Best gas barbecue 2025: sterling gas grills for year-round use

Find the best large and small gas barbecues for patios, balconies, camping and picnics

best bbq: Broil King Baron 490 IR
(Image credit: Broil King)

If you’re looking for the best gas barbecue for the patio, garden, balcony, campsite, caravan, RV or beach, you can stop here.

In this guide, you’ll find gas barbecues of all shapes and sizes, from large garden models to patio-sized grills and even one to two balcony-friendly products. Our current top pick is the Napoleon Freestyle 425 SIB, as it offers an amazing grilling experience that will make you want to barbecue every weekend.

This guide is dedicated to the best gas barbecues on the market, while T3's main best barbecue buying guide includes charcoal, gas, pellet and electric varieties. In other words, you should check that guide out if you're unsure which fuel type you're looking for.

But if it's gas you're after, here are the best gas barbecues you can buy today.

The top three

Bethan-Girdler-Maslen T3
Beth Girdler-Maslen

As T3's Home Editor, Beth Girdler-Maslen has tried plenty of kitchen and outdoor cooking appliances, including pizza ovens and barbecues. A keen barbecue-r, she has the best product recommendations and top tips on how to get the most out of your grill.

Recent updates

We have updated our best gas barbecue guide with new review in at spot 6, 7 and 10. We've also included a top three and will have more reviews coming soon.

Best gas barbecues you can buy in 2025

The best gas barbecue overall

Napoleon Freestyle 425 SIB on white backgroundT3 Best Buy badge

(Image credit: Napoleon)

1. Napoleon Freestyle 425 SIB

The best gas barbecue overall

Specifications

Grill size: 60 x 45cm
Burners: 4
For: Patios and gardens

Reasons to buy

+
Superb grilling performance
+
Cast iron grill grates
+
Excellent ignition system
+
Side infrared burner for steaks

Reasons to avoid

-
Long assembly process

Canadian BBQ manufacturer Napoleon normally specialises in premium barbecues so it’s great to see the company bringing out an entry-level gas model that performs as well as its prestigious stablemates.

This four-burner model is a brilliant choice for larger families or those who like to entertain on a regular basis. Aside from the trademark wave-shaped cast iron grates – which amount to 4,315cm² of total grilling area – this model also comes with a side-mounted infrared Sizzle Zone for searing steaks and fish at very high temperature. This writer normally dislikes standard side burners that are designed for saucepan use but having an infrared searing station instead is a genuine bonus.

Napoleon’s Jetfire ignition system is another great reason to consider this BBQ since it fires up instantly by dint of a flamethrower that immediately ignites the stainless steel burner the moment your turn and click the temperature control wheel. Since all four burners are linked by a gas channel, each subsequent turn of a different control knob ignites that burner instantaneously. With all four burners raging at full bore you can expect the 425 to reach around 400˚C in about 12 minutes.

The Napoleon 425 SIB (SIB stands for Side Infrared Burner) comes with two sturdy shelves – the one on the left is fixed and has the Sizzle Zone beneath the lid while the shelf on the right can be folded down for easier storage. A superb temperature gauge completes the front end.

Heading round to the back, there’s a big open space to hold your preferred size of propane bottle – the plastic plinth at the base of the unit can be adjusted to accommodate either 5kg or 13kg bottles. Apart from one hiccup during the long assembly process, this BBQ was fairly easy to build.

Cast iron grates of this caliber are amazing to grill on since they retain heat very well. I also love the curly nature of the grates on this model which adds a nice shape to sear marks while stopping small food items like prawns and halloumi from slipping through. During my test, temperatures were very consistent across the entire cooking surface – the chicken, sausages and burgers I grilled came off perfectly cooked and nicely seared. The Sizzle Zone, too, produced a stunning sirloin steak with amazing caramelisation that tasted out of this world.

This writer has always been impressed with Napoleon barbecues. Despite the lower price, this model has performed as well as expected. It’s a cracker in every respect.

The best premium gas barbecue

Broil King Baron 490 IR reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Derek Adams)
The best premium gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 2,968 square cm
Burners: 4 plus side burner and rotisserie
For: Garden & patio

Reasons to buy

+
Huge grilling space
+
Four main burners, side steak-sear station and integrated rotisserie set
+
Backlit control knobs

Reasons to avoid

-
Not cheap
-
Takes time to assemble

Available in shiny stainless steel or lush black, this snazzy gas model from one of America’s favourite barbecue brands is an absolute corker that’s exceptionally well designed and constructed using better quality materials than the majority of other models on this page.

As we detail in our Broil King Baron 490 IR review, this is a four-burner beast with a side-mounted steak sizzler, a rotisserie with dedicated rear burner, heavy-duty reversible cast-iron grilling grates, a sturdy side shelf, two solid steel doors to hide the gas bottle and backlit control knobs for night time grilling.

