If you are one of the many grillers out there that love having both the rich smokey flavor of a charcoal grill and the convenience and ease of use of a gas grill, you need to buy a hybrid grill.
With the best hybrid grills, you get to enjoy the advantages and good features of both the gas and charcoal grills while also address some of their shortcomings.
As the name suggests, the hybrid grills are a modern grill type designed to use both propane and charcoal. But, also note that hybrid is also often used to describe grills with both conventional and infrared burners.
To help ensure that you get the best combination hybrid grill, below we review 7 top quality models and also highlight the important factor to consider when shopping.
In this post:
- How To Choose the Best Hybrid Grill
- 7 Best Hybrid Grills Reviewed
- 1. Char-Griller 5050 – Best Overall
- 2. Char-Broil 463370516 – Super High BTU Output
- 3. Backyard Grill Hybrid Grill – Best Budget
- 4. Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D-KIT – For an Ultimate Heating Experience
- 5. Char-Broil Deluxe 1010 – Perfect for Small to Medium Size Groups
- 6. Smoke Hollow 8500LP – Well-Built High-Capacity
- 7. Smoke Hollow PS9900 – Versatile 4-in-1
- Conclusion
How To Choose the Best Hybrid Grill
To ensure that you make a more informed hybrid grill pick, you will need to watch out for the following things.
1. BTU
BTU or British Thermal Units is what is used to measure a grills power, and so it is always one of the crucial things to take into account when choosing most grill types.
Knowing the BTU of each burner will allow you to determine the amount of heat that each burner on the grill can produce and also the quantity of fuel it will burn in the process.
Most hybrid grill will come with a total BTU output of between 20,000 and 80,000 BTUs depending on the number of burners. But, some high end models can still have way much more than this.
The higher the total BTU the better the hybrid grill as it is an indication that it will produce more heat for faster cooking. Also, check the size of the grill and its shape as they will have an effect on the amount of heat that you get per square inch.
2. Heat Distribution
The best dual fuel grills are those that are designed to not only provide fast heating but also ensure an even heat distribution for faster and more even grilling.
Check whether the grill has some cold or hot spots because if there are any, not all your food will finish cooking at the same time as it will not cook at the same speed.
Although you might not be able to test the heat distribution beforehand, you can use customer and experts reviews to get some idea of how good the heat distribution is in the hybrid grill you want to buy.
3. Cooking Surface
One of the main reasons why you are buying a hybrid grill instead of separate charcoal and gas grills is to save space, but you still do not want something with little cooking space.
Some hybrid grills will only have one chamber meaning you can only use one type of fuel at a time while others will have separate ones for gas and charcoal. Separate chambers mean that you will get more cooking surface which is great if cooking for large groups.
A hybrid grill with at least 400 square inches of cooking space can make more than enough food for 10 people. You can use this number as a reference to determine whether you will need something larger or smaller.
But, you will always be better off with a model that provides a larger cooking surface like the Smoke Hollow 8500LP with 1435 square inches cooking area.
4. Temperature Range
Barbecuing entails cooking different kinds of foods which require different temperature ranges, and so before you choose any hybrid grill, you should make sure that it can attain the appropriate temperature for the food that you intend to be cooking.
Also, the temperature should be easy to control, and this is more so when using charcoal to grill because gas grills are often easy to adjust with a simple twist of the knob. Easily adjustable-height charcoal grate like what you get on the Char-Broil Deluxe 1010 will make temperature control easy and more precise.
Damper and adjustable vents make temperature adjustment easy. Some models will even come with more advanced temperature control features or adjustable charcoal tray for quick and easy temperature control.
5. Ease of Cleaning
No matter how good a hybrid grill might be, it will still need some cleaning and maintenance to keep it in good condition and prevent food contamination.
However, a good model is one that makes cleaning easy. A good grease management system and a slide-out ash dump pan are some of the features that will make cleaning easy.
Also, a hybrid grill that is easy to take apart and assemble is more convenient when you need to do some deep and thorough cleaning.
