When shopping for grills, it’s often difficult to sort through the specific differences between name brands. Which brand is better, and which one should you buy?
This is especially true online, where the specs for grills blur into a confusing mess of figures and numbers.
Today, we’re comparing Weber and Broil King gas grills, two top-rated brands you may be looking at. Both of these are great grills, and you really can’t go wrong with either one.
So let’s dive in and look at some of the specifics, as well as some side-by-side comparisons between entry-level, mid-range, and high-end options you might want to consider.
Summary of our comparison between Broil King and Weber gas grills:
- Best Entry-Level Grill: Weber Q 3200
- Best Mid-Range Grill: Weber Genesis E-335
- Best High-End Grill: Broil King Regal S590 Pro
- Best Built-In Option: Broil King Regal S520 Built-In
Weber – Brand Overview
Weber is one of the top brand names associated with grills and cookouts. When it was introduced in 1952, their classic black kettle grills popularized the American backyard barbecue.
Today, their product line includes charcoal, propane gas, electric, and even wood pellet grills.
Weber grills can be found at most retailers, from Amazon to big box stores and specialty grilling stores. Depending on the situation, they might appear to be a high-end name brand or an entry-level offering — it all depends on what the grill is sitting next to.
Weber’s gas grill choices are broken into four “series,” or product lines:
- Q Series Grills – Compact and mostly portable units that can be used for tailgating or small backyards.
- Spirit Series – Sharp-looking standalone grills for smaller groups and small spaces like patios and balconies — 2 or 3-burner options available.
- Genesis Series – Upgraded models with enameled or stainless designs in 3 or 4-burner models — many come with smart cooking technologies.
- Summit Series – Top of the line models made from all stainless steel with up to 6 burners. Also available as built-in units.
Weber still makes some of their grills in Huntley, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Like many companies, however, many of their entry-level grills are actually assembled in China, while some components for others are built there.
What Makes Weber Grills so Popular?
The company has its eyes on what people want from a nice backyard grill. Their product lines are complete with every size and burner combination you could want.
What’s more, their products are much higher quality and will be longer-lasting than cheaper imitations. Of course, there are even more expensive rigs out there, but Weber grills serve most people well for decades.
You can also read our comparison of Blaze vs Weber grills for more quality options to choose from.
Broil King – Brand Overview
Broil King is quite a similar manufacturer to Weber — their prices are comparable, as are their product line-ups. You’ll find full-featured stylish grills with every feature you could desire.
Broil King makes a variety of models to suit any backyard chef.
Here’s a look at their current line-up of gas grills:
- Gem – Compact 3-burner patio LP grills for small spaces.
- Monarch – Upgraded small 3-burner grills loaded with features, including rotisserie kits and side burners.
- Signet – Larger cooking area 3-burner grills.
- Crown – 4-burner grills with large cooking areas and stylish looks.
- Baron – Pro grills available with between 3 and 5 burners, infrared options available.
- Regal – Top of the line professional-quality grills with between 4 and 6 burners, multiple cooking boxes, and regular or infrared burners.
In addition to the above-listed series, they also have the popular Porta-Chef 320 gas grill — a compact and somewhat portable unit.
Broil King offers some of the most affordable grills made in the USA. They use North American-sourced supplies and materials, and all of their three production facilities are located in the US or Canada. Specifically, the grills are built in either Waterloo, Ontario, Huntington, Indiana, or Dickson, Tennessee by Onward Manufacturing Company.
These grills are sold all over the world in over 40 countries.
Broil King – Great Barbecue Every Time
Broil King grills are a high-quality alternative to Webers. While both are great grills, it’s hard to beat Broil King’s many choices in size and features and their superior built quality.
Yet, from these two, Weber is a much more popular and well-known brand making the company about ten times bigger than Broil King.
I recommend that you also check out our comparison of Weber and Nexgrill for some affordable and interesting options.
Broil King vs Weber: Grill Comparisons
Now, let’s start the comparison of Weber and Broil King gas grills in different price classes.
Entry-Level Gas Grills: Weber Q 3200 vs Broil King Porta-Chef 320
The battle in this price class is tough since both of these grills are excellent choices for small patios or backyard cooking for just a few people at a time.
Our pick in the entry-level class is Weber Q 3200 because of its better overall cooking performance and sturdier build.
The Q 3200 is a larger and upgraded version of the company’s portable Q series grill. It shares the same unique cast-aluminum design but includes a permanent rolling cart for backyard use.
I know this grill like the back of my hand since I have owned it for eight years. You can read my full review Weber Q 3200 grill here.
The Broil King Porta-Chef 320 is also a good option. It’s a more portable grill than the Weber. Yet, its sizeable 3-burner design and hefty features make it a bit much for most tailgating scenarios.
