Coyote SL-Series vs American Made Grills Atlas: Which Is the Better Buy?

Prices verified 30 August 2026. Prices change — check the product page for current pricing.

Buy the American Made Grills Atlas 36" built-in ($4,335) if a supportable US-manufacture claim and a lifetime stainless warranty are what you are paying for. Buy the Coyote SL-Series 36" natural gas built-in ($3,699) if you are building a full Coyote outdoor kitchen and want the grill, burners, drawers and doors to match on one design language — and you want a rotisserie kit in the box rather than on a second invoice. At 36 inches the Atlas costs $636 more; at 42 inches the gap narrows to $396. Both grills are 304 stainless steel, both are orderable in natural gas or propane, and both need an insulating liner in a combustible island.

The two cross-shops that actually happen

People do not cross-shop these two brands across the whole catalogue. They cross-shop them at two widths, because those are the widths where both companies field a directly comparable built-in head.

At 36 inches it is the Coyote C3SL36 against the AMG ATS36-B. The Coyote comes in two distinct model numbers — C3SL36NG for natural gas ($3,699) and C3SL36LP for propane ($3,699) — and the ATS36-B ($4,335) is a single listing configured for either fuel at order time.

At 42 inches it is the Coyote C3SL42 against the AMG ATS42-B. Again Coyote splits the fuels: C3SL42NG ($4,499) and C3SL42LP ($4,499), against the ATS42-B ($4,895).

Coyote also fields a 30-inch SL-Series head — the C3SL30NG ($3,099) and C3SL30LP ($3,099) — with no Atlas equivalent at that width. If your island opening is fixed at roughly 30 inches, the comparison ends there and Coyote wins by default.

Verified comparison: Coyote SL-Series 36" vs AMG Atlas 36"

Every figure below is taken from our own product listings for these exact models. Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure on the model we sell, the row says so rather than guessing.

Attribute	Coyote SL-Series 36" (C3SL36)	AMG Atlas 36" (ATS36-B)
Price	$3,699	$4,335
Construction	304 stainless steel	304 stainless steel
Main burners	4	3 stainless U-tube
Rear/rotisserie burner	1, fitted	Rotisserie sold separately
Rotisserie kit	Included	Sold separately ($285)
Manufacturer's stated BTU	28,000 BTU main burner system	49,500 BTU
Cutout width	33.5" (NG) / 32.5" (LP)	34"
Cutout height	10.25"	10"
Cutout depth	20.5"	19.75"
Cooking grates	Heavy-duty stainless steel	8mm square stainless steel
Hood	Spring-assisted	18-gauge double-lined, full-width handle
Lighting	Internal and external	Interior halogen plus LED knob lights
Heat management	Grease management system	Ceramic easy-clean briquette tray
Ignition	Precision knobs, one per burner	Flame thrower, no batteries
Weight	160 lb	Not stated in our listing
US manufacture claim	Not claimed	Manufactured entirely in the USA
Warranty	Not stated in our listing — confirm the current Coyote warranty statement	Gold Standard: lifetime on stainless construction, grates and burners; 3 years electrical; parts 100% non-prorated
Matching liner	$799	$848

One caution on the BTU row. Coyote and American Made Grills do not state burner output on a common basis, so 28,000 and 49,500 are not two measurements of the same thing and the larger number does not mean the grill cooks hotter. Judge burner output by burner count, zone width and how you actually cook — not by adding up figures from two different spec sheets. The same applies to published cooking-area numbers, which is why they are absent from the table above.

The 42-inch comparison

Attribute	Coyote SL-Series 42" (C3SL42)	AMG Atlas 42" (ATS42-B)
Price	$4,499	$4,895
Main burners	5	18,000 BTU U-tube burners (count not stated)
Manufacturer's stated BTU	32,000 BTU main burner system	18,000 BTU per U-tube burner
Cutout	39.5" W x 10.25" H x 20.5" D	Not published in our listing — confirm spec sheet
Warming racks	Not stated in our listing	Two, multi-position, with dedicated storage
Cover	Sold separately	Weather-proof vinyl head cover included
Rotisserie	Included	Optional 40 lb capacity kit
Weight	180 lb	Not stated in our listing
Matching liner	$929	Confirm sizing with the spec sheet

The Coyote SL-36 cutout trap: natural gas and propane are not the same opening

This is the single most expensive detail on this page. The Coyote SL-Series 36" needs a 33.5-inch cutout in natural gas and a 32.5-inch cutout in propane. Those are two different openings for what looks like the same grill, and the difference is an inch of masonry.

