Gas grills are amazing and super convenient kitchen appliances. They are easy to light and can be used without hassle, even in the cold winter months.

Whether you are thinking of upgrading your current cooking setup or you’re a newcomer to grilling, choosing the best gas grill under 100 can be quite difficult, especially when you consider the budget. While the saying “You get what you pay for” is most times true, it isn’t always accurate as there are gems hidden under budget prices.

This article reviews the best gas grill under $100 to help make your choice easier. All items featured in this list are durable, efficient, and offer the best value for money. Let’s begin!

Top 6 Best Gas Grill Under 100 In 2022

Megamaster 820-0065C Propane Gas Grill

While the concept of portable outdoor grilling isn’t new, Megamaster brings something truly unique to the table with its amazing design and tops our list of best affordable grills. This grill features an ingenious design that uses convection-style cooking to improve fuel efficiency. Its burner produces up to 11,000 BTUs and is made of high-quality stainless steel. Its burners are protected by the heat tents ensuring even heat distribution, and its cooking grid wires are coated with porcelain to guarantee an evenly sumptuous, cooked meal.

Pros

  • Portable and easy to transport – Carry this grill anywhere – picnics, camp-outs, and more – with its compact, lightweight, and easy-to-carry build.
  • Truly spacious – Boasts 360 square inches of cooking space. Grill more than 15 burgers at once.

Cons

  • Small size

Takeaway

Made for the outdoor lifestyle, this grill is compact, making moving and storage very easy. Grill up to 15 burgers at one with its extensive 360 square inches cooking space. You do not have to toil to clean the Megamaster grill after whipping up a meal, as it features a smooth surface that makes cleaning stress-free.

Do you have a bigger budget? Then check out this article on the best gas grills under $150

Masterbuilt SH19030819 Propane Tabletop Grill

Masterbuilt Propane portable grill was designed to cater to the entire family. Say goodbye to cooking several batches of meals when camping as you can easily prepare meals for 8 people with its 290 square inch cooking space. 

It features a single burner with evenly distributed gas holes that eliminates cold spots and ensure heat is equally spread to provide you with evenly cooked meals. 

Pros

  • Portable – An amazing option for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities.
  • Capacity – Can prepare a meal for 8 people at once.
  • Durable – Packing, transporting, and storage are made easy with folding legs and locking lids.

Cons

  • Not so great at searing
  • No grill marks
  • Has a single burner

Takeaway

With the porcelain-enameled cooking grates, cleaning up after cooking is amazingly easy. With a total weight of 16 pounds, this grill can easily be carried to picnics, campsites, parties, etc.

Stainless steel purists can check out this guide to the best stainless steel gas grills

Char-Broil Portable 240 Propane Gas Grill

Few tabletop grills in the market can compare to the Char-Broil portable grill. Featuring a 9,500 BTU U burner made with stainless steel, this compact and sturdy grill has a removable grease tray and an impressive 305 square inches of cooking space.

The perfect option for grilling on the go, this grill has enough cooking space to feed the entire family as its cooking space can fit up to 8 burgers. Its piezo ignition system ensures it comes on at the touch of a button, and it easily reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 5 minutes. You never have to wait long to enjoy your meals. 

Pros

  • Temperature Gauge – Easily monitor and control the temperature.
  • Carry handles – This makes this grill portable and a good choice for outdoor use.
  • Fast and reliable ignition system – This grill uses the piezo ignition system and fires up at the push of a button.
  • Four strong legs – Gives it stability ad makes it perfect for use anywhere.

Cons

  • Heavier than it looks
  • Requires an adapter to use propane tanks canisters larger than 1lb

Takeaway

Constructed entirely with stainless steel, you’ll be amazed at how long this serves you, even with constant everyday usage.

Coleman Fold N Go Propane Grill

Coleman is a popular name for creating reliable outdoor pieces of equipment, and the Coleman Fold Go grill further emphasizes this point. Prepare sumptuous meals on the go with a grill that’s smaller than a briefcase when folded. When opened, its cooking surface is surprisingly spacious, enabling you to prepare meals for up to 4 people at once. 

Its 6000-BTU adjustable burner uses the innovative PerfectFlow technology to ensure a steady supply of heat which guarantees properly cooked meals. Another nice feature of the Coleman Fold Go grill is its dishwasher-safe removable grease tray that makes cleaning a breeze.

Pros

  • Removable grease tray and cooking surface – Makes cleaning easy.
  • PerfectFlow technology – ensures evenly cooked meals always.

Cons

  • Issues with ignition button over time – as is common with most grills after months of usage.
  • Made of stamped steel – Would flake if not properly cared for and maintained.

Takeaway

With a PerfectHeat and Instastart Matchless Ignition, the Coleman Fold go stands above all portable grills of similar prices as it’s more fuel-efficient and lights up effortlessly.

