Known for delivering a high quality and long-lasting experience, Weber grills have topped almost every list we have.
Weber screams quality and it is what I use. I have had my stainless steel weber for over 5 years and still looks new.
The Weber line up also ticks a box for every budget, size need, and space constraint you could possibly have, often with several solid options for each category.
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The Final Sear: The Weber S-470 is my favorite weber grill. Packing 580″ of cooking area and 48,800 BTUs, this thing is a beast. This stainless steel grill is hard to beat.
Sorting through all the small differences between them can be a serious job. This list is for the Weber devotee looking to understand which grill is going to check all the boxes for a killer backyard grilling experience.
The best all-around performer and crowd pleaser is always going to be The Weber Summit. This is a top-level machine for a grill snob with the quality build and materials you expect from the brand.
The S-470 4-burner is what we consider the sweet spot for size, power and frills if you have the budget to invest. It offers 580 square inches of total cooking area, with 110 square inches in just warming rack, and 48,800 BTUs of overall power over 4 main burners.
So what does that mean in basic grill terms we all understand? Well, that’s the equivalent 20 burgers cooking at ONE TIME. Basically, it’s a beast that can handle feeding core friends and family as well as every in-law you have.
You’ll also score with a ton of extra burners that Weber packs in for every possible cooking need, including: a lidded sear station burner, side burner, smoker burner and an 10,800 BTU infrared rear-mounted rotisserie burner, basically making your grill a sweet outdoor kitchen.
The cookbox and shroud are made of cast aluminum requiring the bare minimum of maintenance to keep in top working condition and are designed to handle the highest possible cooking temps.
Weber also includes their Snap-Jet individual burner ignition for quick starts, durable 9mm stainless steel cooking grates for even heat retention and their signature Flavorizer bars to evaporate drippings and infuse those flavors and aromas back into the meat as it cooks.
The burner tubes are constructed of top-quality stainless steel, made to last despite the small amounts of water they are exposed to without rusting and degrading over time.
Front-mounted controls are well designed and constructed with a sturdy feel. The lid features a built-in temperature gauge and a separate gauge measures the propane tank levels.
Grillers using the S-470 will also notice a beautifully designed enclosed double-door cart for storage and hiding the propane tank, stainless side shelves with towel racks and tool hooks for a seamless outdoor kitchen experience.
If the Summit is just a bit beyond your comfort zone when it comes to budget, the Genesis E-435 offers all of the same essential features in a slightly smaller package.
Another 4-burner, it’s roomy, offering 646 square inches of primary cooking area with an additional 198 square inch fold-away warming rack for toasting buns or keeping veggies warm while you finish up a few steaks. Solid stainless steel rod cooking grates cover the space and provide a consistent, even cooking surface.
The power on the S-435 is also impressive at 48,000 BTUs for the main burners plus an additional 12,000 on that lidded infrared bonus side burner and 9,000 on the dedicated sear station burner. The sear station burner is a great bonus and designed to provide quick, perfect sear marks on whatever meat you’re working with to finish it off.
Like all of Weber’s grills, this one comes with their signature Flavorizer bars to vaporize drippings and infuse the aroma back into the meat, stainless steel burner tubes for optimal gas flow from back to front, 7mm stainless steel cooking grates, and their new Infinity Ignition for consistent, quick start ups.
Weber has also recently revamped their grease management system for the GS4 line-up. Why does this matter? It’s just clean up stuff right? Nope, grease management matters because improper handling can cause flare-ups, which will scorch your meat and provide uneven temps across your cooking surface.
Their new system funnels drippings that don’t end up getting vaporized away into the disposable drip tray in the catch pan. To clean, you literally just pull out the pan, remove the tray, pop a new one in and done. It’s so easy to access and disposal couldn’t be more hassle-free.
My favorite perk? The iGrill 3 app-linked thermometer so you can monitor temps from your phone. We are living the future, folks.
Overall construction is just what you would expect from a Weber and this price point: high-quality stainless steel designed to last many, many seasons. The overall hood is solid stainless as well as much of the front fascia. The stainless side tables also provide hooks for tools and the cabinet style offers ample storage down below.
The original Spirit is the first grill I ever purchased and I was blown away by the hallmark Weber cooking experience delivered in a smaller package.
The Spirit II 310 is a newer, upgraded version of the original that delivers an even higher-level experience, with three glorious burners. Of our top 3 picks, this is the most budget-friendly option and hits a great lower-tier price point.
With the E310, Weber took the top, core features of their largest grills and engineered them to fit in a neat, mid-size version that still packs a power punch. The Spirit delivers 30,000 BTUs with 529 square inches of cooking space, providing solid, even heat to every inch.
Weber added in their new Gs4 grilling system, with three burners, each supported by stainless steel, top quality tubes.
