The best grills for small patios are the ones you can actually get through your door, hold up against a railing without breaking a code, and store between a cookout and the next one. Space, not power, is the binding constraint in this category, and most of the grills people buy for a balcony end up stored in a closet because the patio never had room for them.
Our overall pick for 2026 is the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill with Stand. It is the only grill in this roundup that a lease, an HOA or a building manager cannot argue with, because it has no flame, no propane and no charcoal. If your rules permit open flame, the Cuisinart 20000 BTU two-burner is the better cooking machine, and the MASTER COOK 11500 BTU is the one to buy if your patio can swallow a cart.
One caveat before we get into the list: whether you are allowed to grill at all is a legal question before it is a product question. Many leases and building rules ban open flame, and most fire codes and insurance policies require a portable barbecue to sit at least 10 feet from any combustible part of a structure. We cover that in full below, because no grill list is useful if the grill ends up in the hallway.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Small Patios in 2026
These three cover the three situations most people actually have: a patio where flame is banned, a patio where it is allowed but space is tight, and a deck that can take a cart.
MASTER COOK 11500 BTU Grill
- 266 sq in cast iron
- Detaches from cart
- Works with 1 lb or 20 lb tank
Best Grills for Small Patios in 2026
Every grill below, with the numbers that actually decide whether it fits your space.
How We Picked These Grills
We ordered the list by the number you will measure first: the footprint. Then we compared cooking area in square inches, burner output in BTU or element wattage, fuel format, weight, warranty length and the review history behind each one.
Three criteria did most of the sorting. First, real published dimensions rather than a marketing adjective, because a grill you cannot fit is worthless. Second, whether the grill can be carried by one person up a set of stairs and stored indoors, which is what actually happens to a balcony grill between November and March. Third, whether the fuel type is one your building permits.
We left out ultra-portable camping grills under 100 square inches of cooking area. They are fun, but they cook six burgers at a time and nobody has ever framed a summer around one.
1. George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill with Stand, 15-Serving
George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill with Stand, 15-Serving
1500 watts
Five heat settings
Removable stand
8.7 lb
Fat-removing nonstick plate
Pros
- No flame or propane
- so lease and HOA rules rarely block it
- Five heat settings and a 10-minute preheat for repeatable results
- Removable stand moves it from patio to countertop
- Lightest full-featured grill here at 8.7 lb
- Fat-removing slope drains up to 42 percent of fat away from food
Cons
- Contact plate gives less char and smoke flavor than gas or charcoal
- Needs a nearby outlet so it cannot be used far from power
- Nonstick coating needs nylon scrubbers and washing after each use
We put this first because it answers the question that stops most small-patio grills before they start: is a grill even allowed here. It has no flame, no propane and no charcoal, so there is nothing for a building manager to prohibit. That single fact is worth more than any burner figure.
It is also the easiest to move of anything we tested at full size. At 8.7 pounds with a detachable stand, one person carries it from the closet to the patio table and back without planning a second trip.
Five heat settings and a recommended 10-minute preheat are what make it repeatable rather than a guessing game. The sloped plate drains fat away from the food, and the George Tough nonstick coating means no oil, no butter and no scraping.
The honest limit is flavor. This is a contact plate grill, not an open grate, so you get browning and a sear but not the char and smoke that make people queue at a barbecue. It is a weeknight machine that also happens to work outdoors, which is exactly what most patio cooking actually is.
Will your building allow it
This is the safest grill on this list for a balcony, a condo deck or a rental with a strict lease. With no open flame and no fuel storage, it is the one category of grill that almost never triggers a violation, and it works on a balcony where a gas grill would not.
What you give up for that safety
You give up open-grate cooking, smoke and anything resembling a grill ring on a steak. You also need an outlet within cord reach, so on a large patio you may be cooking on a patio table rather than at the railing.
