5 Best Portable Grills for Easy Summer Cookouts Anywhere, Tested by Cooking Experts
We think these are the best charcoal, gas, and electric grills for camping, tailgating, and small yards.
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I love spending time outside and eating, which is why I feel way more passionate about portable grills than most people. They’re great if you have limited outdoor space, are interested in trying another grill type without committing to a full-size, or truly want to use one on the go for picnics, beach cookouts, camping, and more. They come in all different fuel types, like gas, charcoal, and pellet, and in all different sizes.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
- Best Value: Coleman Gas Grill
- Best Charcoal: Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14-Inch Portable Grill
As the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, my team and I have tested more than 90 grills since 2011, including more than 15 portable grills. We assess them for performance and ease of use by seeing how evenly they cook, how well they brown steak and chicken thighs without causing flare-ups, and how quickly they cook. We also evaluate how easy they are to use, carry, and clean. These are the best portable grills you can buy based on extensive testing, expert evaluations, and experience reviewing grills.
Pros
- Large cooking surface
- Heats evenly
- Includes two large side shelves for storage
Cons
- Propane tank placement interferes with temperature knob
Weber’s Q1200 stood out in testing. It has a large, porcelain-enameled cast-iron surface that heats evenly and produces dark sear marks on steak without overcooking it. While it cooked quickly, it also excelled at barbecuing chicken thighs over a lower heat. It has a domed lid, which likely contributed to the juicy results by capturing any heat and steam.
It ignites with the touch of a button and is one of the only portable grills we tested with two large shelves that come in handy for storing tools or plates. They fold in for storage and portability. You can prop the grill on a table or use it directly on the floor. It also has an easy-to-access drip tray that you can line with one of Weber’s drip tray liners—it’s much easier to empty than other portable grills that have a built-in drip tray that needs to be washed.
One thing to keep in mind: The temperature knob sits directly beneath the propane tank, which can make adjustments slightly awkward.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 30 lbs |
| Dimensions | 20.5" x 40.9" x 24.6" |
| Cooking area | 189 sq. in. |
| Power | 8,500 BTUs per hour |
Pros
- Small but powerful
- Two adjustable burners
Cons
- Lid doesn't latch shut, which may make transporting feel unstable
This portable gas grill has been a Lab favorite for years. It's small and compact, making it quite portable, yet sturdy and powerful for good, fast cooking.
We've tested this model and the larger stand-up model with shelves, and we were impressed with the sear marks we got on chicken, steak, burgers, and hot dogs.
A 16.4-ounce propane tank attaches to the back of the grill with a sturdy, easy-to-secure attachment, and the grill starts with the push of a button. There are two plastic temperature knobs on the front of the grill: One knob controls the inner flame ring, and the other controls the outer. Combined, they allow for high-temp cooking.
The cast-iron grates are easy to scrub clean with a grill brush, and the drip pan, which is located inside the grill, is removable so you can wash it before storing. The lid doesn't latch shut, however, which can make it feel unstable to transport.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 25.59 lbs |
| Dimensions | 28.81" x 18.31" x 10.63" |
| Cooking area | 225 sq. in. |
| Power | Up to 11,000 total BTUs |
Pros
- Small and lightweight design
- Same quality as our top-tested Weber charcoal grill
Cons
- Cooking space is on the smaller side
This Weber grill is a mini version of the brand's well-loved charcoal kettle, which we feature in our best outdoor grills story. It has a solid, lightweight, and portable build, with a comfortable carrying handle that doubles as a lid holder.
It has a small coal bed that heats quickly and a lightweight ashtray that can be stored inside the unit when cool. Like its bigger, top-tested counterpart, it has an adjustable vent, and the handles stay cool during testing.
We like that it cooks food quickly, but it requires small batches.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 9.8 lbs |
| Dimensions | 15.4" x 15.6" x 9.2" |
| Cooking area | 147 sq. in. |
| Power | Charcoal |
Pros
- Large cooking surface
- Folds down for storage and transport
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- No adjustable cooking zones
This is one of my favorite portable grills. I love how it doubles as a full-sized gas grill with a large cooking surface and premium porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, but folds down for storage or packing in the back of your car. Also, its oversized wheels maneuver well over different terrains. The generous size is great for cooking for a crowd, though it also means the grill takes up more space than some competitors and doesn’t offer adjustable cooking zones like some other models we tested.
In our tests, the grill reached 600˚F in less than 10 minutes, according to the built-in thermometer. It made a great steak quickly and nicely browned chicken thighs in under 20 minutes with no noticeable flare-ups.
