Top 5 Dyna-Glo Grill and Smoker Reviews in 2024

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If you’re looking for a good grill or smoker at a great value, you’ll want to check out Dyna-Glo. 

Owned by GHP Group Inc, The Dyna-Glo Grill brand manufactures a range of home and commercial grade products for grilling and smoking, and boasts over 100 years of experience in the heating industry.

In this guide, we review the Dyna-Glo Grill and Smoker line-ups, explore the differences between each option and see how they fare against the competition. 

Whether you use gas or charcoal, there’s a Dyna-Glo option for you.

Dyna-Glo brand overview

Headquartered out of Morton Grove, Illinois, – but manufactured in China – Dyna-Glo offers a variety of low to moderately priced products to suit your needs and style of cooking. That being said, there are quite a few models and versions from which to choose. 

They offer both grills and smokers in a choice of charcoal, liquid propane (LP), natural gas and electric. 

The LP and natural gas grills come in a variety of sizes ranging from 2 to 5 burners, while the charcoal grills also come in multiple shapes and sizes, with some unique options offering removable offset fireboxes to convert to smokers. 

Speaking of smokers, Dyna-Glo once again has a multitude of options. From upright chamber smokers to offset Texas-style smokers, Dyna-Glo is a market leader in innovative products that answer consumer demands. They even offer a dual-fuel gas-and-charcoal option for those who can’t decide on one!

Whether you prefer grilling or smoking, there’s a Dyna-Glo product to fit your style of cooking.

Best Dyna-Glo Grill and Smoker Reviews

Let’s break down the best of the Dyna Glo options so you can make an informed choice on what’s best for your needs. 

1. Best gas grill: Dyna-Glo 36,000 BTU 3-Burner LP Gas Grill

The Dyna Glo Smart Space Living series is a popular seller among those with limited outdoor spaces. It comes in both 2-burner and 3-burner sizes with the choice of a stainless steel or burnished bronze finish. Despite its small stature, the 3-burner Smart Space Living grill is a workhorse. 

The three burners are covered with enameled steel tents that distribute heat throughout the firebox and protect the tubes from drippings. Each tube is activated with electric pulse ignition for easy lighting and controlled by a separate dial to customize the temperature.

The enameled cast iron grates provide 390 square inches of cooking space while the secondary raised warming rack adds 117 square inches. 

The grates retain heat while the porcelain-enameled fire box transfers the heat to the food, making it an ideal environment for searing meat and locking in natural juices. Not to mention, cleaning up is easy with the high-gloss finish.

The 3-Burner LP gas grill comes equipped with two collapsible side tables made of powder-coated steel. These side tables are great for prep and hold up to 25 pounds each. They also come with utensil hooks and a towel bar to conveniently store your grilling accessories. 

Each side table folds down to offer maximum cooking potential while maintaining a minimal footprint. 

The lid of the grill has a double-walled liner that helps retain heat and is affixed with an easy lift handle and stainless steel thermometer. Lastly, the LP tank sits out of sight in the single door cabinet below the cooking area.

What we like:

  • Compact footprint – Designed to fit snugly on smaller decks and patios, the 3-Burner LP gas grill is compact in size yet offers 507 square inches of total cooking area.  The two collapsible side tables fold down to give even more efficient use of space.
  • Even heat – Equipped with three stainless steel tube burners, this little grill outputs a total of 36,000 BTU’s of even, consistent heat. The enameled cast iron grates and double-walled lid retain and distribute heat throughout the cooking chamber.  

What we don’t like:

  • Limited capacity – If you often cook for larger crowds, look for a grill with a larger cooking area such as 4-burner or 5-burner options, or even charcoal grills with larger cooking surfaces.

With all this in mind, the 3-burner Smart Space Living LP grill is a great option for casual to serious grillers, especially if you’re working with limited space. 

It packs a punch in terms of cooking power with only three burners and gives you similar results to other LP grills of larger size. 

If you’re looking for a cost-effective grill for a tight patio or deck, this is the one. 

2. Best charcoal grill: Dyna-Glo Premium Charcoal Grill, Extra Large

Where the Smart Living series focused on maximizing cooking power in a compact space, the Extra Large Premium Charcoal Grill goes all in on size.

Coming in at 816 square inches of cooking space, this grill assures you won’t run out of room when you need it most. With over 50% more cooking area than the 3-burner LP grill, this charcoal grill is great for the weekend entertainer who mainly cooks for large groups. 

If you’re a charcoal purist, this grill will not disappoint. The cast iron grates are porcelain-coated providing maximum heat transfer while remaining easy to clean. The adjustable charcoal tray, smoke stack and side dampers combine to give you complete temperature customization. 

Some charcoal grills are a pain to refuel, but the Extra Large Dyna Glo Premium Charcoal Grill addresses that issue with an easy access door that allows you to fill or stoke the coals without a major loss of heat or having to remove the food.