These tubes aren’t your typical burner tubes. They won’t rust quickly, or damage easy and leak gas. They are in fact, specifically designed to be durable and they actively limit the effects of rust agents, just like the tubes on the Summit.
Even with just three burners, the Weber really feels like an expansive outdoor kitchen. It comes with generously sized drop down tables on both sides (more room to layout food) that fold down for easy storage. Both tables are equipped with 3 sturdy hooks to hang your tools (pans, spatulas, knives, etc.).
You can also expect to enjoy Weber’s exclusive Flavorizer bar system, porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates (designed for quick cleaning), and the new infinity electronic ignition system.
What really signifies that this is a Weber grill is how evenly it cooks and how quickly. I’ve used the Spirit to cook just about any kind of meat you can think of: steaks, burgers, dogs, ribs, chicken breasts, chops, etc. It cooks all of them evenly (no random cold spots) and delivers a killer sear. Heat time is quick, usually 10 minutes, tops.
The E310 doesn’t come equipped with a side burner. You’ll have to upgrade to the Genesis for that. While I occasionally like to use one, it’s not a deal breaker and is a pretty minor. If your main concerns are quality and budget, then this shouldn’t be a major deterrent for you and for the under $500 gas grill category, this is the very best on the market.
With the E210, Weber took the very best, core features of their larger grills and engineered them to fit in a neat, compact version that still packs a power punch but with one fewer burner than the E-310.
The Spirit delivers 26,500 BTUs with 450 sq inches of cooking space and 90 inches of warming rack. This grill provides solid, even heat to every inch.
Weber added in their new Gs4 grilling system, with two burners, each supported by stainless steel, top quality tubes. These tubes aren’t your typical burner tubes. They won’t rust quickly, or damage easy and leak gas. They are in fact, specifically designed to be durable and they actively limit the effects of rust agents.
Even with just two burners, the Weber really feels like a portable outdoor kitchen. It comes with reasonably sized drop down tables on both sides (more room to layout food) that fold down for easy storage. Both tables are equipped with 3 sturdy hooks to hang your tools (pans, spatulas, knives, etc.).
You can also expect to enjoy Weber’s signature Flavorizer bar system, porcelain coated cooking grates (designed for quick cleaning), and the new infinity electronic ignition system.
The Genesis E-335 is the sister grill to the E-435 in our #2 spot and includes nearly all the same impressive features, but for a few small feature differences and a lower price tag.
Offering 3 burners instead of 4, the E-335 is still roomy at 335 square inches of primary cooking area and 178 square inches of warming rack. Total cooking power comes in at 39,000 BTUs for the main burners with a 12,000 BTU side burner and a 9,000 BTU sear station burner.
You’ll also find that the cooking grates on the E-335 are porcelain-coated cast iron instead of the stainless steel used on the E-435.
All other features remain the same, including the sweet GS4 grilling system, enclosed storage with tool hooks, iGrill 3 app connected temperature gauge and Weber-specific Flavorizer system.
This Weber may be little, but it is mighty, which is why it snags a spot just after some of the big guys, despite being a more compact, single-burner grill.
Weber is known for making the best home grills on the market, OF ALL SIZES, and this petite little powerhouse lives up to the name.
Features include a single 12,000 BTU stainless steel burner, 280 total square inches of cooking space, porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates, a cast aluminum lid, and an easy-start electronic ignition system. The side tables conveniently fold down and are just big enough to do a little prep work. The Q1000 also offers an infinite control burner valve and is lightweight and portable.
This is a clear pick if you’re looking for something portable but it also stands its ground as a small at-home tabletop or standing grill if you add on the optional frame.
This list wouldn’t be complete without a natural grill option to compete with all the propane-fueled models.
The Genesis II S-335 Natural 3-Burner gas grill is the natural gas alternative to the propane version (E-335) in our #5 spot.
If you have natural gas hook ups and aren’t interested in a propane tank grill, then this version of the Genesis is going to be a killer addition to your back yard set up.
It packs all the favorite features as the propane version including 39,000 BTUs for the main burners with a 12,000 BTU side burner and a 9,000 BTU sear station burner, the new GS4 grilling system, enclosed storage with tool hooks, the iGrill 3 app connected temperature gauge and Weber-specific Flavorizer system.
If natural is your go-to, then the S-335 is the best value and investment for your money.
There are a lot of Genesis models on this list but you can think of it as Weber designing their product line-up to meet the need of everyone in their customer base.
The main difference between this grill and the 335 is the lack of an additional side burner.
The E-310 is a solid mid-range pick for both size and price. It offers 3 burners and 513 square inches of total cooking area. It includes the GS4 high performance grilling system with the infinity ignition, Flavorizer bars, a grease management system specially designed to eliminate flare-ups and the techy iGrill3 compatibility.