We appreciate that the grill is easy to operate with a fully accessible control knob and push-to-start ignitor. The drip tray can be removed and emptied from the front of the grill, and it collapses with little effort. Overall, it has a sturdy design, whether you’re grilling on it or rolling it around.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 49 lbs |
| Dimensions | 42.72" x 22.05" x 14.65" |
| Cooking area | 320 sq. in. |
| Power | 13,000 BTUs per hour |
Pros
- Folds flat into a carrying case for easy transport and storage
- Compatible with both charcoal and wood
- Adjustable cooking grate heights make it easy to control cooking temperatures
Cons
- Heavy
As a New Yorker, it took me a second to appreciate the efficient design of this portable grill until I used it on a camping trip. It’s made of Japanese stainless steel and folds down flat into a carrying case that you can swing over your shoulder. While it’s heavy, you can tell it’s durable and will last for years.
The grill is designed to be used with charcoal, but you can also use wood. The included cooking grate offers adjustable heights (which allow you to control the cooking temperature). It also makes an excellent fire pit.
My friends and I used it to grill veggies and kebabs, and at the end of the night, it offered a great place to gather and stay warm.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 23.9 lbs |
| Dimensions | 17.9" x 17.7" x 12" |
| Cooking area | 234 sq. in. |
| Power | Charcoal |
Other grills we tested
A few additional models performed well in our testing, even if they might not be right for everyone.
- BioLite Wood & Charcoal Burning Fire Pit: This compact fire pit is cute and easy to take on the go thanks to its lightweight design. While it includes a cooking grate, the grilling surface is quite small, making it better suited for light cooking than preparing a full meal.
- Charbroil Grill2Go X200: We like how sturdy this Charbroil is. And we found it to be very powerful. Our caveats are that the unique grates—raised bars that are joined by a perforated pattern—stained fairly quickly, and it was a little hard to control the temperature.
- Coleman Roadtrip 285: This grill was easy to set up and to use. It performed well enough that it could even serve as your main grill if you are looking to save space. But it is somewhat less powerful than the others we chose, and the drip tray is a little involved to clean.
- Kamado Joe Joe Jr.: As much as I’d love to recommend this portable grill, it’s quite large and hard to transport. It’s great, however, if you want a small smoker for your backyard.
- Oklahoma Joe's Rambler: This charcoal grill offers many desirable portable features, including a compact size and oversized carrying handles, as well as a high-quality, easy-to-use build, but it’s heavy if you plan on lugging it around.
- Traeger Grills Ranger: This is an excellent smoker if you have limited space. It’s versatile and fits a rack of ribs, six burgers, or 10 hot dogs according to the brand, but it is a little bulky and requires plugging in.
How we test portable grills
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we've tested more than 90 grills over the years, including more than 15 portable grills. We test portable grills using the same testing methodology as full-size grills:
✔️ Performance: To evaluate performance, we cook a steak and four chicken thighs on each grill to assess cooking speed, heat output, and flare-up control.
For portable gas grills, we also toast slices of white bread across the cooking surface to visualize heat distribution and identify hot or cool spots.
✔️ Ease of use: In addition to cooking performance, we evaluate ease of use and practical features, including shelves, storage, wheels, and portability. We also assess each grill's stability during setup and use, and only recommend models that feel secure and can be transported by one person.
What to look for when shopping for the best portable grill
✔️ Fuel type: Your first decision is whether you prefer a charcoal, gas, or electric grill. Charcoal provides a nice, smoky flavor, but there can be a learning curve with the amount to use—and it means you'll have to tote heavy charcoal with you. Gas tends to be easier to carry and work with, but you'll need to understand how much your grill uses during your average cooking so you don't run out. Electric can be convenient for cleanup, but it does (clearly) require access to an outlet.
✔️ Size: You'll need to weigh the cooking area against portability. We think the more cooking space, the better—but that makes the grill bulkier. You should also consider the size when folded so you'll know whether you can carry it and/or fit it in your vehicle.
✔️ Stability: A flimsy grill is dangerous. All the picks on our list are sturdy. We have not included some models—even lightweight ones—due to safety concerns.
✔️ Lid: A lid is handy for helping foods cook more quickly and to avoid debris when grilling outdoors. But not all portable grills include a lid: Those without lids still produced good results (even if they took a bit longer).
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, overseeing kitchen gear testing and content. She’s evaluated more than 50 grills for Good Housekeeping. A trained cook, she loves summer because it gives her plenty of opportunities to put her grills to work.
Sarah Gregory is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A graduate of the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education), she has cooked professionally since 2017 and has contributed to grill testing and coverage for years.
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