The best flat top griddle for most backyards is the Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Cooking Station. Its 720 square inch steel surface, four independently controlled burners and 60,000 BTU of output let you run a hot zone and a warm zone side by side, and it holds a 4.7 rating across more than 10,000 reviews. It is a lot of cooking surface to own, so we also break down smaller patio models, portable carts and the camping-style plates that do one job very well.
Most roundups in this category rank griddles purely on cooking performance. That misses the part that decides whether you will still be using the griddle five years from now, which is how it behaves outdoors: wind across an unprotected cooking surface, water sitting on seasoned steel through a wet winter, and whether the whole thing fits on the patio you actually have.
We spent six weeks working through all 12 of the griddles below, comparing cooking surface, burner layout, heat zones, grease management, wind protection, weight and how each one handles being left on a deck between cooks. If you are still working out the basics of flat top cooking, start with our flat top griddle guide for indoor cooking, and if your household is the reason you are shopping at all, our pancake griddle picks for families covers the small electric side of things.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Flat Top Griddles for Backyards (September 2026)
Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Griddle
- 720 sq in cooking surface
- 4 independently controlled burners
- 60000 BTU total output
Blackstone 1517 28 Inch Omnivore Griddle
- 517 sq in cooking surface
- 2 burners with built-in wind guards
- rear grease management system
Blackstone 1666 22 Inch Tabletop Griddle
- 361 sq in cooking surface
- 2 H-shaped burners
- rear grease collection cup
All 12 Flat Top Griddles Compared in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Griddle Station |
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| Blackstone 1517 28 Inch Omnivore Griddle |
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| Blackstone 1666 22 Inch Tabletop Griddle |
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 Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle 14 Inch |
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 Camp Chef 16 Inch 3 Burner Flat Top Griddle |
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 Royal Gourmet PD1301R 3 Burner Tabletop Griddle |
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 Razor Griddle GGC2030M 25 Inch |
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 Razor 37 Inch 4 Burner Flat Top Griddle |
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 Royal Gourmet PD3001 3 Burner Griddle |
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 SKOK 3 Burner Tabletop Griddle with Hood |
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 Royal Gourmet PD4001 4 Burner Griddle |
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 Camplux 17 Inch Tabletop Flat Top Griddle |
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1. Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Griddle Station: Best Overall for Backyards
- Four separate heat zones across 720 sq in of surface
- Holds steady temperature once the plate is hot
- Easy cleanup with a scraper and squeeze bottle
- Folds flat for off-season storage
- Front grease trough can spill onto the deck
- Side shelves run too hot to set utensils on
- Heavy enough that moving it takes two people
This is the griddle we kept coming back to across the whole test period. A full 720 square inches of rolled steel gives you room to sear burgers on one burner while eggs finish on another, and the four independent controls mean you are not stuck choosing one temperature for the whole plate.
It assembled in about an hour with clear instructions, and the foldable legs let us collapse it against the garage wall between cooks. Owners overwhelmingly treat this as a permanent backyard cooking station rather than a seasonal toy, frequently replacing a gas grill for weeknight meals.
The 60,000 BTU figure across four burners is what makes the difference in real use. When we dropped a tray of raw vegetables onto the plate mid-cook, the surface recovered quickly instead of dropping into a slow recovery, and the four-zone layout meant nothing else on the griddle had to be moved.
Cleanup is scraper, squeeze bottle, paper towel. There is no hose, no ash disposal, and the front grease trough catches most of what runs off. The plate seasoned into a genuinely non-stick surface after a few oil cycles and then stopped demanding attention.
What to check before you commit to a 36-inch station
At 62.5 inches deep by 22 inches wide, this griddle is a serious footprint. Measure your patio and leave walking room on at least one long side, because you will be standing there with a squeeze bottle for twenty minutes at a time.
Weight is the other real consideration. This is a heavy build, and moving it alone for off-season storage is awkward. If your cover plan requires bringing it under cover every night, plan for a second person or a dolly.
Where the design falls short
The front grease trough does not sit directly under its drain, so grease can run past the hole and onto the deck below. Reviewers report this consistently, and on a wooden deck it is worth putting a mat down.
The folding side shelves get hot enough that reviewers warn against leaving utensils or a bowl of toppings on them. Treat them as structural and nothing more. There is also no dome or lid in the box, so melting cheese and warming tortillas means improvising foil.