2. Cuisinart Outdoor Gas Grill, 20000 BTU, Portable, 2-Burner
Cuisinart Outdoor Gas Grill, 20,000 BTU, Portable, 2-Burner
Two 10000 BTU burners
275 sq in cooking area
22 lb
Locking lid and folding legs
Pros
- Two independent 10000 BTU burners give real two-zone heat
- 275 sq in stainless grates handle burgers and delicate fish
- Tool-free setup
- grilling in under 10 minutes
- Locking lid and folding legs make it genuinely portable
- Integrated thermometer and twist-start ignition
Cons
- Heaviest compact gas grill here at 22 lb
- Two-burner layout takes more patio depth than a tabletop grill
- Polished stainless surfaces show fingerprints and grease
This is the grill we recommend to anyone whose rules permit propane and whose patio has about 30 inches of depth to spare. Two independent 10000 BTU burners mean you can sear on one side and hold a low zone on the other, which is the single biggest cooking upgrade over every single-burner grill in this roundup.
At 21.5 inches deep by 19 inches wide it is not the smallest unit here, but the folding legs and locking lid take it down to something most closets accept. Setup is genuinely tool-free and takes under ten minutes.
Reviewers single out the independent burner knobs more than anything else, which tells you how much the two-burner layout matters in daily use. The stainless grates spread heat evenly enough to handle both thick pork chops and thin fish fillets on the same cook.
The tradeoff is weight. At 22 pounds it is the heaviest grill in this roundup except for the cart model, and the polished steel is a fingerprint magnet you will wipe down more often than you would like.
When two burners are worth the extra space
Two-zone cooking matters when you are cooking for four or more, or when part of the meal needs low and slow while the rest needs high heat. For burgers for two, a single burner is plenty and this grill is more machine than you need.
Check your depth and your rules
Measure with the lid open, not closed, and add the width of the propane cylinder if it has to sit beside the grill rather than under it. Confirm in writing that propane is permitted before you buy, because the grill is the easy part to return.
3. MASTER COOK Single Burner Propane Grill, 11500 BTU with Cart
MASTER COOK Single Burner Propane Gas Grill, 11,500 BTU Portable Tabletop Barbecue Grill with Cart for Patio, Camping, Travel
11500 BTU
266 sq in cast iron grate
Detachable grill body
1 lb or 20 lb tank
Pros
- Grill body detaches from the cart to sit on any outdoor table
- 266 sq in of cast iron over U-shaped stainless burners
- Runs on either a 1 lb cylinder or a 20 lb tank
- Two removable side shelves and a built-in tank storage bay
- Highest average rating in the roundup at 4.6
Cons
- Full cart footprint is 40.16 in wide and needs real patio space
- Single burner means no true two-zone cooking
- Matte black finish shows grease and soot quickly
The detachable grill body is the trick here. It bolts to a cart for people with a deck, then lifts off and sits on any outdoor table for people whose patio is really a balcony. That flexibility is why it earns its place in a roundup about tight spaces.
Underneath it is a properly serious grill: 266 square inches of cast iron grate, an oval 11500 BTU burner shaped to spread heat across the whole surface, and a built-in temperature gauge for roasting.
The included hose and regulator work with both a disposable 1 lb cylinder and a standard 20 lb tank, which answers the most common storage complaint we hear from small-patio owners. A standard tank sits in the built-in bay under the grill.
Be honest about the cart though. At 40.16 inches wide and 39.37 inches tall, the full footprint is the largest in this roundup. If you take the grill body off, the working footprint is about 29.5 inches long.
Who should buy the cart version
Buy it if you have a deck of at least five feet by four feet and want cast iron without paying for a two-burner frame. The detachable design means the cart is optional in practice, not essential.
When to skip it entirely
Skip the cart if your cooking surface is a narrow balcony rail or a small bistro table. The body alone is fine there, but the cart is dead weight you will move more than you will use.
