Researched comparisonLast updated October 2026 · How we review
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products from established brands.
Quick Answer
We would start with the Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner at $399, the lowest price and the standard choice: it lists 720 square inches of cooktop with 60,000 BTUs. If you want a built-in hood, Blackstone’s version costs $539.99. The Camp Chef Gridiron Pro 36 ($599.99) is the one we would pick for a hinged lid, a side burner, and a preseasoned surface, the Char-Broil Performance Series Deluxe ($489.04) lists 702 square inches, 36,000 BTU, a hinged lid and a 2 year warranty, and we would pick the Weber Slate 36 ($849) for a hinged hard cover and 756 square inches with a 5 year limited warranty.
- Blackstone 36 in 4 Burner: best for buyers who want a 720 sq in, 60,000 BTU griddle at the lowest price and don’t need a hood.
- Blackstone Original 36 in with Hood: best for buyers who want a built-in hood and the largest cooking area here (768 sq in).
- Camp Chef Gridiron Pro 36: best for buyers who want a hinged lid, a side burner and a preseasoned surface (634 sq in).
- Char-Broil Performance Series Deluxe 36 in: best for buyers who want a hinged lid and 702 sq in with a 2 year warranty, at a lower price than the hooded Blackstone.
- Weber Slate 36 in: best for buyers who want a hinged hard cover and a 756 sq in cooktop with a 5 year limited warranty.
Prices as of October 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT.
Outdoor griddles have taken over a lot of backyard grill space because they cook breakfast, smash burgers, and fried rice equally well. We cover five 36 inch class, four burner griddles from Blackstone, Weber, Camp Chef, and Char-Broil, so you can see what the extra money buys at each step.
How We Chose
We picked the four best known outdoor griddle brands that sell a four burner, 36 inch class flat top on Amazon, and included two Blackstone models because the hood is a common upgrade question. The Weber Slate is the highest priced griddle here, so it sits in a higher price tier than the other four. We compared price, cooking area, lid or hood, weight, and warranty, taking each spec from the manufacturer’s page for the model, and each cell says where it came from or that the manufacturer does not publish it. The weights are not all measured the same way, because the brands that publish a weight give one number without naming the basis. All five listings are available on Amazon. Prices are Amazon prices checked in October 2026 and can change. The warranty line in each card comes from each manufacturer’s own website, checked in September and October 2026, and for the Camp Chef the cell links to its warranty page because that page covers flat top grills by category and does not name the model. Where a manufacturer page covers a product line and does not name the model, or gives no length, the cell says so, and terms can differ by size or color, so confirm before you buy.
The Lineup
Specs come from each manufacturer’s own pages. Prices as of October 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Amazon may show a different seller than the brand or Amazon.com. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Griddle Cooking Station
$399.00 as of Oct 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · 720 sq in, best price
Best for: buyers who want a 720 sq in, 60,000 BTU griddle at the lowest price and don’t need a hood.
We like this Blackstone as the easy call for a large griddle at the lowest price. This is the classic Blackstone flat top. Blackstone’s page for the 36 inch Griddle Cooking Station (SKU 1554) lists 60,000 BTUs from four burners, a 720 square inch rolled carbon 7-gauge steel griddle top, four adjustable heat controls with a built-in igniter, and a rear grease management system. Blackstone’s page does not list a lid or hood. It costs about $200 less than the Camp Chef. It is available on Amazon.
Warranty: 1 year
Check Price on Amazon →Blackstone Original 36 Inch Griddle with Built-in Hood
$539.99 as of Oct 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · adds a hood
Best for: buyers who want a built-in hood and the largest cooking area here (768 sq in).
We would pick this Blackstone if you want a built-in hood for wind protection and for covering foods. This version of Blackstone’s 36 inch griddle has a built-in hood and four burners with multiple heat zones. The hood helps with wind protection and lets you cover foods to melt cheese or steam vegetables. It costs $140.99 more than the standard Blackstone above, and Blackstone’s page for model 2322 lists 768 square inches of cooking area and no BTU number. The same page lists the hood and a weight of 135 pounds. It is available on Amazon.
Warranty: 1 year
Check Price on Amazon →Camp Chef Gridiron Pro 36 Flat-Top Grill with Side Burner
$599.99 as of Oct 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · lid, side burner, and preseasoned surface
Best for: buyers who want a hinged lid, a side burner and a preseasoned surface (634 sq in).
We like the Camp Chef as the most complete package, with a hinged lid, a side burner and a preseasoned surface. Camp Chef’s page for the Gridiron Pro describes a preseasoned cook surface, flamethrower ignition, a hinged lid, a Sidekick side burner and a reinforced bottom shelf. It is the most feature heavy, and Camp Chef’s page lists 634 square inches of cooking area, 134 pounds, 48,000 BTUs, and a width of 69 inches with the shelves up (44 inches with them down). Camp Chef’s warranty page covers its flat top grills by category and does not name the Gridiron Pro, so use the link in its product card to read the terms before you buy. It is available on Amazon.
