Looking for an excellent, high-performance gas grill without breaking the bank?
Just because you don’t want to blow your budget on a new piece of equipment doesn’t mean you should sacrifice quality.
This guide has detailed reviews of our top 5 best gas grills that you can get for less than 200 dollars. We have included small and portable units but luckily there are also bigger 3-burner and 5-burner barbecues available in this price class.
Our recommendations for Best Gas Grill Under $200:
- Best Overall: Weber Q1000 Propane Gas Grill
- Best 3-Burner Option: MASTER COOK Classic
- Most Portable: Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet
- Budget Pick: Char-Broil Classic 360
- Large and Powerful: Megamaster 5-Burner Gas Grill
Reviews of the Best Gas Grills Under $200
After considering hundreds of products we included the 5 best ones that fit our criteria.
Even if you pay less doesn’t mean that you should settle for bad quality. All products in this guide provide good cooking performance and last for many years if taken care of properly.
Below are reviews of our recommended products.
NOTE: While there are many good options here, you might also want to check out our guide with the best gas grills under 300 dollars.
Best Overall: Weber Q1000 Propane Gas Grill
The Weber Q1000 is a very convenient and easy-to-use gas grill. Its design has been refined over the years so that this compact unit provides a great and user-friendly grilling experience.
The grill is well built, easy to assemble, and the push-button ignition gets you started without a hassle. Also, cleaning and maintenance are effortless. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Burners: 1
- Total BTU: 8,500
- Grilling Area (sq.in): 189
- Weight: 29 lbs
- Build Materials: Cast aluminum, stainless steel, porcelain-coated cast iron, and plastic
- Dimensions: 27″ x 16.5″ x 14.5″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 5 years (aluminum body, burners, plastic components, cooking grates) or 2 years (other parts)
The Weber’s cooking grates are made of porcelain-enameled cast iron and offer a cooking space of 189 square inches. While the grill only has one burner, it’s powerful enough and produces 8500 BTUs of heat.
The Q1000 gets to 500 degrees in about 15 minutes!
This grill is great in the backyard and it’s easy to take along for tailgating or camping.
However, the compact design brings a few downsides as well. Since the grill has only one burner so you can’t really create temperature zones for indirect cooking.
Also, it doesn’t include a stand, so you need a table to place it on. You can also just put it on the ground but due to its short stature, you will need to bend down to tend to the food (or be seated).
One great option is to get Weber’s portable cart so you can conveniently place the grill on your patio or backyard. The cart is lightweight and folds into a small space so you can also fit it in the car trunk and take it with you.
If you prefer a grill with excellent cooking performance, affordable price, and portable design, then the Weber Q1000 is our top pick.
What We Love
- Provides a great overall grilling experience
- Compact and portable
- Easy to use and clean
- Thick and durable cooking grates
- Good warranty
What We Don’t
- Has only one burner
- Doesn’t include a cart (sold separately)
Best 3-Burner Option: MASTER COOK Classic Propane Gas Grill
This classic style grill from Master Cook is a good middle-sized grill with all the necessary functions. It has three burners and a large grilling area.
If you are looking for an affordable grill that can handle enough food for the whole family, this might be the perfect option. The size of the primary cooking area is 339 square inches and the grates are made of porcelain-coated wire.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Burners: 3
- Total BTU: 30,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 339
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 133
- Weight: 49 lbs
- Build Materials: Painted steel, stainless steel, porcelain-coated wire
- Dimensions: 46″ x 21″ x 41″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
The Master Cook Classic produces 30,000 BTUs, which ensures it gets hot fast. The lid is quite high and offers enough room to cook larger items such as turkeys or roasts.
With the wheels on the bottom, you can relocate the grill to the appropriate backyard zone and back into the garage as the need arises. It comes with two attachable side shelves for setting platters and simple meal preparation.
