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Want to save on a new grill? Some of our favorite models are on sale (below) and you can browse more 4th of July grill deals at the bottom of this story.

Having a grill is the ultimate indulgence in backyard cooking: You fire it up when the time is right, and your meal is ready in minutes. When it comes to choosing one, you could get a charcoal, pellet, electric, portable or tabletop style, but if you’re looking for something that makes outdoor cooking easy, gas grills are the way to go. They’re fairly straightforward to use even for even grilling newbies, heat up quickly and often provide plenty of surface area to whip up a dinner for the entire family. But there’s a huge difference between having any old version and owning one of the best gas grills on the market.

Powerful and portable, the Broil King Signet Broil King 3 has three burners that can crank out ... [+] 44,000 BTUs to heat the 400-square-inch primary cooking surface.

“There’s a lot of variety on the gas grill market,” says Paul Sidoriak, founder of Grilling Montana, a website dedicated to grilling recipes and guides. “It’s hard to say just what makes a gas grill the ‘best’ given that everyone’s needs are different.” For instance, if you’re looking to spend a little more, you can get a grill that’ll let you flip enough burgers to feed you and your friends in one round, with a built-in prep table and even a side burner to help you do all your cooking in one spot. Many come with nifty features like a temperature gauge, rotisserie burner, sear burner, flavorizer bars, different cooking grids, stainless steel grill grates and battery-powered electronic ignition. Sidoriak recommends considering how many people you’ll regularly be cooking for, any special features you’d actually use and your budget.

To help you find the best one, we analyzed the most popular options on the market and narrowed things down by quality, features and value. Here are the best gas grills you can buy right now.

Coming in at just under $600, this is one of the best values you will find in a gas grill. While the Spirit II E-310 is affordable, it was designed with quality in mind. It features three burners that put out a total of 30,000 BTUs per hour and 529 square inches of overall cooking surface. Dual side tables and a half dozen tool hooks help keep you organized as you cook, while the easy push-button ignition system makes turning it on a cinch. And it’s backed up by a 10-year warranty on all parts.

This is the grill you get when you realize outdoor cooking is no longer a mere hobby for you, but indeed a way of life. With six burners, a rotisserie function, an infrared side burner capable of creating heat up to 1,800 degree Fahrenheit and a mighty 900 square inches of cooking space, it has everything you need for all your grilling needs. For the record, you can buy this configured for a liquid propane hookup, but when you go with hard-lined natural gas, you never have to worry about your fuel source again. And despite the fact that this grill is technically able to wheel about, it’s large enough that the better move is to pick your spot and then attach a gas pipe.

A kamado is a little different from your average gas grill. Its thick sides absorb a ton of heat, making for an impressive cooking environment. And while traditional kamados use charcoal, this version from Vision Grill allows you the flexibility of using charcoal or gas depending on how much time you have on your hands and the type of flavor you’re going for. This particular grill offers up an impressive 604 square inches of cooking space, along with dual calibrate draft vent dials to help you get that perfect temperature. Dual side tables give you ample space to place your prep and finished product. And, while you’re probably not necessarily in it for the looks, it’s nice that you can choose between eye-catching colors like orange, bright red and glossy black.

This plucky little grill is a great example of informed design. It sets up quickly and includes a separate prep table formed from the detachable base and top cover, which doubles as a cutting board. The cast iron grates offer 154 square inches of cooking space, which is enough for a half-dozen burgers at once. The grates lift off for easy cleaning when the cooking is done. When not in use, it tucks away into an easily-carried package with storage space for its own propane tank and the grill plates securely covered.

While it’s a little too big to be considered a great camping grill (save for large, prepared campsites set quite close to parking spots), this is a superb option for tailgates, the park or a beach near a parking lot. It’s also a large and reliable enough piece of hardware to be your only grill, and is a great choice if space is limited at your home. Three adjustable burners can create as much as 20,000 BTUs across a surprisingly large 285-square-inch cooking area. Twin side tables keep grill tools or sauces handy, and when the cookout is done you can collapse the grill and roll it back to the car or to the garage thanks to a pair of wheels.

