As the sun begins to blaze, we find ourselves gravitating towards our gardens and the best BBQs to entertain friends and family. If you haven't had an enormous outdoor gathering in some time, and your barbecue is almost rusted shut, you'll need to think about something new to get the job done in style. Deciding which barbecue to buy, however, isn't quite as simple as it seems - while charcoal BBQs are still a fan-favourite, there are many more choices available when it comes to getting the perfect char on your burger.
From gas BBQs with multiple stoves, cooling racks, warmers and broilers - you can be flooded with tricky terminology, and that's not ideal when you want to get your cook on. Plus, that's before you even move into the realm of hybrid BBQs, which combine the best of gas and charcoal into one package. We've taken the trouble out of finding a great barbecue and broken down our favourite picks of the year - so you don't have to.
Best BBQs of 2024 at a glance
• Best BBQ: Tepro Grillwagen Toronto Click Charcoal Barbecue - View at Amazon
• Best value BBQ: Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill Barbecue - View at Amazon
• Best hybrid BBQ: Char-Broil Gas2Coal Hybrid Grill BBQ - View at BBQ World
• Best versatile BBQ: Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker - View at Amazon
From gas-powered grills to old-fashioned charcoal barbecues, these are the best BBQs of the year - not only for your burger but also for your wallet.
Achieve the perfect char, the most delicious smokey flavours on whatever you cook, without the battle of uneven heating and plumes of smoke from a disposable barbeque that's far too small for what you need. So crack open a cold one, kick your feet up and find the best BBQs for your garden party needs this year.
The best BBQs of 2024:
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall
TeproBig, bold and beautiful - this large barbecue is the essential grill station you've been looking for this year. Warming racks, side storage, and a compartment for easy ash cleaning, this gorgeous-looking charcoal BBQ is simply perfect for even the largest of parties this year.
Equipped with wheels for easy moving, and a sturdy cover for optimal wind shielding, whatever you decide to barbecue this year, it'll cook quickly and evenly, so you're not only eating delicious food, you're eating safely.
Pros
- Great sized BBQ
- Easy to clean
- Excellent for large gatherings
Cons
- Short warranty
| Dimensions: | 42.1 x 67 x 36.4 cm |
| Material: | Anthracite/stainless steel |
| Additional Features: | Ash collection tray, warming rack, side shelf |
| Warranty: | 30 days |
Best value BBQ
WeberAbsolutely perfect for a quick charcoal BBQ cook-up, the Weber Compact Kettle barbecue is small, portable and versatile - making it not only great for classic garden patio cooking but also for bringing along on a car camping adventure.
Fairly wide, whilst still keeping its compact design, Weber's kettle charcoal grill barbecue doesn't sacrifice much in terms of space to become easy to store, so once the summer season is over, you'll have no trouble finding a space to keep it.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very durable
Cons
- Not as big a cooking space as others
| Dimensions: | 53.1 x 54.1 x 87.9 cm |
| Material: | Stainless steel |
| Additional Features: | Portable, easy to clean |
| Warranty: | 10-year guarantee |
Best hybrid BBQ
Char-Broilwww.bbqworld.co.uk
For those wanting to get the most varied grilling experience, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal Hybrid Grill has you more than covered. With three stainless steel burners, side burners and warming racks - feed a whole host of family members a hearty barbecue worth remembering without the fear of uneven cooking on your mind.
Made to last (with a five-year guarantee as some additional assurance), the build quality and design of the Char-Broil Gas2Coal Hybrid grill is truly second to none, it's bound to last many years and countless cookoffs, so rest assured - you won't find a better hybrid BBQ this year.
Pros
- Compatible with multiple fuel types
- Useful tool shelf and side burner
Cons
- Quite bulky
| Dimensions | 62.5 x 134.4 x 120.7 cm |
| Material: | Stainless steel |
| Additional Features: | Three burners, side-burner, warming rack, electronic igniter, charcoal tray |
| Warranty: | Five-year guarantee |
Best versatile BBQ
NinjaIf you're an adventurous cook or just plain indecisive about what you like to eat at a barbecue, the Ninja Woodfire electric barbecue is just the thing you need. Made to sit on top of a table, this small but mighty 7-in-1 grill and smoker is perfect for a whole range of recipes - not just barbecuing.
Smoke, grill, roast, bake, woodfire - there are so many possibilities, so many different recipes you can try – that you'll have people talking about your barbecues for years to come.
You'll need a good extension lead if you're planning on cooking in the garden with this BBQ, it uses electricity to grill and smoke, so you don't have to faff with building a smoky fire before you can start cooking.
Pros
- Great versatile cooking options
- Excellent value
- Incredible quality for the price
Cons
- On the smaller side, a table is required
- Powered via electricity
| Dimensions: | 46 x 46 x 34 cm |
| Material: | Steel |
| Additional Features: | Grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, rehydrate or dehydrate |
| Warranty: | Five-year guarantee |
Best compact garden BBQ
WeberFor quick and easy gas cooking with an instant setup, the Weber Q2000 is the perfect garden gas BBQ for you. With heaps of space for grilling and charring, along with some foldable side tables for your variety of garden barbecue supplies (a pile of bread, in all likelihood).
