Best BBQ in the UK 2024 – the top 12 electric, charcoal and gas barbecues we've tested

Too early in the year to shop for the best BBQ? Absolutely not. Even if you're not planning on using your BBQ any time soon, you'll be prepped and primed for when alfresco dining is a more tempting thought.

Whether you're looking for one of the best gas BBQs or a do-it-all hybrid barbecue, the team at Ideal Home is here to make your life easier by having narrowed down the countless options out there to present you with 12 of the very best barbecues to invest in.

When reviewing each of these barbecues (several of which we tested in unison during a testing trip to Somerset) we considered everything from how long they took to build to each one's cooking ability. What's more, we haven't forgotten about each barbecue's price: there's something for all budgets just below, whether you have sub £200 to spend or £1,000+.

Keep scrolling to see top choices from brands such as Weber, Char-Broil, Everdure, Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg and Traeger. And if you're kitting out your garden in a big way, why not also check out our buying guide on the best pizza ovens, a resource packed full of fan favourites.

Quick list

Best gas BBQ

What does it take to be the best BBQ on this list? Value for money, cooking power and ease of use - all of which the Weber Spirit II E310 GBS Gas Barbecue has by the bucket load. 

This entry-level buy is perfect for anyone who needs quality but isn't willing to compromise on power. In our tests, it proved itself as a reliable investment from the minute we set it up, and was even a fairly easy BBQ to clean, which goes a long way in the heat of a summer's day. This particular model is part of a wide range from Weber, with prices ranging from £599 to £1299 depending on the spec you want. 

Earning five stars in our review, this three-burner BBQ wowed us with its versatile cooking ability, acing every test we threw it at (including veggies, sausages, burgers, and a whole spatchcock chicken). Importantly, it reached the optimum temperature for grilling with ease and was able to stay at that heat without incident. 

Design-wise, this is a practical-looking BBQ with all of the features to make flipping those burgers considerably easier. Searching for sturdy side tables and space for all of your spatulas and tongs? The Weber Spirit II E310 GBS won't disappoint, with large wheels for repositioning in your garden too. We'll admit, it's not as showstopping as the Everdure Force, but its value for money can't be overstated. For the price, you guarantee three burners, a large cooking space, and a performance and quality that usually comes with a much larger price tag.  

Our Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas BBQ review has the full details.

Best charcoal BBQ

Simple, well-made, affordable, and high-performing - what more could you want from a charcoal BBQ? The Weber Original Kettle is a classic by every standard, and it's the ideal size for 2-4 people. Weber has been around for decades, with a wealth of experience when it comes to making gold-standard BBQs, and this kettle-style one was invented by the brand itself, and has spawned many an imitation since.

We think you should invest a little more (the RRP is £250, but you can find it for less) on Weber's OG version. Why? Well, because the cheaper imitations don't have the same emphasis on quality, and won't last you as long. Our Deputy Editor Rebecca Knight has had a Weber Original Kettle in her family home for over five years, which means that your initial £250 investment can be thought of as a cost to be spread out across a few years.

Our expert BBQ reviewer Helen, who tried this BBQ describes it as a 'great buy' and thinks that 'it'll suit just about anyone looking for a good quality charcoal barbecue from a brand with an excellent pedigree'. Highlights from Helen's review include the various size options available with the Weber Original Kettle, and the excellent, no-faff cleaning system. While this BBQ loses half a star due to the fact that charcoal can be a bit trickier to handle than gas, it sits so high up in this list thanks to the fact it's a star budget buy. 

Our Weber Original Kettle BBQ review has the full details.

Best electric BBQ

This electric BBQ from Weber has the potential to suit so many people, which is just one of the reasons we think it's an excellent buy. First up, it's perfect for those without a garden, who want a BBQ for their balcony or terrace instead (as long as you have a plug socket nearby!). It proved in our at home tests to be unbelievably simple to set up and use - so much so that our reviewer called it 'effectively idiot-proof.' 

Our Deputy Editor Rebecca Knight who reviewed this BBQ thinks families will love it for its convenience and ease of use, with the potential to even use it on a weekday evening for dinners. It's also great for renters, as there's no chance you'll leave scorch marks on your landlord's grass with this one. 

After trying it out at home, Becky thinks that the Lumin is 'as easy to use as your oven', and found it to be packed full of clever features to make it worth the pricey RRP, including accessories that allow you to turn the Lumin into a steamer, smoker or food warmer instead of just your average BBQ. 

