Lightweight · $90–$400

Grills, Smokers, and Pizza showdown

Tabletop Griddle Showdown 2026: Blackstone 17 vs 22, Weber Slate, and What One Bottle Buys

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad Smith · Independent, no paid placement · Updated October 31, 2026Prices checked October 2026

Some links here are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (sometimes with a discount for you). It never changes which products we recommend — and we name the SKIPs to prove it.

“Portable” is printed on nearly every griddle on this page. It tells you nothing until it has two numbers beside it: what one person can carry, and how long one bottle runs it.

We found almost nobody publishing either across the field. The one measured side-by-side we found covers seven griddles, and none of them is a 17. So we built both numbers from the makers’ own figures, then read the manuals to see what each griddle is actually allowed to do. Some of what we found surprised us: Weber’s 17 weighs more than Blackstone’s 22, and Blackstone’s newest manuals forbid the fittings Blackstone sells.

We did not test these griddles. What follows is manuals, listings, tester reports and owner reviews, labelled as such. The runtimes are our arithmetic, not a stopwatch.

Quick comparison

Model	Best for	Showdown Score ↕	Size	Weight	Bottle at High	Fuel path	Hood	Owner rating	Price
Blackstone 1666 22" Tabletop Griddle	The deepest owner record of these ten, with no hood to carry	8.7 Exceptional	22 in	25.3 lb on the listing; Good Housekeeping prints 32 lb	About 55 to 63 min (our arithmetic)	1 lb bottle; the v08 manual has no 20 lb text, an older edition refers to one	None	4.7★ / 6,814	Check price →
Blackstone 1813 22" Tabletop Griddle with Hood	The tabletop with the deep record and a hood	7.6 Excellent	22 in	38 lb	About 55 to 63 min (our arithmetic)	1 lb bottle; the v10 manual has no 20 lb text	Integrated hood	4.7★ / 2,832	Check price →
Blackstone 1814 17" Griddle with Hood	The 17 with the record, and the complaint that comes with 17 inches	7.8 Excellent	17 in	19.8 lb on the listing; Blackstone's own hooded 17s print 30 to 33 lb, so plan on those	About 110 min (our arithmetic)	"ONLY USE A 1 LB" cylinder; no quick connects	Integrated hood	4.7★ / 2,200	Check price →
Pit Boss PB2BGT1 2-Burner Tabletop Griddle	Two burners at the weight of a one-burner	7.6 Excellent	18.5 in plate	23.2 lb in the manual; the listing says 27.3 lb, which may include the box	About 73 min (our arithmetic)	1 lb tank; "Never connect" to a larger one	Cover included	4.6★ / 195	Check price →
Char-Griller Flat Iron E8217 17" Griddle	The one you can actually carry, if you bring a lighter	5.6 Good	17 in	23 lb	About 110 min (our arithmetic)	1 lb, 16.4 oz bottle	None	4.4★ / 128	Check price →
Royal Gourmet PD1301S 24" Tabletop Griddle	The cheap way to find out whether you like griddling	7.8 Excellent	24 in	28 lb	No 1 lb route: about 17 hrs on a 20 lb tank (our arithmetic)	20 lb tank, regulator included	None	4.5★ / 6,741	Check price →
Weber Slate 22" Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle	Three testers' tabletop pick, and a two-person lift	Not scored yet	22 in	53.46 lb	About 83 min (our arithmetic)	16.4 oz cylinders; the guide says use the supplied regulator	Hard cover, storage only	4.0★ / 67	Check price →
Weber Slate 17" Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle	A 17 that weighs more than a Blackstone 22	Not scored yet	17 in	42.68 lb	About 106 min (our arithmetic)	16.4 oz cylinders; the guide says use the supplied regulator	Hard cover, storage only	4.6★ / 48	Check price →
Solo Stove Steelfire 22" Stainless Griddle	Stainless, no seasoning, and last in The Barbecue Lab's wind test	Not scored yet	22 in	38.7 lb	About 94 min (our arithmetic)	1 lb bottle; 20 lb hose sold separately, Solo-approved only	Lid	4.9★ / 126	Check price →
Blackstone 2363 20" Camping Griddle	A briefcase with an igniter problem	6.5 Good	20 in	26 lb	Not computable: no BTU printed	1 lb; Propane-Chain hose sold separately	Latching hood	4.5★ / 113	Check price →

Prices move constantly — any Amazon price shown is as of the date noted and subject to change; tap through for today's number.

How to read the ratings. The two Slates and the Solo rate on their makers’ own sites, so their Showdown Score holds back the owner number. Amazon shows 4 ratings pooled across the whole Slate line. Home Depot’s 72 reviews on the Slate 17 look independent, but in the index copy we could reach, most of the first page is tagged as coming from weber.com, several collected in a promotion, so we did not count them. Solo’s independent base is 4.2 across 31, far below the 4.9 on its own page. The Pit Boss rates on Amazon, and reads 4.5 across 81 at Walmart.

17 or 22: what each size actually loses

No credentialed tester has put a 17 against a 22 on the same day that we could find. The Barbecue Lab’s seven-griddle test has no 17. This is what the paper says.

