AOG vs Fire Magic Grills: Which Built-In Grill Should You Buy?
By Matthew Jackson, BBQ Kitchen Pros · We sell, design and install AOG and Fire Magic grills · Prices checked November 4, 2026
Our verdict
Both brands are built by RH Peterson Co. in City of Industry, California, and both use 304 stainless steel and Diamond Sear cooking grids. Choose American Outdoor Grill (AOG) to save money: the T-Series starts at $2,831.40 and needs no electricity. Choose Fire Magic for more burner power, cast burners on Aurora and Echelon, and a longer warranty on grids and valves. At 36 inches, the AOG L-Series is $4,477.50 and the closest Fire Magic, the Choice C650i, is $4,787.10.
✓AOG wins on: price, a no-power T-Series, an included infrared rotisserie on the L-Series, a 6-color LED light bar and a 2-year warranty on ignition and electronics.
✓Fire Magic wins on: BTUs, cast stainless burners, lifetime cooking grids, 15-year valves, larger sizes up to 48 inches and digital controls on Echelon.
Dealer review · American Outdoor Grill · 2026
B+
Our rating
A well-built, American made grill that covers the basics for less. You give up burner power and some warranty length.
Build qualityA-
Cooking performanceB+
FeaturesB+
WarrantyB
Ease of installA
ValueA
L-Series and T-Series · 24″, 30″, 36″ · 32,000 to 50,000 BTU · 304 stainless · from $2,831.40
VS
Dealer review · Fire Magic · 2026
A-
Our rating
Heavier burners, more power and the strongest warranty of the two. You pay more up front, and options add up.
Build qualityA+
Cooking performanceA
FeaturesA-
WarrantyA+
Ease of installB
ValueB
Choice, Aurora, Echelon Diamond · 24″ to 48″ · 46,000 to 112,000 BTU · 304 stainless · from $3,812.40
In this comparison
Who Makes AOG and Fire Magic?
Both are made by RH Peterson Co. The company started with Real Fyre gas logs after founder Bob Peterson came up with the idea in 1949, bought Fire Magic in 1982 and also builds American Outdoor Grill. Our AOG product listings state the 2026 L-Series and T-Series are engineered, fabricated and assembled at RH Peterson's facility in City of Industry, California, and Fire Magic says its products are crafted in the U.S. So this is not a choice between an American made grill and an import. It is a choice between two price tiers from the same maker: AOG is the value line, and Fire Magic is the luxury line with Choice, Aurora and Echelon Diamond. For AOG on its own, read our American Outdoor Grill review, and see every US-built brand in our made in USA grills guide.
The Lineups Side by Side
AOG makes two built-in gas grill series in three sizes. Fire Magic makes three series from 24 to 48 inches. Here is how the 36-inch grills line up, shown at the same scale, from the lowest price to the highest.
Every series at 36 inches
AOG T
36″
$3,384.90
AOG L
36″
$4,477.50
Choice
36″
$4,787.10
Aurora
36″
$6,985.80
Echelon
36″
$8,694.90
All five at the same scale. Fire Magic grill heads stand taller; their cutouts are 11 1/2 inches high, compared with 8 1/2 for AOG.
AOG T-Series 36 →AOG L-Series 36 →Choice C650i →Aurora A790i →Echelon E790i →
AOG L-Series: The Feature Pick
AOG L-Series built-in sizes
Shown at the same scale as the T-Series row below.
Best features
✓Infrared rotisserie backburner and rotisserie kit included: 10,000 BTU on the 24, 12,000 on the 30 and 36
✓Halogen lights inside the hood and a 6-color LED light bar with a remote
✓Spring-assisted hood and Flame Thrower ignition
✓Black or white accent panel options
Things to consider
•Needs a 120V, 20 amp connection
•50,000 BTUs at 36 inches, compared with 69,000 on the Fire Magic Choice C650i
•Cooking grids are covered for 15 years rather than life
Who it is for
Buyers who want rotisserie, lights and a bit of style for the island at a price below most Fire Magic grills.
AOG T-Series: The No-Power Pick
AOG T-Series built-in sizes
Shown at the same scale as the L-Series row above.