Royal Gourmet Table Top Propane Gas Grill

Next on our list of best affordable grills is the Royal gas grill. The Royal Gourmet portable gas grill is a popular name on the list of top grills on Amazon, and it more than earns that spot. This grill comes equipped with a griddle top that is porcelain enameled and features three stainless steel burners which provide an impressive 12,000 BTUs output. 

With a 221 square inches cooking space, this grill is perfect for various dishes such as frying eggs, rice, toasts, and hamburgers. Its quick piezo ignition system and long-lasting control panel make this a favorite even amongst professionals. 

Pros

  • Quick ignition system – uses an integrated piezo igniter.

Cons

  • The catch hole and the grease hole need careful monitoring to prevent spilling

Takeaway

With its built-in grease catcher, this cool for the money grill is amazingly easy to clean, making it perfect for road trips, camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities. Cleaning up after a meal is as easy as wiping with a paper towel! Lastly, it comes with a uniquely designed grill cover made with an extra thick waterproof coating.

For a dedicated list of the best two-burner gas grills, check out this article.

Flame King Portable Propane BBQ Grill

The Flame King YSNVT Gas Grill rounds up our list of best grills under 100 and for great excellent reasons. This portable grill can be used anywhere, whether outdoors or indoors, and boasts versatile removable legs

Its powerful 8,000 BTU burner is made of stainless steel, ensuring its grate is reliable, durable, and heat evenly, just like a large grill. Powered by propane, this inexpensive grill features an innovative natural twist-start ignition system. 

Pros

  • Versatility – Can be used everywhere
  • Aluminum legs – Gives it better stability while in use

Cons

  • Small cooking area

Takeaway

Amongst its nicest feature is its compact size and the fact that you can fit this grill anywhere – indoors, outdoors, etc. 

Buying Guide To Best Gas Grills Under 100

You need to know a few things before setting out to buy cheap gas grills under 100. This chapter shall discuss these considerations to ensure you make a quality purchase.

Propane vs. Natural Gas

You have two options when it comes to firing up cheap gas grills under 100: natural gas and propane gas. While propane grills are popular among the best gas grills under 100 because of how easy they are to set up and use, natural grills also have advantages.

Propane is available in small portable, and easy-to-carry tanks that can be placed near the grill for use anywhere. It can quickly produce a serious amount of heat sufficient to cook your meals properly. You, however, have to check the quantity of gas left frequently so you are not left stranded in the middle of a meal.

Natural gas requires an available gas line to function. Its appeal is that it saves on cost, especially if you’re an everyday user. The drawback to this is the fact that you cannot move the grill once it’s been installed. However, once fixed, you do not have to worry about running out of gas ever again.

Grate Material

Many things hinge on the material used in the production of your grill, such as hot it gets, how long it retains that heat, how easy it is to clean, and how long it’ll serve you. The popular materials are cast iron, stainless steel, or coated cast iron. The various materials impact how long your grill will serve you. However, properly cleaning and maintenance practice would make your grill perform better and last longer, no matter the material used in its production.

Stainless steel: Heats up quickly, is light and is easy to handle/clean. It, however, doesn’t retain heat well and corrodes quickly.

Cast iron: Heavy, needs careful maintenance practice to avoid rusting. It retains heat well and can last for years.

Coated cast iron: Great at heat retention, and you’ll never have to worry about rusting. However, it tends to chip, especially when scratched with metal cooking utensils.

BTU

You might have noticed this used several times when describing a grill. It simply indicates the amount of heat the grill can produce – the higher the BTUs, the more heat it produces. However, like most things, higher is not always better, and you shouldn’t pick a grill only because of its BTUs. You should also consider its range and the type of meals you’ll be prepared with your grill. Ribs, pork shoulders, briskets, and other meals that require slow cooking require 200ºF, while pizzas, burgers, and steaks require 500ºF at least.

This article reviews the best grill smoker combos. It’s highly recommended if that’s your preference.

Ignition System

How your grill starts is also another important consideration, and there are two types of ignitions favored in the manufacturing of the best portable gas grills under $100: piezo and electronic. A piezo igniter produces a spark when the button to turn on the gas is pressed while an electronic igniter uses batteries. There are several upsides to each ignition system, such as the fact that the electronic igniter requires batteries to function while the piezo doesn’t require a battery. Whichever system you decide on, ensure it isn’t ‘low quality” as an overly long delay in causing a spark could be dangerous. Gas is pumped into the burner when the button is pushed, and the gas keeps entering the burner until the sparks hit. If for whatever reason, your ignition system isn’t producing a spark, it is a good idea to switch off the flow of gas until you have fixed it. This is because the longer the spark takes to hit, the more gas is released and the greater the risks of an explosion.

FAQ

How Long Will My Grills Last?

