What is the Best Small Gas Grill? Your Top Portable, Outdoor Options (2022)

Whether you are planning to host barbecue parties or go camping with friends, there are multiple compact gas grill choices available.

However, going over ALL the options would be time-consuming and quite confusing.

After this article, our experts will help you find the small gas grill that's perfect for YOU!

Reviews of the Best Small Gas Grills

We’ve rounded up the top 9 small gas grills in the market. We’ll go over the best features for each to help you find the perfect one for you or for your loved one!

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

Weber’s E-210 model from the Spirit series is topping our charts among the best small gas grills.

Sporting two burners, this griller offers a total of 450 SQUARE INCHES of cooking surface. It can generate a WHOPPING 26,500 BTUs.

This grill also has the signature "flavorizer" bars which turn the juice drippings into a flavorful smoke.

Moreover, the E-210 is equipped with REVERSIBLE porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and stainless steel heat deflectors. This combo would surely get you your perfect GRILL MARKS!

You also won't have to open the lid to check the temperature as it has a BUILT-IN thermometer.

It comes in a compact size with 6 tool hooks and two folding side tables which can both save or give you the space you need!

As for its downsides, we would've preferred a side burner addition. Also, the propane tank scale isn't always as accurate. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean you'll be grilling over or undercooked meat!

Pros:

• Reversible grates and the flavorizer bars
• WIDE cooking space with two burners
• Two large wheels and folding side tables
• Multiple features and accessories

Cons:

• Propane tank scale is not always accurate
• Doesn't have a side burner
• Quite expensive

2. Best Value Grill: Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill

If you need something smaller than the Weber E-210 at a lower price but with close to similar features, your best bet would be the Char-broil Performance 300. 

This small grill also comes with 2 foldable side trays and 2 burners with porcelain-coated cast iron grates.

It can generate heat up to 24,000 BTU. It has a built-in warming rack connected to its stainless steel lid. However, the whole grill can easily be moved around as it is equipped with four caster wheels.

This awesome propane grill also comes with a SPACIOUS COOKING AREA of 300 square inches. To give you an idea, this can perfectly fit 12 burgers and a few sausages at the same time!

Perfect for a barbecue or a tailgate party! Not to mention, it MAXIMIZES spaces and certainly knows how to host a party.

Pros:

• Compact propane grill
• Many features such as warming racks, thermometer, side trays
• Friendly price point compared to counterpart models
• Stainless exterior

 Cons:

• Heat escapes which makes searing a challenge

3. Best Budget-Friendly Option: Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill

An oldie but goodie, the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is our top choice for those on a budget but still want a durable grill.

The Kettle comes with a hook lid and a one-touch cleaning system -  a fast and convenient feature for ash cleanup. You just need to slide open the knob to remove debris and ash build-up.

The porcelain lid and bowl design of the grill retain heat efficiently to ensure EVEN COOKING across its 240 square inches of cooking space. 

It may not have a side table but it comes with a small rack below where you can place your plates or cooking utensils. That's one hell of a convenient feature! Save up on extra storage bins!

Pros:

• Cover is attached to the main body
• Simple design
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Not suitable in areas where charcoal grilling is not allowed
• Handle gets hot after long use

4. Best Portable: Weber Q 1000 Propane Grill

If you need a trusty gas grill you can bring anywhere, this is for you.

This easy-to-assemble griller has a cast aluminum lid and glass-reinforced nylon frame. For its size, it’s quite powerful as its stainless steel burner can produce 8,500 BTU.

Although it doesn't need much storage space, it has enough grill space to cook LARGE amounts of food. Its cast-iron grates are spread over its 189 square inches of cooking area.

What we also like about this is it comes with push-button ignition. This is connected to a small portable propane bottle for a plug n' play experience.

You can also switch this with a 20-gallon propane tank using an adapter hose. 

Whether you’re in your backyard, patio, or at the beach, it can’t get any easier than the Q1000.

Pros:

• A portable beach or patio grill with a sleek and simple design
• Quick assembly
• Push-button ignition

 Cons:

• Takes a while to preheat
• Some heat escapes the lid

5. Best Indoor/Outdoor: George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

Who says grilling can only be done outdoors?

George Foreman Electric Grill redefines grilling as it can also be used INSIDE your homes. Ahh, the beauty of an electric grill.

It has a removable stand and transforms into a tabletop grill PERFECT for days when the weather is not cooperating. And let's not forget its handy features:

• The temperature control feature of this grill gives you 5 heat settings to choose from.
• This electric grill offers 240 square inches of cooking surface.
• The grill plate is detachable and dishwasher safe while its domed steel lid has built in manual ventilation.

