Best Infrared Grill for a Backyard That Sears Hard

The best infrared grill for homeowners is the BIG HORN OUTDOORS 16-inch propane model, because its 19,000 BTU top-down burner is claimed to reach 1500°F in three to five minutes and the whole unit weighs 30.9 lb. If you need to cook for a full table instead of searing two steaks, the Charbroil Pro Series 4-Burner cabinet takes over. Think of this field as three tiers: a compact sear box, a mid-size multi-cooker, and a full outdoor kitchen on wheels. What you pay for is cooking area and warranty length, not hotter heat.

Best infrared grill for homeowners at a glance

How I screened these seven listings

I worked from published listing data only: specifications, manufacturer feature claims, category placement and how each product sits against the others on price and sales position. No lab, no test kitchen. Just the numbers a shopper can verify on the page.

Three things decided the ranking:

1. Is the infrared burner doing the main cooking, or is it a bolt-on? Two picks here use infrared as a side sear burner only. That matters more than the total BTU figure.
2. Is a weight or dimension figure published? Five of the seven publish a weight. One does not, and that is a real gap when you are measuring a patio corner.
3. Is a warranty stated, and for how long? Warranty terms split this field harder than heat output does.

What got cut before ranking: anything without a stated infrared element, and anything where the listing gave no dimensions at all. That left a genuinely mixed set. Two full cabinets, one compact propane sear box, one propane roaster, one indoor electric unit and one cover.

The set is uneven on purpose, because the search results for the best infrared grill for homeowners are uneven. One of the seven is an accessory, not a grill, and I have ranked and labelled it as exactly that rather than pretending it competes.

What actually decides an infrared grill purchase?

Most guides rank on BTU. That is the wrong yardstick here, and the data in this set shows why.

The Monument publishes a 72,000 BTU claim across four main burners plus two more. The BIG HORN publishes 19,000 BTU on a single burner. The BIG HORN is the one claiming 1500°F. Spread heat across 723 sq in and you get a warm surface. Concentrate it in a 13-inch chamber and you get a sear.

So the deciding question is concentration, not total output. Ask: how many square inches is that burner heating?

The second deciding factor is where the infrared sits. On the BIG HORN and the Big Easy, infrared is the cooking system. On the Veralune and the Monument, infrared is one side burner next to conventional main burners. Both approaches are legitimate. They solve different problems, and the listings do not always make the difference obvious.

Here is what to compare, in order:

• Burner-to-surface ratio. One 19,000 BTU burner over 13 inches beats 55,000 BTU over 402 sq in for crust.
• Published temperature claim. 1500°F and 1560°F are the two claims in this set. Both are manufacturer figures.
• Grate material. Porcelain-enamelled cast iron on the Veralune and the Monument, stainless on the BIG HORN.
• Warranty on the burner specifically. Charbroil states 10 years on the burner. Monument states 8 years limited on stainless burners.

1. BIG HORN OUTDOORS Infrared Propane Gas Grill 1500°F in 3-5 — Best overall

A 30.9 lb salamander-style broiler that concentrates 19,000 BTU into a 13-inch chamber, which is the whole reason to buy infrared.

Best for: steak-focused cooks with a small patio, deck or balcony corner Skip it if: you need to feed six people at once

This is the only pick in the set built around top-down infrared heat. BIG HORN describes it as modelled on a restaurant salamander broiler, with the burner above the food rather than below it. The claimed figures are 19,000 BTU and 1500°F in three to five minutes, and those are the manufacturer's numbers rather than measured ones.

The footprint is what makes it work as a default. At 15.4 x 15.4 x 25 in and 30.9 lb, it sits on a table and stores in a cupboard. Compare that to the 178.2 lb Charbroil cabinet. One person can carry this. The listing describes a 7-position adjustable rack inside a 13-inch chamber, plus a pizza stone and cooking grids, which gives you distance control instead of dial control.

It also happens to be the pick buyers choose most often in this set, and the second-cheapest of the seven. Construction is stated as rust-resistant stainless steel.

The trade-off is capacity. A 13-inch chamber holds two large steaks, not eight burgers, and the 1-year warranty is the shortest of the four grills that publish one.