4. Megamaster Tabletop 1 Burner Gas Grill with Warming Rack
Megamaster Tabletop 1 Burner Gas Grill, Foldable Legs with Warming Rack
360 sq in cooking space
11000 BTU burner
Foldable legs
Built-in thermometer
Pros
- 360 sq in is the largest cooking surface on a tabletop grill here
- 11000 BTU stainless burner heats fast and evenly
- Five-year warranty is among the longest in this class
- Foldable legs and locking lid make storage and transport simple
- Built-in thermometer helps track cooking temperature
Cons
- Single burner means no two-zone heat control
- Painted rather than porcelain-coated finish wears sooner in harsh weather
- Offered in a red and black color scheme only
Cook for four or five people on a table and this is the number one pick in the roundup. 360 square inches of primary cooking area is more than double what a typical 14-inch kettle offers, and it arrives in a 28.43 by 19.69 inch footprint with folding legs.
The 11000 BTU stainless burner is a real burner, not a token one. It heats quickly and holds temperature, which matters more on a windy balcony than any feature list suggests.
A built-in thermometer is the detail budget tabletop grills usually omit, and reviewers treat it as a genuine upgrade for anything past a burger. The five-year warranty is also unusually long for this class.
The trade is cooking control. One burner means no indirect zone, so slow smoking ribs on this grill is a project. If you mostly grill burgers, sausages and vegetables fast, that limitation never comes up.
When cooking area beats portability
Choose this when the grill lives on a patio table with fuel access and you cook for a group. 360 square inches lets you stage raw and cooked food in zones without crowding, which smaller grills cannot do.
What to check before ordering
It runs on a disposable 1 lb cylinder, which is easy to store but runs out mid-cook more often than a 20 lb tank. Measure the table height too, because at 12.91 inches tall on its legs it is not a flat-top unit.
5. Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
Weber® Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
8.4 lb kettle
14 inch cooking grate
Tuck-N-Carry lid lock
10 year warranty
Pros
- Tuck-N-Carry lid lock doubles as a lid holder for one-handed carry
- Ten-year limited warranty
- far longer than any competitor here
- Porcelain-enamel finish resists scratches and rust
- Ash catcher protects surfaces and speeds up cleanup
- 8.4 lb makes it a genuinely carryable kettle grill
Cons
- Smallest cooking capacity here
- sized for 6 burgers
- Charcoal only
- with no gas or electric option
- Kettle design needs manual coal and airflow management
For six burgers, two people and a tailgate, nothing here is better. At 8.4 pounds and 14.2 inches wide, the Smokey Joe carries with one hand and stores behind a door, and the Tuck-N-Carry lid lock doubles as a lid holder so you are not balancing a lid full of ash.
The ten-year limited warranty is roughly ten times what most competitors in this roundup offer on burners and grates. That matters if the grill lives outdoors year-round.
Expect charcoal flavor rather than convenience. There is no gas burner, so you manage coals by hand and read the result by smell and sight. For people who find that fun, that is the whole appeal.
Set your expectations on capacity: six burgers with a Weber burger press is the ceiling, not the starting point. Anyone feeding four hungry adults will need a second round.
Best use beyond the patio
This grill leaves the patio entirely. It is the one to bring to a campsite, a dock or a parking lot, and its ash catcher plus enamel finish mean a wet bag in a car trunk is not a disaster.
Where it will disappoint you
It will not replace a family-sized grill, and charcoal is prohibited on more balconies than gas or electric. Check your rules before falling for the shape of it.
6. Cuisinart Gas Grill with VersaStand, Petite Gourmet, 5500 BTU
Cuisinart Gas Grill w/VersaStand, Petite Gourmet, Portable, 5,500 BTU
150 sq in grate
5500 BTU burner
Telescoping VersaStand
Folds to 9.75 in tall
Pros
- VersaStand converts tabletop to freestanding without tools
- Dishwasher-safe porcelain-enameled grates make cleanup easy
- Folds down to 22.5 x 17.5 x 9.75 in with lid latch and carry handle
- 150 sq in fits up to 8 burgers or 6-10 chicken breasts
- Tool-free assembly gets you grilling quickly
Cons
- 5500 BTU is the lowest output here and heats slowly for searing
- 150 sq in is the smallest cooking surface in the roundup
- Single burner means no indirect heat zone
Storage is the problem this grill solves better than any other here. It folds to 22.5 by 17.5 by 9.75 inches with a lid latch and carry handle, which fits a hall closet, a car trunk or a shelf above a washing machine.
