Best Flat Top Grill: Gas Griddles vs Wood-Fired, Compared

The best flat top grill depends on one choice first: gas or fire. Propane griddles from Blackstone, Camp Chef and Traeger heat a flat steel plate with burners you set by knob. They are quick, even and affordable. A wood-fired flat top like the Arteflame puts a live hardwood or charcoal fire in the middle of a thick steel cooktop. You get a grill grate over the flames for searing, several heat zones on the steel around it, and a fire pit when dinner is over. This guide compares the popular models on cooking area, heat, materials, warranty and price, so you can pick the one that fits your patio.

The short answer

• Best for a tight budget or camping: a Blackstone propane griddle, about $200–$600 for most models.
• Best gas griddle with separate zones: the Traeger Flatrock, $799.99 (2 Zone) or $999.99 (3 Zone), with a 5-year warranty.
• Best grill and griddle in one: the Arteflame 40″, $1,995 to $3,995. It cooks over real wood or charcoal, sears on a grate that passes 1,000°F, and lifts off to become a fire pit.

Best flat top grills compared

Prices are list prices on each brand's own website, checked 20 October 2026 and again 3 November 2026. Retailers often sell the gas griddles for less on sale. Sources: Blackstone griddles and Blackstone warranty, Camp Chef Gridiron 36, Traeger Flatrock.

Arteflame: the grill and griddle in one

An Arteflame is a steel fire bowl with a flat, round cooktop ring sitting on top. The fire burns in the center. A grill grate over the flames handles steaks, chops and burgers, and the steel around it works as a griddle for eggs, smash burgers, vegetables and seafood. The cooktop is hottest next to the fire and cooler toward the rim, so you sear, sauté and keep food warm at the same time. Because the steel sits between the fire and the food, grease cannot drip into the flames, so there are no flare-ups on the cooktop. When you are done cooking, lift off the cooktop, add a few logs and it is a fire pit.

The design is the other reason people buy one. It is a sculpted, round piece that looks like outdoor furniture, not an appliance on a cart, and it stays outside year-round. Every Arteflame is made in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Classic 40 Grill: 40″ cooktop of ½″ hot-rolled steel, for 8 or more people, at 40″ bar height on a round, Euro or storage base. $2,495–$3,195.
• Classic 40 Fire Pit with Cooktop: the same 40″ cooktop at 22″ seating height, made to sit around. $1,995–$2,895.
• Stainless Series: a spun stainless-steel fire bowl with a bright finish. $3,495–$3,995.

Trade-offs: it costs more than a gas griddle, there is no knob, and the 40″ cooktop takes 30–45 minutes to heat through. It cooks open, with no hood.

Blackstone: the budget propane griddle

Blackstone made the backyard griddle popular. Its gas models are propane burners under a cold-rolled steel plate, mostly on carts with side shelves, plus tabletop 17″ and 22″ models you can take camping. Each zone has its own knob, the griddle heats in minutes, and most models cost about $200–$600. There is no grill grate and no live-fire flavor. See Blackstone vs Arteflame.

Camp Chef Gridiron 36: a full-size gas griddle

A 36″ propane flat top with 634 sq in of cold-rolled steel, 48,000 BTU and a knob for each burner, at $599.99. Camp Chef's earlier FTG600 had a grill grate option; the Gridiron is griddle only. See Camp Chef vs Arteflame.

Traeger Flatrock: separated heat zones on gas

The Flatrock has three insulated burner zones under 594 sq in of steel, so one side can sear while another stays low. Traeger lists 350–600°F and backs it with a 5-year warranty, the longest of the gas griddles here. See Traeger Flatrock vs Arteflame.

Gas griddle or wood-fired flat top?

Pick a propane griddle if speed, portability and the lowest price matter most. Pick a wood-fired flat top if you want real fire, a grill and a griddle in one piece, and a centerpiece people gather around. For more matchups, see all Arteflame comparisons.

What to look for in a flat top grill

• Cooking area for your crowd. About 300–400 sq in cooks for 2–4 people; 500–800 sq in for a family; 1,000 sq in or more for parties.
• Grill and griddle, or griddle only. Most flat tops are griddle only. If you also want to sear steaks over flames, look for a grate over the fire.
• Heat zones. Several zones let you sear, cook and hold food at once. Gas griddles do it with separate burners; a wood-fired flat top does it with distance from the fire.
• Steel thickness. Thicker steel holds heat better when you load it with cold food; thinner steel heats up faster.
• Where it lives. A cart griddle usually needs a cover. A grill built to stay outside, and to look good there, can be the centerpiece of the patio.
• Warranty. 1 year (Blackstone, Camp Chef), 3 years (Arteflame) or 5 years (Traeger Flatrock).

How to season and care for a flat top grill

A bare steel cooktop is seasoned like cast iron. A thin layer of oil, heated until it smokes, bonds to the steel and builds a dark, slick surface that protects it from rust.

1. Heat the cooktop and scrape off any food or residue.
2. Wipe on a thin layer of oil with a paper towel or cloth. Arteflame grills come with a seasoning puck for this.
3. Let it smoke until the oil turns dark and dry.
4. Repeat a few times before your first cook, then add a thin coat after each cook.

Skip the soap. Deglaze stuck food with a splash of water on the hot steel, scrape it toward the fire or edge, and oil it lightly. More on oils and smoke points in our guide to grilling with fat.

Ready to cook over real fire? See the Arteflame 40″ grill and griddle combos, or the 40″ fire pits with cooktop if you want to sit around the fire.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best flat top grill?

For a low price and portability, a Blackstone propane griddle. For separate gas zones and a long warranty, the Traeger Flatrock. For a grill and griddle in one that cooks over real wood or charcoal and doubles as a fire pit, the Arteflame.

Is a flat top grill better than a grill with grates?

Neither is better at everything. A flat top cooks eggs, pancakes, smash burgers, fried rice and small vegetables that would fall through grates. Grates give char marks and flame flavor. An Arteflame has both: a grate over the fire and a flat steel cooktop around it.

What are flat top grills made of?

Most are steel. Blackstone and Camp Chef use cold-rolled steel plates. The Arteflame 40″ cooktop is ½″ hot-rolled steel.

What are the downsides of a flat top grill?

A griddle-only flat top cannot give you grill marks or flame-kissed flavor, the steel has to be kept seasoned so it does not rust, and grease has to go somewhere, usually a tray you empty. A wood-fired flat top also takes longer to heat up than gas.

Can you turn a regular grill into a flat top?

Yes. Griddle plates and inserts are sold for kettle and kamado grills. They sit on or in the grill, so the cooking area is limited to the grill's size. A dedicated flat top grill gives you a larger surface with built-in heat zones.

What oil is best for a flat top grill?

Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado, grapeseed or canola, for seasoning and cooking. It holds up at searing temperatures and builds an even, durable seasoning.

How long does a flat top grill take to heat up?

Propane griddles heat in minutes. A wood-fired Arteflame 40″ takes about 30–45 minutes for the ½″ steel cooktop to heat through.