Help Me Find My Grill

Help Me Find My Grill

Buying a grill is really six decisions, not one. Work through the steps below in order and you will end up in front of a short, realistic list instead of a hundred-item catalog. Every step ends somewhere real — a collection you can browse or a specific model you can price.

We are a family-owned outdoor kitchen retailer in Charleston, South Carolina, and an authorized dealer for every brand we sell. If you would rather skip the reading, call 843-212-7209 and we will do this with you in about ten minutes.

*Refer to this page for a free gift with ANY purchase

Step 1 — Built-in or freestanding?

Built-in (drop-in) grills

A built-in grill has no cart and no legs. It drops into a masonry, metal-stud, or prefabricated island and becomes part of the structure. This is the right answer if you are building an outdoor kitchen, already have an island with an empty hole in it, or want counter space and storage on both sides of the grill.

The trade-off is commitment. The island has to exist first, the cutout dimensions have to be right the first time, and gas has to be run to it. Built-ins also start higher because you are buying the grill head alone — the cabinetry is a separate project. Browse Built-In Grills.

Freestanding cart grills

A cart grill is the same grill head on a rolling stainless cart with a propane tank bay or a natural gas hookup. It arrives as one finished product, needs no construction, and can move with you. For most people who just want a serious grill on a patio, this is the faster and cheaper path to the same cooking quality.

The trade-off is footprint and finish: less counter space, less storage, and a look that reads as an appliance rather than a kitchen. Carts also weather harder because more of the unit is exposed. Browse Cart Grills.

Step 2 — What size?

Size is the grill head width in inches. As a rough guide: a household of two or three that grills a few times a week is well served by 24" to 30". A family of four to six wants 32" to 36". If you regularly cook for eight or more, or want a searing zone and indirect space running at once, go 40" or wider.

Important: the advertised grill width is not the required cutout width. A "36-inch" grill does not drop into a 36-inch hole. Every manufacturer publishes its own cutout dimensions — width, depth, and height — and they differ from the marketing size, sometimes by several inches. Never frame an island off the model name. Get the cutout spec for the exact model; if you cannot find it, call 843-212-7209 and we will pull it for you.

24" to 28" — compact

Small patios, condo balconies, bar-height islands, and second grills. There is no built-in collection at this width, so here are the models: the AOG T-Series 24" Built-In Natural Gas Grill and T-Series 24" Built-In Propane Grill, the TrueFlame E Series 25", and the Coyote Next-Gen 28" Built-In Pellet Grill. On carts, see 26" Cart Grills and 28" Cart Grills.

30" — the small-family standard

The most common "starter serious" size. Enough grate for a dozen burgers without crowding. See 30" Built-In Grills or 30" Cart Grills.

32" to 34"

A meaningful jump in grate area over 30" for a small increase in island width. See 32" Built-In Grills and 32" Cart Grills. At 34" specifically, the Coyote C-Series 34" Built-In Gas Grill is the model to look at.

36" — the sweet spot

If you are unsure, this is the size to default to. Three or more burners, room for two-zone cooking, and the widest selection of any width we carry. See 36" Built-In Grills or 36" Cart Grills.

38" to 40"

For entertaining. You can run a searing zone and still have real indirect space. See 38" Built-In Grills and 40" Built-In Grills, or 40" Cart Grills.

42"

Serious entertaining capacity, and usually the width where rotisserie and infrared sear zones become standard rather than optional. See 42" Built-In Grills or 42" Cart Grills.

50" and wider

There is no size collection this large, so here are the models: the Coyote 50" Hybrid Built-In Natural Gas Grill, the Coyote 50" Combo Built-In Grill with an integrated griddle, the American Made Grills Muscle 54" Hybrid, the Ovation 54" Hybrid, the Encore 54" Hybrid, and the Alfresco ALXE 56". At this width, confirm your gas supply can actually feed the BTU load before ordering.

Step 3 — Budget

Price tracks three things: the grade of stainless, the burner construction, and how much of the grill is hand-assembled. Here is an honest read on each tier.

Built-in grills

• Under $2,000 — entry built-ins. You get a working, warrantied grill from a real brand. Expect lighter-gauge stainless, simpler burners, and fewer extras like rotisserie or interior lighting.
• $2,000 to $3,500 — the volume sweet spot. Most buyers land here. Solid 304 stainless construction, better burner metal, rotisserie on many models, and the selection is deepest at this tier.
• $3,500 to $5,000 — premium. Heavier gauge, infrared sear zones, better heat distribution and recovery, and noticeably better fit and finish on doors, hoods, and welds.
• Over $5,000 — luxury and hybrid multi-fuel. Hand-built units, the widest sizes, gas-plus-charcoal-plus-wood designs, and the longest warranties in the category.

Cart grills

• $1,000 to $2,000 — a genuine step up from a big-box grill, on a proper stainless cart.
• $2,000 to $3,000 — the same grill heads sold as built-ins at this price, with the cart included.
• $3,000 and up — premium and luxury heads on carts, including pellet and hybrid units.

We offer free shipping and charge no credit card fees, so the price you see is the price you pay.

Step 4 — Fuel

Decide this before you fall in love with a model. Fuel type is configured at the factory on most grills, not a setting you change later — conversion, where the manufacturer permits it at all, requires the correct orifice kit and a qualified gas technician. Ordering the wrong fuel is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.

Natural gas

Never run out, never refill. Requires a gas line run to the island by a licensed plumber. If your house has natural gas, this is almost always the right choice for a built-in. See Natural Gas Built-In Grills.

Propane

No plumbing, works anywhere, and the only option if your home is not on a gas main. You manage tanks. See Propane Built-In Grills.

Pellet

Set-and-forget temperature control with real wood smoke flavor, excellent for low-and-slow. Needs a standard electrical outlet. See Pellet Grills and Pellet Cart Grills, or specifically the Coyote Next-Gen 36" Built-In Pellet Grill.

Charcoal

Best flavor, most involvement. For a built-in, the Coyote 36" Charcoal Built-In Grill has an adjustable charcoal tray for real heat control. For ceramic charcoal cooking, see the Primo Ceramic Charcoal Grills — the Primo Oval X-Large and Primo Oval Large are the two most popular.

Hybrid and multi-fuel

Gas for weeknights, charcoal or wood when you want it, in one unit. The American Made Grills Muscle 36" Hybrid burns gas, charcoal, and wood at 110,000 BTUs. The Coyote 50" Hybrid combines grill, griddle, and rotisserie in one cutout.

Step 5 — What matters most to you?

Best value

The most grill per dollar sits in Built-In Grills $2,000 to $3,500. The RCS Classic 32" at 48,000 BTUs and 710 square inches is a standing recommendation here.

American-made

Four of our brands build in the United States: American Made Grills, American Outdoor Grills (AOG), Alfresco, and Artisan.

Luxury and fit-and-finish

Start at Built-In Grills Over $5,000 or browse Alfresco.

High heat and searing

Look for an infrared sear zone rather than raw BTU count. The Alfresco ALXE 56" has a dedicated sear zone plus a rear infrared burner. The AMG Muscle 36" Hybrid gets you steakhouse heat with charcoal or wood.

Rotisserie

You need a rear infrared burner, not just a spit. The AOG L-Series 30" includes one, as does the Alfresco Intelligent Professional 42". Rotisserie is standard on most models in 42" Built-In Grills.

Large cooking area

Go by square inches, not width. The AMG Alturi 36" delivers 920 square inches, and the Ovation 54" Hybrid runs eight burners at 176,000 BTUs. Or browse 40" and 42" Built-In Grills.

Coastal environments

This matters a great deal here in the Lowcountry. Salt air attacks lower-grade stainless. Insist on 304 stainless steel throughout — not just the hood — and rinse the grill with fresh water regularly. The AMG Estate Freedom 36" and AMG Alturi 36" are both full 304 construction. A grill cover is not optional within a few miles of the water.

Replacing an existing grill in a fixed cutout

This is the one case where you do not get to choose freely. Measure your existing opening — width, depth, and height — before shopping, then call 843-212-7209 with those three numbers. We will tell you which heads actually drop in. Do not order based on the old grill's model name; manufacturers change cutout specs between generations.

Step 6 — Don't forget these

• Insulating liners — required if your island is framed in wood or any other combustible material. This is a safety item and a warranty condition, not an upgrade. If you are unsure what your island is made of, ask before ordering.
• Vent hoods — required if the grill sits under any roof, pergola with a solid cover, or lanai. Grease and heat have to go somewhere.
• Grill covers — the cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of the unit, especially near salt water.
• Side burners — for sauces, sides, and boils so you are not running back to the indoor kitchen.
• Outdoor refrigeration — must be outdoor-rated. An indoor mini fridge will fail outdoors, usually within a season. Also see Drop-In and Pull-Out Ice Bins.
• Storage — access doors, drawers, and cabinets to finish the island and keep tools and tanks out of the weather.

Still not sure? That is normal.

Most of our customers call before they buy, and we would rather spend twenty minutes on the phone than have you order the wrong cutout size or fuel type. We will pull exact cutout specs, check what fits your island, and put a real quote in front of you.

Call 843-212-7209 or request a quote online. Free shipping, no credit card fees, and an authorized dealer behind every brand we sell.

*Refer to this page for a free gift with ANY purchase