Blackstone’s manuals print no BTU. The 12,000 is the 1814 listing’s figure. The 21,000 to 24,000 is the spread for the 22: Blackstone’s own 2205 page says 21,000, and its listings and retailers say 24,000. The 30 to 33 lb is what Blackstone prints for its other hooded 17s. We used it because the 1814’s listing says 19.8 lb, which is low for a griddle with a steel hood.

Two things come out of that table.

On Blackstone, the second burner adds heat. On Weber, it does not. Each Slate 22 burner is 8,000 BTU against the 17’s single 12,500, so the 22 has no more heat per square inch than the 17. You are paying nearly 11 pounds for plate, not power.

Owners report the same split the paper predicts. On the Blackstone 1814, five of the ten newest critical reviews say not enough heat: “Took almost an hour to fry some potatoes.” Three of the ten newest on the hoodless 17 say the same. On the 22s, heat is not the lead complaint: parts and ignition are. But where heat does come up, it turns over. A 1666 owner: “Way too hot, can’t imagine using it above minimum heat.” An 1813 owner: “Too hot at the lowest setting.” Those are single reviews among the ten newest critical ones on each griddle, so they show a direction and not a rate. And not every 17 owner agrees: one reports about 600 degrees during seasoning.

Our read: a 17 is a griddle for two people out of the wind. A 22 is the one to buy if you are cooking for a family, and expect to work the low end of the knob.

What one bottle buys

Here is what a 16.4 oz bottle does at full burn. Propane holds about 21,500 BTU per pound, so that bottle holds about 22,000 BTU. Divide by the griddle’s rating.

Nobody tests griddles this way, so treat it as a ceiling on burn rate, not a cooking time. You rarely cook on full. The one weighed read we found is CleverHiker’s, on the griddle it calls the Blackstone Original 17” with Hood: 2.2 oz of propane in 15 minutes 30 seconds, on medium. That works out to about 115 minutes on a full bottle, close to the figure above, which hints that medium on a small griddle is not far below high. It is one read, with no scale resolution stated.

Cold matters too. A cylinder makes its own vapor, and our guide on how long a propane tank lasts explains how that fades on a big tank. We found no measured figure for a griddle on a 1 lb bottle in the cold, so we will not print one.

What it costs in carrying. The Barbecue Lab’s helper was comfortable moving only two of its seven griddles alone, both “weighing under 40 pounds”. That makes 40 lb a fair rule of thumb, ours and not theirs. A listing’s weight can be with or without packaging and rarely says which, so where a maker prints a weight, we use the maker’s. Four griddles here sit well under it by their makers’ or listings’ figures: the Char-Griller at 23 lb, the Pit Boss at 23.2 lb, the Blackstone 2363 at 26 lb and the Royal Gourmet at 28 lb. The Weber Slate 17 at 42.68 lb and the Slate 22 at 53.46 lb do not. Solo’s 38.7 lb and Blackstone’s hooded 22 at 38 lb sit just under it, and owners of both still call them heavy.

The rules the listing leaves out

Nearly every griddle here is sold for tailgates, camping and RVs. Here is what their manuals say. Silence means we read the manual and the rule is not there. A rule on one griddle does not carry to its sibling.

Blackstone forbids what Blackstone sells. The 2205 manual, the current hooded 22, says “ONLY USE A 1 LB (453 G) CYLINDER” and “DO NOT use quick connect fittings or other add-ons.” Blackstone’s store sells a $24.99 adapter hose that “connects 1-pound propane griddles to bulk (20-pound) propane tanks”, and a $64.99 Tabletop Griddle to RV Quick Connect, “Designed to fit the 17” and 22” griddles.” The older 1666 and 1813 manuals do not carry the quick-connect sentence, so the rule got stricter while the accessories kept selling. We are not telling you the hose voids your warranty. The 2205 manual says “modifying this product voids all warranties” and that coverage does not extend to parts not supplied with the griddle, and we cannot tell you how Blackstone reads its own accessory against that. Ask, and keep the answer.

Solo Stove’s manual argues with itself on the exact question. One page says “Safe for use on standard outdoor table surfaces— wood, plastic, tailgates, and more.” A warning on another page says “Place appliance on a heat-resistant and flame-resistant surface while in use.” Solo does not reconcile them. We would follow the warning.

Royal Gourmet reversed itself on the word “tabletop”. Its 2020 manual for the griddle sold as a Portable 3-Burner Tabletop Griddle says “Do not place the griddle on any type of tabletop surface.” The 2022 manual drops that line, keeps “Always place your griddle on a hard and level surface far away from combustibles”, and draws the griddle on a table 24 inches off the floor with the tank on the ground. If your griddle shipped with the older book, that is why it reads strangely.

Nobody tells you how hot the underside gets. That is the number a plastic folding table needs, and no maker we read publishes it. Until one does, put a griddle on metal or stone.

Tailgates. Weber sells the Slate for them, and its guide bars use “in any storage or cargo area of any vehicle”, trucks named. We read that as ruling out the griddle on a dropped tailgate. It does not rule out a stand in a parking lot.

