Best Time to Buy a Grill

Best Months to Buy a Grill

September: End-of-Season Clearance (Best Month)

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of grilling season for retailers, and clearance pricing is aggressive. Home Depot and Lowe's discount floor models and remaining inventory 25-50% to free up space for fall and holiday products.

Weber, Char-Broil, and Nexgrill models that sat on the sales floor all summer get the deepest cuts. A Weber Spirit gas grill that started the season at $500 can drop to $300-350. Assembled floor models -- fully functional, just lightly weathered from store display -- go even lower. Traeger and Blackstone rarely discount below MAP (minimum advertised price) through retailers, but September is when you will find the exceptions.

Tip: Visit your local Home Depot or Lowe's in person during the last two weeks of September. Ask about floor model pricing specifically -- these deals are not always reflected online and can be negotiated further in store.

May: Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is the traditional start of grilling season, and retailers use grill deals as traffic drivers. Discounts of 15-25% are standard across gas, charcoal, and pellet grills. This is the best time if you want full selection -- every model is in stock and seasonal accessories are fully stocked.

Home Depot and Lowe's run their largest grill promotions of the spring. Weber often offers a free accessory bundle (cover, tool set, thermometer) rather than a direct price cut. Traeger runs spring promotions with free pellet supplies or accessories on mid-tier models. Costco stocks its grill selection from April through July, with Memorial Day being peak inventory.

July: Fourth of July

Fourth of July sales bridge the gap between Memorial Day and Labor Day with 15-25% off. Inventory is still strong but early-season models may be starting to thin out.

Blackstone flat-top griddles often see their best pricing around this weekend. Ace Hardware, an often-overlooked grill retailer, runs strong Fourth of July promotions on Weber and Traeger.

Other Buying Windows

• November (Black Friday): Limited grill selection, but remaining inventory gets 30-45% off. Great if you find what you want.
• October (Fall Home Refresh): Continued clearance from September; fewer models but deeper cuts.
• March-April (Spring Sale): New models arrive at full price. Skip unless you want the latest release.

What to Buy When (By Grill Type)

Gas grills ($200-2,000+): Most popular for convenience. Weber Spirit (2-burner, $400-550) is the entry-level benchmark. Weber Genesis (3-4 burner, $800-1,300) is the enthusiast pick. Napoleon and Broil King compete well in the mid-range. For budget buyers, Char-Broil and Nexgrill (Home Depot exclusive) deliver decent performance at $200-400. Best deals in September.

Pellet grills ($400-2,500): Use wood pellets for consistent smoke flavor with set-it-and-forget-it convenience. Traeger dominates but holds pricing tightly. Camp Chef ($500-900) offers better value with more features. Pit Boss ($350-700) is the budget entry point. Best for low-and-slow smoking. Best deals on Memorial Day and Black Friday.

Charcoal grills ($50-2,000+): Best flavor but require the most skill. The Weber Kettle ($130-180) is one of the best values in outdoor cooking. Kamado-style ceramic cookers (Big Green Egg $900-2,500, Kamado Joe $800-2,200) grill, smoke, roast, and bake with incredible heat retention. Kamado Joe includes a cart, divide-and-conquer grate system, and air-lift hinge in the base price -- accessories that Big Green Egg charges $300-500 extra for. Best deals on floor models in September-October.

Flat-top griddles ($200-600): Fastest-growing segment. Blackstone owns this category; the 36-inch model ($350-450) is the sweet spot. Perfect for breakfast, smash burgers, stir-fry, and feeding large groups. Not ideal for slow smoking or traditional grill marks. Best deals around Fourth of July.

Where to Buy

Budget (under $400)

• Home Depot: Nexgrill and Char-Broil gas grills. Best end-of-season clearance.
• Walmart: Pit Boss pellet grills and Blackstone griddles at competitive prices.
• Amazon: Weber Kettle charcoal grills and accessories.

Mid-Range ($400-$1,000)

• Home Depot and Lowe's: Weber Spirit/Genesis and Traeger mid-tier. Largest selection with seasonal promotions.
• Ace Hardware: Personalized service and Weber expertise. Strong Fourth of July and Memorial Day promotions.
• Costco: Traeger and Louisiana Grills bundles with covers included at member-exclusive prices.

Premium ($1,000+)

• Specialty dealers: Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe (use store locators on their websites).
• Traeger.com: Direct for Ironwood and Timberline lines.
• Ace Hardware: Full-service Big Green Egg purchases with accessories and expertise.

• Buy at the end of the season, not the beginning. September and October pricing is 25-50% lower than May. Unless you need a grill for Memorial Day, wait. Grills don't change significantly year over year.
• Assembled floor models are a hidden deal. Retailers discount assembled grills an extra 10-20% because they can't rebox them. These have been sitting under a store roof, not in the weather, and are fully functional.
• Size your grill to your actual use. A 4-burner gas grill sounds great, but if you typically cook for 2-4 people, a 2-3 burner model heats up faster, uses less fuel, and costs hundreds less. The 36-inch Blackstone is the exception -- the extra cooking surface is always useful.
• Factor in fuel costs. Propane is cheapest ($15-20 per tank, lasts 15-20 hours). Charcoal costs $1-2 per cook. Wood pellets cost $15-25 per 20-lb bag (roughly 5-8 cooks). Natural gas is cheapest long-term but requires a gas line installation ($150-300).
• Buy a cover immediately. A $30-50 fitted cover extends your grill's life by years. UV damage and moisture are the top killers of grills. This is non-negotiable for any grill over $300.
• Don't overlook Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg. Big Green Egg has the brand recognition, but Kamado Joe includes a cart/stand, divide-and-conquer grate system, and air-lift hinge in the base price. Egg owners often spend $300-500 on accessories that come standard with a Kamado Joe.
• For pellet grills, check WiFi connectivity. Being able to monitor and adjust temperature from your phone makes pellet grilling dramatically more convenient. Traeger, Camp Chef, and Weber SmokeFire all offer app integration on mid-tier models and up.