Why Is No One Buying Grills? The Gritty Truth, Revealed

The Fourth of July might be peak grilling season, but this Independence Day could see some suspiciously smoke-free skies.

That’s how it appears in the world of grill sales, where major grill makers like Weber and Traeger appear to be struggling.

Sales of Traeger grills declined nearly 15% in the second quarter of this year compared with the same time last year. And financial services company S&P Global rated Weber’s liquidity this year as “less than adequate.” Both companies began reporting declining sales in 2022 after banner years during COVID-19.

So even though many families might be firing up their grills this week to celebrate Independence Day, they’re probably doing it on an older grill rather than a shiny new one.

When grills were hot—and why they’re not so much now

This lag in grill sales can be blamed on the pandemic, when grill sales peaked.

At the time, “consumers have turned pandemic-driven boredom into an opportunity to experiment with cooking, and the wide range of grilling and outdoor cooking options are helping them do it,” says Joe Derochowski of marketing research company NPD Group.

More than 14 million grills were purchased between April 2020 and May 2021. A 2022 report from the Hearth, Patio, and Grill Association found that 70% of all households owned a grill or smoker, up from 64% in 2019.

According to the association, 38% of grill owners bought a new grill between 2020 and 2022, with many citing “cooking at home more due to the pandemic” as a reason.

Grill sales began to decline in 2022. Since gas grills last an average of 5 to 15 years, it’s possible that these pandemic purchases haven’t worn out yet, so this grill-buying drought might last a few more years.

Recession fears have also had an impact. S&P analysts say that the threat of a recession has consumers putting off larger discretionary purchases.

The upside: Grills can be bought for a bargain right now

To offset the relative decline in grill growth, retailers such as Home Depot and Ace Hardware are offering special deals and advertising lower-cost models that’ll get younger homeowners excited about grilling.

But market analysts predict that will have a limited impact on grill sales.

“If someone has a barbecue, they’re not going to buy another simply because it’s on sale,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Simeon Siegel told CNN. “At the end of the day, if someone doesn’t need to buy a grill, there’s only so many things companies can do to create demand.”

Still, if your current grill is looking rusty around the edges and/or you legitimately need a new one, it’s a great time to snag a bargain. Here are our top picks.

Charcoal grill

The Weber Jumbo Joe premium 22-inch charcoal grill ($99) has a porcelain-enameled lid so it won’t rust or peel. It’s also large enough to grill more than a dozen burgers at a time—perfect for large gatherings.

Gas grill

The Weber Spirit II E-210 2 burner liquid propane grill ($399) is considered an ideal entry point for those new to the gas grill game. Grillers have praised it for being easy to clean, and its relatively small footprint makes it good for people who are short on space.

Tabletop grill 

This stainless-steel portable grill from Moss & Stone ($25.99) includes foldable legs for easy transport. This grill won points from Amazon customers for being easy to assemble and easy to clean.

Electric grill

This George Foreman 12-serving electric grill ($119.99) can be used both indoors and outdoors and has five heat settings so you can adjust the temperature. Because it’s electric, you don’t need to worry about lugging heavy charcoal or propane tanks around. Customers rated it high for being easy to clean and easy to assemble.