If you have stood in front of two grills in a store and tried to work out which one you actually want, you are not alone. A gas grill wins on weeknight convenience and a charcoal grill wins on the flavor people talk about all summer. The honest answer most grillers reach for eventually is that you want both, in one footprint, and you do not want two grills taking up the patio.
That is the entire promise of the best hybrid grills for charcoal and gas, and it is a promise that some of these machines keep better than others. A hybrid grill, also called a dual fuel grill or a gas and charcoal combo grill, puts a gas burner section and a charcoal firebox on the same cart so you can sear burgers on gas during the week and run coals for a weekend smoke without owning two separate cookers.
We spent weeks reading the owner feedback behind ten current models, comparing burners, primary cooking area, firebox layout, ash handling and real-world complaints. The single most useful thing we found is not a spec: owners who bought a combo grill for the charcoal side very often end up cooking on gas anyway, and the charcoal side is what they regret first. That reality shapes every pick below.
If you want a narrower read first, our guides to the best charcoal grills and the best gas grills cover the single-fuel case properly. This roundup is for the people who refuse to choose.
Table of Contents
What Is a Hybrid Grill?
A hybrid grill, also called a dual fuel grill or a gas and charcoal combo grill, is a single outdoor cooker with two independent cooking chambers: one running on propane and one running on charcoal. You get fast, predictable gas heat and the smoke and sear flavor of charcoal in one unit, on one cart, in one footprint.
There are two architectures, and the difference matters more than any brand name. A two-firebox design has separate gas and charcoal chambers, so you can run both fuels at the same time. A convertible single-firebox uses one set of burners and grates and you swap fuel by adding a charcoal tray, which means only one fuel type runs at any moment.
Most of the grills in this roundup are two-firebox designs. The convertible format shows up at the small end of the list, where a gas burner simply lights a charcoal rack for you.
Top 3 Hybrid Grills for Charcoal and Gas
Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030
- 24000 BTU across two burners
- 870 sq in cooking space
- Gas and charcoal fireboxes run at the same time
- EasyDump ash pan
Grills House ZH3005Y Combo
- 1020 sq in total cooking area
- 34000 BTU plus offset smoker
- Height-adjustable charcoal pan
- Piezo ignition
MFSTUDIO Dual Fuel Combo
- 37000 BTU across three burners
- Independent gas and charcoal zones
- Two separate double-layer lids
- Slide-out grease tray and ash drawer
The Best Hybrid Grills at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030 |
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| Grills House ZH3005Y Combo |
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 Captiva Designs Gas and Charcoal Combo |
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 Sophia and William Dual Fuel Combo |
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 Royal Gourmet ZH3002N Combo |
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 Charbroil Bistro Pro 2-in-1 |
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 Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo |
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| MFSTUDIO Dual Fuel Combo |
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 Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo DLX |
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 GRILL DEPOTS Griddle Grill Combo |
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1. Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030: The Hybrid Grill That Earned Its Place
Char-Griller® Dual-Function 2-Burner 24,000 BTU Propane Gas and Charcoal Combination Grill and Smoker with 870 Cooking Square Inches in Black, Model E5030
24,000 BTU across two burners
870 sq in total cooking space
Two independent fireboxes
116 lb
Pros
- Heavy-gauge steel owners rate above far costlier gas grills
- Both chambers usable at once
- Electronic ignition with dual lid gauges
- Long service life reported by owners
Cons
- Heavy at 116 lb before propane
- Assembly runs well past the stated 45 minutes
- Charcoal side runs hot and is hard to hold under 400F
The Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030 is a two-firebox design where the gas chamber and the charcoal chamber sit side by side on one cart, and it is the pick we keep coming back to. Two stainless steel burners deliver 24,000 BTU on the gas side, and the owner feedback we read repeatedly praised the build quality rather than the numbers. One long-term owner described a unit still going after eight years.
That durability reputation is what separates it from the rest of this list. The rating is unusually top-heavy at 4.6 across 405 reviews, which is the largest review base of anything we evaluated and the strongest combination of rating and volume here. Seventy-nine percent of those reviews are five-star, which is rare in a category where ratings usually split.
The charcoal side is the honest caveat. It runs hot, and owners describe real difficulty holding it below 400F without working the vents by hand. If your plan is a long overnight cook at 225F, this is not the machine. If your plan is weekend grilling with hardwood, a brisket that fits in a weekend, and fast weeknight gas dinners on the other half of the same cart, it is very much the machine.
There are dual lid-mounted gauges, one per side, which is rare at this level and genuinely useful when two chambers run at different temperatures. The EasyDump ash pan empties the charcoal side in a way most budget carts do not manage. Porcelain-coated cast iron grates hold heat well and clean with a brush.
Total cooking space is 870 square inches, and that is worth keeping in perspective: it is a good number, but not the largest here, and owners who came from Char-Griller dual-fuel models of a generation ago note this one is a little smaller. The frame is alloy steel, powder coated, and the side shelf carries utensil hooks.
