The Best Grill Covers

Getting a new, high-quality grill is an investment.

You should protect your investment keep it looking and working well with a good great cover.

Exposure to the elements and direct sunlight can do a number on your grill far faster than you might think.

You can usually save a decent amount of money buying a third party grill cover, instead of the overpriced branded cover sold by your grill’s maker.

Let’s take a look at some of the best grill covers for all sizes of grill.

The 7 best third party grill covers reviewed

1. AmazonBasics Gas Grill BBQ Cover

If you’re looking for reasonable quality at a budget price you can’t look past the AmazonBasics cover.

This cover comes in five sizes from Small to XX-Large and has a few smart design features to separate it from the rest of the pack.

What We Like:

• Woven Polyester Fabric – This 300D polyester fabric that is lined with a water-resistant backing. The backing can help protect your grill against inclement weather damage and even land some UV-ray resistance.
• Integrated Air Vents – The included air vents allow air to freely flow through the cover and minimize the chances of condensation. Such vents also help to prevent the cover from blowing around in heavy wind.
• Elastic Bungee Cord – The bungee cord included with this cover lets you secure it into place even in windy weather. The elastic nature of the cord lets it fit with grills of many sizes, too.

What We Don’t Like:

• Small Fit – We’d recommend that you order one size up from your measurement estimations. The cover is a tight fit even if the specifications say that it should be perfect for your grill. Remember, a little extra length to the cover is better than not enough.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

2. VicTsing Grill Cover

The VicTsing Grill Cover is easy to fit over a grill and even easier to clean.

It comes in 30″, 58″, 60″, 64″ and 72″ sizes and has a decent manufacturer warranty in case there are any immediate issues.

What We Like:

• Heavy-Duty Material – This grill cover is made from 600D polyester fabric. It’s weatherproof and dust-proof, so it’s an exceptional grill cover for both hot and wet climates. The fabric is also UV resistant, so backyard in desert cities won’t be much of an issue.
• Rip-Resistant – The seams of the VicTsing cover use high-density stitching and are bound on the interior. This improves strength and durability. The cover is exceptionally tear-resistant both across its wider swaths of fabric and at the seams. 
• Padded Handles and Straps – Using and attaching the grill cover to your grill is easy thanks to the padded side straps and handles. These can help keep the grill cover secure even in heavy wind conditions.
• Carrying Bag – While this included bag isn’t likely to be used unless you move, it’s still a nice bonus and adds good value for money to the purchase as a whole.

What We Don’t Like

• Still Fades – While the material is fairly durable, it also fades very quickly if exposed to consistent direct sunlight. This can also lead to weakening of the material over time, so shaded areas are recommended for this cover.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

3. Grillman Premium BBQ Grill Cover

The Grillman Premium comes in a variety of sizes, suitable for multiple grill types.

With plenty of features to sustain it under heavy use, it’s an excellent pick for budget cooks or those who struggle to find a cover that fits their rare grill.

What We Like:

• Excellent material – The Grillman Premium Cover is made with a heavy-duty PVC lined Oxford material. It’s waterproof, UV resistant and tear-resistant. So it can protect your grill against virtually all inclement weather or damage.
• Lifetime replacement Guarantee – Excellent warranties show that a manufacturer believes in their product. You can get a replacement for this cover if it ever rips or fades, so there’s phenomenal value for money in this purchase.
• Wind-Resistant – The Grillman cover isn’t very heavy, measuring in at 3 pounds. But it comes with an attaching fabric hook and several loop straps that you can tighten onto your grill. Using these tools, you can ensure that the cover never blows away.
• Excellent Sizes – At sizes up to 72 x 26 x 51 inches, this grill cover can be used with the vast majority of outdoor grill types and brands. Go as high or low as your grill needs to ensure that everything will fit under its protective material.

What We Don’t Like:

Weak Seams – The grill’s material is tear-resistant. But the seams that connect the various pieces of the grill together are a lot weaker than the main material. This exposes the cover as a whole to tear damage despite its construction.

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4. AmazonBasics Charcoal Kettle Grill BBQ Cover

All the covers we’ve included so far are better suited for rectangular grills.

This cover from the AmazonBasics rangeshas been made designed to fit Kettle style grills, with several good design feature.

On top of all that, it’s extremely affordable.

What We Like:

• Sized well for Kettle grills – It can be difficult to find grill covers for the egg or kettle-shaped grills some know and love. This is perfectly designed to wrap around the entire kettle apparatus and leave nothing exposed to the elements.
• Good material – This grill cover makes use of a woven polyester fabric that has a water-resistant backing. It’s great for defending against all types of inclement weather and protecting against dust.
• Air vents – The air vents included will prevent condensation from developing and lower its chance of billowing in the wind. However, the cover fits so tightly against most kettle grills that these air vents are not always very well-used.
• Elastic cord – Like the last AmazonBasics grill cover, this one also has an elastic bungee cord to secure the cover in place. It’s perfect for wrapping around your kettle grill.

What We Don’t Like

• More fitting issues – Like the other AmazonBasics Cover, this grill cover has some issues with its sizing. Make sure to give yourself a little extra space so that you can fully fit the grill cover over your kettle cooker. The cover tends to be too tight for some users.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

5. Kingkong Grill Cover 7106

This cover has great value for money, considering you get an excellent cover with several useful accessories. The Velcro straps are larger than many others, too, making it easy to secure.

What We Like:

• Heavy-duty vinyl/polyester material – The material of this cover protects your grill from all of the elements. It’s also both crack and water-resistant. The vinyl can also defend your grill from UV rays and resist fading over time, even in direct sunlight. 
• Included accessories – There’s a collection of BBQ tools valued at $22 included with the purchase. You get a grill brush, tongs, and a cooking thermometer without having to do anything extra. New tools are always a plus.
• Warranty – The 3-year warranty makes the relatively high asking price not too much of a downside. Three years is a great lifespan for any grill cover and if the Kingkong 7106 ever falters in that time, you can get it replaced.