Pros:

• Single 19,000 BTU burner concentrated over 13 inches
• Only true top-down infrared design here
• 30.9 lb and 15.4 in square, genuinely portable
• 7-position rack for distance control
• Second-cheapest of the seven picks

Cons:

• 13-inch chamber cannot feed a crowd
• 1-year warranty, shortest of the grills that state one
• No lid thermometer mentioned in the listing
• Only two sellers list it

2. Charbroil Pro Series with Amplifire Infrared Technology — Best premium

The most expensive pick here, and the only one backed by a 10-year burner warranty.

Best for: homeowners who want one permanent patio grill that handles everything Skip it if: you have to move or store the grill between cooks

This is the full outdoor cooking station of the group. Four burners plus a side burner, a cabinet base, and dimensions of 47.7 x 23.7 x 61.4 in. At 178.2 lb it is more than five times the weight of the BIG HORN, and it is not going anywhere once assembled.

Charbroil calls the system Amplifire and claims it eliminates flare-ups and produces up to 50% juicier food. Treat both as marketing figures. The concrete part of the listing is the 3-in-1 setup: a griddle insert and charcoal trays are stated as included, so gas, griddle and charcoal all run on the same frame out of the box.

The warranty is where this pick earns its position. Charbroil states 10 years on the burner, 3 years on the firebox and 1 year on other parts. Nothing else here comes close on the burner term, and burners are the part that fails on a gas grill. Released in 2024, and only one seller lists it.

Against the BIG HORN, it trades sear concentration for surface area and longevity. It is also the slowest starter of the two on paper: a cabinet this size takes real assembly time.

Pros:

• 10-year burner warranty, longest in this set
• Griddle insert and charcoal trays stated as included
• Four burners plus a dedicated side burner
• Cabinet storage under the cooking surface
• 2024 release, the newest of the full-size grills

Cons:

• 178.2 lb, effectively permanent once assembled
• Highest price position of all seven picks
• 61.4 in tall, needs real patio clearance
• Infrared claims are brand language, not a temperature figure

3. Monument Grills Larger 4-Burner Propane Gas Grills — Most versatile

The only pick that pairs a dedicated sear burner with a stainless rotisserie kit in the box.

Best for: cooks who want a sear zone, a side burner and rotisserie in one cabinet Skip it if: you want a published weight before you commit patio space

Monument sells this as a two-item bundle: the grill plus a stainless steel rotisserie kit. That combination is unique in this set. Nothing else here spins a chicken.

The claimed layout is four 304 stainless main burners, one side burner and one high-heat sear burner, for 72,000 BTU total. Cooking area is claimed at 723 sq in, split between a 513 sq in primary surface and a 210 sq in warming rack. Those are the largest area figures in the group. Grates are described as porcelain-coated cast iron over stainless flame tamers.

Two details make it easier to live with. Knob lights for cooking after dark, and a ClearView lid window so you can check food without dumping heat. The published dimensions are 46 x 19 x 54 in.

The warranty structure is unusually detailed: 2 years overall for orders from August 2024 onward, 8 years limited on the stainless burners, 1 year on electrical components. Earlier orders get 1 year only.

What holds it back to third is data, not design. No weight is published, no assembled shipping figure, and it is the slowest-selling pick of the seven. The infrared element is a sear burner beside the main grates, not the main cooking surface.

Pros:

• Rotisserie kit included as a second item
• 723 sq in claimed total cooking area, largest here
• 8-year limited warranty on stainless burners
• Knob lights and ClearView lid window
• Porcelain-coated cast iron grates over flame tamers

Cons:

• No published weight anywhere in the listing
• Infrared is a side sear burner, not the main grate
• Second-highest price position in the set
• Slowest seller of the seven
• Warranty terms differ by purchase date

4. Veralune 4 Burner Gas Grill with Infrared Side Burner — Best for heavy use

Four main burners, a 2-year warranty and 88 lb of cast-iron-grated grill at an entry price position.