What you get when both fireboxes run at once
Running gas and charcoal side by side is the reason to buy this format rather than two separate grills. You can hold shrimp on the gas side at a steady temperature while the charcoal side works through a rack of ribs, in the same footprint a single gas grill would occupy.
The 24,000 BTU gas rating reads large until you divide it by the cooking area, which is where the heat flux number in our buying guide comes in. Across the full 870 square inches of cooking space that works out to roughly 28 BTU per square inch, well under the 80 to 100 range usually treated as balanced for a home grill. In practice that means solid steady heat rather than a searing monster, and it explains why owners describe the charcoal side as the hotter half.
Where it will disappoint you
Weight is the first real constraint. At 116 pounds before you add a propane tank, moving this grill across a patio is a two-person job, and the wheels exist mostly for repositioning a few inches. Plan the layout before the build, not after.
Assembly is the second. Owners consistently report the stated 45-minute estimate is unrealistic, and missing hardware from the box is mentioned often enough to plan for it. Build it with a second person, on a flat surface, with the manual and a hardware tray ready.
2. Grills House ZH3005Y: The Most Cooking Surface for the Money
Grills House ZH3005Y 2-Burner Gas & Charcoal Grill Combo with Offset Smoker
34,000 BTU total output
1020 sq in total cooking area
Offset smoker chamber
87 lb
Pros
- Largest cooking area at this tier with an offset smoker
- Two independently controlled fuel zones
- Piezo ignition needs no battery
- Side access door and adjustable charcoal pan
Cons
- 11 percent of reviews are one-star on durability
- Very wide at 67.7 inches across
- Thin long-term finish on some units
The Grills House ZH3005Y gives you a lot of usable surface for what you spend, with 1020 square inches of total cooking area making it our best value pick. Break that number down and you get 666 square inches of primary cooking space, split evenly between 333 square inches of gas grates and 333 square inches of charcoal grates, plus a 157 square inch warming rack and a 197 square inch offset smoker.
The attached offset smoker is the feature that separates it from a standard side-by-side combo. It has a side-loading door, a three-level height-adjustable charcoal pan, and separate charcoal capacity of 3.3 pounds in the main chamber and 1.5 pounds in the smoker. That is a real second cooking chamber, not a shelf.
Total output is 34,000 BTU: two 12,000 BTU stainless steel main burners and a 10,000 BTU side burner. Piezo ignition means no batteries and no ignition module to fail in the rain, which is a genuine reliability advantage over electric push-button systems. The listed capacity is up to 36 burgers at once.
Here is the thing to weigh carefully. The 4.1 average across 312 reviews hides a split distribution: 63 percent five-star, but 11 percent one-star. Buyers who have it for a season praise the surface area and the smoker. Critical reviews concentrate on durability and finish rather than day-one cooking performance, which is the usual pattern with carts in this tier.
At 87 pounds this is one of the lighter frames here, but the 67.7 inch width makes it one of the two largest footprints in the roundup. That matters for patios with anything else on them. A one-year parts warranty is listed, so register the unit and keep the receipt.
When the offset smoker earns its space
A 197 square inch offset chamber with its own door and its own charcoal capacity turns weeknight grilling into weekend smoking on the same unit. You can load wings into the smoker, sear burgers on the gas grates, and run a side burner for corn at the same time.
The adjustable charcoal pan matters as much as the smoker here. Three height positions let you move the fuel bed away from the food to slow the cook, which is the adjustment most budget charcoal sides simply do not offer.
Where the footprint and the rating spread bite
The trade is size. Sixty-seven inches wide and nearly 46 inches tall, this grill claims more patio than some people have. If you are working inside a balcony or a narrow deck, this is the wrong shape regardless of how much it does for you.
The one-star block is the honest risk. A grill that is being reviewed by 312 people with 11 percent of them at one star means some owners are happy and others are not. Check the unit closely on arrival, photograph the paint and the firebox, and keep the packaging until you have run it a few times.
3. Captiva Designs Propane Gas and Charcoal Combo: Cleanup Is the Standout
Captiva Designs Propane Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo with Side Burner,Black
690 sq in total cooking area
520 sq in primary grates
Three burners plus side burner
Slide-out trays
Pros
- Two separately controlled zones plus a side burner
- Enameled cast iron grates wipe clean easily
- Full-size slide-out grease and ash trays
- Cabinet storage with locking casters
- Responsive replacement part service reported
Cons
- Thin sheet metal with misaligned bolt holes reported
- Confusing and poorly organized manual
- 15 percent one-star share on packaging and build
The Captiva Designs combo is a straightforward two-firebox cabinet grill, and the reason it earns a place is the cleanup hardware. It carries a full-size slide-out grease tray and a matching ash tray, both on runners, and after a cook you pull them out, wipe them, and slide them back. On a grill that runs two fuels, that is the chore you do most often, so it matters.
Cooking surface breaks down to 520 square inches of porcelain-enameled cast iron primary grates plus a 170 square inch stainless steel warming rack, for 690 square inches total. Three stainless steel burners run the gas side with seven power levels, and there is a separate side burner for sauces.
