12 best outdoor grills and BBQs for garden dining 2024

The John Lewis Grillstream 6 Burner Hybrid Gas & Charcoal BBQ is perfect for catering to large groups, thanks to the six gas burners that can cook for up to 12 and the large 92.4 x 41.5cm grilling area. Each burner can be individually lit, so you don't need to worry about wasting gas for smaller soirees, and the side shelf can be converted into a side burner too. With the built-in thermometer, you can keep an eye on the cooking temperature, whether you're cooking with gas, charcoal, or both together. Not to mention there's a warming rack, and plenty of storage beneath, and the Grillstream system will stream fat away to prevent flare-ups and make grilling that little bit healthier.

Customer review: "As a major charcoal enthusiast, I was skeptical about moving over to a primarily gas BBQ. But with big plans to cook for groups this summer, I needed something with a larger surface area than my current one, and the flexibility of longer cooking times without the faff of lifting grills to replace coals. Needless to say I'm stunned by the performance of this BBQ and am not hesitant anymore!!"

Do you love the taste of charcoal but are enticed by the efficiency of gas? The best outdoor grill for you could be a hybrid BBQ, to enjoy the best of both worlds. Topping our list of hybrid BBQs is the great-value Gas2Coal 2.0 BBQ. You can use gas for an impromptu evening cookout or add coals for the classic BBQ experience. It's quick and easy to adapt; a charcoal tray slots over the gas burners, and the burners are used to light the coals. This makes it super-easy to light but also to achieve a steady, even temperature quickly, and simply turn the burners off once the coals start glowing.

Our review: "During testing, we found the Char-Broil Gas2Coal Hybrid Grill 4 Burner a delight to use. It made catering for 50 people a breeze during an all-day gathering using gas, which can be handily stored in the cupboard underneath the grill. It's also ideal for couples and families who enjoy a spontaneous BBQ, as it fires up quickly and cooks food evenly. The porcelain-coated cast iron grills are rust-resistant and easy to clean, and the temperature indicator on the lid lets you know when you're ready to start cooking. There's plenty of space in the cupboard for storage, and the bottle opener is also a nice touch.

"It arrived in a huge, heavy box, which definitely needed two people to transport. It took a couple of hours to put together, with some challenging aspects (the angle of the screws would be better suited to an Allen key than a Phillips head screwdriver for ease, and the gas pipe is tricky to attach to the fittings), but once assembled, is clearly well-made and sturdy. It's easy to manoeuvre thanks to the wheels and quiet to operate, and the brakes on the wheels keep it in place while cooking. We'd recommend keeping it away from materials that could scratch it (i.e. a brick wall) and putting the parts down on grass or a sheet during assembly to avoid any damage."

Read our full Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 Hybrid Grill review.

Looking for a BBQ to go the distance and be able to withstand year after year of outdoor cooking? This is the one for you. With a PE-coated tough exterior, the Outback Meteor BBQ has been praised by reviewers for its sturdiness and longevity, with previous models having lasted over 10 years. Having said that, you should still make sure to equip it with a cover when in storage.

It's simple yet has enough capacity for you to exercise a bit of culinary creativity and broaden your al fresco menu. It has four burners and charcoal baskets with Hybrid briquettes. There's a large cooking area, a warming rack, and a side burner that has a hinged lid for additional serving space.

Customer review: "After deciding to move back to a gas bbq from a charcoal one and having had an Outback product in the past, this was a natural choice. I wasn't disappointed as the build quality seems to be very good. There's a lot to put together but it all went together well and feels really sturdy. It cooks well on gas. I haven't tried the hybrid bbq charcoals yet but it's a great idea to have a crossover with charcoal-style cooking. So far so perfect!"

The Weber Compact Charcoal BBQ takes our top spot as the best outdoor grill that's fire-powered - and is a favourite on Amazon too. The chrome triple-plated cooking grates make it easy to cook comfortably on and is easy to clean, with a One-Touch Cleaning System in place to easily sift out ash, dirt, and burnt food and grease. Reviewers have said that it's perfectly sizable, one customer was able to grill 16 sausages and 8 quarter-pounder burgers at once, but still nicely compact for storage or for use on a balcony. It's a versatile choice, durable, and it won't rust due to the porcelain-enamelled lid and bowl.

Customer review: "What a beast! Just cooked two barbecues, one for 18 people, the other for 9. This thing is easily big enough to rip through about 16 sausages or 8 1/4lb burgers at once. Gives a ferocious heat that is easy to control. It cooks things fast, really fast! Banging the lid on gives such a great smokey flavour. Quality is top-notch. I would definitely recommend complimenting this purchase with a charcoal starter, heatproof gloves, and a cover. Overall, fantastic purchase and really pleased."

If you consider yourself King of the BBQ and enjoy cooking a lot of food (or have plenty of mouths to feed), this XL BBQ will perfectly suit your grilling needs. Great for family or friend-filled gatherings, you can cook over 10 burgers and 10 sausages at once, and there's plenty of room to grill or smoke larger meats too. This CosmoGrill BBQ has everything you need; plenty of storage with foldable side tables, hooks to hang your utensils, easily adjustable air vents and coal tray, and a door at the front too for easy movement of coal without having to touch or lift the grill. With all the features, it's understandably a bit more expensive, but it's definitely a garden investment if you love barbecuing regularly.