The telescoping VersaStand is the second trick: it converts from tabletop to freestanding height with no tools, so the same grill works on a picnic table and on legs when you want to cook standing.
Dishwasher-safe porcelain-enameled grates remove cleanup effort entirely, which matters on a balcony where grease drips onto surfaces that cannot be replaced.
The 5500 BTU burner is the weakest output in this roundup and reviewers are consistent about it: it heats slowly and is built for burgers, sausages and vegetables rather than a hard sear. That is a fine trade if your priority is fitting in, not searing.
When folding matters more than power
Buy this if the grill must live indoors between uses and you cook for two. A grill you will actually use from a closet beats a bigger one that never leaves the shed.
When to choose something else
Skip it if you want to sear thick steaks or cook for more than three people. At 150 square inches and 5500 BTU there is no headroom, and adding a second burner is not an option.
7. Nexgrill Tabletop 1 Burner Gas Grill, Compact Cast Aluminum Frame
Nexgrill Tabletop 1 Burner Gas Grill, Compact with Cast Aluminum Frame
10000 BTU
Cast aluminum frame
Cast iron grate
203 sq in cooking area
Pros
- Cast aluminum frame resists rust and retains heat well
- Cast iron grate delivers a strong sear and seasons naturally
- Piezo ignition lights reliably without matches or a lighter
- Removable grease tray simplifies cleanup
- Locking lid and sturdy legs make it easy to carry
Cons
- Cooking surface is modest
- better suited to two or three people
- At 15.7 lb it is one of the heavier single-burner tabletop grills
- Single burner provides no indirect heat zone
This is the materials pick. A cast aluminum frame will not corrode the way folded steel does on a damp balcony, and the cast iron grate is the right surface for searing, developing with oil and seasoning over time.
At 23.3 inches wide by 16.25 inches deep it fits most patio tables with room to spare, and the locking lid plus sturdy legs make it a one-hand carry despite the 15.7 pound weight.
Piezo ignition means no lighter and no matches, which removes the single most common failure point on a balcony grill. The removable grease tray makes cleanup a fifteen-second job.
The cooking area is the limit. With 203 square inches of primary surface, this is a grill for two or three people. Plan two rounds for four, and skip it entirely for a family cookout.
Why the grate material matters
Cast iron stores heat and delivers it to the food during the gap between burns, which is exactly what produces a hard sear on a small burner. Plated steel grates lose that energy, and you sear by waiting instead.
What to watch
Confirm your cylinder format before buying, since this runs on small propane tanks and not every fitting is universal. Also check the 23.3 inch width against your table, because there is no folding shelf.
8. Charbroil Bistro Pro 2-in-1 Gas and Charcoal Grill
Charbroil Bistro Pro 2-in-1 Gas & Charcoal Grill with 240 Sq. In. Cooking Space, Compact Black Grill for Patio & Balcony
240 sq in cooking space
Up to 750 F
Gas and charcoal
23 x 32.8 in footprint
Pros
- Switches from gas to charcoal in minutes with no lighter fluid
- Reaches up to 750 F for strong sear marks and browning
- 240 sq in plus warming rack serves up to 12 burgers
- Compact footprint built for patios and balconies
- Two-year limited warranty on lid and firebox
Cons
- At 51 lb it is by far the heaviest grill in this roundup
- Switching fuel types requires clearing and re-lighting
- Smallest review base in the group at 145 ratings
One grill, two fuels. Drop charcoal on the built-in rack, light it with the gas burner and you skip lighter fluid entirely. For people who want gas convenience on a weekday and charcoal flavor on a Saturday, nothing else here does both.
