14 best portable BBQs you need for your next picnic in 2025
From camping trips to family picnics, you can now skip the plain old snacks and cook up a storm with these top quality portable BBQs.
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Everyone enjoys a backyard barbie, but why should those without a decent outdoor space miss out?
To cook meat, poultry and veggies with that smoky flavour and irresistible sear, many have invested in a portable BBQ – a compact and lightweight alternative to a traditional BBQ to take to your favourite camping and picnic spots and effortlessly cook your favourite foods.
There are a variety of portable grills on the market from much loved brands like Weber, Napoleon and Beefeater that are fan favourites.
One of our top picks is the Weber Traveler gas BBQ with a wheeled cart and foldable legs to easily manoeuvre it to and from your car or caravan while having all the perks of a quality barbecue. Five star reviewers have dubbed it the “perfect travel BBQ” as it’s “so compact when put away”.
Those looking something more compact should turn to NomadiQ Portable BBQ, which preheats its burners in just two minutes and cooks two different meals at once.
Scroll down to find the best of the best for gas, charcoal, electric and compact portable grills.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best portable BBQ
Weber Traveler BBQ, $598 (down from $699) at Appliances Online
What You Need To Know
The Weber Traveler is one of the most popular models to choose from, and for good reason. Built with one stainless steel burner, it uses petroleum gas and a built in thermometer on the lid to cook up a feast at your campsite.
While on the heavier side, its two all-terrain wheels attached to the cart lets you pull it along rather than carrying. Its folding legs and compact build are also designed to fit in your car boot and for a one-handed set up.
You can feed everyone in the family with a built-in side table and a cooking surface area large enough to grill up to 15 burgers or 20 sausages.
Shoppers have raved about their Weber Traveler, with one saying it’s “very mobile and easy to collapse, store and transport. I find it super easy to clean too.
“Like all Webers it cooks fantastic.”
Beefeater Bigg Bugg Amber Benchtop BBQ with Trolley, $849 at The BBQ Store
Beefeater Bigg Bugg Amber Benchtop BBQ with Trolley
What You Need To Know
You can make double the delicious meals using the two independent burners on the Beefeater Bigg Bugg Benchtop BBQ. Above one burner is a cast iron grill plate while the other sits below a hotplate.
Along with its great cooking performance, it comes with a tool hanging hook, a condiment tray, two side tables and wheels with a balance mechanism to ensure it is stable on any surface.
Boasting a 4.8-star rating, this portable BBQ has plenty of positive reviews online.
“It is well built and the colour is amazing” says one buyer. Another remarks it’s the “Best BBQ I’ve ever had. Great combination of plate and grill, and plenty hot enough to cook with the hood up.”
A third customer adds “this BBQ is fantastic easy to clean and the meat tastes amazing off of it. Only down side is we didn’t use it sooner.”
Weber Q Premium 2200 Gas Grill, $549 at Amazon Australia
Weber Q Premium 2200 Gas Grill
What You Need To Know
Available in four colours, the Weber Q Premium 2200 Gas Grill has been described by the brand as “big enough for every day” with a compact size to take wherever you want. It uses an electronic ignition for safe and quick lighting along with cast iron grill plate for even heat distribution.
With its 2064cm² cooking surface area, you’ll be able to grill 12 burger patties at once. Its high domed lid with a built in thermometer is also big enough to cook a family roast dinner.
Best portable gas BBQ
Napoleon Travel Q Pro 285X, $559 at Temple & Webster
Napoleon Travel Q Pro 285X
What You Need To Know
This stylish black and chrome Napoleon portable grill will help you make a family feast with a surface area large enough to whip up 20 hamburgers and a high dome lid to cook whole chickens, turkey, pork or ribs.
For easier cooking, it has an instant ignition with a temperature gauge and is built with side shelves and towel and cooking utensil holders. It also has Napoleon’s signature ‘Wave’ cooking grids to create a unique sear on your meat.
Making it even better – it has a 10 year warranty, so you know you’re getting quality.
Weber Baby Q Q1000N Gas BBQ, $369 at The Good Guys
Weber Baby Q Q1000N Gas BBQ
What You Need To Know
The Weber Baby Q Q1000N is one of the smallest and most lightweight grills, coming in at just 9.1kg. Despite this, it can reach a temperature of 315ºC, so your food will be cooked thoroughly and just the way you like it (even those who like their steaks well done!)
It can feed a decent group of people with enough space to make nine burgers or cook a roast with its large dome lid. Its Piezo ignition also allows for more precise temperature control, even in cooler and windy weather.
