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Featured in this articleBest Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Charcoal
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Best Gas Grill
Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill
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Best Pellet Grill/Smoker
Traeger Woodridge Pro
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Best Affordable Smart Charcoal Grill
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150 Digital Charcoal Grill
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A grill is a constant companion. Cookouts in the summer. Tailgates in the fall. Smoking in all weather. And the best grills and smokers we’ve tested can be in your life for years to come.
We’ve been testing grills for a decade—searing, smoking, grilling, and even baking on them in all kinds of weather—to find the best choice for everyone. Below, you’ll find our top picks for each category (charcoal, gas, pellet, hybrid, and other types) as well as a few alternatives, plus general buying tips if none of these capture your fancy.
For all your outdoor needs, be sure to check out our other buying guides, like the Best Flat Top Grills and Griddles, Best Wireless Meat Thermometers, Best Smokeless Firepits, Best Tents, and Best Binoculars.
Updated September 2025: We’ve added the Traeger Woodbridge Pro smoker and the Cuisinart Pizza Oven and Grill, updated the Charbroil Gas2Grill model, removed discontinued grills, and updated prices, products, and picks throughout.
Best Charcoal Grill
Photograph: Weber
Weber
Original Kettle Charcoal
The Weber kettle is ubiquitous at neighborhood cookouts for good reason. It’s reasonably priced, well-made, and just works, noted WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson. It’s durable as a tank and can sear a steak, smoke a brisket, or grill a backyard’s worth of burgers. But the secret sauce on this Weber is the accessories—both from Weber and on the secondary market—dedicated to turning this buy-it-for-life classic into a moddable, modernized smart grill.
There are two versions of the Weber Kettle: Original and Premium. The Premium is $80 more and features a built-in thermometer in the lid, a hinged cooking grate, and a fancier ash-removal system. They’re the same size, with the same cooking space. Unless you really like the easier ash-removal system, save your cash and stick with the Original Kettle. Then put that money into upgrades like the excellent Weber Connect Smart Hub ($84), with probes to monitor meat temps and flipping times. Even more advanced? We haven’t tested yet, but we’ve got our eyes on a cool-looking Weber rotisserie ($200) and a fan-modulated temperature controller from Spider Grills called the Venom ($248) that lets you turn your grill up and down like a stove.
Each of those mods is designed for Weber’s popular 22-inch grill, though a modest 18-inch and truly massive 26-incher are also available. Whichever size you choose, if you’re storing it outdoors the one accessory you’re sure to need is a cover. —Matthew Korfhage
★ Alternative: The PK 300 ($600) is a fantastic grill. It’s made of cast aluminum, so it’s a little heavier than the Weber, but it can also be used for ovenlike cooking, much like a Big Green Egg (see below). The main reason Weber wins here is price, durability, and the ability to add features as needed. Still, if you want something sturdier and capable of oven-style cooking, the PK 300 is a great grill, notes WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson.
