Barbecue Size and Dimensions

May 10, 2022September 5, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

In this guide, we shall discuss the barbecue size and dimensions to help you prepare the best barbecue by yourself (DIY).

Barbecue Size and Dimensions size-charts.com — _{Photo by Danny de Jong on Unsplash}

Table of Content of Barbecue Size and Dimensions

What is a barbecue, and what are the main components that determine the size?
Why is a good barbecue size important?
Barbecue Size Charts
Barbecue size for large groups
Barbecue size for gas barbecues
Barbecue grill size by brand
How to choose the right barbecue size?
How big is a standard BBQ?
How do you measure the size of a BBQ?
How much room do you need for a BBQ?

What is a barbecue, and what are the main components that determine the size?

A barbecue entails cooking techniques that use smoke and fire to prepare and cook food. It varies in various regions because of the style of cooking, people and meals to be served and the methods used to prepare the foods.

The most common barbecue method is grilling, since it’s mostly an outdoor activity there are several components that will determine the perfect size to have a great barbecuing experience.

Outdoor grills are portable grills, mobile grills, or built-in grills. The types of grills, grill surface, grill grates, number of burners, elements of heat, and cooking power. Depending on the number of guests the components listed will help one to the size of barbecue they want.

One of the most popular brands is Blackstone, check out the dedicated blackstone griddle size charts here

Why is a good barbecue size important?

Picking the right grill size is imperative, and it depends on several points that are;

The cooking surface which includes the cooktop areas and the warming rack has the measurements in square inches of cooking area, and the minimum size is 450 square inches.
Avoid crowding the grill and with a wide range of BBQ grills, one can either choose a small or a large grill depending on the variety of foods they are preparing and the style of cooking used. Moreover, grill masters prefer a larger grill to have enough grilling space for comfortability and flexibility.

Charcoal barbecue size in centimeters and inches (ikea model)

Barbecue Size Charts

The table below shows the number of people and the square inches and centimeters of the cooking area a grill occupies.

Number of people	Cooking area size in inches²	Cooking area size in centimeters²
1	72 inches²	464.5 centimeters²
2	144 inches²	929 centimeters²
3	216 inches²	1393.5 centimeters²
4	288 inches²	1858 centimeters²
5	360 inches²	2322.5 centimeters²
6	432 inches²	2787 centimeters²
7	504 inches²	3251.5 centimeters²
8	576 inches²	3716 centimeters²
9	648 inches²	4180 centimeters²
10	720 inches²	4645 centimeters²
11	792 inches²	5109.5 centimeters²
12	864 inches²	5574 centimeters²
13	936 inches²	6038.5 centimeters²
14	1008 inches²	6503 centimeters²
15	1080 inches²	6967.5 centimeters²
16	1152 inches²	7432 centimeters²
17	1224 inches²	7896.5 centimeters²
18	1296 inches²	8361 centimeters²
19	1368 inches²	8825.5 centimeters²
20	1440 inches²	9290 centimeters²
21	1512 inches²	9754.5 centimeters²
22	1584 inches²	10219 centimeters²
23	1656 inches²	10683.5 centimeters²
24	1728 inches²	11148 centimeters²
25	1800 inches²	11612.5 centimeters²
26	1872 inches²	12077 centimeters²
27	1944 inches²	12541.5 centimeters²
28	2016 inches²	13006 centimeters²
29	2088 inches²	13470.5 centimeters²
30	2160 inches²	13935 centimeters²

Barbecue size for large groups

We consider a large group of 10 people and more. Choosing a larger barbecue size with a grill up to at least 600 square inches is a minimum to start from. This grill size will allow you to easily cook Cheeseburger Kebabs, Baked BBQ Chicken, Honey Glazed Chicken Wings, Grilled Shrimp Skewers for your guests.

Aside from the right size barbecue grill, you also need a good timing to serve perfect grilled food to your gathering

Barbecue size and timing for big groups by Mad Scientist BBQ

Barbecue size for gas barbecues

The table below shows the propane size tank dimensions. All about the correct zie of Propane gas tanks you can read here

Water capacity in gallons and liters	Leg spacing in inches and centimeters	Diameter in inches and centimeters	Length in the foot to inches and centimeters	Height in the foot to inches and centimeters	Weight in pounds and kilograms
V-120 gallons 454.2 liters	–	30 inches 76.2 centimeters	–	4’ 6 inches 137.1 centimeters	260 pounds 117.9 kilograms
120 gallons 454.2 liters	45 ¼ inches 114.9 centimeters	24 inches 60.9 centimeters	5’8 inches 172.7 centimeters	2’9 inches 83.8 centimeters	257 pounds 116.5 kilograms
150 gallons 567.8 liters	60 inches 152.4 centimeters	24 inches 60.9 centimeters	7’0 inches 213.3 centimeters	2’9 inches 83.8 centimeters	314 pounds 142.4 kilograms
250 gallons 1059.9 liters	60 inches 152.4 centimeters	30 inches 76.2 centimeters	7’10 inches 238.7 centimeters	3’3 inches 99.0 centimeters	483 pounds 219.1 kilograms
325 gallons 1230.2 liters	60 inches 152.4 centimeters	30 inches 76.2 centimeters	9’11 inches 302.2 centimeters	3’3 inches 99.0 centimeters	597 pounds 270.7 kilograms
500 gallons 1892.7 liters	60 inches 152.4 centimeters	37 inches 93.9 centimeters	9’11 inches 302.2 centimeters	3’10 inches 116.8 centimeters	949 pounds 430.4 kilograms
850 gallons 3217.6 liters	86 inches 218.4 centimeters	41 inches 104.1 centimeters	13’9 inches 419.1 centimeters	4’2 inches 127 centimeters	1440 pounds 653.1 kilograms
1000 gallons 3785.4 liters	121 inches 307.3 centimeters	41 inches 104.1 centimeters	16’0 inches 487.6 centimeters	4’2 inches 127 centimeters	1760 pounds 798.3 kilograms
1450 gallons 5488.8 liters	139.5 inches 354.3 centimeters	46 inches 116.8 centimeters	17’4 inches 528.3 centimeters	4’7 inches 139.7 centimeters	2658 pounds 1205.6 kilograms
1990 gallons 7532.9 liters	192 inches 487.6 centimeters	46 inches 116.8 centimeters	23’11 inches 728.9 centimeters	4’7 inches 139.7 centimeters	3400 pounds 1542.2 kilograms

