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BY Heather Fishel / LAST UPDATED ON April 5, 2021
Are you tired of swapping out, emptying, and refilling propane tanks for your barbecue? Grilling outdoors can be a hassle when you’re relying on propane fuel — though it’s affordable and pretty simple, it can become frustrating when you run out of propane. And charcoal isn’t a convenient solution either. It might be time to make the switch to a natural gas grill. These grills connect to a natural gas line and provide a consistent, permanent fuel source right at home. You don't have to worry about low fuel levels or running out. Available in many sizes and setups, natural gas grills give you all the perks of other grill styles and long-term convenience. Check out our picks for the best natural gas grills below.
A powerful, innovative natural gas grill that stands up to everyday cooking with ease.
An affordable natural gas grill with quality construction and versatile cooking options.
A premium grill designed for custom backyard setups with high-quality construction.
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
A freestanding natural gas grill is the most common type you’ll come across. It’s the most basic type of barbecue: a grill that sits on its legs or stand, and can be installed or hooked up to a natural gas line anywhere. These grills don’t have to be connected to anything other than the gas line itself. They often feature extras, like storage space beneath the grill itself, a cabinet, or side tables and racks.
A built-in natural gas grill is a smaller yet more customized version of a traditional grill. It’s just the top half of the grill — the hood, the cooking grates and racks, and the burners. These grills (or grill “tops”) are designed to be installed or built right into permanent structures. They made a perfect fit for cabinets or cooking islands, and they’re a common choice for those who have their custom barbecue setup in the backyard. A built-in natural gas grill is often more expensive, but it helps maximize your available space and takes up less room.
Since 1952, Weber has been one of the biggest names in grilling. Weber grills are a standard, offering all kinds of barbecues to suit every need. And natural gas models like the Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill and the Weber Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill show off Weber’s great reputation easily.
Dyna-Glo is a brand that specializes in barbecue grills and smokers, giving you everything you need to master grilling right at home. Known for excellent quality and long-lasting durability, products like the Dyna-Glo Premier 3 Burner Natural Gas Grill and the Dyna-Glo Premier 4 Burner Natural Gas Grill are part of the brand’s natural-gas lineup.
With a wealth of different grills, grilling accessories, and barbecue-specific tools, Napoleon is a brand that offers just about everything you might need. And the brand’s products, like the Napoleon Prestige Natural Gas Grill and the Napoleon Built-In Prestige Natural Gas Grill Head, give you high-quality options for every backyard setup.
When you’re choosing a natural gas grill, you need to pick one with multiple burners. The more burners you have, the larger the grilling surface (or cooking space) will be. And more burners also give you more options and increased versatility — with multiple burners, you can cook multiple foods or items at once. It’s hard to say what the perfect number of burners is, but it’s a good idea to opt for at least three.
Your grill’s cooking grates are one of the most important features of the entire barbecue. If your grates aren’t durable, then you’ll struggle to cook as they become worn — and if they rust, you have even bigger problems. So, you must choose a natural gas grill that features durable cooking grates. Typically, grates are either made of stainless steel or porcelain-enameled cast iron. Stainless steel, however, tends to be more durable and offers better searing.
In addition to the grill’s burners and cooking components, it’s also a good idea to consider the extras that come with any natural gas grill. Some of these accessories can be particularly helpful — for example, side tables, side burners, and rear burners will give you more versatility. Hooks for tools or paper towel racks can also be incredibly handy. A rotisserie set, on the other hand, might sound cool but may not be an extra you use very often.
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The Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill is hard to beat in so many different aspects, and that’s why it’s our top pick. This grill measures 52 x 26 x 57 inches in size, weighs 110 pounds, and offers 529 square inches of cooking space over three burners. It’s equipped with standout features like reversible porcelain-enameled grilling grates and the Weber GS4 grilling system, which includes an Infinity Ignition, porcelain-enameled Flavorizer Bars, and an effective grease management system. All of these features help enhance food flavor and make grilling more consistent. With an open cart design, barbecue enthusiasts will love the little details and extras included, like six tool hooks, a fold-down left side table, and a built-in lid thermometer. Most importantly of all, though, is the 10-year warranty and 100 percent Weber Guarantee for excellent reliability.
A grill is an investment, but you don’t have to sacrifice any features or functionality if you choose the Dyna-Glo Premier 3 Burner Natural Gas Grill. You’ll get all of the most critical components alongside consistent performance without breaking the bank when you choose this barbecue. Featuring 550 square inches of cooking space, you’ll be able to cook nearly 20 burgers at once on this grill’s grates. Three stainless steel tube burners deliver 36,000 BTUs and help you cook with even heat distribution thanks to Dyna-Glo’s Equiheat technology. The high-gloss enameled cast iron cooking grates help retain and transfer heat seamlessly. You’ll get restaurant-worthy results with this affordable grill, including perfect sear marks and the ability to cook everything from meats to veggies to side dishes. And two fold-down side shelves offer even more space while you’re cooking up your favorite BBQ foods.
The Lion Premium Grills 32” Natural Gas Grill is one high-quality choice, and you can see its power and quality right in its construction. It’s quite high-priced, but you’re truly getting what you pay for when it comes to performance, durability, and cooking space. The grill is designed to be built right into place, and it measures 24.25 x 32 x 21.5 inches and weighs 170 pounds. Constructed out of stainless steel, you’ll get 830 square inches of cooking space and a total of 75,000 BTUs over four cast stainless steel burners. Even the cooking grates are made from premium solid stainless steel. Built with commercial-grade construction techniques and materials, including a double-layer seamless welded smoker head and polished edges, you can see the difference at first glance. This natural gas grill also comes equipped with an adjustable warming rack and an infrared rotisserie back burner.
