When it comes to choosing a grill for your back yard, it might seem as a daunting task at first. There are just so many brands to choose from, each with their own lineup that ranges from budget, to premium options, and it’s nearly impossible to find the right one at first.
However, if you take a closer look at the market, you’ll find that there’s one name that constantly pops up within the industry – Weber. Their lineup is pretty extensive, and includes something for everyone, which is why they’re amongst the most popular options out there.
With that being said, how do you choose the best Weber grill for you? They do have a lot of options, so let’s take a look at seven of the best Weber grill models you can find out there at the moment. We’ll also discuss Weber as a brand as well, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Short on time? Here's a quick roundup of our top 3 picks and why you need them!
Product | Photo | Cost | Pros | Link |
*Best Overall |   | $$$ | Top of the line grill system with a wide cooking space of 669 square inches. | |
*Runner Up |   | $$ | Show off your grilling skills anywhere with this very compact charcoal grill! | |
*Also Great |   | $$$ | Offers high end grilling experience for a budget gas grill. |
Best Weber Grill : Top 7
Best Overall
Out of all the Weber grills you’ll come across, the Genesis II E-310 is our pick for the best Weber grill. It’s got an excellent combination of features, and it’s actually priced very reasonably for what you get.
Quick Summary
It’s a three-burner system, and all of them are high performance stainless steel burners, which are a part of the GS4 grilling system we’ll talk about later. The porcelain enameled flavorizer bars and the grease management system work really well, and will keep things under control, both when you’re grilling, and when you’re cleaning things up afterwards.
You get a total of 513 square inches of cooking space, and there’s also a 156 square inch warming rack overhead, which is quite a bit in terms of surface. There’s also Weber’s Infinity ignition system that works really well, and is backed by a pretty good warranty. By “good”, we mean 10 years, which is more than you’ll get with the competition, and it’s a real guarantee for durability, too.
At both sides you have a stainless steel prep workspace that does come in handy, and there’s hanging storage for all your tools. Add to this the 10 year Weber warranty, and you’re looking at a really impressive gas grill.
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Best Compact
Not everyone needs a large grill for their back yard. Some just want a more compact variant that they can take along with them, but it still should perform well and make delicious meals. If this sounds like you, you should check out the Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill by Weber.
Quick Summary
You can use it to make up to six burgers made with Weber’s burger press, on a total primary cooking area of 160 square inches. While this isn’t a particularly impressive number for a backyard grill, it’s certainly excellent when it comes to portable grills that you can take to your friend’s backyard without much problem.
The Go-Anywhere comes with a porcelain-enameled lid and base which will help quite a bit with retaining heat. They also won’t rust or peel, which is another benefit and adds to the durability of the grill. You also have a lock on the lid, which helps with portability, and there are dampers to help you control the temperature inside the grill.
Here's an article that explains every temperature you need to know to achieve best possible results while grilling.
As we mentioned, this might not be the best option if you’re going for an at-home grill. But if you’re limited in terms of space, or you need something that you can take along with you, nothing beats the Go-Anywhere. You can cook a few burgers at home for your family, or you can take it along for your friends’ backyard party when you know they can’t manage things by themselves. It’s all up to you.
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Best Entry-level
A slightly more wallet-friendly alternative to the Genesis II we spoke about, the Spirit is a part of Weber’s entry level lineup of grills. However, that’s not to say that it’s bad, it’s just more budget oriented and has a bit less features. It’s a propane grill, which means you’ll need a propane tank, so keep this in mind.
Quick Summary
The Spirit II E-310 has Weber’s GS4 grilling system, which comes with the excellent flavorizer bars, grease management system, as well as a few other nice things we’ll get to later. The cast iron cooking grates are porcelain-enameled, which helps a bit when grilling and is a welcome addition.
The total cooking space over the three burners is 529 square inches, which is quite a bit. On the left, you have a table that folds down and you can use it when you need it, and it also has a few hooks that will help you attach your tools and accessories to it.