Balconies. Two reviews we read suggest these for apartments, and we would not repeat that. Blackstone’s manuals say “DO NOT use this appliance on or under any apartment or condominium balcony or deck.” In Florida, a Destin fire district notice quotes the state’s fire code barring grills on any balcony in buildings other than one- and two-family homes, with an exception for listed electric tabletop grills. Ask your fire marshal, and read your lease.

The hood is for the drive. On the Blackstones and the Slates, the manual tells you not to cook under the hood or cover, or not for long. An 1813 owner put it well: “why have a cover if you can’t use it when the grill is on?” If you came here looking for a lid to melt cheese, buy a melting dome.

Our garage guide covers the rest of the indoor question. The short answer is still no.

Weber and Blackstone are one company. Blackstone’s own page says the two completed a business combination on May 5, 2025. Their griddles still carry different specs, warranties and rules, so we kept them as separate fighters.

Best overall: Blackstone 1666 22” Tabletop Griddle

Winner

Our top pick

Blackstone 1666 22" Tabletop Griddle

The deepest owner record of these ten, with no hood to carry

Showdown Score™

8.7

Exceptional

Exceptional is 8.5 and up.

Was 9.0 in October 2026

See why it scored 8.7

Scored 2026-10-31

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.1.

Owners6,814 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.7Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-31). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 3%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles4.0Hands-on testGood Housekeeping tested it and recommends it.+1.0Total8.7

Too close to call with the Royal Gourmet PD1301S 24" Tabletop Griddle, which scores 7.8. It holds "Best overall" because it edges ahead on the evidence, by less than our margin of error.

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Two burners and 361 sq in, 4.7★ across 6,814, and no hood. On paper it empties a 1 lb bottle in about an hour at full burn, and the newest critical reviews lead with parts that arrive missing or fail, then weight

Your pick if you cook for three or four, you drive to where you cook, and you want the griddle with the longest record behind it. Bring a heat-proof place to set it: Blackstone's manual asks for one.

4.7 · 6,814 owner ratingsacross Amazon · 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-31

Picked before we checked what this link pays us.

Verified owner · Amazon

“We love this! We bought this version so we could try it out before buying a bigger one, we take this one camping and it’s so convenient and has elevated our camping meals. It is bulky to store and transport but not inconvenient.”

Pro review Good Housekeeping

“The cooktop stands up to the durability and performance of similar full-sized models.”

Best Tabletop. The page's buy links go to this listing, and its card reads 'How it performed in our tests', though the method line names every full-size griddle and prints no figures, so treat it as a lighter test.

Blackstone 1666 22" Tabletop Griddle

The deepest owner record of these ten, with no hood to carry

Your pick if you cook for three or four, you drive to where you cook, and you want the griddle with the longest record behind it. Bring a heat-proof place to set it: Blackstone's manual asks for one.

4.7 · 6,814 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-31

“We love this! We bought this version so we could try it out before buying a bigger one, we take this one camping and it’s so convenient and has elevated our camping meals. It is bulky to store and transport but not inconvenient.”— Maureen, Amazon · Verified owner

Pro review “The cooktop stands up to the durability and performance of similar full-sized models.”Best Tabletop. The page's buy links go to this listing, and its card reads 'How it performed in our tests', though the method line names every full-size griddle and prints no figures, so treat it as a lighter test.— Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping

Pros

• Good Housekeeping's Best Tabletop: its buy link goes to this exact listing
• The deepest base on this page, 86% five-star, with 1,026 written reviews on this exact griddle
• Two burners, so one side can hold while the other cooks
• No hood, so nothing to lift or latch
• Sold and shipped by Amazon.com

Cons

• The heat: about an hour on a 1 lb bottle at full burn by our arithmetic, and one owner on a 20 lb tank calls it way too hot and very hot in the center
• Blackstone's manual says to set it on a heat-resistant and flame-resistant surface, which a plastic folding table is not
• No hood means the plate is open in the truck: a lid is extra
• Blackstone's store search returns nothing for the 1666. Amazon still sells it, labelled a 2024 model

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Parts that arrive missing or fail. Owners also report weight and heat that is hard to turn down.

Of the 10 newest of 203 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-31): 5 parts missing or failed (2 missing, 1 ignition after four years, 1 hinge, 1 warp), 2 weight, 1 heat control, 1 cast-iron confusion, 1 says it is not a Blackstone. The histogram puts 2% of 6,814 ratings at one star. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

This is the griddle we would send most people to, and the reason is the record, not the paper: 4.7★ across 6,814 ratings, with 1,026 written reviews on this griddle alone. Two burners mean eggs on one side and bacon on the other, for about $179. Good Housekeeping named it Best Tabletop. Its page never prints a model number, but its buy links go to this listing. It says “The cooktop stands up to the durability and performance of similar full-sized models.” Its method line covers its full-size griddles and it prints no measurements, so we read that as a lighter test than The Barbecue Lab’s.

The catch. Blackstone’s store search returns nothing for the 1666, and Amazon’s page sells it labelled a 2024 model. The store’s 22 with a hood is the 2205. It runs through a bottle in about an hour at full burn, and its heat is hard to turn down. Its listing says 25.3 lb and Good Housekeeping says 32, so plan on the higher number. It needs a heat-resistant place to sit.

