8 Best Grills Under 1000 Dollars for Luxury Cooking

It’s Cadillac time! For this kind of money, you can transform your backyard into a 5-star steakhouse or restaurant.

To help keep your nose pointed towards the brightest stars in this price range, I’ve searched, tried, and tested many grills and gathered these 8 best grills under 1000 dollars into this guide, so that you can rest easy that you’re not settling for a big hunk of junk.

What Is the Best BBQ Under $1000?

• Best Gas: Weber Genesis II E-410
• Best Natural Gas: Weber Genesis II E-335
• Best Propane: 3 Embers Dual Fuel
• Best Pellet: Traeger Grills Pro Series 780
• Best Charcoal: PK Grills PK360
• Best Kamado: Pit Boss 71220
• Best Electric: Kenyon B70090
• Best Smoker: Camp Chef Woodwind

Top 8 Best Grills for Under 1000 Dollars

Weber 62011001 Genesis II E-410 Liquid Propane Grill

Already featured as the best gas grill under $1000, the Weber Genesis II E-410, model 62011001 is a 4-burner liquid propane gas grill that truly deserves the tag of the winner.

Feed a Whole Group of People in One Sitting

The main grilling surface is 646 square inches large and holds up to 28 burgers.

The warming rack has 198 square inches, enough to hold 10 slices of bread or hamburger buns.

In total, this baby has a combined cooking area of 844 square inches.

The grates are cast iron and coated in porcelain.

Features

This Genesis II model has iGrill3 capabilities. Simply download an app to take advantage of iGrill3 connectivity, viewing your grill’s temperatures, how your food is faring, as well as recommended cooking times.

This grill also takes advantage of Weber’s GS4 grilling technology consisting of the Infinity electronic ignition, high-performance burners, flavorizer bars to redirect the grease flow and prevent flare-ups, and an easy to clean grease management system, just like the E-335 below.

It has wheels on all 4 legs.

There are 2 side tables on either end that don’t fold down, but they do have 3 hooks on each side to hang your barbeque utensils.

The assembly is straightforward, simple, and fast. If you run into any issues, either take a look at this video or download the 3D interactive assembly instructions from the BILT app.

The Issues You Should Know

Just like with any other grill, the quality control at the factory sometimes overlooks some hardware or dents. You may (or may not) end up with a screw or two missing or a dent here and there.

A side burner would sure come in handy. Too bad this model doesn’t have one.

While the grill itself is built to last, I can’t say the same for the side tables. Despite regular cleaning and proper storage, I noticed a few rust spots there.

Final Thoughts

There are many features on this grill that let you know that it’s heavy-duty, such as the way that the burner tubes aren’t permanently welded to the unit but can be moved in and out of holes so that when a tube exceeds its lifespan and dies out, it can be easily replaced. The grease management system is well done and feels as easy as a luxury vehicle. The wheels are also heavy-duty and sturdy. Lastly, all of the electronics are heat shielded so that they won’t fizzle out after so many times baking along with your food on the grill.

The E-420 is a grill that a very large family or someone who hosts larger events in their backyard often will love. It would also be a great grill for an organization that regularly hosts grilling events.

Additional Reading: Not sure whether to cook on propane or natural gas? Then see the differences and how well they perform.

Weber 66016001 Genesis II E-335 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill

The Weber 66016001 Genesis II E-335 is a natural gas grill that’s ideal for making steakhouse sear marks.

Ample Cooking Surface

This one boasts a total cooking area of 669 square inches.

The porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates (the primary cooking area) are 513 square inches large – big enough for about 12 steaks or 20 burgers.

The warming rack that can be folded away when not in use is 156 square inches large, which roughly translates to 7 slices of bread.

Burn Baby Burn

It has 3 main 13,000 BTU high-performance burners that can be controlled individually, a 9,000 BTU sear burner for when you want to eat a steak with artistic sear marks but don’t want to go to a steakhouse, and a 12,000 BTU side burner for making sauces, soups, or sauteing vegetables.

In total, this grill can produce up to 60,000 BTUs of raw cooking power.

