Charcoal vs gas grill comes down to what you value more: live fire and a hands-on cook, or push-button heat you can use on a Tuesday night. Gas grills light instantly and hold a set temperature with a knob. Charcoal takes longer to light and asks you to manage airflow, but many cooks prefer the flavor and the high heat it can reach. If you cannot decide, a hybrid grill burns gas and charcoal in one unit. This guide compares heat, flavor, convenience, cost and cleanup, using real listings from our catalog.
Charcoal vs gas grill at a glance
| Factor | Charcoal | Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | Slower; a kamado can need 45 minutes to an hour to preheat | Lights instantly, shortest preheat |
| Temperature control | Vents and dampers, takes practice | Burner knobs, easy to change |
| Flavor | Smoke from coals, wood and drippings | Clean burning, adds little on its own |
| Cleanup | Ash to empty after each cook | Grates and grease tray |
| Fuel | Bags of charcoal or wood, bought as you go | Propane tanks or a natural gas line |
| Our listings | About $400 to $2,735 | About $699 to $8,059 |
Prices are for the grills named in this guide at the time of writing and can change.
Heat and searing
Both types can sear well. On a charcoal grill, heat depends on how much fuel you light and how much air you let in. Ferguson’s guide to grill types explains that air enters near the bottom, passes the lit charcoal and exits through a top vent, and the more air you allow, the hotter the grill gets. The Char-Griller AKORN kamado lists a range of 200 to 700 degrees F.
On a gas grill, look past total BTUs. Our built-in grill and outdoor kitchen guide suggests 75 to 100 BTU per square inch of primary cooking area for proper searing, and our guide to gas grill BTUs goes deeper. Many premium gas grills add an infrared burner for searing. The Lynx Professional 36 inch built-in gas grill pairs a 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner with two 25,000 BTU ceramic burners, 73,000 BTU in total over a 640 square inch main grid.
Charcoal grill flavor: what actually changes
Charcoal grill flavor is the main reason people choose it, but the difference is partly about technique. Smoke comes from the fuel itself, from any wood you add, and from fat and juices dripping onto hot coals. Ferguson notes that gas burns very clean and adds little flavor compared to charcoal or pellet grills, and that some cooks feel hardwood lump charcoal tastes best. Taste is personal.
You can narrow the gap on gas. The Lynx above includes a large smoker box for wood chips, and many gas grills offer one as an accessory. For low and slow cooking, a kamado or charcoal smoker is still the more natural tool. If smoking is your priority, our comparison of pellet grills vs kamado grills covers that choice.
Gas grill convenience and startup time
Gas grill convenience is hard to beat. Ferguson describes gas grills as instantly on, with the shortest preheat of any grill type. Charcoal needs time to light and settle, and a ceramic kamado, by Ferguson’s numbers, typically preheats for 45 minutes to an hour to bring its thick walls up to temperature.
The Broil King Crown 310 Shadow gas grill is a freestanding example, listed at about $699 with three burners, 30,000 BTU and 470 square inches of total cooking space.
Temperature control
With gas, you turn a knob and the burner responds. Multiple burners let you set zones, such as high heat on one side and low on the other. With charcoal, you control heat with vents and fuel placement. Ferguson points out that once a charcoal grill stabilizes, it typically holds that temperature as long as there is enough fuel, which suits long cooks.
Some charcoal grills make this easier. The Sunstone 28 inch charcoal grill (SUNCHDZ28) uses a height-adjustable burn tray, so you raise the coals for searing and lower them for slower cooking. The Broil King Regal 400 charcoal grill uses a chimney-style stack with a damper.
Fuel cost and cleanup
We have no reliable per-cook cost figures, so here is the general picture. Charcoal is a recurring purchase, bag by bag. Propane tanks need refilling or swapping. Natural gas comes through a line, so you never run out mid-cook, but the line is an upfront installation cost. Our article on natural gas vs propane grills covers that tradeoff.
Cleanup favors gas: brush the grates and empty the grease tray. Charcoal leaves ash after every cook. Removable ash drawers help. The Sunstone SUNCHDZ28 has a fully removable ash drawer, and the AKORN lists an EasyDump ash pan.
Price ranges from our listings
- Kamado: the Char-Griller AKORN kamado charcoal grill is listed at about $400, with 314 square inches of primary cooking area.
- Portable charcoal: the STAR BBQ 24 inch portable charcoal grill and smoker is about $1,370, with a 304 stainless steel burn box and a weight of about 45 lbs.
- Built-in charcoal: the Sunstone SUNCHDZ28 is about $2,735, built from 14-gauge 304 stainless steel.
- Built-in gas: the Sunstone 28 inch 3-burner built-in gas grill (SUN3BIR) is about $2,623, with three 20,000 BTU burners, a 15,000 BTU infrared rear burner and 484 square inches of cooking surface. The Twin Eagles C-Series 30 inch built-in gas grill is about $5,919, with two 25,000 BTU burners over 520 square inches. The Lynx Professional 36 inch is about $8,059.
Hybrid grills: gas and charcoal in one
A hybrid grill lets you start with gas and switch to charcoal or wood when you have time. The Sunstone 30 inch hybrid grill (SUNCHZ30), about $3,873, combines two gas burners (30,000 BTU combined), a 15,000 BTU infrared back burner and a height-adjustable charcoal or wood drawer. Sunstone says it reaches searing temperatures over 800 degrees F. The larger Sunstone 42 inch gas hybrid dual zone grill, about $6,185, has two charcoal or wood drawers, each with its own ignition burner, so you can light charcoal without lighter fluid. Browse the full Sunstone lineup for packages and carts.
The tradeoff: a hybrid costs more than a basic grill of either type, and it still needs a gas supply.
Built-in vs freestanding
Freestanding grills like the Crown 310 or AKORN can move with you and cost less. Built-in heads, like the Lynx, Twin Eagles and Sunstone models above, drop into an outdoor kitchen island and list cut-out dimensions for the build. Our outdoor kitchen guide covers sizing, materials and the parts people forget, like insulated jackets for combustible islands.
Safety notes
A natural gas line or a converted propane grill is not a do-it-yourself job. Have a licensed gas professional install and test any gas line, and follow your local code and permit rules, which have the final word. Only convert between propane and natural gas with the manufacturer’s kit for that model. For charcoal, follow the manufacturer’s clearance and ash disposal instructions, and never use any grill indoors or in an enclosed space.
Frequently asked questions
Is charcoal grill flavor really better than gas?
Many cooks think so, and Ferguson notes that gas adds little flavor compared to charcoal. Some of the difference comes from drippings and smoke, which a smoker box on a gas grill can partly recreate. It is a matter of taste.
Which is more convenient, charcoal or gas?
Gas. It lights instantly, adjusts with a knob and leaves no ash, which is why gas grill convenience wins for weeknight cooking.
Can one grill do both?
Yes. Hybrid grills such as the Sunstone SUNCHZ30 and the Sunstone 42 inch dual zone model burn gas, charcoal or wood.
Do I need a professional to hook up a gas grill?
For a natural gas line, yes. Use a licensed pro and follow local code. A propane grill connects to a tank, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely.
Still deciding between charcoal and gas? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight, and orders below that ship for a flat $200. Returns follow our return and refund policy.
