Freestanding or Built-In Combo Grills
If you run off a portable LP tank, you are usually shopping freestanding: these sit on a cart with tank storage and roll where you need them. Built-in models drop into an island cutout and suit a natural gas line.
- Coyote Centaur 50″ freestanding: from $6,298. The cart has a slide-out tank holder, two drawers and folding side shelves.
- American Made Grills Encore 36″ and Muscle 36″: $14,817.72 each, with gas storage, soft-close drawers and a cutting board.
- American Made Grills Encore 54″ and Muscle 54″: $18,482 each, eight burners and 176,000 BTU.
- Sunstone 30″: $3,873. Sunstone 42″ Dual Zone: $6,185.
- Coyote Centaur 50″ built-in: $4,899, cutout 47¾″ wide.
- Fire Magic Aurora A830I: $7,801.20, or $8,397 with rotisserie.
- American Made Grills Encore and Muscle 36″: $10,158.72. The 54″ versions: $12,760.
How a Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo Works
There are two designs. On a side-by-side model, one side is a gas grill and the other has its own grate and tray, so gas grilling and charcoal grilling can run at the same time. The Coyote Centaur pairs two burners with a hand-crank tray and a pull-out drawer; the A830I adds a 26,000 BTU igniter burner under its tray to light the coals.
On the American Made Grills and Sunstone models, the burners sit under trays that hold charcoal or wood. Run them alone like a multi-burner gas grill, or use them to light the fuel above. Either way you get one hood line and one set of controls.
What to Compare: Grilling Area, Trays and Griddle
- Power and area per fuel. Compare BTU and square inches for each zone, not just the total. Sunstone lists 500°F on the burners alone and 800°F with coals added.
- Tray height. Coyote and the A830I use a crank; Sunstone trays adjust 7″. That is how you control heat on the charcoal side.
- Fuel loading and ash. Look for a pull-out drawer or tray so you can add fuel mid-cook and clean up afterward.
- Stainless and extras. All of these use 304 stainless. American Made Grills includes a griddle and rotisserie; Sunstone includes a smoker box and griddle insert.
- Warranty. American Made Grills and Sunstone list lifetime coverage. Check each product page for the details.
Eight of the grills here come from American Made Grills; the rest are from Coyote, Fire Magic and Sunstone. For real-world performance, read our American Made Grills review and the pros and cons of hybrid grills.
One Combo or Two Separate Grills?
| Setup | Price | Cutout width |
|---|
| Coyote Centaur 50″ combo | $4,899 | 47¾″, one opening |
| Coyote SL Series 30″ + Coyote 36″ charcoal | $3,099 + $2,729 = $5,828 | 25″ + 32½″, two openings |
Built-in, at our prices. The gas grill combo saves $929 and about 10″ of counter, and you frame one opening. Two full-size BBQ grills give you more area on each fuel, which matters for big groups on both at once.
Propane Combo Questions
Is there a BBQ that is both charcoal and gas?
Yes. Every BBQ grill in this collection runs on gas and on charcoal or wood. Some put the two zones side by side, like the Coyote Centaur and the A830I; others run burners under fuel trays, like American Made Grills and Sunstone.
Are gas and charcoal combo grills good?
They are a good fit if you use both fuels, since you get both from one footprint. The trade-offs are less area per fuel than two full-size grills, plus grease and ash to clean.
What is the best charcoal and gas combo grill?
It depends on your setup. The Coyote Centaur is the lowest-priced side-by-side model here ($4,899 built-in, $6,298 freestanding). American Made Grills takes lump, briquettes or wood chunks and includes a rotisserie and griddle. The A830I gives each zone its own hood.
Can you grill with charcoal on a propane grill?
Not in a standard burner box unless the maker sells a solid-fuel insert for it. The Alfresco SFI-POD ($862) turns one section of an Alfresco ALXE or AIPG into a wood or coal zone. Otherwise, a combo grill is the safer route.
Can I use natural gas instead of propane?
Yes. Every model here comes in a natural gas or LP version, so pick the one that matches your line or tank at checkout. Switching after install needs the manufacturer's conversion parts, so call us first at 888-678-3530.
Not sure which fits your patio? Shop by fuel and size above, or call 888-678-3530 for free outdoor kitchen design help.
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