This all-in-one gas barbecue is great for flavourful, even and quick cooking and is built incredibly well - so you'll be barbecuing into the far future without the worry of rust or accidental damage, and with its five-year guarantee, you've certainly got some assurance of its quality.
Pros
- Great capacity
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- Stand needs to be on flat ground
| Dimensions: | 24.6 x 40.9 x 20.5 cm |
| Material: | Alloy steel/aluminium/porcelain enamel |
| Additional Features: | Easy to clean, removable drip tray |
| Warranty: | Five-year guarantee |
Best compact gas BBQ
CadacSimple, effective and perfect for a massive grill-up with plenty of space for mountains of meat. Designed for great heat with excellent wind shielding for the most even cooking possible.
Designed to not only support a grill full of various barbecue meat (or grilled mushroom steaks, if you prefer) but also a terrific paella pan, there are plenty of options for delicious, freshly grilled food with the Cadac Carri Chef 2, it's just that brilliant.
Pros
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Non-stick coating
Cons
- No guarantee specified
| Dimensions: | 27.56 x 27.56 x 36.61 cm |
| Material: | Aluminium/stainless steel/porcelain enamel |
| Additional Features: | Windshield and splash-back protector |
| Warranty: | N/A |
Best garden party BBQ
Argoswww.argos.co.uk
Looking for something on the cheaper side that'll still get you the perfect smokey, delicious flavours you've been dying to enjoy? Look no further than Argos's very own drum charcoal barbecue, complete with its very own utensils, so you can get barbecuing from the moment it arrives at your doorstep.
This drum charcoal design is simply excellent for larger gatherings, and that sensational charred taste to your food that we look forward to every summer. With wheels for portability and a cover to shield your precious fire from the wind - you can't beat a classic charcoal BBQ.
Pros
- Remarkably durable
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Quite large to store away
| Dimensions | 90 x 93 x 64.5 cm |
| Material: | Steel |
| Additional Features: | Warming rack, easy cleaning, two wheels, tongs, fork, spatula |
| Warranty: | One year guarantee |
Best Kamado BBQ
Kamado JoeSlow and low or rip-roaring, the Kamado Joe portable smoker BBQ is the ultimate way to cook this summer for foodies itching for deliciously tender slow-cooked and smoked meat that's stress-free.
This gorgeously designed cast iron and ceramic Kamado BBQ is all-around brilliant - with a temperature gauge to keep a keen eye on your food, handles for great portability, and a cleaning vent to sweep away any built-up ash, this is one of the highest quality best BBQs we've ever seen and is more than worth the investment.
And what's more, the Kamado Joe portable smoker barbecue also has a lifetime guarantee - so you'll never be without a good barbecue by your side.
Pros
- Excellent smoking and barbecuing functionality
- Incredible build quality
- Brilliant design
Cons
- On the smaller side compared to our other picks
| Dimensions: | 27 x 20.8 x 19.8 cm |
| Material: | Cast iron/ceramic |
| Additional Features: | Temperature control, ash drawer |
| Warranty: | Lifetime guarantee |
How to choose the best BBQ for you:
What's the best BBQ brand?
There is a huge range of barbeque brands offering some incredible value grills at competitive prices, but not all are worth buying. Amongst the wide variety of the best BBQs out there - we particularly love brands such as Weber, Kamado Joe, Ninja, Cadac, and Char-Broil for their great guarantees and consistently superb quality.
Gas BBQ or electric BBQ?
While both have their benefits, a gas BBQ is more likely to provide consistent heat and should reach higher temperatures quickly. Naturally, this requires fuel in order to use. Electric BBQ may not excel as much as a gas design, but they are easier to maintain.
Best BBQs: Frequently asked questions
Are barbecue foods healthy?
Much like with everything food related, the answer is yes and no. It really comes down to what you cook; grilled veggies are a delicious healthy addition to any cookout and probably a good idea to help spread out from the usual meat banquet.
The good news is that since the best BBQs work like a grill, you're getting the main benefits from that style of cooking. Namely, that would be that the excess fat from meats tends to drip off rather than pool around it, so your BBQ meats will usually be healthier than standard kitchen meat meals.
How do I clean a BBQ?
With the food being exposed directly onto the grill, as well as the fact your barbeque is almost certainly outside, it's super important to properly clean it to get rid of any nasty bacteria. Thankfully, the process is pretty much the same as with an oven grill. Regularly scrub your barbeque with a wire brush, warm water, and plenty of soap, and you're all set. Just be sure to give it a deep clean if it's been a while between uses. You should also avoid using chemical cleaners, that way the best BBQs money can buy will keep looking as good as new.
Why should you trust us?
At What’s The Best, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best technology products available. Anything less would undermine our commitment to being a trusted source of unbiased product information.
Our dedicated in-house writing team comprises experts with extensive experience and a genuine passion for technology. Collectively, we have spent decades testing and writing about tech, leveraging our expertise in all our articles, advice pieces and reviews.
We maintain complete editorial independence and do not accept payment for product reviews. Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this never affects our product choices. These links enable us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews.
Ryan Houghton is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.
His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.
In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.