The Weber Lumin was good enough to convert Becky into an electric BBQ lover, even if she did initially miss that smokey flavour that comes with charcoal grilling. In this case, the Lumin's ease of use and fantastic versatility meant that it was a standout performer. That teamed with the fact that it's perfect for those who live in cities, or have more constricted outdoor space, means it's a certified Ideal Home favourite.

Our Weber Lumin Electric BBQ review has the full details.

Best affordable gas BBQ

Gas is the most convenient type of barbecue for most people, and this one that we tested from Char-Broil sits at a happy price point, plus it offers plenty of features for faff-free cooking. For the majority of us, this compact BBQ offers enough cooking space, and it's ideal for small families. Especially if you (like us) don't really have a spare £500+ to spend on a barbecue right now. Don't forget that you can batch cook for when you've guests over, to save on spending a load on a larger barbecue you only really need a couple of times a year.

Boasting two foldout shelves for storage purposes, the All Star is a great little BBQ to own. It's ready to cook after 10 minutes, and it has a temperature gauge on the hood. Whilst it does have a keep warm shelf, its rounded cooking area does get hottest in the middle so you can use the outer space to slowly cook foods without burning them, such as sausages. We managed to cook an entire chicken on this barbecue. It's safe for us to say that whilst it might take a few uses to get the hang of cooking on this BBQ, it's worth it once you do get the knack figured out.

Assembly is very frustrating and instructions are a pain (just use the app) but once it's done initially, it's done forever. The BBQ offers plenty of storage, including hooks for tools and two foldable shelves for your drink or whatever else to sit. It also has onboard storage for your gas canister, to hide it away. It sits on wheels for easy moving, too. Cleaning couldn't be any easier as you need only fire up the heat for 10 minutes with the lid closed, then you can use the tool included, to scrape food residue off the BBQ ready for next use.

Our Char-Broil All Star gas barbecue review has the full details.

Best BBQ for design

The Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force 2 Burner Gas BBQ has Heston's approval, as well as ours, with a stunning performance and unbeatable design earning an easy five-star rating in our review.

It's got lots of home chef-approved elements, such as the ultra-powerful independent burners, and the extra high hood for convection cooking that worked like a dream during our spatchcock chicken test. And when it comes to design, it's safe to say that it was a case of love at first sight thanks to that signature orange (or blue) hood. 

Design points that we absolutely love include the fact that the BBQ can be removed from the stand, making it portable for tabletop use, and all of the perfect finishing details, from the swish metal taps to the fold-down side table. The enamel-coated grates and rust-proof build materials also earned our favour, leaving us feeling that this was really an investment BBQ built to last. 

It narrowly lost out on the top spot and the title of best BBQ due to the fact it's only powered by two burners, which made some of our tests a little more restricted, despite an RRP of £749.00. But the benefits of the Everdure Force far outweigh any setbacks, with an unbelievably fast heat-up time (we managed to get it hot enough in around 4 minutes) and the ability to tackle pretty much any job. It offers super precise heat control thanks to its built-in temperature gauge. You could easily fit two medium chickens on there at one time, and the chicken we did cook, compared with a range of other gas BBQs, was the crispiest by far.

We can't go without saying that this BBQ is a total breeze to build too, taking just one hour and five minutes to do in its entirety. Cleaning isn't a drag either, meaning that you can more easily look after your outdoor investment. In short, if you're looking for an uber-stylish, extremely competent BBQ, and you've got the money to spend, the Everdure Force is absolutely your best bet.

Our Everdure Force Gas BBQ review has the full details.

Best small BBQ

This small charcoal BBQ from George Foreman is a great buy for pretty much anyone. It's versatile and extremely portable and therefore easy to store. During testing our Ecommerce Editor also loved how lightweight it was, weighing in at just over 4kg.

Not only that, but it sits at a happy-go-lucky price point, too with an RRP of £54.99. It's a top-notch charcoal barbecue and even though it's small, it can really pack a punch when it comes to both cooking ability and flavour.

With a decent size cooking area considering the size of this BBQ, we used it to cook everything from veggies to small pieces of meat and burgers and sausages. Whilst it's not smart or app-connected, it is great for anyone looking for a fuss-free charcoal BBQ at a decent price tag. 

You can sit it atop a table in your garden so as not to take up any more floor space, and it's the perfect size for popping an easy-light charcoal bag in if you hate the fuss of lighting. While you can fit a fair few burgers on it at once, we found during testing that you might have to batch cook for a larger group. In short: don't let its size put you off.