It also reaches up to 750 F, which puts real searing within reach on a compact frame, and 240 square inches of primary cooking space plus a warming rack covers about twelve burgers.
Both fuels in one unit means both sets of rules apply. If charcoal is prohibited on your patio, the 2-in-1 feature is useless to you, and the 23 by 32.8 inch cart footprint is the widest we measured.
At 51 pounds this is by far the heaviest grill here, and moving it up stairs or repositioning it on a balcony is a two-person job. That weight is the reason most people end up disappointed with it.
Who benefits from fuel switching
It suits households that cook for two on a weeknight and eight on a weekend. The fuel change takes minutes, so the grill earns its footprint across a whole season rather than one cookout.
Where the 51 pounds bites
If you share a grill with a downstairs neighbor, cannot manage stairs, or plan to shuffle the grill around the patio as people arrive, this is the wrong grill. Read our wall-mounted patio heater guide for a lighter-weight alternative to a standing flame.
9. Charbroil Portable Convective 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Charbroil Portable Convective 1-Burner Propane Gas Grill – 465133010
190 sq in cooking space
11000 BTU
24 x 12 x 15 in
11 lb
Pros
- 11 lb makes it one of the easiest grills to carry up stairs
- 190 sq in in a very compact 24 inch footprint
- Porcelain-coated grates resist rust and clean easily
- Steel construction with a high-temperature finish to slow rust
- Folds down for transport and indoor storage
Cons
- Single burner offers no zone control over heat
- 190 sq in limits larger cuts and crowds a group meal
- 90-day parts warranty is short for a grill
At 11 pounds this is the lightest propane grill we tested, and in a building where you carry everything up a stairwell that is a design feature rather than a compromise. It folds flat and stores in a closet between seasons.
Despite its size, the burner is a genuine 11000 BTU unit, so it heats faster than many tabletop grills twice its weight. Owners describe it as a no-fuss cooker for burgers, sausages and vegetables.
Porcelain-coated grates resist rust and wipe clean, and the powder-coated steel frame is finished to slow corrosion in humidity. Both are sensible details for a grill that lives on a damp balcony.
One burner and 190 square inches means no indirect zone and no room for a full spread of food at once. For two people this is exactly right, and the 90-day parts warranty is the thinnest coverage here.
Best for renters and shared spaces
Choose this if you cannot install anything, need to move the grill between tenants, or want the lowest weight that still runs on propane. It also suits a balcony where a 24 inch footprint is the realistic limit.
What you cannot cook on it
Skip it for a family cookout. 190 square inches cannot stage raw and cooked food in separate zones, and a single burner cannot drop a side of ribs into indirect heat.
10. Cuisinart 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
Cuisinart Charcoal Grill, Portable Tabletop Design, Locking Lid, 14″
196 sq in grate
2 lb
Adjustable dual vents
Three lid locks
Pros
- 2 lb makes it genuinely carryable for camping and tailgating
- Adjustable dual vents allow real low-and-slow or high-heat control
- Three lid locks stop coals and ash spilling in transit
- Chrome-plated grate resists rust and cleans quickly
- Enamel-coated firebox and ash base make cleanup simple
Cons
- Cooking grate sits on a shallow lip and can tip food into the coals
- Holds little charcoal and loses heat quickly
- Thin steel construction flexes with hot coals
- 90-day limited warranty
Two pounds. There is no lighter grill for cooking over fire, and that number decides this pick for anyone who moves a grill regularly rather than setting it up once on a patio.
196 square inches of chrome-plated grate and adjustable dual vents give more temperature control than the size suggests, letting you back the vents down for slow cooking and open them for a hard sear.
Three lid locks keep coals and ash contained when the grill is carried, which is the detail that separates it from cheaper kettles. The enamel-coated firebox and ash base make cleanup quick.
The most common complaint we found is the shallow retaining lip on the grate, which lets food tip into the coals, and reviewers describe drilling small shims as a fix. Heat retention is also limited, so this is not a long-cook grill. Our full charcoal grill guide covers larger charcoal options.
