Flat top grills have transformed outdoor cooking for home cooks. More versatile than a standard grill, easier to control than open flame, and capable of cooking everything from smash burgers and steak to pancakes and eggs, a flat top griddle earns its space in a way few other pieces of outdoor equipment do.
Blackstone dominates this category and for good reason: their flat tops are well-built, widely available, and backed by a large community of home cooks sharing recipes and techniques. But there are solid alternatives at lower price points worth considering, particularly for smaller households or limited outdoor space.
What to look for in a flat top grill
- Cooking surface size: 28 inches suits two to three people; 36 inches is better for families or anyone who cooks in batches. Bigger is not always better — a 28-inch heats more evenly and is easier to move. See the Blackstone 28-inch vs 36-inch comparison for the full size decision.
- Number of burners: Two burners let you create heat zones (one hot, one low). Four burners give maximum control for large cooks.
- BTU output: 15,000-20,000 BTU per burner is standard. Higher BTU doesn’t always mean better cooking — even heat distribution matters more.
- Lid: A lid retains heat and moisture for foods that benefit from it (chicken thighs, sandwiches). Not all models include one.
- Portability: Standalone models are larger and more powerful; tabletop models are compact and easier to transport.
Flat top grill reviews
New to flat top grilling? Start with the best flat top grill guide which compares the main options by size, burner count, and price. For a first flat top, the Blackstone 28-inch or 36-inch covers almost every use case.
For indoor cooking, the best indoor grill for Korean BBQ guide covers the five best tabletop electric grills for cooking samgyeopsal and bulgogi at home.
Glenn is the founder of Kitchenware Compare and has spent years researching, testing, and reviewing kitchen appliances, cookware, and gadgets. A lifelong home cook raised in a family that treated every meal as an occasion, Glenn started this site to cut through the noise of conflicting product reviews and give readers honest, practical guidance. When he is not testing the latest air fryer or digging into the specs of a new espresso machine, he can usually be found experimenting with new recipes or hunting for the perfect cast iron skillet at a flea market.