Like all large BBQs, the Baron 490 IR arrives on palette and requires assembly which takes up to three hours to complete. However, seeing the whole shebang as a collection of parts makes you really appreciate the quality of the materials used. Crucially, everything went together perfectly with no dodgy bolt holes and misaligned panels.

At around £1,500, this is not a cheap barbecue but then you do get a lot of meal estate, an incredible steak searing station on the side and a full rotisserie kit with its own full-length back burner. I’ve tried many other gas barbecues in this price bracket and few can compete with this one for sheer versatility and performance.

The best budget gas barbecue

Broil King Porta Chef 120 on white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Broil King)

3. Broil King Porta Chef 120

The best budget gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 426 sq in
Burners: 3
For: Portability

Reasons to buy

+
Small and fairly portable
+
Three burners
+
Ideal for patios, camping and caravans

Reasons to avoid

-
Legs are a bit wobbly

If you’re shopping for a small 4kW gas barbecue that can be easily collapsed for winter storage in the shed or taken away with you on a camping or caravan holiday, the Broil King Porta Chef 120 is a very reasonably priced option that ticks many a box.

This grill has one long burner that stretches the entire width of the unit and 1,420 sq cm of grilling space on its high-quality cast iron cooking grate. For its sub-£300 asking price, the Porta Chef 120 is well built though the legs can be a bit wobbly if you don’t pull them outwards a bit when in situ. However, the removable legs and side shelf do make it easy for storage and transport.

Refreshingly, the Porta Chef 120 is one of the easiest gas barbecues to build because most of it is factory assembled. All you have to do is clip in the four legs, attach the lid using the supplied grommets, screw in the lid handle and position the cast iron grates. A great easy-to-store travel choice for gas fans.

The best portable gas barbecue

Weber TravelerT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Weber)
The best portable gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 2,065 square cm
Burners: 1
For: Balcony, patio & camping

Reasons to buy

+
Folds and unfolds easily
+
Reasonably priced
+
Very portable and easy to store

Reasons to avoid

-
Not massive in terms of cooking plate capacity

This is a superb portable folding model that’s perfect for both home and away. Because it folds in a thrice and can be stored on its end, you can simply pop it in the shed at the end of the season. Granted, the Traveler is large for a portable – and heavy, too – but its big wheels and scissor-like cart make it really easy to move it around.

As we said in our Weber Traveler review, the Traveler’s folding mechanism is a joy to use and it collapses with such a slow and satisfying damping action you will almost certainly play around with it for some time before even attempting to start grilling on it.

The Traveler comes with a 2,065cm cast-iron grilling area which is big enough for about six guests or more if you’re just doing standard fare like sausages and drumsticks. The gorgeously fashioned porcelain-enamelled lid, meanwhile, provides reliable indirect grilling without any flare ups.

The Weber Traveler is designed to work with disposable gas canisters of the screw-top camping variety but it can also be adapted to work with a standard Patio Gas propane bottle if using it mostly at home.

This semi-portable gas barbecue is extremely practical to use, easy to store and it grills like a trojan. It isn’t too expensive either, at least for a Weber.

You can compare this gas BBQ to another highly-rated designer model in our Weber Traveler vs Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force comparison feature.

The best versatile gas barbecue

Char-Broil All-Star reviewT3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Future)
The best gas barbecue for all-round versatility

Specifications

Grill size: 18 inches
Burners: 1
For: Balcony & patio

Reasons to buy

+
Grills evenly
+
Portable and stylish
+
Can be used with charcoal

Reasons to avoid

-
Compact size means larger gas cylinders don't fit in the allotted space

This compact single-burner gas grill is perfect for patios and balconies. Its 46cm circular cast iron grate is similar to that of a standard Weber kettle and we love the way it sits flush with the surface of the main body. It also has an excellent heat-retaining hinged lid. The two fold-out shelves, meanwhile, provide plenty of space for holding raw ingredients while you slap them on, and it fires up instantly with one touch of its battery-powered igniter.

The All-Star's circular single burner heats the grate to a maximum temperature of about 350°C and, because it has one of Char-Broil's innovative corrugated heat-distributing TRU- Infrared sheets directly beneath it, the entire grate is heated evenly. Char-Broil recommends cleaning the infrared sheet after every barbecue session and the best way to do this is to leave the gas on high for about ten minutes to carbonise the grease and other detritus. Then, simply brush off the powdered remains or use the provided cleaning tool. The top half of this barbecue comes with its own separate set of sturdy legs so it can be lifted off the main stand and placed on a table or transported in a caravan or RV.

Minor assembly niggles aside, the All-Star is one of the most compact gas barbies we've come across and an ideal choice for a patio or balcony use. It's easy to use, it grills everything evenly and it's simple to clean. Well worth a gander.

