Propane vs Natural Gas Grills: Which Should You Buy?

The Short Answer

If your home already has a natural gas line near your patio, get a natural gas grill. The running costs are roughly 1/3 of propane and you'll never run out mid-cook. If you don't have a gas line, get propane — running a new line costs $500–$2,500 and rarely makes financial sense unless you grill 3+ times a week.

Both fuels burn nearly identically. Heat output, flavor, and cooking performance are functionally the same. The decision is about infrastructure and convenience, not cooking quality.

Cost Breakdown Over 10 Years

**Propane**: A 20 lb tank costs $20–$25 to refill and lasts roughly 18–20 hours of cooking. Average grilling household uses 4–6 tanks per year. Annual fuel cost: $100–$150. Over 10 years: $1,000–$1,500.

**Natural gas**: At U.S. average rates ($1.20/therm), the same amount of cooking costs $30–$45 per year. Over 10 years: $300–$450.

**Conversion costs**: A natural gas grill costs the same as propane. The hookup is where money goes — $50 for a quick-disconnect coupling if a line already exists, $500–$2,500 for a plumber to extend an existing line to your patio.

Breakeven math: if extending a line costs $1,500 and saves $100/year, payback is 15 years. Only worth it if you grill heavily or plan to stay in the house long-term.

Convenience: Natural Gas Wins

With natural gas, you never run out of fuel. Walk outside, turn the knob, cook. There's no checking tank weight, no mid-cook propane runs to the hardware store, no spare tank to store.

Propane requires planning. Most experienced grillers keep two tanks — one connected, one full backup. Even then, you'll eventually run out mid-cook. A propane gauge ($15) helps but isn't foolproof.

For portability, propane wins by default. Tailgating, camping, or a grill that lives in the garage and gets wheeled out occasionally — propane is the only option.

Performance Differences (There Are Almost None)

Natural gas has slightly lower BTU output per cubic foot than propane, which is why natural gas grills use larger burner orifices. Properly configured, both fuels deliver identical cooking performance — same max temperature, same sear quality, same flavor.

The only practical performance difference: in extreme cold (below 0°F), propane regulators can freeze up if the tank gets too cold. Natural gas doesn't have this problem because the supply is buried underground at a constant temperature.

Do NOT use a propane grill with natural gas (or vice versa) without converting it. The orifice sizes are different — running the wrong fuel either starves the burners or floods them with too much gas, which is dangerous.

When to Choose Each Fuel

**Choose natural gas if:** - You already have a gas line within 10 feet of your patio - You grill weekly or more - You're staying in the house 5+ years - You hate running out of fuel - You're building an outdoor kitchen

**Choose propane if:** - You don't have a nearby gas line - You rent or might move soon - You grill occasionally (less than weekly) - You need portability (tailgating, camping) - A line extension would cost more than $1,500

For most American households, propane is the right call simply because gas line extension is expensive. But if you're already lucky enough to have a line in place — convert immediately. The convenience is genuinely life-changing.

Ready to pick a specific model? Start with our [best gas grills roundup](/best-of/best-gas-grills) — every grill there is available in both propane and natural gas configurations.