The grill offers a pleasant user experience. Assembling it only takes about an hour. The push-button starter and piezo ignition system ensure there will be no difficulties starting up the grill.
The construction of this grill feels a bit cheap but you can’t expect anything more in this price range.
Overall, this is a great 3-burner option for cooking on your terrace or backyard.
What We Love
- Great value for money
- Large cooking area
- Plenty of heating power
- Easy to assemble
- Enough vertical space for cooking large items
What We Don’t
- The overall construction quality could be more sturdy
Most Portable: Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Gas Grill with VersaStand
Cuisinart CGG-180 is a super lightweight and compact gas grill. The grill itself is only 23 x 18 x 10 inches when folded and weighs 17 pounds.
Not only is it simple to move around in your backyard, but it’s extremely portable and useful for camping and travel.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Burners: 1
- Total BTU: 5,500
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 160
- Weight: 17 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel, porcelain-coated metal, plastic
- Dimensions (folded): 23″ x 18″ x 10″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 3 years
This is a small grill with one 5,500 BTU burner and a 160 square inch cooktop. Although it has an adequate grilling surface that can fit about 6 burgers, it might not be large enough for some meals. It’s ideal for making food for a small group, and not your annual Memorial Day blowout.
The CGG-180 can be used as a freestanding or a tabletop grill. The legs are easily removable. If you want to save some money, you can also choose the tabletop version without the stand.
This is the smallest and most portable option we have included here. It gets the job done, and if you mostly cook for a few people only, it might be a perfect option.
What We Love
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to use
- Very affordable
- Innovative telescope stand
What We Don’t
- Small cooking area
- No thermometer included
Budget Pick: Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Char-Broil Classic 360 is a good basic grill with no extra gimmicks. It comes with porcelain-coated grill grates that are easy to clean. The lid is made of steel and is also porcelain-coated, which makes it durable and weather resistant.
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Burners: 3
- Total BTU: 30,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 360
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 170
- Weight: 48.5 lbs
- Build Materials: Stainless steel, porcelain-coated metal, plastic
- Dimensions (folded): 51″ x 24″ x 43.5″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 5 years (burners), 2 years (firebox), or 1 year (all other parts)
This grill has a surprisingly large 360 square inch grilling space and a 170 square inch warming rack. Its 3 stainless steel burners have plenty of heating power. They can be controlled separately to create multiple temperature zones.
The electronic ignition is handy for getting things started fast and easy. It also has two large side shelves usable for food preparation, tool storage, and setting hot items after cooking.
Despite having a sturdy lid and stainless steel burners, most of the other parts are just of average quality. Some users have complained that it only lasted for a few years before starting to break up.
Char-Broil Classic 360 is an affordable gas grill with all the basic features that you need. It’s a simple unit that is easy to use and has enough cooking space for most people.
What We Love
- Good value for money
- Easy to use
- Big cooking space
- Plenty of heating power
What We Don’t
- Not the longest lasting grill in the market
Large and Powerful: Megamaster 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill
This 5-burner from Megamaster is definitely one of the biggest gas grills that you can get at this price class. The space and versatility of the grill make it an excellent choice for big cookouts. This is a lot of grill for the small price tag!
Specifications:
- Fuel Type: Propane gas
- Number of Burners: 5
- Total BTU: 50,000
- Primary Grilling Area (sq.in): 474
- Warming Rack Area (sq.in): 182
- Weight: 67 lbs
- Build Materials: Painted steel, porcelain-coated cast iron, plastic
- Dimensions: 55″ x 23.5″ x 45.75″ (L x W x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
Not only can you fit an enormous amount of food inside the body of this grill, but it also provides a solid cooking performance. The porcelain-enameled flame tamers help with controlling the temperature and create an evenly heated cooking field.
The 474 square inches of primary cooking space and 50,000 BTUs of heating power make it the largest and most powerful grill included in this review. It gets hot fast and you will have more than enough room for several courses cooking at once.