7 Best Hybrid Grills Reviewed
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Char-Griller 5050 (Best Overall) |
|
 | 2. Char-Broil 463370516 (Super High BTU Output) |
|
 | 3. Backyard Grill Hybrid Grill (Best Budget) |
|
 | 4. Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D-KIT (For Ultimate Heating Experiences) |
|
 | 5. Char-Broil Deluxe 1010 (Perfect for Small to Medium Size Groups) |
|
 | 6. Smoke Hollow 8500LP (Well Built & High Capacity) |
|
 | 7. Smoke Hollow PS9900 (Versatile 4-in-1) |
|
1. Char-Griller 5050 – Best Overall
Photo: Char-Griller
- Total BTU: 40,800
- Cooking Surface: 1,260 square inches
- Dimensions: 61 x 28 x 50 in
Char-Grilled 5050 provides the second largest cooking space in our gas and charcoal grill review. The 1,260 square inches of cooking space will be more than enough when cooking for small parties or a larger family.
But besides having a larger cooking area, it also has a relatively higher total BTU of 40,800 to ensure you get more cooking power. It is designed for user convenience as the grates are height adjustable for easy temperature control, and it comes with an easy-damp ash pan for simple cleanups.
This hybrid grill has a cast gas side burner that provides extra cooking space and electronic ignition for easy firing up of the gas burners.
Also, the porcelain-coated grates are designed to ensure excellent heat retention and easy cleanups, and the underneath shelves and condiment basket provide lots of storage space.
Although the side burner is relatively weaker when compared to the others, it should still be good enough for its intended uses such as making sauces and side dishes which do not require a lot of heat.
Pros:
- Larger cooking surface
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Superior heat retention
- Plenty of storage space
- Easy-dump ash pan
Cons:
- Weaker side burner
- Lengthy assembly process
2. Char-Broil 463370516 – Super High BTU Output
Photo: Char-Broil
- Total BTU: 52,000
- Cooking Surface: 450 square inches
- Dimensions: 52.5 x 24.6 x 47.5 in
Despite being one of the most affordable hybrid grills, Char-Broil’s Gas2Coal has the highest total BTU as its burners will provide up to an impressive 52,000 BTU.
Besides the high BTU, this grill is also designed to offer quick and easy conversion to charcoal grilling as it should only take 60 seconds. And you will never struggle to light the coals as you can use the durable stainless steel burners to do it.
Also, it comes with some top-notch quality porcelain-coated grates that are designed to be rust-resistant for maximum durability and are super easy to clean.
This hybrid grill has reliable electronic ignition for the gas burners and lots of storage space that includes a side shelf and storage for the charcoal tray and propane tank.
The 450 square inches of cooking space is the smallest in our list but should still be more than enough for small families. The absence of an adjustable tray and air vents for temperature control does not seem to affect the charcoal grilling significantly.
Pros:
- High total BTU output
- Relatively more affordable
- Quick and easy conversion to charcoal grill
- Reliable electronic ignition
- Includes propane tank and charcoal tray storage
Cons:
- Relatively smaller cooking surface
- Does not have air vents or adjustable tray
3. Backyard Grill Hybrid Grill – Best Budget
Photo: Backyard Grill
- Total BTU: 36,000
- Cooking Surface: 557 square inches
- Dimensions: 64 x 28 x 49.75 in
This top-rated hybrid grill by Backyard Grill is our cheapest model, and so it will be a great buy if you are shopping on a tight budget.
It has a total BTU output of 36,000 when you include the 12,000 BTU that you get from the convenient side burner, and it will provide 557 square inches of cooking space.
For the charcoal grill, there is a convenient height adjustable system that makes temperature control easier and the gas grill has integrated ignition for fast and easy fire up.
Other things like the chrome plated warming rank and integrated tool holder will help make grilling easier for you.
The assembly directions that come with this grill are a little wanting but setting it up can still be a quick and easy process provided you understand where each part should go.
Pros:
- Highly affordable
- Height adjustable system for the charcoal grill
- Chrome plated warming rack
- Convenient integrated ignition
- Handy tool holder
Cons:
- Assembly directions are wanting
4. Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D-KIT – For an Ultimate Heating Experience
Photo: Dyna-Glo
- Total BTU: 24,000
- Cooking Surface: 952 square inches
- Dimensions: 68.5 x 28.7 x 45.6 in
With the commercial grade stainless steel burners on the Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D, you can always be confident of an ultimate heating performance and long-lasting service.
Also, it has some heavy-duty porcelain enameled grates that help to make it one of the best dual fuel grills out there as they provide great heat retention and are highly durable and easy to clean.
Heat control is quite easy even when charcoal grilling thanks to the convenient charcoal tray adjustment system. For gas grilling, you get quick and reliable ignition thanks to the electronic pulse ignition system.
There is also a lot of storage space on the grill, and it will provide a lot of room for preparing your food when grilling.