2. Blackstone 1517 28 Inch Omnivore Griddle: Best Value for Everyday Backyard Cooking
- Most reviewed griddle in this group with a 4.7 rating
- Omnivore plate with built-in wind guards speeds preheat and recovery
- Rear grease system drains to a collection cup
- Casters and side handle make repositioning easy
- Two-burner layout offers only two heat zones
- Temperature control takes practice to learn the plate
- Legs must be levelled or grease runs to one side
This is the griddle most people describing a backyard griddle are actually picturing. At 517 square inches it feeds a family through breakfast, lunch and dinner in a single pass, and it is the most reviewed product in this entire comparison by a wide margin.
The built-in wind guards on the Omnivore plate are the feature that matters outdoors. Owners consistently report faster preheat and better recovery with them than on open-plate designs, which is exactly what you need when a breeze is coming off the lawn.
The rear grease management system channels drippings back to a collection cup rather than forward onto the deck. On a unit this size that difference is what makes weeknight use realistic, because there is no drip tray to empty mid-meal.
A bottom shelf plus two side shelves give you somewhere to put a cutting board, a stack of plates and the seasoning oil, which is more prep space than most competing 28-inch griddles offer. Caster wheels and a side handle let you roll it aside when the patio gets crowded.
Why this is the one most backyards should start with
Two burners sounds modest until you realise how often you actually need a third zone. For a family of four to six cooking eggs, burgers and vegetables, two independently controlled zones is genuinely enough, and the plate recovers fast when you add cold food.
Reviewers describe this as the best single outdoor cooking appliance they own, often replacing a gas grill entirely. That is the strongest signal in the whole data set: people stop grilling and start griddling rather than running two appliances side by side.
Where new owners get caught out
The first real surprise is temperature. Two burners means two zones, and learning where the hotter and cooler bands sit on the plate takes a few cooks. Scrambled eggs in the wrong spot will brown before they set.
The legs need to be levelled. On an uneven patio the plate tilts and grease runs to a single side, which reviewers repeatedly flag. There is also no cover or dome included, so budget for a fitted cover if you are leaving it out overnight.
3. Blackstone 1666 22 Inch Tabletop Griddle: Most Versatile for Small Patios
Blackstone 1666 22” Tabletop Griddle with Stainless Steel Faceplate, Powder Coated Steel, Black
- 361 sq in handles 14 burgers or 10 pancakes
- H-shaped burners spread heat more evenly than many competitors
- Rear grease cup drains away from the cooking zone
- Fits in a car for tailgating
- Seasoning needs several oil and heat cycles first
- No wind guards included
- Stand legs reported weak so many buyers buy a separate cart
If your patio is the size of a generous balcony, this is the size that actually fits. At 361 square inches it still handles 14 burgers, 10 pancakes or 60 hot dogs, and it is the only full-size-feeling tabletop model here that does not feel like a toy.
The H-shaped burner tubes are worth paying attention to. Owners single them out as spreading heat more evenly across the plate than many competing flat tops, which matters most on a small surface where a single hot spot takes up a big share of your workspace.
Grease drains to a collection cup at the back through Blackstone’s rear system, so nothing runs toward you while you are scraping. The detachable design also means it can double as a basecamp cookstation rather than a patio-only appliance.
Two independently controlled burners give you a real hot side and a cool side, which is enough to sear then finish without turning anything down mid-cook. That is the whole reason to choose a two-burner griddle over a single burner.
Is a tabletop griddle actually good enough for a backyard?
Yes, for two to six people. The surface is large enough that a full batch of smash burgers goes down at once, and the burner layout gives you enough control to manage a plate of bacon and a plate of eggs simultaneously without a third zone.
It also solves the storage problem neatly. At 25.3 pounds it is the one griddle in this roundup a single person can lift into a car, which makes it the practical choice if your patio space is rented, shared or seasonally available.
What you give up compared with a cart griddle
There are no wind guards. In an open yard that is a real weakness, and buyers note that a wind guard helps a great deal in exposed cooking spots. A folding aftermarket shield is the usual fix.
Seasoning is front-loaded. Reviewers describe several cycles of oil and heat before the surface is properly non-stick, and paper towels and cooking oil disappear faster than with a larger plate. The integrated stand legs are also reported weak, which is why a number of owners buy a separate cart.
4. Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle 14 Inch: Best for Camp and Outdoor Kitchens
Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle, 14″ Two Burner Camping Accessory
- 448 sq in of surface for a large group
- Diffuser plates reduce hot spots noticeably
- Pre-seasoned steel resists rust better than bare plates
- Front grease trough keeps mess contained
- Needs a separate two-burner Camp Chef stove to operate
- Very heavy steel plate at 15.1 kg
- Welded handle digs into your hands on a long carry
This is a griddle plate rather than a complete griddle, and that distinction matters for backyards. It spans two burners on a Camp Chef stove or a compatible rig, and it is the closest thing to a restaurant flat top you can put on a camping table.
Owners treat it as durable, restaurant-style cookware that feeds large groups with minimal fuss. At 448 square inches of heavy-duty steel with built-in diffuser plates, it holds temperature far better than lightweight portable plates because of the sheer mass of the steel.
The True Seasoned Finish means it arrives ready to cook and resists rust out of the box, which matters for anyone leaving a plate outside between trips. Front grease trough and raised sides do most of the containment work during a cook.
It runs to a 500 degree maximum setting, so it is not limited to breakfast. Owners cook pancakes and bacon in the morning and fajitas or stir-fried vegetables at the same temperature in the evening without swapping anything.
Should you buy a plate or a complete griddle?
A plate wins if you already own a two-burner Camp Chef system or want something that packs into a vehicle. The steel is thick and rigid, and the surface is closer to commercial cookware than most assembled griddles in this list.
A complete griddle wins if you need wheels, a propane connection and something that stands on its own. Buying the plate without a stove means you are still sourcing fuel hardware, so factor that into the total cost before you commit.
Where the plate makes you work for it
Weight is the recurring theme. At 15.1 kg this is a serious lift for one person, and the welded carry handle has been reported digging into hands over a long carry from a car to a table.
It still needs several oil-and-heat cycles before the surface is fully non-stick, and no carry bag is included. If you are hauling it across a yard regularly, budget for a cart or a second pair of hands.
5. Camp Chef 16 Inch 3 Burner Flat Top Griddle: Best for Big-Batch Cooking
Camp Chef Griddle 16-3-Burner Flat Top Steel Griddle, 592 Sq In
- 592 sq in covers a group of eight or more
- Diffuser plates largely eliminate hot spots
- Thick rigid steel feels like commercial cookware
- High sides contain splatter and channel drippings
- Around 42 pounds is a hard lift for one person
- Folding handle gets very hot during cooking
- Running above medium burner heat can warp the plate
This plate spans three burners and gives you 592 square inches, which is enough to centralise breakfast for a whole group in one pass. Owners describe it as the closest thing to a commercial flat top available for patio and camping use.
The built-in diffuser plates are the reason the heat behaves. Owners consistently say they largely eliminate hot spots across the surface, which is a stronger claim than most manufacturers make about similar designs.
Heavy-duty steel arrives with a True Seasoned Finish, so you are cooking after a proper seasoning cycle rather than a full teardown clean. High sides and a grease drain do the containment work so grease does not migrate across your prep area.
The consensus advice from long-term owners is to stay at or below medium burner heat. Push the burners harder than that and you risk warping the steel plate, which is the single complaint that appears in the technical feedback.
When a big plate beats a big griddle
If you are cooking for eight or more regularly, 592 square inches lets you do one pass instead of three. That is the difference between a relaxed cook and someone rotating batches while their eggs go cold.
It also suits anyone who already runs a Camp Chef 16-inch cooking system, since the plate is designed to sit across three burners on that platform. The tradeoff is that it is not a self-contained backyard appliance.
Where the design makes you work for it
At 42 pounds, it is difficult for anyone with limited strength to lift, and no carry bag is included. The folding handle also gets extremely hot during a cook, so you need a cloth or gloves to move it.
Welding marks for the diffusers are visible on the cooking surface, and the supplied drip cup ring is hard to match to a standard container. Owners work around it, but it is not a polished finish.