Barbecue grill size by brand

The table below represents the different types of grills with brands and their sizes.

Type of grill	Height in inches and centimeters	Width in inches and centimeters	Depth in inches and centimeters
Napoleon prestige pro 500	50.25 inches 127 centimeters	64.25 inches 168 centimeters	26 inches 55 centimeters
dyna-glo-X-large heavy-duty charcoal grill	50.5 inches 128 centimeters	60.25 inches 153 centimeters	28 inches 71 centimeters
Napoleon rogue 365	48 inches 122 centimeters	48 inches 122 centimeters	25 inches 64 centimeters
Napoleon travelQ 285X	38.75 inches 98 centimeters	44.25 inches 112 centimeters	20.25 inches 51 centimeters
Weber original kettle charcoal grill	39.5 inches 100 centimeters	25 inches 63.5 centimeters	22.5 inches 57 centimeters
Napoleon prestige pro 825	51 inches 130 centimeters	94.25 inches 239 centimeters	25.25 inches 64 centimeters
Charcoal grill barbeque portable	8.8 inches 22.5 centimeters	16 inches 40.5 centimeters	11 inches 28 centimeters
Stainless steel body portable BBQ	27.5 inches 70 centimeters	43.3 inches 110 centimeters	13.1 inches 33.5 centimeters
Outdoor middle size stainless steel foldable BBQ	22.4 inches 57 centimeters	25.5 inches 65 centimeters	13.7 inches 35 centimeters
Charcoal barbecue grill camping	18.1 inches 46 centimeters	24.4 inches 62 centimeters	9.1 inches 23 centimeters

How to choose the right barbecue size?

The type of grill one purchases does not only depend on the size and number of guests but also your expertise in barbecuing, presenting authentic flavors, space for the grill, and time expenditure on cooking. Each grill has its specificity for the delivery of food, the grills are;

Charcoal grill – also known as kettle grills has both direct and indirect grilling with temperatures of up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit delivering a charred flavor to meaty dishes. No precision temperature controls and high heat retention because of longer cool down and heat.
Gas grill – one of the basic models of grills with precise temperature control. It uses a 20-pound propane tank that lasts for 24 hours while in use. There are additional burners for cooking activities.
Electric grills – because of their small size they are an ideal choice for apartments. In addition, no fuel is required and they do not get very hot like other models.
Pellet grills – considered one of the high-end models, with an electrical outlet therefore, it doesn’t require propane canisters or natural gas. Has precision temperature controls.

How big is a standard BBQ?

The standard size for a BBQ grill especially for cooking hamburgers and hotdogs has a measurement of 360 square inches in case the crowd is bigger it increases to 400 square inches and it can reach a maximum size of 1200 square inches.

The grill surface influences the grill size you want because the width is equal to the cooking surface multiplied by the length to give its dimensions in square inches. The common size is 400 – 500 square inches of cooking space and it increases to 600 square inches if the family is larger and provides plenty of cooking area.

How do you measure the size of a BBQ?

To find the standard grill size, first, measure the height dimensions of your barbecue by placing a tape measure at the base of the grill to the highest point. Second, we obtain the dimensions of the width by placing a measuring tape on each end of the grill.

Last the depth is measured by closing the lid get the measurements from the back to the front of the barbecue including the lid handle and knobs.

How much room do you need for a BBQ?

For 400 to 450 square inches of cooking area, a three-burner gas grill is satisfactory for a typical home of 4-6 family members, but for a family reunion, a larger model of a grill with 5-6 burners that has a measurement of 550 – 650 square inches is approved.

Make sure to place the grill 10 feet away from plants and structures that could attract fire, and a charcoal grill should not be placed in an enclosed area to avoid fire hazards.

Conclusion

Apart from size and number of guests being the main factors when choosing a grill, other factors also play a key role in choosing the perfect size grill for you. Arrangement of the burners, lid design, and diffusion of heat will influence the grill type you purchase.

Alignment from the back to the front and vice versa allows even distribution of heat through the creation of heating zones. Metal heat diffusers shield the burners from drips and cleaning should be done regularly for correct heating.

A proper lid that closes well will prevent any heat to leak ensuring your food cooks nicely. Ensure your grill maintains a certain space of a few inches while outside grilling to prevent accidents.

If you are planning for backyard parties or just a family gathering with the instructions listed one can be able to know what grill size, they require hosting an event.

If you enjoyed reading this article, please leave a comment below!

Picture in this post by Paul Hermann on Unsplash