Buying guide
Best electric BBQs for balconies and flats
Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick
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Top picks at a glance
Compare them allBest overall
Weber Lumin: 2,300 W, 33 x 49 cm, over 315 °C
Reaches over 315 °C in about 15 minutes, hot enough for proper grill marks.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkBest value
Ninja Woodfire OG701UK: electric grill with pellet smoke
Burns real wood pellets in a smoker box for flavour without charcoal.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkMost features
Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: probe and app
App control and a built-in probe tell you when food is done.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Many flat leases and building rules ban charcoal and gas on balconies, which leaves electric as the practical way to grill outdoors. A good electric BBQ needs enough power to sear, at least 1,800 to 2,300 W, a heavy grate that holds heat, a lid so it keeps temperature in a breeze and a grease tray you can reach from the front. Cooking area in cm² decides whether it feeds two or six people. Check your outdoor socket too: these grills draw a lot of current, so plug them straight into a weatherproof outdoor socket rather than an extension reel, and read your lease before you buy. This guide compares six electric outdoor grills, including two Ninja Woodfire models that add pellet smoke, by power, cooking area, weight, top temperature and features, using each listing's own figures.
All products compared
- Weber Lumin: 2,300 W, 33 x 49 cm, over 315 °C
- Power
- 2,300 W
- Cooking area
- 1,561 cm² (33 x 49 cm)
- Weight
- 16.6 kg
- Top temperature
- Over 315 °C
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Ninja Woodfire OG701UK: electric grill with pellet smoke
- Power
- Not stated
- Cooking area
- 8 burgers (per Ninja)
- Weight
- 12 kg
- Top temperature
- Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Weber Lumin Compact: 2,200 W, 43 x 32 cm, 11.8 kg
- Power
- 2,200 W
- Cooking area
- 1,376 cm² (43 x 32 cm)
- Weight
- 11.8 kg
- Top temperature
- Over 315 °C
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Weber Pulse 1000: digital control, 41 x 31 cm
- Power
- 1,800 W
- Cooking area
- 1,271 cm² (41 x 31 cm)
- Weight
- 19.9 kg
- Top temperature
- Over 300 °C
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: probe and app
- Power
- Not stated
- Cooking area
- 10 burgers (per Ninja)
- Weight
- 18.3 kg
- Top temperature
- Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - EliteFyre Volteq 6-in-1: 1,700 cm² with smoker mode
- Power
- Not stated
- Cooking area
- 1,700 cm² (53.8 x 32 cm)
- Weight
- 18.9 kg
- Top temperature
- 343 °C (item highlight)
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
| Product | Power | Cooking area | Weight | Top temperature | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Lumin: 2,300 W, 33 x 49 cm, over 315 °C | 2,300 W | 1,561 cm² (33 x 49 cm) | 16.6 kg | Over 315 °C | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Ninja Woodfire OG701UK: electric grill with pellet smoke | Not stated | 8 burgers (per Ninja) | 12 kg | Not stated | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Weber Lumin Compact: 2,200 W, 43 x 32 cm, 11.8 kg | 2,200 W | 1,376 cm² (43 x 32 cm) | 11.8 kg | Over 315 °C | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Weber Pulse 1000: digital control, 41 x 31 cm | 1,800 W | 1,271 cm² (41 x 31 cm) | 19.9 kg | Over 300 °C | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: probe and app | Not stated | 10 burgers (per Ninja) | 18.3 kg | Not stated | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| EliteFyre Volteq 6-in-1: 1,700 cm² with smoker mode | Not stated | 1,700 cm² (53.8 x 32 cm) | 18.9 kg | 343 °C (item highlight) | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.
The products in detail
No. 1 · Weber
Weber Lumin: 2,300 W, 33 x 49 cm, over 315 °C
Weber's Lumin electric grill reaches over 315 °C in about 15 minutes, with a 33 x 49 cm cast iron grate and a plancha insert. The strongest all-round balcony grill in this guide.
In its favour
- Reaches over 315 °C in about 15 minutes, hot enough for proper grill marks.
- A plancha insert is included for eggs, burgers and vegetables.
- Porcelain-enamelled cast iron grates are dishwasher safe, per the listing.
Good to know
- Smoking and steaming need optional accessories bought separately.
- No stand is included in this version, so it needs a sturdy table.
