Broil King Imperial vs Regal: Which Gas Grill Series Is Right for You?
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Time to read 11 min
If you're shopping Broil King and trying to decide between the Imperial and the Regal, you're looking at two of the best gas grills in their price range — built in the same factory, using the same core cooking system, and backed by the same warranty. The difference between them is smaller than most buyers expect, and understanding exactly what you're paying for is the whole point of this comparison.
As an authorized Broil King dealer on Long Island, we've sold and configured both series across hundreds of outdoor kitchen builds. Here's the honest breakdown of what separates the Imperial from Broil King's Regal — and which one is right for your backyard.
Quick Answer
The Broil King Imperial and Regal share the same Dual-Tube™ burners, Flav-R-Wave™ cooking system, BTU output, cooking area, and warranty structure. The Imperial adds three things the Regal doesn't have: reversible cast stainless steel cooking grids, interior oven lights, and a pull-out drawer in the side shelf. That's it. The Regal delivers 95% of the Imperial's performance at a lower price point. The Imperial is for buyers who want the best Broil King offers — the king regal is for buyers who want excellent performance without paying for features they may not use.
Broil King Imperial vs Regal — Full Comparison
Broil King Imperial vs Regal: The Core Differences
Most barbecue comparison content treats the Imperial vs Regal as a major fork in the road. It isn't. Both series use the same patented Dual-Tube™ burners, the same Flav-R-Wave™ flame tamers, the same Sure-Lite™ ignition, the same illuminated Linear-Flow control knobs, and the same lifetime cookbox warranty. The gap between a Regal S590 and an Imperial 590 is cooking grid material, interior lighting, and one storage drawer — nothing that changes how the grill cooks. What it changes is how the grill is finished and how it feels at the premium end of the gas grills market. Whether that difference justifies the price gap is the real question — and the answer depends entirely on how you use it.
Broil King Imperial Series Gas Grills & Regal Series — What Each One Offers
Before getting into the side-by-side comparison, here's a clear picture of what each series is, where it sits in the Broil King lineup, and who it's designed for.
What's the Same vs What's Different
Identical on both series
✓ Dual-Tube™ burners
✓ Flav-R-Wave™ cooking system
✓ BTU output per model
✓ Primary and total cooking area
✓ Sure-Lite™ electronic ignition
✓ Illuminated control knobs
✓ Lifetime cookbox warranty
✓ IR side burner (Pro IR models)
✓ Rotisserie kit included
✓ Made in Huntington, Indiana
Imperial only — not on Regal
★ Reversible cast SS cooking grids
★ Interior oven lights
★ Pull-out drawer in side shelf
Imperial vs Regal: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
The imperial regal debate comes down to a handful of specific differences. Most features are identical across both series — here's exactly what changes and what stays the same.
Broil King Imperial
Broil King Regal
Cooking Grids — The Biggest Difference
Key Upgrade
Imperial — Reversible Cast SS
Heavier mass, better heat retention. Pointed side for sear marks, V-channel side captures juices for continuous basting.
Regal — Solid 9mm SS
Heavy-gauge stainless steel rods. Strong sear marks, rust-proof, dishwasher-safe. Outperforms most grills at this price — but lighter than the Imperial's cast SS grids. The regal was much more thicker gauge steel than most competitors, just not as heavy as cast.
Dual-Tube™ Burners
Same on Both
Imperial — Dual-Tube™ SS Burners
Patented tube-in-tube side-ported design. Two rows of flame per burner, even heat front to back, wind-resistant.
Regal — Dual-Tube™ SS Burners
Identical burner system. Same BTU output per model, same wind resistance, same even heat distribution. No difference between the two series here.
Flav-R-Wave™ Cooking System
Same on Both
Imperial — Flav-R-Wave™
V-shaped SS flame tamers spread heat evenly and vaporize drippings. No flare-ups, barbecue flavor infused back into the food.
Regal — Flav-R-Wave™
Identical system. Same stainless steel construction, same drip vaporization, same heat distribution. The cooking result on both grills is the same.
Interior Oven Lights
Imperial Only
Imperial — Interior Oven Lights
Illuminated lid and cookbox interior. See exactly what's happening on the grill after dark without a flashlight.
Regal — Illuminated Knobs Only
Blue LED backlit control knobs are standard on every Regal. No interior oven lighting — the cookbox interior is unlit.
Rotisserie System
Same on Both
Imperial — 15,000 BTU Rear Burner
15,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner, spit rod, motor, and forks included on all Pro IR models.
Regal — 15,000 BTU Rear Burner
Identical rotisserie setup. Same 15,000 BTU output, same kit included. No difference between the two series.
Infrared Side Sear Burner
Same on Both
Imperial — 10,000 BTU IR Burner
10,000 BTU infrared side burner reaching 1,700°F on all Pro IR models.
Regal — 10,000 BTU IR Burner
Identical IR side burner — same 10,000 BTU output, same 1,700°F max temp, same 9mm SS grate. Some buyers assume the Imperial's is upgraded. It isn't.
Broil King Imperial XL vs Regal XL — What's the Difference?
The same three differences apply at the XL level — cast SS grids, interior oven lights, and the pull-out drawer on the Imperial. BTU output and cooking area are identical at matching model numbers. The Regal S690 and Imperial 690 both feature two totally independent ovens — if you need two independent ovens, you need the 690 regardless of which series you choose. The regal series has more style options at the built-in level, with S420 and S520 heads giving outdoor kitchen builders more flexibility than the Imperial built-in lineup at matching price points.