Hood pick: Blackstone 1813 22” Tabletop Griddle with Hood

Blackstone 1813 22" Tabletop Griddle with Hood

The tabletop with the deep record and a hood

Showdown Score™

7.6

Excellent

Excellent is 7.5 to 8.4.

Was 8.1 in October 2026

See why it scored 7.6

Scored 2026-10-30

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.1.

Owners2,832 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.7Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-30). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 4%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles3.9Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yetTotal7.6

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Your pick if you cook for two to four on a patio table or a tailgate and want a hood over the plate. At 38 pounds it travels by car, not by hand.

4.7 · 2,832 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-30

“Really well made. The cast iron was super easy to season, and the burners heat up quickly. The unit is really heavy so it’s harder to travel with”— S., Amazon · Verified owner

Pros

• An integrated hood over the plate between cooks
• A deep base, 84% five-star
• Two zones on a small plate, so one side can hold
• Sold and shipped by Amazon.com

Cons

• Four of the ten newest critical reviews are igniters, gas that will not flow, or a valve that one owner says would not shut the burner off
• One owner measured 500° at the lowest setting after 7 minutes, so eggs are a fight
• One owner reports the surface bowing up in the middle
• Heavy and bulky for camping: one owner wishes they had bought the 17 in

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Burners that will not light or stay controllable. Owners also report heat they cannot turn down, rust and bulk.

Of the 10 newest of 122 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-30): 4 igniter, gas flow or valve, 2 heat control, 2 size and weight, 1 rust by hearsay, 1 general. The histogram puts 4% of 2,832 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-30

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-30

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-30)

Same plate, same burners, with a hood to cover the plate in the truck, for about $219. You pay for that hood in weight: 38 lb. And remember what the hood is. The 1813 manual says not to leave it closed more than 10 minutes while cooking, and the newer 2205 says it must be open. Four of the ten newest critical reviews are igniters, gas flow or a valve.

17-inch pick: Blackstone 1814 17” Griddle with Hood

Blackstone 1814 17" Griddle with Hood

The 17 with the record, and the complaint that comes with 17 inches

Showdown Score™

7.8

Excellent

Excellent is 7.5 to 8.4.

Was 8.2 in October 2026

See why it scored 7.8

Scored 2026-10-31

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.1.

Owners2,200 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.7Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-31). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 4%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles4.1Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yetTotal7.8

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Your pick if you cook for one to three, you want a hood and a long record for under $200, and you can shelter it from wind. Want a hard sear for a crowd? This is the wrong griddle.

4.7 · 2,200 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-31

“Bought this for Father’s Day and it’s been a hit ever since. Light weight, durable, cooks evenly, great for us empty nesters, nonstick surface, and good value. So worth it!”— Ruth, Amazon · Verified owner

Pros

• A deep base, 84% five-star, 346 written reviews on this exact griddle
• A hood over the plate in transport
• About 110 minutes on a 1 lb bottle at full burn by our arithmetic
• Sold and shipped by Amazon.com

Cons

• Five of the ten newest critical reviews say not enough heat, one blaming wind under the griddle
• The hood is for transport: the manual says it must be open or removed when the griddle is in use
• The manual says only a 1 lb cylinder, though an owner complains the 20 lb hose is not in the box
• One owner, at 6 ft 4, calls it bulky, heavy and awkward to carry

What owners complain aboutCapability limit

Not enough heat, most of all in wind or cool air. Owners also report a missing regulator and the weight.

Of the 10 newest of 94 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-31): 5 not enough heat, 1 no 20 lb hose in the box, 1 missing regulator, 1 heavy, 1 spots on the plate, 1 listing says kitchen and the manual says outdoors. The histogram puts 4% of 2,200 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

If you cook for two and want the longest record in the smaller size, this is the one, at about $160. About twice the bottle life of a Blackstone 22 at full burn. The price of that is the top complaint: not enough heat, worst in wind or cool air. One owner’s fix is the one we would use: “When using outside find something to lay up against the sides blocking the wind or you will burn through gas trying to get a mid heat at best.”

Blackstone’s hoodless 17, the 1971, read $169.90 the day we looked, so the hooded griddle is the one to buy.

Carry pick: Pit Boss PB2BGT1 2-Burner Tabletop Griddle

Pit Boss PB2BGT1 2-Burner Tabletop Griddle

Two burners at the weight of a one-burner

Showdown Score™

7.6

Excellent

Excellent is 7.5 to 8.4.

Was 8.0 in October 2026

See why it scored 7.6

Scored 2026-10-31

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.3.

Owners195 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.3Failure record2% of ratings are one or two stars. Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 4%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles4.3Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yetTotal7.6

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Your pick if you want two zones you can actually carry. At 23.2 pounds with a cover in the box, it is the griddle we would take on foot.