The 61-inch countertop includes storage below and locking casters, so the unit stays put on a patio with a tank against it. The overall footprint is 23 inches deep by 61 inches wide by 46 inches tall, and the listed weight is around 105 pounds.
Where it falls short is metal thickness. Owners report misaligned bolt holes, dents on parts that arrive bent, and pieces that need adjusting during the build. The manual is described as confusing and poorly organized, which is a solvable problem if you expect it going in.
At a 4.0 average across 281 reviews with a 15 percent one-star share, the rating spread is wide. That block centers on packaging damage and build hardware rather than how the grill cooks, and several buyers report responsive replacement-part service afterwards, which changes the calculation if something does arrive damaged.
Why slide-out trays matter more than burner count
Grease and ash are the two things that quietly ruin a grill over three seasons. When both are in trays that slide straight out on a cabinet-style body, you clear them in a couple of minutes with the grill still warm. That is the single best argument for this model over a cheaper open-frame cart.
The ash tray and grease tray being full-size, rather than a small removable cup, also means a long cook does not overflow anything. For anyone cooking two fuels on a weekly rhythm, that is the feature you will touch every single cookout.
Build quality is the open question
Thin sheet metal shows up in the one-star reviews consistently, and it is the thing to inspect first when the box arrives. Check the corners of the firebox, the bolt holes along the seams, and the fit of the side burner and shelf against the cabinet frame, since those pieces sit proud and can scratch during assembly.
Warranty is one year from the manufacturer, which is the floor for this category. If build consistency matters to you and a two-year warranty is available elsewhere in this list for a similar format, that is worth weighing before you commit.
4. Sophia and William Dual Fuel Combo: A Real Charcoal Tray Crank
Sophia & William Charcoal and Gas Grill Combo with Side Burner, Dual Fuel
28,650 BTU across three burners
520 sq in primary grates
Crank-handle charcoal tray
8,530 BTU side burner
Pros
- Runs both fuel types at once for two-temperature cooking
- Crank-handle charcoal tray is rare at this level
- Enameled cast iron grates spread heat evenly
- Push-out ash tray and slide-out grease tray
- Under-cabinet storage with casters
Cons
- Thin metal that rusts or warps within two years
- Gas side is slow to preheat and tops out near 500F
- Heat shields shift while working the grates
The Sophia and William combo earns its spot because of one part: a crank-handle adjustable charcoal tray. You turn a handle to raise or lower the coal bed inside the firebox instead of reaching in with gloves and a pair of tongs. On a grill where the charcoal side has no vents, that adjustment is the whole temperature-control story.
The gas side runs three stainless steel burners totaling 28,650 BTU, plus an 8,530 BTU side burner. Primary grates are 520 square inches of porcelain-enameled cast iron with a 170 square inch warming rack. Both chambers are independently controlled, so the unit genuinely runs two temperatures at once.
Cleanup runs through a full-size push-out ash tray and a slide-out grease tray with a disposal cup. It works with a standard 20 pound propane tank, not included, and the hose and regulator are in the box. Dimensions are 23 inches deep by 61 inches wide by 46 inches tall.
The catch, and it is a real one: the gas side is slow to preheat and several owners put peak temperature near 500F, which is soft for a proper sear. For burgers with a light sear that is fine. For reverse-searing or a hard sear on steaks, that is not.
There is also a spec conflict worth knowing. The product copy lists 105 pounds while a spec field elsewhere in the listing says 47 pounds. Plan for the heavier figure. Long-term durability is the other open question, with owners describing thin metal rusting or deforming within two seasons even when covered.
What the crank handle actually solves
Charcoal heat control comes down to distance between the coal bed and the food. Raising the tray by crank moves the fire down without opening the lid, so you do not dump heat and ash every time you adjust. On a grill with no adjustable vents, this is the closest thing to a damper you get.
It also means a cleaner changeover. When you finish a charcoal cook and want gas the next evening, you can drop the tray low, close the lid, and light the burners without rebuilding the firebox.
Where the specs underdeliver
A grill sold on dual fuel that will not hold searing heat on the gas side is an awkward compromise, and that is the complaint that recurs. The perforated charcoal tray also lets a meaningful share of ash sit on the pan instead of dropping into the cleanout tray, which means the crank gets more ash removal attention than the design intends.
The other recurring note is grease escaping at the grate corner and running down the body rather than into the tray. Expect to wipe the front edge of the grill after a cook instead of once a month. Budget a full weekend build with a helper, and treat this one as a seasonal grill rather than your only daily cooker.
5. Royal Gourmet ZH3002N: The Most Grate Area in a Cabinet-Style Frame
Royal Gourmet ZH3002N 2-Burner Propane Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo
759 sq in total cooking area
592 sq in grates
167 sq in warming rack
103.6 lb
Pros
- Grill burgers on gas while coals come up on the other side
- Generous 759 sq in total cooking area
- Ash tray and grease cup both slide out
- Wheels plus lockable casters aid repositioning
- Enclosed storage cabinet and built-in thermometer
Cons
- Bulky footprint listed at 64 inches
- Fold-down shelves feel like an add-on
- 14 percent one-star share on quality consistency
The Royal Gourmet ZH3002N puts 592 square inches of porcelain-enameled cast iron grates under the lid, plus a 167 square inch stainless steel warming rack, for 759 square inches total. Add the side shelves and you have a genuinely large two-fuel surface, and it grills up to 30 burgers according to the manufacturer.
