Love That Barbecue

Best Rated Premium Gas Grills

If you’ve got enough scratch to be looking at premium gas grills, then you’re in luck. Why? Because the under $1000 range, down to about $800, is one of the sweet spots for gas grills. You’ll get a lot of features for the price in a solid, long-lasting grill.

Check prices on our favorite premium gas grill at Amazon

Best Rated Premium Gas Grills

As you’ll see at the bottom of the page, we’re aiming to discuss grills priced between $800 and $1000. Getting the best value grill in that price range is going to narrow things down a bit. Truthfully, the $800-$1000 range is under served. There should be more companies making grills in the range. But as you can see by the list above, it’s pretty limited. So without further adieu, here is our pick…

Best Premium Gas Grill Under $1000 For 2020

Weber Genesis II E-410

The Genesis II E-410 is a great grill. It’s got an excellent balance of solid build, great grilling capability and some nice features that make it an excellent buy for the price. While its retail price might be just a bit over, you’ll be able to find this best rated gas grill for under $1000 in many places.

Why is it so great?

First up, the build:

  • 4 stainless steel burners
  • Porcelain-enameled Flavorizer bars
  • Porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grates
  • 646 sq inches of grilling space
  • 198 sq inch collapsible warming rack.
  • Stainless steel side prep workspaces
  • Easy-to-use Grease Management System

Four burners is nice, giving the grill a bit of space to work with. 646 sq inches isn’t massive, but you’ll notice that in the under $1000 range, it’s on the larger side.

Stainless steel everything is great, but the associated costs with building an all stainless grill will shoot it out of this price range. The Genesis uses a mix of porcelain-enameled cast iron (solid, cost-effective choice) and stainless steel. Kinda the best of both worlds.

One nice thing about the E-410 is it is iGrill 3 ready. Meaning you can buy the $100 dollar plus Bluetooth temperature gauge, put it on your grill and have the data from the temperature probes show up on your phone.

Another thing we like is the open cart design. While it might not look as nice as doors, in theory it’s easier to build, allowing Weber to put the money elsewhere in the grill. Plus, it makes it much easier to get to stuff under the grill.

Keep in mind – at this price range, you’re not getting an entirely stainless steel grill. The frame and lid will have cast aluminum or iron. Weber claims a welded tube frame, as opposed to rivets, which should lend a fair amount of stability over the years.

One thing we like to take a look at: the warranty. Weber warranties the cookbox, lid assembly, burners, ignition system and grease management system for 10 years in regards to no rust-through or burn-through. The Flavorizer bars and grate are for 5 years and everything else for 2.

A note – the grease management system. Props to Weber for trying something even though it looks decidedly lo-tech. Any drippings are guided down into the drip pan at the bottom. Easy to get to, no muss, no fuss.

Right?

Some people have reported wind issues. Unknown if they were grilling in a wind tunnel as the pan is supposed to lock in place fairly well.

The bigger issues – bugs and animals. Perhaps the random dog or cat that really likes the drippings of what you’re cooking. Being open like it is, you’ll need to keep an eye on it.

Barring that one issue, the Weber Genesis II E-410 is a fantastic choice.

Check prices on our favorite premium gas grill at Amazon

Saber Cast 500

Up next is a non-Weber grill. I mention that because Weber seems to have a lock on so many awesome grills at so many price points.

But there’s competition.

The Saber Cast 500 is a solid grill. The major difference it has with the Genesis II E-410 is the Saber Cast is an infrared grill.

A what?

Yup, this $1000 bad boy is an infrared grill, meaning we don’t fully understand the science behind it. I mean, we would, but here’s the important thing – it cooks awesomely.

Okay, a little science – infrared cooking means the food isn’t being cooked directly over a flame. The burners are each in their own little stainless steel box. They direct their heat at a perforated sheet of stainless steel, which is directly under the grates.

If it sounds like they’re putting an uncessary extra step in the process, you’d be half wrong. There is an extra step, but for infrared cooking, it’s crucial.