It has rave reviews, with one shopper at The Good Guys saying “Its [sic] compact, easy to use, and its [sic] perfect for small gatherings, even my camping trips. The heat distribution is fantastic, and the push-button ignition makes grilling anything a breeze.”
Another buyer also reaps its praises, saying it’s “The ease of operation is a bonus, the ability to be a BBQ, a grille, [sic] a smoker and an oven all in one is the best feature. Very impressed so far.”
Ziggy Classic By Ziegler and Brown Twin Grill Portable Gas Barbecue, $599 at Barbeques Galore
Ziggy Classic By Ziegler and Brown Twin Grill Portable Gas Barbecue
What You Need To Know
Offering a seven year warranty, this Ziggy Classic will have you cooking for many camping holidays to come. With a 1860cm² cooking surface area, it provides enough room to feed up to eight people. It is also built with folding shelves, giving you space to prep and serve.
What makes this BBQ stand out is its removable and dishwasher safe grill. This will let you thoroughly clean it after each use without putting in the elbow grease.
One happy customer raves about their Ziggy barbecue while offering some helpful cooking tips.
“When roasting, the temperature can be adjusted by using one or both burners. One burner alone maintains an appropriate roasting temperature, while using two briefly will give your roast pork a great crackle.”
Best portable charcoal BBQ
Weber Go Anywhere Charcoal BBQ, $149.95 at Amazon Australia
Weber Go Anywhere Charcoal BBQ
What You Need To Know
Feeding up to four people, the Weber Go Anywhere charcoal grill “delivers everything you could ask”, as described by one BCF shopper.
“It’s [sic] lightweight and compact design makes it easy to take anywhere you desire to get barbecued.”
Its porcelain-enamelled lid helps retain heat as you cook with an adjustable damper on top to give you greater control of the temperature and extinguish the flame when you’ve finished.
It’s also easy to take on any adventure, with its steel legs folding over the lid, keeping it secure during transport and easier to carry.
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Cube Charcoal BBQ, $199.95 at Woolworths
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Cube Charcoal BBQ
What You Need To Know
The Everdure Cube Charcoal BBQ – made by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal – is one of the most useful and aesthetically pleasing grills on the market.
Available in four colour choices, this BBQ is different to other models as it does not come with a hooded lid. Instead, strapped onto the grill is a bamboo cooking board and plastic storage tray, which makes preparing your meal simpler and more hygienic.
Kamado Joe Jr. KJ13RH BBQ, $899 at The BBQ Store
Kamado Joe Jr. KJ13RH BBQ
What You Need To Know
This bold and bright red Kamado Joe Jr. BBQ will become a favourite among smoker lovers. Its stainless steel cook plate and 13.5-inch ceramic grill is surrounded by a thick and heat resistant ceramic shell that locks in moisture and smoke to create the most mouth-watering meals.
On top is a cast iron air vent for exact temperature control and a built-in temperature gauge giving readings of up to 399°C.
While on the heavier side, it comes with a stand and handles to easily carry to and from your site.
Best portable electric BBQ
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker with Smart Probe, $549 (down from $699.99) at Myer
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker with Smart Probe
What You Need To Know
Ticking all the boxes for a must-have cooking appliance, the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker has enough space to grill six steaks or 16 sausages.
One top of its grilling functions, you can also select from other settings to smoke, air fry, bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate. You can also choose from four smart protein setting and nine doneness levels, and use it’s built in smart probe to take the guesswork out of barbecuing.
Setting apart from other electric grills and BBQs is its space to add 1/2 cup of wood pellets to add a smoky flavour to your meals. Also included is a huge selection of accessories like a crisper basket, grease trap, removable smoker box, pellet scoop and samples of wood pellet blends.
One shopper offers a glowing review of their Ninja grill, saying “If you don’t have one of these what are you waiting for? GO BUY IT! You won’t be disappointed.
“Even as a novice that I am this little wonder made my once uncertain and unfulfilled barbecuing look and taste amazing.”
Napoleon Travel Q Pro 285E Electric BBQ, $549 at Temple & Webster
Napoleon Travel Q Pro 285E Electric BBQ
What You Need To Know
This all black cast aluminium electric grill by Napoleon has everything you need to make a quality BBQ meal wherever you go. Boasting a 10 year limited warranty, it has a windproof design to retain heat along with an adjustable thermometer control knob and temperature gauge.
Its porcelain coated and non-stick cast iron grates also have the Napoleon branded ‘Wave’ grids for distinctive searing patterns.
Praising the benefits of this electric BBQ, one shopper says there is “no need to worry about running out of gas” when cooking with this “great little unit.”
