which will prevent meat from sticking to the grate after grilling.

Grills with Chrome Plated Grates

If you want a portable grill with a chrome plated grate design, you can find a high-quality one here. Chrome-plated grates are simple to clean, so most standard grill brushes should be able to do the trick. These grates include material necessary for occasional use, effortlessly fitting starter cooks. They feature a low maintenance build, so it won't be a hassle to ensure that they stay in good shape over time.

Grills with Cast Iron Grates

If you want a portable grill with a cast iron grate design, you can find a great one here. Cast iron grates can disperse heat evenly, making them excellent for ensuring that meat is thoroughly cooked. These grates are designed with heat retaining materials, decreasing fuel consumption while cooking. They are non-stick so that you can grill without the need for extra oiling. Something to consider is that these grates are quite heavy, making them more cumbersome and harder to handle and install. In addition, they require careful maintenance since they can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and need to be cleaned right after.