The porcelain enameled cooking grates provide even heat distribution and the porcelain lid acts to retain heat and protect the grill during prolonged outdoor use.
The base is a cart style instead of a full cabinet with folding side tables and tool hooks to keep the space organized for ease of use.
This is such a solid performer, it’s a great option if you don’t need that side-burner add-on and would rather save a little on cost without compromising overall quality.
The Summit series is peak grilling. The 4-burner version took our top spot, but this 6-burner option is a veritable BEAST. If money is no object, then this one is a no-brainer.
With its current price tag, this isn’t really an option for the every day grillman, but if you have no budget and the luxury of purchasing the best, then the Summit S-670 is a no-brainer.
So what kind of features can you find in a grill with a nearly $3,000 price tag? The Summit offers 624 square inches of primary cooking area, a 145 square inch warming rack, 60,800 BTUs of power, stainless steel cooking grates, and Weber’s signature Flavorizer Bars.
The Summit also comes with all kinds of additional burners: a 12,000-BTU side burner, a 10,600-BTU Sear Station burner, a 6,800 smoker burner, and a 10,600 rear-mounted infrared rotisserie burner.
This is a beautiful grill and is pretty much designed to give anyone who uses it, novice grillman or experienced pit boss, a perfect grilling experience.
The ultra-portable Q1200 is the most bare bones Weber on this list, but it’s a serious basic option for a griller on the go.
It features a single stainless steel burner with 8,500 BTUs of total power for a 189 square inch total cooking space, compared to the 12,000 BTUs of the similar Q1000 in the number 6 spot.
You can also expect to find electronic ignition, infinite control burner valve settings, porcelain enameled cast-iron cooking grates, an aluminum body build and a glass-reinforced nylon frame. It requires minimum upkeep and is designed to take a beating as your tailgating, camping and beach day companion.
Like we talked about with the Q1000, this grill can also be set up on a standing base for more permanent backyard use.
A favorite for overall quality, functionality, and aesthetics, the E310 is a standout and a solid choice if you’re looking in the 3 burner range. All of the Spirit grills are well-priced and feature rich, so the best fit for you really depends on your size needs.
This Spirit comes with three stainless steel burners that generate up to 32,000 BTUs per hour. The overall grill space is also pretty generous with 529 square inches of total cooking area, 424 primary and 156 square inches of warming rack, and 2 fixed high-grade stainless-steel side work surfaces. The lower cart offers storage space for essentials.
The cooking grates are porcelain-enameled cast-iron and leave nice grill marks without scorching the meat to death. They also are especially easy to clean and maintain, with a longer lifetime than metal grates from other brands. The Spirit grates are reversible too with the thin side being ideal for delicate food like fish and the thicker side being better suited for steaks and burgers where you want a nice sear.
Like the other Weber grills, the Spirit E-310 also includes Weber’s signature flavorizer bars, a quick-start electronic infinity ignition system, easily accessible front-mounted control knobs, a porcelain-enameled shroud, a center-mounted thermometer, a porcelain-coated grease management system, and cast-aluminum cookbox.
This version of the E-310 does not include the iGrill3 system, so if you’re set on linking up with he app to remotely monitor temps, you’ll need to go with one of the other Spirit models.
The Spirit-315 is a serious value grill, hitting one of the lowest price points Weber offers and still dishing out the same quality grill experience.
The same in size but with a new, sleeker exterior design than the Spirit E-310, this grill feels like upgrade by Weber for the year in terms of aesthetics.
The overall main grilling area is a middle-range 424 square inches with three stainless steel burners. An elevated warming rack provides extra space and is perfect for keeping meat warm and cooking veggies to perfection. Overall cook power across the burners clocks in at 32,000 BTUs per hour.
The usual Weber features are also on offer including push-button start ignition, a lid-mounted temperature gauge, Weber’s signature flavorizer bars, an easily accessed grease management system and a porcelain coated exterior for long-term durability.
The lower cabinet is a nice upgrade on previous models with a single door to conceal the propane tank and stainless steel used liberally throughout the design. Chrome fittings add a sleek, streamlined look. The side tables also include tool hooks for storing must-have tools conveniently at hand.
This version has not been upgraded with the iGrill3 tech yet, but I’d expect it in future releases.
Week 1 - Types of Grills
Week 2 - Grilling Basics
Week 3 - Steaks
Week 4 - Chicken
Week 5 - Ribs!!!!
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I am a grill freak! It's hard to pick my favorite thing to grill, but if I had to choose... it is still a tie between pork ribs and a juicy beef burger. I am currently grilling on a Weber S210(I live in a small space) but my dream grill is definitely a summit. Those things are bad ass. Anyways I would love to hear from you, leave a comment or question below!