Propane Gas & Natural Gas — Available on Both
Every Imperial and every Regal model is available in both propane gas (LP) and natural gas (NG) configurations. Confirm your gas connection before ordering — conversion between fuel types requires a conversion kit and is not field-switchable without one.
Which One Should You Buy?
Both the Imperial and Regal are outstanding gas grills — the decision comes down to how you cook, how often you cook, and whether the Imperial's finishing upgrades justify the price difference for your situation.
The Honest Take — From an Authorized Dealer
The reversible cast SS grids and interior oven lights on the Imperial are genuine upgrades that make the grill more capable and more enjoyable to use. But the Regal S590 Pro IR delivers 95% of the Imperial's cooking performance. If you're choosing between the two on cooking results alone, the Regal wins on value every time.
The case for the Imperial is a combination of the grid upgrade, the premium finish, and the interior lighting. If those three things matter to you — and for serious grillers who cook daily, they do — the Imperial is worth the premium. If you're equipping an outdoor kitchen island and your budget is better spent on refrigeration, countertops, or cabinetry, put the Regal in the island and invest the savings elsewhere. We've built hundreds of outdoor kitchens with both — neither decision is wrong.
Buying from an Authorized Dealer
Both the Imperial and Regal are sold at big box retailers and warehouse clubs — but buying from an authorized dealer like BBQ Kitchen Pros means your warranty is registered at point of sale, replacement parts are accessible, and you have a team that knows both grills. Whether it leaves the warehouse on a freight pallet or ships to your door, the difference in what happens after the sale is significant. Call us at 888-678-3530 or use the contact form — we'll help you choose the right series and the right model before you order.
Final Verdict: Imperial vs Regal
Three differences. Everything else is identical. Here's how each series scores across the categories that matter most to buyers.
Cooking Performance
Imperial
★★★★★
Regal
★★★★★
Same burners, same cooking system, same BTU, same cooking area. Identical cooking performance at every model number. The Imperial's cast SS grids add a marginal searing advantage — everything else is a wash.
Build Quality
Imperial
★★★★★
Regal
★★★★☆
The Imperial's reversible cast SS grids, interior oven lights, and pull-out drawer give it a premium finish the Regal doesn't match. Same stainless steel cookbox and construction quality underneath — the Imperial just has more on top.
Value for Money
Imperial
★★★★☆
Regal
★★★★★
The Regal wins here. Same core cooking system at a lower price. If the three Imperial-only features — cast grids, oven lights, drawer — aren't priorities for you, the Regal is the better value every time.
Outdoor Kitchen / Built-In Fit
Imperial
★★★★☆
Regal
★★★★★
The Regal's built-in lineup — S420 and S520 heads — gives outdoor kitchen builders more configuration options at matching price points. If you're dropping a grill head into an island, the Regal built-in is the stronger choice for most builds.
Frequently Asked Questions — Broil King Imperial vs Regal
Is the Broil King Imperial worth the upgrade over the Regal?
For most buyers, the Regal is the better value. The Imperial adds reversible cast SS cooking grids, interior oven lights, and a pull-out side shelf drawer — that's the complete list. If you sear steaks daily, grill after dark regularly, and want the top of the Broil King lineup, the Imperial is worth it. If you grill burgers, chicken, and vegetables most of the time, the Regal's 9mm SS grids and identical cooking system deliver everything you need at a lower price.
What is the main difference between the Broil King Imperial and Regal?
The three differences are: (1) cooking grids — the Imperial uses reversible cast stainless steel, the Regal uses solid 9mm stainless steel rods; (2) interior oven lights — Imperial only; (3) pull-out drawer in the side shelf — Imperial only. BTU output, cooking area, burner system, ignition, Flav-R-Wave cooking system, infrared side burner, rotisserie kit, and warranty are identical on both series at matching model numbers.
Which Broil King has better cooking grids — the Imperial or Regal?
The Imperial's reversible cast stainless steel grids are superior. They're heavier — more mass means better heat retention when cold protein hits the surface — and the reversible design gives you a pointed side for sear marks and a grooved V-channel side that captures juices for continuous basting. The Regal's 9mm solid SS grids are excellent and outperform most competitors at the same price, but the Imperial's cast grids are a step up in searing performance for serious grillers.
Does the Broil King Regal come in a built-in model?
Yes. Broil King offers the Regal S420 and S520 as built-in grill heads — designed to drop into outdoor kitchen island cutouts. The S420 is a 4-burner head at 44,000 BTU, the S520 is a 5-burner head at 55,000 BTU. Both use the same Dual-Tube™ burners, Flav-R-Wave™ system, and 9mm SS cooking grids as the freestanding models. Note that built-in Regal models do not include a rear rotisserie burner or rotisserie kit. The Imperial also offers built-in configurations — the Regal built-in lineup has more size options at matching price points.
How does the Broil King Regal 690 compare to the Imperial 690?
Both the Regal S690 and Imperial 690 are 6-burner, 60,000 BTU grills with two totally independent ovens, a 15,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner, 10,000 BTU infrared side burner, and the extended 15-year burner warranty. The S690 has 1,030 sq in total cooking space, the Imperial 690 has 1,000 sq in. The differences are the same as at every other model number — the Imperial 690 adds reversible cast SS grids, interior oven lights in both ovens, and the pull-out side shelf drawer. If you need two independent ovens and want the full flagship package, the Imperial 690 is the top of the Broil King lineup. If you want the same dual-oven capability at a lower price, the Regal S690 is the call.