With its 5 burners, you can create several heat zones with different temperatures. Simply turn one or more burners down to a lower flame or off completely to adjust the temperature of different parts.
There is also a large 182 square inch warming area for things that don’t need the full blast of the flame. You can keep food items heated on the top shelf of the grill while cooking others at a high temp.
The grill comes equipped with tool hooks and large side shelves for preparing food and placing items. Plus, it is incredibly easy to start up and to operate in general. Just a simple push and a turn, and you are off to the races.
Assembly is required and takes a while. So this is not a plug-and-play option for someone who doesn’t want to spend a few hours setting things up.
If you are looking for a large grill that can handle big parties, then Megamaster is our recommendation.
What We Love
- Very large cooking space
- Plenty of heating power
- Has 5 burners for creating heat zones
- Good value for money
What We Don’t
- Takes a while to assemble
What’s Great About Gas Grills
One of the main questions right out of the gate is: Why spend your money on a gas grill?
Well, below are a few good reasons to get one:
The Advantages of a Gas Grill
Easy to Use: Gas grills have a ton of flexibility and are super user-friendly. That’s why they are suitable for beginners as well as more advanced grill masters. With the simple turn of a dial or two, you can be on the way to making dinner.
A Proper Sear: A good gas grill will get hot enough to create the Maillard Effect and give you a delicious browned exterior. Just turn the grill to the full heat, close the lid, and wait for about 10 to 15 minutes before starting to grill.
Affordable Fuel: When it comes to fuel, a tank of propane gas is quite cheap. And one tank can last for months even if you grill frequently.
Next, let’s compare gas grills to charcoal, electric, and wood pellet grills.
Gas vs. Charcoal
According to some grilling purists, charcoal is the only way to go. They might also say things like the flavor of food made on a charcoal grill has an extra special taste.
While it’s true that charcoal emits smoke that adds to the flavor of the wood, you can also cook very tasty food with a gas grill. It’s also possible to smoke food with a gas grill. Later in this article, I will show you how to do it.
Charcoal grills offer temperature regulation options achieved by moving the coals around. But you can also do this with a gas grill. And if the grill has 2 burners or more, creating heat zones is even easier than with a charcoal grill.
Grilling with charcoal is harder and more time-consuming than using a gas grill. Lighting up the charcoal takes time and effort. And you have to do it every time you grill. In addition, the cleanup requires you to dispose of the ashes, and it can be a little messy.
Another common argument in favor of charcoal grills is that they are cheap. Well, you can also find inexpensive gas grills that are very good. And that’s exactly why I wrote this article. To give you options for affordable gas grills.
Gas vs. Electric
Electric grills might seem like a slick and convenient option, but they are very limited in terms of features and versatility.
First, you can’t get that classic grill flavor because there is no actual combustion occurring. Second, they usually do not get hot enough to have a nice charred, brown exterior without overcooking the inside of the meat.
Gas vs. Wood Pellet
Wood pellet grills can be incredibly advanced. They might even have digital temperature controls to take some of the guesswork out of grilling. But often the good ones are very expensive as well.
Since you are burning the pellets, you can get a delightful smoked flavor every time. However, there is no “smokeless” option, so everything you cook will have this taste whether it’s desired or not.
For most people, a wood pellet grill is a great option for an auxiliary cooking device, not the main grill.
Buying Guide for Gas Grills Under 200 Dollars
Here are the most important things to consider when choosing an inexpensive gas grill:
Design and Overall Cooking Experience
The most important thing is to choose a grill that is fun and easy to use. Brands like Weber have been making quality grills for decades and know how to make units that work smoothly.
Features like reliable push-button ignition, high-quality grill grates, and even temperature across the grilling surface can make your outdoor cooking experience a lot more enjoyable.
A well-designed grease management system is also important for preventing flare-ups and making cleaning easy and fast.
Burners and Temperature Range
Next, think about what types of foods are you mainly going to be grilling?