The gas side is a 20,000 BTU total across three main burners, with a stainless steel control panel and a built-in lid thermometer. On the charcoal side there is a slide-out ash tray and an adjustable air vent, and an enclosed cabinet underneath gives you somewhere to put tools and pans.
Two side shelves fold out from the body, each with three integrated tool hooks, and the unit rolls on two 6-inch wheels and two 3-inch lockable casters. That caster setup is better than most competitors here, where owners report wobbly carts with a loaded propane tank.
Ash and grease both come out as slide-out components: an ash tray on the charcoal side and a large-capacity grease cup and tray on the gas side. On a grill where both halves see regular use, that separation is the point.
Physical size is the trade. The listed dimensions are 64.17 inches deep and 64.17 inches wide by 45.28 inches tall at 103.6 pounds. That is a large square footprint, so measure your patio rather than estimating, and check the path between where the grill lives and where you cook.
Sizing this one for a big group
If you regularly feed eight or more, grate area is the number that decides your cook, not BTU. 592 square inches of primary grates handles a full main course and sides at once without queuing, and the 167 square inch warming rack above it keeps finished food out of the heat while the next batch comes on.
The two-fuel layout also lets you stagger a cook. Burgers and vegetables go on the gas side while the charcoal side works through a slower item, and because both chambers are separate you are not waiting on a fuel changeover.
Shelves, size and thin evidence
The fold-down shelves are the part owners question most. They feel bolted on rather than integrated, and they may need reinforcing if you plan to prep a full meal out there. Put your cutting board somewhere else if you can.
A 14 percent one-star share is more quality inconsistency than a 4.0 average communicates, so inspect on arrival. And with 145 reviews, the long-term durability picture here is thinner than the cooking-area number would suggest. The warranty runs one year from purchase, so register it and keep the manual.
6. Charbroil Bistro Pro 2-in-1: The Best Hybrid Grill for a Small Patio
Charbroil Bistro Pro 2-in-1 Gas & Charcoal Grill with 240 Sq. In. Cooking Space, Compact Black Grill for Patio & Balcony
240 sq in primary cooking space
Gas burner lights the charcoal rack
Reaches up to 750F for searing
51 lb
Pros
- Gas burner ignites the charcoal rack so no lighter fluid
- Small enough for a balcony or compact patio
- 750F gas capability gives a genuine sear
- 2-year warranty on lid and firebox
- Tightest rating spread in the roundup
Cons
- Smallest cooking surface here at 240 sq in
- Single burner means no simultaneous zones
- Compact frame gives up some stability
The Charbroil Bistro Pro works differently from every other grill in this roundup. It is a convertible single-firebox design: one firebox, one burner, and a built-in charcoal rack you load with coals and light using the gas burner itself. No lighter fluid, no chimney, no waiting for a second heat source.
It is also the smallest and lightest option here at 240 square inches of primary cooking space, 51 pounds, and a 32.8 inch wide footprint. If your outdoor space is a balcony or a compact patio, this is the only grill on the list that genuinely fits without negotiation.
The gas burner reaches up to 750F, which is a real sear temperature and unusual for a unit this size. Cooking capacity is up to 12 burgers plus the warming rack, so four to six people is a comfortable fit. The frame is stainless steel with a painted finish.
Warranty is two years on the lid and firebox and one year on burners, grates and other parts, which is the strongest coverage we saw among the compact designs. It also carries the tightest rating spread in the roundup: 70 percent five-star with only 6 percent one-star across 145 reviews.
The structural limitation is fixed. A single burner means you cannot run gas and charcoal simultaneously, so the two-fuel claim here means switching between fuels, not hosting two heat sources. That is a real difference from the two-firebox designs above it, and worth being clear about.
Who this format actually suits
Solo cooks, couples, and small households who want charcoal flavor without owning a full kettle. If you grill two or three times a month and want the taste of coals without the fire management, lighting with the gas burner removes the single biggest barrier to cooking on charcoal more often.
It is also the most portable option here at 51 pounds, and the freestanding design means no assembly cart to level or secure. Set it on a patio, use it, and move it when the season turns. If you want that kind of flexibility without a charcoal side at all, our guide to the best portable gas grills covers the format in more detail.
Where the compromises show
240 square inches is the smallest cooking surface here by a wide margin. For a group of eight or a cookout where everything needs to land at once, it will feel tight, and there is no second zone to shift work onto.
Compact steel frames also give up some stability compared with a full-size cart, particularly if you lean on the lid while working the grates. And because you swap fuel rather than run both, the charcoal rack is a conversion step every time you change heat source. If you want both fuels live at once, this is not the format.
7. Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo: The Best Hybrid Grill for Serious Smoking
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel 3-Burner Propane Gas and Charcoal Smoker and Grill with 1031 sq. in. Cooking Area in Black
36,000 BTU gas side
1031 sq in total cooking area
Offset charcoal smoker
Removable ash pan
Pros
- True offset smoker plus a 3-burner gas grill in one unit
- 36000 BTU heats fast and holds temperature
- Firebox grate adds a third area for wings
- Owners report about an hour of assembly for two people
- Real damper control over smoke and heat
Cons
- High-temp paint blistered and peeled within a month for one owner
- Cooking shelves rusted quickly without a cover
- Door seals and latches sold separately
The Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo puts a 3-burner 36,000 BTU propane grill next to a horizontal charcoal offset smoker, and in practice it is two appliances in one footprint. Total cooking area is 1031 square inches: 750 square inches of primary cooking space, an upper rack, and a 281 square inch firebox grate that cooks up to 15 wings or 6 burgers on its own.
That firebox grate is the detail experienced grillers look for. It is a third cooking area, so wings, chops, and scallops cook over indirect heat while the main grates handle steaks, and it holds food far enough from the coals to avoid scorching.
Smoke control is the other strength. Adjustable firebox and smokestack dampers let you thin the smoke and raise heat without opening the door, a removable firebox ash pan makes fuel management straightforward, and a hinged firebox door lets you add wood without dismantling anything. Dual lid gauges track both chambers.
It smokes up to 2 pork shoulders and grills up to 12 burgers. Grates are porcelain-coated cast iron over heavy-gauge steel with a high-temperature finish. Assembly is reported at about an hour with two people, which is the best build experience described for any grill on this list.
The risk is finish durability. At least one owner reported the high-temperature paint blistering and peeling off the smoker box and charcoal section within a month, and another saw cooking shelves rust quickly on a grill kept without a cover. A weatherproof cover is not optional here.
How the offset smoker changes your weekends
With a real offset chamber, low-and-slow cooking stops being a compromise. The firebox sits beside the smoking chamber rather than under it, so indirect heat is the default arrangement rather than something you engineer with a foil divide.
Combine it with the 36,000 BTU gas side and you can genuinely run a smoker and a grill at once. That matters for hosting: meat in the offset chamber, burgers and vegetables on the gas grates, everyone served from one unit instead of three.
Plan around the width and the paint
At 68.9 inches wide and 35.6 inches deep, this is the widest footprint in the roundup, and the box on delivery is heavy enough that a two-person reception is sensible. Check the lid swing and the side clearance before you commit to the spot.
Paint finish is the item to watch over the first year. Door seals and latches are sold separately rather than included, so add them to your first order. At 139 reviews with a 72 percent five-star share, the cooking feedback is strong; the durability record is where the complaints concentrate.
8. MFSTUDIO Dual Fuel Combo: The Highest Heat Output With Two Separate Lids
MFSTUDIO Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo w/Side Burner, Dual Fuel, Black
37,000 BTU across three burners
520 sq in primary grates
Two double-layer lids
115 lb
Pros
- Independent gas and charcoal zones under separate lids
- Build quality described as likely to outlast cheaper combos
- Slide-out grease tray and ash drawer
- Enameled cast iron grates give even heat
- Responsive replacement part support
Cons
- Assembly needs two people and is described as a chore
- Small review base at 73 reviews
- Heavy at 115 lb and hard to reposition
The MFSTUDIO combo is unusual for two reasons. First, 37,000 BTU across three stainless steel burners is the second-highest main-burner output here, and it feeds 520 square inches of primary grates. Second, the gas and charcoal zones sit under two individual double-layer lids, each with its own built-in thermometer.
Separate lids are not a small detail. You can open the charcoal side for airflow without dumping heat out of the gas side, and the double-wall construction holds a stable temperature longer between burner adjustments, which is what you want when cooking a long piece of meat next to weeknight items.
Primary grates are 520 square inches of porcelain-enameled cast iron with a 170 square inch stainless steel warming rack, on a 23 by 61 by 46 inch cabinet frame. There is a right-side burner for sauces, a stainless steel control panel with tool hooks, and an adjustable enameled charcoal tray on the coal side.
Cleanup is handled by a full-size slide-out grease tray and a slide-out ash drawer, which is the design we most want to see on every grill in this category. It runs on a 20 pound LP cylinder, not included, and a gas valve is included.
At 4.4 across 73 reviews, this has the second-highest average rating in the roundup and a 70 percent five-star share with only 10 percent one-star. The catch is the sample size. Seventy-three reviews is thin evidence for long-term durability, and we would want to see a second season of feedback before treating it as proven.
Heat output versus cooking space
Divide 37,000 BTU by 520 square inches of primary grate area and you get roughly 71 BTU per square inch. That sits just below the 80 to 100 range usually treated as balanced for a home grill, which means you have strong heat but not an overwhelming amount, and more heat per square inch than most of the carts here. In practice you get fast preheat and a solid sear with room to manage it.
The tradeoff is that you are managing more heat than the grates absorb, so the per-burner control matters. Flame tamers on the gas side and the adjustable charcoal tray on the coal side are both there, and both are worth learning before your first full cookout.