Monitor the Heat From the Living Room

This model is iGrill 3 compatible which means you can check the temperature of the grill and food with your phone from the comfort of your own home: watch the ball game, check your favorite YouTube video, or anything else your heart desires instead of standing in front of the grill waiting for the magic to happen.

This add-on is sold separately, but for this price, they could have included it in the package.

Other Great Features

Just like the cooking grates, the lid is also porcelain-enameled which greatly improves heat retention and weather protection.

It has 2 side tables, 6 hooks, and a storage rack under the grill. Because there’s no propane tank, you have more space to work with.

It comes equipped with the GS4 High Performance Grilling System which includes improved versions of the electronic ignition, high-performance burners, flavorizer bars, and grease management system.

What the Manufacturer Won’t Tell You

Sometimes it has issues with quality control, resulting in defective or missing parts. So check carefully every part in detail before assembly and contact customer support without any hesitation.

Expect dents and scratches upon arrival. Don’t think you’re in the clear if the box in which the grill arrives looks untouched. Same as above, check every square inch.

The Best Natural Gas Grill Under $1000

The issues mentioned above are universal among grills and you won’t get one that doesn’t have them, including the more expensive models. This grill doesn’t actually have model-specific problems – it works completely as advertised. If you’re looking for a reliable, durable, and powerful grill that runs on natural gas, then this is it.

Weber stands by their quality – the 10-year warranty is proof of this.

Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

If you’re searching for a convenient grill and a smokey flavor, then consider this Pro 780 wood pellet grill and smoker by Traeger Grills.

The Ultimate Smoke-Flavored Convenience

A pellet grill is as convenient as a gas grill and gives the food that smokey flavor you know and love just like a charcoal grill does.

But the true pinnacle of convenience lies in the WiFIRE Smart Home Technology: connect the grill to your home’s Wifi and then connect it to your phone and control the grill from the comfort of your own home with the Traeger app.

You’re in for a treat – if you have Alexa, you can connect her as well.

Ample Cooking Capacity

You can cook up to:

• 40 burgers
• 7 racks of ribs
• 7 whole chickens

on its total cooking area of 780 square inches.

The cooking box is divided into 2 racks, both porcelain-coated. The lower rack is 570 square inches and the upper one is 210 square inches.

The hopper can hold up to 18 lbs / 8.1 kg of pellets.

Other Features That Make This Grill Stand Out

Rugged wheels easily conquer any backyard terrain.

Check your foods’ temperature without opening the lid with the built-in meat probe.

The easy-to-use controller carefully monitors the temperature and evenly spreads out the heat across the entire grilling surface.

You can also bake and braise food in this thing.

How It Performs Smoking Chicken

What I Didn’t Like About This One

Pellet grills need a bit of a learning curve compared to gas or charcoal grills, so don’t be surprised if your BBQ didn’t go as planned when you use this grill the first time.

Searing is more or less not an option here because of its kind-of-low max temperature of 450°F / 232°C and the inability to cook directly over an open flame.

A couple of times, the connection between my phone and grill died out for no apparent reason.

The Best Pellet Grill Under $1000

There are several other pellet grills you can get for this kind of money but only this one can be fully controlled from the phone or Alexa. This particular model is the perfect choice for couch potatoes or people who don’t or can’t spare time constantly monitoring the food and would like to do other things during cooking without having to worry.

PIT BOSS 71220 Kamado BBQ Ceramic Grill

This Kamado Kooker 71220 from Pit Boss is the grill for anyone who likes to grill and/or smoke in the simplest way possible – without any fancy bells or whistles: no smartphones, no Alexa, no WiFi, etc. It’s just you and the food.

Not Your Regular Charcoal Grill

It’s not just a charcoal grill – it’s a kamado, which is an upgraded version.

It has better insulation and airflow – all this brings out the smokey flavor even more. Because of the insulation, it consumes fewer coals.

Ample Cooking Surface

Cook up to 38 burgers on its two-tier 662 square inches large cooking surface.

The grates are stainless steel.