Weber Q 3200
- Total Grilling Area: 468 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 2
- Main Burner BTUs: 21,700
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Broil King Porta-Chef 320
- Total Grilling Area: 430 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 3
- Main Burner BTUs: 18,000
- Fuel: Propane gas
Design and Build Quality
While both of these grills are high-quality, they are entry-level models with some concessions made for cost. For example, both come with carts made of mostly plastic components, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but does detract from the overall sturdiness of the design.
Furthermore, both units use cast aluminum cook boxes instead of stainless ones, which is more common on high-end grills.
Ease of Use and Maintenance/Cleaning
These grills are simple and easy to use and clean. Both have electronic ignitions for easy lighting, high-quality stainless burners, and cast iron cooking grates.
In addition, the Weber features an easy-to-access foil drip pan.
Burners and Temperature Range
The Q3200 is a 2-burner grill, but it puts out a lot of heat — an incredible 21,700 BTUs, to be precise. Preheat it for 10 to 15 minutes and it gets hot enough to give a nice sear to your steaks!
The Broil King has only a total of 18,000 BTUs, and it’s spread out over 3 burners. The number and arrangement of the burners give you more flexibility and allows you to create heat zones.
Grilling Space
The Weber has 464 square inches of grill space, including a small 69 square-inch warming rack. Compare that to the Broil King’s total of 430 square inches, 295 on the main grates.
But you should note that the Weber’s extra space is thanks to a curved shape, and the hood’s rounded top limits the useful real estate for indirect cooking.
Warranty
A limited warranty covers the major components of the Weber for five years, but many smaller parts are only covered for two.
The Broil King is covered for ten years, but the burners are only covered for three and the grates only for two.
Mid-Range Gas Grills: Weber Genesis E-335 vs Broil King Baron 520 Pro
Gas grills in this price class are an excellent option for most backyards because they have bigger cooking space and more features.
Our choice is the Weber Genesis E-335 because of its excellent features and better heat control.
The renewed 2022 Genesis E-335 comes with side and sear burners, an enclosed cart, and a large cooking area. It’s loaded with features making it very versatile and it’s the perfect size for most families.
This new and improved Genesis is actually one of the most sold 3-burner gas grills at the moment. You know why?
Because it’s so damn good!
Compared to the Weber, the Broil King Baron 520 Pro is about the same size of a grill for roughly the same cost. This grill doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles — but features 5 main burners instead of just 3 and has more firepower. In fact, even on medium and low heat settings, it tends to easily burn your foods.
But if you are just looking for a simple grill with the maximum amount of heat for the money, then the Baron might be a decent choice.
Weber Genesis E-335
- Total Grilling Area: 787 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 3
- Main Burner BTUs: 39,000
- Side & sear burner
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Broil King Baron 520 Pro
- Total Grilling Area: 780 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 5
- Main Burner BTUs: 45,000
- No additional burners
- Fuel: Propane gas
Design and Build Quality
These grills look quite similar on the outside, with the same-size footprint and roughly the same cooking abilities.
In addition, they have enclosed carts on wheels with the typical storage below and side shelves for prep work.
Ease of Use and Maintenance/Cleaning
The Weber E-335 features a familiar high-performance grilling system, which includes reliable ignition, high-end burners, stainless flavorizer bars, and a spiffy grease-catching system.
But all of these features are also found on the Broil King, even if their trade names are different.
Burners and Temperature Range
The E-335 has 3 burners, a side burner, and a sear station that can all together put out a total of 64,000 BTUs. With this renewed model, the sear station is even larger than before.
The important thing here is that the Weber has great heat control — you can make it super hot for searing or even use it for cooking some low n’ slow barbecue foods.
The Baron has 5 burners that produce 45,000 BTUs, but no side burner or searing station.
Grilling Space
The Weber has a main cook grate of 513 square inches and a tuck-away warming rack with another 274 square inches. The grates are made of enamel-coated cast iron and have excellent heat retention.
If you need more space there is also a 4-burner version of the Genesis available that has a whopping 646 square inch main grilling area.
The Baron has grates made of solid eight-millimeter round stainless steel rods. The primary grates are 570 square inches, plus the built-in stainless warming rack.
Extra Features
The Weber has the most features, with a 12,000 BTU side burner and a 13,000 BTU sear station.
And this renewed Genesis has even more to offer!
It’s more versatile than ever because you can combine it with anything in the new Crafted Outdoor Kitchen grillware collection. The options include anything from flat top griddles and rotisserie sets to roasting baskets and pizza stones.
There are no special features worth mentioning in the Broil King.
Warranty
As with other high-end Weber grills, the Genesis is covered by a long warranty.
The cookbox and lid assembly have a 12-year warranty while the stainless steel burners, flavorizer bars, and porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates are covered for 10 years. A few remaining parts are covered with a 5-year warranty.
