Best Outdoor Griddles 2026: Flat Tops for Every Yard

How to Pick in 30 Seconds

Match your situation to one line. If two lines fit, the first one is the safer choice for most households.

Cooking indoors instead? The Ninja Sizzle is the electric grill and griddle we've reviewed for apartments and kitchens.

Best Overall: Blackstone Original 36"

1Best overall

Blackstone

Blackstone Original 36" Griddle

★★★★★4.5/5

Best for: Families and hosts who cook breakfast and burgers for 6+

Best for: Families and hosts who cook breakfast and burgers for 6+

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Why we picked it: It's the biggest cooktop here at the lowest price per square inch. The Blackstone Original 36" runs four 15,000 BTU burners under a rolled carbon steel top about 4.5 mm thick (retailer spec). That gives you four heat zones across about 768 sq in, from a warm holding area to a hot sear.

Grease scrapes into a rear channel and cup, and Blackstone sells a natural gas conversion kit for its 28" and 36" griddles. It usually sells for $450–$600 depending on the version and hood.

Who it's for: Families and hosts who cook breakfasts, smash burgers and hibachi for six or more.

Skip it if: You cook for one or two, or you won't oil the steel after every cook. The warranty is 1 year, and some versions ship without a hood, so budget for a cover.

Four burners mean bacon, eggs and pancakes can each cook at their own heat at once.

Best Premium: Traeger Flatrock

2Best premium

Traeger

Traeger Flatrock 3 Zone Griddle

★★★★★4.5/5

Best for: Families and hosts who cook big breakfasts, burgers and hibachi and want even, zoned heat

Best for: Families and hosts who cook big breakfasts, burgers and hibachi and want even, zoned heat

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Why we picked it: It's built to fix the two most common griddle complaints, hot spots and wind. The Traeger Flatrock uses three U-shaped burners with HeatShield insulation between zones, and a recessed FlameLock firebox designed to keep flames steady in a breeze. Traeger rates the 594 sq in cold-rolled steel top from 350°F to 600°F.

Grease drains to a rear EZ-Clean keg, and the lid, side shelves and accessory rail come standard. It lists at about $999 with a 5-year limited warranty.

Who it's for: Hosts who want precise zones for hibachi and big breakfasts and value a long warranty.

Skip it if: You want the most cooking space for the money; the Blackstone 36" gives you more for about half the price. It runs on propane only, weighs 189 lb, and Traeger says never to close the lid while cooking.

Smash burgers need a hot zone; insulated zones let the next one stay cooler for buns and onions.

Best for Camping: Blackstone 2364

3Best for camping

Blackstone

Blackstone 2364 Camping Griddle with Side Burner

★★★★★4.3/5

Best for: Car campers and tailgaters cooking for 2–4 who want a griddle and a pot burner in one case

Best for: Car campers and tailgaters cooking for 2–4 who want a griddle and a pot burner in one case

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Why we picked it: It's the only pick you can carry to a picnic table. The Blackstone 2364 puts a 12 x 14 in (168 sq in) ceramic-titanium nonstick plate and a separate pot burner in one 25 lb latching case. You can cook pancakes on the plate while coffee water heats on the burner.

It runs on 1 lb cylinders, or a 20 lb tank with an adapter hose sold separately, and usually costs about $180.

Who it's for: Car campers and tailgaters cooking for two to four.

Skip it if: You feed a group or want to use metal spatulas. The nonstick coating rules out metal tools, the plate fits about four burgers a batch, and the burners are modest in wind.

The side burner handles coffee or beans, so one case covers the whole camp breakfast.

Best Grill With a Griddle Option: Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect

4Grill first, griddle second

Ninja

Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect (PG305)

★★★★★4.2/5

Best for: Cooks who want grilling, smoking, roasting and app alerts in one unit

Best for: Cooks who want grilling, smoking, roasting and app alerts in one unit

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Why we picked it: Some buyers want a griddle occasionally, not a dedicated flat top. The Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect is a propane grill, smoker and roaster with a 200–600°F digital control, a convection fan and app alerts, and it accepts an optional griddle plate.