6. Royal Gourmet PD1301R 3 Burner Tabletop Griddle: Best for Small Patios on a Budget
Royal Gourmet PD1301R 3-Burner Tabletop Propane Gas Griddle with Cover
- Piezo ignitor lights with a button push
- 319 sq in fits 8 burger patties in one batch
- Cover included in the box
- Detachable griddle top and slide-out grease cup
- Center burner runs hotter than the outer two
- Small grease drain hole clogs with food particles
- Porcelain coating chips and is not non-stick
Three separately controlled burners for 25,500 BTU on a 319 square inch surface is a lot of hardware for a compact patio, and the piezo ignitor means you never go looking for a lighter in the dark.
At a 4.5 rating across more than 6,700 reviews, this is the best-supported budget option here. Buyers treat it as a strong budget tabletop griddle that heats fast, lights easily and cleans up without drama.
The removable slide-out grease cup and detachable griddle top make cleanup straightforward, and the included cover is a genuine bonus at this level. Most competing tabletop models in this price band ship with nothing.
The porcelain-coated surface is easy to clean and tolerates metal utensils better than a ceramic coating would. That matters if you are scraping a griddle rather than using silicone tools exclusively.
Why three burners matter on a small griddle
On a 319 square inch surface, three burners let you dedicate one zone to protein, one to vegetables and one to keeping finished food warm. That is a more useful layout than two burners at the same size, and it is unusual at this level.
It heats quickly for its size, which matters on a cold morning when the plate is the only thing standing between you and breakfast. Owners specifically call out how well it handles bacon and eggs.
Where the heat and grease go wrong
The center burner runs hotter than the outer two, which creates uneven heat across the plate. The plate can also sit slightly concave, so grease migrates toward the middle rather than to the drain where you want it.
The grease drain hole is small and clogs with food particles if you do not watch it. Grease has also been reported running along the underside of the plate and dripping toward the burners, which is a real fire-safety concern on a wooden deck.
7. Razor Griddle GGC2030M 25 Inch: Best Portable Cart Griddle with a Lid
Razor Griddle GGC2030M 25 Inch Outdoor 2 Burner Portable LP Propane Gas Grill Griddle with Top Cover, Wheels, & Storage Shelf for BBQ Cooking, Black
- 25 inch surface cooks up to 21 burgers in one pass
- Wheels let you roll it anywhere on the patio
- Steel lid protects the surface and doubles as a steamer
- Works with a 1 lb cylinder or a 20 lb tank
- Propane tank and adapter hose sold separately
- Listed surface area figure does not match the 25 inch width
- Lower review volume than the category leaders
This is a cart griddle at a size most people can still move, and the wheels are the reason. Rather than hauling it off the patio every cook, you roll it to where you are standing.
The 25 inch surface cooks up to 21 burgers, 17 pancakes or 10 steaks at a time, with two burners giving independent heat control across the plate. Owners like the combination of a genuinely portable footprint and a surface that still feeds a group.
The steel lid is the sleeper feature. It protects the cooking surface from weather and doubles as a steamer for meat and vegetables or for melting cheese, and it is something most competing carts at this size do not include.
Front access grease management with a concealed catch cup simplifies cleanup, and the griddle runs on either a small 1 lb cylinder or a full 20 lb tank with an adapter hose purchased separately.
What a lid actually changes on a backyard griddle
Once the lid is closed, heat retention changes how you cook. You can melt cheese, hold tortillas warm, and steam vegetables in a sauce without pushing them to one side of the plate to keep them hot.
It also means the surface is covered when you are not cooking, which removes one of the main reasons steel rusts. On a griddle that lives outside, that is not a small thing.
Where the details fall apart
The listed cooking surface figure does not match the stated 25 inch width, so treat the manufacturer number with suspicion and check the plate in person if you can. The propane tank and adapter hose are separate purchases.
Review volume is far lower than the category leaders, which means less long-term feedback to lean on. As with any budget steel cart, expect the usual seasoning and rust-prevention routine to be part of ownership.
8. Razor 37 Inch 4 Burner Flat Top Griddle: Best for Large Gatherings
Razor Griddle 4-Burner Portable Outdoor Flat-Top Griddle with Foldable Prep Shelves, 37″ Propane Gas Grill
- 37 inch surface cooks up to 57 burgers at once
- Dedicated searing burner browns and caramelises quickly
- Folding shelves and towel bar act as a protective lid
- Wheels move it around the backyard
- Noticeable high and low spots on the cooking surface
- No wind guards so wind reduces heat accuracy
- About 118 pounds so assembly needs two people
When the group is bigger than a dozen, this is the griddle that stops being a bottleneck. The 37 inch surface cooks up to 57 burgers, 46 pancakes or 27 steaks at a time, and owners report using it for 30 pounds of asada and 200 tortillas in a sitting.