With a total output of 30,000 BTU per hour, this is a pretty powerful grill. If you don’t need a lot of extra functionalities, it’s definitely one to go for. And we know what you’re thinking – the entry level might not be good enough. But that’s not the case with the Spirit II, because this is one of the best three burner grills out there, and it still manages to keep the price reasonable for everyone who might need one.
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Best Portable
The Q1200 is an interesting proposition. It’s got a decent sized cooking area, it’s got a good heat output, and you can pack it up and take it with you pretty much anywhere. And at a reasonable price, this might very well be the best compact grill out there.
Quick Summary
To begin with, you have a total cooking area of 189 square inches. This isn’t too much if you’re used to big, backyard-sized grills, but for a portable grill it’s pretty good. The stainless steel burner can produce 8500 BTU per hour, which is pretty good considering the cooking area.
The electronic ignition, as well as the infinite control burner valve allow you to start things up rather quickly, and then keep them under control, as precisely as you want them. There’s a glass-reinforced nylon frame, as well as a cast aluminum lid and body paired with porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grates. All of this means that you’re looking at a very durable grill.
If you don’t need a large cooking surface, and would rather get the ability to take the grill anywhere with you, the Weber Q1200 is the right pick. We’ll briefly mention the Q series of grills later on, but they’re an excellent portable option when you don’t need too much in terms of cooking area.
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Best Value
People who know Weber’s history know they’re behind the first round charcoal grill, and the Weber Original Kettle is meant to be somewhat of a tribute to that original grill. You can see it in the naming, you can see it in the build and construction, and its very wallet-friendly, too.
Quick Summary
The Original Kettle can hold up to 13 burgers, which is quite a bit. With a 22” diameter, you’re looking at a massive cooking area, more than some gas and propane grills have that are three times the price. You also get a one-touch cleaning system that has an ash catcher, making cleanup a breeze.
The lid and bowl are porcelain enameled, which gives them the ability to retain heat really, really well, and makes them resistant to rust and peeling. You also have a lid hook so you don’t have to put the lid on the ground while grilling. There’s also the hinged cooking grate, which allows you to add more charcoal when necessary.
Overall, if you want a large cooking area on a charcoal grill, and don’t want to spend too much money on it, the Weber Original Kettle is the grill you want. It may not be cheap, especially when you see the price of the Smokey Joe we’re looking at next, but it is still very well priced, and an excellent value for people looking for a charcoal grill.
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Best Cheap
Even though the Original Kettle is pretty wallet friendly, there are some people who just want something that’s as cheap as possible. Whether they won’t use it enough to justify more money, or they just don’t need a bigger, more expensive grill, the Smokey Joe is an excellent pick.
Quick Summary
This 14” charcoal grill can hold up to five burgers if you’re making them with Weber’s burger press, which is pretty decent. Its main goal isn’t to have a massive cooking surface, but instead, to be a compact, portable grill that does a great job. And it succeeds at this very well. The results when grilling with the Smokey Joe are similar to the results we’ve seen with much more premium grills, which means that the price of it is no indication of quality – it’s just phenomenal.
Both the lid, and the bowl, are porcelain enameled, which means they hold heat pretty well. Rusting and peeling won’t be an issue, and you have dampers that let you regulate the temperature inside rather easily. The cooking grate is durable plated steel, which not only retains heat but is incredibly easy to clean.
Now, sure, you won’t be able to serve a party with a single Smokey Joe. But if you only make a couple of burgers at a time, and you don’t need anything more, it’s a great option that won’t make a dent in your wallet. To be perfectly clear, you might not get too much in terms of additional functionality, but not everyone needs more than just a basic grill, right?
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Best Dual Grate
The Smokey Joe was a good compact option at 14”, but what if you’re limited with space and really need more cooking space? Well, the Smokey Mountain is an alternative that you should go for. It’s again, a 14” grill, but it’s got two cooking grates that are stacked on top of one another, for practically double cooking area.
