If you’re in the market for a new grill, you might be wondering what size grill you need. Most people are surprised to learn that this isn’t as simple as it sounds – you can’t just say I need to buy an eight-foot grill and expect it to fit in your backyard or patio.
Having a grill is not a luxury anymore, it’s a necessity. About 75% of Americans own a grill or a BBQ smoker box. Besides, the US is at the top of the list for enjoying BBQ at home. And, our love for grilling can be traced back to colonial times.
Besides, who would want to throw a BBQ party and have some friends and acquaintances? So, it’s safe to say that having a grill has become one of the necessities in households.
You have to consider your needs – both now and in the future – before making a decision on which one will work best for you and your family or friends. So in this article, we’ll help you know what size grill you need according to needs.
Choosing the right size for a grill (What Size Grill Do You Need)
Since the grill is a MUST these days, anyone who doesn’t have one yet would love to buy a grilling machine. If you are one of them, you must identify what size of grill do you need.
The right size grill can make or break your grilling experience. In addition to making sure you have enough space and budget, picking a grill that’s too big or too small can greatly impact how much you enjoy grilling in general.
When You Should Pick Large Sized Grills?
If you are a fan of steak, chicken, or any other type of meat, you should invest in a large size grill. If space is not an issue and if you like throwing all types of food on your grill at once, then go ahead and get yourself a large-size one.
Before purchasing your grill make sure that it has enough room to fit all of your cooking needs. Some grills come with side burners which can be used as another source of heat.
For example, if you’re planning on having a lot of people over for dinner or even hosting an event, then you might want to consider getting one with side burners so that everyone can have their own hot plate.
Side burners also come in handy when preparing foods such as sauces because they allow you to keep your main burner free for whatever else you may need it for.
Be careful though! Large-sized grills can be bulky and take some effort to move around.
When You Should Pick Medium Size Grills?
If you’re a grill enthusiast, then a medium-sized grill will suit your needs. It’s ideal for people who entertain often and will cook enough food at one time to feed 20-25 guests.
These grills are also great if you have limited space in your yard because they don’t take up much space while still being large enough to entertain a crowd.
If you have a family of four or five people, you’ll need a grill that can handle a certain amount of cooking space. For example, if your family loves grilling food outside on a regular basis, then you’ll need something with at least 600 square inches of total cooking space.
If there are only two or three of you in your household who cookout frequently, then half that would be enough room for all your needs.
When You Should Pick Small Size Grills?
If you’re cooking for a crowd, opt for a small grill that can hold around three or four slabs of ribs. Small grills are also great if you’re cooking in tight quarters and don’t have much outdoor space.
They also work great as secondary grills when used with your main grill. Small grills often don’t cost much more than $100, making them more affordable grills.
Just remember that size does matter—if you buy too small of a grill, it won’t be able to handle all your needs.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing A Grill Size
One of the biggest concerns people have when choosing a grill is how big it needs to be. After all, you don’t want a small grill that won’t cook your food or a large one that will use up too much space on your deck or patio. To help you pick out just the right size, check out our guide below.
It’s extremely important that you purchase a grill that’s suitable for your needs. If you intend on grilling often, it is wise to invest in a large-sized charcoal or gas grill. However, if you have limited space or don’t use your grill too often, then it would be best to buy a small-sized electric grill.
There are a few factors one needs to consider to buy a grill. Let’s learn about the factors one by one.
1. The number of people you will be cooking for
How many people you want to cook for is important. Let’s say you have a 3-stove grill, and you need to cook for 10 people.
If you use that grill for 10 people, you won’t be able to serve food in time. Now, check the table below.
| Number of people | Size of grills (In square inches) |
|---|---|
| 3 | 216 sq. inch |
| 4 | 288 sq. inch |
| 5 | 360 sq. inch |
| 6 | 432 sq. inch |
In case you are thinking, it doesn’t matter what size of stove you are using. It matters because a congested stove cannot make the tastiest BBQ meat.
2. Cooking space on your house
You will find grills of different sizes. But, the main factor in selecting the size of a grill depends on the dimension of the cooking area in your house.
Generally, the standard size of a 3-stove grill fits within 450 to 500 square cooking space. On the other hand, if you have a larger family, 550 to 650 square cooking space will be required for a 5 to 6-stove grill.
3. The selves on a grill
Grill machines contain two selves. And, the purpose of the selves is different. The lower self is for direct cooking. In contrast, the upper self is for indirect cooking.
Don’t combine the size of both selves and think that you have chosen a big enough grilling machine. You should just consider the purpose of two selves here, nothing else.
People simply tend to think that having two selves means more space. And they completely overlook their purposes. Finally, they buy a grill that doesn’t serve their needs.
4. The selves and the amount of food
Another thing about the two selves- direct cooking is for cooking vegetables, and indirect cooking is for meats. The sizes of the selves will vary too, depending on the grill you choose.
