Grills and Griddles
What Size Grill for a Party of 20? About 800 Square Inches
Quick answer
Twenty guests cooked in two rounds need about 800 square inches of primary cooking area, which is a large 5 or 6-burner grill. Cooking for all twenty at once needs about 1,600 square inches, which is why most hosts pair a 4-burner grill with a 36 inch griddle instead.
Twenty people is the point where a single grill stops being the obvious answer. Even cooking in rounds you need about 800 square inches of primary grate, which puts you in six-burner or built-in territory, and cooking all at once needs roughly double that, which no freestanding cart grill in our catalog provides.
Run the numbers both ways in the grill size calculator, then decide whether you are buying one large grill or two cooking surfaces.
On this page
What size grill do I need for a party of 20?
| How you cook | Area needed | Burners | Practical setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two rounds, the usual way | 800 sq in | 4 to 5 | A large 5 or 6-burner, or a 4-burner plus a griddle |
| Three rounds, relaxed pace | 533 sq in | 3 to 4 | A 4 or 5-burner grill on its own |
| Everything at once | 1,600 sq in | 5 to 6 plus a second surface | A 6-burner plus a 36 in griddle |
| Burgers and dogs only, in rounds | 640 sq in | 4 to 5 | A 5-burner, or a 36 in griddle alone |
Based on 80 square inches per person, divided by the number of rounds you are willing to cook. Primary cooking area is the grate directly over the burners. Warming racks add to a total area figure but run cooler and do not count toward the numbers here.
How much food does a party of 20 need?
| Item | Space each | Twenty guests need | Fits on 750 sq in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in burger patty, one each | 25 sq in | 500 sq in | 30 |
| Hot dog, one each | 8 sq in | 160 sq in | 93 |
| Boneless chicken breast, one each | 30 sq in | 600 sq in | 25 |
| 12 oz steak, one each | 45 sq in | 900 sq in | 16 |
| Corn on the cob, one each | 16 sq in | 320 sq in | 46 |
A 750 square inch grill cooks 30 burgers in one go, so a burger cookout for twenty is a single round. Steaks for twenty need 900 square inches, which is two rounds even on the largest grill here.
Which grills are big enough for twenty people?
| Model | Type | Cooking area | Burners | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broil King Regal S 690 Pro IR Gas Grill (Propane) | Freestanding grill | 750 sq in primary, 1,150 total | 6 | $2,699.00 |
| Lion L90000 40 in. Built-In Grill with Rear Infrared Burner (Propane) | Built-in grill head | 802 sq in primary | Not published | $2,599.00 |
| Weber Summit FS38 E Gas Grill (Propane) | Freestanding grill | Not published | Not published | $3,899.00 |
| Broil King Baron 520 Pro Gas Grill (Propane) | Freestanding grill | 570 sq in primary, 780 total | 5 | $1,174.00 |
| Blackstone 36 in. Original Griddle with Built-in Hood | 36 in griddle | 768 sq in | 4 | $539.99 |
| Nexgrill Daytona 4-Burner Gas Griddle | 36 in griddle | 756 sq in | 4 | $399.77 |
Cooking areas are the manufacturers' published figures from our catalog. Where a maker does not publish a primary area, the table says so rather than estimating one.
Is one big grill or a grill plus a griddle better?
Two surfaces usually win at this size, for three reasons. Capacity: a 4-burner grill of about 500 square inches plus a 36 inch griddle at 768 gives you 1,268 square inches, well beyond any single cart grill. Speed: two people can cook at once, which halves the wall-clock time for a crowd. Cost: the pair often lands below the price of a premium six-burner.
The single-grill argument is simpler storage, one cover and one cleaning routine, and better results for thick steaks and bone-in chicken, which is exactly what a griddle is worst at. If you go that way, the Broil King Regal S 690 Pro IR Gas Grill (Propane) is the catalog's biggest cart. If you go the pair route, add the Blackstone 36 in. Original Griddle with Built-in Hood to whatever grill you own; the comparison is in griddle vs gas grill and the griddle sizing is in griddle size for a party of 12.
Smokers and pellet grills are a different tool for a different job, and they are covered at smokercalc.com rather than here.
Which setups should I buy for parties of twenty?
One large grill, or a mid-size grill plus a 36 inch griddle. Built-in options are in the best built-in grills.
Broil King Regal S 690 Pro IR Gas Grill (Propane)
$2,699.00750 square inches of primary area and 1,150 total across six burners, with a side burner, sear burner and rotisserie. Thirty burgers go on at once, so a burger cookout for twenty is one round.
Best for: hosts who want one grill to do everything
Check price on Amazon
Blackstone 36 in. Original Griddle with Built-in Hood
$539.99768 square inches of flat top with four zones and a hood. Nothing falls through, so patties, onions and peppers can be packed edge to edge for a crowd.
Best for: pairing with a grill you already own
Check price on Amazon
Broil King Baron 520 Pro Gas Grill (Propane)
$1,174.00570 square inches of primary and 780 total across five burners at a fraction of flagship pricing, which covers twenty guests in three relaxed rounds.
Best for: a few big parties a year
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Lion L90000 40 in. Built-In Grill with Rear Infrared Burner (Propane)
$2,599.00802 square inches of primary area in a 40 inch built-in head with a rear infrared burner, the largest cooking area in the catalog, for an island built for crowds.
Best for: an outdoor kitchen rather than a cart
Check price on Amazon
Flame King YSN230 20 lb Propane Tank with Gauge
$69.99A spare 20 lb tank with a gauge. A six-burner grill running for hours is exactly the situation where a tank empties mid-party.
Best for: large propane cookouts
Check price on AmazonHow we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
What size grill do I need for 20 people?
About 800 square inches of primary cooking area cooking in two rounds, or roughly 1,600 if everything must be ready at once. The largest freestanding grill in our catalog gives 750 square inches of primary area, which covers a burger cookout for twenty in a single round at 25 square inches per patty, or steaks in two.
Can one grill feed 20 people?
Yes, if you cook in rounds and pick the food to suit. Burgers and hot dogs pack tightly, so 750 square inches handles thirty patties at once. Steaks at 45 square inches each need 900 square inches for twenty, which means two rounds on any cart grill. Keeping one burner off as a holding zone is what stops the first round going cold.
Should I rent a grill for a big party?
For a once-a-year event it can beat buying a six-burner you will not otherwise use. Compare the rental cost against adding a 36 inch griddle to the grill you own, since the griddle gives 768 square inches permanently and gets used for weekend breakfasts the rest of the year. Renting makes most sense when you need capacity once and have nowhere to store it.
How do I keep food hot for a crowd?
Use the grill as a holding area rather than a serving line. Leave one or two burners off, keep finished food on that section or the warming rack with the lid down, and pull each round only when the next is nearly ready. Foil pans over a low burner also work for burgers and sausages, and a side burner keeps sauces and beans hot off the grate.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.