Rusted Through or Flaking? Best Grill Grates by Material, Fit and Grill Model

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The best grill grates are the ones made for your exact grill. A replacement grate that is a quarter inch too long won’t drop into the firebox, and one that’s too short can fall through. So start with your grill’s model number, then choose the material: bare cast iron for searing, porcelain-coated cast iron for easier care, stainless steel to resist rust, or hard anodized aluminum panels that sit on the grill.

We compared seven replacement grates sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store and listed in stock when we checked: sets for Weber Spirit, Char-Broil and Char-Griller gas grills, two grates for 22-inch charcoal kettles, a Broil King grid and a pair of GrillGrate aluminum panels. We quote each compatibility list and material claim as the listing states it, and we flag empty warranty and size fields.

Worn grates are also a safety issue: grease and loose brush bristles both start at the grate.

Our Top Grill Grates Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. QuliMetal 17.5″ Cast Iron Grates for Weber Spirit 300: Best Overall for Weber Spirit Grills

QuliMetal’s cast iron set is a pair of replacement cooking grates for the Weber Spirit 300 series and a long list of related Weber grills. Each grate measures 17.5 by 11.9 inches, so the two together cover 17.5 by 23.8 inches, the footprint of a three-burner Spirit.

Fit is spelled out in detail. The listing names the Spirit E310, S310, E315, S315, E320, E330, S320 and S330, the Spirit II 300 series, Spirit 700, Weber 900, Genesis Silver B/C and Gold B/C (2002 and later), Genesis 1000 to 3500 and Genesis Platinum (2000 to 2010), plus the SmokeFire EX4 and EX6 pellet grills. It replaces Weber part numbers 7638, 7525, 7527, 65619 and 65906, and it does not fit the Genesis Silver A or Genesis II LX.

The material is bare, matte cast iron. QuliMetal claims it outperforms enamel-coated grates in heat retention and searing, and says it won’t chip or rust easily. In practice, bare cast iron has no coating to flake, but it relies on a layer of seasoning: oil the bars, heat the grill, and keep it covered so moisture doesn’t sit on the iron between cooks.

It suits Weber Spirit and older Genesis owners whose original grates have rusted through or lost their porcelain, and who like a heavy grate for steak and burgers. Check your model against the list, then measure your old grates before ordering.

Why we like it

• Detailed Weber compatibility list
• Heavy cast iron for searing
• No coating to chip

Watch out for

Bare cast iron rusts if you skip seasoning, and the listing leaves warranty, size and weight fields empty.

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2. Direct Store DC121 Porcelain Cast Iron Grates, Set of 3: Best Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron

Direct Store’s DC121 is a set of three porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grids for a long list of Char-Broil gas grills and several related brands. Each grid measures 16 7/8 by 9 5/16 inches, for a total cooking grate of 16 7/8 by 27 15/16 inches.

The compatibility section is the heart of the listing. It names more than 30 Char-Broil model numbers, from 463370518 to 469432215, along with Char-Broil part numbers 80008076, 80018559 and G432-0002-W1. It also lists Master Chef, Kenmore Sears, Backyard Grill and Thermos models. Direct Store asks buyers to measure the original parts and compare before ordering.

Porcelain coating gives cast iron a glossy, sealed surface, so you skip most of the seasoning that bare iron needs. The listing calls the grids extremely durable and gives simple care instructions: preheat on high for 15 minutes, then brush clean with a grill brush. Porcelain can chip if a grate is dropped or scraped with a metal tool, and exposed iron under a chip can rust, so handle these with some care.

It suits owners of the Char-Broil and Master Chef grills on the list who want to restore the original style of grate rather than switch materials. If your model number isn’t listed, measure the old grids and match the dimensions exactly.

Why we like it

• Sealed porcelain surface
• Long Char-Broil model list
• Three-piece set

Watch out for

Handle porcelain gently, since a chip exposes the iron, and confirm your model number is on the list.

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3. Votenli S6505A Stainless Steel Grates for Char-Griller, 4 Pack: Best Stainless Steel Grates

Votenli’s S6505A is a four-piece set of stainless steel cooking grids for Char-Griller grills. Each grid measures 19 3/4 by 6 3/4 inches, and the four together cover 19 3/4 by 27 inches.

