The Best Outdoor Griddles for 2026: Weber, Blackstone and Traeger Flat-Tops Compared
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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An outdoor griddle, or flat-top grill, is essentially a diner’s short-order flat-top for your patio: a big sheet of carbon steel heated by three or four propane burners. Where a gas grill excels at char marks and smoky flavor, a griddle excels at everything that would fall through grates: smash burgers with lacy crusts, pancakes and eggs for a crowd, fried rice, cheesesteaks and crispy bacon, all at once.
Our recommendations draw on Serious Eats’ extensive testing, in which editors cooked a 12-sandwich grilled-cheese heat map on every griddle to reveal hot and cold spots, made full breakfasts across two heat zones, smashed dozens of burgers on medium-high while toasting buns on low, and checked heat with an infrared thermometer. We cross-referenced cooking areas and current prices with manufacturer listings. We haven’t tested these griddles ourselves.
Quick answer: the Weber 36-Inch Gas Griddle is the best flat-top for most backyards, with even heat, reliable ignition and the price of a good gas grill. The Blackstone 36-inch four-burner is the budget favorite that gets ferociously hot. For a smaller patio, the Weber Slate 30-inch; for a luxury setup, the Traeger Flatrock.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Burners | Cooking area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber 36-Inch Gas Griddle | 4 | 756 sq. in. | Most backyards |
| Blackstone 36-inch 4-Burner (1554) | 4 | 768 sq. in. | Budget, maximum heat |
| Weber Slate 30-Inch | 3 | 540 sq. in. | Compact with premium features |
| Traeger Flatrock | 3 | 594 sq. in. | Splurge; precise zones |
| Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone | 2 | 468 sq. in. | High-quality small griddle |
| Weber Slate 28-Inch | 3 | 504 sq. in. | 2 to 3 people |
| Blackstone Original 28-Inch (1883) | 2 | 524 sq. in. | Small families on a budget |
| Weber Slate 22-Inch Tabletop | 2 | 352 sq. in. | Camping, RVs, balconies |
Cooking areas from Serious Eats’ key specs.
The best outdoor griddles
1. Weber 36-Inch Gas Griddle: best overall
Best for: families and entertainers who want a do-everything flat-top.
Serious Eats’ top pick pairs a reasonable price with excellent performance. Its wide surface heated evenly, turning out uniformly golden grilled cheese, a breakfast for four and super-crispy smash burgers. It reliably reached searing temperature; Serious Eats clocked the 36-inch Weber at 575 °F, which it called truly very hot.
Usability is where it pulls ahead: click-to-ignite burners light without holding a separate igniter, a gap between body and cooktop lets you see the flames, and the hinged lid swings out of the way. The drip tray slides out of a drawer on the left and uses disposable aluminum liners. The side tables are a bit narrow, though they fit half-sheet pans. Serious Eats also recommends Weber’s rust-resistant 36-inch and Slate 36-inch versions as near-identical alternatives at higher prices.
Pros
- Even heat
- 575 °F searing
- Click-to-ignite burners
- Easy drip-tray cleanup
Cons
- Narrow side tables
2. Blackstone 36-Inch 4-Burner Flat Top Gas Grill: best budget
Best for: crowds, high-heat cooking and value seekers.
Blackstone made the outdoor griddle mainstream, and Serious Eats found its four-burner model got ripping hot, delivering golden, caramelized, crispy-edged bacon and burgers. Its 768-square-inch surface is the largest here. The grilled-cheese test showed the center and back running hotter than the front and sides, and gaps where the side tables meet the grill reduce usable space. It has a built-in igniter, rear grease trap and paper towel holder.
Blackstone’s current lineup lists an Original 36-inch Griddle with a hard cover at $399 and a version with a hood at $599.99, with four independently controlled heat zones and a magnetic toolbar on the hooded model. Check exact model numbers, as Blackstone updates them frequently.
Pros
- Huge surface
- Gets extremely hot
- Affordable
Cons
- Hotter center and back
- Gaps at side tables
3. Weber Slate 30-Inch Griddle: best compact
Best for: smaller patios that still want premium features.
For a couple of hundred dollars more than the 36-inch Weber, the Slate 30 adds a digital temperature gauge, huge side tables, an extendable table and storage bins, and Serious Eats found it seared impressively, repeatedly reaching 500 °F. Its smaller 540-square-inch surface limits big-party cooking. The Slate 28-inch costs about $150 less, offers roughly 40 square inches less space, lit on the first try every time and suits two- to three-person households.