Weber Lumin Compact Electric Barbecue, $551 at The Good Guys
Weber Lumin Compact Electric Barbecue
What You Need To Know
Weber has moved away from traditional barbecuing with their electric Lumin grill. This BBQ reaches up to 315°C and lets you choose to grill at a medium or high heat and make your meals to your preferences (medium rare anyone?).
It also offers a variety of cooking settings to experiment with several functions to amplify your outdoor cooking, including steam, smoke, defrost and keep warm.
Best compact portable BBQ
NomadiQ Portable BBQ, $499 at Barbeques Galore
NomadiQ Portable BBQ
What You Need To Know
Weighing just 5.6kg, this small but mighty NomadiQ Portable BBQ can preheat and be ready to cook in as little as two minutes. Unfolding into two die cast aluminium grills, this gas BBQ has two cooking surfaces measuring 576cm² each. Both grills have individual temperature settings to cook two separate meals at different temperatures.
Cuisinart Venture Portable BBQ, $329 at Myer
Cuisinart Venture Portable BBQ
What You Need To Know
Described by one shopper as “perfect for little beach adventures and picnics”, the Cuisinart Venture Portable BBQ is one of the easiest to transport thanks to its built-in carry handle.
The brand says this basketlike BBQ is “designed to elevate your picnics, camping trips, or balcony barbecues” using its stainless steel cast iron grill plate. This retains heat for even cooking and is removable for hassle free clean-up.
What to consider before buying a portable grill or barbecue
Fuel type: There are three main fuel types that portable BBQs use: gas, charcoal and electric. Each has their own pros and cons and can benefit your cooking. Assess what will suit your cooking style most and consider its energy efficiency.
Size: While portable BBQs are smaller than traditional BBQs, models vary in size. Check the cooking surface area and amount of burners to see if it is suitable for how much you plan on cooking and how many people you are cooking for.
Weight: Despite being smaller, portable BBQs can still be quite heavy. See if the weight is too much for you to take – especially if you need to carry it to camping and picnic sites.
Build: BBQs and grills made with a cast aluminium body and cast iron grates are usually more durable and better at heat distribution than other materials. Consider what temperature control settings are on the BBQ for easier control of cooking and see how you can place your BBQ in the space – can it be sat on a table top or does it need to be used on a detachable base?
HOW WE CHOOSE OUR PRODUCTS
We read thousands of reviews and articles to research the best products to include in our roundups and assess how you can find the best deals. When looking for portable BBQs and grills, we considered their size, how easy it is to transport, their price, fuel type, cooking surface area and performance. We also looked for the best portable grills with the highest ratings and reviews to curate this list.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT MAKES A PORTABLE BBQ DIFFERENT TO A TRADITIONAL BBQ?
A portable BBQ is an outdoor grill that is more compact and lightweight than a regular backyard barbecue. They are predominantly designed for camping trips and picnics to cook up steaks, kebabs, veggies and more delicious meals away from home.
These lightweight grills are easy to take with you, require minimal set up, and have enough cooking space to typically feed small groups – usually between four to six people.
There are different types of portable BBQs to choose from to suit your cooking needs. Many grills are tabletop models that sit on a flat surface. Other grills stand upright and are built with folding legs for easy transport and portability.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FUEL TYPES?
Gas
A portable gas grill is one of the more popular options, thanks to its instant ignitions, quick preheating and great temperature control. Often built with multiple burners, these grills provide more direct and consistent heat that is easier to regulate compared to charcoal grills.
These barbecues can be linked to both natural gas, which connects to a home’s gas or propane gas, which comes in refillable tanks and are more often used in portable BBQs. One major downside is the price, with many gas grills being on the expensive side.
Charcoal
Producing a smokier flavour, portable charcoal BBQs create high temperature cooking conditions with the versatility to sear, smoke and grill.
There are two types of charcoal you can use: lump, which are made from hardwood and burns hotter and faster while producing minimal ash, and briquettes, which are evenly shaped bricks that produce more evenly dispersed heat, but can include additives to help with ignition. Both require active attention when cooking to retain heat and require large spaces to cook in due to the smoke it creates.
Portable charcoal grills are typically cheaper, but regularly buying charcoal can take a decent bite out of the budget.
Electric
Electric portable BBQs are one of the easiest use to create fast and simple meals – it just needs a flip of a switch. These grills allow for greater and more even heat distribution and easy clean up with no ash produced.
To use these barbecues, you will need an electricity source. These barbecues are safe to use in smaller areas and often come with several built-in safety features for more peace of mind when grilling.
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