Top 15 Best Gas Grills Under $300

If you want to hold BBQ parties with a limited budget, the options are restricted. Nevertheless, don’t worry as there are a few gas grills under 300 available. Just take more time to read through the buying guide, understand what you need, and finally choose the most suitable grill. First, check which type of gas grill you prefer.

Type of Gas Grills

Depending on the main cooking area, gas grills are classified into four types.

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  Portable

  
  

The portable grill has folded or short legs to put on the foldable table. The portable gas grill is suitable for carrying to the camping site. Therefore, the compact size is usually limited to two burners only.

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  Small

  
  

The cooking area is small around 300 square inches with two or three burners. However, some models have a quick heating system to grill food faster.

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  Midsized

  
  

With this type, the number of burners is usually three or even four. The cooking area varies from over 300 to around 500 square inches. To choose a sturdy mid-sized grill, pay attention to the frame and the efficient cooking system.

• 
  

  Large

  
  

The gas grills under $300 usually fall into the small or midsized type because the larger cooking area needs thick, and durable material. There are often four or five burners.

Which Is the Best Gas Grill Under $300 for You?

This following list includes eight best gas grills under 300 with different features.

• Best Overall: Char-Griller E3001 Grilling Pro
  “Large cooking area, quick and great heat, three heat diffusers, porcelain-coated cast iron grates, two vents on the lid, side burner, warming rack included, fast electronic ignition.”
• Best Budget: Char-Broil Classic 360
  “Larger cooking area, warming rack included, two side tables, porcelain-coated lid, affordable price.”
• Best Design: Megamaster 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill
  “Sturdy design, porcelain frame tamer, cast iron grates, sturdy oversized shelves, built-in thermometer.”
• Best Tabletop: Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Stainless Tabletop Grill
  “Stainless steel design, flame shields cover u shaped burners, locking lips, lightweight, folded legs, built-in thermometer.”
• Best Portable: Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill
  “Lightweight, portable, even heat distribution, porcelain coating grates, thermometer included, foldable tables, easy to assemble.”
• Best Midsized: Cuisinart CGG-7400 Full Size Gas Grill
  “Large cooking area, built-in thermometer and bottle opener, four metal flare shields, nice shelf to support the lid.”
• Best for Small Family: Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner Gas Grill
  “Porcelain coated grates for easy cleanup, built-in thermostat on the lid, cabinet for tank storage, fast electronic ignition, foldable side shelves.”
• Best Multipurpose: Blackstone 1554 36-inch Top Gas Grill
  “720 square inch cooking surface, foldable legs with four wheels, two side shelves, quick and even heat distribution.”

Gas Grill Under $300 Comparison Chart

The larger cooking area demands more burners to cook efficiently. Check those two columns first, and then narrow down your options.

Top 15 Best Gas Grill Under 300 Dollars Reviews

This list consists of fifteen gas grills with Char-Broil products first. The list ends with portable models for your great camping experience.

1. Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner Gas Grill 

(Best for Small Family)

This model has two burners with a small cooking surface which is 15.9-inch wide and 18.5-in deep. This size is suitable for a couple or small family.

The cast iron grates are finished with porcelain for easy cleaning and rust resistance. The side shelves are foldable when not using. When you close the stainless-steel lid, the temperature gauge on the lid will the temperature inside.

The burners are also made from stainless steel. However, there is no flame tamer, which doesn’t retain and distribute heat effectively. The flame is hotter in the front, which leaves the back of the grate almost no heat.

When you hold the ignition button, the fire lights fast with electronic ignition. The removable porcelain grease pan is easy to clean. You can hide the tank in the cabinet but the downside is no back to the cabinet. In case it rains, move the grill inside with four casters.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	24,000
Burner material	Stainless Steel Top-Ported
Grid material	Porcelain-coated cast iron
Lid	Stainless Steel
Warranty	5 years

2. Char-Broil Classic 280 Gas Grill with Side Burner

The Char-Broil classic series features piezo ignition system, which requires the users to push the red button, and turn the knob. It works on liquid propane.

Porcelain-coated steel lid and firebox are rust-resistant, which makes cleaning a breeze. The metal side selves under the burner can hang the cooking utensils.

The model will indicate how large the main cooking area is. To be more specific, model 280 has 280 square inches cooking surface. This two-burner model holds around 8 burgers. The swing-away rack on top of the grates is used for warming.