Pros
- Digital temp gauge
- Big side tables
- Rust-resistant Slate surface
Cons
- Less cooking room
4. Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill: best splurge
Best for: enthusiasts who want precise control and a luxury feel.
With a 594-square-inch cooktop, three temperature zones and lights that show when each burner is lit, Serious Eats calls the Flatrock luxurious. It held a cool bun-toasting zone beside a hot searing zone with ease and reached 514 °F in the center before smash burgers. A fuel sensor weighs the propane tank.
The tank hook sits low, making it strenuous to hang the tank, and there are no tool hooks. It cost about $900 at testing. The smaller Flatrock 2 Zone, with 468 square inches, still fit nine burgers and four split buns and heated evenly apart from a hot spot near the gas inlet, though Serious Eats finds it pricey for its size, with a front grease trap that eats cooking space.
Pros
- Precise zones
- Burner indicator lights
- Fuel-level sensor
Cons
- About $900
- Awkward tank hook
- No tool hooks
5. Weber Slate 22-Inch Tabletop Griddle: best portable
Best for: campers, RV owners and apartment balconies (where permitted).
This two-burner tabletop model has a lid, cooks fairly evenly and responds quickly to temperature changes, so eggs and pancakes can go back to back. Serious Eats noted a hot spot in the front right corner. For a slightly larger budget pick with a hood, the two-burner Blackstone Original 28-inch serves two or three people well once you dial in the temperature, though its side tables barely fit a half-sheet pan.
Pros
- Portable
- Has a lid
- Responsive
Cons
- Front-right hot spot
- Small surface
Griddles to skip
Serious Eats found the Nexgrill Daytona took nearly two hours to assemble and ran far too hot. The Cuisinart 28-inch scorched nearly everything and responded poorly to adjustments. The Solo Stove Steelfire 30-inch ran hot, holds less food because of its oval shape, and its stainless surface was hard to clean. The Traeger Iron Top four-burner heated inconsistently and lacks a heat-safe lid handle, and the Camp Chef Flat-Top 600’s small grease opening clogged easily.
Griddle vs. gas grill: do you need both?
Many luxury outdoor kitchens have both. A gas grill gives char, smoke flavor and indirect cooking for roasts; a griddle gives total contact browning and handles small or delicate foods. If you can only have one and you mostly cook burgers, breakfast and stir-fries, the griddle may serve you better. If steaks, ribs and whole chickens dominate, start with one of the best gas grills. Also consider our pellet grill vs. gas grill comparison.
What to look for
- Even heat: slight variation is normal on a large plate, but avoid burnt-next-to-raw results.
- Separate zones: three or four independently controlled burners let you sear and toast at once.
- Searing power: Serious Eats wanted at least 500 °F.
- Ignition: click-to-ignite burners are easier than separate igniter buttons.
- Grease management: a wide opening to a large, removable tray; small holes clog.
- Lid and side tables: a lid protects the surface; generous tables hold sheet pans.
- Size: 36 inches for crowds; 28 to 30 inches for most couples and small families.
Seasoning, cleaning and storage
Like a carbon steel pan, a griddle’s steel top must be seasoned according to the maker’s instructions and wiped with a thin film of neutral oil after every cook to prevent rust. To clean, scrape debris into the grease tray with a metal scraper, using a splash of water for stuck bits, then dry thoroughly and oil. Keep it covered, and store it somewhere dry, like a garage or shed, over winter.
FAQ
Is an outdoor griddle worth it?
If you cook breakfasts, smash burgers or hibachi-style meals for groups, yes; it’s one of the most versatile outdoor cookers.
Weber or Blackstone?
Serious Eats prefers Weber’s even heat, ignition and cleanup; Blackstone wins on price, size and raw heat.
Can I use a griddle in the rain?
A lid helps, but always dry and oil the surface afterward to prevent rust.
Do griddles use a lot of propane?
Four burners on high use more gas than a small grill; a fuel gauge like the Traeger’s helps you avoid running out mid-cook.
The bottom line
Choose the Weber 36-Inch for the most balanced griddle, the Blackstone 36-inch for the most surface and heat per dollar, and the Traeger Flatrock if you want the most refined patio centerpiece.