Features

• It has a heavy ceramic body that holds in heat and smoke, making it ideal for smoking
• Solid bamboo side shelves keep accessories close by and fold down for easy storage
• Cast-iron top damper gives you full control over the airflow, allowing you to set the perfect cooking temperature
• Temperature gauge displays accurate internal temperatures
• Limited lifetime warranty gives you peace of mind

Be Very Careful When Handling This Grill – It’s Quite Fragile

Ceramic is well known for being brittle and some customers reported seeing the grill in pieces when they opened the box. So don’t be scared if your grill looks like a jigsaw puzzle when it arrives as a replacement one will be on its way as soon as you contact customer support.

Conclusion

This grill is a great choice for any griller who likes to cook with charcoal. And if you’re into smoking, barbecuing, or cooking low and slow, then this one is a perfect choice.

Camp Chef 24 in. WIFI Woodwind Pellet Grill & Smoker

The Camp Chef Woodwind is a wood pellet grill and smoker made by Camp Chef, which is known for its unique wood pellet grills, all offering superior wood pellet delivery technology and taste.

A Cooking Giant

This unit has 4,850 total inches cubed on the inside and its hopper holds 22 lbs / 10 kg of pellets, enough for almost 24 hours of constant cooking without a refill, as a wood pellet grill will go through about 1 lb of pellets in an hour.

It has 2 racks inside, with the top one being removable for extra space when cooking something very large, such as a whole hog or a 25 lb turkey.

The upper rack is 382 square inches large and the bottom rack is 429 square inches.

Combine both racks, and you get a total cooking area of 811 square inches.

Additional Features

Connect the grill with your phone and control it from anywhere.

The PID controller is easy to read, understand, and work with.

You can cook pasta, sear in a pan, make soups and sauces, and more by separately purchasing an attachment: the Sear box and the Sidekick. Both are powered by propane tanks.

Have complete control of the foods’ temperature with the included 4 meat probes.

Switch between direct and indirect cooking with a simple twist of the wrist with the Slide & Grill knob.

Be Aware of This Before Buying

If you have an older phone (either an Android or iPhone), expect connectivity issues.

Final Say

As with all of Camp Chef’s grills, the Woodwind can turn any cook into a pro griller, thanks to the ability to follow recipe instructions down to a 1-degree margin. It is also easy to use, easy to clean, and gives food that little bit of added extra flavor due to the wood. It does fine with normal grilling and it does very well when cooking low and slow for an extra juicy dinner.

Kenyon B70090 Frontier All Seasons Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill

The Kenyon B70090 is a portable stainless steel electric grill that’s ideal for both on-the-road and indoor cookin’.

One of the Most Convenient Ways to Grill

Here, you don’t need to make a mess with charcoal, add pellets to the hopper, or replace the propane tanks.

Fuel-wise, electric grills are just as convenient as natural gas grills: you have an endless supply of fuel and you can completely concentrate on the food.

Also, you can use electric grills indoors without any restrictions.

The Cooking Specs

Having only 155 square inches of grilling surface, this one is the smallest grill on this list. It’s still big enough to make dinner for two.

With its 1,300 Watts, it can reach 600°F / 315˛°C within 7 minutes.

Say goodbye to flare-ups. The heating element is completely sealed. There’s no way that grease can drip on the “burner”.

Features

• Digital waterproof touch control panel
• Dishwasher-safe grilling surface
• Disposable drip tray
• Insulated lid

Smokers Worst Nightmare

If you love smokey-flavored food, then don’t think about getting this grill. As with all electric grills, smoking is out of the question.

Don’t Use It Outdoors in the Winter

It struggles to reach operating temperature in the cool wintertime.

The Best Electric Grill Under $1000

The electric grill is the best cooking companion for every griller who lives in an apartment. Charcoal grills can only be used outdoors, while gas grills can be used indoors, depending on where you live. Electric grills don’t have this problem and can be used indoors without any worries, including this one. It’s reliable, durable, and cooks just as advertised.

PK Grills PK360 Outdoor Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combination

PK Grills PK360 is a charcoal grill and smoker combo with a 360 square inch cooking area that’s known for its quality, sturdiness, and innovation.

Special Features

This grill is all about control: control the heat, smoke, and airflow.

It comes in an eye-catching silver and black color scheme.

