We Tested 30+ Grills So You Don't Have to. Here Are the 9 Best Grills of 2026

Forget flipping burgers on a rusted relic. The grill you buy in 2026 could make or break your entire barbecue season. CNET's team of experts put more than 30 grills through rigorous real-world tests and emerged with just nine winners across four fuel types: gas, charcoal, electric, and pellet.

CNET tested over 30 gas, charcoal, electric, and pellet grills to identify the best models for 2026. The roundup covers grills from major brands like Weber, Traeger, and Kamado Joe, with prices ranging from budget-friendly to premium. The testing team measured temperature consistency, heat distribution, build quality, ease of cleaning, and actual cooking performance on burgers, steaks, chicken, and vegetables.

Why now? Barbecue season is arriving early in warmer regions, and new model releases peak in spring 2026. Consumers face an increasingly crowded market with more pellet grills that sear, hybrid grills that combine gas and charcoal, and electric grills that finally produce real smoke flavor. CNET's annual guide helps cut through the noise for shoppers who want expert validation before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Among the key findings: gas grills still dominate for convenience, but pellet grills have closed the gap on flavor. The top-rated gas grill, the Weber Spirit II E-310, offers three burners and a porcelain-enamel lid for under $500. For charcoal purists, the Kamado Joe Classic III delivers exceptional heat retention at $1,199. In the pellet category, Traeger's Ironwood 885 impressed with its WiFIRE technology and consistent temperature control. The electric category saw a dark horse: Weber's Q 2400 electric grill, which produced surprisingly good sear marks on a 120-volt outlet.

CNET's methodology included temperature mapping with probes across the cooking surface, timed sear tests, and smoke flavor absorption trials. The team also evaluated assembly difficulty, warranty coverage, and customer service responsiveness. A key data point: the average assembly time across all grills was 2 hours and 45 minutes, with Traeger units taking the longest at 4 hours 10 minutes.

Industry analysts see this roundup as a bellwether for consumer preferences. Pellet grill sales are expected to grow 15% in 2026, driven by home cooks who want smoke flavor without the babysitting of charcoal. Meanwhile, electric grill sales are rising in apartment and balcony-friendly models. Informed observers note that CNET's focus on both performance and usability reflects a broader shift: shoppers want grills that deliver restaurant-quality results with minimal hassle.

Looking ahead, expect more connectivity features—the majority of 2026 pellet grills now offer app control—and continued price pressure from direct-to-consumer brands. CNET plans to update its list as new models launch later in the year, particularly from startups entering the gas category. For anyone in the market, the message is clear: start with the experts' picks to avoid a $1,000 mistake.