Best BBQs UK (2026)
The right BBQ depends on how much convenience you want to trade for flavour: gas heats fast and cleans easily, charcoal takes more skill but gives classic smoky results, and electric suits small outdoor spaces. This guide compares BBQs tested by Ideal Home, which builds, cooks on and reviews each model in real gardens.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Barbecue
Best gas
Ideal Home found this flawless in testing, reaching optimal grilling temperatures quickly and holding heat consistently across everything from veggies to a whole spatchcock chicken. Boost burners, a digital thermometer and Snap-Jet ignition make it easy to use, and a new door hides the gas canister neatly, though it is quite large.
- Versatile direct and indirect heat
- Easy to use with fast, consistent heat-up
- Good build quality, fairly easy to assemble
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Barbecue | Best gas | 3-burner gas, 46cm cooking area, digital thermometer | Check price |
| Weber Original Kettle | Best charcoal | 47cm diameter charcoal kettle, no-faff ash cleaning system | Check price |
| Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker | Best electric | Electric, 6 cooking functions, built-in smoker and air-fryer function | Check price |
| Char-Broil All Star Gas Barbecue | Best affordable gas | Gas, 45cm cooking area, ready to cook in 10 minutes | Check price |
| Everdure Cube 360 Charcoal Portable BBQ | Best luxury portable | Charcoal, 745cm² cooking area, temperature gauge, arrives pre-assembled | Check price |
| Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force 2 Burner Gas BBQ | Best design | Gas, 2,440cm² cooking area, extra-high hood for convection cooking | Check price |
| Masterbuilt Autoignite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker | Best smart | Charcoal with digital automation, 3,516cm² cooking area, app-controlled vents | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best gas
Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Barbecue
Ideal Home found this flawless in testing, reaching optimal grilling temperatures quickly and holding heat consistently across everything from veggies to a whole spatchcock chicken. Boost burners, a digital thermometer and Snap-Jet ignition make it easy to use, and a new door hides the gas canister neatly, though it is quite large.
- Fuel
- Gas
- Cooking area
- 46cm
- Weight
- 51.9kg
- Price guide
- £549
Pros
- Versatile direct and indirect heat
- Easy to use with fast, consistent heat-up
- Good build quality, fairly easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Quite large
Best charcoal
Weber Original Kettle
Ideal Home's expert reviewer calls this a 'great buy' that suits just about anyone wanting a quality charcoal barbecue from a brand with an excellent pedigree. Simple, well-made and affordable, with an easy cleaning system, though charcoal takes more skill to master than gas and it's on the small side for larger families.
- Fuel
- Charcoal
- Cooking area
- 47cm diameter
- Weight
- 13kg
- Price guide
- £250
Pros
- Iconic, proven BBQ brand and design
- Excellent, no-faff ash cleaning system
- Available in larger sizes
- Built to last many years
Cons
- Too small for larger families
- Charcoal cooking takes time to master
Best electric
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker
Ideal Home calls this the most functional and versatile electric BBQ tested, the easiest to set up of any BBQ on the list since it simply plugs in. A smoker function burns pellets for authentic smoky flavour, and an air-fryer setting cooks sides like chips outdoors, though it needs outdoor electrical access and isn't weatherproof if left out.
- Fuel
- Electric
- Cooking area
- 28cm x 37cm
- Weight
- 12kg
- Price guide
- £350
Pros
- Easiest BBQ to set up and use
- Six cooking functions including smoker and air fryer
- Compact, suits smaller outdoor spaces
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Requires outdoor electrical access
- No stand/base or cover included
- Smaller cooking capacity than gas or charcoal
Best affordable gas
Char-Broil All Star Gas Barbecue
Sits at a happy price point with plenty of features for fuss-free cooking, quick to heat up and turning out succulent, flavoursome results in Ideal Home's tests, including a whole roast chicken. Cleaning is genuinely easy, though assembly is described as painstakingly complicated and temperatures can run a little inconsistent.
- Fuel
- Gas
- Cooking area
- 45cm
- Weight
- 30kg
- Price guide
- £489.99
Pros
- Quick to heat up
- Easy to clean
- Ideal size for a small family
- Two foldout shelves with tool hooks
Cons
- Complicated assembly
- Temperatures can be inconsistent
Best luxury portable
Everdure Cube 360 Charcoal Portable BBQ
A sleek, high-end-feeling portable BBQ that arrived pre-assembled in Ideal Home's testing, ready to use within seconds once the grills were fitted. A roasting hood and temperature gauge add versatility, and the food cooked on it tasted delicious, though temperature control could be tricky at times.
- Fuel
- Charcoal
- Cooking area
- 745cm2
- Weight
- 7kg
- Price guide
- £229
Pros
- Sleek, attractive, high-end design
- Set up in seconds
- Handy built-in temperature gauge
Cons
- Difficult to control temperature at times
Best design
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force 2 Burner Gas BBQ
Earned an easy five-star rating from Ideal Home for stunning design paired with unbelievably powerful independent burners, heating hot enough to cook in around 4 minutes. The extra-high hood suits convection cooking and roasting, though it only has two burners for the price and the open base could look neater.
- Fuel
- Gas
- Cooking area
- 2440cm2
- Weight
- 33kg
- Price guide
- £749
Pros
- Near perfect, standout design
- Unbelievably powerful, fast heat-up
- Even grilling with convection-style hood
- Enamel-coated, rust-proof build
Cons
- Only two burners for the price
- Open bottom half could look better
Best smart
Masterbuilt Autoignite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Earned 4.5 stars from Ideal Home for making charcoal BBQ automation feel seamless, connecting to a phone app that gives detailed instructions on vents and fuel for long smoking sessions. It's simple to use once set up, though initial setup was described as slightly arduous.
- Fuel
- Charcoal (app-automated)
- Cooking dimensions
- 3516cm2
- Weight
- 59kg
- Price guide
- £499.99
Pros
- Seamless app-guided automation for smoking
- Wide range of cooking settings
- Huge cooking capacity
Cons
- Slightly arduous initial setup
Buying guide
Gas, charcoal or electric?
Gas heats up fast, holds a consistent temperature and cleans easily, making it the most convenient for regular use. Charcoal gives a more traditional smoky flavour but takes practice to control heat well. Electric, like the Ninja here, suits small gardens, patios or balconies without gas or charcoal storage space, and is the simplest to set up.
How much cooking area do I need?
As a rough guide, a compact BBQ around 45cm suits 2-4 people, while anything above 2,000cm² comfortably feeds larger groups or lets you cook multiple dishes at once, such as two whole chickens side by side.
Is a smart or app-connected BBQ worth the extra cost?
A smart charcoal BBQ like the Masterbuilt here takes much of the guesswork out of temperature and airflow management, which is especially useful for long, low-and-slow smoking sessions. For quick weeknight grilling, a simple gas or charcoal BBQ gives most of the benefit without the added cost or setup complexity.
How important is easy assembly and cleaning?
Worth checking before you buy, since some BBQs that perform brilliantly, like the Char-Broil here, have notably fiddly assembly. Look out for features like a self-cleaning burn-off mode or a simple scraper tool, which make the regular maintenance side of BBQ ownership far less of a chore.