It is made out of heavy-duty aluminum so that it will never ever rust, even if you don’t use a grill cover. Other grills can’t stand up to that promise.

Not only that, but the PK’s lid thermometer is accurate up to a single degree, which most other grills can’t approach, either.

The PK360 is a full-sized unit, with 2 wheels and 2 side tables.

Both side tables fold inwards to save space when storing and feature a towel rack across their entire length.

How It Handles an 11 lb Brisket

Insiders Scoop

The ashes are hard to clean. Also, because the intakes are near, the ash can clog them fast if you don’t dispose of the ash on a regular basis. The simplest and fastest way to clean the ash is by getting yourself an ash vacuum.

Why this grill doesn’t have an ash cacher like Weber, I’ll never know.

Final Say

The PK360 would be great for a cook who’s always complaining about inaccuracy, food that didn’t turn out right, or not having the tools to cook more delicate recipes. It could also be a good gift for someone who wants a higher-end grill to show off but doesn’t have space for one of the behemoth-sized grills.

3 Embers 4-Burner Dual Fuel Propane Gas Grill with Radiant Embers Cooking System

The 3 Embers® 4-Burner Dual Fuel Propane Gas Grill (Model GAS7480BS) is an elegant-looking propane gas grill with an unusual yet interesting feature: a viewing window.

An Unusual Yet Interesting Feature

When baking a cake or making a roast in the oven, you see how they’re cooked by looking at the window – there’s no need to open the door.

The engineers at 3 Embers incorporated this feature right into this grill. Quite amazing.

Cooking Specs

This model has 4 main ceramic-titanium coated stainless steel burners that output 48,000 BTU in total and a 12,000 BTU cast-iron side burner. The main burners are backed up by a lifetime warranty.

In total, the grill has a 700 square inches large total cooking area: the primary cooking surface is 540 square inches and the warming rack is 160 square inches. The cooking grates are made from 8.5 mm or 1/3 inch thick stainless steel.

It’s equipped with the Radiant Embers Cooking System which is basically uniquely-designed stainless steel heat tents that provide even heating.

Other Features Worth Mentioning

The lid and firebox are additionally insulated, allowing for greater heat retention and faster heat up.

It’s Prone to Rust

If you choose this grill, also consider a grill cover. It’s highly susceptible to rust and if you don’t cover it and leave it exposed to the elements, then you can say goodbye to it in a year or so.

Final Say

If you’re looking for a propane grill and would like to stand out from the crowd, then this is it – it looks and feels classy. With a large cooking area, durable grates, and 4 main burners, you’ll truly be a king of the grill.

The Finest Grills You’ll Ever Own

Not everyone has a grand lying around and it’s very hard to save up this kind of money. So getting a grill that will be both reliable and sturdy even after a decade of wear and tear is of utmost importance.

That’s why after diligent research and testing, I’ve selected these 8 grills as the best grills under 1000 dollars:

Hands down, the award for the best performing grill goes to the Weber Genesis II E-410 propane gas grill. It features an ample cooking and prep area, durable construction, GS4 High Performance Grilling System, and even a fuel gauge.

3 Embers is another amazing liquid propane gas grill that features an oven-like lid (you don’t have to lift the lid to see how the food is cooking), a side burner, and an enclosed cabinet with more than enough space.

The Weber Genesis II E-335 is pretty similar to the E-410 except it runs on natural gas.

Wood pellet-loving grillers should consider either the Traeger Pro 780 or the Camp Chef Woodwind. Both feature Wifi capability, durable construction, ample cooking area, and a reliable easy-to-use controller that does the job for you. The latter is ideal for both smoking and searing while the former is better suited as a smoker.

I didn’t forget about the purists – the great smokey-flavored charcoal lovers. Both the PK360 and the Pit Boss 71220 can be used for grilling, smoking, and barbecuing but if you want to experience the rich flavors only kamados provide, go with the latter.

If handling charcoal, pellets, or propane tanks isn’t your thing, you live in an apartment complex where grills aren’t allowed, you travel a lot, or want to have a burger in the shortest time possible, try the Kenyon B70090 Frontier electric grill.

Gas, charcoal, pellet, or electric? What is your favorite fuel source and why?