You can find out more by reading our five-star Char-Broil All-Star review

The best easy gas barbecue

Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review

(Image credit: Beth Girdler-Maslen / T3)
The best gas barbecue for ease of use

Specifications

Grill size: 159cm x 131cm x 81cm
Burners: 3
For: Garden

Reasons to buy

+
Main, side and searing burners for lots of cooking
+
Attractive design with good storage
+
Easy to assemble and use

Reasons to avoid

-
Might be too big for some gardens

The Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill is a brilliant three gas burner, including a huge main grilling area and side burner. It might look intimidating and it certainly is big, but the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill has been designed cleverly with plenty of storage and cooking space.

In our Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill review, we were incredibly surprised by how easy it was to assemble and use. For those who are new to gas barbecues, the Weber Spirit Classic E-330 GBS Gas Grill is the perfect choice and offers delicious, authentic gas cooking for huge amounts of people.

The best smart gas barbecue

Char-Broil Evolve smart gas barbecue

(Image credit: Future)
The best smart gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 113.7cm x 57.9 cm x 123.6. cm
Burners: 1
For: Garden

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing digital interface
+
Fun smart features
+
Attractive design

Reasons to avoid

-
Do you need smart tech in a BBQ?

Expanding on its Smart E barbecue, the Char-Broil Evolve is the latest smart BBQ from the brand, having launched in 2024. Using smart technology and app connectivity, the Char-Broil Evolve is more versatile than non-smart barbecues, and you can walk away from it while it cooks and check up on its progress via your phone.

While we debated whether you need this technology in our Char-Broil Evolve review, we really enjoyed its grilling performance and manual ease of use. It looks the part too, with its superb digital interface, storage compartments and black and silver colouring.

The best gas barbecue for features

Campingaz 3 Series Premium S reviewT3 Best Buy Award badge

(Image credit: Campingaz)
The best gas barbecue for features and innovation

Specifications

Grill size: 61cm x 46cm
Burners: 3
For: Garden & patio

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent performer
+
Innovative cleaning system
+
Keen price

Reasons to avoid

-
Tricky to assemble

This mid-priced three-burner model has a large 61cm x 46cm porcelain-enamelled cast iron cooking grate that’s good for up to eight hungry gannets. Rather cleverly, the grate is divided into two sections: a large cast-iron section with a removable centre to accommodate a range of Campingaz’s Culinary Modular cooking accessories, and a two-way flat/ribbed griddle plate for fish, prawns, halloumi, vegetables and breakfast fry-ups. It’s also equipped with a right-hand side burner for pot-based boiling and a large shelf on the left.

This model’s main grill grate is designed with several solid sections that are placed directly above each burner. These sections protect the burners from dripping fats while allowing naked flames to kiss the food for authentic charcoal-style flavour and texture. Its innovative cleaning system is an especially cool, time-saving feature. In essence, a water tray beneath the barbecue catches all the fats which then float on the water. All you do is remove the tray and pour away the fatty water.

If you’re after a reasonably priced and very versatile three-burner gas barbecue that excels in a myriad of ways, then this could be the model for you. Just be prepared to spend a few hours assembling it.

For even more information on this top BBQ be sure to read our Campingaz 3 Series Premium S review and our Campingaz 3 Series Premium S vs Char-Broil Professional Pro S3 comparison feature.

The best two-burner gas barbecue

Everdure by Heston Blumenthal FORCE 2 Burner gas BBQ on white backgroundT3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Everdure by Heston Blumenthal)

9. Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force 2 Burner

The best two-burner gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 365 inches sq
Burners: 2
For: Garden & patio

Reasons to buy

+
Superbly built
+
Grills evenly
+
Accurate control dials

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey

If you've decided that gas grilling is for you, you might not find a more efficient contender than this strikingly simple albeit pricy model, approved by food sorcerer, Heston Blumenthal. Available in three colours – graphite, orange and mint – the two-burner Force is a joy to use, doesn't take up too much space and heats up very quickly - just four minutes to reach a searing temperature of 350°C.

This aesthetically spot-on two-burner gas model from food sorcerer Heston Blumenthal is built almost entirely out of rust-free die-cast aluminium so you can expect it to last for years. It also comes with the most accurate control dials in the business, a top-quality cast-iron grate with integrated flame tamers and a collapsible side table.

If you're in the market for a gas barbecue that delivers in spades and don't mind forking out so you can, uh, fork in, you won't find a more capable model that the Everdure Force.

The best three-burner steel gas barbecue

Char-Broil Professional Pro S 3 reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Char-Broil)
The best three-burner gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 61.5cm x 44.5cm
Burners: 3
For: Garden & patio

Reasons to buy

+
Three burners, including a side rear burner
+
Stainless steel design
+
Amazing performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Side burner is a hassle to assemble

For large families, the Char-Broil Professional Pro S3 is a great middle man between a two burner and a four burner. This three burner model grills, roasts and sears at a top level, plus it has a stunning stainless steel design.

