The 9 Best Small Grills of 2021

Best Overall: Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

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Weber has been a popular brand of grills for generations, for good reason. They’re well-made, reliable, and look good on the deck or in the backyard. This Spirit-series grill has two burners, Weber’s signature "flavorizer" bars that vaporize food drippings to create flavorful smoke, and a total of 450 square inches of cooking space. The open cart makes it easy to stash supplies below the grill, while six tool hooks keep grill brushes, tongs, and spatulas easily at hand.

This propane grill has two large wheels that make it simple to reposition when needed and two sturdy legs that keep it from accidentally rolling during use. When space is at a premium, the left side table folds down and then flips back up easily when you need space for condiments and plates.

Fuel Type: Liquid Propane | Dimensions: 44-1/2 x 48 x 27 inches | Burners: 2 | Cooking Area: 450 square inches | BTU: 26,500

Best Indoor/Outdoor: George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

4.7

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Best known for its line of countertop contact grills, the George Foreman company also manufactures other grills such as this innovative electric pedestal model that can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s great for cooking on the balcony when the weather is nice, but you can also use it inside when it starts to rain. The temperature control gives you a choice of five settings, and for added versatility, the grill can be removed from the stand for countertop operation.

The smaller footprint still provides you with 240 square inches of cooking space on its nonstick grates, and the slightly sloped drip tray collects grease and drippings. The grill plate is removable for easier cleaning, and it can even be tossed in the dishwasher.

Fuel Type: Electric | Dimensions: 22 x 18 x 35 inches | Cooking Area: 240 square inches | Watts: 1,600

Best Portable: Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill

4.3

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While cooking over a fire can certainly be appealing, using an electric grill has many benefits. For one thing, there’s no need for charcoal or gas tanks that need to be replaced, and you don't have to worry about live fire. Plus, if you purchase a small electric grill like this one, you can take it on the road and use it on vacation—or really anywhere you have electricity.

The Weber Q-1400 has a total of 189 square inches of cooking space and a 1,560-watt electric heating element that heats efficiently. The grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron, so you’ll get great grill marks. The lid and body of this grill are aluminum and the frame is glass-reinforced nylon, reducing the weight to make it easier to move (also making it rust-proof). A removable catch pan makes cleaning easy when cooking is done. However, it only has a 6-foot cord, so you’ll need to use it fairly close to an outlet.

Fuel Type: Electric | Dimensions: 14-1/2 x 27 x 18-1/2 inches | Cooking Area: 189 square inches | Watts: 1,560

Best Infrared: Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Kettleman Charcoal Grill

4.3

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Char-Broil has updated the standard charcoal grill design with infrared cooking grates that heat evenly and create more heat with less fuel. This grill has 360 square inches of cooking space on its porcelain-enameled steel grates, which conveniently resist rust, and the large vent on the lid helps to regulate the temperature during cooking. For even more control, the charcoal grate is adjustable, so you can cook food can closer or further from the heat source.

This infrared grill has two wheels that make it easy to move into the perfect spot for grilling, and there’s no need to look for a place to set the lid down since it’s attached to the grill with a hinge. The lid latches closed for storage or when moving the grill, and a handy temperature gauge makes it simple to monitor the internal temperature at a glance. Even cleanup is easier with this grill, since the ash bowl slides in and out easily.

Fuel Type: Charcoal | Dimensions: 29-1/2 x 25-3/4 x 14-1/4 inches | Cooking Area: 360 square inches

Best Pellet Grill: Green Mountain Davy Crockett WiFi Control Portable Wood Pellet Grill

3.5

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Pellet grills tend to be large and expensive, but this budget-friendly option has a smaller footprint, and it's Wi-Fi enabled. It boasts many desirable features that you’d typically find in larger grills, like a thermal sensor that constantly monitors grill temperature, as well as a digital controller with Wi-Fi that can connect to an app on your iOS or Android phone.

This pellet grill is also portable, so when you want to store it or take it on the road, the legs fold up and serve as handles. Since it’s built for travel, you can plug the grill into a standard electric outlet, but it also comes with adapters for other power options—you even can run it on 12V on the road. As far as storage, the peaked lid allows you to cook taller foods with the lid in place, and a wire side rack with tool hooks gives you space for sauces and tools.

Fuel Type: Wood pellets | Dimensions: 34 x 23 x 31-3/4 inches | Cooking Area: 210 square inches | Hopper size: 8 pounds

Best Budget: Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill

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A backyard staple for many years, the Weber Original Kettle Grill is practically an icon in the grilling world. Its shape is designed to hold and circulate heat, while the no-frills design makes it simple to use. Just adjust the vents to control the heat, and drop more charcoal through the grates below the handles. This round grill has 240 square inches of cooking space on a plated steel cooking grate, and the lid can be hung on the side of the grill when it’s time to add or remove food, so there’s no need to find a place to set it down.

This Weber grill has two wheels that make it easy to roll it onto the perfect place for grilling and roll it back into storage when grilling season is over, and the one-touch cleaning system brushes the ash out of the kettle and into the catcher when cooking is done for convenient cleaning. The ash catcher below the grill gets the job done, but it can be a little messy if a strong wind passes through.

Fuel Type: Charcoal | Dimensions: 36 x 18-1/2 x 23 inches | Cooking Area: 240 square inches

Best Propane Grill: Char-Broil Performance Series Black and Stainless Steel 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill

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This compact two-burner grill provides more cooking space that you’d guess, with 300 square inches on the main cooking grate and an extra 100 square inches on the swing-away rack—ideal for keeping food warm, heating buns, or gently slow-cooking foods. The two metal side shelves give you plenty of space for dishes, sauces, and condiments, and they fold down when not needed so the grill takes less space in storage or on a small patio. Plus, the closed cabinet provides even more space for storing tools and supplies out of sight.

This grill has four casters that make it easy to move around; two of the casters lock so the grill won’t roll away if it’s accidentally bumped. The lid is stainless steel for an upscale look, and it features a temperature gauge to make it simple to check the internal temperature.

Fuel Type: Liquid Propane | Dimensions: 24-1/2 x 43 x 44 inches | Burners: 2 | Cooking Area: 400 square inches | BTU: 24,000

Best for Camping: Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill

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Made for rugged camping, this grill has legs that fold under to make it easily portable. The simple style straddles a campfire, so there’s no need to bring along charcoal, propane, or other fuels, and there’s no need to watch a separate fire for cooking.

You can cook directly on the surface of this grill, but it can also hold a Dutch oven, frying pan, or coffee pot over the hot fire. It comes in two sizes, with cooking surfaces of either 16 x 12 inches or 24 x 16 inches, and when not in use for cooking, it can as a small table to keep gear off the ground.

Fuel Type: Open fire | Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 6-1/2 inches | Cooking Area: 192 square inches