Gas or Charcoal BBQ: Which Is Better?
Gas or charcoal BBQ: gas for speed and control, charcoal for flavour
A gas BBQ is ready in about ten minutes and lets you set each burner. Charcoal takes at least 20 minutes but gives a smoky, chargrilled taste. Here is how they compare, and the BBQs we sell for each.
The short answer
Choose gas if you want to cook on a weeknight with no fuss. Choose charcoal if flavour matters most and you enjoy the fire. Choose dual fuel if you want both.
- 10 minutesfor a gas BBQ to reach cooking temperature1
- 20 minutesat least, before charcoal is covered in white ash and ready to cook on1
- -42°Cthe temperature propane turns to gas, so it works outside all year2
The picture above shows the difference: burner bars on the gas grill, a bed of coals in the charcoal one, and the minutes each takes to be ready, drawn to scale.
Gas and charcoal side by side
| Gas | Charcoal | |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Press a button | Light the coals by hand |
| Ready to cook | About 10 minutes1 | At least 20 minutes1 |
| Heat control | A dial for each burner, so each side can run at a different heat1 | Air vents and how you spread the coals |
| Flavour | Some smoky flavour from vaporiser bars on some models1 | Smoky, chargrilled flavour1 |
| Clearing up | No ash, and it cools down quickly1 | Ash to clear once the coals are cold |
| Running out mid-cook | Swap the gas bottle in minutes1 | Add coals and wait for them to catch |
Gas BBQs: quick, easy and in control
With a gas BBQ you press the ignition, turn the dials and cook. Lighting one burner is enough for one or two people, and more burners give you a bigger grill and separate heat zones.1 Our gas BBQs run from 2 burners for a small patio to 6 burners with a side burner.
Boss Grill Georgia Classic, 4 burner gas BBQ
£179
Four stainless-steel burners plus a side burner, a 60 x 42 cm cooking area with cast-iron grates and a flat plate, and auto ignition.4 A good size for a family patio.
Charcoal and kamado BBQs: for the flavour
Charcoal gives the smoky, chargrilled taste that many people buy a BBQ for.1 A kamado takes this further: its thick ceramic body holds the heat, uses less charcoal over a long cook, and lets you smoke, bake and roast as well as grill.3 Browse our charcoal and kamado BBQs.
Boss Grill Tennessee, charcoal grill
£89
A 57 x 41.8 cm main cooking area, a built-in thermometer and adjustable air vents to control the heat.4 An easy way to start with charcoal.
Boss Grill The Egg, 18 inch ceramic kamado
£379
A ceramic kamado for slow cooking at 83 to 108°C, roasting and baking at 163 to 191°C, and searing at 260 to 330°C.4
Kamado Joe Classic Joe, Series II
£1,019
Runs from 107°C to 399°C, with a two-tier flexible rack, an Air Lift hinge, a Kontrol Tower top vent and a limited lifetime warranty.4
Want both? Choose dual fuel
A dual fuel BBQ has gas on one side and charcoal on the other, so you can cook quickly on a weeknight and with charcoal at the weekend. See all our dual fuel BBQs.
Boss Grill Premium Dual Fuel, 2 burner BBQ
£279
Two 50 x 42 cm cooking areas, one gas and one charcoal, with a side burner, in stainless steel.4
Choosing the gas bottle
Propane or butane
Propane turns to gas at -42°C and butane at -2°C, so propane is the better choice for a BBQ kept outside, including through the winter.2
Bottle and regulator
Most BBQs come with a standard 27mm clip-on regulator that fits green patio gas bottles. A 5kg bottle suits BBQs with up to three burners, and a 13kg bottle suits four burners or more. Red propane cylinders need a screw-in propane regulator, so check what comes in the box.2
Gas or charcoal questions
Open a question to read the answer. Ready to choose? See all our BBQs for sale.
Is a gas or charcoal BBQ better?
It depends on how you cook. Gas lights at the press of a button, reaches cooking temperature in about ten minutes and has a dial for each burner. Charcoal gives a smoky, chargrilled flavour. If you want both, a dual fuel BBQ has gas on one side and charcoal on the other.
How long does a charcoal BBQ take to heat up?
You can start cooking after at least 20 minutes, once the coals are covered in white ash. A gas BBQ is at cooking temperature within about ten minutes.
Can a gas BBQ give a smoky flavour?
Some gas BBQs have vaporiser bars over the burners, which add some smoky flavour. For full charcoal flavour, choose a charcoal, kamado or dual fuel BBQ.
Which gas bottle do I need for a BBQ?
Most BBQs come with a 27mm clip-on regulator that fits green patio gas bottles. A 5kg bottle suits BBQs with up to three burners and a 13kg bottle suits four burners or more. Red propane cylinders need a screw-in propane regulator, so check what comes in the box.
What is the difference between a charcoal BBQ and a kamado?
A kamado is a ceramic charcoal grill. The thick ceramic holds its heat, uses less charcoal over a long cook, and lets you smoke, bake and roast as well as grill.
Sources
- Which?, Barbecues: 5 reasons to choose gas over charcoal, 2 June 2022.
- Calor, Pick the right gas bottle for BBQ success, accessed October 2026.
- Kamado Joe, Kamado grill vs traditional charcoal grill, accessed October 2026.
- Outdoor Living, product pages for the Georgia Classic, Tennessee, The Egg, Classic Joe Series II and Premium Dual Fuel, accessed October 2026.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
The right BBQ is the one you will light most often. Think about how you like to cook, then pick the fuel that suits it.