The ash pan spans the whole bottom of the grill allowing for hours of uninterrupted cooking without having to remove ashes. When it does come time to clean up, the ash pan is removable making for easy disposal. 

For the price, this grill is a heavy hitter, but it’s not without its flaws. The lid is not airtight allowing heat to escape which burns the charcoal more quickly. Plus, the metal it is made from is thin-walled compared to other charcoal smokers in the same price range, but what you lack in insulation, you get back in cooking area. 

The Dyna Glo Extra Large Premium Charcoal Grill is great for volume cooks who like to entertain large groups, but keep in mind it’s not called extra large for nothing. It has a huge footprint, so make sure you have the space for it. 

What we like:

  • Large cooking area – This grill sports 816 square inches of cooking space, great for large gatherings. 
  • Convenient fueling and cleaning – The large capacity, removable ash pan lets you cook for hours without having to refuel, but when it’s time to add more charcoal, the easy access firebox door allows for refueling without major heat loss.
  • Complete temperature customization – The adjustable charcoal tray, smoke stack and side dampers combine to give you complete temperature control for dialed-in results.

What we don’t like:

  • Leaky seals  – The lid is not airtight allowing heat to escape, which burns the charcoal more quickly. 
  • Large footprint – This grill is big. That’s fine if you have space, but if you’re unsure then we recommend measuring out the space on your patio based on the grill specs to confirm you have adequate room. 

If you’re a charcoal griller who loves to entertain, the Dyna Glo Extra Large Premium Charcoal Grill is a great grill for the price.

3. Best charcoal smoker: Dyna Glo Charcoal Offset Smoker

Here at Smoked BBQ Source, we’re heavy on the smoke, and the Dyna Glo Charcoal Offset Smoker is too. 

This little-engine-that-could packs a whopping 1,175 square inches of cooking space into its vertical frame, while the offset smoker box heats indirectly and evenly throughout the cooking chamber. 

Temperature control is crucial during long smoking sessions, and this model gives you dialed in control via the adjustable smokestack and dampers. The built-in thermometer comes with a “Smoke Zone” indicator letting you know when you’re at the ideal temperature for smoke flavor infusion. 

Cooking area shouldn’t be a problem with its six height-adjustable cooking grates allowing for large quantities to be smoked at once. The charcoal chamber and removable ash pan are convenient for both reloading and cleaning.

The Dyna Glo Charcoal Offset Smoker is a great backyard smoking option for the casual pitmaster, but it lacks some things that higher-end models provide. Fortunately, with a few DIY modifications, this unit can rival the quality of some of those more expensive models.

One of the main shortcomings of this model is that it’s not airtight, and leaks heat and smoke anywhere there’s a seam. To combat this, you can use high heat silicone to seal up all the seams at the thermometer, the smokestack and the door handle on the outside. Replacing the gasket with a high heat aftermarket version will also help seal in the smoke and heat. 

What we like:

  • Easy temperature control – The adjustable smokestack and dampers give accurate temperature control, and the thermometer indicates the best temperature range for smoking. 
  • Cooking area – Six height-adjustable cooking grates allow for a customizable cooking chamber based on the size of the meat your smoking.

What we don’t like:

  • Leaky seals – Leaks heat and smoke around seams and welds, but high heat silicone and a high heat aftermarket gasket will help seal in the smoke and heat. 
  • Thin-walled construction – There’s not much you can do for the thinness of the metal, but you can get an insulation blanket that can fit over the vertical cooking chamber, especially if you’re cooking in colder regions. 

It’s not necessary to modify your smoker, but it’ll go a long way toward charcoal burn efficiency. Other than that, the smoker is a steady performer.  If you want more consistent heat and fuel consumption, know that you’d have to make the modifications above to get there.

If you’re looking for a good smoker at an affordable price point, you want to take a look at this one.

4. Best gas smoker: Dyna Glo 36″ Wide Body LP Gas Smoker

Some people scoff at the idea of smoking with LP gas, but the truth is it’s a convenient method that you don’t have to babysit all day. 

That being said, the Dyna Glo 36” Wide Body LP Gas Smoker gives you all the great smokehouse flavors without the hours of fire maintenance attached. 

Constant, accurate heat is applied via the 20,000 BTU cast iron burners that maintain internal temperature regardless of the external environment. Just set it and forget it!

The smoker offers 1,235 square inches of cooking capacity via four adjustable cooking grates allowing you to raise or lower them depending on the size of the meat you’re smoking. It’s wide-bodied at 36 inches, so you won’t have to place ribs or brisket on at an angle. They simply fit longways on the grates for efficient use of space. 

The body is made of heavy-duty steel but is not insulated like some more expensive models. It also comes with a water pan to keep food moist and help steady the temperature. 

The removable wood chip pan allows for easy access and cleaning, so customizing your smoke flavor with different wood chips is a breeze. The lidded wood chip box is made of heavy gauge, porcelain-enameled steel helping to retain heat for improved burning efficiency. 

Just like the charcoal smoker, the Dyna Glo 36in Wide Body LP Gas Smoker is uninsulated and prone to air leakage. However, the same modifications – high-heat gasket and high-heat silicone for sealing cracks – can be made to this model to upgrade its heat holding capacity. 

What we like:

  • Convenient temperature control – 20,000 BTU cast iron burners maintain internal temperature over long periods of time. 
  • Large cooking area – The smoker sports 1,235 square inches of cooking capacity and has adjustable racks to fit your food. 

What we don’t like:

  • Uninsulated – Thin metal and leaky seams lose heat quickly when opening the door. 

LP smokers are becoming more and more popular as the stigma attached to gas smoking starts to wane. For the size and convenience, the Dyna Glo 36” Wide Body LP Gas Smoker is hard to beat at this price point. 

5. Best electric smoker: Dyna-Glo 30″ Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker

Taking convenience to the next level is the Dyna Glo 30in” Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker. This smoker comes equipped with bluetooth capabilities so you can digitally set and monitor your cooking temperature. 

Using the Dyna Glo app on your smartphone or tablet, you can control the smoker remotely so long as you remain connected via bluetooth. 

The integrated meat thermometer allows you to keep tabs on the food’s internal temperature without opening the door and letting out precious heat and smoke.

On top of monitoring, the smoker will automatically turn off when the meat reaches your desired temperature. The future is here!

Like the LP gas smoker, the electric smoker has a separate door to the water and wood chip pans minimizing heat loss during reloading. 

The Dyna Glo 30” Digital Bluetooth Electric Smoker has its cons though. Electricity is not as efficient as gas, so the smoker takes longer to get to the desired temp – about an hour some users say. If you lose temperature while opening the door, it can be prone to swings in the 20° to 30°F range as it tries to get back to temperature.

What we like:

  • Bluetooth connectivity – Control your smoker with the Dyna Glo app via bluetooth. 
  • Built-in temperature monitoring – Built-in meat thermometer for remote monitoring throughout the smoking process. 

What we don’t like:

  • Long start-up time – The smoker takes longer to get up to temperature and is apt to 20° to 30°F temperature swings when getting back to a target temperature. 

With all that in mind, the Dyna Glo 30” Bluetooth Electric Smoker is a convenient machine with the amenities of our digital world. If you’re a digital native who values convenience, this smoker would be good for you.

Other brands to consider

If you’re in the market for a affordable grill or smoker, there’s definitely no shortage of options. 

Dyna Glo comes in at a low to moderate price point and puts out a darn good product for the money, but there are other options if you’re doing your due diligence. 

Char-Broil 

Char-Broil plays in the same market space as Dyna Glo with comparable product lines and price points. Both are American companies that have since moved their manufacturing to China, so there are many similarities. 

Char-Broil products match up well with Dyna Glo, and their Performance TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Cart Style Gas Grill performs akin to the Dyna-Glo 36,000 BTU 3-Burner LP Gas Grill, albeit at a slightly higher price and larger footprint. 

Char-Broil also ventures into kamado-style grills, which Dyna Glo does not offer. Char-Broil is also big on grilling accessories outside the realm of what Dyna Glo offers, though Char-Broil is slightly more expensive. 

Weber

If you’re looking for a grill or smoker, Weber is most certainly in the mix. Weber’s multiple product lines compete in almost every category that Dyna Glo offers.

When you’re buying Weber, you’re paying a premium for the name, which adds considerable markup when compared to Dyna Glo products.

Weber relies on brand recognition and industry reputation as much as the product performance itself. 

Having said that, Weber is still a step above the brands like Gyna-Glo and Char-Broil in terms of build quality.

The Weber Spirit E310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a good grill entry level Weber grill that will perform better, so if you have the money it’s worth considering.

Weber makes good products, but they’re priced significantly higher than the Dyna Glo equivalent. 

Weber Spirit II E-310 3 Gas Grill
Pros:
  • Excellent heat control
  • Easy to clean
  • Large side tables
Cons:
  • Basic grill cart
  • Lots of plastic
Check latest price at Weber Check latest price at Amazon

Conclusion

Dyna Glo offers reliable products at affordable price points that do what they’re supposed to do. They are economical products that don’t need a ton of maintenance and offer consistent heat while cooking.

If you’re in the market for a quality grill or smoker without paying over the odds for the big brand names, you may want to consider Dyna Glo. 

We hope this guide helps shed light on the Dyna Glo brand. If you have a Dyna Glo grill or smoker experience you’d like to share, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. 

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