But here’s the great thing about infrared cooking: no flareups. Because the food is not directly over a flame there are no flareups. The hot grates allow you to sear a steak and get decent grill marks. Also, because the heat is radiating upwards towards the food, as opposed to hot air and flames in regular grilling, the food will dry out much slower, resulting in juicier steaks, shrimp, hot dogs, chicken, etc.

Is it perfect? No. It’s still a fairly simple grill. And if infrared was such a perfect way of cooking, it would have overtaken the grill market, but it hasn’t. Some people like the old ways.

I’ll put it this way – my next grill, I’m going to take a hard look at an infrared gas grill. If it will produce moister food, with less flareups and make everything easier, I’m all for it.

Oh, and they claim it uses 30% less fuel. Which is kinda sweet.

Here are the specs:

  • 3 burners
  • 24,000 BTUS (but kinda don’t count because it’s infrared)
  • 500 sq inch main grilling area
  • 175 sq inch warming rack
  • 304 stainless steel burners, grates, infrared emitter, lid, doors, shelves
  • Remainder of build is enameled steel and cast aluminum

Only issues that seem to come up are these: If you leave it outside and uncovered rain can roll down the lid and get into the drip pan. Solution: don’t leave your $1000 grill outside and uncovered. Either get a cover for it, bring it inside, or stand over it lovingly with an umbrella. Also, some people have reported trouble with low temperatures. Your mileage, as they say, may vary.

Last point – the warranty. Stainless steel (except grates and burners) are lifetime for structural integrity. Meaning they may look bad, but if they’re not falling apart, then they just look bad. Burners are ten years, grates are five and everything else is two. If it falls under warranty, they’ll replace it, but you’re on the hook for installation. All in all, a decent warranty.

Check prices on the Saber Cast 500 at Amazon

Weber Genesis II LX E-240

“Hold on,” you might be saying. “That’s a dinky little grill for the price.”

You might be right. Or, like that little kid who knocked me out in high school (Hi, Matt!) the Genesis II LX E-240 just might be punching above its weight.

The obvious question is why does a grill this small cost this much?

The answer is simple: build.

Let’s take a look at some specs.

  • 380 sq inch main grilling area
  • 114 sq inch fold down warming rack
  • 29,000 BTUs
  • 12,000 BTU side burner
  • Side burner has a closeable lid, allowing it to do double duty as a workshelf
  • Fully enclosed cart
  • Porcelain-coated steel cart and hood
  • Stainless steel burners
  • Stainless steel grates
  • Stainless steel Flavorizer bars

That right there at the bottom is the reason for a two-burner grill to come in just under $1000. The Weber Genesis II e-410 is a physically larger grill with 4 burners, but its grates and Flavorizer bars are made out of porcelain coated ceramic. While the Genesis II LX E-240 only has two burners, it has more stainless steel where it counts.

Bonus points for being iGrill3 compatible as well as including a light (although that light is… small).

If you’re looking for a great quality smaller grill constructed with upgraded materials, the LX E-240 is a grill to look at. However, if you simply need a larger grilling area, the other grills here, like the Genesis II E-410, the Saber Cast 500 or the Broil King Regal S490, might be a better match for you. Otherwise, this compact gas grill might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Check prices on the Weber Genesis II LX E-240 at Amazon

Broil King Regal S490 Pro

Remember all the stuff we said about balancing features with build quality?

It all gets thrown out the window when it comes to the Broil King Regal S490 Pro

4 burners? Check. Side burner? Yup. Rotisserie included? Bird yes. More stainless steel than you can shake a grill mop at? Yes, yes and yes. Made in the USA? You bet.

  • 500 sq inches main grilling area
  • 195 sq inch warming rack
  • 50,000 BTU main cooking area
  • 10,000 BTU side burner
  • 15,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner
  • Stainless steel cooking grates
  • Stainless steel dual tube burners
  • Stainless steel workshelf, side shelves and enclosed base.
  • Slide-out propane tank tray

Honestly, we don’t know how Broil King does it. They pack more features into a grill in this price range than any other company.

Which makes us pause. If it’s too good to be true… Yeah, we can’t say that’s the case with the Regal S490 Pro, but we’re wary.