Best for: frequent weekend grilling for a full table on a budget Skip it if: the main grate has to be infrared too

The Veralune is the value play among the full-size grills. It sits in the entry price group, third-cheapest of the seven, yet it publishes a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The Charbroil Big Easy above it in price states only 1 year.

The stated setup is four main burners plus one infrared side burner, 55,000 BTU total, over a 402 sq in main cooking area. Veralune describes the grates as heavy-duty porcelain-enamelled cast iron, which is the same grate approach as the Monument. Two side prep tables come stated, one of which houses the auxiliary burner.

At 88 lb with two wheels on the base, this is the middle ground on mobility. Half the weight of the Charbroil cabinet, nearly three times the BIG HORN. Published dimensions are 45.1 x 49.6 x 18.1 in. Colour is listed as purple, which is either a selling point or a deal-breaker depending on your patio.

The infrared burner here heats the side unit, not the main grates, so this is a conventional gas grill with an infrared sear station attached. That is worth knowing before you buy it expecting the BIG HORN's crust.

Pros:

• 2-year manufacturer warranty at an entry price position
• Porcelain-enamelled cast iron grates
• 402 sq in main cooking area plus two prep tables
• Wheels on the base at 88 lb
• Four main burners plus infrared side unit

Cons:

• Infrared applies to the side burner only
• Purple finish limits where it looks right
• No published temperature figure
• Only one seller lists it

5. Charbroil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker — Best for families

The only pick that fits a 21 lb turkey, and the only one that fries without oil.

Best for: holiday turkeys, whole chickens and oil-free frying Skip it if: searing steaks is your main use

This one is filed under smokers rather than gas grills, and that tells you what it is for. Charbroil states a smoking and roasting basket that fits up to a 21 lb turkey, plus oil-free frying, slow roasting and smoking in one body. No other pick in this set will do a whole bird upright.

The infrared claim is Charbroil's TRU-Infrared system, described as delivering consistent cooking with no flare-ups. Grilling capacity is stated as a 180 sq in infrared grate, which is the smallest published grilling area here and is clearly the secondary function.

Weight is 22.7 lb, the lightest of any pick in this guide, with dimensions of 36.2 x 23.1 x 23.4 in. That combination makes it the easiest full-size cooker to stow in a garage over winter. Ignition is rotary rather than push-button.

It is a 2010 design with a 1-year limited warranty and a mid-range price position. That is the honest trade: you are paying mid-money for a specialised roaster with a modest grate, not for a grill that competes with the four-burner cabinets on surface area or with the BIG HORN on sear temperature.

Pros:

• Basket rated for a 21 lb turkey
• Fries with no oil, roasts and smokes
• 22.7 lb, lightest pick in the guide
• TRU-Infrared claimed to prevent flare-ups
• Compact 36.2 in tall footprint

Cons:

• 180 sq in grate, smallest grilling area here
• 1-year limited warranty at a mid price position
• 2010 design, oldest in the set
• Rotary ignition rather than push-button
• No published temperature claim

6. Gemelli Home Indoor Steakhouse Grille — Best upgrade

A 1560°F ceramic infrared claim, the highest figure in this guide, on a countertop unit with a cool-touch shell.

Best for: apartment dwellers and winter steak cooking indoors Skip it if: you want to cook outdoors on a patio

Gemelli claims ceramic infrared elements reaching 1560°F in under five minutes. That is the highest temperature figure published in this set, edging the BIG HORN's 1500°F claim. Both are manufacturer numbers, and Gemelli's line about being hotter than any other grill on the market is marketing rather than verified fact.

The reason it sits here rather than higher is category. This is an indoor electric grill, filed under Indoor Grills and Griddles, not a propane unit for a deck. If you are shopping for a backyard cooker, this is the wrong shape entirely. If your outdoor space is a fire-escape-free apartment, it is the only pick that works.

Practical details are good. It weighs 24 lb, measures 18.5 x 15 x 20 in, and the listing states a cool-touch exterior. Guide rails are removable and all removable accessories are described as dishwasher safe. Control is a single dial for time and temperature. The warranty is stated as 2 years, which matches the Veralune and beats both Charbroils.