Best features
✓The lowest prices here, from $2,831.40
✓Piezo turn-to-light ignition that needs no electricity or batteries
✓Same burners, Diamond Sear grids, vaporizer panels and spring-assisted hood as the L-Series
Things to consider
•No lights and no backburner; a rotisserie kit is sold separately
•Same 50,000 BTU ceiling at 36 inches as the L-Series
Who it is for
Islands with no power run, rentals and budget builds that still want 304 stainless and an American made grill.
Fire Magic Choice, Aurora and Echelon
Fire Magic's Choice series is the closest match to AOG: stainless U-shaped burners, turn-to-light ignition that needs no power and Diamond Sear grids, from $3,812.40. Aurora moves to 1/4-inch thick cast stainless burners, hot surface ignition, hood lights and optional rotisserie and sear burners. Echelon Diamond adds an included infrared rotisserie backburner, a digital thermometer option and a 48-inch size. See our Fire Magic grill review and Echelon review for each series in depth.
Prices by Model and Size
Starting prices for every built-in gas grill in both lineups, by width.
Prices on bbqkitchenpros.com, checked November 4, 2026. The Aurora A540i is also offered at 30 inches from $5,732.86. Options such as rotisserie, Magic View windows and digital thermometers raise Fire Magic prices.
What the gap buys. At 36 inches, moving from the AOG L-Series to the Fire Magic Choice C650i costs $309.60 and adds 19,000 BTUs on the same 648 square inches, but you lose the L-Series rotisserie and lights. Moving to the Aurora A790i costs $2,508.30 more than the L-Series and gets you cast burners, 90,000 BTUs and 792 square inches.
Head to Head at 36 Inches
Specs from the product listings on bbqkitchenpros.com.
Shop AOG T36 →Shop AOG L36 →Shop Choice C650i →Shop Aurora A790i →Shop Echelon E790i →
Where the Grills Differ
Both brands share 304 stainless construction and Diamond Sear grids. The cooking features below are where AOG and Fire Magic part ways.
Burners
VS
✓What it means for you: Both carry lifetime burner coverage. Fire Magic puts out more heat at every size, which shows when you sear thick steaks or cook on a cold day.
Heat distribution
VS
✓What it means for you: Both cut flare-ups and add smoke flavor. Fire Magic covers this part for longer.
Rotisserie backburner
VS
✓What it means for you: If rotisserie matters, the AOG L-Series is the least expensive way to get it included between these two brands, from $3,716.10.
Lights and ignition
VS
✓What it means for you: Pick the AOG T-Series or Fire Magic Choice if your island has no outlet. Pick the AOG L-Series if you want color lighting.
Warranty Compared
From the AOG and Fire Magic warranty terms on our product pages. Multi-user AOG installs carry shorter coverage.
What Reviewers and Owners Say
AmazingRibs on the AOG 36: Its 2012 review, which covers an earlier AOG generation, gave the grill a Gold Medal and described Fire Magic-level stainless steel construction at a lower price, with U-burners that reach over 800°F. The same review notes Fire Magic's heavier cast E-burners can exceed 1,000°F.
Pitmaster Club owner, 2017: A member choosing between a 24-inch Fire Magic Aurora and a 24-inch AOG for cooking for two to six people bought the AOG. His reasons: it cost about $1,000 to $1,200 less, arrived faster, and in his view burners rarely fail while ignition parts do.
Where the extra money for Fire Magic pays off: cooking for crowds, searing thick cuts often, or a luxury backyard kitchen meant to last decades, where the extra heat and longer grid and valve coverage matter most.
Freestanding Grills
Both brands sell their grills on stainless carts for patios and decks without an island, so you can start grilling now and build later. AOG carts start at $4,310.10 for the T-Series 24, which needs no power, and the L-Series carts add the rotisserie and lights. Fire Magic offers the Choice C430s on a patio post from $5,016.60 and carts from $9,486.90 for the Aurora A790i. AOG also sells pre-built BBQ islands, such as the 36-inch Contemporary Grill Island with an L-Series grill from $8,841.60.
AOG Freestanding Grills
AOG T-Series carts, shown at the same height so you can compare widths. No electricity needed.
Shop T-Series 24 cart →Shop T-Series 30 cart →Shop T-Series 36 cart →
AOG L-Series carts, shown at the same height. LED light bar included; needs a 120V outlet.