Considering that, you could be cooking for a large number of guests. In that case, you will be cooking more food.
For instance, you need to put at least 10 steaks in the indirect cooking self, but it’s not working. So, you are utilizing the direct selves too. But they will burn the meat.
Also, if you turn down the heat, the foods on the indirect cooking self won’t cook. And, if you cook the 10 steaks separately, it will take longer to feed the guests.
5. The number of burners
With more burners, you can cook a different variety of food at a time. Also, you will apply different heating levels accordingly.
The number of burners depends on your need. And, you should opt-in for at least 2 burners. However, check this table.
| Number of people | Number of burners |
|---|---|
| 4 | 2 |
| 8-10 | 3 |
| 11 and above | 4-6 |
With the aspects mentioned above, you need to consider the price too. You will find the best gas grill under $300 and many gas grills under 500 for you.
Different Kinds of Grill Machines
You have known in detail to pick the suitable grill size. Now, it is also important to know what kind of grill you need. There are 5 kinds of grills. Let’s look at them.
Gas & propane grill
Around 70% of US people have grills as they love outdoor cooking. And, they mostly use grills that run on natural gas and propane. You can convert the natural gas grill into Propane easily.
Gas grills have many benefits. They are most affordable. Also, they will serve you efficiently. They don’t emit much smoke either. Moreover, they are easy to use and easy to clean. By the way, you can learn how to clean a gas grill here.
In case you are looking to buy one, we have reviewed the most optimistic gas grills based on their price. We have reviewed and shared our opinion on the best gas grill under $200, $300, and $500.
Charcoal grills
This is another widely popular grill. Because most of us like the smoky flavor in food. If you are one of us, you can buy a charcoal grill.
In addition, charcoal grills are used for cooking meat that is not naturally tender. With a charcoal grill, you need to cook slowly.
Meaning the heat will be comparatively low. This is to make tough meats tender and infuse the smoky flavor. However, heating a charcoal grill, on the other hand, might be more costly than heating a propane gas grill. However, it depends on how much fuel you use and where you live.
A charcoal grill is typically more cost effective than a gas grill. You may find charcoal grills for as little as $30. If you are someone who doesn’t want to sacrifice the flavor then read our review on the best charcoal grill under $200.
Kettle grills
The name already explains how does this particular grill machine look. They are used for the ease of portability. And charcoal is used in kettle grills.
Kamado grills
Kamado grills are almost like kettle grills. But, they are made from ceramic. Hence, people call them ceramic smokers or egg grills.
If you need some smoker boxes, you can check out the best smoker box for weber gas grill, propane grill smoker boxes, and bbq smoker boxes.
Back to kettle grills. They are versatile, thus allowing you to cook cheesecakes to pizzas. They are good at providing steady heating levels.
Pellet grills
This machine works both as a large smoker box and grill. Interestingly, they have gained much more popularity in the last 5 years than other grills.
They are packed with features that are convenient to use. For foods like, ribs, huge roasts, brisket- pellet grill will be highly beneficial. Besides, with a pellet grill, you don’t need to do much monitoring of the meats.
Final thoughts
While most people use either pick two burners or between 34 and 40 inches grills. But it depends on your personal preference and comfort.
You have learned how to choose a grill according to the size. Also, you have to know about the types of grills. Hopefully, now you can select a good grill for the upcoming BBQ party.
FAQs About Grill Size
Now, I will be answering some related inquiries. These might be extra help for you to choose a grill.
What size grill do I need?
Generally, USA households have 450 to 500 square inches of cooking space. There you can fit 3-burners gas grills. And, some people utilize 6-burners too if they have 550 to 650 square inches of cooking space.
What is the standard grill size for a grill?
A decent-sized grill will have around 24 inches in width and 15 inches in depth.
What is the difference between a grill and a smoker box?
Primarily, their structure and purpose are different. A grill doesn’t have a cover, whereas a smoker box is a grilling box that contains a cover. However, you can cook all food in a smoker box. That’s why you need to know the purpose of the grills and smoker box.
Do I need a grill cover?
Yes, you will need a cover for the grilling machine. Otherwise, there will be extra work to clean the grill beforehand using it.
Should I buy a fancy charcoal grill?
In general, the high-priced ones are considered fancy items. Well, it depends on your budget. You can buy a charcoal grill for around $30 to $2000. Hence, the fancy grills are made with high-quality materials and have some unique features that can spice up your grilling process.
What is the healthiest type of grill?
A charcoal grill machine is best for health. However, gas grills are far more energy-efficient than charcoal grills, and they emit significantly fewer pollutants as a result.
How much does a good grill cost?
The price range is wide for grills. The price starts at as low as $30 and as high as $10,000. Know that the price determines longevity and efficiency. However, the suitable one will cost you between $100-$500.
What is the top-rated grill?
Most of the top-rated grills are from the higher end of the price scale. And Weber is at the top of the list in the market.