BBC Gardeners World Magazine 2026-07-21T15:17:09.000Z https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/feed/atom Kay Maguire <![CDATA[The best pizza ovens to buy in 2026 – as tested by our experts]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/best-pizza-ovens/ 2026-07-21T15:17:09.000Z 2026-07-18T19:56:09.000Z
Jump to our 3 top-rated pizza ovens, under £300
Jump to our 4 top-rated pizza ovens, £300+
A restaurant-quality pizza can be hard to replicate in your own kitchen, let alone garden. Authentic pizza usually needs a large, purpose-built, wood-fired oven that’s beyond most budgets, but enter the domestic pizza oven. Thanks to compact portable designs that cook in minutes and are easy to use, outdoor pizza ovens are now readily available, so you can have your own taste of Italy that’s indistinguishable from the real thing. Because they cook at such a high temperature, you can have restaurant-quality pizza in only a minute. Just the thing if you have a few guests over – it’s a brilliant party trick to quickly turn out some of the best pizza this side of Naples in your own back garden.
We tested a range of portable, wood- and gas-fired pizza ovens, teaming up with our colleagues at Good Food to ensure our tests were as accurate, fair and as useful as possible. With their culinary knowledge and our reviewing expertise, we’ve found the best pizza ovens for every garden.
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Our best pizza ovens to buy at a glance
Our 3 top-rated pizza ovens, under £300
- 4.8 stars: Our best pizza oven for camping – Delivita New Diavolo Gas Fired RRP £199
- 4.6 stars: Our best basic pizza oven – ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven RRP £249
- 4.8 stars: Our best value pizza oven – Dellonda Portable Wood-Fired 14-inch pizza oven RRP £280
Also recommended, under £300
- 4.5 stars: Our best budget gas pizza oven – Cozze 13-inch gas pizza oven RRP £199
- 4.5 stars: Our best portable pizza oven – Ooni Karu 12 multi-fuel pizza oven RRP £299
- 4.5 stars: Our best pizza oven for couples – Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven RRP £299
Our 4 top-rated pizza ovens, £300+
- 5 stars: Our best pizza oven for small spaces – Gozney Arc Lite RRP £349.99
- 4.8 stars: Our best portable pizza oven – Gozney Tread RRP £499.99
- 4.9 stars: Our best multi-fuel pizza oven – Ooni Karu 2 Pro RRP £699
- 4.6 stars: Our best large pizza oven – Ooni Koda 2 Max RRP £899
Also recommended, £300+
- 4.5 stars: Our best pizza oven for versatility – Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza oven RRP £319.99
- 4.3 stars: Our best pizza oven for beginners – Gozney Roccbox pizza oven RRP £399.99
- 4.5 stars: Our best gas pizza oven – Morso Forno Spin pizza oven RRP £465
- 4.5 stars: Our best pizza oven for big families – Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven RRP £499
Comparison table: best pizza ovens
Our expertise
Getting the right pizza oven for your garden means assessing the correct size for your needs, your preferred fuel and the budget you can afford. Together with Good Food Magazine we tested a range of wood, gas and charcoal fuelled pizza ovens, setting them up and using them just as you would in your garden, cooking a range of different pizzas. Each oven has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to assembly and storage, ease of use, cooking results and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on pizza ovens that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.
Jump to the best pizza ovens:
- Our 3 top-rated pizza ovens, under £300
- Also recommended: pizza ovens, under £300
- Our 4 top-rated pizza ovens, £300+
- Also recommended: pizza ovens, £300+
Jump to pizza oven advice:
- How does a pizza oven work?
- What's in the box?
- What can you cook in a pizza oven?
- How much is a pizza oven?
- How should I choose a pizza oven?
- How we tested pizza ovens
- Meet our testing panel
Our 3 top-rated pizza ovens, under £300
1: Delivita New Diavolo Gas Fired
Our best pizza oven for camping
RRP: £199
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: John Lewis & Partners (£179.10) and Amazon (£199)

Reasons to buy:
- No assembly needed
- Fully portable
- A range of accessories included
- Gas canister included
Reasons to avoid:
- Not enough details on cooking pizza for a beginner
The Delivita Diavolo offers a more portable take on the traditional pizza oven, designed with travel and smaller spaces in mind. It’s sturdy and well-made, but lightweight enough to pop it in the included carry bag and take it with you to whichever beach, campsite, or garden you like. It’s ready to use straight out of the box, just unfold the legs, connect the gas and you’re good to go. It comes with two gas regulators (one for a gas bottle and one for the included gas canister), plus a foldable peel, and a thermometer gun. There’s a single dial to control the temperature, the oven heats up quickly, and adjusting it is easy. In testing, it produced great pizzas with crisp bases and bubbling cheese, while also handling flatbreads and a vegetable ragu well.
There are a couple of drawbacks: the lack of flame guard means food around the edges can catch more easily, and the instructions could be clearer, particularly for beginners. But at only £199 with this level of kit and portability, it’s a compelling package overall. Elaine Lemm
- Buy the Delivita New Diavolo Gas Fired from John Lewis & Partners (£179.10) and Amazon (£199)
2: ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven
Our best basic pizza oven
RRP: £249
Our rating: 4.6/5
Available from: ProCook (£249)

Reasons to buy:
- Very easy to assemble and use
- Excellent value
- Solid build quality
Reasons to avoid:
- No storage cover included
- No cleaning tools provided
The ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven is a straightforward, gas-powered option that does the basics well and offers good value for money. Assembly is simple, requiring little more than attaching the gas hose, and the instructions are clear, although they don’t specify a preheat time. We found that around 30 minutes worked well, bringing the stone to roughly 300°C. There’s no built-in thermometer, so you’ll need a temperature gun if you want to be precise.
The oven feels solid and well-made, with a stable base and a premium finish that belies its lower price point. In use, the manual 360°C turning dial is a real asset, allowing you to rotate the pizza stone easily and achieve a more even bake, as the front of the oven runs cooler than the back. There’s no pizza peel or storage cover included, but with a two-year warranty and a price of £249, this is a well-built, entry-level gas pizza oven for anyone wanting simplicity over bells and whistles. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best basic pizza oven in 2025.
- Buy the ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven from ProCook (£249)
3: Dellonda Portable Wood-Fired 14-inch Pizza Oven
Our best value pizza oven
RRP: £280
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: Amazon (£179.98), B&Q (£179.98) and Robert Dyas (£177.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Fantastic value
- Long, safe handles
- Delicious pizza
- High-quality parts
Reasons to avoid:
- Hot exterior
- Needs lots of fuel
- Short warranty
The Dellonda Portable Wood-Fired 14-inch Pizza Oven is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best value pizza oven, thanks to its low RRP and included pizza peel. This compact, stylish tabletop pizza oven is fuelled by charcoal or sustainable hardwood pellets, and despite its remarkably low price, it feels high-quality. The pizza peel accommodates a 12-inch pizza, and all the oven's handles are long and wooden to keep your hands well away from the hot metal. Though it's a large pizza oven, the legs flip down, and you could easily store the chimney inside. You can also buy this model with a storage case to keep it rust-free and take it on the go. It made delicious pizza with a well-browned underside and golden, bubbled cheese. Crucially, it also created very little smoke, so this is a good oven to use if you live on a terrace and don't want to annoy your neighbours.
Though it's easy and safe to add fuel, thanks to the long handles, we found that the exterior of this pizza oven gets very hot. It took half an hour to cool down, and though the heat distribution is quite good, it's noticeably hotter on one side. We also discovered that this oven isn’t as efficient as others on test, as you need to keep it topped up with pellets throughout the entire cooking process. It also has a short warranty of only a year.
- Buy the Dellonda Portable Wood-Fired 14-inch Pizza Oven from Amazon (£179.98), B&Q (£179.98) and Robert Dyas (£177.99)
Also recommended, under £300
Cozze 13-inch gas pizza oven
Our best value gas-fuelled oven
RRP: £199
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: BBQ World (£199) and Amazon (£158.39)

Reasons to buy:
- Simple to use
- Excellent pizza
- Heats up and cools down fast
Reasons to avoid:
- Tricky to turn and see the pizza
- Accessories not included
Ready to go straight from the box, this excellent value, gas-fuelled oven just needs the cannister attaching, a battery slipped in, and it takes 25 minutes to heat up. It has a modern look and is compact and stout, so it's ideal if you lack space, although it doesn't fold down, so for storage, what you see is what you get. It also doesn't come with any accessories, but Cozze sell everything you need from a case and peel to a bamboo pizza board. It's very easy to light, just connect it up to propane gas and click the ignition button as you turn the dial, just as you would a gas hob. Pizzas are delicious, with a crisp base and mottled top and cook in a couple of minutes.
It is easy to use, but the entrance is very slim, too narrow for anything but pizzas, and if you're not used to cooking pizzas, you might find this tricky at first. To turn your pizza, you need to take it out of the oven completely, rather than turning it within, as you can with most others. With a bit of practice, however, you'll have delicious, evenly cooked pizza every time. We gave it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best value gas-fuelled oven.
- Buy the Cozze 13-inch gas pizza oven from BBQ World (£199) and Amazon (£158.39)
Ooni Karu 12 multi-fuel pizza oven
Our best portable oven
RRP: £349.00
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: Ooni (£349), John Lewis (£349) and Lakeland (349.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Fully recyclable packaging
- Easy to set up and use
- Compact and portable
- Cooks quickly and well
Reasons to avoid:
- Takes time to heat and needs regular refuelling
- Uses specific types of wood and charcoal
- No accessories included
This latest version of the Karu 12 pizza oven from Ooni boasts a new, ‘clear view’ glass door, a larger fuel basket and better fuel efficiency – the 12 requires only 1.1kg of fuel to cook 10 pizzas, while the original Karu 12 needs 1.5kg to cook the same number. It’s also easy to set up, with very little assembly needed and clear instructions and diagrams to follow. It’s compact and reasonably light, weighing only 12kg, and once built, it just needs the legs folding and the chimney storing inside the body of the oven, and it’s packed neatly away. For fuel, you have the choice of wood sticks or lumpwood charcoal for that flame-cooked taste, or gas, although this is possible only if you buy the Ooni gas burner for an additional cost. We tested it with both wood and charcoal, and it’s easy to both load with fuel and light, although it does take a good half an hour to reach a temperature high enough for cooking.
It has a large opening that’s easily big enough to allow you to see what’s going on and to reach in and turn a 12-inch pizza, but it’s also roomy enough for a roasting tin full of veg or a spatchcock chicken. There’s a temperature gauge on the side, so you can keep an eye on the heat, plus a handy baffle in the chimney helps you control the draw of air through the oven for faster or slower cooking. The oven is fully insulated, so the exterior stays just warm throughout cooking, and all the handles are cool to the touch, so it’s easy to use even at 500 degrees. A stay-clear glass door keeps the heat in and allows you to see exactly when your dough is ready, and in our test, this took just 90 seconds with near-perfect results. Our pizza had a crisp base, bubbling centre and leopard spotting to the crust.
This is an impressive oven for its size and versatility, and is ideal for packing up and taking camping or down to the beach, and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best portable oven. Note, though, that its price is bumped up by the fact that you have to buy every single accessory or extra separately, including a pizza peel, a necessity to ensure safe and simple cooking of your pizza, and the handy carry bag, which is a must to make this compact oven truly portable.
- Buy the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven from Ooni (£349), John Lewis (£349) and Lakeland (349.99)
Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven
Our best pizza oven for couples
RRP: £299
Our rating: 4.5 /5
Available from: Ooni (£299), John Lewis (£299) and Lakeland (£299.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Collapsible legs
- Good price
Reasons to avoid:
- Tricky to turn pizza
- Need to pay extra for essential tools
If the 16-inch pizza capacity offered by the Koda 16 is overkill, check out its smaller, less expensive sibling. A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best pizza oven for couples, we found that the gas-powered Koda 12 has the same advantages as the 16, but in a more compact appliance. It’s easy to set up and use, just flip out the legs and attach the pizza stone and gas canister. The heat control dial means it’s easy to control, and the flame burner that runs along the back of the oven makes for delicious, flame-cooked, picture-perfect pizzas. For £200 less than the 16, it’s worth considering if you aren’t feeding a crowd. However, the caveats of the Koda 16 apply here, too. There’s no thermometer on this oven, and you’ll have to shell out extra for the essential pizza peel. We also found that because it’s smaller than the Koda 16, it’s a little harder to put your pizza in and turn it so that it cooks evenly.
- Buy from Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven Ooni (£299), John Lewis (£299) and Lakeland (£299.99)
Our 4 top-rated pizza ovens, £300+
1: Gozney Arc Lite
Our best pizza oven for small spaces
RRP: £349.99
Our rating: 5/5
Available from: Gozney (£349.99) and Lakeland (£349.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Ready to use practically straight from the box
- Stylish good looks
- Heats rapidly to 500oC
- Compact for smaller spaces
- Easy to carry at only 12kg
Reasons to avoid:
- Doesn’t come with any accessories
- Only cooks one pizza at a time
The Gozney Arc Lite is the smallest oven in the brand’s range, weighing just over 12kg and taking up little more space than a typical air fryer. Despite its compact size, it feels solid, well-made and it’s tastefully understated with just a simple operating button; it would make an attractive addition to any outdoor setup. Its size makes it particularly well suited to balconies, patios and smaller gardens, and the light build means it’s easy to move and store.
It arrives fully assembled out of the box; you just have to slot in the pizza stone and connect to a propane gas supply, and you can get cooking. During testing, it was ready to light within five minutes and had reached up to 500oC by around 20 minutes. While it’s limited to cooking only one 12-inch pizza at a time, it’s not really an issue when pizzas can be turned around in as little as 60 seconds. Beyond pizza, it’s versatile enough to cook dishes such as steak, potatoes, and roasting dishes for fish and vegetables. Overall, it’s a compact, well-designed oven that delivers very strong performance. Elaine Lemm
- Buy the Gozney Arc Lite from Gozney (£349.99) and Lakeland (£349.99)
2: Gozney Tread Pizza Oven
Our best portable pizza oven
RRP: £499.99
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: Amazon (£499), Gozney (£499.99) and John Lewis (£499.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy to set up
- Relatively lightweight
- Looks good
- Cooks well and cools quickly
Reasons to avoid:
- Expensive - all accessories extra
At 13.5kg, the Tread is lightweight enough to pick up and move around. It’s simple to set up and use, with clear instructions, and a helpful recipe booklet is also included. The temperature dial on the side is intuitive to operate and reaches 500 °C, and although on first use the pizza stone needs curing for 30 minutes, after that it takes just 25 minutes to reach temperature. Once there, a delicious, mottled pizza is ready to eat in just 90 seconds. The oven holds a 12-inch pizza, but there’s also room for a spatchcock chicken or a small roasting tray, which increases the range of food you can cook.
We love the rugged design of this oven, with its sturdy roof-rack style handles, and it feels durable and built to last, just what you need if you're taking it out and about. It's also a good size for storage and easy to put away on a shelf or in the corner of the shed. The oven itself is good value, it’s just a shame that every accessory is an extra cost, as some, like the telescopic Venture stand and the travel bag, are very handy. There’s also a mantel that attaches to the front of the oven to extend the working area and help with adding or removing food and turning the pizza, and a roof rack that provides an extra work surface, chopping board and serving area. A peel is also available. It also comes with a one-year warranty that’s extendable to five years when registered. This pizza oven is portable enough to take out and about for picnics and is also ideal for a small courtyard, balcony or garden.
- Buy Gozney Tread pizza oven from Amazon (£499), Gozney (£499.99) and John Lewis (£499.99)
3: Ooni Karu 2 Pro
Our best multi-fuel pizza oven
RRP: £699
Our rating: 4.9/5
Available from: Ooni (£699), Amazon (£699), and Lakeland (£699.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Flexible fuel options
- Quick cooking time
- Large capacity with fold-in legs
- Includes temperature probe for cooking meats
- Five-year warranty when you register with Ooni
Reasons to avoid:
- Some non-recyclable packaging
- Essential extras need to be bought separately
The Karu 2 Pro sits at the premium end of Ooni’s range and includes several upgrades over its predecessor, the Karu 16. Most notably, a larger glass door to keep an eye on your pizza as it cooks, a food probe for roasting meats and remote temperature monitoring when you pair it with the Ooni app. Like the Karu 16, it can be operated using wood, charcoal, or gas (though the gas burner does need to be bought separately), which offers impressive versatility and the potential to comfortably cook more than just pizza.
As with other Ooni models, its assembly and use is straightforward. The wide opening and increased height make launching and rotating pizzas easy, particularly for beginners, while also allowing space for larger dishes such as joints of meat or roasting trays. Necessary extras like a pizza peel aren’t included in the price, but Ooni does offer an essential and ultimate bundle with additional accessories like a pizza peel and all-weather cover. Natalie Bass
- Buy the Ooni Karu 2 Pro from Ooni (£699), Amazon (£699), and Lakeland (£699.99)
4: Ooni Koda 2 Max
Our best large pizza oven
RRP: £899
Our rating: 4.6/5
Available from: Ooni (£899) and John Lewis & Partners (£899)