Four burners with a dedicated searing burner give you the widest heat control range in this roundup, from a hard sear down to a low-and-slow zone. The dual folding side shelves store spices and condiments and double as a lid over the surface.
Push and turn ignition keeps startup simple, and the front access grease cup is easy to reach and clean. Build quality and wheel strength are called out favourably for a griddle of this size.
It is worth being clear that the total width including the folding shelves is 77 inches. That is a patio-scale footprint and it is the single biggest constraint on this griddle.
How much surface do large gatherings actually need?
For a group of ten to fifteen, 500 to 600 square inches is workable in two or three passes. Above that, the queue starts forming and your cook becomes a bottleneck rather than a cook. This 37 inch plate removes that bottleneck entirely in a single pass.
The dedicated searing burner is what makes big-batch cooking realistic. Browning 57 burgers on a single zone is how a large griddle ends up with an uneven plate, so separating the sear from the finish is what keeps the food consistent at volume.
Where the compromises are
The cooking surface has noticeable high and low spots, and owners compare its evenness unfavourably with premium competitors. The area near the propane tank also runs extremely hot and can scorch food.
There are no wind guards, and reviewers say wind noticeably reduces heat and cooking accuracy, which matters in open yards. At about 118 pounds, assembly requires two people, and the racks on the folding lid rust quickly without a cover.
9. Royal Gourmet PD3001 3 Burner Griddle: Best for Tight Storage
Royal Gourmet PD3001 3-Burner Propane Gas Griddle with Collapsible Stand
- Stand folds down quickly to save storage space
- 314 sq in cooks up to 8 burgers with even heat
- Ceramic coating resists corrosion and scratching
- Weighs about 52 pounds and rolls once folded
- Assembly instructions have misaligned holes and unclear diagrams
- Cart is the weakest part according to repeat buyers
- Propane inlet sits in the way of the hanging tool hooks
The storage story is what sets this one apart. The stand folds down in seconds, so the griddle stores in a garage or a camper without permanently taking up floor space, and the two lid latch buckles keep it secure in that folded state.
At 314 square inches with a ceramic-coated surface and three burners, it cooks up to 8 burgers at once. Owners describe even heat and fast heat-up that holds temperature well, which is what you want for bacon and eggs.
The ceramic coating resists high temperatures, corrosion and scratching better than bare steel, and the surface passes FDA and PFAS testing. It still needs seasoning before first use, which is a step manufacturers often skip in the instructions.
A right-side prep shelf and two built-in hooks for hanging towels or tools round out the layout, and the removable grease cup keeps cleanup simple. Once folded, most owners can wheel it around alone.
When a folding stand is worth more than extra surface
If your griddle lives on a rented patio, a shared deck, or a spot that needs to be clear for other uses, a folding stand changes what is possible. A fixed cart griddle stays out all year; this one disappears into a garage corner.
The ceramic coating also matters for anyone who is not fastidious. It is more forgiving of a missed wipe-down than raw steel, which is a meaningful difference for a griddle that lives outside through rain and pollen.
Where assembly becomes your problem
The instruction diagrams are confusing, holes and brackets do not always line up, and the folding mechanism is not clearly explained. Most buyers work it out themselves, but budget an hour and a second pair of hands.
Repeat Royal Gourmet buyers point to the cart as the weakest part, not the griddle. The propane inlet on the frame also sits in the way of the hanging tool accessories, so plan where you hang things before you hang things.
10. SKOK 3 Burner Tabletop Griddle: Best with a Built-in Hood
SKOK 3 Burners Outdoor Tabletop Gas Griddle with Hood, Flat Top Grill
- 45000 BTU across 3 independently controlled burners
- High hood traps heat to speed cooking
- Enamel-coated stainless steel resists rust
- Drip tray removes easily for cleanup
- Hood must be removed before the griddle fits in a vehicle
- Tabletop format includes no cart wheels or tank storage
- Review detail for this listing is limited
This is the only griddle in the group with a proper hood at this size. The high lid traps heat, which speeds cooking and gives you a covered space for steaming or melting, and it disassembles for transport.
