Taylor Harrison
The best natural gas grills combine consistent heat output, durable stainless steel or cast aluminum construction, and enough primary cooking area to handle a full meal without crowding, all while tapping into a home's existing gas line so you never run out of fuel mid cookout. For anyone who grills often, converting to natural gas eliminates the single biggest hassle of backyard cooking: running out of propane with guests standing around hungry.
This guide ranks the models worth buying, breaks down the specs that actually matter, and walks through how to choose between them based on your yard, your cooking habits, and your budget.
What Makes the Best Natural Gas Grills Stand Out
Three things separate a grill that lasts fifteen years from one that rusts out after three: the grade of stainless steel used in the burners and body, the quality of the ignition system, and how evenly the burners distribute heat across the cooking surface. Cheaper grills often use thin gauge steel that warps under repeated heat cycles, while better models use heavier stainless burners rated for tens of thousands of hours of use.
Burner count and BTU output get a lot of attention in marketing copy, but they matter less than even heat distribution. A grill with three well spaced burners putting out moderate BTUs per square inch of cooking surface will outperform a grill with six burners crammed into a small area, because the latter creates hot spots that scorch food unevenly. Look for grills that list BTUs per square inch rather than just total BTUs, since that ratio tells you more about real world performance.
Top Natural Gas Grills Worth Buying
The models below represent the range of what is available, from entry level grills built for occasional weekend use to high end units designed for people who cook outdoors most nights of the week.
| Grill Type | Best For | Construction | Typical Burner Count | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level stainless | Occasional grillers, smaller yards | Thinner stainless or painted steel | 2 to 3 | Budget |
| Mid range stainless | Weekly grilling, families | Full stainless body and burners | 3 to 4 | Mid tier |
| High end stainless | Frequent cooks, larger gatherings | Heavy gauge stainless throughout | 4 to 6 | Premium |
| Built in modular units | Outdoor kitchens | Commercial grade stainless | 4 to 6 plus side burners | Premium to luxury |
| Cast aluminum bodied | Coastal climates, corrosion resistance | Cast aluminum with stainless components | 3 to 5 | Mid to premium |
Entry level stainless grills work fine for someone who fires up the grill a few times a month and wants reliable performance without a big investment. Mid range stainless models are the sweet spot for most households: full stainless construction that resists rust, enough burners to sear and slow cook simultaneously, and features like rotisserie kits or side burners for sauces.
High end stainless grills use heavier gauge metal throughout, which means they hold heat more evenly and survive years of exposure to weather without warping. Built in modular units are designed for permanent outdoor kitchen installations where the grill sits inside a stone or masonry surround connected directly to a home's gas line. Cast aluminum bodied grills deserve a specific mention for anyone living near saltwater, since aluminum resists the corrosion that eventually eats through even good stainless steel in coastal air.
Natural Gas Versus Propane: Why It Matters for Grill Choice
Converting a grill to run on natural gas means it draws fuel directly from a home's gas line rather than a portable propane tank, which removes the need to ever swap or refill a tank again. The tradeoff is installation: a natural gas grill needs to be plumbed to a gas line, either by extending an existing line from a house or by hiring a licensed plumber to run a new one out to the patio or deck where the grill sits.
Because natural gas burns at a lower BTU rating per cubic foot than propane, natural gas grills are engineered with different orifice sizes in their burners and regulators to compensate. This means you generally cannot just swap a propane grill onto a gas line without modification. Some manufacturers sell dual fuel models with conversion kits, but a grill purchased specifically as a natural gas model will already have the correct components installed and will perform closer to its rated output.
Data as of 2026-07-19Price 10.51 USD Day change +0.09 (+0.86%) 52-week range 10.18 – 12.23 RSI (14) 37.84 Volume 7,121,998
Household demand for natural gas grills tends to track broader natural gas price trends, since cheaper gas at the pump for home heating often coincides with lower installation and running costs for outdoor cooking setups too. Utility rates for natural gas fluctuate with the same supply and storage dynamics that move futures prices, so a homeowner converting a patio grill is, in a small way, plugged into the same market that heats their house in winter.
How to Choose the Right Size and Layout
Primary cooking area, measured in square inches, is the number that actually tells you how much food a grill can handle at once, not the total cooking area figure that includes warming racks. A grill with 500 to 600 square inches of primary cooking space comfortably handles a dozen burgers or several racks of ribs, which covers most family and small gathering needs. Anything below 400 square inches will feel cramped the moment more than four or five people show up hungry.
Side burners, rotisserie attachments, and built in smoker boxes add real functionality if you actually use them, but they also add cost and maintenance points. A side burner is genuinely useful for simmering sauces or boiling corn without running back inside to the kitchen. A rotisserie kit is worth it if you plan to cook whole chickens or roasts regularly, but it is dead weight on a grill if you never touch it.
Cabinet style bases with enclosed storage keep propane tanks or, in the case of natural gas models, connection hoses and tools out of sight and protected from weather. Open cart style bases are cheaper and lighter but expose more of the grill's underside to rain and debris.
Installation Considerations Before You Buy
Before buying any natural gas grill, confirm where the nearest gas line access point is on your property and get a rough quote from a licensed plumber for running a line to your intended grill location, since this cost varies enormously based on distance and whether the work requires trenching through a yard or crawling under a house. Many buyers skip this step and discover after purchase that installation costs more than the grill itself.
Check that the grill you are buying is sold as a natural gas model specifically, not a propane model with an optional conversion kit, since dedicated natural gas grills tend to perform more reliably at their rated BTU output. If a conversion kit is your only option, confirm it is manufactured and sold by the grill's original maker rather than a generic third party kit, since improperly sized orifices can cause weak flames or uneven heating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best natural gas grills?
The best natural gas grills are full stainless steel models with even burner spacing, at least 500 square inches of primary cooking area, and a reliable ignition system, typically found in the mid range to high end stainless categories from established grill manufacturers. Cast aluminum models are worth considering for coastal homes where salt air accelerates corrosion.
What is the best gas grill you can buy?
For most households, a mid range to high end stainless steel natural gas grill with three to five burners and heavy gauge construction offers the best balance of durability, even cooking performance, and long term value. Built in modular units are the strongest choice for anyone building a permanent outdoor kitchen, though they carry a higher upfront and installation cost.