The cost is scale and setting. One dial, no side burner, no cabinet, and a premium price position for a unit that sears two steaks in a kitchen.

Pros:

• 1560°F claim, highest figure in this guide
• 2-year warranty, longer than either Charbroil's parts term
• Cool-touch exterior for indoor use
• Removable guide rails, accessories stated dishwasher safe
• 24 lb countertop footprint

Cons:

• Indoor electric, not an outdoor propane grill
• Premium price position for small capacity
• Single dial, no zone control
• Needs a power outlet and kitchen ventilation

7. SCAUSY Grill Cover for Big Horn Outdoors Infrared Gas — Best budget pick

The cheapest item in this guide, and the one thing the winner needs that it does not include.

Best for: protecting the BIG HORN 16-inch grill between cooks Skip it if: you bought any other grill in this guide

Let me be direct: this is an accessory, not a grill. It is in this guide because the search results put it here, and because it is the only cover cut for the winning pick. Buying it as your infrared grill would be a mistake, so I have labelled it for what it is and ranked it last.

As a cover, the published claims are specific. SCAUSY describes 600D oxford fabric with a premium PU coating and fully sealed, double-stitched seams, plus front and back drawstrings for windy days. There is a top handle for hanging it to dry, and it rinses clean with water.

The fit is the point. SCAUSY states it is custom-tailored for the BIG HORN OUTDOORS 16-inch infrared propane gas grill, and the listing tells you to confirm your model first. Given the BIG HORN is stainless steel sitting outdoors, a sealed cover is the difference between a clean sear box and a stained one.

The listed dimensions of 1 x 1 x 1 in are clearly a placeholder rather than a real measurement, so match it by grill model, not by numbers.

Pros:

• Cut specifically for the 16-inch BIG HORN grill
• 600D oxford with PU coating and sealed seams
• Drawstrings front and back for wind
• Top handle for hanging to dry
• Cheapest item in this guide

Cons:

• Not a grill, so it cannot be your only purchase
• Useless if you buy any other pick here
• No published warranty
• Listed dimensions are a placeholder
• Slowest-selling item of the seven

Does "for homeowners" mean anything on a grill listing?

Honestly, no. Amazon's results for the best infrared grill for homeowners ignored that word entirely, and not one of these seven listings states a homeowner-specific feature. There is no published spec for "suits a house". So judge it yourself, using the figures that are published.

Three checks that stand in for it:

• Footprint against your actual space. Measure before you buy. The Charbroil cabinet needs 47.7 x 23.7 in of floor and 61.4 in of height. The BIG HORN needs 15.4 x 15.4 in on a table.
• Weight against how often you will move it. 178.2 lb is a fixture. 30.9 lb goes back in the shed. 88 lb on wheels rolls, on a flat surface.
• Fuel access. Every full-size pick here is propane, so you need somewhere legal and dry to keep a tank. The Gemelli needs an outlet instead.

One thing worth saying plainly: an apartment renter and a homeowner with a 20-foot deck should not buy the same product from this list. The renter buys the Gemelli. The deck owner buys the BIG HORN or a cabinet.

What does more money buy across these picks?

Not heat. That is the surprise when you line these seven up. The cheapest grill in the set publishes the second-highest temperature claim.

Moving up the price positions buys three things:

1. Cooking area. The BIG HORN gives you a 13-inch chamber. Step up and the Veralune gives 402 sq in, the Monument claims 723 sq in total.
2. Warranty length on the parts that fail. Charbroil's 10 years on the burner and Monument's 8 years limited on stainless burners are both at the premium end. The BIG HORN and the Big Easy state 1 year.
3. Extra cooking modes. Griddle inserts and charcoal trays on the Charbroil. A rotisserie kit on the Monument. A side burner on three of the picks.

What it does not buy is a hotter sear. Concentration does that, and concentration is cheap. So if your reason for wanting infrared is crust on a ribeye, spending more here actively works against you: you get more square inches for the same or less heat per inch.

That is the single most useful thing to know when comparing the best infrared grill for homeowners against a conventional four-burner.

What the listings do not tell you

Some gaps are worth naming before you commit.