Reasons to buy:
- 24-inch cooking area
- Clear digital temperature display
- Fully recyclable packaging
- Quick to set up & use
Reasons to avoid:
- Legs don’t fold in for storage
The Koda 2 Max, Ooni’s largest and most expensive pizza oven in the range, is built for pizza enthusiasts who love to entertain. Its supersized 24-inch cooking area is one of the largest we’ve seen and it can cook up to three 10-inch pizzas at a time – or one 20-inch pizza if you’re up for the challenge. As expected, it’s a substantial piece of kit. Assembly is fairly straightforward, taking only around 10 minutes, though you’ll need two people because of its size.
The digital display is user-friendly and clear to read, and there are two separate dials to control the left and right cooking zones, allowing you to cook foods that require different cooking temperatures simultaneously. In testing, we were able to sear a steak in a cast-iron pan on one side while cooking a pizza on the other, both with very strong results. It’s a little cumbersome when it comes to storing as the legs don’t fold inward, but this is a small trade-off for an oven with such impressive capacity and crowd-pleasing capability. Natalie Bass
- Buy the Koda 2 Max from Ooni (£899) and John Lewis & Partners (£899)
Also recommended, £300+
Solo Stove Pi Prime pizza oven
Our best pizza oven for versatility
RRP: £319.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: John Lewis (£399.99) and Solo Stove (319.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Comes with lots of accessories
- Excellent mottled crust
- Lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects
- Wide opening for sliding in pizzas
Reasons to avoid:
- Gas hose and regulator came unattached
- Non-recyclable packaging
This neat pizza oven comes essentially preassembled; all you need to add is the pizza stone, and you’re ready to cook. However, unlike most of the ovens we’ve tested, the regulator needs attaching, which is quite fiddly and can take time, unfortunately. Other than that, it’s easy to use, with intuitive controls, and for the first use, it takes 45 minutes to get this oven ready for cooking. It fits a 13-inch pizza inside and has a generous opening, which makes launching the pizzas onto the stone simple and also means you could roast a chicken inside with ease. It takes just a minute and a half to cook a pizza, and ours were evenly cooked with a crisp crust and good mottling.
In use, the oven gets hot only around the front and top, as you would expect, but the sides are all right to touch, and the plastic base is completely cool and safe to touch. It takes approximately an hour to cool down, and although this oven is quite chunky with no folding parts, it’s ideal for a small garden and a neat, if quite big, shape for storage. It also comes with a protective cover, a heatproof mat and a paddle as standard and has a lifetime warranty for manufacturer defects. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for versatility.
- Buy the Solo Stove Pi Prime pizza oven from John Lewis (£399.99) and Solo Stove (319.99)
Roccbox pizza oven
Our best pizza oven for beginners
RRP: £399.99
Our rating: 4.3/5
Available from: Amazon (£319), Gozney (319.99) and John Lewis (399.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy set-up
- Excellent pizza
- Five-year warranty
- Safe - cool to the touch
- High-quality materials
Reasons to avoid:
- Small oven space
- Weight
If you’re new to homemade pizza, this BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for beginners is ready to go straight from the box. It’s utterly foolproof, hitting temperature in 20 minutes and has an inbuilt thermometer so you always know if you’re at the right temperature. Anyone can achieve a truly restaurant-quality pizza. The matte silicon shell means the exterior is a lot cooler than other ovens here, so it’s safer too. If you want a wood-fired pizza, you can also buy this pizza oven as a dual-fuel version, giving you the option of cooking with either gas or wood fuel. We love the remarkably high-quality materials of this oven, and the generous five-year warranty, plus it comes with a pizza peel included.
However, bear in mind that this is a pretty hefty oven. Weighing in at 20kg, it’s not particularly portable, though Gozney claims it is. Price-wise, it sits towards the more expensive end of the market for tabletop ovens, and it has quite a small oven space for its size. Although it has a larger footprint than the Koda 12, it only cooks pizzas up to 12 inches.
- Buy Gozney Roccbox pizza oven from Amazon (£319), Gozney (319.99) and John Lewis (399.99)
Morsø Forno Spin pizza oven
Our best gas pizza oven
RRP: £489
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: Amazon (£465), B&Q (£549) and Direct Stoves (£465)

Reasons to buy:
- Quick to assemble
- Compact design
- Rotating pizza stone
- Excellent pizza results
Reasons to avoid:
- Some unnecessary plastic packaging
- Accessories need to be bought separately
This futuristic-looking pizza oven from Danish brand Morsø is a solid choice for those seeking a fuss-free pizza-making experience, as with the innovative rotating pizza stone, there's no need to manually turn the dough as it cooks. At 17kg, the oven itself is robust and feels built to last, and while its wide, egg-like shape means it’s perhaps not the easiest to store, it’s still relatively compact and ideal for a small-to-medium-sized garden. Minimal assembly is required: simply insert the stone into the oven’s wide opening, attach the gas, and ignite using the dial on the front; however, the rotating mechanism does require plugging into the mains, so you will need an outdoor power source with this pizza oven.
The instruction manual advises preheating for 15-25 minutes prior to cooking, but we found it hit temperature surprisingly quickly, reaching 400°C in just under 10 minutes. Our 12-inch pizza was bubbling within two-and-a-half minutes, and had a crisp base, evenly browned toppings, and oozing cheese. The lack of accessories is inconvenient, especially as it bumps up the overall price – though items like a pizza peel and a protective cover can be bought via the Morsø website. On the plus side, it does come with a five-year warranty (with two years for discolouration), and the very fact that it’s so enjoyable to use makes it feel like a worthy investment for pizza lovers. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas pizza oven.
- Buy from Amazon (£465), B&Q (£549) and Direct Stoves (£465)
Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven
Our best pizza oven for big families
RRP: £499
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: Ooni (£499), John Lewis (£499) and Lakeland (£499)

Reasons to buy:
- Quick to assemble
- Huge capacity
- Perfect pizzas
- High-quality materials
Reasons to avoid:
- Need to pay extra for essential tools
Ooni is the most famous brand in the pizza oven industry, and the Koda 16 wins the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best pizza oven for big families. This gas-powered pizza oven has an enormous capacity, which means you can cook a whopping dustbin lid pizza of up to 16 inches. Despite this size, we cooked a simple margherita in just 60 seconds. This is thanks to the unique L-shaped flame, which covers the whole pizza and makes for the best pizza on test - a perfect pizza with charred bubbles in the crust and wonderfully golden mozzarella. It's incredibly easy to use and is ready to light in just five minutes out of the box. Once you attach the oven to your gas source, it's as quick and easy to use as switching on a hob, and you can precisely control the temperature, which can reach a blistering 500°C after 20 minutes. If you register your oven with Ooni, you can get a three-year warranty, too.
However, we have two quibbles with the design. The first is that this pizza oven has a relatively shallow opening, which is fine for pizza, but you could struggle with other dishes. The second is that there's no thermometer on the pizza oven itself. Also, bear in mind that not only is this oven expensive, but you will need to pay extra for any accessories such as a pizza peel, thermometer and cover.
- Buy the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven from Ooni (£499), John Lewis (£499) and Lakeland (£499)
The best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.
Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer
RRP: £299.99
Our rating: 4.4/5
Available from: Ninja (£299.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Very easy to set up
- Extremely versatile
Reasons to avoid:
- Design won’t suit everyone
- Not for traditional pizza cooking
- Cover not included (but can be bought)
If convenience and versatility matter more to you than pizza purism, the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven and Air Fryer is a strong contender. Setup is simple: slot in the 12-inch pizza stone, plug the oven in at the mains, and wait around 20 minutes for it to preheat; it beeps when it’s ready, which is a nice touch. The range of pre-set cooking modes can feel slightly overwhelming at first, but the five dedicated pizza settings – including Artisan, Thin Crust and New York – are genuinely useful.
Pizzas cooked in around two minutes, with puffy, evenly baked bases and even a touch of charring. Beyond pizza, this oven’s real strength is flexibility: accessories for air frying and baking mean it can handle fish, gratins and even a small roast chicken with ease. Solidly built and relatively compact, the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven and Air Fryer is a practical, low-fuss outdoor oven that’s ideal for those who value versatility and reliability over traditional pizza-making theatrics.
- Buy the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven and Air Fryer from Ninja (£299.99)
Ooni Koda 2
RRP: £399
Our rating: 4.4/5
Available from: Lakeland (£399) and Ooni (£399)

Reasons to buy:
- Simple gas setup
- Good pizza performance
- Solid build quality
Reasons to avoid:
- Limited versatility
- No cleaning tools included
The Ooni Koda 2 is a compact, gas-powered pizza oven that combines strong performance with an eye-catching, slate-blue design. Weighing just 16kg, it’s easy to move and store, which is extremely important for a product that will be endlessly picked up, taken in and out of sheds and garages, and moved around to different spots in the garden. It takes around 30 minutes to heat up and cooks pizzas in roughly 90 seconds, with a 14-inch stone offering plenty of room for large or lop-sided, messy pizza creations.
One drawback that comes with this excellent price point for a high-quality product is the lack of a built-in temperature gauge, but it’s easy enough to get by with a separate temperature gun instead. That said, this is a powerful, well-built piece of kit, and is ideal for anyone wanting a portable, dedicated gas pizza oven without moving up to a larger, more expensive model.
- Buy the Ooni Koda 2 from Lakeland (£399) and Ooni (£399)
Ooni Koda 2 Pro 2nd Generation
RRP: £599
Our rating: 4.2/5
Available from: John Lewis (£599), Lakeland (£599) and Ooni (£599)