Warranty: See Camp Chef Warranty page for details.
Check Price on Amazon →Char-Broil 36 Inch Performance Series Deluxe Propane Griddle with Cart, 4 Burner Flat Top Grill, 463285924
$489.04 as of Oct 13, 2026, 9:25 am CT on Amazon · 702 sq in, hinged lid
Best for: buyers who want a hinged lid and 702 sq in with a 2 year warranty, at a lower price than the hooded Blackstone.
We would pick the Char-Broil if you want a hinged lid on a four burner 36 inch griddle and the hooded Blackstone costs more than you want to spend. Char-Broil is a well known grill brand. Its page for the 463285924 lists 702 square inches of cooking area, four stainless steel burners rated at 36,000 BTU, a heavy-duty cold-rolled steel griddle surface, electronic ignition, a hinged lid with an aluminum cooking liner, a slide-out grease tray and two slatted side shelves with condiment baskets. The page lists a weight of 149 pounds without saying whether that is assembled or shipped weight, and a 2 year warranty from the date of purchase on all parts. It is available on Amazon.
Warranty: 5 years limited: 5 years, no rust through or burn through, on the cookbox, hard cover and burner tubes, and 5 years excluding rust on the cooktop
Check Price on Amazon →Weber Slate 36 Inch Rust-Resistant Griddle (Propane)
$849.00 as of Oct 12, 2026, 6:27 pm CT on Amazon · 756 sq in, hinged hard cover
Best for: buyers who want a hinged hard cover and a 756 sq in cooktop with a 5 year limited warranty.
We would pick the Weber Slate if you want a hinged hard cover on a griddle from a brand best known for grills. Weber’s product page lists a pre-seasoned, rust-resistant carbon steel cooktop of 756 square inches, four independently controlled stainless steel burners at 48,000 BTU in total, wind guards, two side tables (the left one folds down), Weber Works side rails and a hinged hard cover. The page gives 146.3 pounds and a 5 year limited warranty: 5 years, no rust through or burn through, on the cookbox, hard cover and burner tubes, and 5 years excluding rust on the cooktop. It costs $249.01 more than the Camp Chef. It is available on Amazon.
Warranty: 2 years from date of purchase on all parts
Check Price on Amazon →Our Take
If you just want a large griddle at the lowest price, we would take the Blackstone 36 Inch at $399, the easy call. If you want a hood, Blackstone’s hooded model is $140 more. If you want a side burner and a preseasoned surface, we would pick the Camp Chef Gridiron Pro as the most complete package. If you want a hinged lid and a 2 year warranty without paying the hooded Blackstone price, we would look at the Char-Broil Performance Series Deluxe. If you want a hinged hard cover and a 5 year limited warranty from Weber, we would look at the Slate 36, the highest priced griddle here.
More Grilling Guides: All Grilling Guides · Best Propane Gas Grills 2026 · Best Charcoal Kettle Grills 2026 · Best Instant-Read Meat Thermometers 2026 · Best Grill Tongs 2026 · Best Pellet Grills 2026 · Best Portable Gas Grills 2026 · Best Charcoal Chimney Starters 2026 · Best Premium Pellet Grills 2026 · Best Premium Kamado Grills 2026 · Best Premium Gas Grills 2026 · Best Electric Smokers 2026 · Best Turkey Fryers 2026 · Best Wireless Meat Thermometers 2026 · Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens 2026 · Best Offset Smokers 2026 · Best Electric Grills 2026 · Best Grill Covers 2026 · Best Portable Charcoal Grills 2026
Related in other categories: Best Camp Stoves 2026 · Best Hard Coolers 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Griddle or grill: which should I buy?
We think a griddle is better for breakfast foods, smash burgers, and stir fry because the whole surface is flat and hot. A grill is better for open flame char and smoke. Many households own both.
How do I keep a steel griddle from rusting?
We would season it with a thin coat of cooking oil after each cook and keep it covered. Camp Chef’s page describes a preseasoned cook surface, Weber’s page describes a pre-seasoned, rust-resistant carbon steel cooktop, and Char-Broil’s page describes a heavy-duty cold-rolled steel griddle surface, but we think oiling and covering helps any griddle.
Do I need a lid or hood on a griddle?
In our view it is optional. A lid or hood helps with wind, melting cheese, and steaming, and it protects the surface when not in use. A cover can serve the storage need at a lower price.
What size griddle do I need?
We think a 36 inch griddle fits most families and small gatherings and offers roughly 630 to 770 square inches of cooking area. A 28 inch griddle suits smaller patios, and larger models suit bigger groups.
How does the Weber Slate 36 compare with a Blackstone?
We would choose the Weber if you want a hinged hard cover and a 5 year limited warranty on a 756 square inch cooktop. The Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner has no lid and lists 720 square inches at a much lower price, and Blackstone’s hooded model lists 768 square inches.