The left-side table is actually 8,000-BTU burner but it takes a long time to heat up. The 12×13.5 side table provides more preparing space for you but it is not foldable.

The burners are also made from stainless steel with the upside-down V bar on the right for better heat distribution. There are only two wheels for moving. Moreover, you must hold the lid when opening as the lid opens up to 180 degrees.

Product Specification

Side burner	Yes, 8,000 BTU
BTU	20,000
Burner material	Stainless Steel
Grid material	Porcelain-coated metal
Lid	Porcelain-coated steel
Warranty	5 years

Watch the video to see the assembly of Char-Broil Classic 2 Burner Gas Grill (Model #463672717):

3. Char-Broil Classic 360 

(Best Budget)

This Char-Broil classic 360 is an upgraded from the previous 280 classic model. The lid, firebox, piezo ignition system, and moving wheels are the same.

The differences lie on the side table, warming rack, and the burner. This model has up to three burners but with the same 10,000 BTU for each. The primary cooking surface is 80 square inches wider. However, heat retention is still the same without many upgrades.

The 170 square inch swing-a-way rack replaces the side burner. This rack keeps the sides or toasting buns and other foods warm inside. The two side tables are not foldable. If you want to save space, don’t assemble the tables.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	30,000
Burner material	Stainless Steel
Grid material	Porcelain-coated metal
Lid	Porcelain-coated steel
Warranty	5 years

4. Char-Broil Classic 405 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

If you need a midsized large cooking area for big parties, the Char-Broil Classic 405 has up to 405 square inches for grilling. The porcelain-coated lid, firebox, piezo ignition system, and two moving wheels are similar to other classic models.

The main burner BTUs is 32,000, which is only 8,000 BTU for each burner. The burner has a lower number of BTU. The swing-a-way rack is 190 square inches for holding food and keeping it warm.

The sides can’t be folded as always. Char-Broil needs an upgrade on the table. It still uses the standard twenty-pound propane tank. The removable grease cup can be taken out once the grease is full.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	32,000
Burner material	Stainless Steel
Grid material	Porcelain-coated metal
Lid	Porcelain-coated Steel
Warranty	5 years

5. Char-Broil 463377319 Performance Cart Style

The Char-Broil 463377319 is a 2019 grill model with stainless steel front panels. The stainless-steel finish makes the design more elegant and adds extra durability to the grill.

The porcelain-coated cast iron combines with the stainless-steel burners and heat tents to distribute and retain heat better. The rust-resistant 425 square inch cooking surface can hold up to 20 burgers. The 150 square inch swing-away rack and lidded side burner add up to your cooking space.

With the push of a button, you can light up the flame quickly. When you close the lid, the thermometer will tell you the temperature inside. Use the prep space on the right to hold the dish or cooking utensils.

Remove the porcelain-coated grease pan after you finished grilling. This model has two wheels only. You should cover the grill in case it rains heavily.

Product Specification

Side burner	Yes, 10,000BTU
BTU	36,000
Burner material	Stainless Steel
Grid material	Porcelain-coated cast iron
Lid	Stainless Steel
Warranty	5 years

6. Char-Griller E3001 Grilling Pro 

(Best Overall)

The Char-Griller E3001 Grilling Pro gas grill is a midsized grill because of its large cooking space and the large size. To open the lid, leave space behind the grill.

This model features two vents on the top, looking like the chimney. When not in use, cover the vent to reduce rusting, or when you close it, the food gets rained on by rust. The heavy steel lid also has a built-in thermometer but it doesn’t seem to be accurate.

This gas grill comes with three burners (48,000 BTU) and a 12,000 BTU side burner on the left. The large cooking area is up to 438 square inches. The warming rack is 192 square inches for extra warming room. When the lid is closed, the temperature goes up quickly, even with one low burner, which needs careful monitor.

The lidded side burner is one the left and the side table is on the right with hanging hooks. The sturdy cast-iron grates are coated with porcelain for easier cleaning. The heat is kept inside due to the two stacks on the lid, the iron grates and the flame shields. Above three stainless steel burners are the coated heat shields to prevent greasy drippings and distribute heat better.

The electronic system requires pressing the ignitor to light each burner separately. To roast the chicken indirectly on your grates, remove the rack and close the lid. The downside is only two moving wheels and no cabinet for storing the tank but only a front panel to conceal it.

