What is the best time to buy a grill? The best time starts in September and will run all through fall and part of winter.
Some deals are starting after the fourth of July. The best deals, however, will not be available since there is still good weather ahead for grilling.
You almost have to wait until the grilling season is over and stores are getting ready to get all their grill out the door.
Key takeaway: “After Memorial Day, After the 4th of July, The summer months, After Labor Day. Black Friday and the Winter season are the best times to buy a grill, BBQ, or smoker.”
The question of what the best time is to buy a grill, BBQ, or smoker has come up several times in the years that I am writing here on The Grilling Dutchman.
It is time for me to look around and engage my mind in remembering those occasions when most grills are put on sale or traded along with other incentives to convince us to buy a new grill.
It is hard to give an exact period of the year that is best for investing your hard-earned money on that fancy grill you’ve seen and had your eyes on for a while.
However, some times of the year are best to go shopping for a new grill. In this article, I am going to focus on giving tips on when to do so.
Before we get into details, it is important to note that the best time to buy a grill greatly depends on where you live, the temperatures, what occasion you intend to use the grill, and the size of the grill.
Grill Size Calculator
My simple formula is: Number of people you cook for x 72 square inches = Grill Size You Need
This will help you decide on and answer the question of what size grill I need and should I buy.
Best Times To Buy A Grill
Before getting into more detail on this subject, here’s a run-through of times I find to be the best for you to visit the Home Depot for a gas grill.
- After Memorial day
- After the 4th of July
- The summer months
- After Labor day
- Black Friday
- Winter season
The best time to buy a grill starts the day after the Fourth of July and is till after Black Friday.
I know that this is about 5 months and a large part of the year. You might even say that you could have figured that out already.
Here is my reasoning for that statement and some more detailed tips on dates to find a good deal on buying a grill!
After Memorial Day
Memorial Day is traditionally the start of the summer season. It is during this time that most people are thinking of engaging in outdoor activities.
We all know that outdoor activities in the US cannot be complete without some grilling. Grill companies know this too.
With the high demand for the best gas grills rising during this time, the prices tend to go lower, making it the best time to buy a grill.
For most people, this is the time when they will check their dusty/stored BBQ that was used last summer, only to realize that it is necessary to get a new grill or make some repairs.
Tip: Don’t forget to check the gas lines on your gas grill and make sure you have enough propane.
When visiting the stores, you should not expect the lowest price on the new gas grills. However, you can find relatively more affordable prices in stores that stock older models on sale.
The bottom line is that after Memorial Day, you will see more gas grills from Lowes and other stores selling at lower prices. Recently I have seen several Memorial Day pellet grill sales.
After the 4th of July
The Fourth of July is one of the biggest BBQ and outdoor cooking days in America.
Before this date, it will be hard to find grills on sale. However, after the 4th store owners knew that grill season would only last a few more months, they slowly got rid of their inventory by offering lower prices. If you wish to own a grill and are looking to buy one, this is one of the best ways to buy from the stores.
The Summer Months
Now it is time to keep your eyes open if the grill you are looking for might be on sale. As most people get to enjoy the summer holidays, grilling will be one of the most sought activities. This will result in high demand for grills.
Stores also realize that most people will buy grills as they shop impulsively during the holidays. That is why you will find things like “Christmas in July sales” you can profit from.
After Labor Day
Now we are getting to the best time of the year to look for the grill you always wanted. For many people, this is also the end of the grilling season.
Labor Day is on the first Monday of September, and in the more northern states, temperatures can get pretty low already.
In the more southern states, you might have to wait a little longer.
During these times, stores like Lowes are trying hard to clear their inventory to make room for winter products on their shelves.
Generally, anytime a store clears its inventory, it is always a great time to find the best prices on items, and in our case, grills.
Many times stores have Labor Day sales on grills.
Black Friday
Black Friday is a day you cannot miss if you want your grill at the lowest price. I have seen some ridiculously low prices on this so-called shopping day of the year.
What makes it even better is that you also get free shipping for the items sold during this crazy sale period.
In my years as a backyard grill master, I have noticed something.
Most sales for grills, smokers, and accessories on Black Friday are online.
The reason is that stores are filled with Christmas presents, and most people do not associate a grill with Christmas. Stores, therefore, take the sales online.
Winter season
The Winter season might be not the best time to go to a store to buy a grill. You can, however, look online and find some awesome deals.
If it is too cold to cook outside, you can always look at an indoor grill.
Stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and other big-box stores still have part or all of their grill on display and there might be a chance of a nice deal there.
If you are like me, that grill, whether cold or warm outside, all year round, remember that you can always find deals on accessories for the next year at lower prices during the winter season.
It is important to note that prices might be a little lower, in general, but most of the time, no big sales are going on.
More Tips On Where To Find A Cheap Grill
There are other ways you can find grills and BBQs.
Facebook And Online Marketplaces
For Facebook users, I have one more great tip. You can find the best prices on grills, both gas grills and charcoal grills, on various marketplaces.
My wife always does this, and she always ends up finding some amazing deals.
You will be surprised to find a very functional and somewhat new gas grill retailing at ridiculously low prices in these marketplaces.
Yard, Garage, And Moving Sales.
If you are not after getting a new grill and you are comfortable with working with a used one, this is an amazing place to buy one. Have a look at moving sales, garage sales, and yard sale signs.
I found some nice deals for older and newer grills that I used for parts or that we’re still in good shape.
Most people move during the summer period, and this is when you can find moving sales.
They have to sell their grills at relatively low prices or dispose of them – you know what option they choose.
I have noticed that gas grills are the most common during yard, garage, and moving sales. That is why I have created this amazing review on how to buy a gas grill without breaking the bank.
Best Time To Buy A Grill – My Experience
Although it is almost impossible to tell you exactly what the best time of the year is to buy a grill, the above tips should give you a general idea of the best possible times to get yourself a new or used grill.
Before buying a grill it might be a good idea to read a BBQ buying guide which will help you decide what you need and not to fall for the shiny object syndrome.
Let me know if you found my tips on the best time to buy a BBQ helpful and feel free to add your experience in the comment section.
Eddie van Aken
Eddie van Aken brings years of experience from running a full-service restaurant, where he honed his skills with all types of kitchen equipment. His expertise extends to mastering the art of outdoor cooking, utilizing the right recipes to enhance flavors on grills and smokers. Eddie’s in-depth knowledge allows him to provide comprehensive grill reviews and valuable outdoor cooking tips, helping enthusiasts make the most of their grilling adventures. You can read more on the About page for Eddie van Aken