Customer review: "Really pleased with this, bought it a couple of months ago and have now finally managed to use it a few times. The build was easy, took a while but straightforward enough. The coal tray is great, it's nice to be able to adjust the heat without having to struggle with moving the rack up or down like on different BBQs, and the side trays with plenty of hooks make cooking for large parties easy. There is loads of room for meat, which is awesome, as we always cook too much. Would definitely recommend this grill."

Are you after a BBQ that you can use in your garden and the park? With this Grill2Go, you can take your barbecue if you are looking for the ultimate gas BBQ, then this Mountain Everest Burner can tackle the toughest of crowds. It also comes equipped with wheels and side tables so you can cook up a feast anytime you like.

Customer review: "I am extremely impressed. Most of the time, I will only use two burners. I think this BBQ could manage a huge cookout with no problem. All in all, I really have to say I am blown away with this for the price. It easily competes with BBQs at 3 or 4 times its price. It has everything you really need. You can't go wrong. It's all good quality so it should last for many years. So please, save yourself the hours and days that I invested reading and researching, and just buy this."

Weber products are known for their excellent build quality, and this Weber Q 2000 Gas Barbecue is no different. This extremely versatile BBQ is compact yet has everything you require for the ultimate alfresco feast. It is small enough to fit on a modest-sized patio but still features two foldable side tables to prepare and store your ingredients. You can opt to buy it with or without the stand, but we think it's a handy addition for anyone looking to barbecue everywhere and anywhere!

Customer review: "I have owned this Q2000 for three or four years and use it at least 3 times a week, sometimes four or five times! 12 months a year. I could not be happier with this grill!"

This compact, egg-shaped BBQ weighs in at 25 kilograms, so can be popped in the boot of a car for outdoor BBQ picnics. This offers three-in-one functionality; BBQing and grilling, smoking, and it can be used as an outdoor slow cooker. This is suitable for use with charcoal, pellets, and wood chips. The ceramic insulation makes for an efficient way to keep the heat levels healthy. This has a bamboo handle and an integrated thermometer on the lid.

This versatile ceramic grill is well-built and portable. With the ability to sear, roast, grill, or smoke your food, this Kamado charcoal grill is efficient as it holds in heat and moisture and simplifies temperature control. Not only that, coal delivers a unique smoke-infused flavour that you just can't beat. One grill, so many opportunities.

Customer review: "Expensive, but worth every penny. This grill/oven/smoker takes barbecue to a whole new level. So far we have produced meltingly delicious pulled pork (an 18 hour low smoke we could never have attempted before); creamily tender brisket; the moistest, tenderest roast chicken ever; and drop-dead gorgeous pizza. Even relatively mundane dishes like pork chops and steak are elevated by the Kamado's fierce but controllable charcoal grill."

For many, the best part of barbecuing is tucking into food with that delicious smoky flavour and aroma. Yes, charcoal is good, but a smoker raises the taste sensation to a whole new level, and it's fun to experiment with different smoking techniques and wood chips to enjoy a variety of smoky flavours. Once a bulky piece of kit for commercial use only, smaller smokers are now readily available. The ProQ Frontier BBQ Smoker is perfect for beginners, with a temperature gauge and a little access door so you can check how your food is doing. Compact enough for the smallest patio but big enough to feed a crowd of 12, we like its industrial style too.

Customer review: "I love my ProQ. I've had it for about a year now and it has been used regularly since then, even in winter. I have smoked pork shoulder, ribs, chickens, brisket, and sausages on it and they have all turned out amazing. The temperature control is easy, but get yourself a good leave in probe thermometer, don't rely on the lid thermometer. I recommend the Maverick range of thermometers."

Ooni is a big hit with pizza lovers and kickstarted the trend of making pizzas in your garden. The Ooni Fyra is high quality and affordable, with foldable legs and a chimney that can be twisted off so you can store it inside the oven itself if you want to pack it away or take it on the go. The Fyra promises to cook authentic wood-fired pizzas in just 60 seconds, so pizza parties will be a regular in your house. This pizza oven makes the cooking process easy, and it's guaranteed to be used all summer long.

Customer review: "So impressed with the quality of this; it's compact yet cooks as big a pizza as you'll need and churns them out very quickly. 10 minutes heating up, and it's ready to cook; pizzas are ready in minutes. It's compact yet cooks as big a pizza as you'll need and churns them out very quickly. 10 minutes heating up, and it's ready to cook; pizzas are ready in minutes."

A firepit is a popular and simple way to ward off the evening chill if you want to stay outside for longer. This TAOTAO option has the added benefit of coming complete with a chrome grill. This makes it ideal for anyone who BBQs occasionally, giving you a fire-powered platform to cook on whilst the flames are in action. This is a particularly attractive choice, with flame-decaled mesh sides so you can see the progress of your blaze. This great value option comes with a free, smaller camping firepit, and a free rain cover.

Customer review: "I was pleasantly surprised by how big this actually is. Plenty big enough to BBQ for a half dozen people and for a few people to sit around on a cooler evening. Definitely big enough for a fire log. The design is clear, the bowl itself feels sturdy though not overly heavy. The BBQ grill is plenty thick enough to be able to do its job for the foreseeable future."