Best Labor Day Grill Deals: 17 Discounts on Pellet, Gas & Portable Grills

Even though summer may be winding down, outdoor grilling doesn’t have to. Whether you prefer pellet or gas grills, now’s the perfect time to pick up a new model for hundreds of dollars off, thanks to these Labor Day deals. From roasting veggies to searing steaks, here are the best Labor Day grill deals to shop for, including discounts on some of our favorite CNET picks.

If this is your first grill, read our grill buying guide to help you choose the right type of grill for your taste buds, living space, and (most importantly) wallet. While I may prefer the fast, dead-on convenience of gas, those looking for maximum flavor and the highest temperatures for grilling pizza and steakhouse-level searing will see the benefits of kamado grills.

Best Pellet Grill Deals on Labor Day

Our favorite pellet grill on the market is getting its first sale since Prime Day this holiday weekend, so if you’re ready to dive into nest-level grilling and smoking, now’s the time. Traeger kicked off the category’s popularity, and the Ironwood XL combines the flavor of charcoal with the easy controls of a gas grill. The Ironwood XL uses a downdraft exhaust and superior lip seal to create an even, smoky interior and wonderfully precise temperature control, and its 924 square inches of cooking space will let you whip up a feast of flavorful meats.

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Best Labor Day Gas Grill Deals

Char-Broil may be famous for its charcoal grills, but they also make a great gas grill for those of us who want to grill with ease without having to spend an hour tending to the coals. This cabinet-style gas grill keeps things looking nice and shiny by hiding the propane tank. A series of emitter plates prevent flames and distribute heat evenly, but there are no fiddly controls or apps, just three burners (four with the side burner), an igniter, and some LED lights to see what you’re doing.

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Best Small & Portable Grill Deals

If you’re stuck in an apartment (like me) and can’t enjoy any of the grills we’ve discussed so far, fear not! We can still get the grilling experience we crave with portable electric grills like the Ninja Woodfire. Like all Ninja products, this 7-in-1 grill may try to do a little too much — like air fry on top of being a grill — but the addition of a small pellet smoking chute allows you to get some of that smoky goodness without the smoke and nearly day-long cook time. Just make sure you clean that chute very thoroughly after every use.

More Labor Day Deals on Small and Portable Grills

What to Buy After Your Grill

And if you buy a grill on Labor Day, please do so, Please Do yourself a favor and get a weatherproof cover for it right away. Even if it doesn’t rain often, even if your grill is a cute ceramic egg, rainwater is a grill’s natural enemy, and no one wants to have the frame or hood of their shiny new grill rusted around the edges because you didn’t bother to throw a cover on it. More than thermometers, grill scrapers, or any other essential grilling accessory you’ve got your eye on, you need to start with a grill cover.

If the manufacturer’s cover is too expensive, check the dimensions and how it’s secured (with ties, velcro, buckles) before you grab it. Grill covers that don’t fit will create moldy puddles or holes, and if you can’t secure it, the wind can blow it right off.

How We Pick the Best Labor Day Deals

At CNET, we have a team of expert shoppers and bargain hunters with years of experience helping shoppers understand which big sales and deals are legit and which are more routine. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, the Fourth of July and countless other shopping events. We’ve gotten really good at weeding out the scams and superficial deals. We look at real discounts, quality ratings and time left on the sale when choosing which deals to show you.

• Real discounts mean just that. We look at the price history of all items sold to make sure that no manufacturers are inflating prices to make the discount seem bigger than it is.
  
• Quality reviews are important for any product, but especially for big purchases like grills, furniture, and appliances. If it breaks the first time you use it, the discount isn’t really worth it.
  
• The remaining sale time is a big part of our review process. If a deal seems short or only available for remaining stock, we will let you know up front so you don’t come back to the deal later and be disappointed.

When do Labor Day deals end?

These grill deals should last until September 2nd, but there’s always a chance they could sell out quickly, especially since grills aren’t as well-stocked as electronics or indoor appliances. While there could still be a few deals going live between now and Labor Day itself, most grill manufacturers and the retailers that stock them have already released the best deals they’re going to have, so I wouldn’t wait too long to make a purchase.

If none of the grills on sale are to your taste, check out CNET’s favorite charcoal grills, gas grills, portable grills, pellet smokers and kamado grills of the year and find your match made in flame-kissing heaven.