The one thing that starts to make us pause is the warranty. The cookbox has a limited lifetime warranty with the burners and rotisserie burner getting a ten year guarantee. The Flav-R-Wave cooking system, grates and other stainless cart components all get 5 years with everything else (including the paint) coming in at 2 years. Honestly, that’s a little slim. And makes us wonder if it was built better, might the warranty also be better?

That’s the main reason we don’t put this grill as our top pick. If Broil King had an amazing reputation of making fantastic grills that last for years and they backed it up with a warranty to rival Weber or Saber Cast, we’d put it in the top spot.

While they’ve got a decent reputation, their warranty doesn’t instill a lot of confidence for the long haul. But, that’s us.

If you really need a rotisserie or the 4 burner size, then have at it. Or, if you’ve got no problem with plunking down another grand for a grill sooner rather than later, then take a shot on the Broil King Regal S490 Pro. Just make sure you know what you’re getting.

Check prices on the Broil King Regal S490 Pro at Amazon

What To Look For In A Premium Gas Grill

The $800 – $1000 range of premium gas grills is, in our opinion, a great price range to be shopping for a grill. While most grills in this range won’t have as many bells and whistles as the higher priced luxury grills, you’ll walk away with a solidly built grill for your hard-earned money.

Does that mean all the grills in this price range are fantastic? Heck no! That’s the purpose for this whole article. We’re pointing out a few of the models we think stand out at this price point.

What should you look for?

Honestly, no frills.

Generally, the fancier the grill gets, the quality of the product will drop comparatively. Meaning you’ll get a fancy grill that likely won’t last that long. Or that will be more expensive than the price range we’re looking at here.

You’re not going to find an all-stainless steel grill that is built well with good quality steel for under $1000 that’s going to last ten years. As much as we’d all like it to happen, it’s just not.

In other words, avoid the built-in things. The refrigerators, the ovens, the islands: avoid those. Rotisseries, maybe. Look for a grill that cooks and cooks well. Yes, there will be stainless steel. But I’d try to stay away from it as much as you can. Why? It costs the manufacturer more. And to come in under a certain price point, they’ll scrimp elsewhere.

Make sure you read the warranty. See what it covers and compare it to other grills you’re looking at buying. Once purchased, make sure you register it. Grills from major manufacturers will streamline the warranty and repair process. Store brands, and some other major brands, too, may not stand behind their products as much. Weber, Broil King and other major brands have reputations to uphold and will stand behind their products as long as they’re taken care of.

The under $1000 gas grill market is a great price range because you are able to find grills with some decent quality features. The top-selling, top-rated brand in this range is the Weber for a good reason – they make a great grill. There are others, of course. We’ve listed some below. But as always, be wary of grills from unknown or less than reliable manufacturers. Check the warranty carefully. And don’t forget to focus on the most important function of all in a grill – how well it cooks.

A few things to note:

  • Price: all of the grills on this page are between 801 and 1000 dollars. These prices are street prices, not recommended retail. They may go up a little or down a little based on promotions, upgrades, etc. If you’re looking for grills under 800, then check out this post. Looking for something a little more, perhaps the 1000-2000 range? We’ve got ya covered.
  • Rating: this is our rating based on our own experiences, experiences reported by users across the internet and a big cup of our own LTB special sauce. We’ve gotta tell ya – that special sauce has a bit of a kick, and has a tendency to give one pretty rotten hangover. The point being? Take our ratings with a grain of salt. Would you buy something based off of a friend’s recommendation, find out it sucks, then blame them for all your woes? Didn’t think so. And we’re friends, right?

If you’re not quite ready to spend a thousand bucks on a shiny new gas grill, here are a few posts you might want to take a look at:

Buying A New Gas Grill? Check Out These Best Rated Gas Grills

Best Rated Gas Grills Under $300

Best Rated Gas Grills Under $500

Best Rated Gas Grills Under $800

Portable Gas Grills – Best Of Both Worlds

Good Luck! Oh, and stop on by again and tell us what you think.

LTB

Note: When you purchase something after clicking a link on our website, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

Leave a Comment: