2, 3, 4 or 6 Burner Gas BBQ: Which Size Do You Need?
2, 3, 4 or 6 burners: choose a gas BBQ by who you cook for
More burners give you a bigger grill and more heat zones. Start with how many people you usually feed, then match the gas bottle to the size. Here is how our gas BBQs compare.
The short answer
Two burners for up to four people, three for up to six, and six burners for eight or more. Pick a 5kg gas bottle for a smaller BBQ and a 13kg bottle for four burners or more.
- Up to 4people on the 2 burner Louisiana, with a 48.5 x 37.5 cm grill4
- 27burgers at once on the 6 burner Alabama Elite's 78 x 42 cm grill4
- 14BBQ sessions from a 5kg patio gas bottle on a 3 burner BBQ1
The picture above shows three of our grills drawn to the same scale: a 2 burner, a 4 burner and a 6 burner, with one control knob for each burner.
Gas BBQ sizes compared
| Burners | Example | Main grill | Suits | Gas bottle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Louisiana, £79 | 48.5 x 37.5 cm | Up to 4 people | 5kg4 |
| 3 | Georgia Classic 3 burner, £169 | Grill and searing plate | Up to 6 people | 5kg4 |
| 4 | Georgia Classic 4 burner, £179 | 60 x 42 cm | A family patio | 13kg2 |
| 6 | Kentucky Premium 6 burner, £279 | 73 x 41 cm | 8 or more people | 13kg4 |
Every gas BBQ here also has a side burner for pans and a built-in thermometer.4
2 and 3 burners: couples, small families and small patios
A 2 or 3 burner BBQ takes up less room on the patio and runs happily on a light 5kg gas bottle.4 With a burner each side you can still cook hot on one side and keep food warm on the other.
Boss Grill Louisiana, 2 burner gas BBQ
£79
Two 3.5kW burners, a 48.5 x 37.5 cm main grill, a side burner, a viewing window in the lid and a cover included. Suitable for up to 4 people.4
Boss Grill Georgia Classic, 3 burner gas BBQ
£169
Three 3.2kW burners, a cast-iron grill and searing plate, a 3.2kW side burner and a twin-skin lid. Suitable for up to 6 people.4
4 burners: the family all-rounder
Four burners give you room to split the grill into zones: sear steaks over two burners on high while sausages cook gently over the other two. Each burner has its own dial.4 Our Georgia Classic 4 burner has a 60 x 42 cm cooking area for £179.4
Boss Grill Kentucky Premium, 4 burner gas BBQ
£229
Half cast-iron grill and half cast-iron searing plate, a 3.2kW side burner, a twin-skin lid, a storage cabinet, and room for a rotisserie up to 850mm. It comes with a 27mm clip-on propane regulator.4
6 burners: for big gatherings
If you often cook for eight or more, a 6 burner BBQ lets you cook a whole round of food at once, so nobody waits.4 The Kentucky Premium 6 burner has a 73 x 41 cm grill and searing plate for £279.4
Boss Grill Alabama Elite, 6 burner gas BBQ
£329
A 78 x 42 cm cast-iron grill with room for about 27 burgers, LED backlit dials, a 3.5kW side burner, a built-in ice bucket and a 2 year manufacturer's warranty.4
Want to take it with you? The Deluxe Portable 2 burner folds down onto its own trolley and still cooks up to 19 burgers at once, for £199.4
Match the gas bottle to the BBQ
5kg patio gas
Suits small to medium BBQs, and is smaller and lighter to carry and store than a 13kg bottle. It gives up to 14 sessions on a 3 burner BBQ with a side burner, each 30 minutes at full power.1
Setting it up safely
Change gas cylinders outdoors with the tap turned off. To check for a leak, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles. After cooking, turn the gas off at the cylinder first and then at the BBQ controls, and store cylinders outside, away from direct sunlight and frost.3
Gas BBQ size questions
Open a question to read the answer. Ready to choose? See all our gas BBQs.
How many burners does a gas BBQ need?
Choose by how many people you cook for. A 2 burner BBQ such as the Louisiana suits up to 4 people, a 3 burner such as the Georgia Classic suits up to 6, and a 6 burner such as the Kentucky Premium suits 8 or more.
What size gas bottle do I need for a BBQ?
A 5kg patio gas bottle suits small to medium BBQs and is lighter to carry. A 13kg patio gas bottle suits larger BBQs with four or more burners and lasts longer between swaps. Each BBQ lists its recommended bottle on its product page.
How long does a 5kg gas bottle last on a BBQ?
A 5kg patio gas bottle gives up to 14 BBQ sessions, based on a 3 burner BBQ with a side burner running at full power for 30 minutes each time.
Is a side burner worth having?
A side burner lets you heat a sauce, fry onions or cook a side dish in a pan while the main grill is busy, so everything is ready together. All the freestanding gas BBQs in this guide have one.
Where should I keep the gas bottle?
Store gas cylinders outside, away from direct sunlight and frost. Change cylinders outdoors with the tap turned off, and after cooking turn the gas off at the cylinder first and then at the BBQ controls.
Sources
- Calor, Get the right size patio gas bottle for your BBQ, accessed October 2026.
- Calor, 13kg Patio Gas Bottle, accessed October 2026.
- Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Barbecue safety, accessed October 2026.
- Outdoor Living, product pages for the Louisiana, Georgia Classic 3 burner, Georgia Classic 4 burner, Kentucky Premium 4 burner, Kentucky Premium 6 burner, Alabama Elite and Deluxe Portable, accessed October 2026.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
Buy for the BBQs you actually have, not the one big party a year. If you often cook for a crowd, the extra burners earn their place.