Reasons to buy:
- Large cooking area
- Suitable for bigger trays and dishes
Reasons to avoid:
- Difficult to move and store
- No cover included
- No cleaning tools
The Ooni Koda 2 Pro is a powerful, larger-than-average gas pizza oven with a generous 18-inch cooking space. The oven can comfortably handle bigger items, including large roasting trays, giving it more flexibility than smaller pizza-only models. That extra capacity does come with trade-offs, though. It’s very heavy and isn’t designed to be left outdoors year-round, with no cover included. It also doesn’t function as a barbecue or smoker, and no cleaning tools are supplied.
If you have the outdoor space to store it properly and want a high-capacity gas pizza oven, perhaps with an eye on having a few impromptu pizza parties over the course of a summer, it’s a strong option — but it is less suited to those with limited space or portability in mind.
- Buy the Ooni Koda 2 Pro from John Lewis (£599), Lakeland (£599) and Ooni (£599)
Igneus Classico pizza oven
RRP: £999
Our rating: 4/5
Available from: Igneus (£999) and The Pizza Oven Shop (£999)

Reasons to buy:
- Large cooking area
- Cooks two pizzas at once
- Thermometer included
- High-quality materials
Reasons to avoid:
- Price
- Warranty
- Essentials not included
With a whopping 24 x 24-inch internal area, this beast will tackle two 12-inch pizzas at once. The BBC Good Food team reckon that you could even cook an entire roast in the Igneus Classico, so if you’re getting the whole clan together for a family reunion, this is the oven for you. It’s high-quality and has an inbuilt thermometer marked with the perfect temperature range of 350°C to 410°C, so you’ll always know if you’re at the right temperature for your pizza. It made beautiful pizzas, and it’s easy to insert, turn, and remove them thanks to the roomy capacity.
However, this is a very big appliance. With all four of the pizza stones loaded it comes in at a weighty 45kg. It’s also one of the most expensive pizza ovens we tested, and the most expensive in this article. Despite this high price, it only has a one-year warranty and, like the Ooni products featured in this article, it doesn’t come with essential accessories like a pizza peel.
- Buy Igneus Classico pizza oven from Igneus (£999) and The Pizza Oven Shop (£999)
Fresh Grills Premium pizza oven
RRP: £279.99
Our rating: 4/5
Available from: The Range (£279.99), B&Q (£279.99) and Robert Dyas (£353.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Good for storage
- Long handles
- Includes peel and case
Reasons to avoid:
- Needs lots of fuel
- Logo cut-out lets out some of the heat
- Slow to heat
- Poorly designed door
The Fresh Grills Premium Pizza Oven is just right for new pizzaiolos to entertain. Though it has a big footprint, this oven is excellent for storage. The legs are foldable, and the chimney is removable for easy storage in winter. It sits high off the table, which is a good safety feature to avoid injuries. The handles are long to keep you safe from hot metal, and it also comes with a convenient carry case and pizza peel. We loved that it produces very little smoke, and it made some of the tastiest pizzas on test. It has a two-year warranty.
However, we found that there were a few drawbacks in the design. We found a lip in the door where you could easily snag your wrist, and the screws to attach the handle and thermometer stick through the back of the door, so you could catch yourself on those, too. The logo on the door is cut out, rather than printed. While it looks fantastic to see the flames flickering through the logo, it lets a lot of heat out – this grill took 45 minutes to get to temperature and needed a lot of fuel. This cut-out logo is also on the pizza peel, and we found that delicate dough could snag on this, too.
- Buy Fresh Grills Premium pizza oven from The Range (£279.99), B&Q (£279.99) and Robert Dyas (£353.99)
More pizza oven ideas
For more help, our friends at Olive Magazine have looked at pizza oven favourites Gozney vs. Ooni to help you see which brand might be best for you and your space. To help create the right atmosphere in the garden, see our review of the best solar lights and our guides to the best firepits, parasols and the best garden furniture sets.
How does a pizza oven work?
A domestic pizza oven is a small oven that sits on a stand or a garden table and cooks traditional pizza. There are three main fuels for a pizza oven.
The first is wood, usually wood pellets, which give an authentic flame-cooked taste. Make sure your wood is food-grade, so you don’t cook with toxic fuels, and keep an eye out for FSC-sourced wood pellets, which are more sustainable than other wood fuel. If your oven runs on wood pellets, you can also use charcoal - unlike the larger briquettes you use to light a charcoal barbecue, these are small chips of lumpwood.
Propane gas is another source, and the same gas you would use to fuel a gas barbecue. Available in canisters, it's attached to the oven by a regulator. Wood and gas take about the same time to heat up - the shape of the pizza oven makes the difference here. Wood pellets do give a smokier taste, however.
Finally, you can also buy barbecue-top pizza ovens that use the heat of a charcoal or gas barbecue to cook your pizza.
What’s in the box?
The most basic pizza ovens will come in two parts - the main body of the oven, and the pizza stone, which is what your pizza cooks on. A good pizza oven should come with a few extras included. The most important of these is a pizza peel, which is the little metal paddle you use to insert your pizza into the oven. A good extra feature is a cover or carry case, to keep your oven dry and make it easier to move around, and if you have a gas oven, make sure it comes with a regulator, which you’ll need to attach your oven to your gas. They're often ready to use straight out of the box, but some models need more assembly than others.
There are three main types of pizza oven:
Portable pizza ovens
The classic domestic pizza oven. They’re small enough to sit on a garden table while you cook and to store in a shed, and should be light enough to move around the garden easily, as and when you need them. You might have heard of Ooni or Gozney, which make a wide range of ovens with a variety of features, but they're also increasingly available from DIY stores, supermarkets and online brands.
Barbecue-top pizza ovens
As basic as it gets. These handy stones or boxes sit on top of a grill and use the heat from your gas or charcoal barbecue to cook, so you can turn out a pizza alongside burgers and sausages. However, because they mostly cook from the bottom up, they’re not as fast as other pizza ovens and can be trickier to master. They usually don't cook as well as classic portable or freestanding ovens, so we’ve stuck to portable pizza ovens in this article, but check out BBC Good Food’s review of the La Hacienda BBQ pizza oven for more information.
Freestanding pizza ovens
These permanent ovens are big and expensive. Think of the oven at the back of a pizzeria - a large oven designed to cook lots of pizza very quickly. They look impressive as a focal point on a patio or as part of an outdoor kitchen, but they can cost you thousands of pounds.

What can you cook in a pizza oven?
You aren’t limited to pizza. The high temperatures in a pizza oven are just the thing for quick homemade flatbreads like roti, naan, pitta and tortilla. You can also quickly cook nachos, jacket potatoes, melanzane, sea bass, and baked camembert. Nor are you limited to savoury foods – you can also have a go at cinnamon rolls or tarte tatin.
How much is a pizza oven?
Prices vary depending on the type of pizza oven. For the average-sized portable pizza oven, set aside £300-600. Barbecue-top pizza ovens will set you back £40-£100, and you’ll have to fork out £1,000-£2,000 for top-line freestanding pizza ovens.
How should I choose a pizza oven?
Bear in mind space, oven capacity, and cost. When it comes to oven capacity, couples probably won’t need a big 16-inch pizza oven, but if you’re frequently cooking for a bigger family, a 12-inch oven might not cut it. If you love a true, flame-grilled taste, opt for a wood-fired oven, but if you have a garden in a terrace or semi-detached house, be mindful that the smoke might be an issue. Consider all of these, as well as your budget, and you’ll find the right oven for your space.
How we tested pizza ovens
We tested a range of portable pizza ovens, fuelled by gas and wood. Using BBC Good Food’s basic pizza dough recipe on test and the manufacturer’s instructions, we built and used each oven exactly as you would in your garden. We also tested with different pizza recipes where oven capacity allowed for this. The ovens were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:
- Assembly and storage: Looked at the ease of assembly, clarity of instructions, and how long it took to build the oven. We also noted any storage features and how easy it was to pack up and put away
- Ease of use: Pizzas require incredibly high temperatures to cook, so we looked for excellent insulation and safety features to make the pizza oven easy to use. We assessed how quickly we could get cooking, how easy it was to add and control fuel and how quickly the oven cooled down. We also looked at the portability of the ovens
- Cooking results: Assessed the look, texture, and taste of the pizzas
- Value for money: Considered all of the above, including quality, design, any special features, plus RRP and warranty
For more information on our testing process, see How we Review
Meet our testing panel
Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.
Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.
Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.
Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.
Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.
Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.
This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
]]> Alex David <![CDATA[The best charcoal BBQs in 2026]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/best-charcoal-barbecues/ 2026-07-27T09:42:03.000Z 2026-07-18T19:56:07.000Z
Jump to best charcoal barbecues, under £200
Jump to best charcoal barbecues, £200-500
Jump to best charcoal barbecues, £500+
It’s a classic British summertime scene: the sun's just peeked out from behind the clouds, the temperature's barely in double digits, but all along the street there’s the delicious smell of smoky, charcoal cooked food.
And why not cook over charcoal this summer? Though gas barbecues are quick, clean and easy to control, they're also comparatively expensive and require unwieldy tanks of propane. The best charcoal barbecues cook just as well as gas, giving food a woody, smoky flavour that simply can’t be matched.
We teamed up with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine to put a range of charcoal barbecues through their paces. With their exceptional gastronomic knowledge and our expertise in all things gardening, we’ve selected the best charcoal barbecues that will cater for a wide range of gardens.
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Best charcoal barbecues to buy at a glance
Our 3 top-rated charcoal barbecues, under £200
- 4.5 stars: Our best portable charcoal barbecue 2025 – Napoleon Premium 14 Charcoal Portable RRP £84.99
- 4.3 stars: Our best barrel charcoal barbecue – Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal BBQ RRP £79.99
- 4.5 stars: Our best portable charcoal barbecue – Lotus Grill G340 RRP £175
Our 5 top-rated charcoal barbecues, £200-500
- 4.3 stars: Our best charcoal barbecue with user-friendly features – Napoleon 22" Charcoal Kettle Grill Barbecue RRP £229.99
- 4.3 stars: Our best budget kettle charcoal barbecue – Weber Classic Kettle E5710 RRP £239
- 4.3 stars: Our best family charcoal barbecue – Char-Broil Kettleman RRP £259.99
- 4.5 stars: Our best kettle charcoal barbecue – Weber Master-Touch GBS E-5755 RRP £335
- 4.5 stars: Our best charcoal barbecue for Japanese-style barbecuing – Kasai Konro Grill RRP £399
Our 2 top-rated charcoal barbecues, £500+
- 4.8 stars: Our best charcoal smoker barbecue – Big Green Egg RRP £1,495
- 4.8 stars: Our best premium charcoal barbecue – Kamado Joe Series III RRP £2,899
Comparison table: Best charcoal BBQs
Our expertise
To help you find the right charcoal barbecue for your garden, we tested a range of new and consistently popular models cooking a range of food on each. Every barbecue has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to assembly, ease of cooking, cooking results and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on cordless mowers that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.
Jump to best charcoal barbecues:
- Our best charcoal barbecues, under £200
- Our best charcoal barbecues, £200-500
- Our best charcoal barbecues, £500+
Jump to barbecue-buying advice:
- How to choose a charcoal barbecue
- Charcoal barbecues fuel and lighting
- How we test charcoal barbecues
- Meet our panel of testers
Our best charcoal barbecues, under £200
Napoleon Premium 14 Charcoal Portable
Our best portable charcoal barbecue 2025
RRP: £84.99
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (£119.99) and Napoleon (£79.99)
Reasons to buy:
- Portable & sustainable
- Lid, which locks in place to carry
- Sturdy design
- Good value
Reasons to avoid:
- Fiddly to assemble
- Not for a crowd
This portable kettle barbecue is light with a sturdy handle which makes it ideal for carrying either in the garden or out and about. The 14-inch grill is big enough for a family of four and unlike most portable barbecues it also has a lid with two air vents to help you effectively control the temperature. A dual zone charcoal basket allows you to use both direct and indirect grilling for the best results and there are clear instructions on how to use this.
This is a great alternative to a disposable barbecue. You can use proper lumpwood charcoal with it and a bag of charcoal fits neatly under the lid, so you can then lock and use the carry handle to store it away or take it all to the park, beach or the back of the car for trips away. Alex David
Dimensions: 96 x 89 x 90cm
Grill area: 910cm²
- Buy the Napoleon Premium 14 Charcoal Portable from Amazon (£199.99) and Napoleon (£79.99)
Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal Barbecue
Our best barrel barbecue
RRP: £79.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Available from: B&Q (£99.99), Robert Dyas (£79.99) and Vonhaus (£79.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Very high quality
- Cooked very well
- Big cooking surface
- Perfect height
Reasons to avoid:
- Poor quality wheels
Offering an efficient cooking surface that’s just right for catering to large crowds, the Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal Barbecue has a big grill that delivers delicious and quick results - we thoroughly cooked an entire spatchcock chicken in just 15 minutes. This was charred and crispy but not dry, remaining juicy throughout. This barbecue was easy to load and quick to heat up, reaching cooking temperature in just 20 minutes.
Its cooking surface is 79cm off the ground, which suits most users. It has a handy warming rack, and its carry handle can double as a rest for barbecue tongs. Its lid is weighty but not heavy, with a very smooth opening action, and it fits snugly over the grill to seal in heat. There’s also a thermometer on the front of the lid, which makes it easy to see the temperature. The only drawbacks are its large size and the low-quality wheels, but these are minor issues. Alex David
Dimensions: 96 x 89 x 90cm
Grill area: 2,485cm²
Read the full Vonhaus Barrel Barbecue review
- Buy the Vonhaus Barrel Charcoal Barbecue from B&Q (£99.99), Robert Dyas (£79.99) and Vonhaus (£79.99)
Lotus Grill G340
Our best portable charcoal barbecue
RRP: £175
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Available from: LotusGrill (£175)