Product Specification

Side burner	Yes, with 12,000 BTU
BTU	40,800
Burner material	Stainless Steel
Grid material	Porcelain-coated cast iron
Lid	Durable Steel
Warranty	5 years

Watch this video to see the review of Char-Griller Grillin’ Pro Gas Grill:

7. Cuisinart CGG-7400 Full Size Gas Grill

(Best Midsized)

The Cuisinart CGG-7400 gas grill is the midsized type with large cooking area.

The four different burners dispense 11,000 BTU of heat each. Turn on the control knobs to adjust the heat you want for each part. There is no need to turn on the ignition first, just twist the control knob.

With different heat levels, the grill can cook a wide range of ingredients at the same time. The large cooking surface is up to 443 square inches. If you take into the 167 square inch warming rack, the cooking surface is much wider.

The heavy-duty cast-iron grates are durable but might be difficult for cleaning. The four stainless steel tube burners are covered with flare shields for better heat retention. The double-walled lid is also made from stainless steel, which is supported by a nice shelf.

The downside is that side tables can’t fold down, and only two moving large wheels. Other additional features including thermometer for heat monitoring, bottle opener on the left table.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	44,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	heavy-duty cast iron
Lid	Stainless Steel
Warranty	3 years

Watch this video from Cuisinart to see the Cuisinart CGG-7400 Full Size Gas Grill:

8. Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living LP Gas Grill

Dyna-Glo 3-burner gas grill is designed for small patio with the 390 square inch main cooking area. The swingaway rack on top can add up to the cooking space.

This model features good construction for efficient heat. First, the tubes of three burners are covered with enameled steel heat tents for better heat distribution. Second, the thick case iron grates are finished with porcelain to prevent rust and aid heat transfer. The double-wall lid locks all the heat inside the firebox.

Push the electronic ignition to light the flame and control it with the knob. Monitor the heat with the heat thermometer on the lid. The powder-coated steel side shelves are collapsible to save space when not in use.

The towel bars and tool hooks offer extra convenience for you. The four wheels maneuver very well. The easy to grip and removable grease catcher adds up to your convenience.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	36,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	porcelain enameled cast iron
Lid	Double-wall stainless Steel
Warranty	1 year

Watch this video to see the review of Dyna-Glo DGB390BNP-D Smart Space Living 3 Burner LP Gas Grill:

9. Blackstone 28-inch Outdoor Gas Grill

The biggest difference between Blackstone grills and other traditional gas grills is the lid. This model has no lid to retain the heat. To make up for that, the burners put out high BTU per hour.

The Blackstone features large flat top grilling for versatile cooking purposes. The bottom shelf can provide extra prep space or store cooking utensils. Another benefit is the fold up legs for easy moving around. The propane tank can be tucked neatly under the left side shelf.

The powder coating makes the frame more color-durable and scratch-resistant. The flat top is made from thick cold rolled steel for increased strength, higher tolerance. The left side shelf can’t be folded down. This model only has two moving wheels.

The 28-inch 2-burner model has up to 470 square inches of cooking surface. Each burner has up to 15,000 BTU output. Each control knob will light one H burner. Therefore, you can have different temperature zones in one pan.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	30,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	thick cold rolled steel cooktop
Lid	No
Warranty	1 year

This video reviews the Blackstone 28″ gas grill griddle:

10. Blackstone 1554 36-inch Top Gas Grill

(Best Multipurpose)

The Blackstone 1554 top gas grill griddle is a larger model than the 28-inch Blackstone gas grill. The frame, burner, grid materials are still the same, along with the quick electronic ignition and foldable legs.

The differences to differentiate between 28-inch and 36-inch model are the cooking surface, BTU output, burners, cantilevered shelves and castors. The larger cooking surface (720 square inches) requires four burners with 60,000 BTU. The thick top grill retains and distributes heat well.

The two side shelves can’t be folded but you can remove them by unscrewing the thumbscrews. However, the shelve under the burner shouldn’t be removed. The four wheels, two of which are lockable, make moving much easier. You can also remove them to place the grill permanently in the ground.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	60,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	thick cold rolled steel
Lid	No
Warranty	1 year

11. Megamaster 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill

(Best Design)

The Megamaster 3-burner gas grill is impressive with black sturdy design. The oversized side shelves can’t be folded because of their large frame.

