Which barbecue brand to buy in 2022

Barbecues rusting away to the point of being unusable was the most commonly reported fault in both charcoal and gas barbecues, accounting for 35% and 23% of the total faults reported. 

Owners of gas, electric and dual-fuel BBQs experienced issues with their barbecue struggling to light, while some electric and dual-fuel barbecues also had problems with faulty controls.

Knowing which brands develop the most faults, and how quickly, is vital when buying a new barbecue. That’s why every two years we ask more than 2,000 Which? members to tell us whether they're happy or have experienced problems with their barbecues in our unique reliability and customer satisfaction survey.

In our latest analysis, we've looked at the performance of some of the biggest manufacturers – including Weber, Char-broil, Outback, Landmann and Aldi – and have calculated a customer score for each one, so you know which brands to choose and which to avoid.

Keeping scrolling to find out which brand was rated the best, or head straight to our round-up of the best barbecues.

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Best vs worst barbecue brands compared

_{Table notes: Test scores correct as of April 2022. The customer score is based on a survey of barbecue owners combining how satisfied they are with a brand and whether they'd recommend it to a friend. Results from gas, charcoal, electric and dual-fuel are combined.}

As the table shows, there's a big difference in both our best and worst Which? test scores and how satisfied owners are with their BBQs.

By consulting our expert barbecue reviews before you buy, you can be sure you're investing in a model that's easy to use and won't let you down during your next barbecue extravaganza. 

The most reliable barbecue brands

The table below summarises our latest results. Brands are ranked by their customer score, which relates to whether their customers would recommend that brand.

Only logged-in members can view the scores in the table below where we have ordered the brands alphabetically. 

If you're not a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Still not sure what barbecue you want? Head to our barbecue buying guide for our top recommendations and choosing advice. 

Common barbecue problems

Regardless of barbecue type, owners of unreliable barbecues say that excessive rust (rendering the barbecue unusable) is the most common problem. Below, we reveal the the top three barbecue faults and how to avoid them. 

• 27% – rust made the BBQ unusable. Rust isn't something that can be repaired, so storing and cleaning your barbecue properly are the best things you can do to extend its life. Make sure your barbecue is clean and dry, free of ash and burnt-on food, and is stored somewhere that isn't damp or too cold. 

• 15% – BBQ struggled to or did not light. Check the gas canister is connected properly on your gas barbecue and that ash isn't blocking any air vents in your charcoal barbecue.

• 12% – grill or trays broke. See if your warranty covers accessories and for how long. Otherwise, replacement parts should be straightforward to come by.

Use our barbeque reviews to make sure you buy a barbecue that scores highly for build quality.

Barbecue brands rated

Choose a brand from the list below for more on their barbecues, including the number of Best Buys it has and the average test score in our reviews.

Only logged-in members can view the hidden results in the tables below. If you’re not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Head to our barbecue reviews

Know which barbecue brand you want? Use the links to go straight to our reviews and find your ideal model:

• Aldi barbecue reviews
• Char-broil barbecue reviews
• Landmann barbecue reviews
• Outback barbecue reviews
• Weber barbecue reviews

How we calculate the best and worst brands

Which? has a wealth of information on the UK’s favourite garden product brands. Every two years, we ask Which? members and the general public to tell us about the garden products they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once you get them home. 

In January 2022, 8,881 consumers shared their opinion, including 2,682 barbecue owners. We then used the results of this survey to calculate a brand's customer score. 

Our product experience surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best barbecue you should buy.

Brands with insufficient sample sizes (less than 30) were not included.