Reasons to buy:
- Very easy to use
- Super quick to light
- Smoke free
- Parts can be cleaned in dishwasher
- Simple design that stays cool to touch
Reasons to avoid:
- Needs batteries, lighting gel & charcoal chips
- Grill size limited, although larger models are available
The Lotus Grill is unlike any other charcoal barbecue we tested. As it's assisted by an electric fan, it takes only a few minutes to get up to cooking temperature. It’s simple and well thought out, offering easy, fuss-free cooking. It takes up hardly any space, produces no smoke and can even sit on top of the table; great for small gardens and courtyards. It’s perhaps not for barbecue aficionados but is ideal for anyone new to charcoal grilling. The safe, cool sides also make it great for introducing teens and older kids to barbecuing. Alex David
Dimensions: 23.4 x 35 x 35cm
Grill area: 804cm²
Read the full Lotus Grill review
- Buy the Lotus Grill from LotusGrill (£175)
Our best charcoal barbecues, £200-500
Napoleon 22-inch Charcoal Kettle Grill Barbecue
Our best charcoal barbecue for user-friendly features
RRP: £229.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (£249.99) and BBQ World (£218.49)

Reasons to buy:
- Compact & portable
- Easy to use
- Nifty hook to hang lid whilst cooking
- Hinged grill
- 10-year warranty
Reasons to avoid:
- Fiddly to assemble
- Exterior gets hot
The Napoleon 22-inch is a simple, well-designed kettle-style barbecue, ideal for newbies or those who appreciate a hassle-free cooking experience. It offers plenty of practical features, such as an integral hook so you can hang the lid off the side of the barbecue when you’re checking food, chunky wheels for good manoeuvrability, hinged grills for topping up fuel, removable ash catcher and a temperature gauge on the lid with helpful temperature zones.
It distributes heat evenly, which makes cooking easy. The outside of this grill is cool, offering useful indirect heat so you can cook food slowly, or keep it warm. Courgettes and potatoes cooked well with nicely defined grill lines. Thanks to being able to control the temperature, the kebabs were well-cooked, and the buns were nicely crisped and charred, but not burned. It also comes with a cover and a reassuringly generous 10-year warranty. However, it’s fiddly to assemble and the exterior gets hot. Alex David
Dimensions: 112 x 59 x 70cm
Grill area: 2,551cm²
- Buy the Napoleon 22" Charcoal Barbecue from Amazon (£249.99) and BBQ World (£218.49)
Weber Classic Kettle E-5710
Our best budget kettle barbecue
RRP: £239
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Available from: Argos (£150), John Lewis (£169.99) and Weber (£239)

Reasons to buy:
- Good, well thought out features
- Easy to use
- Temperature gauge
- Handy lid hook
- Great accompanying handbook
Reasons to avoid:
- Takes up room in storage
- Lacks tool hooks
This classic kettle charcoal grill is sturdy with a simple intuitive design and is ideal for new users and anyone who wants tasty results easily. Big enough to feed up to six people, it’s easy to move in and out of storage and has handy features including easy cleaning, ash collection and a hook on the hood for tucking it out of the way whilst you’re turning the burgers. The helpful handbook ensures great cooking results. Alex David
Dimensions: 100.3 x 57.2 x 63.5cm
Grill area: 2,342cm²
Read the full Weber Classic E5710 review
- Buy the Weber Classic E5710 Kettle Barbecue from Argos (£150), John Lewis (£169.99) and Weber (£239)
Char-Broil Kettleman
Our best charcoal barbecue for families
RRP: £259.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (£159.99) and Robert Dyas (£159.99)

Reasons to buy:
• Generous size
• Storage rack at base
• Latch to lock lid
• Vents provide good temperature control
Reasons to avoid:
• Unclear instructions
• Tools not provided
• Not a lot of space between grill & coals
With enough grilling space to feed a family of four this sturdy and robust kettle barbecue is a reliable choice for summer grilling. It has an attractive design, smooth opening action and sturdy wheels that make it easy to move around the patio, decking or lawn. The Char-Broil Kettleman offers precise temperature control: the vents provide good airflow, allowing you to adjust the heat and smoke to your liking, plus, there’s a responsive temperature gauge on the lid.
However, we found the manual a little unclear owing to the diagram-only instructions and this, coupled with the many component parts to this barbecue, made assembly a bit of a challenge. It wasn’t entirely clear where the coals should sit either. Despite the difficulties with assembly, once the Kettleman was up and running, we enjoyed a fantastic grilling experience. The grill is generously sized and produced even and consistent browning across all of our test recipes. This model does lose heat quickly when opened, however, meaning some foods took longer than expected to cook. Alex David
Dimensions: 66 x 66 x 99.1 cm
Grill area: 3,421cm²
- Buy the Char-Broil Kettleman Barbecue from Amazon (£159.99) and Robert Dyas (£159.99)
Weber Master-Touch GBS E-5755 Charcoal Barbecue
Our best kettle charcoal barbecue
RRP: £335
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Available from: John Lewis (£335) and Weber (£335)

Reasons to buy:
- Very easy to assemble
- Large grilling area
- Distinct hot & cool areas for precision cooking
- Large ash catcher
- Easy to move around
Reasons to avoid:
- On the expensive side
- Exterior gets very hot
- Handle hard to hold
The Weber-Master Touch E-5755 is a generously sized charcoal barbecue is not only designed for traditional grilling but can also smoke, and Weber offers additional accessories including a pizza stone, wok, poultry smoker and more, making this one of the more versatile barbecues we’ve tested. It was the easiest barbecue to assemble, thanks to the App Bilt which gives you a 3D step-by-step guide to the building process.
Grilling is a joy on the Master-Touch GBS E-5755. It quickly reaches searing temperatures in the middle of the barbecue that are perfect for burgers, while also offering a cooler ring of indirect heat around the edge, for sides like corn on the cob that need slower, more controlled cooking. It’s a fabulous all-rounder that’s ideal for entertaining, but bear in mind it’s a little more expensive than other barbecues. We also didn’t like the wedge-shaped handle, but this is a minor criticism. Alex David
Dimensions: 118 x 65 x 76cm
Grill area: 2,342cm²
- Buy the Weber Master-Touch GBS E-5755 from John Lewis (£335) and Weber (£335)
Kasai Konro Grill
Our best charcoal barbecue for Japanese-style barbecuing
RRP: £399
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (from £319.20) and John Lewis & Partners (£319.20)

Reasons to buy:
- Portable (handles on either side)
- Not overly heavy (about 11kg)
- Very stylish & great for Japanese-style yakitori cooking
- Speedy set up
Reasons to avoid:
- Pretty small, even for two to four people
- No lip/edge means sausages can roll off the grill
The Kasai Konro Grill is a compact, Japanese-style barbecue that’s both stylish and relatively accessible. We tested the Little Grill, though it is available in a range of sizes from Nano for £299 right up to XL for £799. Set-up takes less than five minutes from the box, and its brushed stainless-steel frame and vermiculite help keep the exterior cool so it’s safe to use on most surfaces.
The cooking area is on the smaller side but still sufficient for feeding two to four people, provided you don’t overload it, and there’s no raised edge so you need to keep an eye on anything that can roll. What it lacks in size, though, it more than makes up for in performance. In testing, it delivered consistently juicy, well-charred results across a range of foods from meat to fish to vegetables, all with a distinctive smoky flavour. Lydia Anderson
Dimensions: 21 x 40.5 x 26.5cm
Grill area: 1,040cm²
- Buy the Kasai Konro Grill from Amazon (from £319.20) and John Lewis & Partners (£319.20)
Our best charcoal barbecues, £500+
Big Green Egg
Our best charcoal smoker barbecue
RRP: £1,495
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Available from: Big Green Egg (£1,495)

Reasons to buy:
- Superb cooking
- Easy to use
Reasons to avoid:
- Build is down to you
Perfect for those looking to treat themselves and experiment with outdoor cooking beyond traditional grilling, the Big Green Egg offers impressive versatility for ambitious home cooks. This large ceramic grill multitasks effortlessly as a barbecue, smoker and oven, making it easy to experiment with a wide range of outdoor cooking styles. It can reach intense searing temperatures or maintain a steady, low heat with notable precision, even over long cooking sessions.
Barbecuing remains a standout feature; it’s ready to cook after around 20 minutes and consistently produced some of the best results on test. There is a wide range of accessories available (though these will push the price up even further), including extra racks, baking stones and the option to have the Egg delivered fully assembled, which we would highly recommend. Kay Maguire
Dimensions: 80 x 56 x 69cm
Grill area: 1,662cm²
- Buy the Big Green Egg from Big Green Egg (£1,495)
Kamado Big Joe Series III
Our best premium charcoal barbecue
RRP: £2,899
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Available from: John Lewis (£2,209)

Reasons to buy:
- Very high quality
- Very versatile
- Great for smoking & low, slow cooking
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Reasons to avoid:
- Heavy to move at 30kg
- Needs a little getting used to
- Expensive
This is a huge (130kg) egg-shaped ceramic charcoal grill with a hood. It has a thermometer and a system of vents to easily control airflow and temperature, making it easy to achieve a scorching 400°C (752°F). It's incredibly efficient; with the lid on it can maintain heat for hours, and can be used to slow cook.
It has a unique smoker - the Slōroller - which circulates smoke around the inside of the grill, with delicious results. It can even be used to roast a Christmas turkey, and you can buy a rotisserie attachment as well. It’s very versatile for all sorts of cooking, scoring near-perfect marks in our cooking tests. This is a very high-end barbecue, and all of its parts - even hinges - are heavy-duty and of the highest quality. However, at over £2,000, this is a lifetime investment for serious barbecuers. Alex David
Dimensions: 148 x 136 x 91cm
Grill area: 2,992cm²
Read the full Kamado Big Joe Series III review
- Buy the Kamado Joe Series III from John Lewis (£2,909)
The best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.
Cobb Premier Air
RRP: £190
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (£189.98)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy set up
- Light & very portable
- Effective vents on the lid
- Lots of accessories available
Reasons to avoid:
- Hard to light Cobb cobblestone
- Slow to cook & limited space
- Food slides on the flat grill grid & no char lines
- Moat stains & very difficult to clean
Weighing just 4kg, this neat little barbecue is designed for portability, and comes with a great zip up bag to carry it around in. There are no instructions in the very lengthy manual but once you’ve worked out the order how all the pieces go together, it's ready to go in less than five minutes. It uses charcoal briquettes or its own Cobb cobblestones, which are smoke-free and provide up to two hours of fuel. However, we found them extremely tricky to light and needed firelighters underneath a cobblestone to get it going. Once lit, though, it burned efficiently and well, and the barbecue took just five minutes to heat up. It’s easy to control the temperature with the vents on the lid, which you adjust via the handle to create hotter temperatures with a wider gap and cooler with a narrow gap.
Unlike many charcoal barbecues, you can only cook on direct heat, and because the grill grid has an almost solid surface, you get no char lines and some food, like sausages, has a tendency to slide around like they would in a frying pan. Although this barbecue is similar in size and design to the Lotus, this standard cooking surface included with the Cobb, is nowhere as good and although you can purchase other grills and griddles these come at an extra cost. The Cobb also has a moat that sits around the fuel basket and allows you to add flavourings such as wine or cook vegetables etc alongside whatever’s on the grill grid, but after cooking, we found this extremely difficult to get clean. Ours stained after the very first use and although it’s not dirty it detracts from the shiny stainless steel appearance the Cobb had when it first arrived.
The potatoes and vegetable kebabs we cooked, did so reasonably quickly but we found uneven heat across the grid. The chicken we cooked had a layer a burn rather than charring. This barbecue is easy to transport and solid and stable once going but, as a barbecue we found it disappointing. With its effective lid and temperature control it‘s more like a mini camping oven and may be best for foodies keen to experiment on the go rather than easy, successful barbecuing. It comes with a two-year warranty. Alex David
Dimensions: 35 x 33cm
Grill area: 855cm²
- Buy the Cobb Premier Air Charcoal Barbecue from Amazon (£189.98)
Minimax Big Green Egg
RRP: £925
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Available from: Big Green Egg (£925)