The exceptional heat retention system consists of 409 stainless steel burners, flame tamers, cast iron grates, and thick lid. When you press the battery-operated ignition button, the flame fires up the three burners. After that, the porcelain frame tamers spreads heat evenly to the cast iron cooking grates. To keep the heat longer, the porcelain enameled lid should be closed.

The output of each burner is 13,500 BTU, which is pretty high among the mentioned burners. The high output is because of the large cooking area – 568 square inches. The built-in thermometer will tell the temperature inside.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	40,500
Burner material	409 Stainless steel
Grid material	Cast iron
Lid	Porcelain enameled
Warranty	5 years

This video instructs the assembly of Megamaster 3-burner Propane Gas Grill:

12. Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill 

(Best Portable)

This portable Q2200 model from Weber is suitable for the camping trip. When fully folded up, its measurement is just 15 x 32 x 18.5 inches. For grilling, the dimension is 26 x 51.4 x 25.1 inches.

The main material for lid and box construction is cast aluminum. The porcelain coating makes the grates easier to clean. The one burner puts out 12,000 BTU per hour with a 280 square inch cooking surface. Because this is a portable model, the dripping pan is disposable with a small size. The side tables are foldable for extra prep space.

To fuel this grill, the disposable liquid propane cylinders are 16 or 18 oz tanks. The tank needs the LP adapter hose included in the package. The smart design one-touch ignition requires an AAA battery to function properly. You can easily monitor the heat inside with the thermostat on the hood.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	12,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	porcelain enameled cast iron
Lid	Cast aluminum
Warranty	2 years

Watch this video to see the review of Weber Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill:

13. Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill

This portable propane grill from Coleman is so impressive with the foldup legs to move easily. You can roll the suitcase-like grill on its two wheels to your camping site easily.

The assemble only take around 10 minutes to finish. The hanger in the front is extremely convenient for your utensils. The tray is sliding in and out instead of being folded to the side. The gas tanks are connected to the connector in the front of the grill, right under the control knob.

This model has three burners with 20,000 BTU, which heats up very fast. You push the ignition button to light the flame. The dripping tray at the bottom can be filled with water for easy cleanup.

If you prefer griddle or stove grates, you can purchase them separately to swap with the grill grates. However, the downside is the flimsy plastic wheels and the latch. The latch doesn’t hold securely and the cover can fly open while moving.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	20,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	cast iron
Lid	Cast aluminum
Warranty	3 years

Watch this video to see the set-up of Coleman RoadTrip Grill Portable 285:

14. Cuisinart CGG-180TB Petit Gourmet Tabletop Grill

The Cuisinart CGG-180TB tabletop grill should be put on a table because of its small size 18.5 x 16 x 11.5 inches and lightweight (17 lbs.). During transport, the legs can be folded for minimal storage space and you can hold the handle to carry the grill around.

Slide the lock to open the lid and turn on the electric ignition with just one knob. This portable gas grill has the smallest cooking surface among the mentioned grills with only 145 square inches, which can fit around 6 burgers.

There is no heat diffuser or shields between the burner and the grate. Therefore, it’s more likely to get rust with dripping oil from food. Folding the aluminum foil around the burner can prevent greasing. The flame can discolor the lid and melt the plastic lock.

The grates are coated with porcelain. You can either use 1 lbs. cylinder or the larger (20 or 30 lbs.) tank with the right hose and adapter at the back of the grill.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	5,5000
Burner material	Steel
Grid material	porcelain enameled
Lid
Warranty	3 years

Watch the video to see the review of Cuisinart Portable Grill:

15. Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef’s Style Stainless Tabletop Grill

(Best Tabletop)

The Cuisinart CGG-306 tabletop grill is impressive with its sleek stainless-steel design. It requires no assembly and only takes about 10 minutes to set up.

The electric control knob is super easy to use without any ignition button. The U-shape stainless steel burners are covered with two flame shields. The cooking area can hold from 8 to 10 burgers. However, the side and rear heat vents make it difficult to control the flame in windy conditions.

The locking mechanism works by locking the clips on the side to carry the grill by the handle. However, during cooking, make sure to hold the stainless-steel handle with pad gloves. The hose with a regulator is attached on the right side to connect to the gas tank.

The lightweight grill is easy to carry for traveling or camping with only 22 lbs. The short legs can be folded and there is no side table for comfortable carrying.