If your island is already framed, or already poured, the fuel you order is not a free choice — it is dictated by the hole. If the island is still on paper, fix the fuel before the mason starts. The 42-inch SL-Series does not have this split: both fuels use a 39.5-inch cutout.

The Atlas 36 asks for a 34-inch opening, which is wider than either Coyote 36. That half-inch to inch-and-a-half of difference is exactly why you cannot treat these two grills as drop-in substitutes for each other at the framing stage. More width-by-width numbers are collected on our built-in grill cutout dimensions reference, and if you are replacing an existing grill start with the replacement built-in grill cutout finder.

Choose the Coyote SL-Series if…

You are building a whole Coyote kitchen, not buying a grill. Coyote's real advantage here is ecosystem breadth. The Coyote 12" double side burner ($1,049), the Coyote 24" power burner ($1,799) and the SL-Series head share one front-panel treatment and one knob design. If you want a 12-foot island run where every face matches, Coyote gives you more matched pieces to pick from. Browse the range in Coyote built-in grills and the wider Coyote lineup.

You want the rotisserie without the second purchase. The SL-Series ships with the rotisserie kit and has the rear burner already fitted. On the Atlas 36 the rotisserie kit is $285 on top. If rotisserie cooking is something you will genuinely do, that closes part of the price gap immediately.

Your island is between 30 and 33 inches. Atlas starts at 36 inches. If your opening is narrower than that, the SL-Series 30" ($3,099) is the answer and there is nothing to compare it against in the Atlas range.

You want five burners under $4,500. The SL-Series 42" ($4,499) runs five independently controlled main burners plus a rear burner. Five zones across 42 inches is what makes running three dishes at three temperatures on one grill workable.

You are buying on price and the origin claim does not move you. $3,699 against $4,335 is a real $636, and both grills are 304 stainless.

Choose the American Made Grills Atlas if…

US manufacture is a purchase criterion, not a nice-to-have. This is the honest heart of the comparison. American Made Grills carries a supportable US-manufacture claim: the Atlas 36 is manufactured entirely in the USA, and the Atlas 42 is built, factory tested and serviced in the USA. Coyote does not carry that claim, and we will not imply one for it. If you want a grill you can point at and say it was made here, that decision is already made — the Atlas is the one, and our best American-made built-in grills guide covers the rest of the field.

You want the warranty in writing before you frame the island. The Atlas carries American Made Grills' Gold Standard warranty: lifetime coverage on the stainless steel construction, the grates and the burners, three years on electrical components, and replacement parts supplied 100% non-prorated. Non-prorated matters more than it sounds — it means a part replaced in year twelve costs you the same as one replaced in year two. A built-in grill is a fifteen-to-twenty-year fixture set in masonry, and the warranty is the specification you use most after the first season.

You value hood and grate construction over accessory breadth. The Atlas hood is 18-gauge double-lined with a full-width handle; the grates are 8mm square stainless rod. Square stock puts a flat face against the food, which is why the marks come out defined rather than rounded. Double lining keeps heat in the firebox and stiffens a wide lid.

You want fewer things to buy after delivery on the 42. The Atlas 42 ($4,895) includes a weather-proof vinyl head cover and two multi-position warming racks with dedicated storage. On the Coyote side, a cover is a separate line item.

You are not committed to a single-brand island. American Made Grills fields matched components too — the Atlas double side burner ($1,458) and the Atlas power burner ($2,493) both carry the Atlas front-panel treatment — but the catalogue is narrower than Coyote's. If your kitchen is a grill, a burner and a door, that breadth was never going to matter to you. See the range in American Made Grills built-in grills.