If you are only going to be making burgers and hot dogs, you might have different needs than if you are mainly cooking steaks or ribs.
Pretty much every grill can handle the former, while it takes a little finesse to handle the latter food items. If you’re doing steaks at all, you need a grill that hits about 500 degrees without batting an eye.
For ribs or anything that needs to be cooked low and slow, you would want to have at least 3 burners. This allows you to create temperature zones for indirect cooking.
Grilling Space
Also, don’t forget to consider the amount of usable grill space on your new purchase. This means the actual square inches to grill food on, excluding the space of the warming tray (if there is one).
You can fit about 4 burgers on every 100 square inches of grilling area.
Portability
And one more thing – are you planning to bring the grill for tailgating or camping, or just going to use it in your backyard?
We have included both big and bulky, and smaller, more portable options in this review article. So whichever you are looking for, you can find something that suits your needs!
Smoking With a Gas Grill
Now, let’s look at the taste aspect more closely. Many people appreciate the ability to use their grill as a smoker when the need arises. For example, you might wanna smoke some ribs or a whole turkey for thanksgiving.
Can this be done with a gas grill?
Yes, and next we will explain what equipment you need for it, and how to do it.
What you need:
- A gas grill with at least 2 burners
- Wood chips (Camerons is a great option)
- Smoke tube/foil
How to smoke with a gas grill:
- Place the wood chips inside a smoke tube or wrap them in foil. If you use foil, poke some holes in it.
- Light up one burner and place the wood chips directly above it.
- Close the lid and let the grill reach the desired smoking temperature. For example, 250 °F is a good temperature for smoking most meats.
- Open the lid and place your ribs, turkey, or whatever you are smoking, on the opposite side of the wood chips. Close the lid, and keep it closed as much as possible. Now the meat will be cooked slowly with indirect heat.
There is just one more thing to consider. If you are smoking a whole turkey or large piece of meat, make sure you get a grill that has enough space. The lid ceiling should not touch the meat, and it should have at least 1-inch clearance.
Here is a short video with instructions for smoking with a gas grill:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a good gas grill for less than 200 dollars?
Yes, you can get a good gas grill for less than 200 bucks. If you are fine with a smaller grill with one burner, we recommend Weber Q1000. It’s a durable unit that provides great grilling performance.
If you need a bigger grill with more burners, there are also many great options introduced in this guide. However, these grills are not as durable and are typically built with cheaper materials.
How can I make my gas grill last longer?
You can make your gas grill last longer by maintaining it properly. Clean it after each use and perform more thorough maintenance at least a few times per year. This means removing the grates and cleaning them from top to bottom. You should also clean the burners and inside surfaces of the grill.
Another important thing is to protect your grill from the elements. You can buy a cover to protect it while it’s outside. If you don’t use your grill during the winter, clean it properly and store it indoors if possible. The propane tank should be stored outdoors.
Do I need to have more than one burner on a gas grill?
You can do just fine with one burner when you are grilling most foods. Steaks, burgers, hot dogs, and many other dishes don’t need more burners.
When cooking steaks, first sear them on high heat and then cook at a lower temperature by turning the burner down to a smaller flame.
The advantage of having many burners is that you can create different heat zones for indirect cooking. If you want to use the grill for smoking big chunks of meat, like briskets or ribs, having a large unit with 2 or more burners is necessary.
Best Gas Grills for Less than 200 dollars – Final Thoughts
So as we can see, there are many good gas grills available at a reasonable price.
Our number one pick is the compact and portable Weber Q1000. It comes from the iconic brand and provides solid cooking performance. If you need something bigger, you can also find plenty of great options in this guide.
Or do you think you’re ready to invest a bit more in your unit?
Then take a look at our buying guide for the best gas grills under 500 dollars.
I hope this article provided you with the information that you were looking for. Now you should be ready to get that brand new grill and start cooking.
Happy grilling!