Best egg BBQ

Make no mistake, we know that the Kamado Joe Classic Joe Grill Series II is a huge investment - it's a purchase that even the biggest BBQ enthusiast wouldn't make lightly. But for your money, you get a seriously impressive outdoor centrepiece - this is truly a BBQ that will steal the show at any gathering in your garden for years to come. 

As well as being the most equipped charcoal BBQ out there, the Kamado Joe can also be used as a grill, smoker, and even an outdoor oven, so that all of your garden party needs are covered. Performance-wise, we were blown away by the Kamado Joe's ability, with delicious chargrilled burgers and sausages. The smokey taste it created was second to none. Yes, it's a little more labour-intensive to get going than a gas choice, but the results are so worth it, especially if you love the act of BBQing itself. 

And it would be remiss to not mention the design here, which is easily the favourite to rival the other super stylish choice on this list, the Everdure Force. We'll admit the Kamado Joe is heavy (at 104kg), but the Series II airlift design is a clever way to bring the bulk down, and the ceramic body really is a thing of wonder. It regulates and retains heat incredibly well, and we'd challenge anyone not to fall in love with the red exterior. Can you tell we're big fans?

Our Kamado Joe Classic Joe Grill Series II review has the full details.

Best small egg BBQ

If you're hoping to invest in a Kamado BBQ, then we can't recommend the one from Tower anymore. We tested it and rated it 4.5-stars out of 5, and we think it's a great buy for small to medium-size families, or if you want a BBQ that's not going to take up too much of your patio space. This one is compact in size yet anything but in features. It's ideal for all-size gardens, from balconies to large spaces and even a terrace.

Use this high-quality Kamado-style BBQ to sear, grill or bake anything from meat to fish and veggies. We think it's great for anyone looking for a sturdy barbecue that will last a lifetime. Its heavy construction screams durability, whilst it sits on a table to use up less floor space. Though its cooking space isn't the largest, you can use it to batch cook food as it retains heat incredibly well. It also boasts a built-in temperature gauge to make cooking easy. It can fit around 6 burgers and 6 sausages, cooking at the same time.

You can leave this BBQ outside year-round, and you might have to because it's so heavy. It comes with a cloth cover though and it has handles. There's also no denying that it doesn't look great, and it comes in your choice of black or green. Cleaning it couldn't be easier, thanks to its compact size grates.

Our Tower Kamado Maxi Charcoal BBQ review has the full details. 

Best hybrid BBQ

If you're hoping to spend your money on a hybrid BBQ for family cooking, but are on a strict(er) budget, then this one from Outback is your best bet. It's definitely not one for small spaces, though, with a sizeable cooking area plus 2 side shelves and oodles of storage on offer. For less than £300 on most websites, this BBQ is a steal.

Cooking with charcoal or gas is easy on this barbecue. It has a keep warm rack to perfectly time your food, too, and on its hood sits a temperature gauge. We found that it took around 8 minutes to get to heat when using the gas function. Charcoal was slightly trickier but still took only 15 minutes. Overall, we found that cooking was fast and fuss-free on this BBQ.

Assembly time took around 3 hours but once up it's a breeze to use. It sits on two wheels to make it easy to move and comes in two colours to spruce your space. Ideally, it needs to be placed in a well-sheltered location when in use and after use, it has to be moved away from the elements, otherwise, you can invest in a cover for it. Cleaning this BBQ is easy depending on what you've been cooking on it.

Our Outback Meteor 4-Burner Hybrid Gas & Charcoal BBQ review has the full details.

Best luxury BBQ

Just like the larger, more expensive version, the Big Green Egg MiniMax is an unbelievably stylish yet practical BBQ. Our very-hard-to-please reviewer Helen McCue awarded this BBQ five stars thanks to its ability to maintain a steady heat, and for its stellar cooking results. 

It was pretty much impossible to fault this BBQ during at-home tests. The only reason it doesn't top our list of the best BBQs is because its hefty price tag isn't for everyone. This is why instead, it's our best luxury option for those who can spend a little more. 

For the price (£795.00), this BBQcan roast, bake, slow (and low) cook, grill, smoke and even pan cook food. In our tests, we found that by using the Big Green Egg air-flow tech, this BBQ got up to heat in just 12 minutes. It certainly retains heat well once lit (for up to 10 hours apparently!), and aced recipes including a whole chicken, steaks and veggies

It comes with a dome temperature gauge, and Helen found it easy to keep it within a few degrees of desired heat throughout cooking. It's definitely one for barbecue enthusiasts, and if you only use your BBQ for cooking burgers and sausages a few times a year, then you're not going to get the most use out of it. The idea is that you buy it once and it lasts forever, hence the price tag and that it can be used at all times of the year as it offers enough space to cook your entire Christmas turkey. 