Shop L-Series 24 cart →Shop L-Series 30 cart →Shop L-Series 36 cart →
Fire Magic Freestanding Grills
Choice C430s post
$5,016.60
Aurora A790i cart
$9,486.90
Echelon E660i cart
$10,203.84
Echelon E790i cart
$11,196.00
Fire Magic patio post and carts, shown at the same height.
Shop Choice C430s →Shop Aurora A790i cart →Shop Echelon E660i cart →Shop Echelon E790i cart →
Cutouts and Installation
The cutouts are not interchangeable. Fire Magic grills need a taller 11 1/2 inch opening, and Aurora and Echelon 36-inch models need 4 more inches of depth than AOG, so switching brands later means rebuilding the opening. If the countertop overhangs the cabinet, AOG needs a wider notch for the control panel: 28 1/2, 34 1/2 or 40 3/4 inches. In a combustible island, both brands require an insulating liner, which AOG sells from $944.01 for the 24-inch grill.
Which Should You Buy?
AOG T-Series
No outlet at the island, a tight budget or a rental. Real 304 stainless and Diamond Sear grids from $2,831.40.
AOG L-Series
You want rotisserie, hood lights and LED accent lighting included, for less than Fire Magic.
Fire Magic Choice
You want more BTUs and lifetime grids with no power needed, and can skip rotisserie and lights.
Fire Magic Aurora or Echelon
You are building a luxury outdoor kitchen to keep for decades and want cast burners, more power and the longest warranty.
Pros and Cons
American Outdoor Grill
Pros
- ✓Lowest prices of the two brands
- ✓T-Series needs no electricity
- ✓L-Series includes rotisserie, lights and LED bar
- ✓2-year coverage on ignition and electronics
- ✓Made in City of Industry, California
Cons
- •50,000 BTU maximum at 36 inches
- •Tubular rather than cast burners
- •Grids covered for 15 years, valves for 10
- •No size above 36 inches
Fire Magic
Pros
- ✓More BTUs at every size
- ✓Cast stainless burners on Aurora and Echelon
- ✓Lifetime grids and 15-year valves
- ✓Sizes up to 48 inches
- ✓Digital thermometer option on Echelon
Cons
- •Higher prices, and options add more
- •Aurora and Echelon need an outlet
- •Ignition and electronics covered for 1 year
- •Choice has no rotisserie or lights
Ready to shop?
For the best price with rotisserie and lights, start with the AOG L-Series 36. For a long-term luxury outdoor kitchen, start with the Fire Magic Aurora A790i. No outlet at the island? Look at the AOG T-Series or Fire Magic Choice.
Questions Owners Ask
Is AOG made by Fire Magic?
AOG and Fire Magic are both made by RH Peterson Co. AOG is the lower-priced line, and Fire Magic is the luxury line with Choice, Aurora and Echelon Diamond.
Are AOG grills made in the USA?
Yes. The 2026 AOG L-Series and T-Series are engineered, fabricated and assembled at RH Peterson's facility in City of Industry, California. Fire Magic grills are also made in the USA.
Is AOG a good grill?
Yes for the price. AOG uses 304 stainless steel, Diamond Sear grids and lifetime-warranted burners and housing. It has less burner power and shorter grid and valve coverage than Fire Magic.
Is Fire Magic better than AOG?
Fire Magic has more BTUs at every size, cast burners on Aurora and Echelon, lifetime grids and 15-year valves. AOG costs less, offers a no-power T-Series and covers ignition and electronics for 2 years instead of 1.
What is the difference between AOG L-Series and T-Series?
Both use the same burners, grids and vaporizer panels. The L-Series adds an infrared rotisserie backburner and kit, halogen lights and a 6-color LED light bar, and needs 120V power. The T-Series needs no electricity.
Can an AOG grill replace a Fire Magic in the same cutout?
Not without changes. AOG 36-inch grills need a 36 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch opening, while the Fire Magic A790i and E790i need 37 x 23 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches.
Which is better, AOG L-Series or Fire Magic Choice?
At 36 inches, the Choice C650i costs $309.60 more and adds 19,000 BTUs and lifetime grids, with no power needed. The AOG L-Series adds an infrared rotisserie, hood lights and an LED light bar.