What actually matters

The cutout, before anything else. Everything on this page is reversible except the hole in the island. Confirm the cutout for your exact model number and your exact fuel, from the manufacturer's installation manual, before any concrete is poured.

The insulating liner, if the island is combustible. Both grills need one in a wood-framed or otherwise combustible island. Coyote's 36" jacket is $799 and the Atlas 36 liner is $848. Neither is optional in that construction, and neither is a general rule we can apply to your build — the grill's installation manual, your local code and a licensed professional govern whether a liner is required and how it must be fitted. See do I need an insulating grill liner and the insulating grill liner FAQs, and shop the range in grill liners.

The searing option. Both brands sell a sear upgrade rather than building one in. Coyote's Sear Zone infrared burner is $159; the Atlas drop-in infrared sear burner is $233.

Whether the island exists at all. If it does not yet, both grills are orderable as cart models — the Atlas 36 cart is $1,795 and the Coyote 36" cart is $949. Buying the head now and the cart later is a legitimate sequence.

The cover. The Atlas 36 built-in cover is $91. A built-in head is exposed the day the island is finished.

FAQ

Is the American Made Grills Atlas made in the USA?

Yes. Our listing for the Atlas 36 states it is manufactured entirely in the USA, and the Atlas 42 is built, factory tested and serviced in the USA.

Is the Coyote SL-Series made in the USA?

We do not make that claim for Coyote. Coyote is a well-regarded brand widely specified in outdoor kitchens, but a US-manufacture claim is not one we can support for it, so we do not state one.

Why is the Coyote SL-36 cutout different for natural gas and propane?

Coyote publishes a 33.5-inch cutout width for the natural gas C3SL36NG and 32.5 inches for the propane C3SL36LP. Both are correct for their model. Build to the one that matches the model number you are actually ordering.

Which grill has more burners at 36 inches?

The Coyote SL-Series 36" has four main burners plus a rear burner. The Atlas 36 has three stainless U-tube burners. More burners means narrower, more separately controllable zones.

Does either grill include a rotisserie?

The Coyote SL-Series includes the rotisserie kit and has the rear burner fitted. On the Atlas, the rotisserie kit is an optional purchase.

Are these grills orderable in both natural gas and propane?

Yes, both. Coyote sells them as separate model numbers per fuel; American Made Grills configures the fuel at order. Fuel is set at the factory and cannot be swapped later, so order the one that matches the line run to the island. See the natural gas and propane grills FAQs.

Do I need a hood over either grill?

That depends on whether the grill sits under a solid roof or other enclosing structure, and it is governed by the grill's installation manual and your local code rather than by any general rule. Our outdoor kitchen ventilation and hood sizing guide covers it.

What else should be on the island plan?

Gas line, electrical, drainage and access panels, plus the accessories that only become obvious after delivery. Work through the outdoor kitchen appliance checklist and the outdoor kitchen cost guide before you commit.

Final recommendation

At 36 inches, buy the American Made Grills Atlas 36 at $4,335. The $636 premium over the Coyote buys a supportable US-manufacture claim and a lifetime, non-prorated warranty on the stainless, grates and burners — and on a fixture set permanently in masonry, warranty terms are worth more than any spec on the sheet. Add the rotisserie kit only if you will use it.

Buy the Coyote SL-Series instead in three specific cases: your opening is under 34 inches and the 30-inch head is the only fit; you are building a matched multi-appliance Coyote island where design continuity across six or eight faces is the point; or you want five separately controlled burners and the SL-Series 42" at $4,499 is the cheapest route to them.

Every grill on this page is orderable with free shipping and no credit card fees. If you are still deciding, tell us your island dimensions and your fuel and we will size it with you: use help me find my grill, request a quote, or call our Charleston store at 843-212-7209. Related reading: best 36-inch built-in grills, best built-in grills under $5,000, best premium built-in grills, Coyote vs Summerset grills, what size built-in grill do I need, Coyote built-in grill FAQs, American Made Grills built-in grill FAQs and the general built-in grills FAQs. Or browse all built-in grills, 36" built-in grills and 42" built-in grills.