The listing names a long run of Char-Griller gas grill models, including the 2121, 2123, 2222, 2828, 3001, 3008, 3030, 3072, 3232, 3725, 4000, 4001, 4008, 4208, 5050, 5072, 5252 and 9020, plus the King Griller 3008 and 5252 and the Char-Griller Duo 5050 gas barbecue grill. It also mentions Char-Griller charcoal grates, so charcoal owners should compare measurements too.

Stainless steel’s appeal is that it resists rust without seasoning or a coating to chip. It generally holds less heat than heavy cast iron, but it is easy to scrub and has no seasoning to maintain. The listing doesn’t name the stainless grade, so it can’t be compared directly with grates sold as 304 stainless. Votenli asks you to measure your original parts before ordering.

It suits Char-Griller owners replacing rusted cast iron or porcelain grids who want something lower-maintenance. The set is listed at 10.45 pounds, and the warranty field reads one year. Because the grids are narrow, you can lift out one section at a time to reach whatever sits underneath for cleaning.

Why we like it

• Rust-resistant stainless
• Four-piece full set
• One-year warranty field

Watch out for

The stainless grade isn’t stated, and the fit list is long: confirm your model and measure first.

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4. GrillGrate 13.75″ Hard Anodized Aluminum Panels, Set of 2: Best Aluminum Grill Grate Panels

GrillGrate panels are a different idea from a traditional grate. Instead of round bars or rods, each panel is a sheet of hard anodized aluminum with raised rails on top and valleys between them. This set includes two panels, 13.75 inches long; the listed dimensions are 13.75 by 5.25 by 1.5 inches.

GrillGrate’s main claim is that its patented design eliminates the flare-ups common to gas grills. The raised rails amplify heat for what the brand calls restaurant-quality sear marks, while the aluminum conducts heat to even out hot and cold spots.

Because the panels are aluminum, GrillGrate says they never rust, and there’s nothing to season or chip. This listing doesn’t include a compatibility list or say how many panels a given grill needs, so measure your cooking area and plan the layout before ordering. Cleaning a grooved panel is different from cleaning round bars, and GrillGrate sells its own tools for it.

It suits gas grill owners who fight flare-ups with fatty burgers, chicken thighs or fish, and anyone who wants crisp sear marks without a cast iron grate’s upkeep. Before ordering, measure the width of your grill’s cooking area and work out how many 5.25-inch-wide panels it would take to cover the part you cook on most, since this set includes just two.

Why we like it

• No rust, per GrillGrate
• Flare-up control claim
• Raised rails for sear marks

Watch out for

Two panels cover a small area, and the listing gives no grill-model fit list, so measure before you buy.

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5. Weber Hinged Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22″ Grills: Best for Weber 22″ Charcoal Kettles

Weber’s hinged cooking grate is the brand’s own replacement grate for 22-inch Weber charcoal grills. It is made of plated steel and rests on the upper prongs inside the kettle, lifting out when you need to reach the charcoal grate below.

The hinges are the reason to choose it. Two flip-up sections let you add briquettes during a long cook without lifting the whole grate, food and all, off the grill. Built-in raised handles make it easier to lift and position. For low-and-slow cooks or two-zone setups, that access saves a lot of juggling.

Weber’s care instructions are simple: preheat on high for 15 minutes, then brush clean with a grill brush. The bullets state a one-year limited warranty, though the warranty field itself is empty. Weber also warns that it does not fit the Smokey Mountain Cooker smoker models and asks buyers to confirm their charcoal grill model before ordering.

It suits Weber kettle owners whose original grate has rusted or warped, and who want a Weber-made part rather than a third-party copy. Plated steel won’t hold heat like cast iron or resist rust like stainless steel, but it is the material Weber itself specifies for this part. The grate is listed at 11.02 pounds. Confirm your kettle is a 22-inch model before ordering.

Why we like it

• Hinged sides for adding coals
• Weber-made part
• Raised handles

Watch out for

Plated steel can rust once the plating wears, and it won’t fit a Smokey Mountain Cooker.

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6. SnS Grills EasySpin 304 Stainless Steel Kettle Grate: Best Premium Kettle Upgrade

SnS Grills’ EasySpin is a 304 stainless steel cooking grate for 22-inch kettle grills, including Weber’s Original Kettle, Performer and MasterTouch series. SnS, short for Slow ’N Sear, designs it around two-zone cooking, with coals on one side and indirect heat on the other.