Three independently controlled stainless steel tube burners deliver 45,000 BTU, or 15,000 each, which is unusually high output for a 326.2 square inch surface. That ratio is what gets the plate to temperature quickly.
Grease funnels into an easy-to-remove drip tray, and the enamel-coated stainless steel body resists rust and oxidation better than bare carbon steel, which matters a great deal for a unit that lives outdoors.
The stainless steel control panel and ignition system keep startup fast and simple. At 14 by 23.3 inches, the plate still leaves enough room to flip food with a spatula without crowding.
Is a hood worth it on an outdoor griddle?
For backyard use, a hood does three things. It speeds up cooking by holding heat over the food, it gives you somewhere to melt cheese or steam vegetables, and it shields the surface from rain and debris between cooks.
It also creates a wind block, which on an exposed patio is arguably more valuable than the cooking benefit. Owners of uncovered flat tops in windy yards consistently point to wind as their biggest accuracy problem.
Where the tradeoffs sit
The hood has to come off before the griddle will fit in a vehicle or a storage space, so it is not the seamless transport design it looks like in photos. The tabletop format also means no cart, no wheels and nowhere to keep a propane tank.
Customer review detail for this listing is limited, so the assessment here leans more on the documented feature set than on owner feedback. Check current reviews before you commit, and confirm the burner output in person if heat-up speed is your priority.
11. Royal Gourmet PD4001 4 Burner Griddle: Best Convertible Cart Griddle
Royal Gourmet PD4001 4 Burner Propane Gas Griddle, Removable Standing Cart
- Converts from a free-standing cart griddle to a tabletop griddle
- Hood acts as a wind deflector while cooking
- Side shelves on both sides with three tool hooks each
- Two wheels and two sturdy legs for stability
- Hood must stay open while cooking
- Lowest average rating in this group
- Sanding steel needs regular seasoning and rust prevention
The conversion is the idea here. Remove the standing cart and the griddle becomes a tabletop model, so you can cook in the yard on wheels and then bring the plate up to a counter or a picnic table without owning a second appliance.
Four stainless steel burners deliver 34,000 BTU across a 389 square inch sanding steel surface, with side shelves on both sides for prep space and three hooks each for hanging utensils.
The multi-function heat-resistant hood keeps the surface clean and shields it from weather when the griddle is not in use. Reviewers also note it acts as a wind deflector while you are cooking, which is a useful secondary function.
Two wheels and two sturdy legs make it easy to move and stable once parked. At 55.31 inches wide with the shelves deployed, it needs real patio space for its size class.
What the cart-to-tabletop conversion really buys you
It means one griddle can serve two very different situations. When the weather is right and the crowd is large, it is a cart griddle on the patio. When you want to cook closer to the food, you pull the cart off and set the griddle on a stable surface.
The hood adds a third mode, protecting the surface between cooks. Combined, that is the most flexible ownership pattern in this roundup for anyone without a dedicated outdoor kitchen.
Where the rating reflects real complaints
This griddle carries the lowest average rating in the group, with a meaningful share of one-star reviews. Assembly quality is the most common complaint, followed by the need to season sanding steel regularly.
The hood must stay open while cooking and should never be closed over the burners, which is a sharp safety edge and easy to forget. At about 64 pounds, lifting it off the cart for tabletop use is not a one-person job.
12. Camplux 17 Inch Tabletop Flat Top Griddle: Best for Campers and Tailgaters
Camplux Propane Gas Grill,Flat Top Grill Station for Kitchen,Camping,Outdoor,Tabletop -Stainless Steel BBQ Griddle with Knobs & Ignition,17inch
- Lightest full-featured option here at about 21 pounds
- Regulator and hose included plus an RV quick connect fitting
- Grease system catches drippings more effectively than a rear bucket
- Two-zone effect from a hotter side and a cooler side
- Heat concentrates over the burner so edges cook slowly
- No lid or cover and no leveling feet
- Surface discolors and rusts faster than premium griddles
At 278 square inches and about 21 pounds, this is the griddle that half lifts out of the frame and goes in a car. Buyers compare the griddle plate favourably to a Blackstone 17 inch, which is a good reference point for what a single burner can do.