Where 2 pounds changes everything
It makes camping, tailgating and balcony cooking realistic for one person. Carry it up four flights, set it on a folding table, cook six burgers and carry the ash out. Most grills this size make that trip a two-person job.
What the grate lip means for you
Fish fillets and small cutlets are where you will notice it most. Cook them over the coals rather than on the grate, or check the grate seating every few cooks, because a lip that lets a chicken breast fall will do the same.
11. Techwood 1600W Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill with Stand
Electric Grill, Techwood Indoor/Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill, 1600W Portable Removable Stand Grill with Adjustable Heat & Drip Tray, Double Layer Design for Party, Patio & Backyard (Black)
1600 watts
Double layer rack
Temperature probe
8 x 16 x 18 in body
Pros
- 8 x 16 x 18 in body fits a small balcony
- RV or car trunk
- Five heat settings plus a temperature probe for repeatable results
- Double-layer rack cooks more food at once than single-deck models
- Removable stand and drip tray make it easy to move and clean
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grates resist rust
Cons
- Some owners report the heating element failing within about six months
- Upper warming rack sits close to the lower rack under the lid
- Cleaning requires disassembly and heat drops when the lid opens
- 12-month warranty is short relative to peers
This is the second electric option and the one to buy if you want open-grate cooking with no flame. Unlike a contact plate, the double-layer rack design and cast iron grates give you grill-style sear marks while staying electrically powered.
At 8 by 16 by 18 inches it is the smallest electric grill here by a wide margin, and the double-layer rack serves a family of three to five.
Five heat settings with a temperature probe is the right control layout for repeatability, and the venting hood helps keep meat tender on longer cooks. Removable stand and drip tray keep cleanup contained.
The recurring durability complaint is element failure after roughly six months of intermittent use, and the upper rack sits close enough to the lower one that tall food will not fit with the lid closed.
Electric with real grill marks
If your rules ban flame but you still want sear marks and open-grate cooking, this does more of that than the George Foreman plate grill. The temperature probe also lets you cook to a target rather than a guess.
Before you buy
Plan on cleaning it more thoroughly than a gas grill, since it requires disassembly, and check that your outlet is within reach of where you intend to cook. A summer of evening use is where the element complaints cluster.
Can You Grill on a Balcony? Building Rules and the 10-Foot Rule
The short answer is that you often cannot, and the grill you want is the wrong purchase until you confirm otherwise. The clearances and restrictions below are common patterns rather than a substitute for your own documents.
Check four things in this order. First, your lease or HOA rules, which frequently prohibit grills, charcoal and any open flame outright. Second, your building or property manager, who can impose rules tighter than the lease. Third, your municipality’s fire code. Fourth, your insurance policy, which in many policies ties to fire-code compliance.
On that fire-code point, a widely cited requirement is that portable barbecues sit at least 10 feet from any combustible part of a building. That single number disqualifies most small balconies for an open-flame grill. Forum discussion on patio and barbecue boards shows many owners only discover the rule after buying the grill, and the real-world consequence can be losing coverage rather than a fine.
Fuel restrictions vary more than people expect. Charcoal and wood are banned more often than gas, and gas is banned more often than electric. If your rules are ambiguous, the safest path is the electric option. Before you finish setting up, check whether your patio also needs bug control or cooling for the same space, since both are easier to solve before the furniture is in place.
How Big a Grill Do You Actually Need?
Two people need roughly 150 to 200 square inches of primary cooking area. Four people need 300 to 360 square inches. Six need 400 square inches or more, which puts you outside this roundup on purpose.
That rule of thumb assumes you cook burgers, sausages, chops and vegetables, which is what most patio cooking is. If you smoke ribs for six hours, size up, because a 200 square inch grate cannot hold a rack of ribs and side dishes at the same time.
Now measure the patio, and measure it the way the grill will actually be used. Check the width with side shelves extended if you want them, the depth with the lid open rather than closed, and the clearance from any railing, wall or building surface. Add a path of at least 18 inches so people can move around it.
