Four burners is the sweet spot for most backyards, and it is also where the spec sheet starts lying to you. A 4-burner propane gas grill can mean anything from a thin-lidded cart that struggles to hold 350 on a windy evening to a stainless workhorse whose burner layout keeps two dozen burgers finishing at roughly the same time. The gap between those two grills is rarely about BTU. It is burner shape, grate material, cart rigidity, lid fit, and whether the side burner is a real cooking zone or a decoration.
This guide compares six currently listed grills that span that range: two Broil King Crown S models, two Monument Grills, a Char-Broil TRU-Infrared three-in-one, and a budget cabinet-style three-burner. Every card below is tied to one specific listing, so you can confirm details and current pricing before you commit. The sections after the grid explain what actually separates these grills, which differences matter for a normal week of cooking, and which ones you can safely ignore.
Related: How to Choose a Gas Grill That Holds Temperature
Quick answer
The Broil King 865364 Crown S 440 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill in Stainless Steel with Side Burner is the strongest fit for most backyard cooks because it pairs a four-burner propane body and stainless steel construction with a side burner, in a size that suits a normal patio. Choose the Broil King 865387 Crown S 490 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill with Side Burner and Rear Rotisserie Burner instead when you already have a natural gas line and want a rear rotisserie burner built into the same layout.
4-burner gas grills worth comparing
Broil King 865364 Crown S 440 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill in Stainless Steel with Side Burner
A four-burner propane grill in stainless steel with a side burner, sized for a full main grate plus a dedicated zone for sauces, sides, and searing.
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Broil King 865387 Crown S 490 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill with Side Burner and Rear Rotisserie Burner in Stainless Steel
The natural gas version of the Crown S layout, with four burners, a side burner, and a rear rotisserie burner for turning a whole chicken or roast on the spit.
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Monument Grills Denali Series, Denali 405 4-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Smart bbq Grill Stainless Steel with Rotisserie Kit(2 items)
A liquid propane smart grill in the Denali series, stainless steel, with four burners and a rotisserie kit included in the package.
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Monument Grills Larger 4-Burner Propane Gas Grills Stainless Steel with Rotisserie Kit(2 Items)
A larger four-burner propane grill in stainless steel, sold with a rotisserie kit, aimed at cooks who regularly feed a crowd.
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Charbroil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker, Roaster & Gas Grill, Black - 14101550
A three-in-one design that covers smoker, roaster, and gas grill duty in one unit, using TRU-Infrared cooking instead of a standard burner-under-grate setup.
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3 Burner Propane Gas Grill, 39,000 BTU Outdoor BBQ Grill with Side Burner and Cast Iron Grates, Cabinet Style Storage Gas Barbecue Grill for Backyard Patio
A three-burner propane grill rated at 39,000 BTU with a side burner, cast iron grates, and cabinet-style storage built into the cart.
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How these products were compared
This guide compares fuel type, burner count and layout, cooking surface construction, included accessories such as side burners and rotisserie kits, and cart and storage design. Product names, images, and retailer links are matched to the same listing so that every card points to the product shown.
Nothing here is presented as a timed cook test. The differences come from the published product descriptions and from what those descriptions imply about normal use. Where a listing does not state a detail, this guide does not invent one to fill the gap. Confirm the specifics on the retailer page before buying, and pay closest attention to fuel type, because a natural gas grill and a propane grill can look nearly identical in a product photo.
How to choose the right gas grill
Start with fuel, because it is the one decision you cannot undo cheaply. A propane grill runs off a tank you refill or swap, which means you can move it, take it to a rental, or roll it into the garage for a storm. A natural gas grill needs a permanent line and a shutoff, and once it is connected, you never think about fuel again. If your house already has a stub at the patio, the natural gas version of a grill you like is usually the better long-term purchase. If not, propane keeps your options open.
Next, look at burner count and grate size together. Four burners on a compact body gives you tighter heat zones and more control, while four burners on a wide body gives you room for two-zone cooking plus a holding area. Three burners is plenty for a household of two to four people, especially with a side burner handling sauces. Cast iron grates hold heat well and reward a light oiling after each cook; stainless grates resist rust and clean up faster. Neither is automatically better, but the material tells you what the maintenance routine will look like.
Then decide which accessories you will actually use. A side burner is worth it if you fry, boil, or finish vegetables outdoors, and it is dead weight if you never will. A rotisserie kit or a rear rotisserie burner matters if whole chickens and roasts are in your rotation, since that burner placement cooks by radiant heat from behind rather than from underneath. Storage design is the quiet one: a cabinet hides the tank and tools but traps moisture, while an open cart dries faster and is easier to hose out. If you are still sorting out how much grill you need, our guide to choosing a gas grill that holds temperature walks through the lid and body details that separate a stable cooker from a lid on a fire pit.
