Best Gas Grills for $500 or Less
Gas grills that cost between $300 and $500 show solid performance in our tests, and some come with nice-to-have features
If you have around $500 to spend on a gas grill ahead of your family’s next cookout, we recommend these five for their very good overall performance.
By Paul Hope
Updated by Justin Krajeski
While some of the highest-rated and best gas grills we test can cost more than $2,500, our testing shows you don’t have to spend a lot to get a gas grill that you’ll enjoy. Our ratings surface some great models at reasonable prices, too, like those for $500 or less—or even $300 or less, if you’re looking for something more affordable.
To recommend the best gas grills, Consumer Reports rigorously tests them in our lab, where we wire the surface of each gas grill with heat-resistant thermocouples and run four temperature tests. We also assess how evenly each model heats, how hot the surface gets at the 10-minute mark (because that’s when people like to start cooking, according to our data), and we evaluate each model’s sturdiness, among more details.
The highly rated gas grills we feature below include midsized grills—and one large grill—from brands like Even Embers, Cuisinart, and Monument Grills. CR members can read on for reviews of five of the best gas grills for $500 or less, ordered by their overall score. If you want to see a more comprehensive lineup of our recommendations, check out our full gas grill ratings. And for smart shopping tips, consult our grill buying guide.
Best Gas Grills for $500 or Less
These gas grills from Even Embers, Cuisinart, and Monument Grills cost $500 or less, and earned excellent performance scores in a variety of Consumer Reports’ tests.
Even Embers GAS2660AS (Tractor Supply)
CR’s take: The large stainless Even Embers GAS2660AS grill offers great bang for the buck, though there are few extra features at this price, too. It has six main burners, a side burner, and four casters for easier moving. Better, its performance isn’t compromised—it’s top-rated for heating evenness and sturdiness, and earns very good scores for temperature range, indirect cooking, preheating, and convenience.
Cuisinart 5 Burners Dual Fuel GAS2556AS (Walmart)
CR’s take: The stainless steel Cuisinart 5 Burners Dual Fuel GAS2556AS offers a lot for the money, including five main burners (with long warranties), a side burner, and a griddle. It earns excellent ratings for heating evenness and sturdiness in CR’s tests, and near-top level ratings for temperature range and indirect cooking. It comes with 475 square inches of shelf space and four casters that make the unit easier to move, too.
Monument Grills 25392
CR’s take: The Monument Grills 25392 is a medium-sized stainless steel gas grill with four primary burners—in our tests, it performs very well for evenness, indirect heating, and its temperature range. Plus, its preheat performance is top-notch. It also has 440 square inches of shelf space and four casters for easy transportation.
Even Embers GAS1466AS
CR’s take: The Even Embers GAS1466AS aces our tests for evenness and sturdiness and it shows very good overall performance, scoring highly in preheat performance and indirect cooking, too. Like the Cuisinart and Monument grills before it, the Even Embers GAS1466AS comes with four casters for easier moving. It has more shelf space than any other model on this list, at 505 square inches, so keep it in mind if you value space, and its four burners come with long warranties. It comes with a slide-out grease tray, too.
Cuisinart Dual Fuel GAS2456AS (Walmart)
CR’s take: The Cuisinart Dual Fuel GAS2456AS has four main burners, covered by long warranties, and its surface heated evenly. (It comes with a side burner, too.) It’s also very sturdy. Like most of the grills here, the Cuisinart’s four casters make moving it around a breeze, and it has more shelf space than the majority of highly rated grills in this price range, at 495 square inches.
How to Choose a Gas Grill
Sturdy construction, even heating, flare-up reduction—Consumer Reports experts explain to "Consumer 101" TV show host Jack Rico what to look for when buying a gas grill.
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