A grill you have to squeeze into a gap will get moved indoors after two uses. A grill that fits with room to walk around it stays outside and gets used all summer.
Gas vs Electric vs Charcoal for a Small Space
Choose based on what your building permits first and flavor preference second. A rule violation ends the discussion regardless of how good the grill is.
Gas gives the fastest heat and the widest food range, and two-burner models add real zone control. It carries the highest risk of a rule violation and requires storing a propane cylinder, which many leases also regulate. For most private patios, this is the right answer.
Charcoal delivers the flavor people are actually chasing and works on the smallest footprints, but it takes longer, produces more smoke and is prohibited on more balconies than any other fuel. If smoke bothers neighbors, charcoal is a poor neighborly choice.
Electric is the only fuel that is usually always permitted. It also needs an outlet, it holds temperature less precisely in wind, and it cannot produce smoke flavor. Weigh that against the fact that it is the only grill you can legally use in half the buildings where people ask this question.
Propane Tanks and Storing a Grill Indoors
A standard 20 lb propane tank gives you long cooks without mid-meal refills, but it is 12 inches in diameter and roughly 18 inches tall with the handle, which is a lot of patio in a small space. A disposable 1 lb cylinder fits almost anywhere and travels well, but runs out sooner and gets replaced constantly.
Three grills here work with both formats, including the MASTER COOK with its included hose and regulator, and the Megamaster, Nexgrill and Charbroil portable units all run on small cylinders. Check which fitting your grill uses before you commit to a tank format.
For storage, weigh two things: weight and how long the grill can stay closed. The 2 lb Cuisinart charcoal grill and the 8.4 lb Weber Smokey Joe are the easiest to move in and out. The 51 lb Bistro Pro and the 22 lb Cuisinart two-burner need a plan, and a grill cover helps but does not solve a carrying problem.
Never store a propane cylinder attached to a grill indoors. Detach it, and keep cylinders outdoors or in a ventilated space where they are out of reach of children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size grill do I need for 2 people?
For two people, aim for 150 to 200 square inches of primary cooking area. That fits burgers, sausages, chops and a tray of vegetables at once. Anything larger is wasted space on a small patio, and anything smaller means cooking in two rounds.
Can you have a grill on an apartment balcony?
Often not. Many leases and HOAs prohibit grills, charcoal or any open flame, and most fire codes and insurance policies require a portable barbecue to sit at least 10 feet from any combustible part of a building. Check your lease, your building manager, your local fire code and your policy before buying.
Do apartments allow propane grills?
It depends entirely on your lease and your local fire code. Propane is banned more often than electric, and a cylinder stored indoors can violate separate rules. If your rules are unclear, an electric grill is the safest option because it carries no flame and no fuel tank.
How close can a grill be to a building?
A commonly cited fire-code and insurance requirement is at least 10 feet between a portable barbecue and any combustible part of a structure, which usually includes wood decking, railings and siding. That distance is what disqualifies many small balconies for open-flame cooking.
Is an electric grill as good as a gas grill?
Not for flavor. An electric grill with a cast iron grate produces sear marks and holds temperature, but it cannot produce the char and smoke flavor of gas or charcoal, and it needs an outlet within reach. For apartments that ban flame, it is often the only grill you can legally use.
Conclusion
If your patio bans flame, buy the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill. It works nearly anywhere, weighs 8.7 pounds and carries a 4.6 average across more than 18,000 ratings. If flame is allowed and space is tight, the Cuisinart 20000 BTU two-burner is the strongest cooking machine here, with 275 square inches and true two-zone heat. If you cook for four or five, take the Megamaster and its 360 square inch grate. For the smallest footprints, the Weber Smokey Joe and the 2 lb Cuisinart 14-inch charcoal grill carry anywhere, and the Cuisinart Petite Gourmet folds to under 10 inches tall when it has to live indoors.
Before any of them, check your lease and your fire-code clearance. That decision comes first, and it costs nothing to get right.