What is the Right Grill for Your Family Size?

Picking out a new grill for your backyard can be a daunting task with all the options and variations available. Whether you are grilling for one, or a whole party, our size guide below will help you determine which size and type of grill is the best to fit your needs.

Different Fuel Types

Housewarmings offers three main types of grills. This includes gas, electric, and charcoal. Each has their list of pros and cons. Choosing which type of grill you need is the first step in determining the best grill for you.

Charcoal Grills

If you’re looking to make authentic BBQ, a charcoal grill is the best way to achieve a rich, smoky flavor. A charcoal grill uses lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes as a heating source to cook food. These grills include all sizes of the Big Green Egg. Charcoal grills come in a variety of sizes. They do not require any type of hook-up or installation. Because of that, most charcoal grills are portable. You can even take them camping. Lighting and operating a charcoal grill takes time and practice and may be best suitable for advanced grillers.

Gas Grills

Overall, gas grills are the most popular grill choice. Gas grills include both natural gas and propane gas grills. Natural gas burns cleaner, is less expensive than propane, and the fuel does not need to be “swapped out” mid-grill. Natural gas grills are only suitable for permanent installations and cannot be moved. Propane gas grills are more commonly used and add to the convenience of portability. But you'll also have to plan ahead or do some rough estimations to guess how much cook time you have left on your current tank. Adjusting the temperature and starting a gas grill is easy and straightforward. If you are a beginner griller, a gas grill will be the easiest to approach.

Size of Grills

Standard grill sizes typically have 400 to 500 sq. in. of cooking space, with three to four burners. A standard size grill can accommodate cooking needs of four to five people, and the number of burners allows you to cook different types of meat at the same time. Questions to keep in mind are: How many people will you be cooking for? Will you be grilling an assortment of meats and veggies?

The recommended grill space for each person you cook for is 72 sq inches. This grill space will allow you to cook at least a burger for each person at your BBQ. If you are looking to cook multiple burgers, steaks, and veggies at a time, consider going up to 100 sq inches per person.

Small Grills (1-2 People)

Small grills are great options for small families or individuals who are just starting to grill and aren’t ready to invest a lot of money. Typically, small grills will run anywhere from 100 to 250 sq. inches and are suitable to feed 1-2 people at a time.

If you are looking for small cooking areas (grilling for two people), we recommend the MiniMax or Small Big Green Egg. The Big Green Egg is a charcoal grill which means it burns charcoal or wood chips to smoke the food. This portable grill is compact yet powerful and a great option for camping and tailgates.

As a gas option, Napoleon Grill’s TravelQ Pro has 285 sq inches of grill space. That’s enough to grill 18 hamburgers at once! And it’s portable. The only thing you need to bring with you is propane. This gas grill has two stainless steel burners that allow you to grill at high temps with precision. This grill is convenient, yet powerful. You can even roast a whole chicken with ease.

Medium Grills (4 People)

Allow for 400 to 500 sq inches when grilling for four people. This is also the “standard” size for most grills. This usually gives you the space to cook anywhere from 10 to 15 burgers at a time, or you can substitute a few burger spots for roasted vegetables, larger cuts of meat, or toasted buns. Pair your cooking surface area with at least three to four burners to give you a variety of heating options when you use your grill.

Big Green Egg’s Medium and Large eggs are the perfect size to grill for a family of four. It’s versatile enough for weekend cookouts or pizza parties, large enough for eight steaks at once, and efficient enough for an impromptu meatloaf for two! It’s their most popular sized egg for a reason.

Napoleon Grill’s brand-new electric grill called the Rogue EQ 365 is suitable for four people. At 365 sq inches of grill space, this grill is slightly smaller than the recommended 400-500 sq inches. However, it’s a great option for those looking to minimize their carbon footprint. With the Rogue EQ 365, you can choose your cooking mode of either grill, roast, cook, or smoke. And the cherry on top? It’s the first full-sized electric grill with WiFi and Bluetooth connection.

If you’re interested in a gas grill for four people, we recommend the Napoleon Rogue 425 Grill. This sleek grill boasts 425 sq inches of prime grilling real estate. Some of our favorite features of this grill include The Napoleon battery-free Jetfire ignition ensures a controlled flame and a quick and easy start-up every time. Dual-level stainless steel sear plates vaporize drippings, provide even heat distribution, and help keep your food moist while keeping your burners clean.

Large Grills (6-8 People)

Whether you’re hosting a cookout or simply just feeding a larger family, grills typically 600-850 sq inches are going to be the best fit for accommodating 6-8 people. This creates more than enough space to grill 15 to 20 burgers or more at a time. Grills with large cooking areas can have anywhere from one large burner to six reasonably-sized burners. If you like to cook different meats and food items simultaneously, we recommend having at least two burners.

We like to recommend the XL and the 2XL Big Green Egg for grilling for large groups. It comes in at a whopping 672 sq inches of grill space. That’s large enough to cook 35-40 burgers at once. This massive charcoal grill can easily handle your family reunions and cookouts with large groups. Despite its size, the 2XL Big Green Egg is still considered portable with the help of its Nest Frame (sold separately).

Another great option is The American Outdoor 36 PCL Gas Grill. It boasts 648 sq inches of grilling space. Perfect for feeding 6 people. This grill features an electronic push-button ignition system that does not require batteries. One less thing to worry about! American Outdoor Grill also offers a lifetime warranty for its stainless-steel burners so rest assured this grill will last you and your family a while.

Still Have Questions?

We’ve got answers! Come by Housewarmings for any questions you may still have about finding the right grill to fit your needs. Our sales team of grill experts will guide you through the process. You can even give us a call at 859-231-0005 for any unanswered questions. Happy Grilling!

Electric Grills

Electric grills are a convenient way to cook and they are suitable for beginners. These type of grills use electrical heating elements instead of gas fires or a bed of hot charcoal as the heat medium. These types of grills tend to be more compact and can be transported and they are a great fit for individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint. However, they can only go as far as their power cord will let them. Electric grills are often great alternatives for apartment dwellers who aren't allowed to cook with (or even store) a gas or charcoal grill on their balcony.