There is nothing more satisfying or fulfilling than cooking some of your favorite foods on the grill.
It might be just for the family or for a couple of friends if you are hosting a cookout of your own.
The key is making sure your grill can handle it.
If you’re looking to buy a new one, and you’re wondering when is the best time to buy a grill, we’ve got your back.
While the answers may vary, we’ll show you when it’s a good idea to buy one (and when it’s not).
Aside from that, we’ll also discuss how you can choose the best one that works best for your needs.
What Is the Best Time of Year To Buy a Grill?
One thing you need to understand is throughout the year, the prices of various items will change.
They may change when the level of demand does. Low demand for an item will mean a low price (and vice versa).
While most shoppers may not be worried about price, the need and value of an item they need will weigh more.
The same can be said about a grill.
So, when do grills go on sale? Believe it or not, one of those times is towards the tail end of summer, which is when the grilling season will wind down.
During this time, you’ll expect the price of grills to be going down.
Before that, you might want to give your old grill a few more go-arounds before you retire it for something new (assuming that it can still function well enough).
How much of the price will be reduced as summer winds down?
Most grill prices will be reduced somewhere between 40 to 70 percent.
Obviously, a great time to buy a grill is when the prices are way down.
What Month Do Grills Go on Sale?
When do grills go on sale, you ask? The best time to buy a grill is from September to close to late April.
The sweet spot will be right around the holidays.
That’s because, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you might score one of those once-in-a-lifetime deals on a grill.
Other than that, any time within that September to late April time frame would be a good time.
Don’t make the mistake of holding off until the end, though.
Since most people will be firing up the grills as soon as Memorial Day weekend, grill prices could go up a little earlier than expected.
Where To Buy a Grill
There are plenty of places, both in-store and online, where you can purchase a grill.
If you plan on buying in-store, the best places to look would be Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Any hardware store will more than likely have a grill you might be interested in.
Wal-Mart may be a good place to look for a grill, too, even if you are on a budget.
If you see Christmas decorations on the shelves in the Lawn and Garden section, that’s a pretty good indicator to check out the grills since they will be reduced in price.
Even at a reasonable price, you can get a grill that can outperform your old one by miles.
If you are not too impressed with what your local hardware stores are offering, there’s always the online option.
You can take a look at places like Amazon or Overstock.
Even some of the major hardware and home improvement websites are good places to check out.
While your local Lowe’s or Wal-Mart may lack options in-store, you can find an even greater variety online.
Keep in mind that you may get free shipping if your order is above a specific amount. So, you better take advantage of a good online deal while you can.
If you plan to purchase a grill online, you’ll want to do your due diligence before pressing that “Add to Cart” button.
Take a look at the reviews, where the grill is being shipped from, and check out if there is a return policy or a warranty.
The last thing you want to do is spend money on a grill that turned out to be a dud. What’s worse is if you can’t return it.
Paying close attention and doing research will make the difference between getting your money back and losing it for good.
When in doubt, always default to your in-store options.
Things To Consider Before Buying
When buying a grill, it is vital to take a few things into consideration before making the final purchase.
At this point, you will need to choose between one option or another.
Let’s take a look at some of the considerations to mull over when looking for a grill:
Gas vs Charcoal
Two of the most popular grill types are gas and charcoal, but how do they stack up against each other?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each?
Charcoal
If you are looking to purchase a charcoal grill, you will be happy to know that they are the cheaper of the two.
What’s more, since it can produce a high amount of heat, you will get plenty of smoke added to the overall flavor.
However, one downside of having a charcoal grill is that you will obviously need briquettes and lighter fluid.
Those costs do add up over time.
On top of that, the waiting time to get the grill up to the right temperature might be a little longer than you expect.
Also, when it comes to using charcoal grills, cleanup is a must.
Charcoal grills will be more of a fire danger when it is not cleaned and maintained properly after each use.
One more thing to note is that charcoal grills will likely go on sale sooner than gas grills.
Therefore, when to buy one may depend on the kind of grill you prefer.
Gas
A gas grill will reach your desired temperatures faster than charcoal. Not to mention, it is very easy to start up.
For these reasons, gas grills are the more preferred choice over charcoal, especially for home use.
Depending on the model you choose, gas grills can run on natural gas or propane. Some may be suitable with either.
Since you won’t need lighter fluid or charcoal, your only additional expense would be a propane tank.
Remember, when you have run out of propane, exchanging your old tank for a new one will be the cheaper option compared to an outright replacement.
Like anything else, there are also downsides to using a gas grill.
For one, they are slightly more expensive compared to charcoal grills.
Plus, if you love adding a smoked flavor to your grilled food, a gas grill won’t work in your favor.
The best time to buy a gas grill will be a bit later on once the charcoal grills drop in price.
Are Electric Grills Any Good?
While we know that electric grills are another option, we are leaving this option out, assuming you own a home instead of a small space, like a condo or an apartment.
The major pro of an electric grill is that it is compact in size, making it the ideal choice for those with limited storage.
The problem is that an electric grill won’t be nearly as effective in cooking compared to charcoal and gas grills.
Local vs Online
Another consideration is whether you’ll buy in a local store or online.
Nine times out of 10, your search will begin locally. You can start with a hardware store near you.
Consider going to the nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and the like.
If the distance between you and those places are quite the hike, you might want to resort to online options.
Just because you might be an hour or more away from the nearest big-name hardware store doesn’t mean you can’t buy it online.
See what kind of deals they have on the Home Depot or Lowe’s website.
You have plenty of options online, and you get free shipping depending on where you purchase your next grill.
Remember to keep an eye out for any promos, either in newspapers or online, to see if you can score a good deal.
While the prices will be lower during the off-season, knowing where to find a good deal will play to your advantage.
The best time to buy a gas grill may be now. So why not find one without going too far before pursuing other options.
Best Time To Buy a Grill
Now that you know when the best times to buy a grill are, you’ll be ready to pounce on the best deal you can find.
Even though some of the best deals are hard to resist, you don’t want to forget about a couple of things: quality and performance.
Also, finding a good deal doesn’t always mean going for the cheapest option.
Find the best gas or charcoal grill that you can afford in terms of quality and performance.
No matter which one you choose in the end, you will be one happy griller once you finally put it to good use.