Suitability based on size and features. Balcony/portable barbecues are small to medium size with 2-3 burners, travel barbecues have a collapsible trolley with wheels or are compact making them perfect to take away with you. Backyard barbecues are large with four or more burners, suitable if you entertain often.

Gas, charcoal or electric? Gas (natural gas or LPG) is the most common fuel in Australia, with its instant heat source and adjustable temperatures making barbecuing simple. There are also charcoal barbecues and pellet smokers, which use special hardwood pellets as fuel and infuse your food with a smoky flavour.

Whether the barbecue uses natural gas, LPG or propane.

We recommend barbecues with an overall score of 80% and above (or 70% and above for electric). We only recommend currently available models.

This overall score is made up of cooking performance (60%) and ease of use (40%).

We test for evenness of temperature (cooking steak), evenness cooking with high fat (sausages), low temperature cooking (marinated chicken wings) and roasting a chicken. All scores are weighted equally.

This score is made up of cooking (40%), mobility (20%), using the controls (20%) and cleaning (20%).

We cover the hotplate and grill with steak to see if any areas aren't heated enough, or get too hot and burn the meat.

We cover the hotplate and grill with sausages to see if areas are prone to flare-ups from burning fat, which could lead to burnt food.

This test purely assesses evenness. We preheat the barbecue on high for 10 minutes with the hood closed, before filling the entire cooking surface with pita bread that's been carefully cut to size for each model. We cook the pita bread for up to two minutes before assessing evenness. This is a new test and doesn't yet form part of the CHOICE Expert Rating. Previously tested models have not been assessed for evenness using pita bread and are listed as 'not tested.'

Where possible, we cook marinated chicken wings on the hotplate to see how the barbecue handles delicate, lower temperature cooking.

A large, 2cm rump steak is cooked on the centre of a hotplate (or chargrill if the BBQ doesn't have a hotplate). We look for how well the steak responds when turning over, does the BBQ loose heat or can it be maintain enough heat to evenly brown both sides. This is a new test and doesn't yet form part of the CHOICE Expert Rating. Previously tested models have not been assessed for heat recovery and are listed as 'not tested.'

We test at moderate temperatures over a long period by roasting a chicken on a baking tray in the centre of the plates with the outside burners on medium heat. The hood is down and the chicken is turned once.

We assess how easy the barbecue is to clean.

Measured with all burners on high.

This score is taken from our latest brand reliability survey, with scores referring to the brand, not a particular model. NA or Not available means there weren't enough responses for that brand to get a score. This score does not add to the overall score. 

This score is taken from our latest brand reliability survey. When rating satisfaction, we ask owners to tell us what they think of the products they own. We use this information to give each brand an owner satisfaction rating so you can see what people who use the brand each day think of them. NA or Not available means there weren't enough responses for that brand to get a score.

The manufacturer's stated warranty.

'Tested' models should still be available for sale. 'Discontinued' models may still be available in second-hand stores.

Recommended retail or typical price. Some brands sell the cart or trolley as an optional extra. In this case, we only note the RRP of the BBQ alone.

We calculate running costs based on using the barbecue three times a week for 30 minutes over six months of the year, at an average cost of $4.12/kg of LPG gas (or 40c/kWh for electric models).

The more burners, the bigger the cooking capacity. Not all models we've tested have burners.

Measured with the hood and side trays closed (if applicable) and includes knobs, wheels and handles.

The entire assembly, including the trolley if supplied but not the gas bottle. Given only for small/portable BBQs.

In square metres.

Side burners increase the cooking capacity.

These BBQs use natural gas, which is essentially the gas supplied by your local utility company. There may be a slightly different model name to look out for if you want this option.