There is little doubt that getting together outdoors with friends and family over some grilled meat is an ideal way to spend a nice summer’s day. The question is what type of grill you should get for your back yard?

Gas grills heat up quickly, are easier to clean than charcoal grills, and give you total flame control. Once you have decided that the gas grill is the perfect option for you, the only thing left is the little matter of price.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the perfect cookout. We have reviewed the best gas grill for under $200 to make it easy for you to shop for the best inexpensive gas grill.

Comparison Table

Our #1 Choice
Char-Griller E3001 Grillin' Pro 40,800-BTU Gas Grill, Black

1. Char-Griller E3001

This is a surprisingly large grill at this price range and is quite well built, also a surprise at this price point – Read Review.
9.6
Close Runner Up
Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill, Titanium

2. Weber 51060001

This is a great grill for the price and the perfect companion for someone who likes camping, tailgating, or cooking outdoors – Read Review.
9.4
Versatile 
Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill

3. Char-Broil Classic 280

This Gas Grill is a great addition to any outdoor space and grills competently for the price – Read Review.
9.1

Char-Broil Classic 280

Overall the Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a great addition to any outdoor space and grills competently for the price.

  • Cooking Area: 280 sq in
  • BTUs: 20,000 
  • Weight: 43 Pounds

The Char-Broil Classic 280 2-burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill is quite a large grill for under $200. You can even get it for less than $100 if you go for the option without the side shelves.

The 280 square-inch cooking area is enough to cook for a medium-sized group while the porcelain-coated wire grates ensure that your food doesn’t stick to the grill. The two burners provide a maximum of 20,000 BTUs which are more than enough to get a good sear on your steaks.

The side shelves are great for preparing your food or for storage. The shelves also include hooks for hanging your cooking accessories. Overall some great design choices went into this Char-broil classic 280 to make it a perfect companion for outdoor grilling.

The downside is this Char-Broil has stainless steel grates. While easier to clean, stainless steel grates don’t quite match up to cast iron grates in terms of grilling quality. This unit is also not very sturdily built which is hardly a surprise at this price range.

Overall the Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a great addition to any outdoor space and grills competently for the price.

Pros

  • Good-size cooking area
  • Two wheels for easy transport
  • Side shelves provide extra workspace and storage area

Cons

  • Stainless steel cooking grates aren’t as good as cast iron grates
  • Not very sturdily built

Weber 51060001 Q1200

This is a great grill for the price and the perfect companion for someone who likes camping, tailgating, or cooking outdoors.

  • Cooking Area: 189 sq in
  • BTUs: 8,500
  • Weight: 29.34 Pounds

The Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill 51060001 is part of the successful Weber Q series and is deserving of second place in our review of best gas grills under $200.

A disclaimer; this grill costs a little over $200, precisely $209 but the extra $9 is worth it for its features and functionality. This is a table-top grill so 189 square-inches of cooking space is good enough for grills in this category.

The porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates maintain an even temperature and are perfect for getting a good sear on your grilled meats. This Weber Q1200 has a circular burner that goes around the grill allowing for even cooking.

The built-in thermometer is always a welcome feature when grilling at a precise temperature. The side shelves on either end of the grill are good for preparing food or storing your cooking accessories.

This unit is built mainly from cast aluminum so it will handle outdoor cooking and rough transport.

The main downside is this grill has a small cooking area and is not ideal for a large group. This Weber also doesn’t come with carrying handles which is odd for a portable grill. All things considered, this is a great grill for the price and the perfect companion for someone who likes camping, tailgating, or cooking outdoors.

Pros

  • Cast aluminum construction is durable
  • Built-in temperature gauge
  • Side shelves are good for storage and prep
  • Grease management system makes cleanup simple

Cons

  • Limited cooking space
  • No carry handles

Char-Griller E3001

This is a surprisingly large grill at this price range and is quite well built, also a surprise at this price point.

  • Cooking Area: 438sq in
  • BTUs: 48,800
  • Weight: 88 Pounds

The Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill 51060001 is part of the successful Weber Q series and is deserving of second place in our review of best gas grills under $200.

A disclaimer; this grill costs a little over $200, precisely $209 but the extra $9 is worth it for its features and functionality. This is a table-top grill so 189 square-inches of cooking space is good enough for grills in this category.

The porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates maintain an even temperature and are perfect for getting a good sear on your grilled meats. This Weber Q1200 has a circular burner that goes around the grill allowing for even cooking.

The built-in thermometer is always a welcome feature when grilling at a precise temperature. The side shelves on either end of the grill are good for preparing food or storing your cooking accessories.

This unit is built mainly from cast aluminum so it will handle outdoor cooking and rough transport.

The main downside is this grill has a small cooking area and is not ideal for a large group. This Weber also doesn’t come with carrying handles which is odd for a portable grill. All things considered, this is a great grill for the price and the perfect companion for someone who likes camping, tailgating, or cooking outdoors.

Pros

  • Cast aluminum construction is durable
  • Built-in temperature gauge
  • Side shelves are good for storage and prep
  • Grease management system makes cleanup simple

Cons

  • Limited cooking space
  • No carry handles

Best Gas Grill Buyers Guide

Why Should You Get a Gas Grill

Why would you choose a gas grill over a charcoal grill?

First, gas grills heat up quickly especially compared to charcoal grills. A gas grill also ignites instantaneously, which cuts your cooking time significantly.

Another advantage of gas grills is they cool down much faster compared to charcoal grills. This makes cleaning up after a cookout much quicker and less messy since you also don’t have to deal with ash or charcoal.

The greatest advantage of a gas grill is temperature control. These grills come with a knob that allows you to adjust the temperature as you wish, which makes cooking with exact temperatures that much easier.

What to Look for in the Gas BBQ

There are gas grills of all shapes, sizes, and prices so choosing the right one can prove to be a confusing task. Just because you are not spending large amounts of money on a premium grill doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have standards. There are a few criteria that you can use to select the best gas grill.

COOKING AREA

It is a good idea to first envision the kinds of food you would want to cook regularly to help you decide the best grill for you. If you need a portable grill for small family cookouts, then a tabletop grill such as the Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill would be a good option.

You will need a grill with a large cooking area such as the Char-Griller 30001 Grillin’ Pro if you entertain guests often.

COOKING PERFORMANCE

What you should look for in terms of cooking performance is the number of burners and maximum BTU of the grill. Two burners help to cook faster or for cooking different types of food at the same time.

A dual-burner unit with independent temperature control such as the Blackstone 22-inch Portable Gas Griddle will give you maximum control over your cooking.

So how many BTUs do you need on your gas grill? A good rule of thumb is to go for 75-100 BTUs per square-inch of the primary cooking surface.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

You want a grill that will last a long time regardless of how much you paid for the unit. Generally speaking, grills with welded joints or seamless construction tend to be sturdier than those assembled with bolts and nuts. Grills under $200 are not typically very well built which is why you should be vigilant when shopping at this price range. All the models mentioned here pass the durability test and will last a long time if handled with care.

The grill grates are also worth mentioning where construction is concerned. Many cheaper grills use stainless steel grates instead of cast-iron which is typical on grills. Stainless steel is a lot easier to clean but doesn’t quite distribute or maintain heat like cast iron grates.

Tips for Getting the most out of Your Gas Grill

Grilling can be tricky especially for a novice so here are a few pointers to help you get the best out of your gas grill:

Keep your stainless steel grill as clean as possible. This helps to reduce smoke and spontaneous flare-ups that can burn your food. A clean grill also helps to maintain the flavor of your food.

Keep extra fuel on hand especially when using a small disposable gas cylinder. There is nothing worse than interrupting a barbecue to fill up on gas or get another cylinder.
Stay close to the grill. Most people burn their food because they are distracted. Keep an eye on the grill until you are done cooking for the best results. It also helps if you do all the preparation before firing up the grill.

Know your temperatures. Burgers and thin cuts of meat cook at a different temperature than thick or large cuts. Know what grilling temperature and internal temperature you should be using for the type of food.

Final Roundup

You don’t have to go all out on a premium grill if you don’t have the budget for it or don’t barbecue that often. There are some good grills for under $200 and you can’t go wrong with any of the models listed in this review.

Remember to perform regular maintenance on your grill if you want to keep it for a long time. Inspect your burners and igniter occasionally to ensure that they are working properly.