Once finished, the leftover fats and oils are cooked down by the heat of the egg meaning all that's left is an easily swept away ash, leaving you ready to cook again the next time. It's deep though so you may want to roll your sleeves up before diving into the ash pile. 

Our Big Green Egg MiniMax BBQ review has the full details.

Best smoker BBQ

Boy did we love testing the Traeger PRO 575 Pellet Grill. It’s smart, easy to clean, and surprisingly versatile. While Traeger is a well-known brand in the States (they love a smoker grill) it’s been making strides in the UK, with a range of accessible grills to make smoker cooking easy. If you've got the money, and you're keen on barbecuing, then this smoker would be a worthwhile investment for sure.

You power the Traeger with pellets, which add extra smokiness and are very easy to ignite and use. It's super convenient to light though it does require power, so consider where you will place it in your garden before investing. The drum-shaped grill has a hopper and controls to the side, which are digital and can even be paired with a smartphone. This adds more pellets as and when needed. Otherwise, the guesswork is completely taken out of cooking on this Traeger smoker, and when you cook meat using the probe, it will come out succulent and perfectly cooked.

If you'll be storing this smoker outside, you'll need to buy a cover for it for protection. You can use it with any hardwood pellets, though Traeger does sell flavoured varieties, such as apple wood for chicken and pork, and oak for beef. To clean, soak the grates in your sink and empty the grease bucket.

Best portable BBQ

If you want a barbecue that isn’t consigned to your garden alone then the Everdure Cube BBQ could be just the one for you. This combines quality craftsmanship and cooking ability with portability that lets you turn any park, field or beach into a barbecue party. We love the look of this BBQ, and it comes in a range of colours. Seeing as this one will likely be best for those without much storage space, it's nice to know you can display it when not in use.

We really liked the chopping board-slash-lid, but it is a shame that there's no lid to use when cooking because a lot of heat could escape from this portable grill when in use. Even still, it does a nifty job of cooking smaller pieces of meat and veggies, from burgers to sausages, wings and corn. It's best for smaller groups, couples and small families but you can use it to batch cook food, for more people. It also takes up no floor space so is ideal for balconies.

When it comes to cleaning, grates can go into the dishwasher but the shiny orange interior is a little harder to clean. It stains but this doesn't impact its cooking ability, it's more of a frustration. The handles do get hot whilst cooking so be careful, and it comes with add-ons such as a chopping board and a plastic storage lid for holding your buns and your Ketchup. We wouldn't recommend leaving this one out in the elements, but it's so easy to store that that's not an issue for us. 

Our Everdure Cube BBQ review has the full details.

How we tested these barbecues

As per our testing protocol, we think that the best way to rate our products is to try them hands-on, which is why we have reviewed all of the BBQs in our guide, and we're working on reviewing more. 

When we test a BBQ we take into account the assembly process, how well it cooks both large and small cuts of meat and veggies, and the user experience from quality of build to durability. Also, we never forget the price tags of BBQs, as we know value for money is more important now than ever.

As part of our commitment to evaluating different BBQs to establish which one really is the best, we also tried out a range of grills during a testing excursion in the Somerset countryside. There we could compare first-hand the quality, build-time, and grilling capabilities of each BBQ, and rate them when it came to design elements too. Other BBQs in this list have been tested by our team in their homes, to get the experience that you would have if you purchased one of these grills for yourself. 

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It's worth us noting that some of the BBQs in this guide were tested in the last few years, meaning they've received years of use and have proven themselves to be very rust-resistant and long-lasting. Below you can find more information on exactly who tested each of the BBQs you'll find in this round-up. 

Molly Cleary

Molly is the Ecommerce Editor for Ideal Home covering appliances and cleaning, which was a perfect combination for the BBQ testing day, as the team built, used and then scrubbed a number of grills over two days. 

She tested the Everdure Force, which is one of the best cooking products she's ever tried, as well as the CharBroil Professional 3400 S BBQ, which was a little more challenging in terms of building and grilling. 

Thanks to the rigorous BBQ testing program at Ideal Home Molly is a certified Customer Advisor when it comes to all types of grills. If there's a grill you'd like to see reviewed here, drop her a line at molly.cleary@futurenet.com to request it. 

Helen McCue

After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK, where she reviews all sorts of home and garden appliances using her wealth of experience.

She tested the Big Green Egg MiniMax in April, which was fine since Big Green Egg barbecues can be used year-round, even in the rain. She had the barbecue for two weeks on loan and was very sad when it was time to give it back. 