Reasons to buy:
- Sturdy, durable design
- Easy to assemble
- Safe to use
Reasons to avoid:
- High heat may take some getting used to
- Heavy, not portable without assistance
- High price tag
The smallest, and most affordable charcoal barbecue released by Big Green Egg, the Minimax is a good choice for couples, or small families willing to pay more for reliability and ease of use. It comes partially pre-assembled and with helpful instructions that are accompanied by a video guide accessible via QR code. Compact and attractively designed, this ceramic barbecue takes up little space, and is easy to fit in a garden or shed for storage - however, it's heavy, despite the carry handle on either side and needs two people to lift it. Its sturdy, insulated body, heatproof handles, and four rubber-tipped feet also make it a safe choice to use on a table or lawn.
The Minimax is easy to light, getting to temperature within just ten minutes, and this initial load of charcoal is all it needs, as it burns fuel very efficiently. It has a temperature gauge and vents in its base and lid, which allow you to monitor and manage the cooking temperature by changing its airflow, and it cooks vegetables and meat well and with good char, but it cooks quickly enough to mean vegetable skewers should be watched to prevent burning. Cleaning the Minimax Big Green Egg is simple, too; just remove all residual coal and brush its internal components down. Its premium price tag may be enough to put some people off, but those willing to pay more for will find this model a powerful and easy-to-use little barbecue. Alex David
Dimensions: 50 x 56cm
Grill area: 855cm²
- Buy the Big Green Egg Minimax Charcoal Barbecue from Big Green Egg (£925)
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal CUBE charcoal BBQ
RRP: £136
Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
Available from: Amazon (£109)

Reasons to buy:
- Attractive
- Compact
- Easy to transport
- Cool-touch handles
- Deceptively large surface area for cooking
Reasons to avoid:
- Limited space for coal
- No temperature gauge
- No lid
- Exposed to the elements as it’s left open during cooking
Those with limited outdoor space will be well served by this compact box barbecue. Available in three colours, it comes with integrated storage and handy bamboo chopping board for speedy food prep on the go and at home. Despite its robust build, the porcelain enamel firebox is impressively lightweight and comes with cool-touch handles on either side, so you can easily pick it up and carry it around. Set-up is also straightforward, and though the instructions lack some detail, no actual assembly is required.
In testing, getting this barbecue to light and retain heat without a lid was difficult, and without a temperature gauge there was no way of knowing how hot it was. Once it got going though, we found it produced good results. The vegetable skewers were unevenly charred but flavoursome, and our potato slices had a crisp bite with grill lines. The hefty price tag comes down to the name attached to it, but if you've the budget and eye for style, the Everdure Cube is certainly worth considering. Alex David
Dimensions: 23 x 42.5 x 34.7cm
Grill size: 670cm²
- Buy the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal CUBE charcoal BBQ from Amazon (£109)
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Boss Grill The Egg XS
RRP: £250
Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
Available from: Appliances Direct (£199)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy to assemble
- Reasonably priced
- Small, table-top size
- Temperature gauge
Reasons to avoid:
- Heat-proof handles gets hot
- Hard to control heat & grill gets very hot
This barbecue promises to be an eye-catching addition to the garden yet there’s more to this model than good looks, as it also offers great value and plenty of versatility. Capable of grilling, roasting, baking, smoking and even cooking pizza, the Boss Grill Egg XS is easy to build and use, taking just 20 minutes to get up to temperature. The materials are good quality, it feels solid and sturdy once it’s on its stand, and the hood is spring-loaded and closes firmly. The Boss Grill Egg XS is an ideal size for a small family, allowing you to cook four burgers at a time. However, we found that its excellent heat-retention means that it gets so hot it scorches food.
On test, the courgettes and kebabs cooked well with clear grill lines, but the potato slices burnt before they cooked through, and the buns toasted unevenly, as there are a few cool spots above the ceramic tiles. Unlike other models we tested, it doesn’t have lots of features, but does include a temperature gauge and thick, sturdy wooden handles. Designed to be a table-top BBQ, it doesn’t have wheels and needs to be placed on a heat-proof surface.
Though small, this is a heavy barbecue, so it’s not the obvious choice if you’re looking for a truly portable option, and the handles get quite hot, despite being heat-proof. It comes with a one-year warranty, which is disappointingly short, but does come with a cover and a pizza stone. Alex David
Dimensions: 62 x 55 x 54cm
Grill area: 1,122cm²
- Buy the Boss Grill XS Charcoal Barbecue from Appliances Direct (£199)
Vonhaus Compact Charcoal Barbecue
RRP: £114.99
Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
Available from: Vonhaus (£114.99) and Amazon (£107.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Adjustable smoke/temperature control
- Lots of features
Reasons to avoid:
- Small grill area
- Poorly defined grill lines
This cheap but cheerful charcoal barbecue and smoker is packed with plenty of features for the price. It comes with a thermometer, two side tables, inbuilt storage, a bottle opener and handy wheels for moving around. The most notable feature is an adjustable firebox, so you can choose the height of your charcoal or smoking wood and adjust the temperature. It also has a front door, so you can easily add more wood while smoking. It offers a surprising number of features for a barbecue of this price and compact size. It’s great if you’ve got a little garden or courtyard, but beware if you’ll be catering to a crowd - this barbecue had an even smaller grill area than a camping barbecue that we had to hand as we tested.
As with many of the parts of this barbecue, the grills were poorly machined, and didn’t quite fit. The grill also has wide gaps, so smaller ingredients like halloumi fell onto the coals. This also meant that grill lines were poorly defined. Though it’s simple to assemble, it’s very fiddly. All the parts need to be screwed into each other, so assembly took us about an hour. While it’s a great price, it feels wobbly and cheap. We think this barbecue suits couples and small families on a budget - you could comfortably stretch it to four people, but not more. Alex David
Dimensions: 120.5 x 108.5 x 50cm
Grill area: 1,312cm²
- Buy the Vonhaus Compact Charcoal Barbecue from Vonhaus (£114.99) and Amazon (£107.99)
Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal barbecue
RRP: £114.99
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Available from: Argos (£115) and John Lewis (£114.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Friendly grill size for both direct & indirect cooking
- Well fitting lid with two vents
- Stay-cool ergonomic handle
Reasons to avoid:
- No temperature gauge
- Exterior and surface beneath get very hot
- Legs not sturdy
- Food quickly burns if not watched
This simple, box barbecue from Weber is portable and easy to use, with a grill big enough for a couple or small family. Well designed for use at home or on the move, it's quick to set up and pack down and most of the materials are sturdy and robust and come with a 10 year warranty. Once lit, it heats up and cooks fast, so food like vegetables will need watching to ensure they don't burn, but despite its small size, the grill is large enough for cooking on both direct and indirect heat, with room to heat food in the centre and then move it to the side to stay warm.
Vents in the lid can help you control the heat, but there's no temperature gauge, which can make it tricky to know exactly how hot it's getting. The outside of the barbecue also got ferociously hot and even though the grill is raised off the ground, heat builds up underneath, so wherever you use it, care must be taken to only cook on a heat proof or concrete surface. Alex David
Dimensions: 37 x 53 x 31cm
Grill area: 1,092cm²
- Buy the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Barbecue from Argos (£115) and John Lewis (£114.99)
Getting ready to entertain this summer? Check out our reviews of the best pizza ovens and the best gas BBQs, both in collaboration with Good Food Magazine, and our guides to barbecue accessories and fire pits.
To help set the scene see our test of the best solar lights, or our guide to parasols and to help keep your barbecue in tip top condition, our experts have put the best pressure washers through their paces, so you can buy with confidence.
How to choose a charcoal barbecue
Consider the following points when choosing a charcoal barbecue for your garden:
- Size: Bigger isn’t always better – if you’re only entertaining a few, a small kettle barbecue is all you need. Make sure your barbecue fits comfortably in your garden, away from fire hazards
- Special features: Some of the best charcoal barbecues come with extras as standard – look out for warming racks that will keep food hot until you’re all ready to eat, thermometers to gauge cooking times precisely and heat vents in the lid to help control the temperature when you’re cooking. Side tables for keeping plates and sauces close at hand and tool racks are also very handy
- Extra functions: If you’re a keen cook or just fancy giving something new a go, keep an eye out for charcoal barbecues with multiple functions. Lots of the best charcoal barbecues can also be used as smokers, ovens and even tandoors
Charcoal barbecue fuel and lighting
Although it's easy to pick up charcoal online, in garden centres, even supermarkets, sustainable charcoal is now easy to find, and while it can be more expensive, you should need less of it because it burns more slowly, and gives out better heat, which will offset some of the cost. Look for the FSC logo of the Forest Stewardship Council, the global certification scheme of wood products, on the pack to ensure charcoal is sourced from properly managed forests.
Avoid briquettes and self-lighting charcoal that contain chemicals and give off strong odours as they’ll affect the flavour of your food and never use petrol, chemicals or firelighters intended for coal fires to light your barbecue. Instead look for natural firelighters, which are widely available.
How we tested charcoal barbecues
Together with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine, the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested a range of charcoal barbecues. Each was unpacked, assembled, used to cook a variety of food and then cleaned and packed away. We assessed according to specific criteria with Good Food putting particular emphasis on how well each barbecue cooked while we assessed the barbecues within a garden context, including how easy they are to assemble, move around and store. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:
- Assembly: Looked at the ease of assembly, clarity of instructions, warm-up time and how easy the barbecue is to store
- Ease of use: Focused on comfort and ease of use, how easy it is to move around the garden, and to light and cook
- Cooking results: We cooked a variety of common barbecue food to assess the non-stick ability of each grill, its grid-cooking capabilities, and how well it chars, softens, and seals food. We also checked for defined lines, even cooking, sticking and hot spots. Above all, we tested how long it took to cook each dish and how well each dish tasted
- Value for Money: Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price
For more information on our testing process see How we review.
Design tips for your BBQ area
A BBQ is the perfect addition to your garden, making it the perfect space for entertaining friends and family. Here are some more tips on how to make your garden the ideal spot for hosting this summer:
Choose some furniture
Think about how much space you have and how many people you’d like to host when choosing your garden furniture. Take a look at our favourite garden furniture sets.
Design the area around your BBQ
If you’re designing a new area in your garden, think about how the BBQ fits into that design. Do you want to make a feature of it, or keep it hidden when not in use? Barbecue ideas for all types of gardens offers all sorts of inspiring design ideas.
Create a patio area
A patio is the perfect spot for a BBQ, providing a level surface for the BBQ as well as space for a table and chairs, ideal for hosting dinner parties. See our patio ideas feature for tips on making the most of your patio.
Create an outdoor kitchen
If spending time cooking and eating outside is a big part of your life, you might even like to build an outdoor kitchen.
Add lighting
For evenings when your outdoor entertaining lasts beyond sunset, you might like to choose some lighting. See our review of the best solar lights for ideas. Just be wary of your neighbours and wildlife if entertaining into the night!
Meet our testing panel
Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.
Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.
Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.
Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.
Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.
Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.
This review was last updated in July 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
]]> Alex David <![CDATA[The 8 best gas BBQs to buy in 2026, as tested by our experts]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/best-gas-bbqs/ 2026-05-18T13:38:11.000Z 2026-03-12T09:58:08.000Z
Jump to our 4 best gas BBQs
Do you love it when warm weather and longer days signal the beginning of the barbeque season? Cooking and eating outside in the garden are highlights of the summer for many of us, and although charcoal barbecues are often the traditional choice, gas barbecues make grilling so much simple. As well as being quicker and cleaner than charcoal, they leave little mess, cook without smoke, and often come with a range of bonus features to take your cooking to the next level.
We love our barbeques too, so it's been a real pleasure testing a range of models to bring you our favourite gas barbecues of 2026. Check out our video above for expert advice on buying the best gas barbecue for your garden and our buyer's guide below for the rundown of the top gas barbecues available today.
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Gas BBQs – Buyer’s Guide
Our 4 best gas BBQs to buy at a glance
- 4.8 stars: Our best gas barbecue for small gardens – Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart RRP £479
- 4.8 stars: Our best premium gas barbecue – Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 RRP £1,599
- 4.8 stars: Our best gas barbecue for convenience – Weber Traveler gas barbecue RRP £539
- 4.8 stars: Our best portable gas barbecue – Weber Q1200 RRP £389
Also recommended: gas BBQs
- 4.5 stars: Our best gas barbecue for crowds – Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue RRP £867
- 4.5 stars: Our best all-round gas barbecue – Napoleon Rogue 425 RRP £674.99
- 4.5 stars: Our best gas barbecue for small families and couples – Char-Broil Grill2Go RRP £229.99
- 4.3 stars: Our best basic gas barbecue – Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue RRP £249.97
Comparison table: best gas BBQs
Our expertise
We teamed up with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine to ensure our tests were as accurate, fair, and useful as possible. With their culinary knowledge and our reviewing expertise we’ve found the best gas BBQs for every garden. Each review has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and assembly, ease of use, cooking results and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on gas barbecues that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.
Jump to the best gas BBQs:
- Our 4 top-rated gas BBQs
Jump to gas BBQ advice:
- Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?
- Are gas BBQs safe?
- How to choose a gas BBQ
- Which gas do I need?
- How we tested
- Meet our testing panel
Our 4 top-rated gas BBQs
Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart
Our best gas barbecue for small gardens
RRP: £479
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: BBQ World (£329)
Reasons to buy:
• Feels sturdy and well-made
• Handle stays cool and comfortable
• Drip tray is effective
• Cooks quickly, evenly and well
Reasons to avoid:
• Expensive
I found this sturdy little barbecue is easy to put together and to move in and out of storage with its four lockable wheels and side tables that slot on and off in seconds. It takes up very little room and the gas can be stored in the cart when not in use. It’s light but robust, and the grill is a comfortable height for cooking. It's easy to connect the gas, with intuitive controls, and the Porcelain-enamelled, cast-iron cooking grates get to temperature (400°F, 204°C) in just five minutes, with even heat distribution and slightly cooler edges.
There’s enough space for up to 12 burgers, and all the food I tested was evenly cooked with good grill lines. The lid has a thermometer and a heat-proof handle, and the quality and design are very good. It feels sturdy and long-lasting, and it comes with a five-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for small gardens.
- Buy the Weber Q2200N from BBQ World (£329)
Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 smart gas barbecue
Our best premium gas barbecue
RRP: £1,599
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: BBQ World (£1,399)