Broil King 865364 Crown S 440 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
The Crown S 440 is a four-burner propane grill built in stainless steel with a side burner, and it lands in the size range that fits a standard patio without dominating it. The four-burner layout is the appeal here: it lets you run a hot zone on one side, a moderate zone in the middle, and a low holding area on the far side, which is how you cook a mixed load of burgers, vegetables, and chicken without shuffling everything to the middle of the grate. The side burner adds a fifth cooking position for a saucepan or a skillet, and stainless construction makes the exterior easier to wipe down after a greasy cook.
The trade-off is straightforward. This model runs on propane, so you are buying tanks or refills, and it does not include a rear rotisserie burner, which means whole birds and roasts go on the grate or on a spit over the main burners rather than in front of a dedicated back burner. If you want the same layout with a permanent fuel line and a rear rotisserie burner, that is exactly what the natural gas Crown S 490 offers, and it is the reason both models appear in this guide rather than just one.
Alternatives to consider
The Broil King 865387 Crown S 490 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill is better suited to a house with an existing gas line, since it adds a rear rotisserie burner to the same four-burner stainless layout and removes refueling from your routine. The Monument Grills Denali 405 4-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Smart Grill is a stronger fit when you want a connected grill with app-based monitoring and a rotisserie kit included, and you are comfortable cooking on propane.
The Monument Grills Larger 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill covers larger gatherings, with a bigger stainless body and a rotisserie kit in the box for cooks who host often. The Charbroil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 covers a different job entirely, since it works as a smoker, a roaster, and a gas grill, which suits someone who wants one unit for low-and-slow and quick weeknight cooking. The 3 Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner and Cast Iron Grates covers the value end: three burners, cast iron grates, cabinet storage, and a smaller footprint for balconies, small patios, and first-time buyers.
Day-to-day use and maintenance
Gas grills live or die on small habits. Run the burners on high for ten to fifteen minutes with the lid closed before you scrape the grates, which loosens residue and lets you see how evenly the grate heats across its width. After the cook, burn off the grease, then brush the grates while they are still warm. Cast iron gets a thin coat of oil after cleaning to keep the surface from rusting. Stainless and painted steel exteriors want a wipe with warm soapy water rather than an abrasive pad, which scratches the finish and invites corrosion at the scratch.
A cover is the cheapest longevity upgrade you can buy, and it matters more in humid climates than dry ones. Check the burner tubes and the gas connections at the start of the season, and do a soapy-water leak check on the hose and regulator connections any time you swap a tank. Propane tanks belong outdoors, upright, and never in a hot car or a closed garage. Store the grill where it can dry out, and if the cart has a cabinet, leave the doors open after a wash so moisture does not sit inside.
One safety point that is not negotiable: never operate a propane or natural gas grill indoors, in a garage, under a low overhang, or anywhere exhaust can collect. Carbon monoxide has no smell and no warning, and a grill that is perfectly safe on an open patio is dangerous in an enclosed space. Keep the lid open when lighting, follow the manufacturer's lighting sequence in the manual, and if a burner will not light after two attempts, shut the gas off and wait before trying again.
Buying checklist
- Measure your patio or deck space, plus clearance behind and above the grill for the lid and for heat.
- Choose propane or natural gas based on what your home can actually supply, not on what is on sale.
- Pick the burner count and grate size that match how many people you normally cook for, not your largest party of the year.
- Confirm that the exact model includes the features you want, such as a side burner, a rotisserie kit, or a rear rotisserie burner.
- Check the grate material, since cast iron and stainless steel ask for different cleaning routines.
- Read the cleaning, storage, and lighting instructions in the manual before the first cook.
- Verify the current retailer price, availability, and return terms before you order.
Final recommendation
Choose the Broil King 865364 Crown S 440 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill in Stainless Steel with Side Burner when you want a four-burner stainless grill with a side burner, you cook on propane, and you would rather spend on burner layout and body construction than on a rotisserie you may not use. Choose the Broil King 865387 Crown S 490 4-Burner Natural Gas Grill when you have a gas line available and want the rear rotisserie burner in the same package. If budget or patio size is the deciding factor, the three-burner cabinet model is the sensible starting point, and if you want one unit that also smokes and roasts, the Char-Broil three-in-one is the one to look at. Confirm the current price and the exact configuration on the retailer page before you buy, since accessories and fuel type vary by listing.