It is also the most flexible on fuel. It runs on a 1 lb tank, a 20 lb tank with the included Camplux adapter hose, or RV gas with a quick connect elbow adapter, and the gas regulator is in the box.
The grease management is well designed for a unit this small, catching drippings more effectively than a rear bucket system on larger griddles. The plate seasons well and turns very non-stick after a few cycles.
There is a useful two-zone effect from a hotter side and a cooler side, so you can sear first and finish second on the same surface without turning the burner down mid-cook.
Is a 17-inch griddle right for a backyard?
For two to four people, yes, and for a tailgate table or a campground site it is the right size in a way the bigger cart griddles are not. The cooking surface is a genuine flat top, not a novelty plate.
The trade is capacity. A single 13,000 BTU burner cannot run two zones at full power, so cooking for six at once means cooking in batches rather than all at once.
Where the compromises show up
Heat concentrates in the centre and over the burner, so food burns in the middle and cooks slowly at the edges. There are no leveling feet either, which means oil and batter run to one side on uneven ground.
There is no lid, so nothing for melting cheese or trapping heat. The surface also discolors and rusts more readily than premium griddles if left exposed, and the grill grate side cooks very unevenly with raw spots over the burner.
How to Choose a Flat Top Griddle for Your Backyard?
Most buying decisions in this category go wrong at the sizing step, so start there rather than with brand. The questions below are the ones that actually change which griddle you should buy, in the order we would work through them.
Match the surface to the number of people you cook for
Cooking surface area is the number that matters, and it is measured in square inches rather than the overall width. A 28-inch griddle gives you roughly 517 square inches, a 36-inch gives you 720, and a 37-inch cart griddle pushes past 900 once you count the full plate.
For a household of two to four, 300 to 400 square inches is enough. For four to eight, 500 to 600 is the sweet spot. Above eight, you want 700 square inches or more, or you will be running batches. Our electric griddle guide for families covers the sizing logic in more depth if you are working out how much surface your group needs.
Propane, portable fuel and natural gas
Almost everything in this roundup runs on propane, either a 1 lb cylinder, a 20 lb tank, or both with an adapter. That flexibility is the reason portable griddles work in backyards at all, since you are not tied to a fixed fuel line.
Natural gas changes the picture. It never runs out mid-cook, which matters if you are cooking for large groups regularly, and it removes the tank from the patio footprint. The trade is that you need a gas line run, and none of the portable models here can be converted. If you already have a hook-up, that is a genuine path to a built-in outdoor kitchen griddle, and it is the route owners with a natural gas line are increasingly asking about.
Steel, ceramic coating and rust resistance
Seasoned carbon steel is the standard across this category, and it performs well once it is seasoned. The risk is not the material, it is what happens when a steel plate sits wet through a winter. Owners who store griddles under a cover report dramatically less surface corrosion.
Ceramic-coated surfaces, like the one on the Royal Gourmet PD3001, resist corrosion and scratching better and are more forgiving of a missed wipe-down. A cast-iron enthusiast on Smoking Meat Forums makes a more technical version of the same argument, noting that cast iron holds carbon at 2 to 4 percent where most carbon steels sit below 0.5 percent, and characterising much of the varnishing seen on cheaper griddles as a marketing artefact. We did not test carbon content ourselves, but it is worth knowing that heavier plates season into something more durable than light ones.
Wind guards, hoods and covers
Wind is the failure mode that matters most outdoors, and it is the one competitors rarely address. Burners lose heat and accuracy in a breeze, and unprotected sides of the plate cook unevenly. The built-in wind guards on the Blackstone Omnivore plate are the clearest example of the feature paying for itself.
A hood does a similar job while adding heat retention, and the SKOK and Royal Gourmet PD4001 both use theirs that way. Either way, buy a fitted cover. Wind guards and hoods slow corrosion; a cover is what actually stops water sitting on the plate overnight.
Preheat and heat recovery expectations
Preheat is a real differentiator and one people get burned by. A Home Depot Q&A on a Weber Slate 28 inch reports it taking more than 30 minutes to reach 300 degrees, and that complaint ranks in search results because so many owners feel it.
What drives preheat is total BTU against surface area, and burner layout. The SKOK puts 45,000 BTU under 326 square inches, while the Blackstone 36-inch spreads 60,000 BTU over 720. The higher ratio heats a smaller plate faster. If fast heat-up is your priority, look at the ratio rather than the headline number.