4.6 · 195 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-31

“This little fella works wonders. Easy to setup, easy to use and clean. Very happy with the quality of the cooking surface. My only complaint is the adjustable feet are just plastic spin knobs. If you put in on a stainless steel counter it can slide around a little. I ordered a mat to fix this issue. Easy fix but sad they didn't think of that themselves.”— TheGuyDude, Amazon · Verified owner

Pros

• Two burners at 23.2 lb by its manual, the only two-burner griddle here under 25
• A 3 mm plate, a figure we did not find printed for the Blackstones or the Slates
• A 2-year warranty, double Blackstone's
• A cover comes in the box

Cons

• The manual says never connect it to a tank over 1 lb, so there is no big-tank path
• Three of the 8 written critical reviews say it arrived damaged, and a fourth found a part broken
• One owner reports flames that will not stay high, and calls the regulator junk
• Walmart reviewers add a plate food sticks to and a grease path that spills

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Griddles that arrive damaged, with parts or the regulator failing.

All 8 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-31): 3 arrived damaged, 1 part broken in the box, 1 regulator, 1 too big and heavy for a motorhome, 1 good not great, 1 no reason. The histogram puts 2% of 195 ratings at one star. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-31

Also at: Walmart

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

Here is the griddle that takes portable literally. 23.2 lb by its manual with two burners and a cover in the box, about $139, 4.6★ across 195 ratings. The listing says 27.3 lb, which may include the box. Pit Boss prints a 3 mm plate, a figure we did not find for the Blackstones or the Slates, and a 220 to 500°F range. It gets 2 years, with rust excluded unless the griddle loses structural integrity.

The record is thinner than the Blackstones’, and its manual says never connect it to a bigger tank. Three of the 8 written critical reviews say it arrived damaged, and this listing read non-returnable, so open the box and inspect it the day it lands. Walmart reviewers add a plate food sticks to and a grease path that spills. If you carry a griddle more than you cook on it, those are fair trades.

Budget pick: Char-Griller Flat Iron E8217 17” Griddle

Char-Griller Flat Iron E8217 17" Griddle

The one you can actually carry, if you bring a lighter

Showdown Score™

5.6

Good

Good is 5.5 to 6.4.

Was 5.8 in October 2026

See why it scored 5.6

Scored 2026-10-31

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.3.

Owners128 Amazon ratings, read October 20262.7Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-31). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 10%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles2.9Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yetTotal5.6

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Your pick if you want a griddle one person can carry to a campsite for under $130. Pack a lighter: owners say you will want it.

4.4 · 128 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-31

“Good flat iron grill for the money. The burner is a little under sized so it struggles a bit if windy but it seasoned up nicely and cooks well in the center of the grill. Perfect for camping, picnics, or small space cooking.”— Doug, Amazon · Verified owner

Pros

• At 23 lb it is one of the two lightest griddles here
• About 110 minutes on a 1 lb bottle at full burn by our arithmetic
• Free 30-day returns on the listing, where most griddles here are non-returnable
• The price: about $90 on the day we read it

Cons

• Six of the ten newest critical reviews are about the igniter or lighting it
• Its manual says never preheat on high, and one owner says a pack of sausage and two hash browns took over an hour
• Its manual bars use in or on recreational vehicles, and one RV owner says it would not run on a direct hose
• No hood, and the plate is smaller than a Blackstone 22

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

An igniter that stops working, leaving a lighter as the plan.

Of the 10 newest of 15 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-31): 6 igniter or hard to light, 1 slow to cook, 1 no RV direct hose, 1 arrived dented, 1 looked used. The histogram puts 11% of 128 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Free 30-day refund/replacement · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

At about $90 and 23 lb, this is a cheap way into a griddle you can carry. Its listing also offered free 30-day returns, where the Blackstones we read were non-returnable. Six of the ten newest critical reviews are the igniter, so pack a lighter. Char-Griller’s manual says “NEVER PRE-HEAT YOUR GRIDDLE ON HIGH HEAT”, so plan on a slower start than the others.

Big-tank pick: Royal Gourmet PD1301S 24” Tabletop Griddle

Royal Gourmet PD1301S 24" Tabletop Griddle

The cheap way to find out whether you like griddling

Showdown Score™

7.8

Excellent

Excellent is 7.5 to 8.4.

Was 8.5 in October 2026

See why it scored 7.8

Scored 2026-10-30

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.1.

Owners6,741 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.1Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-30). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 7%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles3.7Hands-on testBob Vila tested it and recommends it.+1.0Total7.8

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Sold in 2 colours on this listing: Black & Silver, Red — this card is the Black & Silver. Check the size before you add to cart.

Your pick if you want to try flat-top cooking for about the price of a good pan set, and you can bring a 20 lb tank. Check the hose connection before the first light.