Reasons to add:
- Easy to load rotisserie arm
- Double-width warming rack
- Side burner perfect for popping a skillet on
Reasons to avoid:
- Short power cord
- Expensive
Retailing at around £1,500, the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Smart gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium gas barbecue. I was impressed by this three-burner barbecue that's packed with features. Not only does it cater for a whopping 12 people, but it has a digital thermometer that lets you control the temperature to the exact degree. It also sends step-by-step temperature alerts to your phone to guide you through cooking. There’s a large sear zone, as well as a side burner that’s perfect for pans and skillets and doubles up as an additional work surface with its lid down. The warming rack is double-width, for extra snacks, and there’s even a rotisserie arm for cooking whole birds. I found the heat was evenly distributed across the whole barbecue.
The combination of the sear zone and the side burner allowed me to sear steaks on the right while cooking kebabs on the left, while at the same time keeping extras piping hot on the double-width warming rack. The steaks I cooked had well-defined char lines and a delicious flavour while remaining pink, tender and juicy in the middle. The rotisserie arm is easy to use and turned out two succulent roast chickens. There was no sticking with any of the ingredients and recipes on test, and everything I cooked was delicious.
However, I can’t get around the cost. There’s a lot of functionality crammed into this barbecue, but £1,500 is a very hefty price tag, especially in the current climate. It also has a large footprint on a patio, so in small gardens it will dominate your space. You need to place it near a power socket too, as it has a short power cord to run the digital temperature gauge. I can’t comment on how easy this barbecue is to assemble, because it was delivered to me fully built.
- Buy the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£1,399)
Weber Traveler gas barbecue
Our best gas barbecue for convenience
RRP: £509
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: Amazon (£539)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy set-up and transportability
- Solid and sturdy
- Large cooking area
- Cooks evenly and well
- Powerful burner
Reasons to avoid:
- Small gas canister doesn’t last long
- Large and heavy to lift if needed
- Expensive
This is a well-designed barbecue, great for small gardens, camping, or taking down to the beach for instant barbecuing. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for convenience as I found it one of the easiest to use of all the barbecues we've tested. Almost ready to go straight out of the box, it just needs the wheels slotted on, the grill plates and drip tray inserted, and you have a table-top barbecue, complete with a work surface, no matter where you are.
Easy to lift up into position, it has a good-sized cooking area with two cast iron grill plates with a porcelain enamel coating above a single burner. The domed lid has a temperature gauge, and the grill plates heat up quickly within just a few minutes. The control dial is easy to adjust, there’s ample space to feed a family or larger gathering, and in my test, everything cooked well and evenly, and nothing stuck to the grill plates. Next to the burner are handy plastic tool hooks, and the side table is easily big enough for plates, sauces and more.
As a travel barbecue, it uses small, screw-in canisters of propane and butane, which won’t last long. I used about two-thirds of a bottle in our test, but if you plan to use this barbecue regularly at home, it’s worth investing in a regulator and adaptor hose so you can hook it up to a bigger propane canister.
With its trolley design, the barbecue collapses down flat with the flick of a button (and the lid and legs lock automatically), and I found it simple to lift and move around on its wheels. It’s also very easy to store, as once flat, it stands up vertically and can be tucked away flat against a wall. Compared to other portable barbecues, it's quite pricey, but given its quality, ease and cooking results, I'd say it’s well worth it. It comes with a five-year warranty.
- Buy the Weber Traveler gas barbecue from Amazon (£539)
Weber Q1200 gas barbecue
Our best portable gas barbecue
RRP: £389
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from: Amazon (£349.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy to use
- Cooks well
- Portable and compact to store
Reasons to avoid:
- Non-stick coating disappointing
The Q1200 portable gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best portable gas barbecue. I found it easy to use, and it cooked well, albeit without the bells and whistles of larger models. Fuelled by a C500 gas cartridge, it heats efficiently, but the temperature does drop if the lid is opened for any length of time, and it takes several minutes to regain heat, especially once the grill is covered with food. The compact grill makes this barbecue ideal for cooking a few steaks for a cosy gathering of four, rather than a prolonged burger-flipping session catering for a larger party.
I was pleased with the good char lines, but sections of the grill were solid, which reduces the areas where you can achieve this authentic barbecue texture. The non-stick coating isn’t always effective. Clear instructions mean it’s easy to assemble, just make sure the plastic side tables don’t accidentally touch the hot grill, as they are likely to scorch. This is a versatile barbecue that’s completely portable, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach, and it’s easy to store. It's also available with a stand.
- Buy the Weber Q1200 Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£349.99)
Also recommended: gas BBQs
Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue
Our best gas barbecue for crowds
RRP: £867
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: BBQ World (£625)

Reasons to buy:
- Large cooking area
- Quick to preheat
- Easy to control temperature
- Attractive, intuitive design
Reasons to avoid:
- Lengthy, fiddly assembly
- Some cold spots across the grill
- No warming rack
This simple-to-use barbecue impressed me with its good looks and quick, ferocious cooking. It comes with three die-cast grills, each of which slots above a burner that works independently – so you can fire up all three at once or just use one at a time. It reaches grilling temperature in a matter of minutes and reacts well to temperature change, with three hob-like knobs to adjust the heat that sit on the right-hand side of the grill and bring an element of familiarity if you’re used to cooking on gas indoors.
I found putting this barbecue together quite fiddly and time-consuming, especially as some of the screws didn't thread through properly, but the instructions were mostly clear and, although no tools were provided, all I needed was a Phillips screwdriver. Once built, it can stay assembled and has two small wheels to help you push it in and out of storage. Alternatively, there’s a (somewhat pricey) cover to protect it from the elements available to buy from BBQ World. It's robust and a good size, with a wide grill able to handle a large amount of food. There's space for up to 28 burgers or three roast chickens at one time, and almost everything I cooked was well charred and succulent. However, I did find the occasional cold spot on the grill, which made some results inconsistent.
It has a sturdy hood with a temperature gauge and a side table on the left-hand side, plus a shelf below for storing accessories and utensils. It's expensive, which no doubt reflects the attached celebrity name, but it's a high-performing barbecue with plenty of user-friendly features, and I think it's good value for money. It also comes with a five-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for crowds.
- Buy the Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue from BBQ World (£625)
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Napoleon Rogue 425 gas barbecue
Our best all-around gas barbecue
RRP: £674.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: BBQ World (£639.95)

Reasons to buy:
- Good temperature control
- Excellent cooking results
- Thoughtful design
- Easy to move around and lock
Reasons to avoid:
- Non-stick coating disappointing
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, the Napoleon Rogue 425 is the best all-round gas barbecue. It was quick to set up and simple to use, and thanks to its slick, lockable wheels, I found it easy to move around the garden. It ignites easily and reaches temperature in 10 minutes, hitting a powerful 700°F (371°C) and has a large grill area at 46cm x 59.5cm, with Napoleon’s iconic wavy grill lines. The grills are at the perfect distance from the burners to prevent burning and ensure even heat transfer, which also massively reduces hot and cool spots on this barbecue.
All my test recipes turned out to be delicious, with golden caramelisation and crisp grill lines, and I loved the temperature gauge, which is clear to read in both Fahrenheit and Celsius and offers precise control. I also appreciate the fact that the gas tucks away neatly on its own inbuilt shelf, so this sleek barbecue looks fantastic on a patio. However, the warming rack gets so hot that it can continue to cook your food, and I also found the non-stick grill disappointing, as marinades often stuck to the grill. This is an expensive barbecue, but it’s well thought out, with excellent cooking results, and it comes with a 15-year warranty.
- Buy the Napoleon Rogue 425 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£639.95)
Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue
Our best gas barbecue for small families and couples
RRP: £229.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from: Amazon (£144.99), Robert Dyas (£192.99) and Wayfair (£156.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Easy to set up and use
- Compact and lightweight
- Cooks well
- Includes scraper
Reasons to avoid:
- Some flare-ups and cool spots
The Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue is designed for use at home and on the move, and won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for small families and couples. A simple, single-burner gas barbecue, I was impressed that it's almost ready to go from the box. You just need to plug in the regulator and add your gas. However, unless you shell out for a specialised propane gas regulator, it only runs on threaded EN417 gas bottles with a mix of butane and propane.
It gets to temperature in under five minutes and has a handy thermometer in the lid. When cooking, the most notable feature of this barbecue is its well-defined grill lines. I found that burgers came off this barbecue looking picture-perfect, with precise grill lines. The Grill2Go is also excellent at retaining moisture, which can be tricky on a barbecue. Vegetable kebabs come off the grill with crisp, charred outsides and succulent insides. It’s small and lightweight, so though it has a relatively large 44 x 28cm cooking area, it’s easy to move around the garden and would be a great companion while camping. It also comes with a useful scraper for cleaning after use.
However, this barbecue suffers from the success of its char-lines, which can quickly blacken food even at lower temperatures, so I found it difficult to cook through larger ingredients. This is particularly tricky because of its temperature control, which is simple to use but doesn’t always react quickly. I spotted a few flare-ups, and the right half of the grill is also much hotter than the left, with a noticeable cool spot along the front of the barbecue. Nevertheless, I think this grill is excellent for couples and small families. Because it heats up so quickly, it’s just the thing for everyday grilling too.
- Buy the Char-Broil Grill2Go Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£144.99), Robert Dyas (£192.99) and Wayfair (£156.99)
Boss Grill Deluxe portable gas barbecue
Our best basic gas barbecue
RRP: £249.97
Our rating: 4.3/5
Available from: Amazon (£264.97) and Appliances Direct (£219)

Reasons to buy:
- Stylish, keep-cool handle
- Intuitive controls
- Generous cooking area
- Easy to move around
Reasons to avoid:
- Hose for gas a little short
- Quite low and rather wobbly
This barbecue is a brilliant option if you’re after something that gets the basics of barbecuing right, so it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best basic gas barbecue. It’s worth noting that while the majority of the build could be done by just one person, the quality of the manual is seriously lacking. On test, it left me to work out a considerable amount on my own, owing to the poor-quality images and the lack of text. It’s a little wobbly, and I also think the overall height of the barbecue is a little short – on a 5'5" tester, the grill sits just below the hips. This isn’t a barbecue for experts; rather, it's geared toward someone who wants a simple barbecue for basic dishes, but it’s all you need to get grilling.
It features a large, generous grilling area with a double burner and enough space to comfortably cook for four people. This model takes just five minutes to heat up and provides an even and consistent heat, right to the edges. It’s also particularly responsive to changes in temperature, and overall, it cooks well, with wonderfully defined grill lines and excellent sealing. I loved the stylish faux-leather handle, which remained cool. It's lightweight, and I found it easy to move around thanks to the chunky wheels.
- Buy the Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£264.97) and Appliances Direct (£219)
The best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.
Campingaz Attitude 2go Table Top gas barbecue
RRP: £249.99
Our rating: 4.3/5
Available from: Amazon (£195) and B&Q (£219)

Reasons to buy:
- Ready to go
- Sleek and simple to use
- Good char lines
- Sturdy carry handles
Reasons to avoid:
- Slow to heat up
- Heavy for portability
- Regulator bought separately
- Lacks accessories
This neat, tabletop barbecue needs no assembly: I just added the grill and the drip tray, and it was ready to go. However, it doesn’t come with the gas regulator included, so you do have to purchase this separately and attach it yourself, which was quite tricky. I found that soaking the end of the hose in warm water to soften it before attaching it definitely helped. It’s compact with carry handles built in to the legs, so it’s easy to carry and lift onto your table or patio, but at 13kg it’s heavier than other portable barbecues such as the Cadac.
The enamelled cast iron grill sits above a single gas burner, which is easy to adjust by a chunky dial on the side, and the lid has a handy temperature gauge. But I found this barbecue slow to heat up. I took 10 minutes to reach temperature, although once there, it maintained an even, constant heat and cooked food well with good char lines and no sticking. The chunky handle on the front of the lid stayed cool to the touch and felt sturdy and safe, and the front-loading drip tray was easy to clean. Once cool, the barbecue was simple to pick up and store away.
Overall, this is a simple tabletop barbecue, but it lacks accessories, so the range of what and how you can cook with it is limited. The lid has a 10-year warranty, and the cooking grill has a five-year warranty.
- Buy the Campingaz 2go table top gas barbecue from Amazon (£195) and B&Q (£219)
Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue
RRP: £549
Our rating: 4/5
Available from: Argos (£549) and BBQ World (£439.95)