Another AWESOME thing about this grill is it has a drip tray that is slightly tilted. This allows it to collect the oil and prevent the meat from soaking in it.

Pros:

• Fully electric grill
• Great for those with limited spaces or in areas with strict bylaws or rules on outdoor grilling
• Has oil/grease collector

 Cons:

• Heat control is too close to cooking area
• No side tables

6. Best Small Infrared: Char-Broil Performance TRU Infrared 300 2-Burner Gas Grill

A cool addition to gas grills would be INFRARED TECHNOLOGY. Among the available grills with this feature, our best pick would be Char-Broil Performance TRU Infrared 300.

It works similarly to a normal gas grill. The advantage to this is the infrared heating element allows a more even heat distribution across the grill top. This feature also serves as a barrier that can GREATLY REDUCE flare-ups.

It's great for those who appreciate a little help from technology to achieve the PERFECT SEAR.

This small grill has 2 stainless steel burners and a porcelain-coated cast iron grate spread of 300 square inches of cooking space. The steel lid comes with a warming rack and a temperature gauge.

It also has a mini cabinet where you can place the propane tank.

Pros:

• Equipped with infrared technology
• More power compared to other grills
• Fewer flare-ups

 Cons:

• A bit pricey
• Harder to clean

7. Best High Tech: Fuego Element F24C Carbon Steel Gas Grill

Smart grill, anyone?

Created by a former Apple designer, the Fuego Element F24C is perfect for those who are looking for an INNOVATIVE option.

In 5 minutes, it can fire up and reach 500-700 degrees. IMPRESSIVE.

The two burners can also be adjusted separately, meaning you can kick up the temperature on the first burner then have a low heat on the second burner - leave all the cooking to this grill.

It's a double burner and comes with a generous grilling space of 415 square inches.

This small grill hides the propane tank in its hinged storage door. It also comes with a mounted temperature gauge on its lid.

Fuego isn't your average Joe. HOWEVER, the biggest downside is its price. At roughly $600, that's quite  LOT.

Pros:

• One of the most advanced grills in the market
• Sleek design and smart features
• Quick preheating period

 Cons:

• High price point
• No side tables
• Not fully stainless

8. Best Kamado: Kamado Joe KJ13RH Joe Jr Charcoal Grill

If you want a unique grill, go for the Kamado Joe KJ13RH Charcoal grill. This egg-shaped grill is one of a kind. It’s also portable albeit a bit heavy.

It can support charcoal and propane grilling. This grill features dual air-flow dampers and a decent cooking area of 153 square inches.

The cooking grate is also made from stainless steel. It has a hinged locking lid and a heat gauge to ensure your food gets the proper heat and smokiness.

It’s also equipped with a bottom damper and ash pan which makes cleanup a breeze.

Pros:

• Unique design
• Comes with a temperature gauge
• Can retain heat well
• Charcoal AND propane grilling

 Cons:

• Small cooking area
• REALLY heavy for its size

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

If you are looking for an AFFORDABLE and PORTABLE pellet grill, the search is over.

It has a thermal sensor to monitor the grill temperature with better accuracy than most grills so if you're still brushing up your grilling skills, Davy Crockett was designed specifically for you.

This lightweight grill is Wi-Fi enabled, thus you can control it FROM AFAR with an easy swipe of your finger.

It's also the perfect tailgating grill as it can easily fold and fit any trunk. It can be plugged into standard electric outlets OR use an adapter to plug it on a 12V outlet.

It's smartly designed as it has a peaked lid - GREAT for tall or stacked foods.

You'll also find a wire rack on the right side with some tool hooks where you can hang your cooking utensils. We loved this extra design feature, but it also made it a little difficult to transport due to its wide frame.

Pros:

• Wi-Fi enabled grill
• Affordable
• Great design and features
• Portable power options

 Cons:

• Takes a while to master

Small Gas Grills Buyer’s Guide

Good things come in small packages.

The same can be said about gas grills - but EXACTLY what makes a good small gas grill GOOD?

Let’s quickly go over some features to consider if you’re on the lookout for the best gas grill, according to our experts.

(Or you can also check out our list of the best griddles for gas grills.)

Design and Build

Take note of what the gas grill is made of:

• If you plan to use it outdoors, it's best to go for a stainless steel [1] or porcelain-coated grill. Whatever the weather is, you won't have to worry about your grill.
• Check how and where you will store your gas grill. This will help you determine the size and the suitable type of grill for you.