Annie Collyer

Annie was formerly Deputy Ecommerce Editor on Ideal Home, and has been writing for Future Homes titles since 2018.

She's done her fair share of product testing in her time at Future, so it's safe to say that she can spot the good from the bad, whether that's a mattress, a BBQ, a mop or even a handy home organizer. 

From this list, she tested the Everdure Cube BBQ and the Weber Go Anywhere for several weeks each at a time and loved both as a portable options. While the Everdure is better suited to those who are design savvy, both are great for park or beach trips. 

Ginevra Benedetti

Ginevra Benedetti is the deputy editor of Ideal Home magazine and has been writing about homes and gardens for nearly two decades for a wide range of magazines and websites.

From this list, Gin has tested the Char-Broil All Star barbecue and the Trager Pro 575 barbecue first-hand in her garden over a number of weeks, using it just as you would, so you know exactly what you are buying. 

Linda Clayton

Linda Clayton is a professionally trained journalist and has specialized in home, interiors, and fitness for more than two decades. She’s a fastidious product reviewer, design obsessive, serial renovator, and amateur runner. 

Now on her fourth reno project (a Victorian redbrick in Devon), she is lucky to have recently completed the garden landscaping and patio area, which are finally perfect for hosting barbecues for family and friends.

She and her husband tested the Everdure Force 2 over several weeks in early summer, trying out a range of old favourites (i.e. anything that can be left unattended) as well as a few new ideas. While no Heston, she’s always up for more challenging recipes, especially ones that push her pre-teen children to try new foods.

Rebecca Knight

Rebecca Knight is the Website Deputy Editor on Ideal Home and has been writing about all things homes and gardens for over four years. She lives in a flat in London without a garden so the Outback meteor 4 burner hybrid gas charcoal BBQ and the Weber Lumin were both tested at her family home in North Yorkshire. 

A keen cook, she regularly takes charge of the BBQ for family dinners and summer gatherings. The youngest of four, she is used to cooking large quantities of food in typical northern portion sizes for the family (a small BBQ would simply not do).

As with all our reviews, the Outback meteor 4 burner hybrid gas charcoal BBQ and Weber Lumin were tested first-hand by Rebecca with the help of some of her family members over a number of weeks so you know exactly what you’re buying. The product was given to us free of charge, we test the BBQ for as long as possible before sending it back, unless we are able to keep it. Then we are able to continue testing the product to see how it fares over a longer period of time and report back in our review. 

FAQs

How to buy the best BBQ for you

The most major priority is price, so start out with a rough idea of what you want to spend. Once you know this, it’s easier to narrow down the rest and fit in what you need with what you can afford. Next up is fuel.

This subject is an area of debate. Some claim that charcoals offer the very best flavour, while others claim gas gives the same result. Then, to make it more complicated, there are gas barbecues that use gas flames to heat charcoals.

Essentially it boils down to this – if you’re cooking meat, it’s the juices hitting the coals which create a smoke which adds flavour to the meat. Lose the coals and you lose this extra flavour.

So if you want authentic flavour, coals can be the best way to cook. Then there are the smokers which take this idea to the next level and offer slow cooking which not only packs in the smokey flavour but also allows you to give the perfect tenderness to joints of meat.

The problem with gas and charcoal is that you need to buy the fuels, which can be a hassle. That’s where electric barbecues come in. They're a great way ta grill without worrying about anything aside from plugging in the barbecue. Of course, many will argue this is akin to cooking indoors. But with a lid for trapping in flavour you’re still going to get a great experience.

How much should I spend on a BBQ?

This is the question that’s a tough one to nail down since the range of prices is so broad. You can spend very little on a portable barbecue, or you can stretch to a professional level beast with multiple functions and heat sources priced in the thousands.

Most people find somewhere in the middle suits. So spending just over a hundred or a few hundred will generally get you a barbecue fit for most purposes.

Take a look at fuel costs, too, as gas and coal varies. You'll want to factor this in, especially if you’re planning to use the barbecue a lot.

What other key questions do I need to ask about BBQs?

Size is an issue for areas of limited space, so a smaller barbecue can often be easier for storage. That said, if you’re having parties with lots of people, a larger cooking area is always a welcome addition.

Splashing out a bit more on a cover is another factor to consider if you plan to keep your barbecue outside. Especially in countries where it’s cold and wet in the winter months, it's a necessity if you can’t find an indoor storage location. 

Invest in one of the best BBQs and reap the benefits all summer long. At least, as much as the Great British summer will allow!