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Weber is almost synonymous with classic quality grills, and for good reason. The brand has been around since the founders first invented the kettle grill in the 1950s. Since then, the company has kept the iconic bowl-shaped charcoal grill, but has also introduced gas grills, electric grills, wood chip grills and more – not to mention a range of grilling accessories from grill thermometers to briquettes.
To help you find the right Weber grill, we sent popular models to the homes of our professional testers and rated each model for setup, insulation, heat control, size, versatility and overall value. Many steaks, burgers, vegetables and more are grilled to ensure that these Weber grills are truly the best.
Whether you’re in the market for a spacious stationary grill for crowd cooking or a lightweight, portable option for camping or tailgating, here are the best Weber grills.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall, Gas: Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
If you’re looking for a well-made gas grill to sizzle steaks and deliver perfectly charred hamburgers, then the Weber Spirit II E-310 is our gas grill of choice.
The Weber Spirit II E-310 offers three burners with an output of 30,000 BTUs per hour and is equipped with the brand’s GS4 grill system, which includes improved ignition, an enameled “seasoning” bar and an efficient grease management system. The grill has 529 square inches of cooking space on its enameled cast iron cooking grate, providing plenty of room for all your burgers, steaks and vegetables, with tables on each side of the grill area, one of which can be folded down.
The grill’s open cart design provides extra storage space for your favorite tools, and it also has integrated hooks on the side tables. The grill is available in a variety of colors and has an easy-to-read fuel gauge next to the propane tank to let you know how much fuel is left. Our testers say its performance, advanced design features and warranty make this “worth the splurge.
Best Overall, Electric: Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill
Weber Q1400 Electric Grill, Gray
For an electric grill that performs well anywhere there’s an electrical outlet, choose Weber’s Q 1400. This compact but powerful electric grill delivers great flavor and doesn’t require propane or charcoal. Instead, plug the unit into an electrical outlet, adjust the temperature setting, and prepare the grill.
The key to successful use of the Q 1400 is to wait just long enough for the grill to reach temperature. Once you do, the 189 square inches of cooking space can accommodate any grilling needs from one person to four or more – depending on what you’re cooking. Our home tester was impressed with the meals she created using this grill and raved about the quality grill marks it left on vegetarian grilled lamb skewers, hanger steaks and marinated chicken breasts, although she did miss the true smoky flavor that can only come from a charcoal grill. In our lab, they observed amazing burn marks after grilling steaks and zucchini slices.
As we saw in our tests, with an enameled cast iron grate, you get excellent heat retention and easy cleanup. The Weber Q 1400 is a great choice if you live in an apartment or other small space where the use of gas and charcoal grills may be limited, or if you want an easy-to-use unit that just plugs in. This is the smaller of Weber’s two electric grill models.
Best Overall, Charcoal: Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is a classic choice for those who like to grill over charcoal, and for such a well-made product, you can’t beat it for a reasonable price.
This kettle grill is 22 inches in diameter and holds up to 13 burgers at a time in 363 square inches of cooking space. The grill’s lid and bowl are enameled for excellent heat retention, and the lid has a built-in thermometer and aluminum damper. The grates are hinged for quick and easy addition of more charcoal while cooking, and the angled lid hooks allow you to conveniently hang the lid on the side of the grill without having to place it on the ground.
Another feature of the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is its one-touch cleaning system, which sweeps ash into a large, removable container for easy disposal. The grill also has integrated hooks on the outer handles, as well as durable wheels for improved mobility.
After a short and sweet 15-minute setup, our testers spent 10 minutes lighting the grill and another 10 minutes letting it get hot. From there, the results proved great for pork, burgers, steaks, chicken, vegetables, and even pineapple. While some foods need to be heated directly over coals, you can also set the fuel aside for indirect cooking. You can even use a Weber over the fire with a little wood to slowly smoke a traditional grill.
Best Portable: Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill
Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill , Gray
Stainless steel burner output 12,000 BTU per hour
Electronic ignition with built-in thermometer
The Weber Q 2200 propane gas grill is one of our top choices for any brand of portable grill. It’s a bit of an investment, but the gas grill pays off for its convenience. It’s easy to start, easy to use, and heats up quickly and powerfully, delivering 12,000 BTUs of heat per hour. The 280-square-inch cooking area consists of an enameled cast-iron cooking grate that should be large enough to serve three to four people (great for portable models).
There are two side tables so you can prep on the go and easily fold up when you pack. When one of our experts tested it for us, she found it easy to assemble and attach to a 1-pound gas tank. The grill was able to reach high temperatures as well as larger models, and it was very easy to transport in the back of the truck when her boyfriend took it to a work picnic. For someone who grills a lot on the go, our testers called it “expensive, but worth it.
Best Budget: Weber 18-Inch Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black
Small and lightweight for grilling on the go
Tuck-N-Carry lid lock doubles as a lid holder to avoid leaving the lid on the floor
Compact and affordable, the Jumbo Joe 18-inch is a smart choice for small spaces and travel. The charcoal grill comes with metal brackets that lock the lid into place during transport and hold it in place during cooking. It has a stainless steel cooking grate and 240 square inches of surface area.
Grillers love the quality construction and ventilation of the Jumbo Joe portable grill, especially for the low price. You’ll have plenty of room for yourself and a few friends to grill. The only thing to keep in mind is that there’s plenty of room under the lid for things like burgers and hot dogs, but not enough room to cook bone-in turkey breasts or whole chickens. Still, this portable grill will likely be able to handle any cheap park adventure or game day picnic you can think of.
Best Pellet Grill: Weber Smokefire EX4 Wood Fired Pellet Grill
Weber SmokeFire EX4 Wood Fired Pellet Grill, Black, 2nd Generation
Weber enamel finish helps prevent rusting and cracking.