The EasySpin feature lets you rotate the grate by hand, moving food closer to or farther from the fire without lifting each piece. SnS says no power is needed and nothing has to be turned on. A large hinged opening lets you add charcoal mid-cook without disturbing the food, and extra rails near the handles add usable cooking space.

SnS says the 304 stainless steel is rust-resistant, and the handles are welded. The listing claims an industry-leading 10-year warranty, though the warranty field itself is empty, so keep your order details. SnS describes itself as veteran-owned with USA-designed products, and the listing gives the grate’s weight as 6.25 pounds.

It suits kettle owners who sear steaks over the coals and finish them indirect, or who smoke on a kettle and need to add fuel often. It costs more than a standard plated grate, and the payoff is stainless construction and a long stated warranty. Measure your kettle first: SnS sizes it for 22-inch models only.

Why we like it

• Spins for two-zone control
• Rust-resistant 304 stainless
• 10-year warranty claim

Watch out for

It costs more than a standard kettle grate, and the 10-year warranty appears in the bullets, not the warranty field.

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7. Broil King 11241 Grid-Baron Cast Iron Cooking Grate: Best for Broil King Owners

Broil King’s 11241 is a single porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grid made for the brand’s own Baron and Crown gas grills. It measures 17.5 by 6.17 inches, and the listing says it fits Baron 300, 400 and 500 series grills from 2013 on and Crown 300, 400 and 500 series grills from 2012 on.

The grid is reversible. One side has a pointed profile that Broil King says gives professional searing marks; the other side is concave, designed to channel juices and promote vaporization. You can flip it depending on whether you’re searing steaks or cooking more delicate food.

Because it comes as one piece, you can replace only the grid that has worn out, such as the one over your hottest burner, rather than a whole set. The listing doesn’t say how many grids each Baron or Crown model uses, so count the grids on your grill before ordering. Porcelain coating means less seasoning work than bare iron, but avoid dropping it or scraping with sharp metal.

It suits Broil King owners who want a part made by their grill’s manufacturer and like the reversible design. The grid is listed at 4 pounds. Check your grill’s model year as well, because the stated fit starts at 2013 for the Baron and 2012 for the Crown.

Why we like it

• Reversible sear/juice sides
• Brand-matched fit
• Replace one grid at a time

Watch out for

It’s sold as a single grid, so count how many your grill uses before you order.

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How We Chose the Best Grill Grates

We limited our picks to replacement grates sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store and in stock when we checked, and compared what each listing says:

• Fit: the grill models and part numbers the listing names, quoted rather than assumed, plus the exact grate dimensions.
• Material: bare cast iron, porcelain-coated cast iron, stainless steel (with the grade where stated), plated steel or hard anodized aluminum.
• Design: hinged sections, reversible profiles, raised rails and rotating grates.
• Warranty and popularity: the warranty field, any warranty term in the bullets, and Amazon sales rank.
• Listing gaps: empty or obviously wrong size, weight and warranty fields, flagged rather than repeated.

We left out the grills, mats and baskets covered elsewhere. If your grill itself is worn out, our best gas grill guide compares complete grills and their grate materials.

Grill Grate Buying Guide

Best Grill Grate Material: Cast Iron, Stainless or Aluminum

Each material trades heat for upkeep. Bare cast iron, like the QuliMetal set, holds the most heat for searing but needs oil and seasoning to resist rust. Porcelain-coated cast iron, like the Direct Store and Broil King grids, seals the iron so you season less, but a chip exposes bare metal. Stainless steel, like the Votenli set and the SnS EasySpin’s 304 stainless, resists rust without a coating and is easier to scrub, though it holds less heat than iron. Hard anodized aluminum panels, like GrillGrate, sit on raised rails and, per the brand, never rust. Plated steel, like Weber’s kettle grate, is the original-equipment choice on many charcoal kettles.

Best Material for Grill Grates on Your Grill: Measure First

Compatibility lists are the brand’s claim, not a guarantee. Find your grill’s model number (often on a label on the back or inside the cabinet), check it against the listing, then measure your old grates’ length, width and number of pieces. Every third-party listing here, from QuliMetal to Direct Store and Votenli, asks you to measure the original parts before ordering. Broil King’s grid comes singly, so count how many your grill uses.

