Which barbecue brand is the most reliable?

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. But owners of gas, electric and dual-fuel BBQs also 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 1,000 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, B&Q and Outback – 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 to see which specific models we recommend.

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Best vs worst barbecue brands compared

_{Table notes: Test scores correct as of May 2024. 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 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. 

Which barbecue brands develop the fewest faults?

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. 

Which barbecue brands do owners recommend?

As part of our latest barbecue brand survey, we've crunched the numbers to calculate customer scores for five barbecue brands – to reveal which owners feel happy with and which they would recommend to a friend.

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.

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. 

• 22% of gas models, 39% of charcoal models – 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. 

• 27% of gas models – 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.

• 11% of gas models, 14% of charcoal models – grill or trays broke. See if your warranty covers accessories and for how long. Otherwise, replacement parts should be straightforward to buy online.

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

Which barbecue brands offer the longest guarantees?

Most barbecue brands offer product guarantees of at least a few years, but there are a handful of popular brands that offer longer cover, including:

• Weber - up to 12 years for individual components, but generally around five for electric models and 10 for charcoal or gas ones.
• Everdure by Heston Blumenthal - up to 10 years for individual components. 
• Char-broil - up to 10 years on burners, three for grates, and two for most other components.
• Landmann - five-year warranty is standard.

How we discover the most reliable 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 February 2024, 7,635 people shared their opinion, including owners of 1,172 barbecues. We then used the results of this survey to calculate each brand's customer score and reliability data. 

Our product experience surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, enable us to recommend the best barbecue you should buy.

This data is crucial for our testing, too. If a brand falls far below the category average, we take away the manufacturer’s Best Buy recommendations and won’t recommend any of its products unless a marked improvement in reliability is shown.

To find out more about our rigorous lab tests and what makes a Best Buy, head to our how we test barbecues page.