Listing title: Weber Lumin Electric Grill, Black
No. 2 · Ninja
Ninja Woodfire OG701UK: electric grill with pellet smoke
An electric grill, smoker and air fryer with a pellet smoker box for real wood flavour. It fits eight burgers and is rated IPX4, a good balcony pick for people who want smoke.
In its favour
- Burns real wood pellets in a smoker box for flavour without charcoal.
- Seven functions including air fry, roast and bake from one 46 x 46 cm unit.
- IPX4 water resistance and a UK plug are stated in the listing.
Good to know
- The listing does not give wattage or top temperature.
- Smoke from the pellets may still bother neighbours on a shared balcony.
Listing title: Ninja Woodfire Electric 7-in-1 BBQ Grill & Smoker, Grey/Black OG701UK
No. 3 · Weber
Weber Lumin Compact: 2,200 W, 43 x 32 cm, 11.8 kg
The smaller Lumin with 2,200 W, a 43 x 32 cm grill and five cooking modes. It suits couples on a small balcony and is light enough to carry in and out.
In its favour
- At 11.8 kg it is easy to lift onto a table and back into storage.
- The listing names five modes: grill, smoke, steam, defrost and keep warm.
- 230 V is stated in the specs, matching UK mains.
Good to know
- A 1,376 cm² grate is small for more than three or four people.
- Some modes rely on accessories; check what is in the box before buying.
Listing title: Weber Lumin Compact Electric Grill, 43 x 32cm Cooking Area, Portable, ...
No. 4 · Weber
Weber Pulse 1000: digital control, 41 x 31 cm
The Pulse 1000 with digital temperature control, an iGrill-compatible thermometer and a 41 x 31 cm cast grate. Ideal for cooks who want to set an exact temperature on the balcony.
In its favour
- Digital temperature control sets the grill to a precise heat.
- Built-in iGrill technology works with Weber's app-linked thermometers.
- The removable grease drip tray keeps cleaning simple.
Good to know
- At 1,800 W it has less power than the Lumin models.
- At 19.9 kg it is the heaviest tabletop grill here.
Listing title: Weber Pulse 1000 Electric Grill, 41 x 31 cm Grill Surface, Temperature...
No. 5 · Ninja
Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: probe and app
The larger Woodfire with app control, a built-in probe and room for 10 burgers or two 3 kg chickens. A balcony grill and smoker for families who cook outdoors often.
In its favour
- App control and a built-in probe tell you when food is done.
- Fits 10 burgers, 6 steaks or two 3 kg chickens, says Ninja.
- IPX4 water resistance and a UK plug are listed.
Good to know
- The listing does not give wattage or grill plate size in cm.
- Pellet smoke is still smoke, so check your building's rules before using it.
Listing title: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ & Smoker, Blue Black OG901U...
No. 6 · EliteFyre
EliteFyre Volteq 6-in-1: 1,700 cm² with smoker mode
A compact electric grill with a 53.8 x 32 cm grate, digital temperature control and a smoker box for pellets. It has the largest stated grill area of the balcony grills here.
In its favour
- A 1,700 cm² grate fits 8 steaks or 12 burgers, according to the listing.
- Digital temperature control lets you set an exact heat for each recipe.
- A smoker box takes wood pellets for smoke flavour, outdoors only.
Good to know
- The listing does not state wattage, which matters for searing.
- Brand support in the UK is less established than for Weber or Ninja.
Listing title: Volteq 6-in-1 Compact Electric BBQ for Apartment & Outdoor Cooking
Read before you buy
- Which BBQ should you buy?Which BBQ to buy: a short decision path by garden size, how often you cook, fuel and food, pointing to the right gas, charcoal, pellet or electric guide.
- Ninja Woodfire vs Woodfire Pro Connect XLNinja Woodfire OG701UK vs Woodfire Pro Connect XL OG901UK compared on capacity, probe, app control, weight and footprint, for small patios and balconies.
- Ninja Woodfire pellets not igniting or not smokingNinja Woodfire pellets not igniting or not smoking? Check for damp pellets, an overfilled scoop, ash in the smoker box and the right start sequence for each mode.
- How to use a Ninja Woodfire grillHow to use a Ninja Woodfire grill: grill, smoke and air fry modes, adding pellets to the smoker box, preheating and when to keep the lid closed, in plain steps.
- Gas BBQ vs electric BBQGas BBQ vs electric BBQ compared on heat output, searing, running energy in kWh, balcony rules, size and where you can put each one in a UK home.
More buying guides: Electric outdoor grills
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