Porcelain-Coated vs. Bare Cast Iron

Porcelain-coated grates arrive ready to use and resist rust as long as the coating is intact. Bare cast iron needs a thin coat of oil before and after cooking, at least until a seasoned layer builds up, and it should never sit wet. Replace either kind when the bars rust through, when porcelain flakes off in sheets, or when grates warp so they no longer sit flat on their supports.

Best Oil for Grill Grates

For seasoning and pre-cook oiling, use a neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or vegetable oil. Apply a thin layer with a folded paper towel held in long tongs, never by pouring oil over a lit grill, which can cause a flare-up. Stainless and aluminum grates don’t need seasoning, but a light wipe of oil on the food or grate helps reduce sticking.

Best Cleaner for Grill Grates

Weber and Direct Store both give the same routine in their listings: preheat on high for 15 minutes, then brush clean. For stuck-on grease, see our best grill cleaner guide, which compares degreasers by surface, and check that a cleaner is labeled safe for porcelain or stainless before using it on coated grates. Our best grill brush guide covers wire, coil and bristle-free options.

Best Campfire Grill Grate

None of these picks is made for an open campfire. The Weber and SnS grates are designed to sit inside 22-inch kettles. For cooking over a fire ring or fire pit, look at a freestanding grate built for that job; our fire pit grill guide covers cowboy grates and combo tables.

Grill Grate Safety: Grease, Bristles and Fire

Grates are where most grill maintenance happens, and two hazards start there:

• Clean off the grease. The NFPA’s grilling safety page says to keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. The U.S. Fire Administration says to clean your grill after each use to remove grease that can start a fire.
• Watch for loose wire bristles. A 2019 case report in the American Journal of Case Reports notes that small wire bristles may break off grill brushes, become embedded in grilled food and be swallowed, and cites Consumer Product Safety Commission surveillance estimates of 1,698 emergency department visits for grill brush wire injuries between 2002 and 2014. Inspect wire brushes before each use, wipe the grate afterward, or switch to a bristle-free tool.
• Keep the grill outside and away from the house. USFA says to use propane, charcoal and wood pellet grills only outside, to place the grill well away from siding and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches, and to keep a 3-foot safe zone around it.
• Dispose of coals safely. USFA advises putting cooled coals in a metal can with a lid.

Grill Fires and Your Home Insurance

A grease fire that spreads from the grill to a deck, fence or siding becomes a property claim, and a guest hurt at a cookout can raise a liability question. Homeowners policies generally address both, but limits and deductibles vary, and renters should check whether their lease allows grills on patios or balconies. See our Ohio homeowners insurance guide or renters insurance costs in Ohio before grilling season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best grill grates for a Weber Spirit?

For Weber Spirit 300 grills, the QuliMetal 17.5-inch cast iron set is our pick. Its listing names the Spirit E310 through S330, Spirit II 300 and several Genesis models, and lists the Weber part numbers it replaces. It ranks #6 in Grids & Grates.

What is the best material for grill grates?

It depends on your priorities. Bare cast iron holds the most heat but needs seasoning, porcelain-coated cast iron needs less care but can chip, stainless steel resists rust with little upkeep, and hard anodized aluminum panels like GrillGrate claim to never rust and to stop flare-ups.

What is the best oil for grill grates?

A neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or vegetable oil, applied in a thin layer with a paper towel and long tongs. Never pour or spray oil onto a lit grill, which can cause a flare-up.

What is the best grill grate cleaner?

Start with heat: Weber and Direct Store both say to preheat on high for 15 minutes, then brush clean. For heavy grease, use a degreaser labeled safe for your grate’s surface, and inspect wire brushes for loose bristles before each use.

When should I replace grill grates?

Replace them when the bars rust through, the porcelain coating flakes away in large patches, or the grates warp and no longer sit flat. Measure the old grates and check your grill’s model number before ordering.

The Bottom Line

For Weber Spirit owners, the QuliMetal cast iron set is the best grill grate upgrade here: a detailed fit list and heavy bare iron for searing. Char-Broil owners can restore porcelain-coated cast iron with the Direct Store DC121, Char-Griller owners can go rust-resistant with the Votenli stainless set, and GrillGrate panels target flare-ups. Kettle owners should choose between Weber’s own hinged grate and the spinning SnS EasySpin, and Broil King owners can replace one Grid-Baron at a time. Whatever you buy, match the model number, measure, and keep the grease off.

Firing up a new set of grates and wondering how your policy handles a grill fire or a guest’s injury? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or book a free coverage review.