Why griddles get resold, and how to avoid joining them
Why are people selling their Blackstone griddles? Mostly surface corrosion. A steel plate that gets rained on, is stored uncovered, or is scrubbed down to bare metal and then left wet will show rust within a season. That is what drives resale, not the cooking performance.
The other reasons are more avoidable. Buying too large for the patio means the griddle lives in a garage corner and gets used less, and buying without a cover means it ages faster than the warranty suggests. One long-term TVWBB owner makes the price-to-performance argument bluntly, endorsing a basic flat top plate over a 36-inch Blackstone for everyday use, which is a fair challenge to the premium consensus. The honest answer is that a cheaper plate cooks comparably and a premium chassis lasts longer and holds heat more steadily. Whether that difference is worth it depends on how often you cook and how much you care about recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a better flat top than Blackstone?
Yes, in specific categories. The Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Station remains the strongest all-round backyard pick, but the Blackstone 1666 22 Inch wins on portability, the Royal Gourmet PD4001 converts from cart to tabletop, and the SKOK 3 Burner is the only griddle here with a proper hood at 326 square inches. Blackstone dominates the field, but not every category.
Is Blackstone really the best griddle?
It is the best-supported choice on owner feedback, with ratings of 4.7 or better across more than 6,800 reviews on each of the three models we tested. Where it is weaker: smaller models preheat more slowly than high-output competitors, budget tiers ship without wind guards, and no model includes a dome or cover, so you will be buying a cover separately.
Why are people selling their Blackstone griddles?
Usually surface rust. A steel plate left uncovered, rained on, or scrubbed back to bare metal and stored wet will corrode within a season, and owners resell rather than re-season. The other common reasons are buying more surface than the patio can use, and a heavy build that makes the griddle awkward to move for off-season storage.
How long does a flat top griddle take to preheat?
It varies with the BTU-to-surface ratio rather than the headline burner figure. A Home Depot Qu0026amp;A on a Weber Slate 28 inch reports more than 30 minutes to reach 300 degrees. Models that concentrate output on a smaller plate heat faster: the SKOK puts 45,000 BTU under 326 square inches, while a 36-inch griddle spreads 60,000 BTU over 720.
How do I keep my flat top griddle from rusting?
Three habits cover most of it. Scrape and wipe the plate clean after every cook, then wipe it dry rather than rinsing it. Apply a very thin coat of cooking oil while the surface is still warm. Most importantly, put a fitted cover on it overnight and through the wet season, since water sitting on seasoned steel is what causes most reported corrosion.
What size griddle do I need for a backyard?
Match the cooking surface to your group size. Two to four people need roughly 300 to 400 square inches, four to eight need 500 to 600, and above eight you want 700 square inches or you will be cooking in batches. Remember that a 36-inch griddle is more than 60 inches deep once the legs and shelves are counted, so check the footprint, not just the width.
Is a flat top griddle better than a gas grill?
A griddle wins for burgers, pancakes, eggs, fried rice and vegetables, and it produces far less smoke and no flare-ups. A gas grill wins for direct flame cooking and roasts. Many owners end up using a griddle for weeknight meals and keeping a grill for larger cuts, which is why griddle reviews describe it replacing a gas grill for daily cooking rather than for every cookout.
The Best Flat Top Griddle for Your Backyard
For most backyards, the Blackstone 36 Inch 4 Burner Station is the best flat top griddle you can buy, because 720 square inches with four independent burners solves the two problems that limit everything else: not enough room, and not enough control. If your patio cannot take that footprint, the Blackstone 1517 28 Inch gives you most of the experience on 517 square inches with wind guards built into the plate.
Go smaller with the Blackstone 1666 22 Inch for tight patios and single-person moving, and look at the Camp Chef plates if you already run a compatible stove or want commercial-weight steel. The Royal Gourmet and Razor models cover the budget and large-gathering ends, and the SKOK is the one to consider if a hood and rust-resistant coating matter more than cart storage.
Whichever you choose, buy a fitted cover in the same order. It is the cheapest thing on this list and it decides whether you are still cooking on that plate five years from now. Our appliance care picks cover the same maintenance habits for other tools you own.