Reasons to buy:
- Great cooking results
- Versatile
Reasons to avoid:
- Long assembly time
- Bulky/hard to move around
This intuitive barbecue from Weber makes gas grilling a breeze. I found it easy to connect to my gas, and it ignited on the first click every time, reaching cooking temperature in 15 minutes. With responsive temperature knobs, this barbecue is easy to control, too. However, you’ll need a rubber mallet, 7/16-inch spanner, and a Phillips head screwdriver to assemble this barbecue, and it’s tricky to move around. Though the side burner and side table are great additions, they got in the way when I was trying to manoeuvre it, and the lack of handles means it's hard to push or drag the barbecue. Despite being a two-burner barbecue, it has quite a large patio footprint, so, like me, you might struggle to store it in a shed or a greenhouse.
On test, chicken wings and burgers cooked well thanks to excellent heat retention, and it gives sausages and halloumi wonderful grill lines. I especially liked the versatile grill. The circular panel in the grill can be replaced with Weber accessories, like a pizza stone. The included thermometer is quick to respond and easy to read, and there are very few cool spots. Suiting both serious grill masters and casual barbecuers, this is an impressive model that's simple to use and turns out great dishes.
- Buy the Weber Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue from Argos (£549) and BBQ World (£439.95)
George Foreman GFSBBQ1 single burner gas barbecue
RRP: £123.99
Our rating: 4/5
Available from: Amazon (£99.99) and Currys (£99.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Clear instructions
- Cooks well with even heat coverage
- Low price
Reasons to avoid:
- Basic - no extra features or functions
- Regulator assembly fiddly
- Some cold spots
The George Foreman GFSBBQ1 is a single-burner barbecue for three people, but I'd say you could easily stretch this to four. It’s easy to assemble, but it needs a screwdriver for the lid, and you have to screw in the thermometer, too. Its biggest weakness is that you have to put together the regulator yourself, which I found very fiddly as you need water to lubricate the hose in order to fit it, and you need to use small hose clamps to tighten everything. However, the instructions are simple and clear. Once you’re set up, it’s a dream to use.
It gets to temperature in just five minutes, and its temperature control is smooth and reacts quickly to any change. It has a couple of cool spots in the corners, but otherwise has even coverage, so you can cook everything at exactly the same rate, no matter where it is on the grill. It produced good char-lines for me, but other barbecues on test have better definition. Though everything tastes delicious, the food isn’t as quick to cook or as well-cooked as with some of the other barbecues on test.
Above all, what you see is what you get. There are no extra functions or hidden storage, just a simple grill. It also feels a little flimsy, but that isn’t a surprise at this price. I also found that the 70cm width of this barbecue slightly defeats the point of a tabletop barbecue, as it’s too big to comfortably sit on most patio or garden tables. I think this barbecue would best suit an unfussy family of four. You might not make gourmet grub on this grill, but it’s all you need for a few burgers on a sunny afternoon.
- Buy the George Foreman GFSBBQ1 Single Burner Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£99.99) and Currys (£99.99)
Napoleon Freestyle 365 gas barbecue
RRP: £469.99
Our rating: 4/5
Available from: BBQ World (£446.49)

Reasons to buy:
- Quick to heat
- Cooks precisely and is easy to control
- Effective side burner
- Generous warranty
Reasons to avoid:
- Long assembly
- Noisy
The Napoleon Freestyle 365 comes with a handy side burner, and our Good Food Magazine colleagues love how well it cooks. However, before you get started, it’s worth noting that this barbecue is difficult to put together. You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver, as well as a set of spanners. Frustratingly, the diagrams are all over the place and demonstrate the assembly from odd angles, so it takes a little figuring out. All told, it takes at least two hours to get everything together, so if you’re planning a big bank holiday barbecue, you don’t want to be building this on the day. That said, I like the inclusion of spare parts, so there’s no panic if you lose a screw.
Once it’s assembled, it’s easy to ignite and quick to heat, offering remarkable evenness across the whole grill. The 51cm by 45cm grilling area is a good size, offering lots of space for cooking without taking up the entire patio. However, the grates are wide, so smaller items like prawn skewers might struggle to cook or char evenly. That said, more substantial ingredients like chicken ended up with beautifully defined grill lines. I found the three burners and thermometer responsive, letting me precisely control the temperature, and the warming rack is suspended in just the right spot to keep kebabs and corn on the cob at the perfect temperature. Unfortunately, it’s surprisingly noisy when it gets going.
The side burner is a hit, grilling an astonishing steak, and the bottle opener on this side burner is a lovely extra touch, making this barbecue a social focal point on a patio. All of its parts are robust, high-quality steel and aluminium, neatly stamped with Napoleon’s logo. This quality extends to the warranty, which I was impressed to see lasts for ten years.
- Buy the Napoleon Freestyle 365 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£446.49)
Outback Magnum 3 burner hybrid barbecue
RRP: £529.99
Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
Available from: Calor (£414), Charlies (£413.99) and Direct Stoves (£459.99)

Reasons to buy:
- Well thought-out instructions
- Good features
- Includes charcoal basket
Reasons to avoid:
- Some cool spots
- Grease tray requires sand layer
- Side burner close to ignition
I found the Magnum 3 a well-thought-out gas barbecue with a lot of features for the price. It has a large cooking area, with a removable grill that can be swapped with a griddle or pizza stone for an additional cost, and it also comes with a charcoal basket to fill with charcoal briquettes to get that traditional smoky charcoal flavour from the ease of a gas grill. There’s a detailed thermometer in the hood, with helpful markings for types of cooking, and it has a side burner for sauces or charring aubergine, tool hooks, or even a bottle opener.
It took me around an hour to assemble this barbecue, but the instructions were clear, and it was a slow, methodical build that required two people towards the end. On the whole, it cooked well in my test. There were some cool spots around the edges of the burners, and it didn’t char or sear as well as others, but it heated up quickly, and, for those new to gas barbecuing, it’s versatile, quick and easy to cook on. It’s also light with two wheels that make it easy to move around and in and out of storage, but it is quite large with no folding tables, so it will take up a fair bit of room on the patio or in the shed over winter. It's best for medium-sized gardens.
- Buy the Outback Magnum 3 Gas Charcoal Barbecue from Calor (£414), Charlies (£413.99) and Direct Stoves (£459.99)
Boss Grill Georgia classic gas barbecue
RRP: £249
Our rating: 3.5/5
Available from: Appliances Direct (£249)

