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Are you looking for a way to bring family and friends together, while eating and enjoying the great outdoors? If that sounds great to you, a gas grill may be the answer. Having a liquid propane gas grill right outside your house will allow you to cook delicious food for everyone to enjoy. While having a propane gas grill may sound great, it can be difficult to navigate all the options out there. Whether you plan to use your grill everyday or just a few times a year, you will still want to make sure you are getting the best gas grill for you since they can get expensive.
Luckily, you don’t have to pay a ton to bring the grilling experience to your own backyard. While there are a lot of grills on the higher end of the price range, most home grillers don’t need to spend too much to get a great grill. In fact, there are plenty of awesome gas grills under 200 that may work for you. Which gas grill will be best for you will depend on what it is you’re looking for.
When looking at gas grills under $200, there are quite a few different options. Some of these grills will have 2 burners, some will be portable, some will have 3 burners, and all will have different features. To help with your purchasing decision, we put together a list to help you find the best gas grill under $200 for you. Take a look below at our picks of some of the best gas grills!
Best Gas Grills Under $200
Char-Broil Classic 360 3 Burner Grill – Best Overall Pick
Char-Broil Classic 280 2 Burner Grill – Best Overall Runner Up
Weber Q100 – Portable Pick
Cuisinart CGG180 – Space Saver Pick
Char-Broil Portable 240 – Budget Pick
Gas Grills Under $200 – Our Reviews
Char-Broil Classic 360 3 Burner Grill – Best Overall Pick
The Char-Broil Classic 360 Burner Grill is an amazing grill that works for cookouts and mid-sized gatherings. It is ideal for entry-level and also more experienced cooks as it is easy to use, large enough to cook multiple items, and requires little maintenance. The set up is not too bad, as there are clear instructions for you to follow. It’s just a more timely process.
The burner is made of stainless steel with porcelain coated heat tents that promote even and focused cooking, while the porcelain coated grates also make it easy to clean.
Overall, this is an efficient and quality grill that suits anybody looking for something at an affordable price and that’s a relatively large size.
What We Liked:
- Nice size and cooking efficiency for people who like to host get togethers
- Low maintenance and easy to clean
- Easy ignition start
What We Didn’t Like:
- The heat setting controls can be improved, you would have to buy a thermometer to get a better reading on the heat
- Wish it came with a hanger to place the grill brush or tongs on when not in use, but does have a side tray instead
Char-Broil Classic 280 2 Burner Grill – Best Overall Runner Up
This Char Broil Classic 280 2 Burner Grill is a nice, smaller option that is easy to use and maintain. I would have loved this grill when I used to live in an apartment and wanted to host get-togethers for my friends, but it’s just as convenient and friendly for homeowners.
Keep in mind that it is just a 2 burner, so though it has space, I would recommend this for those who want to host small get-togethers of about 2-8 people. It has the same features as the Char Broil Classic 360 3 burner girl in terms of the material of the grill (exterior, burner, etc.), just smaller.
What We Liked:
- Affordable and friendly for small gatherings
- Great quality that promotes even cooking
What We Didn’t Like:
- There are so many parts that it becomes hard to assemble, more of a 2 person job
- For the price, I wish it had a brush or tong holder
Weber Q100 – Portable Pick
If you are looking for a compact portable grill to take out on a nice lakeside trip, the Weber Q100 is a great option for you. It’s easy to set up, store, and use. I would not recommend this grill to more experienced users; I think this is better suited as an additional item to compliment your home.
For a small grill, it has some nice panel space to place additional items like your condiments and tools. If you like going on outings with the family and want to prepare a small bbq, this is the grill that can fulfill that need.
What We Liked:
- Compact grill that is easy to assemble, clean, and store
- Portable, great for cookouts by the beach or lake
- For its small size, still has flip out panels
What We Didn’t Like:
- Hooking up the gas fuel feels awkward
- Had issues with temperature control
- Some parts don’t feel that durable
Cuisinart CGG180 – Space Saver Pick
I really like the Cuisinart CGG180 for those who want a nice outdoor grill on their balcony, but are limited in space. The legs of this grill fold in so you can have a compact, portable, yet sturdy grill. The trade off for this flexibility is the lack of utensil space. You may need a table to accompany this grill as there is no space for condiments, tools, or other essentials.
I find this grill serves best as an accompanying item as opposed to your main grill. It’s great for cookouts and outings as it’s easy to set up, clean, and work.
What We Liked:
- Great for small family outings like grilling burgers for a picnic
- Easy to fold and to take on the go
- Good heat potential and convenient gas fuel input
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not ideal for those looking to serve a larger audience
- Would have like a side panel or hooks to hang cooking utensils on
- The stand is not as durable as we hope, would prefer the portable version over the stand grill
Char-Broil Portable 240 – Budget Pick
The Char-Broil Portable 240 is a great find for its value. Though small, it proves to be quite durable and reliable. It produces consistent heat, but is a little difficult to control. I really appreciate the thermometer as many of those we reviewed lacked one. This is great for anyone who wants something reliable, affordable, and small. If you live in a compact space and want your money’s worth in a grill, this is it!
Besides its sturdiness, it’s easy to use and assemble. The cleaning process is fast and because of the high heat, cooking is also a breeze. Just make sure to check up on your food so it doesn’t overcook.
What We Liked:
- Affordability, good value pick as an additional accessory
- Temperature monitoring! From the grill we reviewed, this was one of the few that offered this feature
- Feels sturdy and durable enough for daily use
What We Didn’t Like:
- Needs a counter or table to cook on
- Runs hot, difficulty controlling temperature
Picking the Right Grill for You
When you make your way down the aisle of your local store, you may be at a loss as to the different grill options you will encounter. What is right for me? What do I want out of my grill? What does owning a grill entail? Don’t stress! We got you covered on things to consider if you want a gas grill. We will go over some advantages, expectations, and our picks for what grill will work for you.
