BBQ Grill Size Calculator

A grill calculator can solve the problem you often face when shopping for a grill: How big should it be? If it's too small, you'll have to cook in multiple batches and others will have to wait. If it's too large, you'll waste fuel keeping the grill hot.

This tool offers three ways to use it. You can determine the grill size based on the number of people you are cooking for, or by the exact menu that will be cooked at the same time. Alternatively, you can measure your existing grill and see how many people it is suitable for. Depending on which option you select above, the fields shown will change. Regardless of the method chosen, you will always get the same value in the end: the main cooking surface in square inches.

Square inches per person: A simple guideline

Most grilling guides come down to the same rule of thumb: Plan for about 72 square inches of cooking surface per person, which is roughly the size of a platter. Multiply that number by the number of people you usually serve and you'll have a realistic goal.

So a family of four would need at least about 288 square inches while six people would likely require 430. However, the 72 is just a minimum figure. It assumes that each person will only be cooking one dish per grilling session. If you want to cook multiple dishes simultaneously or have room to move food around, then you should increase the guideline to about 100 square inches per person.

Some guides recommend a grill with 400 to 500 square inches for a family of four, though they say 72 square inches per person. That's because four people and generous planning at 100 square inches per person would total 400 square inches. This is the size of a standard home-use grill with 3 to 4 burners. The tool to pick your area per person allows you to choose between a compact, minimum configuration and a more spacious, comfortable one.

Menu method: Calculate the total surface area of ingredients to be placed on the grill.

If you know exactly what you want to cook, you can determine the required area more precisely than by a simple division according to the number of people. Determine for each ingredient the approximate area that it will cover on the grill and also take into account the space for turning. Add up the areas of all ingredients that are to be put on the grill at the same time.

If you want to cook six burgers, six chicken pieces and six veggie sticks at the same time, then the area required would be approximately 6 x 28 + 6 x 50 + 6 x 15 which is about 560 square inches. This is for a large grill not a medium one. If you only cook one type of food item at a time then it's a completely different story. That's the point of the menu method.

Measure your existing grill.

The grill's product information will often list the main cooking surface area, but you can also check this yourself by measuring the width and depth of the cooking surface and multiplying those two measurements together.

A grill that is 30 inches wide and 18 inches deep has an area of 540 square inches. A round grill with a diameter of 22 inches has an area of about 360 square inches. Assuming one plate per person, this would be enough for five people or allow you to cook about twelve burgers at the same time. In measure mode, you can directly calculate how many people it can accommodate and how many burgers you can cook at the same time based on the size of your grill, so that you can immediately judge whether your existing grill is suitable for the number of guests.

Grill size chart

The following table shows the recommended grill sizes for different numbers of people, rounded to the nearest whole number and based on the principle of "one plate per person." The sizes are adapted from the common grill categories found in stores.

Heat output: required BTUs

The amount of food that will fit on a grill surface depends upon the surface area and actual ability to reach a given temperature is determined by the BTU rating. For gas grills, about 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch of main cooking surface is a good rule of thumb. So a grill with 500 square inches of cooking surface would need approximately 40,000 to 50,000 BTUs.

A higher BTU rating does not automatically mean better performance. More important than a high number is that the entire grill heats evenly and has solid build quality. A well-built grill with moderate heat output can be better than an inexpensive unit with high power, and will also use less fuel.

Don't forget to allow for space around your grill.

It's not just the grill itself that matters. Make sure there is enough room to walk around it and position it a few feet away from your house and one foot away from furniture. Also consider an appropriate off-season storage location. A slightly smaller but well-made grill in a suitable spot is better than a huge grill forced into a corner.

Choose the size of your grill according to how much you use it on a daily basis and not just for occasional events. If you usually eat with family and only have larger gatherings occasionally, choose a grill that fits the needs of your family. If you need more room for indirect cooking, then go with the zone option here.

These numbers are guidelines and not strict requirements. As each grill has its own shape, burner layout, and cooking methods, use these results as a starting point. If in doubt, choose a larger size.