If you’re ready to take your barbecuing tricks and techniques to new heights, consider the Weber Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill. This grill is so much more than a heat source and cooking surface. It’s a high-performance grill that’s loaded with cool features, including some smart, high-tech ones. The grill measures 65 x 29 x 47 inches, weighs 177 pounds, and uses Weber’s GS4 high-performance grilling system that includes Infinity Ignition, high-performance burners, and stainless steel Flavorizer Bars. You’ll enjoy four stainless steel burners, a side burner, and a sear station burner that together deliver 69,000 BTUs. You’ll also be able to perfectly tweak your grilling process with the grill’s iGrill 3 compatibility — you can monitor what you’re cooking from beginning to end and get handy smart notifications along the way. And it’s all backed by a 10-year warranty.
The Bull Outdoor Products Natural Gas Outlaw Drop-In Grill Head is something of a different grill. Instead of using tried and true construction to achieve great performance, this barbecue uses engineering experts from universities to create its performance technology. Measuring 25 x 30 x 22 inches in size and weighing 125 pounds, it delivers even heat distribution that’s improved by as much as 50 percent. You’ll enjoy 60,000 BTUs of cooking power over four porcelain-coated bar burners, which work with the ReliaBull flame tamers for a more controlled and even grilling experience. There are 810 square inches of cooking space, plus a 210 square inch warming rack under the hood. This grill is also quite reliable and durable thanks to its solid stainless steel construction and single-piece, dual-lined hood. It’s a well-rounded, well-built grill for custom configurations.
The Napoleon Prestige Natural Gas Grill will have you grilling over high heat in no time at all. Constructed with a quick-start JetFire ignition system, each burner can turn on in just seconds. And once they’re on, you’ll get heat fast — even the side burner heats up to 1,800 degrees in just 30 seconds. This natural gas grill measures 26.5 x 66.25 x 50.25 inches in size and weighs 196.7 pounds. It includes four stainless steel main burners and a set of stainless steel sear plates that offer even, layered heat for intense flavor. You’ll enjoy 500 square inches of cooking space, plus a warming rack and a side burner. With enough room to cook up food for about 30 people, you’ll have plenty of space to grill your favorite meals from start to finish.
The Broil King Regal 5-Burner Pro Gas Grill is a great option if you want more burners and more room to cook. With five burners and 625 square inches of primary cooking surface space, this barbecue delivers 55,000 BTUs plus an additional 10,000 and 15,000 BTUs respectively from the included accessories. The natural gas grill measures 62.5 x 24.8 x 49.2 inches in size, and it features both the five central burners and a side burner, and a rear rotisserie burner. The grill’s patented stainless steel dual-tube burners and innovative Flav-R-Wave cooking system offer even results no matter what you’re grilling. And the solid rod stainless steel cooking grates are heavy-duty with great heat retention so you get perfect sear marks every time. The entire grill is backed by a 10-year warranty, minus the paint and non-cooking-related parts.
The Napoleon Built-In Prestige Natural Gas Grill Head comes with a whole host of features, including many that most grills simply can’t match. This grill is designed for custom spaces, and it measures 22.25 x 25.5 x 32.5 inches and weighs 118 pounds. It’s constructed out of stainless steel from the exterior to the interior, with four stainless steel burners and a set of stainless steel Iconic Wave cooking grids. You’ll get 500 square inches of cooking space on the center of the grill, and the extras add another 260 square inches of room. Highlights of the extra features include an infrared rear rotisserie burner, instantaneous JetFire ignition, and dual-level stainless steel sear plates. An Accu-Probe temperature gauge helps you while you cook, and a set of Night Light control knobs equipped with SafetyGlow ensure you can always see the buttons and settings you need.
While the Dyna-Glo Premier 4 Burner Natural Gas Grill doesn’t include a ton of frills and extra features, this grill is great at its basic functions. It certainly won’t let you down with its reliable, even performance and its excellent heat. This natural gas grill offers a total of 673 square inches of cooking space, including 483 square inches of primary cooking space. It works with EquiHeat technology, which creates even heat distribution via four primary stainless steel tube burners. Those burners are covered by matte porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, and you’ll see a total of 60,000 BTUs from them. There’s also a 12,000 BTU side burner included. You’ll enjoy consistent heat from corner to corner of this grill, and the easy-to-use integrated ignition system makes getting grilling very easy.
Our top choice is the Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill.
Propane gas grills rely on propane gas, which comes in a tank, to fire up the burners. Natural gas grills use natural gas and are connected to a gas line at your home or in your yard.
Grilling with natural gas is just as safe as grilling with any other type of fuel. It’s important to be mindful of the gas connection to prevent leaks, corrosion, and other potential issues that may cause safety issues.
Unlike other types of grills, natural gas grills must be built with specialized fittings and hoses so they can connect to a natural gas line. This comes with added parts and components as well as an increased cost.
We like the Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill because of its long-lasting durability and all-around great performance. The Dyna-Glo Premier 3 Burner Natural Gas Grill is another great choice, and it comes with a more affordable price too.
Which natural gas grill is your favorite? Share it with us in the comments.
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