When this grill’s metal side tables are folded down, it takes up little more than four square feet of space, making it perfect for a small deck or balcony. This is a small grill, but that’s in no way to be taken in the pejorative sense. While compact in size, the two burners and 300 square inches of cook space that it does offer rival the quality of much larger gas grills. It also has many of the features you expect from a good gas grill, like an electronic ignition system, a built-in thermometer and a cabinet that can accommodate your propane tank and some grilling accessories.

Flat top grills are more accurately called griddles, and as such they allow for the “grilling” of lots of foods like omelets and pancakes that you can’t make on a traditional grill. On the other hand, you can still cook up burgers, steaks and veggie kebabs using the flat surface of this well-rated and highly affordable large flat top grill. The spacious 600-square-inch cook surface heats quickly and evenly, while side tables and two large shelves offer copious storage space for you to stash grill tools or ingredients.

If you aren’t quite sure gas grilling is for you, this is a perfect choice for a starter grill. It’s compact, basic and easy to use, and most important of all, it’s very affordable. The grill has a 240-square-inch primary cooking surface, plus a 150-square-inch upper rack. Its twin burners put out a combined 25,000 BTUs. None of the stats here are going to bowl over a BBQ pit master, but for the price this grill punches above its weight.

This extra large grill is perfect for big gatherings or large families. It offers convection cooking or flame broiling with an 8-in-1 design that allows you to bake, roast, grill, or smoke. There are also convenient features like the meat probe and side table with removable serving tray.

This larger grill is great for big families. It features porcelain-coated grates that are easier to clean and help prevent food from sticking, as well as two side tables that offer more prep and storage space. Three stainless steel in-line burners, which are durable and rust-resistant, offer superior cooking performance.

With 732 square feet of cooking space, you have plenty of room for all the different foods you want to cook. It’s on four wheels to make it really easy to move around as needed, and the side tables are large. The electric ignition system makes this one a total breeze to start up, even for grilling newbies.

This small portable grill is perfect for taking on-the-go, whether you’re camping or heading out for the day, and has three secure locks for easy transport. It has a spacious cooking space and distributes heat evenly for perfectly cooked food. The dual venting system allows you to cook food low and slow or at a searing hot temperature, depending on what you’re looking for.

Weber grills are one of the top-rated options out there, so finding one for $100 is a great deal. With a spacious grilling area, convenient side tables, and hooks for grill accessories, this offers plenty of space and storage. Porcelain-coated, cast-iron grill grates are easier to clean and make food taste great.

This five burner grill offers plenty of space and has an easy electric ignition start that makes it so simple to use. It comes with a built-in meat thermometer and a cover, and has an extra side burner that allows you to cook different foods at different temperatures.

Weighing just 68 pounds, this portable charcoal grill is perfect for camping, parties and more. It has plenty of cooking space, and is made with a thick ceramic body that locks in heat, moisture and flavor. The cast iron air vent offers temperature control and the built-in temp gauge is a convenience.

The offset smoker seamlessly attaches to this grill, allowing you the versatility to both grill and smoke your food. There are front, side and bottom shelves for ample space for grill accessories and food and two rolling wheels to move the grill around as needed.

There are a few different factors to consider when shopping for a gas grill. These are the top features to keep in mind while checking out your options.

The right number of burners ultimately depends on how much space you have—more burners tend to take up more square footage—and how many people you’ll be cooking for regularly, Sidoriak says. “If you have a family of four, a compact grill will be fine,” he says. “But if you’re regularly cooking for the whole softball team, you might want something with six or more burners.”

A built-in thermometer is a handy way to see where things stand with your cooking surface, but it’s not a requirement for good results, Sidoriak says. And, if you’re a stickler for an accurate temperature, know this: “Sometimes they can be difficult to calibrate,” he points out.

Side burners are “extremely convenient, even if you just plan to use them here and there,” Sidoriak says. “They’re great for chilis, beans and heating sauces,” he adds.

Sidoriak highly recommends having at least one side prep table if you can. “It’s incredibly essential to have a place to sit your food and also place it when you take it off the grill,” he says.