Using radiant heat technology, the Char-Broil Professional Pro S 3 is easy to use and control the temperature for more versatile cooking. It's a bit tricky to clean, and the side burner was hard to assemble, but it offers a huge amount of cooking and storage space, so you can't really go wrong.

The best four-burner gas barbecue

Landmann Fryton grill in the gardenT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Landmann)
The best four-burner gas barbecue

Specifications

Grill size: 65 x 40cm
Burners: 4.1
For: Garden & Patio

Reasons to buy

+
Features a built-in air fryer
+
Excellent quality cast-iron grate
+
Four powerful main burners
+
Side burner

Reasons to avoid

-
Air fryer requires electricity

As we say in our Landmann Fryton review, this is the first barbecue we know of to ship with a built-in electrically-powered air fryer. No, really. The air fryer has a capacity of 3.5 litres which, while smaller than a standard kitchen top model, is large enough for several portions of French fries, chips, broccoli or rosemary potatoes. Figure in a 3kW side burner, and you have a gas barbecue that can grill, boil and fry.

The Fryton’s excellent cast-iron grill measures 65 x 40cm so it provides ample space to feed a party of up to six – more if you’re grilling small ingredients like sausages and chicken wings.

We tested both the grill and the air fryer and both performed exceedingly well. In fact, aside from some chicken wings on the main grill, we also tried some air-fried drumsticks and they were out-of-this-world crispy with a succulent centre that isn’t that easy to replicate on a barbecue grill.

If you’d rather stay out in the garden and not have to enter the kitchen when whipping up an al fresco banquet, the Landmann Fryton might just be the BBQ you’re looking for.

How to choose the best gas BBQ

Most seasoned chefs and barbecue aficionados will argue that charcoal is a much better heat source for alfresco grilling than a gas flame. But contrary to that, gas fans will argue that it doesn’t really matter what the heat source is because the whole essence of a barbecued dish is the smokey flavour produced by meat fats dripping onto the heat below. Whether the heat source is hot charcoals or a metal heat shield above a gas flame shouldn’t make a great deal of difference to the flavour.

One thing’s for sure – gas barbecuing is a much more convenient way to grill than charcoal, even though the barbecues themselves are invariably more expensive to buy and a lot more hassle to assemble. Gas is a much more dependable way to grill, too, especially for novices who might still rue the day they lit the charcoal too late and started grilling before the charcoal was at optimum temperature. With a gas barbecue you’re ready to start cooking in about five minutes, flare-ups are easily dealt with by simply turning down the heat, and you can go on grilling for as long as there’s gas in the canister.

If gas is ultimately your bag, then you need to decide next what size of gas grill you need. There's portable, single, dual and even triple burner models on the market, which allow you to cook everything from a handful of sausages and a few burgers, right up to industrial levels of chops, steaks, sausages, burgers, vegetables, fish and tofu. Most families will be fine with just a single-burner gas grill, but larger families or those that entertain a lot should scope out a dual burner at the minimum.

Portable BBQs can be a great shout, too, as they of course can be used on patios and balconies for example at home, as well as on road trips, picnics or camping trips. Again, the obvious downside with these grills is that they don't tend to have as large a cooking plate as most non-portable barbies.

Some gas grills, like the Char-Broil Gas-2-Coal, deliver both gas and charcoal functionality in one product. These sorts of grills are the last word in versatility, as they can be used on gas at home, or on charcoal while sat on the ground near a picnic hamper.

In terms of brands, the big names in the gas BBQ world are Weber, Napoleon, Char-Broil and Broil King, so expect to pay a premium for grills made by them. These brands have been making BBQs for years and they've got serious pedigree in the field, so you can expect quality.

Reviewer panel

Bethan-Girdler-Maslen T3
Beth Girdler-Maslen

Beth Girdler-Maslen is T3's Home Editor and has tried plenty of kitchen appliances. She loves a good barbecue and has tried a few models in this guide, including her favourite Weber gas grill

Derek Adams
Derek Adams

Derek specialises in home and outdoor wares, including the best barbecues. He's tried many of the best models from Char-Broil, Weber and Broil King.

Rob Jones T3
Rob Jones

Ex-Deputy Editor at T3, Rob Jones loved testing all things barbecues and garden tools, and quickly became an expert in the topic.

Derek Adams

Derek (aka Delbert, Delvis, Delphinium, Delboy etc) specialises in home and outdoor wares, from coffee machines, white appliances and vacs to drones, garden gear and BBQs. He has been writing for more years than anyone can remember, starting at the legendary Time Out magazine – the original, London version – on a typewriter! He now writes for T3 between playing drums with his bandmates in Red Box (redboxmusic). 

With contributions from