The 7 Best Outdoor Grills of 2025

The Weber Original 22-Inch Charcoal Grill embodies the classic charm of the beloved kettle design, while delivering exceptional grilling performance that earns it a top spot in the Best Overall category. This grill showcases its timeless appeal with a durable porcelain-enameled lid and bowl. These elements not only masterfully retain heat but also resist rust and peeling, ensuring that this trusty grill remains a part of countless memorable cookouts.

Temperature control is a breeze thanks to the adjustable dampers, allowing grill enthusiasts to perfectly manage cooking conditions for a variety of dishes. Beyond function, convenience is key—its One-Touch cleaning system significantly reduces post-barbecue cleanup hassle, paired seamlessly with a removable aluminum ash catcher. This thoughtful design pays homage to simplicity and efficiency, making it a user-friendly choice for both novices and seasoned grillers.

While its primary focus is on these standout features, some might find the capacity to hold up to 13 burgers slightly limited compared to larger models. Nevertheless, the Weber Original shines in its ease of use, reliable performance, and enduring style, making it a go-to choice for those who cherish authentic charcoal flavor and dependable quality.

When it comes to premium outdoor cooking experiences, the Blackstone 1883 Original 28" Griddle certainly stands out, offering a delightful blend of performance and quality. One of its remarkable attributes is the dual H-style burners, which together unleash an impressive 34,000 BTUs. This ensures that whether you're searing a steak or gently cooking delicate vegetables, you have all the heat you need precisely where you want it.

The griddle's expansive 524 square inches of heavy-duty cooking surface provides ample room to cater to family gatherings or parties, allowing you to multitask with ease. Constructed with a solid steel griddle top, it promises durability and longevity, dealing effortlessly with the wear and tear of frequent use. Another noteworthy feature is the hood, which dutifully shields the surface from environmental elements, maintaining optimal cooking conditions.

While the griddle offers two independent cooking zones with a built-in igniter for versatility, this feature is fairly standard in its category. Overall, it's a robust choice for those seeking premium quality in outdoor cooking.

The Ninja OG701 7-in-1 Outdoor Electric Grill is a top contender in the 'Best Multi-Functional' category, thanks to its impressive versatility and innovative design. This compact yet powerful appliance combines the capabilities of a master grill, BBQ smoker, and air fryer, offering a delightful smoky flavor courtesy of its unique Ninja Woodfire Technology. Whether you're searing steaks or air frying wings, this grill enables an authentic, rich flavor with the convenience of electric power.

Notably, the Ninja OG701's foolproof BBQ smoking feature stands out, allowing you to create genuine BBQ flavor with just a small amount of pellets. The inclusion of exclusive Ninja Woodfire Pellets further enhances the cooking experience, ensuring your dishes are infused with real wood flavors. Its weather-resistant design makes it ideal for outdoor use year-round.

While the grill performs exceptionally well across its various functions, it's worth mentioning that it operates on 760 watts, which is standard but doesn't match the high power output of some dedicated devices. Nevertheless, for apartment dwellers or those seeking a multi-functional cooking solution, the Ninja OG701 delivers commendable performance in a compact, weather-friendly package.

The Masterbuilt 30-inch Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker makes an impressive mark in the 'Best Vertical' category. Its spacious vertical design stands out as a major advantage, providing 535 square inches of cooking area, which is perfect for feasting on multiple chickens, turkeys, or ribs at once. This extensive space means you can delight in smoking large quantities of food with ease, making it ideal for gatherings and barbecues.

A key feature is the smoker's analog controls. Setting your desired smoking temperature up to 275°F is straightforward, catering well to both novice and seasoned smokers who appreciate simple, intuitive operation. The removable wood chip tray enhances versatility by allowing you to experiment with various wood flavors, elevating your dishes with rich, smoky nuances.

Furthermore, the removable water bowl adds a layer of moisture, ensuring your meats stay juicy and tender—an essential aspect of a top-notch smoking experience. Lastly, the smoker's maintenance is made easy with a removable rear grease tray, making cleanup less of a chore. While analog controls might be less precise than digital ones, the overall experience is pleasurable and hands-on, perfect for traditional smoking aficionados.

The Weber Q1000 Liquid Propane Grill shines in the 'Best Compact' category for its outstanding convenience and performance that suit small spaces and portable needs. This grill features a robust stainless steel burner that emits 8500 BTU-per-hour, efficiently heating a respectable 189-square-inch cooking area—perfect for outdoor adventures or a cozy balcony cookout. Its porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates ensure consistent heat distribution and long-lasting durability, while the cast aluminum lid and body provide excellent heat retention and weather resistance.

One remarkably user-friendly aspect of the Weber Q1000 is its push-button ignition, allowing for quick and hassle-free startups. Along with infinite control burner valve settings, it provides precision cooking tailored to various grilling requirements. While it uses disposable LP cylinders, making it slightly less convenient for extended grilling sessions, this feature enhances portability—ideal for those on the move. The need for a preheat time of 10 to 15 minutes is a small trade-off for the reliable performance it guarantees once ready. Overall, the Weber Q1000 impresses with its compact design, making it a top choice for efficient, high-quality, portable grilling experiences.

When it comes to portable grilling, the Cuisinart CGG-180T stands out for its practicality and performance. This compact grill, with a spacious 150 square inch porcelain-enameled grate, can comfortably handle up to 8 burgers, making it perfect for small gatherings and outdoor adventures. Its 5,500 BTU burner isn't just for show; it delivers reliable heat, while the twist-to-start ignition and precision temperature gauge offer excellent control, ensuring your meals are cooked to perfection.

Weighing in at just 17 pounds, this grill is impressively lightweight, making transport a breeze whether you're heading to a patio cookout or a campsite feast. The folding legs and integrated lid lock are testament to its clever design, providing easy setup and secure transport, much like a handy briefcase.

One of the standout features is the spill-resistant drip tray, which keeps cleanup hassle-free, an essential for any portable grill. While it may not be the largest grill out there, its thoughtful design and reliable performance make it a top choice for those seeking portability without sacrificing quality.

The Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill shines in the best budget-friendly category, offering a delightful blend of affordability and functionality. This little powerhouse is perfect for those impromptu beach gatherings or road trip grilling sessions, thanks to its compact and lightweight design. With dimensions that make it easy to transport, it doesn’t compromise on cooking capacity, conveniently holding up to five burgers.

One of its standout features is the porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, ensuring excellent heat retention while resisting rust and peeling, a big plus for outdoor enthusiasts. The dampers make it simple to control the temperature, offering flexibility for a variety of grilling needs. Although it has a straightforward design, the durable plated steel cooking grate is both heat-retentive and easy to clean, adding to its practicality.

However, users might find its features quite basic compared to larger models, but for its price and portability, it gets the job done admirably.