4.5 · 6,741 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-30 · listing-wide base

“The griddle itself is quite heavy and should stand up to a lot of usage. Of course be careful not to use sharp metal utensils on it. The furthest away side gets hotter than the closer side just be aware and cook accordingly.”— The Oracle, Amazon · Verified owner

Pro review “Few tabletop flat-top griddles offer the versatility that Royal Gourmet’s 24-inch gas-powered model does.”Best Portable, tested hands-on (the page reports its test model arriving dented). The page's summary block is marked AI assisted, editor reviewed.— Tony Carrick, Bob Vila

Pros

• A low price with a base in the thousands
• Bob Vila tested it hands-on and named it Best Portable
• At 28 pounds, ten lighter than the Blackstone tabletop
• The top lifts off for cleaning with no tools

Cons

• One owner reports a leak in the propane line just after the connector; soap-test every connection
• Three of the ten newest critical reviews report damage or a cross-threaded part on arrival
• One owner puts the sides at about 75% as hot as the center
• No hood or cover in the box, whatever the voice assistant says

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Damage on arrival, uneven heat and igniters, with one reported leak in the propane line.

Of the 10 newest of 328 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-30): 3 damaged or mis-threaded on arrival, 2 uneven or weak heat, 2 ignition, 1 propane line leak, 1 flaking surface, 1 changed quality. The histogram puts 7% of 6,741 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-30

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by Amazon · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-30

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-30)

Every griddle above fights over the 1 lb bottle. This one sidesteps it. Royal Gourmet builds it for a 20 lb tank, about 17 hours at full burn by our arithmetic, for about $112. Bob Vila named it Best Portable and also said “the coating did not prove to be as nonstick as we hoped.” There is no 1 lb route, so it does not work where you cannot bring a tank. Its 2022 manual draws it 24 inches off the floor, and its 2020 manual barred tabletops altogether.

Testers’ pick: Weber Slate 22” Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle

Weber Slate 22" Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle

Three testers' tabletop pick, and a two-person lift

Showdown Score™

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Not scored yetThe owner ratings is not read yet

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Scored 2026-10-31

Owners67 Weber ratings, read October 2026Not read yetFailure record17% of ratings are one or two stars. Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 17%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles2.7Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yet

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Sold in 2 sizes on this listing: 17 in, 22 in — this card is the 22 in. Check the size before you add to cart.

Your pick if the griddle stays on one table or a stand, and you want what Serious Eats, Food & Wine and Bob Vila picked. Not for carrying alone: Bob Vila calls it better suited to two people.

4.0 · 67 owner ratingsWeber · 2026-10-31 · early data

“Gas won’t get to grill and only used it 3 times. Believe it is regulator and been waiting 4 weeks for it and it still has not shipped. Great when it worked but now an expensive lump if scrap.”— Broy, Weber

Pro review “If you’re a camper, RV owner, or apartment dweller, this tiny, 22-inch flat-top grill may be just what you’re looking for.”The Best Tabletop Outdoor Griddle, hands-on. Weber's and Blackstone's rules on balconies and RVs apply regardless.— Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm and Grace Kelly, Serious Eats

Pros

• Serious Eats' Best Tabletop, Food & Wine's Best Portable and Bob Vila's Best Tabletop on this exact griddle
• The griddle itself is backed 5 years, though the term excludes rust
• Second-smallest wind loss in The Barbecue Lab's fan test, a 102.44° mean difference
• No coating, so metal tools are fine by Weber's page

Cons

• 53.46 lb: Bob Vila says it is better suited for two-person transportation, and Food Network says the weight somewhat defeated the purpose
• Lowest top heat of seven in The Barbecue Lab's test: 448.3° on high after 15 minutes from cold, against Weber's over 500°F
• On Weber's own page 13% of reviews are one-star and half of those who answered recommend it. Gas flow and regulator faults lead the ones we read
• 16,000 BTU over two burners: each burner is weaker than the Slate 17's single one
• Its warranty lapses for damage from salt air or chlorine sources such as swimming pools

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Gas that stops reaching the burners, regulator and igniter faults, and slow parts.

Weber's page shows 9 one-star and 3 two-star of 67. The first 3 one-star and all 3 two-star read 2026-10-31: 2 gas flow or regulator, 1 igniter, 1 undelivered, 1 fit and finish, 1 food sticking despite the pre-season. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

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Sold and shipped by Amazon · Not read · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

Serious Eats, Food & Wine and Bob Vila all named this griddle. The Barbecue Lab found it second-steadiest in wind, with a 102.44° mean difference, and easily the best at holding a low heat, at 289.2°. It is the griddle to choose if you want eggs that do not scorch.

Now the catches. The Barbecue Lab also found it had the lowest top heat of seven, 448.3° after 15 minutes from cold, against Weber’s over 500°F. Bob Vila’s 500 degrees was reached “with its lid down”, which Weber’s guide tells you not to do. At 53.46 lb Bob Vila calls it a two-person job. And owners on Weber’s own page are much cooler than testers: 4.0★ across 67 ratings, nine one-star reviews, and half of those who answered would recommend it, with gas that stops reaching the burners leading the ones we read.

Five-year pick: Weber Slate 17” Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle

Weber Slate 17" Rust-Resistant Tabletop Griddle

A 17 that weighs more than a Blackstone 22

Showdown Score™

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Not scored yetThe owner ratings is not read yet

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Scored 2026-10-31

Owners48 Weber ratings, read October 2026Not read yetFailure record2% of ratings are one or two stars. Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 3%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles4.7Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yet

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Sold in 2 sizes on this listing: 17 in, 22 in — this card is the 17 in. Check the size before you add to cart.