Reasons to buy:
- Useful accessories included
- Features a side burner and two plate styles on the grill
Reasons to avoid:
- Poor instructions and assembly is hard
- Flimsy materials
- Side burner hard to light
The Boss Grill Georgia Classic is a decent choice if you want a starter barbecue. This model comes with two different grilling plates to suit a range of meals, and I'd say it would fit easily into most mid/large-sized gardens. With four burners for the main BBQ area and an additional side hob, it offers a lot of room to cook multiple foods at once. Although large, it’s lightweight and features wheels on the back, so you can move it around your garden with ease. It also comes with some handy accessories.
Some food cooked well on the barbecue, like skewers, aubergine and potato. My potato slices were particularly great thanks to a griddle plate, which is great for flat, thin items like halloumi. However, this barbecue leaves courgette slices with poorly defined grill lines and unevenly toasted burger buns. The side burner was tricky to get going, and the build is tricky as a result of poor instructions.
- Buy the Boss Grill Georgia Classic Gas Barbecue from Appliances Direct (£249)
If a gas grill isn’t for you, check out our tests of the best charcoal BBQs. We've also reviewed the best pizza ovens, in collaboration with Good Food magazine. For accessories, check out our guides to the best BBQ accessories and BBQ shelters.
For extra help with barbecuing, take a look at Good Food Magazine’s guide to barbecuing safely, their range of BBQ recipes, with delicious ideas for burgers, BBQ ribs, hot wings, and drinks, as well as vegetarian and vegan treats.
Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?
The main considerations are how much and how often you want to barbecue. Gas barbecues tend to be better for feeding a crowd, as they often have a larger cooking area and a uniform temperature across the grill, so you can be sure of a consistent cooking time wherever you’re cooking. They also heat up and get to cooking temperature fast: depending on the model, they can be ready to cook in just five minutes, compared to thirty or forty for a charcoal barbecue. This means you won’t be stuck at the grill and left out of the party. You can also get everyone’s portion to the table at once or, if you have guests coming and going throughout the day, cook as and when you need to. This speed also makes a gas BBQ great for everyday cooking. If you fancy a quick burger in the garden after work, there’s no need to bother with a messy bag of charcoal as if you’re getting ready for a big family get-together. Just switch on the gas and get grilling.
Gas barbecues are also ideal if you’re new to barbecuing. With a gas grill, there won’t be any panic on the day as you light charcoal for the first time, which can take a few attempts. They’re easier to control, too. With charcoal, achieving the right temperature requires playing around with vents and learning the difference between direct and indirect heat so you don’t sear everything you’re trying to cook. On a gas barbecue, you can precisely control the temperature by simply turning the knob. They’re also safe, as you can just turn the barbecue out when you’re done, rather than having to keep an eye on hot coals as they cool.
They’re a neighbourly way to cook, as they don’t produce smoke. The strong smell of a charcoal barbecue can be antisocial, especially if next door has washing out and, because they don’t smoke, gas barbecues are also cleaner to use, with no chance of getting charcoal dust on your hands and clothes. This, in turn, makes gas barbecues easier to clean because there’s less charring on the grill.
However, a gas barbecue can’t quite match the smoky flavour of a charcoal barbecue, or at least not as much as manufacturers claim they can. On a charcoal barbecue, fats and oils from the food drip between the grill and vaporise on the hot coals, to create that unmistakable smoky flavour. This happens a little on a gas grill too, if oils drip onto the flames, but not to the same extent. Your food will still have that distinctive char-grilled caramelisation, but it won’t be as smoky. If you want the best of both worlds, there are also a few combination charcoal and gas barbecues on the market, such as the Outback Magnum 3 hybrid barbecue we tested.
Are gas BBQs safe?
Used correctly, a gas barbecue is perfectly safe. Make sure you use the right gas for your barbecue and that the gas hose, regulator and canister are in good working order and connected correctly and securely. Don’t stand the canister in the storage area beneath the grill, but well away from the cooking area and high temperatures. Always cook in an open area away from fire hazards like wooden fences, sheds, hedges and trees. Once finished, be sure to turn the barbecue off and disconnect the gas.
How to choose a gas BBQ
- Size. Bigger isn’t always better. A small gas barbecue with one or two burners is all you need for entertaining a family of four. This is especially true with gas barbecues, which need somewhere to store propane, too. If you’ll be entertaining a larger gathering of upwards of six people, opt for a gas barbecue with at least four burners. Height is also crucial here. You don’t want a barbecue that’s too high or low for you to use comfortably. Bigger barbecues also need more assembly time, so factor that in if you’re planning to build a barbecue on the same day you’re cooking
- Special features. Some of the best gas barbecues come with extras as standard. Look out for warming racks to keep food hot until you’re all ready to eat, thermometers to gauge heat, and side burners for cooking extra bits like caramelised onions or homemade BBQ sauce. Side tables and tool racks to keep spatulas, sauces and serving dishes to hand are also useful, as is built-in storage for the gas bottle. Make sure you have a drip tray for collecting waste fat and oils
Which gas do I need?
Gas barbecues are fuelled by a gas canister, which you need to buy separately. Most use propane (in a green canister and also sold as patio gas) or butane (in a blue canister), but some smaller, tabletop and portable barbecues use small bottles of camping gas. Make sure to check which type you need in the manual before you buy.
With current events affecting gas prices and availability, it’s important not to spend too much on fuel. For one- to three-burner gas barbecues, a 5kg bottle is all you need and should give you about ten barbecues’ worth of fuel. You need at least a 10kg bottle for bigger appliances with five or more burners, though 13kg is a common unit.
Gas is available through homeware and DIY shops like Homebase and B&Q, or directly from manufacturers like FloGas and Calor. You'll pay a deposit the first time you buy one, plus the cost of the gas. After this, you just pay to refill the canister, and once you’ve finished with a canister, it can be returned for a refund of the original deposit.
The gas is connected with a hose and regulator, and although most barbecues come with these connected, you may have to attach them yourself or even buy them separately.
How we tested
Together with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine, we tested a range of gas barbecues. Each barbecue was unpacked, assembled, used to cook a variety of dishes, and then assessed according to our specific criteria. Good Food Magazine put particular emphasis on how well each barbecue cooked, but at Gardeners' World Magazine, we assessed the barbecues with emphasis on their garden context, including how easy they are to assemble, move around and store.
They were assessed according to the following points, with equal marks attributed to each:
- Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly, clarity of instructions, warm-up time and how easy the barbecue is to store
- Ease of use. Focused on ease of use, how simple it is to move around the garden and how easy it is to control the temperature and cook
- Cooking results. We cooked a variety of common barbecue dishes to assess the non-stick ability of each grill, its grid-cooking capabilities, and how well it chars, softens, and seals food. We also checked for defined lines, even cooking, sticking and hot spots. Above all, we tested how long it took to cook each dish and how good each dish tasted
- Value for money. Considered all of the above, as well as quality, design, warranty and price
For more information on our testing process, see How we review
Meet our testing panel
Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.
Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.
Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.
Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.
Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.
Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.
This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
]]> Alex David <![CDATA[George Foreman 48cm Kettle Charcoal Barbecue review]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/george-foreman-48cm-kettle-charcoal-barbecue-review/ 2024-05-01T10:47:01.000Z 2021-04-29T10:00:13.000Z Buy George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue on Amazon
Browse other George Foreman barbecues on Amazon
Is the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue easy to assemble?
Though it only needs a Phillips screwdriver, this barbecue is very fiddly to assemble, relying on an overly complicated system of nuts and bolts. The parts feel thin and cheap, and our testers even had to hammer one of the legs into place for it to stand up. Its instructions are easy to follow diagrams, but it would’ve been a help to have some written instructions too. It comes with an excessive amount of plastic wrap.
What's the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue like to use?
Once assembled, this barbecue is light and compact and thanks to its wheels, it’s easy to move around as needed. The heat guards on the handles give great peace of mind and the ash catcher at the bottom of this barbecue makes cleaning up a breeze. A thermometer on the lid makes it easy to judge when the coals are hot enough. However, we dislike how low this barbecue is. Because the cooking surface is just 65cm from the ground, you have stoop to use it, which is uncomfortable. Its materials are also poor quality and it suffers from a weakness of many kettle barbecues, which is that the lid is not attached; when cooking it can be annoying to find a safe place to rest it. Because of its round shape and poor ventilation, this BBQ is also a little tricky to light and when it does light, it takes more than 40 minutes to really get going. It has quite a small cooking surface; one spatchcocked chicken takes up most of the grill.
How does the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue cook?
Despite its other problems, this barbecue cooks well, charring and sealing food with beautiful, crisp grill lines. Food stayed moist despite the heat and this was especially evident in our chargrilled courgette test, producing delicious slices of courgettes. The spatchcock chicken we cooked was gently but thoroughly cooked, with an even char and rich, crispy skin. However, the grill lines are quite wide – when cooking thick-cut potato chips some fell through. We also found poor heat coverage. The temperature was perfect in the centre of the grill, but much too cool at the edges.
Is the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue good value for money?
Although this has fantastic cooking results, it's uncomfortable to use and made from low-quality materials. Its one-year warranty isn't as long as others in our test and at £70, this is poor value for money.
Who is the George Foreman Kettle Charcoal Barbecue good for?
This barbecue makes delicious food and is ideal for small spaces. It would suit little courtyards and gardens, and its easy storage works well for occasional barbecuers. However, it is low quality for its price.
If you're in the market for a grill, check out our tests of the best gas BBQs, the best charcoal BBQs, and our guides to barbecue accessories.
]]> Kay Maguire <![CDATA[Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue review]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/bar-be-quick-tandoori-smoker-barbecue-review/ 2024-05-01T10:47:42.000Z 2021-04-27T13:00:20.000Z Buy the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker Barbecue on Amazon
Buy Bar-Be-Quick charcoal on Amazon
Is the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue easy to assemble?
The whole barbecue needs building first, with legs, vents, handles and temperature gauge attaching. There's a lot of screwing of nuts and bolts and a pair of pliers and a Phillips screwdriver are required for the build but the manual breaks it down into eight simple steps. There are clear photos and the whole process is time consuming rather than difficult or unclear.
What is the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue like to use?
Made from enamel with a 43cm grill this versatile piece of kit transforms from a standard charcoal barbecue into a smoker, a tandoori oven perfect for kebabs, a mini kettle barbecue and a fire pit, simply by breaking it down. Standing on tripod legs, it also comes with a hood, which has an accurate thermometer and an air vent plus, there are three fuel vents around the base so it's easy to control the temperature. A handy door on the front lets you top up fuel as you cook. 12 kebab skewers for the tandoori are included.
How does the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue cook?
An accurate thermometer (which we tested against a digital thermometer) and two tiers allow a slow cooked, semi-smoked, spatchcocked chicken to cook slowly on the top, achieve some colour on the bottom to finish and stay succulent. The lower grill does sit very close to the coals so it's necessary to ensure the charcoal grate isn't overfilled - some of our vegetable slices were charred before being cooked through but after a bit of trial and error they cooked well.
Is the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue good value for money?
At half the cost of a simple kettle barbecue this delivers four different functions and if you were to buy each of these pieces individually, the cost would add up to a lot more. However, the price is reflected in the quality of the build. It's not very sturdy, doesn't retain heat as well as others in the test and won't feed a crowd. But, if you’re after a barbecue that easily morphs into a portable mini kettle for camping, a fire pit to toast marshmallows over and an entry-level low-and-slow smoker, then you’re not going to get more for your money.
Who is the Bar-Be-Quick Tandoori Smoker barbecue useful for?
This is great for small gardens and anyone who wants versatility and a chance to experiment with smoking, tandoori cooking and grilling. If you’re looking for a solid, garden barbecue to feed a crowd then go for something wider, more traditional and with a sturdier build.
If you're in the market for a grill, check out our tests of the best gas BBQs, the best charcoal BBQs, and our guides to barbecue accessories.
]]> Kay Maguire <![CDATA[Big Green Egg Large Ceramic Grill review]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/barbecues/big-green-egg-large-ceramic-grill-review/ 2024-12-03T17:04:11.000Z 2021-04-26T14:27:19.000Z Buy the Big Green Egg on Amazon
Buy Big Green Egg lump charcoal on Amazon
Is the Big Green Egg barbecue easy to assemble?
You can choose to pay for your Egg to come preassembled, which is an extra charge of £50, or opt for their White Glove Delivery service, where it is delivered and assembled to your garden, followed by a tour of how it works. Otherwise, you will need to assemble it yourself. Instructions are included in the box with the Egg and there are clear videos on their website to show you how to put the ceramic oven and grill together and assemble the handle, steel rim and lid. It's a step by step process but the Egg is heavy and needs handling carefully.
What is the Big Green Egg barbecue like to use?
This is an extremely versatile grill, which unlike other charcoal barbecues is ceramic. The aptly named egg-shaped case and hood are lined with NASA-inspired high-grade ceramics so it locks in all-round heat and it can reach soaring temperatures or hold an extremely low one for many hours with high precision. Setting up the barbecue is fairly simple. After inserting the firebox, filling with charcoal and lighting, it's ready to use in about 20 minutes. The temperature is controlled quite simply from a vent in the dome and a sliding grill at the bottom and both are extremely sensitive. It does take a little time for the thermometer needle to move up and down,which requires patience but you get used to it very quickly. Cleaning is also easy. Just brush the grills, shut the regulator and bottom grill, close the dome and leave it to cool. Once it's cold enough to handle, simply rake out the ashes.
How does the Big Green Egg barbecue cook?
Direct cooking over the coals, with locked-in, all-round heat resulted in super-tasty and succulent, with no sticking or scorching.
Is the Big Green Egg barbecue good value for money?
This is an expensive piece of kit but for serious outdoor chefs it's a worthy investment. Numerous racks, grills and baking stones available to buy with it and you can choose all the bits and pieces you want, but beware the price can rise steeply.
Who is the Big Green Egg barbecue useful for?
Using the Big Green Egg as a simple barbecue is one thing, but this smart grill can do much more. It’s ideal for budding grill chefs and enthusiasts who can enjoy a multitude of functions, including smoking, roasting, grilling and baking. As well as the large model, smaller and even larger size Eggs are available.
For more reviews, read our round-up of the best charcoal BBQs.
]]> BBC Gardeners' World Magazine <![CDATA[10 of the best BBQ shelters for summer]]> https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/outdoor-living/best-bbq-shelters/ 2025-05-21T14:13:44.000Z 2020-07-28T15:08:07.000Z Nothing says summer like a garden barbecue and what could be more British than a drizzling of rain just when you’ve got the coals going?
Protect your al fresco dining experience, keep garden chefs dry and shield your sausages from the rain with a stylish barbecue shelter. With a handy shelter and a mobile work station, you can create a simple outdoor kitchen. Many often add practical value too and include fold-out shelving or handy hooks for all your best barbecue accessories and tools.
We’ve curated a list of the some of the best barbecue shelters below, from wooden arbour-style coverings to modern steel gazebos.
Plus, if you’re looking for ways to keep the kids quiet while the burgers are sizzling, we’ve put together a list of the best kids' garden toys to keep them entertained. We've even found some of the best kids' garden furniture so they can have their own place to munch and have fun.
10 of the best BBQ shelters
Browse our pick of garden grill gazebos below;
Metal BBQ Gazebo

Metal BBQ GazeboThis barbecue gazebo is described as low maintenance due to the weather-resistant canopy and strong, rust-resistant steel frame. The two-tier covering allows smoke to escape while you're cooking and also helps keep the structure stable in the wind. It’s UV protected from the sun and has a waterproof coating, so its well-equipped for the demands of the unpredictable British weather.
Dimensions: 2.5 x 1.5m
Price: £199.99
Buy Metal BBQ Gazebo at Wayfair
BBQ Gazebo Anthracite Steel

Metal BBQ GazeboThis modern gazebo has a high, curved roof for a contemporary feel and to offer shelter from the elements. The simple, rectangular frame is made from solid steel so it should be sturdy as well as durable and the overhead canopy is made from rain and UV resistant polyester so it should withstand a British summer well.
Dimensions: 2.15 x 1.5 x 2.2m
Price: £188.99
Buy BBQ Gazebo Anthracite Steel at Mano Mano
Party Arbour and Barbeque Shelter

BBQ Gazebo Anthracite SteelFor a traditional look, this timber barbecue shelter is made from FSC-certified, fire-retardant softwood so its strong and sustainable. The trellised shelter doubles as a traditional garden arbour with a seat that then folds away to make room for your barbecue. It also features two handy. fold-out side tables, which provide extra space for storing food and resting cooking utensils.
Dimensions: 1.81 x 1.29 x 2.4m
Price: £469.99
Buy Party Arbour and Barbeque Shelter at Amazon
Angel Living BBQ Patio Gazebo

Angel Living BBQ Patio GazeboThis iron and aluminium barbecue shelter has a two piece, curved roof created in a window pane design. The modern frame is powder coated to protect against UV damage and also features two narrow side shelves, ideal for use as a bar or serving shelves during garden parties.
Dimensions: 1.5 X 2.45m
Price: £469.95
Buy Angel Living BBQ Patio Gazebo at Amazon
Erving Barbecue Shelter

For those who prefer a timber frame, this simple pent-roof barbecue shelter makes an attractive and unobtrusive garden feature and protects your burgers from any unexpected drizzle. It has handy shelves along the edge and is made from pressure treated timber. It also has a 15 year guarantee against rot and fungal decay.
Dimensions: 2m x 1m
Price: £435.99
Buy Erving Barbecue Shelter at Wayfair
Solid Wood BBQ Gazebo

Solid Wood BBQ GazeboThis smart barbecue gazebo comes ready assembled. The main frame is made from responsibly sourced Scandinavian redwood and has galvanised zinc bolting to ensure it stays rigid and rust proof. The stylish, green soft-top canopy is also weather resistant to help it stand up to the elements.
Dimensions: 1.7 x 1 x 1.96m
Price: £299.99
Buy Solid Wood BBQ Gazebo at Wayfair
Blooma Coburg Grey Rectangular Gazebo

Blooma Coburg Grey Rectangular GazeboThis classic grey barbecue gazebo from B&Q is made entirely from sturdy steel. It’s water resistant, so it should protect you from the rain while also sheltering your afternoon barbecue. The metal gazebo has a fire retardant canopy for added peace of mind and the handy side shelves provides extra surface space for plates and nibbles.
Dimensions: 1.7 x 1m
Price: £145
Blumfeldt Steakhouse Grill Roof

Blumfeldt Steakhouse Grill RoofThis large shelter features a modern, curved roof covered with a flame resistant polyester to help shade the space from the sun and ward off the rain. There are two built-in glass shelves for additional storage as well as handy hooks to hold cooking utensils.
Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.15 x 1.40m
Price: £219.99
Buy Blumfeldt Steakhouse Grill Roof at Amazon
Charles Bentley Steel BBQ Gazebo with Utility Hooks

Charles Bentley Steel BBQ Gazebo with Utility HooksThe roof of this garden barbecue shelter is ridged with an almost wave-like pattern and the powder coated steel frame ensures the structure is strong and sturdy. Removable hooks along both sides of the gazebo make this a practical choice, offering plenty of space to hang your tongs out of the way between servings.
Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.16 x 1.3m
Price: £100
Buy Charles Bentley Steel BBQ Gazebo at Wilko
Outsunny BBQ Tent Canopy

Outsunny BBQ Tent CanopyThis tent-style barbecue shelter has a flame resistant canopy for safety and two layers to ensure air circulation and ventilation. The attractive metal frame has additional detailing on the legs for a decorative look and a rust-resistant powder coating to help keep it looking fresh for longer outdoors.
Dimensions: 2.5 x 1.5m
Price: £339.99
Buy Outsunny BBQ Tent Canopy at Mano Mano
Looking for a new grill? Read our round-up of the best charcoal BBQs.
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