What to verify before a long-term commitment
Assembly needs at least two people and is described as a chore, so plan a full afternoon. At 115 pounds the unit is heavy, and two metal swivel casters plus two metal wheels help but do not make it easy to reposition.
Multiple buyers report responsive replacement-part support, which is a meaningful signal on an unfamiliar brand. The honest gap is evidence: with 73 reviews there is not yet a long ownership record to lean on, so pair this pick with a cover and a plan for replacing grates, and check the parts channel exists in your region before you rely on it.
9. Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo DLX: The Most Space for Big Gatherings
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo DLX Charcoal and Propane Gas Smoker & Grill – 24203005
1434 sq in total cooking space
36,000 BTU gas grill
Integrated propane fuel gauge
191 lb
Pros
- Largest total cooking space here at 1434 sq in across three zones
- Offset charcoal smoker plus a 36000 BTU gas grill
- Integrated propane fuel gauge on the tank
- 2-year all-parts warranty
- Wagon wheels and a wood-split shelf
Cons
- Heaviest at 191 lb and hard to move
- Thinnest evidence base at 60 reviews
- Same paint durability concerns as the sibling model
The Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo DLX carries 1,434 square inches of total cooking space, the largest figure of any grill here, spread across the primary chamber, an upper rack and a firebox grate. On that grate you can smoke up to 3 pork shoulders, and the primary grates handle up to 12 burgers.
The gas side is the same 36,000 BTU 3-burner propane grill found on the sibling Canyon Combo, paired with a horizontal charcoal-burning smoking chamber. The addition here is the integrated propane fuel gauge mounted on the tank, which removes the single most common mid-cook surprise: running out of fuel an hour from done.
Warranty is two years all parts, the longest coverage in the roundup. Adjustable firebox and smokestack dampers handle smoke control, a removable side ash pan simplifies cleanup, and the bottom shelf includes an integrated raised section sized for wood splits. Two large rubber-treaded steel wagon wheels give traction over uneven ground.
Pivoting cool-touch lid and firebox handles are a small quality detail that matters when you are moving between a 750F grill surface and a smoker chamber at 225F with bare hands. The unit runs on a 20 pound propane tank, not included.
Weight is the number to plan around at 191 pounds. This is the heaviest grill here by a wide margin, and moving it across a yard or repositioning it for shade is a two-person job every single time. Wagon wheels help on terrain, not on a patio deck.
When 1434 square inches changes the plan
That total figure covers three distinct zones, which is the point. The primary chamber runs a main course, the upper rack adds a second tier without stealing grate space, and the firebox grate cooks up to 15 wings or 6 burgers directly over indirect heat.
For holiday-scale cooking or a large gathering, that capacity means one grill covers the smoker, the grill and the side dishes. The fuel gauge keeps a long cook on track without a mid-session tank swap, and the wood-split shelf keeps fuel off the ground next to the cart.
The weight, the evidence and the paint
Sixty reviews is the thinnest evidence base in this roundup, so durability conclusions here are provisional. Feature-level feedback was favorable across the set we saw, with no negative reviews surfacing in the sample, but that reflects a small pool rather than an established record.
The same high-temp paint durability concerns reported on the sibling Canyon Combo apply here, so buy a cover and expect to touch up finish eventually. Charcoal and wood are sold separately, adding to the total cost, and the two-year all-parts warranty is the strongest reason to buy this over its sibling.
10. GRILL DEPOTS Griddle Grill Combo: The Budget Pick With 49000 BTU
GRILL DEPOTS Griddle Grill Combo, 4 Burner Propane Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo with Side Burner, Outdoor BBQ Grill with Cast Iron Grates & Prep Space for Backyard Patio
49,000 BTU across four burners
447 sq in cooking capacity
Griddle and charcoal zones
66 lb
Pros
- Lowest-cost dual fuel option with four cooking functions
- 49000 BTU is the highest total output here
- Removable grates and slide-out grease tray
- Portable at 66 lb with wheels and a handle
- Owners call the value strong for the feature set
Cons
- Two reviewers received heavily dented builds
- Assembly takes a couple of hours with unflagged sharp edges
- Small review base at 37 reviews
The GRILL DEPOTS combo is our budget pick, and the reason is not that it costs little. It is that the feature count is unusually high for what you spend: cast iron grates, a stainless steel griddle top, dual charcoal pans and a side burner in one 66 pound unit, at 49,000 BTU across four main burners plus a 9,000 BTU side burner.
That is the highest total BTU figure here, spread across four 10,000 BTU main burners. Spread it over 447 square inches of cooking capacity, 339 square inches of main grilling zone plus a 108 square inch warming zone, and you get a lot of heat into a compact body.
The griddle is the quiet differentiator. A flat stainless surface on the same unit as the charcoal zones means burgers, eggs and flatbreads get their own space without a second appliance, and removable grates plus a slide-out grease tray keep the cleaning manageable for a four-function cooker.
The lid is double-layer stainless steel to resist warping, grates are porcelain-enameled cast iron, and there are side tables, tool hooks, a bottle opener and a propane tank holder. Wheels and a handle make it portable, which suits a grill that lives in a garage rather than a permanent patio position.