The lifespan of your gas grill is dependent on three factors.

  • First, the quality of the gas grill
  • Where you use it (humidity, exposure to elements, amongst other factors.), and,
  • How well you maintain it

A gas grill is just like any other appliance, and it can last decades with proper care, maintenance, and repairs.

Propane Gas or Natural Gas?

Both choices are available to fuel your best portable gas grills under $100, and they have their benefits and limitations. While natural gas is energy efficient and cheaper in the long run, propane has burns hotter. It boasts of greater usability as it can be used anywhere, even in remote locations without gas lines such as campsites, picnics, a cottage in the woods, etc.

I Have a Charcoal Grill. Do I Need to Get a Gas Grill?

There are several key benefits of a gas grill. Foremost of which is the ability to control the temperature compared to the charcoal grill easily. However, controlling the temperature on a charcoal grill isn’t impossible. It requires skill and years of practice. Another perk of the gas grill over the charcoal grill is the fact that gas grills are extremely energy efficient and thus better for the environment. A charcoal grill produces 11 pounds of carbon dioxide every hour compared to the 5.6 pounds that’s produced by a gas grill.

The charcoal drill does have its benefits, such as the fact that it directly delivers the flame on the food being cooked. This ensures a proper sear that’s missing in most meals cooked with a gas grill. Premium gas grills utilize infrared burners to achieve this over inexpensive grills. However, it cannot be compared to what a charcoal grill delivers, as the temperature cannot be maintained over the entire cooking surface. Nothing beats a charcoal grill for complex tastes and flavors as the oil that drips on the charcoal burns and flows into the meat as a tasty smoky flavor.

If you love charcoal grills, here are the best charcoal grills under $100

Can I Use Natural Gas with My Propane Gas Grill?

While this is possible with several modifications, it shouldn’t be attempted unless you are a specialist or licensed gas engineer. 

How Do I Stop My Gas Grill from Flaring Up?

Flare-ups are caused as a result of oil, marinades, and foods with excessive fats dripping onto the flames. To stop flare-ups, trim excess fat and drip excess sauce and marinade from your food before placing it into your grill. It is also an excellent idea to evenly apply non-stick oil onto your meats before placing your food on the grill. However, if the fat must be left on, constantly turn the food and keep the grill away from windy areas. Finally, keeping the lid open also helps. Keeping a fire extinguisher or a box of baking soda nearby when cooking is a great idea in the event that a flare-up gets out of control.

How Is a Gas Grill Turned On?

How you turn on your gas grill is dependent on the type of ignition system used. The three ignition systems below are employed in the production of most grills;

  • Electric (battery-powered)
  • hot surface (igniter rod) 
  • piezo (friction-powered)

All these ignition systems have their benefits and downsides, and you should pick one that uses your preferred ignition system. Whichever ignition system you decide to use, opening the lid before turning on your grill is a good idea as it prevents dangerous gas build-up and the risks associated with it.

How Do I Locate a Leak in My Gas Grill?

If for any reason, you think there might be a leak in your gas grill, the step below would let you locate the leak.

  • Using liquid soap and water, prepare a solvent and turn it into a bottle.
  • Shut the gas tank’s cylinder valve.
  • Spray the entire supply hose and gas line connections with the soapy solution.
  • Open the gas tank’s cylinder valve.
  • Bubbles signify a leak, carefully inspect the hose and connections for such bubbles.

 If any leak appears, shut the cylinder valve and replace/repair the leaking part before grilling.

Why Is My Gas Grill Not Hot?

A common reason for your gas grill not being hot is a nearly empty tank. An almost empty tank wouldn’t be able to supply adequate gas to the grill burners. If, however, the steps below can be taken to fix this issue. 

  • Reset the pressure regulator
  • Inspect the burner for deposits or clogs as these can affect the flame.
  • Deep-cleaning your burner following the guidelines specified in the owner’s manual.

If your grill refuses to heat properly after following these steps, the regulator and supply hose require replacement.

How Do I Know the Amount of Propane in The Fuel Tank?

One way of finding out how much propane is left in your fuel tank is by weighing the tank using a bathroom scale. Inspect your propane tank (the handle at the top) to determine how much the empty tank weighs – this is usually 17 – 20 pounds. Calculate how much gas supply is left in the tank based on how much the tank weighs. 

A more convenient way of checking this is by pouring hot water down your tank’s side and using your bare palms to feel the side of the tank. Propane absorbs heat, and so the side that feels cool contains gas while the portion that stays warm is empty.

Conclusion

Spending time outdoors is more fun when you can enjoy delicious meals too, and what better meal to savor with the entire family than a BBQ. So, choose from the best gas grill under 100 above and get started grilling your veggies and burgers. These budget gas grills give you the same sumptuous meal experiences and the chance to create delicious feasts.