Product Specification

Side burner	No
BTU	20,000
Burner material	Stainless steel
Grid material	Stainless steel
Lid	Stainless steel
Warranty	3 years

Watch this video to see how the Professional Portable Gas Grill (CGG-306) looks:

Buying Guide

Before spending hundreds of dollars, I think you should spend quite an amount of time reading through the most desired features in the gas grill.

1. What Features to Look for in the Gas Grill?

Heating System

The heating system usually consists of the top grates, the frame tents/tamers in the middle and the burner underneath. The thick burner spreads fire to the heat tents, which expands the fire larger to the grates on the top.

Grate

The cast iron grate helps better heat absorption and retention, so you can save more gas but has the same fire when compared to the stainless-steel grate. The downside is it gets rust easily.

The stainless-steel material is good for cleaning. But you check its thickness to see how durable it is. The thicker grids retain heat better and prevent food from falling to the burner.

Heat Diffuser Bar/ Flame Tamer

The flame tamer is the middle layer between the burner and the cooking grids. The wider and thicker the flame tamer design, the more smokey flavor you get from the burnt fat.

Instead of receiving the heat only from the flaming tubes directly, the bars split the heat and spread it out to the sides.

Burner

There are many different types of burner bars. The most rust-resistant material is cast stainless steel. However, this thick steel is more expansive, which is not used in the gas grill under $300.

Cast iron is for heavy-duty burners, which is more likely to get rust after a while. If it is coated with porcelain, it becomes more durable and last longer. The thicker the burner, the longer it will last.

The U-shape or H-shape burner covers more cooking surface than the straight tube burners.

Cooking Area

The size of the cooking area depends on the number of burners. Two burners can’t distribute enough heat for up to 400 square inches. Therefore, if you want to hold big parties for more than four people, choose at least the midsized gas grill to have a large enough cooking area.

Also, the warming rack can add up to your cooking area by keeping the grilled food warm. If the cooked food goes straight from the grill to the table, you can think about the warming rack. When in use, users can remove the tray for more space.

Cook Box

The thick and heavy-duty material traps and radiates heat. The vents in the back of the cook box may let heat escape and takes more time for grilling.

Lid

The thin stainless-steel lid will discolor with the high heat. If your burner distributes and retains heat effectively, you should open the cover in case it gets extremely hot and burn food quickly.

Also, pay attention to the shelve supporting the lid. Some lid takes extra space as it opens up to 180 degrees. Many models integrate the thermometer to help monitor the heat inside. However, some thermostats don’t tell accurate results.

Prepare the pads for holding the stainless-steel handle attached to the lid.

Side Shelves

The side tables hold the dish or other cooking utensils. While the CharBroil Classic series has side tables or even side burners, they are not foldable. If you prefer compact, the foldable side table, like in Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living LP Gas Grill, is a good choice.

Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill features sliding in and out table as it is a portable model. Furthermore, some models also have hanging hooks or towel bars right at the edge of the table.

Wheels

The four wheels should be the top priority if you want to pull the grill in or out of your garage to the patio. If the model has only two wheels, you should look for the handle to life the other two legs off the ground.

Some wheels are removable so you can place it permanently on the ground. However, the rainy weather may damage the electronic ignition or the cooking box. Buy the cover separately to make your grill last a million years.

2. What is BTU?

BTU or British Thermal Unit is a traditional measurement of heat. Its purpose is to indicate the amount of heat generated when the burner is at the highest output. The burner with lower BTU will need more time to heat up than that with high BTU.

The number of burners affects the total BTU. Therefore, the number of BTUs-per-square-inch gives a general estimation of how hot your grill is, which can help you compare different models despite its cooking area. Divide the total BTUs by the size of the primary cooking area (square inches).

However, don’t take BTU too seriously if there is a big gap between the lid and the cook box, and the heat escapes so quickly. The heat cooking system is more critical when you want the best gas grill.

3. What Are the Maintenance Tips for a Durable Gas Grill?

• Spray or grease oil when cooking to make cleaning easier.
• Use the grill brush to remove sticking food.
• Cover the grill with vinyl cover.

FAQs

Check if your questions are listed in the top common questions for the gas grill.

My Top Pick

After considering all the gas grills, my top pick is Char-Griller E3001 Grilling Pro. While this model only has two moving wheels, the heating system is fast and hot enough for grilling. The porcelain coating will make my lazy days easier to deal with.

Tell me what your favorite gas grill is in the comment below.