Blackstone vs Arteflame: Gas Griddle or Wood-Fired Flat Top?

Blackstone and Arteflame both cook on a flat steel surface, but they get their heat in completely different ways. A Blackstone is a propane griddle: gas burners under a steel plate, with knobs to set each zone. An Arteflame is a wood- or charcoal-fired grill: a live fire in a steel bowl, with a thick steel cooktop ring around it and an open grate over the flames. This page compares the two on the things that decide which one belongs on your patio: how they cook, how hot they get, how much they hold, what they cost and where they are made.

Blackstone vs Arteflame at a glance

Blackstone details are from blackstoneproducts.com as of October 2026. Prices change often.

The core difference: burners vs. a live fire

A Blackstone works like a kitchen range turned into a griddle. Two to four propane burners heat a flat steel plate from underneath, and you set each zone with a knob. The heat is even across each zone, it comes up quickly and it is easy to repeat. That is why Blackstones are so good at pancakes, smash burgers, fried rice and big breakfasts.

An Arteflame has no burners. You build a hardwood or charcoal fire in the center bowl. The heat rises through an open grate right above the flames and spreads outward through the steel cooktop ring. The result is a range of temperatures on one surface: over 1,000°F on the center grate, about 450–550°F on the cooktop next to the fire, and 250–350°F toward the outer edge. Instead of turning a knob, you slide food to the temperature it needs.

Both are flat-top cooking. The difference is what heats the steel, and what else you can do with it.

Searing: 650°F steel vs. a 1,000°F grate

Blackstone's own temperature guide says most griddle cooking happens between about 300°F and 400°F, and that its gas griddles can reach over 650°F under ideal conditions. That is plenty for a smash burger crust or a good sear on thin cuts.

For a thick steak, an Arteflame gives you something a griddle does not: an open grate directly over a wood or charcoal fire at 1,000°F or more. You get a fast, deep crust and grill marks, then move the steak onto the cooler cooktop to finish. Read how the 1,000°F sear zone works.

Cooking area and cooking for a crowd

Blackstone's popular 36″ griddle has 768 square inches of flat cooking surface, the 28″ has 524 and the 22″ has 361. Arteflame's 40″ models have more than 1,250 square inches of cooktop.

The shape matters too. A griddle is a rectangle you stand behind. An Arteflame is round, so people gather around it while you cook, and several cooks can work at once.

Flavor: propane vs. wood and charcoal

Propane burns clean, so a Blackstone tastes like whatever you put on it: the seasoning, the fat and the browning on the steel. An Arteflame cooks over a real wood or charcoal fire, so food on and near the center grate picks up smoke and char. Whether that matters to you is personal. If you want wood-fired flavor, a gas griddle cannot give it to you.

Convenience and cleanup

This is Blackstone's strongest point. You turn a knob, press the igniter and the griddle heats up in minutes. There is no fire to build or ash to empty, and when you are done you turn it off. Many models fold or roll away.

An Arteflame asks more of you. You light a fire 30–45 minutes before you cook on a 40-inch model, you add fuel for longer cooks and you clear the ash afterwards. In return you get a fire to sit around when the cooking is done. Both cooktops need the same care: scrape them clean while warm and wipe on a light coat of oil, like a cast-iron pan.

Build, materials and lifespan

Blackstone griddle tops are cold-rolled steel that you season like cast iron before the first cook (Blackstone describes one newer model, the 28″ XL, as pre-seasoned), on steel carts or stands. They are made to be affordable and easy to move.

Arteflame fire bowls and bases are heavy Corten (weathering) steel, which forms a protective rust-colored patina instead of needing paint. The Stainless Series has a stainless steel bowl instead. The cooktop is a separate slab of hot-rolled steel, up to 1/2″ thick on the 40″ models, with no burners, valves or moving parts. Arteflames are built to stay outside in one place for many years. Every one is made in Phoenix, Arizona, and comes with a 3-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Read whether Corten steel is safe for cooking.

Price

Blackstone is far cheaper to buy. Most of its lineup costs between about $200 and $600: the 22″ models run about $219–$499, the 28″ models about $349–$499 and most 36″ models about $479–$1,199.

Arteflame starts at $1,995 for the 40″ Fire Pit with Cooktop and $2,495 for the Classic 40″ grill, up to $3,995 for the Stainless Series. You are paying for a wood-fired grill, a flat top and a fire pit in one piece of heavy American steel.

Which should you buy?

So is Arteflame better than Blackstone? It depends on how you like to cook. Blackstone wins on price, portability and push-button control. Arteflame wins on live-fire flavor, a 1,000°F+ searing grate and a fire pit that doubles as the centerpiece of your patio.

Blackstone is the better fit if:

• You want to start cooking within minutes, with no fire to manage.
• You mostly griddle: breakfasts, smash burgers, cheesesteaks, fried rice.
• You want precise, knob-controlled heat.
• Budget is the main concern, or you want to take it camping or tailgating.

Arteflame is the better fit if:

• You want wood-fired or charcoal flavor.
• You want a 1,000°F+ grate for thick steaks as well as a flat top.
• You like cooking in zones, with everything ready at the same time.
• You want a fire pit grill combo: a grill to cook on, then a centerpiece to gather around after dinner.
• You want a heavy, American-made grill built to stay outside for years.

Still comparing? See all our comparisons, the gas vs. wood-fired grill guide and what a plancha grill is.

Frequently asked questions

Is Arteflame better than Blackstone?

It depends on what you want. Blackstone is better for budget, portability and quick, knob-controlled heat. Arteflame is better for live-fire cooking, searing over a 1,000°F+ grate, and doubling as a fire pit.

Is an Arteflame a griddle?

Partly. The cooktop ring is a flat steel griddle surface, so you can cook eggs, pancakes, smash burgers and vegetables on it. The difference is the heat source: a wood or charcoal fire in the center instead of propane burners, plus an open grate over the fire for searing.

How hot does a Blackstone get?

Blackstone says its gas griddles can reach over 650°F under ideal conditions, and that most griddle cooking happens between about 300°F and 400°F.

How hot does an Arteflame get?

With a well-established hardwood fire, the center grate passes 1,000°F. The cooktop runs about 450–550°F toward the inner edge and 250–350°F toward the outer edge.

Does an Arteflame use propane?

No. Arteflame grills burn hardwood or lump charcoal. There is no propane tank or gas line.

Can an Arteflame stay outside year-round?

Yes. Arteflames are built to stay outside in one place for many years. The Corten steel bowl forms a protective patina as it weathers.

Which is easier to use?

A Blackstone. It lights with a button, heats up in minutes and you set the temperature with a knob. An Arteflame takes 30–45 minutes for a 40-inch cooktop to heat through, and you control heat by moving food between zones.

Which is better for a big cookout?

Both can feed a crowd. Blackstone's 36″ griddle has 768 square inches of cooking surface. Arteflame's 40″ models have more than 1,250 square inches of cooking surface in several heat zones, including the center grate.