Natural Gas vs Propane Grill: Which Should Your Outdoor Kitchen Use?
Every gas grill we sell, from a Napoleon on a cart to a Solaire built into stone, comes in two versions: natural gas (NG) or propane (LP). The grill cooks the same either way. What changes is how the fuel reaches it, what it costs to run, and how much freedom you have about where the grill lives. Here is how we help customers decide, and the one thing to get right before you order.
The short version
- Natural gas is piped to the grill from your home's supply. No tanks, never runs out mid-cook, cheaper per hour, but the grill stays where the line is and a licensed pro has to run that line.
- Propane comes from a 20 lb tank in the cart or behind an island door. Works anywhere, no plumbing, but you refill or swap tanks and it costs more per hour.
- Heat is the same. A 66,000 BTU Blaze is 66,000 BTU on either fuel. The burner jets are sized for the gas it was built for, which is why the two versions are separate models.
Natural gas: for the permanent outdoor kitchen
If you are building an island, natural gas is usually the right call. The grill is not going anywhere, so running a line to it once is worth it, and you will never carry a tank across the yard again. A typical 20 lb propane tank holds about 430,000 BTU, which is roughly 6 to 7 hours with a four-burner grill on high; on natural gas that same evening costs a fraction and the burners simply keep going.
Two things to plan for. First, a licensed plumber or gas fitter runs the line and sets the shut-off valve; the grill's installation guide (under Resources on every grill page) lists the pipe size it needs, and high-BTU grills want a larger line than a patio heater does. Second, put an access door under the grill so the valve and the connection stay reachable.
Propane: for flexibility and no plumbing
Propane wins when the grill is on a cart, when you rent, when the patio is far from the house, or when you want to cook this weekend rather than after a plumbing visit. The tank lives in the cart cabinet or behind an island door, and a spare tank means you never run dry at the wrong moment. Most of our freestanding grills ship propane-ready, and the Blaze LTE+ 32 on a cart is a good example of a grill that can start on propane and move into an island later.
Choose the gas type when you order
This is the one decision that is expensive to undo. A natural gas grill will not run properly on propane, or the reverse, because the jets and the regulator are different. On our site the gas type is a choice on the product page, and it costs the same either way: the Blaze Premium LTE+ 32 is $2,499 as propane or natural gas, and the Napoleon Built-In 700 Series 32 is $2,219 in either. If you are not sure which supply you have, or whether a line can reach your island, ask us before you buy and we will check the installation guide with you.
What about side burners and heaters?
Everything on the island that burns gas makes the same choice: side burners, power burners and gas fire tables come in NG and LP versions, and on Build Your Island the burners follow the gas type you picked for the grill. Gas patio heaters work the same way; Bromic's mounted Tungsten heaters come in both, and the portable Tungsten runs on a propane tank in its base.
Grills that come in both gas types
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a propane grill to natural gas later?
Does natural gas grill hotter or cooler than propane?
How long does a 20 lb propane tank last on a grill?
Do I need a special regulator or hose for natural gas?
Can a built-in grill run on propane?
Ready to pick a grill?
Every grill page lets you choose the gas type, and the grill finder asks the question up front so the whole island is matched to your supply.
Keep reading