Although the 24,000 total BTU output makes the gas grill a little under powered, it still has a lot of cooking power for all kinds of foods. The length assembly should also not be a dealbreaker as it is typical of most large dual fuel grills.
Pros:
- Great heat retention
- High performing and durable burners
- Easy heat control for charcoal grilling
- Quick and reliable ignition
- Lots of storage and food preparation space
Cons:
- Gas grill is a little underpowered
- Length assembly process
5. Char-Broil Deluxe 1010 – Perfect for Small to Medium Size Groups
Photo: Char-Broil
- Total BTU: 48,000
- Cooking Surface: 505 square inches
- Dimensions: 74.2 x 27.9 x 46.8 in
Char-Broil is a top brand that you can trust to have the best combination hybrid grill for you and their 48,000 BTU 1010 model is one of their best options for cooking for small and medium-size groups.
This hybrid grill has a cooking surface of 505 square inches that will be enough space for cooking for a regular family.
The grill has two separate chambers for the charcoal and gas grills and extra side burners for increased cooking versatility.
Also, this grill uses porcelain-coated grates to ensure a more even heat distribution, and they are highly durable and easy to clean.
For the charcoal chamber, there is also a crank adjustable-height grate for easy temperature control and a slide-out ash pan that will make ash management and clean up easy.
While the assembly instruction are a little wanting, setting up this grill is fairly easy and there are lots of helpful videos online.
Pros:
- Powerful and spacious enough for small to medium size groups
- Easy ash removal and clean up
- Highly durable porcelain-coated grates
- Simple charcoal grill temperature control
Cons:
- Assembly instructions need some improvement
6. Smoke Hollow 8500LP – Well-Built High-Capacity
Photo: Smoke Hollow
- Total BTU: 42,000
- Cooking Surface: 1,435 square inches
- Dimensions: 81.81 x 22.05 x 47.83 in
The 42,000 BTU that you get from the 8500LP hybrid grill by Smoke Hollow is the third highest in our list, and so you can be confident that this grill will provide more than enough cooking power.
It uses some durable stainless steel burners that are designed to provide many years of service, and it also has a sear burner for more cooking versatility.
Also, its 1,435 square inches cooking space is larger than what you get from all the other models in our hybrid grills review. And this means that this will be the best grill for you if you want to cook a lot of food or host a large group.
This grill also uses porcelain coated cast iron grates that provide even heat distribution and are quick and easy to clean. Moving it around is easy thanks to its four locking casters.
Although it is our second priciest grill, what you pay for it is a bargain given the performance and large cooking surface that it will offer.
Pros:
- Larger cooking surface
- Relatively higher total BTU
- Durable stainless steel burners
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grates
- Four locking casters provide easy mobility
Cons:
- A little expensive
- Lengthy assembly
7. Smoke Hollow PS9900 – Versatile 4-in-1
Photo: Smoke Hollow
- Total BTU: 30,000
- Cooking Surface: 1,100 square inches
- Dimensions: 82 x 23 x 54 in
Smoke Hollow PS9900 is our priciest hybrid grill but this is because it is a well-built and sturdy 4-in-1 grill that can work as a gas grill, charcoal grill, smoker, and infrared sear.
Also, it comes with some equally durable porcelain-coated grates that are designed to ensure more even heat distribution and simple cleaning.
There is an adjustable lift tray that helps to make temperature control easier. With the commercial grade temperature gauges, you can also easily monitor the temperature.
Firing it up is made quick and easy by the push button ignition, but the infrared searing seems to be the key attraction as it makes this a more versatile grill.
With this grill, you will get a cooking space of 1,100 square inches which is great when cooking for large families and the burners can provide up to 30,000 BTU.
The relatively high price tag is a great indication of the quality and performance of this grill, and although the assembly takes a lot of time it is still quite easy.
Pros:
- Multifunctional 4-in-1 design
- Heat-retaining porcelain-coated grates
- Includes an infrared side burner
- Convenient push-button ignition
- More accurate commercial grade temperature gauges
Cons:
- Relatively pricier
- Takes long to assemble
Conclusion
With a hybrid grill, you get the convenience of a gas grill and the rich flavor of a charcoal grill in one space-saving package. And you cannot go wrong with any of the 7 models on our reviews above.
For those looking for a more budget-friendly hybrid grill that still offers and efficient performance, the Backyard Grill Hybrid Grill is good buy.
With that said, the Char-Griller 5050 is our best overall hybrid grill as it offers a a large enough 1,260 square inches cooking surface, 40,800 total BTU and also has enough storage space.