Now the honest part. Two reviewers received builds with heavy dents and impact damage from transit. Assembly takes a couple of hours and sharp metal edges are not flagged. And with 37 reviews, most of the positive feedback is early-season enthusiasm rather than a long ownership record.
Why the 49000 BTU number is not a quality signal
Output alone tells you little. 49,000 BTU across four burners on 339 square inches of main grilling zone works out to a very high number per square inch, which means fast preheat and aggressive flare-ups. It also means you are managing a grill that produces heat faster than most cooking surfaces can absorb it.
The useful comparison is heat flux, the BTU figure divided by the primary cooking area, with roughly 80 to 100 per square inch treated as a balanced target for home grills. Check that number before you fall for a large headline figure, and check whether the burners can be turned down individually.
Where it falls short
Transit damage is the specific risk here, and it is the first thing to inspect when the box arrives. Photograph the griddle, the lid and every corner before you assemble. Budget a couple of hours for the build, wear gloves for the unwrapping, and look closely at whether the propane tank holder is fitted on your configuration.
With 37 reviews, treat durability claims as untested rather than proven. A grill in this tier earns its place when you want a lot of cooking function in a small, movable footprint and you are willing to maintain the finish. Anything heavier and more permanent deserves a heavier frame.
How We Scored These Hybrid Grills
Most roundups claim to rate products and show nothing. Here is the rubric we applied to all ten, scored out of 10 for each grill.
Cooking capacity and layout, 3 points. Primary cooking area measured with warming racks excluded, plus whether the firebox design lets you run both fuels at once. Convertible single-firebox designs score lower because only one fuel runs at a time.
Charcoal-side control, 2 points. Adjustable charcoal tray, vents and dampers, and the ability to hold a steady temperature below 400F. This is where most budget combos fail.
Build and durability evidence, 2 points. Steel gauge, grate and finish specification, caster quality, and how long owners report the grill lasting before finish failure.
Cleanup and ash handling, 2 points. Slide-out trays, removable ash pans, and whether grease and ash are kept in separate chambers or share one.
Assembly and practicality, 1 point. Build complexity, weight, footprint, and warranty length.
Review volume is not a score, but it changes our confidence. A 4.6 across 405 reviews tells us more than a 4.4 across 73, which is why the Char-Griller E5030 sits at the top despite several alternatives scoring higher on individual specifications.
How to Choose a Hybrid Grill: Eight Criteria
1. Decide between two fireboxes and one convertible firebox
This is the most consequential decision and the cheapest to get right. A two-firebox design gives you separate gas and charcoal chambers, so both run simultaneously. A convertible single-firebox uses one chamber and you swap fuel, so only one runs at a time. If your goal is hosting two heat sources at once, a convertible design cannot deliver no matter what the listing says.
2. Measure primary cooking area, not total cooking surface
Total surface numbers include warming racks and, on some models, offset smoker space that cannot handle a full cook. Use the primary grate area for your planning. Roughly 500 square inches serves four to six people, and 590 square inches or more handles a larger group. Every measurement in this roundup is broken out that way in each review.
If you want a burger-count sanity check, most manufacturers size for four-inch patties with room around each one, so 520 square inches of grate is a comfortable feed for around a dozen burgers.
3. Use heat flux, not the BTU headline
Divide the main burner BTU by the primary cooking area to get heat flux, and treat 80 to 100 BTU per square inch as a balanced target for a home grill. A very high figure means fast preheat and aggressive flare-ups that need active management. A very low figure means long preheat and weak searing. Both exist in this roundup, and they feel completely different in use.
4. Audit the charcoal side before you buy
Most hybrid grills are gas grills with a charcoal compartment attached, and the charcoal half is where quality drops. Look for an adjustable charcoal tray, intake vents or dampers, and a working ash path. Without at least two of those three, low-and-slow cooking on that side will be a fight.
5. Check how ash and grease are handled
Grease and ash mixing in the same chamber creates a cleaning problem that gets worse every season. Full-size slide-out trays beat small removable cups because they can be wiped while warm. On convertible single-firebox designs, ash and old grease do share the firebox, which is an inherent cost of that format.
6. Look at grates and finish, not just the steel
Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates hold heat, resist rust and wipe clean. Bare cast iron seasons but rusts faster if you leave it wet. On the body, powder coating outlasts lacquered finishes, and high-temperature painted steel on smoker boxes is the most common failure point we found.
7. Plan the patio space before you buy
Footprints here run from 32.8 inches wide to nearly 69 inches. Beyond the footprint itself, check the lid swing clearance, the distance from combustibles, and the path from where the grill lives to where you cook. If a propane tank sits on a sliding tray, you need room behind the grill too.
Two wheels plus two lockable casters, as on the Royal Gourmet ZH3002N, is the setup we trust most on a patio deck. A single pair of small casters on a loaded cart is how grills tip.
8. Verify warranty and parts before checkout
Warranty length here runs from one year to two years all parts. Register the grill, keep the manual, and confirm that replacement parts and grates are sold for your model before you rely on it as a long-term cooker. A brand with responsive parts service is worth more over five years than a slightly better first cookout.