Quick Summary
You’re looking at a tall, yet compact option that comes with a porcelain enameled lid and bowl, but the center section is also porcelain enameled, so it retains heat really well. They’re also pretty durable and won’t peel or rust over time, which means you can use the Smokey Mountain for years to come. There is a silicone temperature grommet which makes sure the internal temperature of the grill is kept at bay.
When you’re smoking, you can remove the fuel door, which makes adding a bit more charcoal or wood much easier. Overall, this is an excellent option for everyone who doesn’t really need a large grill, but could use the dual cooking surfaces every once in a while. It’s a great combination. (1)
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Why Weber?
Weber have been around for quite some time. They were originally incorporated back in 1893, and were the makers of the original round charcoal grill. This was George A. Stephen’s invention, it was made by using two sheet metal half-spheres, and was named ‘Sputnik’ by the neighbors. Shortly after, they began selling the grill, and there was quite a bit of demand.
This, in turn, leads to the Weber we have today – a behemoth in the grill industry, who makes charcoal, electric and gas powered outdoor grills and accessories. And up until 2010, the company was family owned, which does speak volumes.
They’re also the owners of Weber Grill restaurants all over the US. When they sold the majority of the shares, this did not include the restaurants, and they’re currently completely owned by the Stephen family.
Explaining Their Line-up
Even though they do have electric and gas models, Weber are mostly known for their charcoal grills. They work really well and have an innovative cleaning system that allows you to keep things clean after using them. You’ll find some that have built-in thermometers, as well as removable ash catches and various colors in some of the models.
Next up, we have the gas grills. What’s characteristic about them is that they all use a version of the GS4 grilling system, but we’ll talk about that later on. There are more budget oriented models, which are oftentimes smaller and less powerful, and they’ve got some higher end options here, too, which cost quite a bit but perform really well in just about any regard. While on the topic of budget grills, here are the best grills under 500$.
Last but not least, they’ve got portable models, too. Here’s where you’ll find their electric grills, and both the smaller and larger variants are pretty compact for what they offer. The Q series are where you want to be if you’re after a portable grill, because they’re priced very well, especially when you consider the functionality. We spoke about the Q1200, which is an excellent example that you can have a portable grill that works really well, at a reasonable price.
The GS4 Grilling System
If you’re looking for a gas powered grill, the GS4 grilling system is arguably the best reason to go for Weber. The system comes with a couple of notable features that you won’t find elsewhere. One of them is the All-Grill igniter, which lets you turn on the grilling surface, as well as adjust and fine tune the temperature.
You also get high performance burners that will withstand just about any grilling experience, and will keep on going strong, even if you were to use them for quite a few years. They can be very powerful, and the wear-and-tear resistance is phenomenal.
Next, you’ve got the flavorizer bars that are part of the system, which add a bit of extra flavor to your meals. They also help with evaporating drippings, and they’re the reason why your grilled meals have that smoky flavor.
Last but not least, there’s the grease management system, which funnels grease into the removable drip tray, making cleaning incredibly easy. We all know that cleaning up a grill once you’re done can be a really tedious task, and it’s excellent that you won’t have to worry about that with a GS4 grill. (2)
Wrapping Things Up
Overall, Weber grills have a lot of things going for them. From the GS4 grilling system on the gas grills, which works really well and keeps everything under control, to the charcoal grills’ compact size and portability, you’ll find something that fits your needs and requirements rather well.
It doesn’t even matter how limited you are in terms of budget. The Weber grills start at really low prices, and as you look into larger, more premium options, the prices go up. This means that you can get something for just about anyone’s pocket, making them an excellent pick.
All that’s left for you to do is take a look at the options, see which one works best for your needs, and then go for it. What are you waiting for?
Best Overall
Out of all the Weber grills you’ll come across, the Genesis II E-310 is our pick for the best Weber grill. It’s got an excellent combination of features, and it’s actually priced very reasonably for what you get.
References
(1)MeatSmoking - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smoking_as_a_food_cooking_method
(2) GS4 Grilling System- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRhCpNZLV-E