Not to be outdone, the Broil King’s cook box is covered by a lifetime warranty, while all other parts are under a 15-year “top-to-bottom” warranty.
High-End Gas Grills: Weber Summit S-470 vs Broil King Regal S590 Pro
Neither brand stiffs you when you go all-out for a high-end grill. The Weber Summit series and the Broil King Regal series are incredibly high-quality all-stainless options that cook great and look beautiful.
It’s really hard to pick a clear winner here, but the Broil King Regal S590 Pro might just offer better value for money as it has a larger grilling area, a lower price tag, and is made in the USA.
However, if you are ready to cough up enough dollars and don’t need a huge grill, then go with the Summit S-470. It has excellent overall quality paired with superior features including a sear station, tuck-away rotisserie system with infrared burner, and a smoker box with a separate burner.
Weber Summit S-470
- Total Grilling Area: 580 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 4
- Main Burner BTUs: 48,800
- Sear Burner & Side Burner
- Rotisserie Kit & Infrared Burner
- Smoker Box & Burner
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Broil King Regal S590 Pro
- Total Grilling Area: 875 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 5
- Main Burner BTUs: 55,000
- Side Burner & Rotisserie Burner
- Includes a Rotisserie Kit
- Made in the USA
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Design and Build Quality
Both of these large grills have full stainless construction and fully-enclosed cabinets. They do include some enameled parts, like the sides and back of the cabinet.
The Broil King also has a few plastic bits here and there. However, unlike less expensive Broil King grills, the firebox is stainless with aluminum used only for the endcaps.
Ease of Use and Maintenance/Cleaning
These premium grills include the company’s best drip catches and cooking systems, so you won’t be disappointed at any point from start-up to clean-up.
Burners and Temperature Range
The Summit S-470 has 4 burners that put out 48,000 BTUs. It also has an intense 10,600 BTU sear station for perfect steaks, an infrared rotisserie burner, and a smoker box with its own burner.
The Regal is a 5-burner grill that includes a rotisserie and a side burner. The main cooking area puts out 55,000 BTUs, while the rotisserie adds another 15,000.
Grilling Space
The Summit has an ultra-heavy 9 mm stainless steel rod grate totaling 468 square inches. There is also a 112 square-inch warming rack.
But if you have a big budget and need a bigger grilling area, you can choose the 6-burner version of the Summit.
The Regal has similar 9 mm stainless grates but is larger, with 875 total square inches of cooking space divided between the 625 square-inch main grate and 250 square-inch warming rack.
Extra Features
Both grills are loaded with features as they come. They have built-in rotisseries, powerful side burners, control knob lights, and a tremendous amount of heat control.
The Weber includes a built-in smoker box with its own burner, a nice feature for adding some flavor options with these big gas grills. The Weber’s rotisserie has a clever tuck-away design that hides it when not in use.
The Broil King is also jacked up with nice features, including storage shelves inside the cart, tool hooks with side shelf bins, and a pull-out tank drawer in the propane models. The rotisserie and back burner are included, and the ignition system has a continuous spark that will light it fast.
Warranty
The Summit comes with Weber’s best ten-year warranty.
The Broil King’s cook box is covered for its lifetime, while most of the rest of the grill is covered for ten years. Unfortunately, the grates are only covered for five, and a few miscellaneous parts are covered for only two.
Built-In Gas Grills: Weber Summit S-460 Built-In vs Broil King Regal S520 Built-In
When it comes to the best built-in gas grills, there is no need for an extensive comparison.
These are essentially the same models as the high-end grills above — save for a few differences. The Broil King doesn’t have a rotisserie system and neither grill has a side burner.
One more notable thing is that the Weber Summit comes complete with storage cabinets while the Broil King is just the grill head.
Broil King Regal S590 is an affordable built-in unit with a large grilling space and all the necessary features so it takes the top spot.
Weber Summit S-460 Built-In
- Total Grilling Area: 580 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 6
- Main Burner BTUs: 48,800
- Additional Sear Burner
- Rotisserie Kit & Infrared Burner
- Smoker Box & Burner
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Broil King Regal S520 Built-In
- Total Grilling Area: 820 sq.in.
- Number of Main Burners: 5
- Main Burner BTUs: 55,000
- Made in the USA
- Fuel: Propane/natural gas
Broil King vs Weber – Which One is the Best Grill for You?
So who takes the crown as the top dog of the gas grill game?
When looking at the mid- and entry-level models, Weber offers better quality and overall grilling experience.
In the premium and built-in models, it’s more about your personal preference — how much is your budget and do you prefer a bigger cooking area over some extra features.
The great thing is there are no bad options here. All models included in this guide are well-designed and allow you to have fun while cooking some great food!
If you are looking for more options, we also have a guide comparing Napoleon and Weber grills.