Advantages of Gas Grills
- Healthier! They are better for you and for the environment. These gas grills use propane, as opposed to charcoal so you do not have to worry about the carcinogens that come from coal. You simply hook up and attach the propane and control the burner with a nob. So if you care for these factors, you will be happy to know that it doesn’t produce heavy greenhouse gas emissions, and you won’t have to gamble your health for good food.
- It’s such a time saver! If you want a charcoal grill, there is a lot of labor that comes with them. Gas grills are usually easy to set up, cook with, and clean. There is no need to worry about buying: coal, lighter fluid, matches, and foil paper each time. Though you do need to buy propane for these grills, big tanks aren’t that expensive and can last you years. Cooking is fast, you can control the heat, and clean up is easy.
- Versatility! Gas grills come in all shapes and sizes to meet your individual needs. They can be a stay at home type of grill, or a compact, portable grill. As you saw from our list, some are suited for the home, while others are great for camping trips or cookouts. I appreciate that if you have a specific need that needs to be met, you can usually find a gas grill that will do the trick.
What to Think About Before Buying
So gas grills are great, but there are some things you need to know before buying one. We went over the benefits, but let’s see where they can fall short. We want your expectations to be met, so here are some factors to keep in mind.
- Gas grills need propane tanks. Large propane tanks can be quite pricey, but to be fair, there aren’t many other costs that add up. I mentioned earlier that they can go for a couple of hundreds, depending on size, but can last a decade. With charcoal grills, you need to buy several items for starting the fire, maintaining it, and cleaning it properly. Gas grills aren’t so high maintenance. Just some reliable propane and a decent cleaning brush should do the trick.
- You won’t get that smoky, charred taste, which some people really enjoy from regular, coal-burning grills. If you don’t care for this, then I think gas grills are fine, but if this is essential, you can always spend the extra money on an extension. There are smoke boxes that can help you obtain this smoky flavor in the case that you crave that flavor. Prices may vary on these smoke boxes.
Our Picks
So now that you’ve read about the advantages of gas grills, you may be thinking that a gas grill is right for you. Now the next question is “which grill is right for me?” Well from our list, we created our top pick for certain specifications. We got you on size, cost, and versatility.
Our “portable pick” was the Weber Q1000 for pretty obvious reasons. It’s one of the smaller grills on this list, yet sturdy enough to go through years of friend and family trips. It weighs around 23 pounds and needs to be placed on some type table space as it doesn’t have a stand. Despite that, if you plan around your needs with this grill, not having holding space should not present too much of an issue. So if you are someone who is more on the adventurous side that wants a trusty cooking companion, the Weber Q1000 can deliver.
The Cuisinart CGG180 was our “space saver pick” for those of you who might not have a large balcony or yard space. The foldable legs make it easy to transport and move around the house. It’s a nice freestanding grill with a 3 year warranty. Though I don’t think it’s very heavy duty, I think it is nice for someone who wants to do a weekly to monthly barbeque. I prioritize it as a space saving pick rather than a portable pick because it is not a grill I would take out on trips too often. Though free standing, the legs are quite wobbly and feel as if they can be knocked down. I think if you have limited space and just plan to grill in the comfort of your own yard, this is a great choice.
If you are looking for something more affordable, the Char-Broil Portable 240 is our “budget pick.” For the price of this gas grill, it did surprisingly well, impressing us with some features that some of the other grills on this list didn’t have. The temperature reader was a nice touch, and the consistent heat is promising.
Our biggest complaint is the lack of burner control as turning the knob from high to low doesn’t always lessen the flame. Another note is that you need a stand or counter space as it is not free standing. It’s very mighty for its size and price and still makes some great steaks. Highly recommend to those who are starting to get into the world of grilling and want to try something reliable.
We had 2 in mind for our best overall picks, but ultimately, we chose the Char-Broil Classic 360 Burner Grill as our first pick with the Char Broil Classic 280 2 Burner Grill as our “best overall runner up.” So it doesn’t get confusing, I’ll just refer to the first grill as the 3 burner, and the second grill as the 2 burner. The 3 burner grill was our top choice for its capacity to cook more for a great price. The assembly was pretty straight forward for a larger size grill and works great for a home cookout.
To be honest, neither of the 2 are super portable, they each have wheels to move around the house, but maybe not be ideal to take on trips. They are both very similar in design in terms of the materials. They are each made with the stainless steel burners and porcelain coated heat tents, and grates. There are certain issues that the 2 burner grill fell short in such as the difficulty to assemble or the smaller size. Ultimately, they are both wonderful picks that cook for more people than any of our other grills listed, it just depends on your needs and how many you think you will need to cook for.
As you can see, there are many options for you that are less than $200 that can meet your everyday needs. Many are built with quality and affordability in mind. Make sure you keep in mind your needs, understand the advantages, and understand what it is you want out of a grill.
Wrapping Up
Our best overall pick was the Char-Broil Classic 360 3 Burner Grill for its size, function, and price. I think it is the most valued item as it is the grill that can prepare meals for most people, and has a quality design. As you can see, most gas grills should offer easy set up, time saving cleaning, and affordability. They are versatile and can meet many different needs. Each of the mentioned grills serve a certain purpose, but in the end, our favorite was the 3 Burner for having the best feature of a gas grill, and reliability of a costly grill.
Go ahead and create those stories and memories over a nice outdoor meal with the friends and family. Those memories are in your reach with a quality grill at a quality price.
