Every grill is a compromise between fuel and airflow.

Pick the fuel before the model

Charcoal gives you the most flavour control for the least money, and asks for the most attention. Pellet grills trade some smoke depth for a thermostat you can walk away from. Gas is the fastest to start and the least interesting to cook on, which is exactly why it gets used most weeknights.

Where the money goes

Insulation and the controller are what separate a smoker that holds temperature overnight from one that swings 50 °F while you sleep. The accessories — a reliable instant-read thermometer, a good brush, decent gloves — cost a fraction of the grill and change the results more than upgrading the grill itself would.

Picks

Cards below carry drawn category glyphs, not product photographs — see photo credits for why, and for the editorial photography used on this page.