Your pick if you want one griddle on one patio table and the longest paper we read, and you will not be carrying it far. At 42.68 pounds and 28.1 inches wide, a 17 in name only.

4.6 · 48 owner ratingsWeber · 2026-10-31 · early data

“Built well. Greatbsize for cooking for 2 or 3. Doesn't get hot enough and has several cold spots which makes it cook ununiformly.”— Kim W., Weber

Pros

• The griddle itself is backed 5 years, though that term excludes rust
• Owners on Weber's site: 34 five-star, 1 two-star and no one-star of 48, and 80% recommend it among those who answered
• No coating, so metal tools are fine by Weber's page
• Amazon.com sells it at $299, listed after Acme Tools at the same price

Cons

• At 42.68 lb it weighs more than Blackstone's hooded 22, and one owner returned it after a camping trip because it was too much to move
• The cover cannot be closed while cooking, so it is not a lid
• Weber's page says ready to cook out of the box; its guide tells you to season it first
• Owners report cold spots, one saying it does not get hot enough. We found no measured test of this griddle
• Its warranty lapses for damage from salt air or chlorine sources such as swimming pools

What owners complain aboutCapability limit

Weight first, then cold spots and heat.

Weber's page shows no one-star and 1 two-star of 48. All 4 three-star reviews read 2026-10-31: 1 not hot enough with cold spots, 1 flames out, 1 cooks unlike a grill, 1 ratings-only. A Home Depot owner returned it for weight. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

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Sold and shipped by Acme Tools · Not read · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

Weber’s guide backs the griddle 5 years, excluding rust. Blackstone’s term is 1 year, and its 1814AZ and 2205 manuals also list corrosion and rust as not covered. On Weber’s page this 17 reads better than the 22: 4.6★ across 48 ratings, no one-star reviews yet, and 80 percent of those who answered recommend it.

We found no measured test of this griddle anywhere. And it is a 17 in cooking area only. It is 28.1 inches wide and weighs 42.68 lb, 5 pounds more than Blackstone’s hooded 22, and a Home Depot owner sent theirs back after a camping trip: “Moving it in and out of my truck and onto campground picnic tables became more work than I anticipated.” Weber’s guide lists salt air and chlorine sources such as swimming pools among the things that lapse the warranty, so a Florida pool deck is the wrong home for that 5 years.

No-seasoning pick: Solo Stove Steelfire 22” Stainless Griddle

Solo Stove Steelfire 22" Stainless Griddle

Stainless, no seasoning, and last in The Barbecue Lab's wind test

Showdown Score™

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Not scored yetThe owner ratings is not read yet

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Scored 2026-10-31

Owners126 Solo Stove ratings, read October 2026Not read yetFailure recordRead from the owner base. Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 14%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles2.8Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yet

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Your pick if you hate seasoning steel and you cook out of the wind. It is the one griddle here with no oil ritual, and at $400 you are paying for exactly that.

4.9 · 126 owner ratingsSolo Stove · 2026-10-31

“Well built, it was heavier than I expected due to the thick cook top. It is everything I wanted in a 22” griddle.”— Customer, Amazon · Verified owner

Pro review “If I wanted a griddle for tailgating, I would choose the Solo Stove Steelfire 22-inch.”Best Griddle For Tailgating in a seven-griddle measured test. Its 248.54° wind loss is in the same test.— Melissa Gafford, The Barbecue Lab

Pros

• No seasoning, by a stainless top
• First on sear in The Barbecue Lab's field, and its tailgating pick
• Under 40 lb, one of two griddles The Barbecue Lab's helper would move alone
• Bob Vila named it Best Griddle in its portable grill test

Cons

• Lost the most heat of seven in The Barbecue Lab's wind test, a 248.54° mean difference, for a griddle sold for tailgates
• Its 5-year headline is the body and legs: the cooking surface and burners get 1 year
• Its manual says safe on wood and plastic on one page and a heat-resistant surface on another
• On its own Amazon listing it reads 4.2 across 31, with one-star reviews at 10%, against 4.9 on Solo's site
• Smallest grease tray in The Barbecue Lab's field

What owners complain aboutSupport / warranty

Size and weight against the word portable, parts that arrive wrong, and a maker that does not answer.

All 6 written critical reviews on Amazon (read 2026-10-30): 2 heavy or bigger than expected, 1 cover handle split, 1 bracket welded upside down, 1 dirty on arrival, 1 no reply from the company. The histogram puts 14% of 31 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

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Sold and shipped by Solo Stove · 30-day refund/replacement · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

The one griddle here with no oil ritual: a stainless top you wipe clean, about $400. The Barbecue Lab ranked it first on sear and second on even toast, and it is the griddle its helper would carry alone at 38.7 lb.

It also lost the most heat of seven in the wind test, a 248.54° mean difference, with the Charbroil close behind at 241.82° and the Slate 22 far ahead at 102.44°. That is an awkward result for The Barbecue Lab’s tailgating pick. Its 30-inch sibling only dropped 75°, so do not borrow the 30’s reviews for this griddle: WIRED’s Best Portable and Serious Eats’ Not Worth It are both the 30. The headline warranty is 5 years, the cooking surface and burners get 1, and rust is excluded on each. Tom’s Guide also wanted the bigger tank on a long cook: “I was disappointed to find that Solo Stove doesn’t include the adapter for larger tanks”.

