Portable grills aren’t just great for toting to a campground, park, or tailgate. If you don’t have the space or budget for a full-size grill, they might also be the best option for your backyard. After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we have recommendations for both gas and charcoal options.
The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is our pick because of its no-fuss convenience and stellar performance. For charcoal purists, we recommend the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18″, which is just as capable as a full-size kettle at searing and grilling food to perfection.
Our pick
Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill
This propane grill is sturdy, easy to use, and big enough to grill burgers for a small crowd. It’s on the heavy side, but it has comfortable handles for transport.
The Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill is the best of the portable propane models we’ve tested. It outperformed the competition at both high-heat searing and low-and-slow grilling, with the fewest flare-ups. And it’s well-built, with a push-button ignition and temperature control dial that are easy to use.
The cast-aluminum firebox evenly distributes heat across a grilling grate big enough to fit six large burgers or a whole cut up chicken. The spacious dome lid has a built-in thermometer that lets you know when the grill is hot. And small fold-out side tables on either side are convenient for keeping grill tools within reach.
Though this 30-pound grill takes some strength to lift, its roomy handles make it comfortable for one person to carry.
Also great
Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill
This larger version of our pick offers more cooking area and higher heat output. It’s also 10 pounds heavier.
The Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill offers the same high-quality build and stellar grilling performance as our top pick, the Weber Q 1200, but with a 48% bigger grilling grate, it can hold up to ten burgers or two whole cut-up chickens.
As with the Q 1200, the features that set the Q 2200 apart from the competition include a cast-aluminum firebox for even heating, a push-button ignition, and fold-out side tables.
However, this 40-pound grill isn’t lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. And heating the larger grill surface will burn through propane faster.
Runner-up
If you want a lighter, more compact propane grill, the Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Portable Gas Grill is designed for one-handed toting. It’s slightly larger than a briefcase and weighs 10 pounds less than our top pick, but it holds the same amount of food––about six burgers.
In our tests, the Grill2Go X200 produced intense heat that was ideal for searing steaks but had us battling some flare-ups when cooking chicken pieces. Although we wouldn’t want to use it as a primary patio grill, it’s a decent dedicated portable grill for camping and tailgating.
Our pick
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18″
Although working with charcoal isn’t as easy as turning the dial on a gas grill, this smaller version of the classic Weber kettle grill offers better temperature control than any other portable charcoal grill we tested.
Grilling with charcoal takes a bit more patience and finesse than gas, but if you prefer that smoky flavor, the lightweight Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18″ matches the searing and grilling abilities of Weber’s full-size kettle. In our tests, the well-placed vents in both the lid and the firebox provided precise temperature control that no other portable charcoal grill we tried—including two other Webers—could match.
The Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill is lighter than our gas pick, weighing under 20 pounds, but it’s not smaller. Its cooking surface holds about seven burgers or one whole, cut-up chicken.
Other features make it pleasant to use: The tripod base is stable on uneven terrain, and the simple ash catcher keeps hot embers from falling on the ground. The heat-resistant lid handle stays cool enough to grasp without a towel or oven mitt. And the carrying handle locks the lid in place for easy transport.