• Assembly time is never stated. A 178.2 lb cabinet grill arrives in pieces. Budget an afternoon and a second pair of hands.
• The Monument publishes no weight. For a cabinet grill of 46 x 19 x 54 in, that is the one figure you want when planning where it lives.
• Temperature claims are peak, not sustained. 1500°F and 1560°F are what the manufacturers state the elements reach. Neither listing says how long that holds with food on the grate.
• BTU figures are totals, not per-burner. The 72,000 BTU and 55,000 BTU claims cover every burner running at once, side burners included.
• Only three of the seven state a colour you might not want. Purple on the Veralune, silver on two, black on three.
• Cover fit is model-specific. The SCAUSY is cut for one grill. Match the model number, not the size class.

The pattern across these listings is that heat gets advertised and logistics get omitted. Measure your space, weigh your willingness to assemble, and the choice narrows fast.

The verdict

If you want crust on a steak, buy the BIG HORN OUTDOORS 16-inch infrared grill. It is the only top-down salamander-style unit in this set, it concentrates 19,000 BTU into a 13-inch chamber, and at 30.9 lb it stores between cooks. Add the SCAUSY cover, which is cut for that exact 16-inch model, and you have a complete setup for less than the Charbroil cabinet alone.

If you want to cook for a table, buy the Charbroil Pro Series 4-Burner. Four burners plus a side burner, a griddle insert and charcoal trays stated as included, and a 10-year burner warranty that no other pick here matches. Its 178.2 lb weight makes it permanent, so decide the spot before it arrives.

The cutoff is four people. Below that, sear concentration wins and the BIG HORN is the better buy. Above it, surface area wins and you need a cabinet. Two conditions flip that: if you cook indoors only, take the Gemelli with its 1560°F claim and 2-year warranty. If you want a rotisserie, take the Monument, which is the only pick that includes a stainless spit kit and claims 723 sq in of surface.

FAQ

Is an infrared grill worth it for a typical backyard?

An infrared grill is worth it if steak crust is your priority. The BIG HORN claims 1500°F in three to five minutes, which no conventional burner reaches. If you mostly cook chicken, vegetables and burgers at moderate heat across a wide surface, a conventional four-burner with an infrared side unit like the Veralune or Monument makes more practical sense.

Which is the best value infrared grill in this guide?

The best value infrared grill here is the BIG HORN, which is the second-cheapest of the seven picks yet publishes the strongest concentrated-heat claim. The Veralune is the value choice among full-size cabinets: it sits in the entry price group with four main burners, a 402 sq in main surface, cast iron grates and a 2-year warranty.

How much cooking space do these picks actually give you?

Cooking space runs from 180 sq in on the Charbroil Big Easy grate to a claimed 723 sq in total on the Monument, split as 513 sq in primary plus a 210 sq in warming rack. The Veralune states 402 sq in. The BIG HORN publishes a 13-inch chamber width instead of a square-inch figure.

BIG HORN or Charbroil Pro Series: which should I buy?

BIG HORN or Charbroil Pro Series comes down to weight and capacity. The BIG HORN weighs 30.9 lb, measures 15.4 x 15.4 x 25 in, and concentrates one 19,000 BTU burner for searing. The Charbroil weighs 178.2 lb, measures 47.7 x 23.7 x 61.4 in, adds griddle and charcoal modes, and carries a 10-year burner warranty.

What mistake do first-time infrared grill buyers make?

The mistake first-time infrared buyers make is chasing total BTU. A 72,000 BTU claim spread across 723 sq in produces less searing power per square inch than 19,000 BTU concentrated over 13 inches. Check where the infrared element sits too: on four of these picks it is a side sear burner, not the main cooking grate.

Start by measuring the spot where the grill will actually live, then work backwards. If that spot is a table corner or a small balcony, the BIG HORN plus the matching SCAUSY cover is the whole decision, and 30.9 lb means you can move it when guests need the space. If it is a paved patio with room for a 47.7-inch cabinet, the Charbroil earns its price with a 10-year burner warranty and three cooking modes on one frame. Either way, buy for the heat you concentrate, not the heat you total up.

Last updated: September 22, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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