Hybrid Grill or Two Separate Grills?
The honest answer depends on whether you actually cook on both fuels. If you do, a two-firebox hybrid wins on footprint: it occupies the patio space of one grill, gives you two heat sources at once, and removes the charcoal-to-gas changeover entirely. That is a genuine convenience, not a marketing claim.
If you cook on one fuel most weeks, buy that grill well and skip the category. A dedicated gas grill with high heat output and a dedicated charcoal grill will both outperform the compromise versions of themselves that sit inside a combo. Forum regulars make this point repeatedly, and it is the single most common piece of advice in hybrid grill discussions.
There is a third option worth naming. If you want charcoal flavor but dislike fire management, a charcoal grill with gas ignition gives you the flavor with button-and-wait startup at a lower cost than a full two-firebox combo. The convertible small format on this list, the Charbroil Bistro Pro, works exactly that way. If your patio is already fitted out rather than freestanding, built-in models are a separate category and we cover them in our guide to the best built-in gas grills.
Durability: What Actually Breaks
Across the owner feedback on these ten grills, the same failure modes keep appearing. Naming them before you buy is more useful than any single spec.
Paint and finish failure is the most common. Owners report high-temperature paint blistering and peeling on smoker boxes and charcoal sections, sometimes within a month on an Oklahoma Joe’s unit and more commonly after a season or two on budget models. Powder-coated frames do better than lacquered ones.
Thin sheet metal is the second theme. Misaligned bolt holes, bent panels on arrival, and warping or rusting within two years appear repeatedly in the lower-rated reviews. Owners describe heat shields that shift while working the grates on one model, which points at the same gauge of steel throughout.
Transit damage shows up more than you would expect. Dented griddles and impact damage on arrival appear in reviews of more than one model here. Photograph everything before assembly and keep the packaging.
Ash handling and gauge accuracy round out the list. A charcoal tray with no cleanout path accumulates ash on the pan, and absent or inaccurate lid thermometers are common enough that a separate probe thermometer is a sensible accessory for any grill you buy. Wheels and casters failing under a loaded tank is the complaint that ends ownership, and it is why caster count matters.
The takeaway is consistent: buy a cover, keep the grill dry, empty the ash tray after every long cook, and expect to replace grates eventually. Grills in this roundup with 100 reviews or more give you a better picture than the ones with fewer, which is part of why they rank where they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hybrid gas and charcoal BBQ?
The Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030 is the best overall pick in our testing because it runs two separate fireboxes at once, has the largest review base of any grill we evaluated, and owners report multi-season durability. If you want more cooking area and a built-in offset smoker, the Grills House ZH3005Y covers more ground. For a small patio, the Charbroil Bistro Pro is the format that actually fits.
Which grill has both charcoal and gas grills?
Every grill in this roundup burns both charcoal and propane, but they work in two different ways. Two-firebox designs like the Char-Griller E5030 and the MFSTUDIO combo have separate gas and charcoal chambers, so you can run both fuels simultaneously. Convertible single-firebox designs like the Charbroil Bistro Pro use one firebox and one burner, so you switch fuel rather than run both.
Are gas and charcoal combo grills good?
They are good when you genuinely cook on both fuels and have the patio space for them. The gas side gives fast, predictable heat and easy cleanup, while the charcoal side gives smoke and sear flavor. The compromise is that most combos pair a strong gas grill with a weaker charcoal compartment, so check the charcoal-side controls before buying.
Does a charcoal grill get hotter than a gas grill?
Charcoal can exceed what most home gas burners deliver in sustained heat, which is why searing and low-and-slow cooking favor coals. On the hybrid grills here, charcoal-side temperature control is the real limit, not peak temperature, because most budget charcoal compartments lack vents and dampers. Grills with an adjustable charcoal tray let you hold steady heat far more effectively.
How long do I let charcoal burn before cooking?
Light your coals, then wait until the ash turns light gray and the surface of the coals is ashed over before food goes on. On a hybrid grill with a charcoal chamber and limited vents, expect a longer preheat than a kettle with adjustable intakes. Start checking with a separate probe thermometer rather than the lid gauge, which is often inaccurate.
Conclusion: Who Should Buy Which Hybrid Grill
The Char-Griller Dual-Function E5030 is the best hybrid grill for charcoal and gas overall, because two separate fireboxes, 24,000 BTU, dual gauges and the strongest long-term owner record in this roundup add up to a grill that works as both halves of its promise. Buy the Grills House ZH3005Y if cooking surface and a built-in offset smoker matter more than finish consistency. Buy the MFSTUDIO combo for the highest heat output with two separate lids.
Pick the Charbroil Bistro Pro if your patio is small enough that footprint decides everything, the Captiva Designs combo if cleanup is the chore you dread most, the Sophia and William grill if a crank-handle charcoal tray is what you have been missing, and either Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo if you want a real offset smoker and enough space for it.
Whichever you choose, buy a cover, and buy the charcoal side only because you are certain you will use it. Check the current listing details before you commit, and grill on both fuels before the season gets busy.