Small Outdoor Gas Grill: 2-Burner Picks for Small Patios

Buying too much grill is the most common mistake on a small patio. A small outdoor gas grill with two burners and roughly 250 to 350 square inches of main cooking area feeds most households of two to four, heats faster, uses less propane, and leaves room for the clearance a grill actually needs. The trick is sizing by how many people you cook for and how much safe open space you have, not by the biggest box that fits against the wall.

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For most small yards, balconies where grilling is allowed, and compact patios, a 2-burner propane grill is the sweet spot. A 3-burner model makes sense if you regularly cook for five or more or want a true indirect-heat zone for roasting. Portable tabletop units fit the tightest spaces but trade away cooking area and heat control.

We compare sizes and burner counts, cover clearances from siding and railings, explain safe propane tank storage in tight spaces, and walk through a simple setup and leak check.

Choosing a Small Outdoor Gas Grill: Size by Headcount

Manufacturers list primary cooking area (the main grate) and total cooking area (including warming racks). Use the primary number when comparing. A rough rule is about 70 to 100 square inches of primary grate per person for burgers, chicken pieces, and vegetables cooked at the same time.

Anyone shopping for the best small gas grill should also check the grill’s footprint with side shelves folded. Many compact carts are 40 to 50 inches wide with shelves extended but under 30 inches with them folded down, which matters for storage in a corner.

2-Burner vs 3-Burner: Which Fits Your Patio?

A two burner grill gives you a basic two-zone setup: one side high for searing, the other low or off for gentler cooking. That covers steaks, chops, burgers, fish, and most weeknight meals. It also preheats quickly, often in 10 minutes or less, and sips fuel, so a standard 20-pound tank lasts longer.

Three burners add flexibility. You can run the outer burners with the middle off for true indirect heat, which is handy for a whole chicken or thick roasts. The cost is a wider body, higher price, and more fuel use. On a patio under about 10 by 10 feet, the extra width can eat into the clearance you need around the grill.

Our general recommendation: choose a 2 burner bbq as your small outdoor gas grill if you mostly cook for four or fewer and have limited floor space. Step up to three burners only if you roast often or entertain larger groups and have room to keep safe distances on every side.

Portable, Tabletop, and Cart Styles Compared

• Tabletop or small portable gas grill: 150 to 250 square inches, runs on 1-pound cylinders or an adapter hose to a 20-pound tank. Great for camping and tiny spaces, but heat is less even and wind affects it more. Always set it on a stable, noncombustible surface, never on a wood deck railing or plastic table.
• Compact cart grill: the classic small gas barbecue with two burners, a cabinet or open cart for the tank, and folding shelves. It offers the best balance of cooking area, stability, and tank storage.
• Wall-hugging slim models: narrow, deep bodies designed for balconies. Check your building rules and local fire code first, since many multifamily buildings restrict or prohibit propane grills on balconies.

When comparing the best small propane grill options, look for a porcelain-coated or stainless steel grate, a lid thermometer, an electronic or push-button igniter, and sturdy wheels you can lock. Heavier cast grates hold heat better for searing but take longer to warm up.

Clearance to Siding, Railings, and Overhangs

Clearance is where small patios get into trouble. Every grill manual lists minimum distances to combustible materials, and those numbers override any general advice. As a common baseline, many manufacturers call for at least 24 to 36 inches from the back and sides to combustible walls, siding, fences, and railings, and many fire officials recommend 10 feet from the house where space allows.

• Vinyl siding can warp and melt from radiant heat well before it catches fire. Keep the grill’s back vent pointed away from the wall.
• Wood and composite railings are combustible. Do not wedge a grill against a railing, and never hang a grill from one.
• Overhead: keep grills out from under eaves, awnings, pergolas with fabric covers, and tree branches.
• Ground surface: use a stable, level surface. On wood or composite decking, a grill mat helps catch grease and embers.

Only use a gas grill outdoors in the open air. Never operate it inside a garage, on an enclosed or screened porch, in a tent, under a covered breezeway with walls, or in any enclosed space. Grills produce carbon monoxide, which is odorless and can build to dangerous levels quickly. If you move the grill into a garage for storage, let it cool completely first and disconnect or remove the propane tank.

Propane Tank Storage in Tight Spaces

Propane tanks belong outdoors, upright, in a shaded and ventilated spot. Never store a tank, full or empty, in a garage, basement, shed, or indoors. Keep the tank valve closed when the grill is not in use, and keep spare tanks away from the grill and any heat source.

On a small patio, a cart-style grill with an under-grill tank holder keeps the cylinder stable and out of foot traffic. Avoid tucking a tank into a sealed cabinet with no vents. If you use 1-pound cylinders for a portable unit, store them outdoors as well and never try to refill disposable cylinders.

Setup and Leak Check Step by Step

Connecting a standard 20-pound tank to a grill’s regulator is a routine homeowner task covered in every manual. Anything beyond that, such as converting a grill to natural gas or running a gas line to the patio, is work for a licensed gas professional with a permit and a pressure test.

1. Assemble on a flat surface following the manual, and confirm burner tubes sit correctly over the valve orifices.
2. Position the grill outdoors with the clearances listed in the manual, away from doors and windows so smoke does not drift inside.
3. Connect the tank. With all burner knobs off and the tank valve closed, hand-tighten the regulator fitting clockwise until snug.
4. Do a soapy water leak test. Mix a 50/50 solution of dish soap and water. Open the tank valve slowly with burners off. Brush the solution on the tank valve, regulator connection, hose, and hose joints. Growing bubbles mean a leak: close the tank valve, tighten or replace the part, and test again. Never use a flame to check for leaks.
5. Light with the lid open so gas cannot collect under the hood, following the igniter instructions.
6. Burn in on high for 15 to 20 minutes before the first cook to burn off manufacturing oils.

Repeat the leak test on your small outdoor gas grill every time you swap tanks and at the start of each grilling season. If you smell gas at any point and cannot stop it by closing the tank valve, move away from the grill, keep people and flames back, and call the fire department or your propane supplier from a safe distance.

Troubleshooting Small Gas Grills

• Low flame or grill will not get hot: the regulator may be in bypass mode. Turn all knobs and the tank valve off, disconnect, wait a minute, reconnect, open the tank slowly, then light one burner.
• Uneven heat: clean burner ports with a soft brush and check for spider webs in venturi tubes.
• Flare-ups: empty the grease tray, trim excess fat, and keep one zone low as a safe spot.
• Yellow, lazy flames: usually a blocked tube or dirty burner. Clean it; if the issue persists, have the grill serviced.
• Rust on grates: scrub, oil lightly, and keep the grill covered when cool.

Cost Ranges and Value

Portable tabletop grills usually sit at the lower end of the market. Entry-level compact two-burner carts cost moderately more, while mid-range models with stainless burners, better grates, and sturdier carts cost more still. Premium compact grills with heavy cast grates and long warranties run higher. Watching for small gas grills on sale at the end of summer is a practical way to step up in quality for the same budget.

When budgeting for a small outdoor gas grill, factor in extras: a fitted cover, a grill mat for decking, a spare tank, and a good brush. A slightly better grill with stainless burners often outlasts two budget grills.

When to Call a Licensed Professional

Swapping a portable propane tank is a normal DIY task. Call a licensed gas fitter or plumber for any natural gas connection, new gas line, quick-connect outlet, or conversion kit; these typically require a permit and a leak and pressure test. Contact the grill manufacturer or a qualified service tech if a regulator, valve, or burner is damaged. For multifamily buildings, check with management and the local fire marshal about what fuel types are allowed on balconies and patios.