SKIP: Blackstone 2363 20” Camping Griddle

Blackstone 2363 20" Camping Griddle

A briefcase with an igniter problem

Showdown Score™

6.5

Good

Very good is 6.5 to 7.4.

Was 6.7 in October 2026

See why it scored 6.5

Scored 2026-10-31

High confidence

High confidence: every part was read on a deep owner base. The margin is ±0.3.

Owners113 Amazon ratings, read October 20263.0Failure recordOf the 10 newest (read 2026-10-31). Weighted across 1 to 3 stars it reads 8%, against about 4% typical for flat-top griddles3.5Hands-on testNo credentialed test yet. A missing test never costs points.None yetTotal6.5

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Your pick if you are buying the briefcase, not the griddle. For $200 it folds up beautifully, and the owners who like it mostly use a lighter or got a good one.

4.5 · 113 owner ratingsAmazon · 2026-10-31

“This is great. Much more compact than the old style camping grills I've used in the past. Easier to pack. Really like cooking over the griddle as opposed to the open flame. It collects all the drippings rather than letting them splatter over the flame guard. Also, no flare-ups!”— Bucko, Amazon · Verified owner

Pros

• Latches shut and carries by a handle
• 26 lb, with leveling feet for uneven ground
• Owners who like it love it: 85% five-star

Cons

• Five of the ten newest critical reviews are the igniter or a weak spark
• Three more are a flimsy hinge or lid
• 7% of ratings are one-star, the highest of the Blackstones here
• No metal tools and no orange scrub pads on the coated plate, and one owner calls it thin and flimsy
• No BTU or cooking area on anything we read for it, so we cannot tell you what a bottle buys

What owners complain aboutDefect reports

Igniters that fail early, and a hinge that does not hold up.

Of the 10 newest of 18 written critical reviews (read 2026-10-31): 5 igniter or spark, 3 hinge, lid or build, 1 sticking, 1 grease tray and loose screws. The histogram puts 8% of 113 ratings at one or two stars. · critical reviews read 2026-10-31

Check price at Amazon →

Sold and shipped by 4Wheel Online · Non-returnable · read 2026-10-31

✓ Safety: no active recallNo active CPSC recall found (checked 2026-10-31)

We wanted to like the briefcase. It latches, it carries by a handle, and it fits a camper. It is also about $200, with a coated plate that bars metal tools and Blackstone’s orange pads, no BTU or cooking area printed, and a tail that repeats itself: “The spark works about 20% of the time.” Five of the ten newest critical reviews are the igniter and three more the hinge or build. Its 7 percent one-star share is the highest of the Blackstones here.

You will notice its Showdown Score sits above the Char-Griller’s. That is fair: on owner evidence alone it is the better griddle. We skip it on the deal. The Char-Griller has the same igniter problem at less than half the money, and its listing offered free 30-day returns. This one read non-returnable, so a dead igniter is yours to keep. If you want a griddle you can carry, the Pit Boss weighs less and prints its numbers.

The ones we held back

• Blackstone 2205 22” with Hood: the current version of the 1813, $219 from Blackstone. On Amazon the first offers are third-party sellers, and Blackstone’s warranty page says the full warranty is not valid from unlicensed third-party resellers. We did not establish whether those sellers are licensed. Buy this one from Blackstone.
• Blackstone 2350 On The Go 22”: 78 lb on legs and wheels. A good griddle and a small cart, not a tabletop.
• Blackstone Walmart model 2224: an Omnivore 22 with hood reading 4.7 across 4,267 ratings at Walmart. We read the listing and not enough of its tail to card it.
• Camp Chef Gridiron Gameday: Good Housekeeping’s tailgating pick and The Barbecue Lab’s hottest griddle at 727.2°, and its last on sear. 29 ratings on Amazon at $299 from a third-party seller, under our 50-rating floor.
• Member’s Mark 22” at Sam’s Club: 4.5 across 782 at $129.98. Sam’s showed shipping out of stock and we could not read its critical reviews.
• Halo Elite1B: The Barbecue Lab’s balcony pick, which we would not repeat. The same 4.6 across 55 shows on Halo’s 1-, 2- and 3-burner listings, so that base is not this griddle’s own.
• CAMPLUX GG301S 17”: 883 ratings on a listing shared with a 3-burner griddle, a stand and a pizza oven, and 30 written reviews on this griddle. That rating is not this griddle’s.
• Cuisinart 17” Tabletop: 45 ratings, 10 percent one-star, and owners saying it does not get hot enough.
• Charbroil 22” Performance Series: 17 ratings on Amazon. The Barbecue Lab tested a Charbroil 22 inch Performer, one of its two one-person carries and last on even heat, and names no model, so we cannot say it is this griddle.

If you decide you want something bigger, our full-size flat-top griddle showdown reads what the warranties cover on the 28s and 36s. If you decide you want grates, the portable propane grill showdown is next door.

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