DC-powered engine, designed to prevent auger clogging
Weber has finally released its first pellet grill, the SmokeFire EX4 – and while the first generation of wood pellet grills had some issues to address, the second iteration of the product is worth splurging on. This grill has 672 square inches of grilling space on two grates and offers an impressive temperature range of 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit for grilling and smoking.
The SmokeFire EX4 has a 20-pound pellet hopper and a DC-powered engine designed to prevent auger clogging. The grill is also equipped with a number of smart features, such as two meat probes that allow you to keep a close eye on the doneness of your food and allow you to control and monitor the grill through your smartphone via Wi-Fi. It can even guide you through the grilling process, letting you know when it’s time to flip your food – a handy option for novice grillers.
Our home tester found the grill really easy to use, as it was easy to light, had perfect temperature regulation, and actually operated itself. She successfully cooked a smoked half chicken using the bone-in chicken program, as well as fully melted cheeseburgers using the cheeseburger program (note that this only allows you to cook them, so if you prefer to cook them less, you can grill them without selecting a program). In our lab, the SmokeFire EX4 reached 500 degrees as fast as it could, in less than 10 minutes, and ultimately maintained an internal temperature of 600+ degrees during the test. It performed very well in our grilling and baking tests and was one of the better pellet grills when it came to grilling steaks.
Best Basic: Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle 18 Inch Charcoal Grill, Black
One-touch cleaning system removes ashes easily
Use lid hooks while grilling to avoid putting lids on the floor Damper allows you to easily control the temperature inside the grill
For a simple, classic grilling experience, the Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is a popular choice. Also available in 22-inch and 26-inch models, this familiar charcoal grill has been a backyard and patio fixture for decades. The 18-inch version comes with an enameled bowl and insulated lid for 240 square inches of cooking space; you can cook everything from buns and burgers to chicken and steak – just maybe not all at once. The cooking grate is plated steel rather than cast iron, and it has no hinges to tend to the coals while the food sits on the grate.
Nonetheless, the grill remains a favorite among casual grill and charcoal lovers because of its simple operation and affordable price. People have found it to be the perfect size for grilling for 2 to 4 people and can keep the coals hot for hours. So if you’re looking for a basic charcoal grill and you’re not cooking for a crowd, then the Weber Original 18-inch kettle is the perfect choice for you.
We send our grills to our professional grill and home product testers who try every type of meat, including steaks and burgers, vegetables and more, to determine which grills are truly the best. Each grill was rated based on setting, insulation, heat control, size, versatility and overall value. Our testers then provided additional insight on the strengths and weaknesses of each grill.
Size
Consider how much space you have on your grill and your cooking preferences. Will you be cooking for two, or do you like to entertain? Do you prefer a smaller grill that can be easily moved around? Consider your needs and choose your grill accordingly.
Gasoline
Charcoal and gas fuels have their pros and cons. Charcoal is easily available at almost every grocery store and gas station, so you don’t have to make a special trip. On the other hand, once gas is available, it’s much more convenient – you can start a fire with the turn of a knob, and you don’t have to wait for the coals to burn out before you start cooking.
Grill materials
The sun, rain, snow, hail and wind are bound to take a toll on the outside surface of your grill, so it’s important to choose a very durable material. While stainless steel will discolor from the heat, it will not rust or corrode from rain or snow. Enameled steel is durable, but will eventually crack or chip, causing rust underneath.
How do I clean my Weber grill?
Clean the grill grates with a stainless steel grill brush, making sure to remove any stuck debris. If you want to clean the grill grates to remove any burnt particles before you start grilling, turn the grill on to high heat to bring it up to temperature, then use a grill brush to wipe away burnt food debris before you start grilling. To clean the outside of the grill, wipe down with a paper towel and a cleaner appropriate for the type of grill material: stainless steel cleaner for steel grills, glass cleaner for porcelain grills.
How do you light a Weber grill?
First open the lid of the grill. This will prevent gas from building up inside it. Then, slowly and completely open the valve of the propane tank and pause to allow time for the gas to pass through the gas line. If your model has a “start” knob, turn it up. Finally, click the ignition switch for each burner separately. When this is done, you should hear and see each burner ignite.
How do you oil a Weber grill?
Weber grills do not require any oiling or seasoning. If there are any crumbs on the grill, you can brush them off with a grill brush. In addition, oiling the grates will cause them to become sticky once the oil heats above its smoking point, which will inevitably happen. If you have problems with food sticking to the Weber grill, oil the food, not the grill grates.
Do you need to season the Weber grill?
You do not need to season the Weber grill. The grill grates are made of cast iron, but are coated with porcelain. The porcelain coating prevents food from sticking, so the grates do not need to be seasoned. Only very old Weber grills need to be seasoned, and because they are so old, this must have been a long time ago. If you buy a new Weber grill, you don’t need to worry about seasoning.
Do Weber grills get wet?
Weber grills are not waterproof. Therefore, they can get wet. If you are using it, you should avoid this because water entering the cooking box will put out the fire. Weber grills are weatherproof, which means they can be left on your patio year-round when not open. However, if you put a lid on them, they will last longer and hold up better. The covers will protect your grill from rain and rust.
Can you smoke meat on a Weber grill?
Yes, you can smoke meat on a Weber charcoal grill (also known as a kettle grill). The easiest way to use a kettle grill as a smoker is to place all the charcoal pieces on one side of the grill and place the meat on the other side. Adding some small pieces of wood to the charcoal will give your meat a more traditional smoked flavor. Be sure to soak the wood in water for a few hours first. Putting a pot of water under the grate where you put the meat will help catch the drips, keep the meat more moist, and allow the smoke to adhere better to the meat.