Cooking Space

This is a critical factor in gas grills, particularly the small ones. Their compact size should NOT compromise the cooking space available in the griller.

Having little cooking space would mean having to prepare the food in batches.

Consider the activities and group size you will cook for with the use of the griller.

• Group yard barbecues on the weekend or outings with other couples or families may require a bigger grill space.
• For small and medium (2-5) groups, a smaller cooking area in the griller would suffice.

The smallest area for a decent gas grill should not be below 150 square inches of cooking space.

Portability

While we have provided the top options for small gas grill models, NOT ALL TYPES are portable. Some are perfect as stationary gas grillers in smaller homes or backyards.

If your biggest priority is PORTABILITY, then you should consider the size of the griller.

• Look for grillers that can easily fit your car
• It can be assembled with minimal or no help

 A secondary factor would be the grilling or cooking methods that it can support.

Since portability implies traveling or camping, it would be a great help if the griller has more than one fuel or cooking method.

For example, a good portable gas grill should be able to connect to both a hose or a small propane bottle. Another good option if the grill can support charcoal grilling and propane grilling. (Check here for the top portable charcoal grills!)

Type of Fuel

Also, check which methods are supported by your gas griller.

Depending on the types of BBQ activities or kinds of food you see yourself cooking, there are recommended methods that are said to ENHANCE or accentuate the flavors in the meal.

Do note that there are also pros and cons to each. To help you weigh which methods would be more suitable for you, let’s quickly look at the advantages and disadvantages for each:

Charcoal Grills

Pros

• Often preferred by most people as it’s said to give an authentic grilled taste and smoky flavor
• Easy option for those who are camping as you only need fire to set it up

Cons

• Hard and messy to clean the ashes
• Hard to control temperature and flare-ups during the cooking process
• Grills tend to rust more quickly

Gas or Propane Grills 

Pros

• Has a controllable and constant cooking flame which comes in handy when cooking delicate meats

Cons

• Most igniters run on battery which can make it less reliable
• In some grillers, traces of gas might be infused in the meat especially if you are using gas with a strong smell

Electric Grills

Pros

• Safest option as it limits risks of starting a fire when unattended
• Easy to clean
• Grills meat with less smoke and no unwanted flavor compared to gas and wood grilling methods

Cons

• Not suitable for camp sites with no electricity

Extra Features

Extra features are a sweet addition to any grillers. These are some of the coolest and most convenient features we found in grillers:

• Folding tables come in handy when cooking foods in batches
• Tool hooks keep your cooking utensils in place
• A neat feature is a high heat up speed - great for like to cook their food in a jiffy 
• A reversible cooking grate is also convenient especially when there is a lot of build-up in the grills
• Dual zoning system helps control heat exposure when cooking delicate meats
• Built-in thermometer reduces the need to open the lid just to check the temperature
• Grease tray or collector piles all oils so it doesn't stay and spread in burner
• Heat deflectors are useful when you don’t have much cooking space. It controls and spreads the heat exposure evenly
• Infrared technology acts as an alternative heating element or as an optional burner. It can also generate higher temperatures compared to conventional grilling methods

Price

As with most items we buy, PRICE plays a big factor in the buyer’s decision.

The average small gas grill retails at $250. More features or complex designs would be MORE expensive.

In our list, the highest-priced option (Fuego Element F24C) is at roughly $600, mostly due to its smart design and high-tech features.

Meanwhile, our budget-friendly option (Weber Original Kettle) only costs about $80. It's easy to use and gets the job done! A great steal for its quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best small gas grill to buy?

If we’re put on the hot seat, we’ll have to go with the E-210 from the Weber Spirit series.

It’s packed with cool features that make grilling a breeze:

• Tried and tested quality
• Generous cooking space of 450 cubic inches
• 2 burners which can generate plenty of heat
• Built-in temperature gauge and warming trays
• Comes with 2 folding tables on the side and reversible cooking grates!

 Our Top Pick For a Small Gas Grill: Weber Spirit II E-210

The Weber Spirit II E-210 is our experts’ top pick among the options on our list. The first runner-up would be the Char-Broil Performance as it's our most convenient portable gas grill on our list.

And taking third place is Weber Original Kettle, the most budget-friendly option without compromising quality and usability.

We hope this article helped you pick the best small gas grill for you!

Check out more of our roundup articles below:

• What is the Best Camping Grill?
• What is the Best Outdoor Electric Grill?
• What is the Best George Foreman Grill?