It has a 10-year limited warranty and costs $1,099–$1,299 for the base unit.

Who it's for: Cooks who want grilling, smoking and the odd griddle breakfast from one appliance.

Skip it if: Griddle cooking is the main event. The griddle plate is sold separately on the base unit, the 424 sq in main grate is small for the price, and it needs a 120V outlet as well as propane.

Best Outdoor Griddles Compared

Use the specs to confirm a pick, not to choose one.

Size the cooktop to your usual crowd; a bigger top takes longer to heat and more oil to keep up.

Blackstone 36" or Traeger Flatrock?

The Blackstone gives you about 30% more cooktop for roughly half the price. The Flatrock adds insulated zones, wind-resistant burners, a grease keg and four more years of warranty. Choose the Blackstone for space and value, the Flatrock for control and coverage.

A dedicated griddle or a grill with a plate?

A dedicated flat top heats a large steel surface evenly from burners directly underneath, which is what makes it good for a crowd. A griddle plate on a grill covers part of the grate and suits occasional breakfasts. If you'll griddle every week, buy a griddle.

Outdoor Griddle Buying Guide

Size: match the cooktop to your crowd

A bigger top isn't free. It takes longer to preheat, burns more propane and needs more oil to keep seasoned, so don't buy a 36" for a household of two.

Steel or nonstick

Carbon steel tops, used on most full-size griddles, store heat well and build a slick seasoning over time, but rust if you skip oiling after a cook. Nonstick plates need no seasoning and suit camping, but they wear out and rule out metal spatulas and scrapers. Our guide on how to season a griddle covers first-time and ongoing care.

Burners and heat zones

Count independent burners, not total BTU. Each burner is a zone you can set on its own, which is what lets you sear burgers on one side and keep buns warm on the other. Insulated or separated zones, like the Flatrock's, hold the difference between zones more cleanly.

Grease management

Rear grease systems, where you scrape into a channel at the back, are easier and less messy than front or side traps. Check how big the cup or keg is and how easy it is to empty.

Scraping everything to the back keeps the cooktop clean between batches and grease off the patio.

Lid, wind and weather

Griddles cook with the top open, so wind pulls heat off the steel. Recessed burners or wind guards help. A hood or hard cover protects the seasoned top from rain between cooks, and a fitted cover is worth budgeting for either way.

Fuel

Most outdoor griddles run on a 20 lb propane tank. Check whether a natural gas kit exists if you have a gas line; Blackstone sells one for its 28" and 36" models, while the Flatrock is propane only. Our guide on how long a propane tank lasts helps you plan fuel for big cooks.

Who shouldn't buy a griddle

A griddle can't give you grill marks, char or real smoke flavor. If steaks and barbecue matter more than breakfasts and smash burgers, a grill fits better; our best gas grills under $500 guide is a good place to start.

How We Chose These Picks

SmokyHQ did not test these griddles hands-on. We started from our research reviews, which draw on manufacturer specs and manuals, warranty terms, retailer listings and owner feedback.

We ranked what matters in this order:

1. Cooktop: size, material and thickness.
2. Heat control: number of independent burners and how the zones are separated.
3. Daily use: grease system, lid or cover, wind protection and assembly.
4. Ownership: warranty length and parts support.
5. Price: each step up had to add something you'd use.

We haven't reviewed the Weber Slate, Camp Chef or Blackstone 17" and 28" griddles, so they aren't included. To compare every flat top we've reviewed, see our flat top grill and griddle reviews.

The Takeaway

Buy the cooktop that fits your crowd, not the biggest one.

• Most griddle for the money: the Blackstone Original 36".
• Even zones and a long warranty: the Traeger Flatrock.
• Camping and tailgates: the Blackstone 2364.
• A grill that griddles sometimes: the Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect.

Before your first cook, read how to season a griddle so the steel starts slick and stays rust-free.