What We Don’t Like:

• Velcro ties are misplaced – Fitting the grill cover onto your grill might be a little tricky. The large Velcro ties are placed a bit too far down for snug securing. Still, with a little fiddling with the fit most users should be able to work out a solution.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

6. Rico Industries NFL Deluxe Grill Cover

This cover is ideal for sports fans of any major team.

Despite its painted iconography, it’s still able to adequately cover most grills and withstand inclement weather.

What We Like:

Lots of team choices – You can choose from your favorite major league team and have their emblem and blazed on your grill cover at the next game day cookout.

Vinyl/flannel material – Most of the cover is made of vinyl. This defends your grill against inclement weather and prevent it from cracking and cold temperatures. There’s also a flannel lining that prevents stainless steel grill finishes from getting scratched or damaged.

Loop fasteners – The cover is equipped with a hook and loop fastener that does a phenomenal job at keeping the cover secured even in windy weather.

What We Don’t Like

• Logo Only on one side – Although the cover is advertised as having your favorite team’s logo on both sides, it’s only present on one. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s certainly annoying to discover when you take the cover out of the box.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

7. iCover Small Grill Cover

This cover’s vertical option will be well-appreciated by those with taller grills rather than wider.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of a cover suited for wider grills up to 82 inches with the same great material and design features.

What We Like:

• Good Material – This cover is made of a fade-resistant canvas fabric. There’s also a water-resistant PVC coating and a water-resistant finish. It’s fantastic for protecting against inclement weather.
• Heavy Duty Velcro Straps – The Velcro straps included with this cover are well-placed and fit tightly together. Added to the vertical shape of the cover, they guarantee that it won’t fly off your grill even in heavy wind.
• Easy to Clean – You can use a standard garden hose to clean the canvas material well enough. Clean it off regularly to preserve the water-resistant finish and keep it looking like new.

What We Don’t Like:

• Still Fades in Sunlight – Once it’s been exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time, the black color begins to lighten. Keeping this grill cover in the shade is preferred if you want to get your money’s worth out of it.

Get the latest price on Amazon.

Do you need to use a grill cover?

Grill covers can be quite helpful for a variety of reasons.

Grill covers extend the life span of your grill and can maintain its functionality and appearance for longer. So these shields are particularly nice for expensive grills or smokers so you can get the maximum use out of them.

Grill covers protect your investment from bad weather.

Plenty of folks live in places where it snows or rains frequently and might not have space in their garage to store their grill regularly.

Grill covers can eliminate the chance of water or snow damage, both of which wear the paint and protective materials off grills over time.

Even keeping your grill under the hot sun can lead to eventual damage. But a grill cover can defend against the sun’s rays, too.

In addition, grill covers can prevent your grill from becoming excessively dirty.

No one likes to have to thoroughly clean their grill each time they want to take it out for a barbecue. A nice grill cover can keep dirt, leaves, and other outdoor debris off the grill’s lid and stop the grill from becoming dusty and ugly-looking.

Grill covers can even stop animals from using your grill as a home. Small critters love to crawl into the storage spots beneath many grill units, and insects have a knack of finding ways into every crevice. A decent grill cover will prevent many of these animals from messing with your grill.

However, grills that are brought into a sealed, well-protected garage or shed have less of a clear need for grill covers.

It might still be worthwhile to have one to protect against insects and possible rodent infestations. But overall a grill cover is most needed for grills that spend most of their time outside.

Branded vs. third-party grill covers

Many grills manufacturers will sell you a designated branded cover specifically designed to fit easily over your purchased grill.

Branded grill covers are good because you can usually buy one with the exact right dimensions for your grill.

On the other hand, they are often a little more expensive than they need to be.

To help you compare we’ve included a few branded covers for the most popular grills below.

In fact, most branded grill covers are not necessarily superior to third-party covers in any way. They are simply more convenient if you don’t want to spend the time or research necessary to locate an optimal cover for your grill size.

Third-party grill covers can deliver the same protective performance as branded grill covers, but will often cost a lot less.

You’ll save money in the short and long-term by purchasing a third-party grill cover as opposed to buying a branded cover in most situations.

However, the decision is totally up to you.

What to look for in a grill cover

When looking for a grill cover for your grill, keep these key factors in mind before making a final purchase.

Size

By far, the most important factor to consider is the size of the grill cover.

Purchasing a grill cover that is an improper size for your grill will negate a lot of the protective capability you’re looking for.

Short grill covers aren’t very effective at keeping animals out. They will leave the bottom storage tray on many grills exposed to dust and to the elements.

Grill covers that are too long will drag when you move the grill or be unwieldy to drape over the grill. Too long is better than too short, however, so error on the side of caution if you’re not 100% sure what size grill cover you need.

When measuring your grill, it’s best to take a tape measure and draw a rectangle over your grill’s dimensions. You can get an idea of how much cover space you need to effectively cover everything.

On the other hand, you can check to see if your purchased grill has a branded grill cover that you can buy.

If this is the case, you can simply investigate the dimensions of that grill cover since it will be sized specifically for your cooker. Copy those dimensions down and start hunting for a third-party grill cover that is offered in the size you require.

Material

Heavier duty grill covers cost a little extra but will usually last a lot longer and are well worth the asking prices.

Heavy grill covers are also a lot better for withstanding wind, which can be important if you store your grill outside in a blustery climate.

Grill covers that are too light stand a chance of flying off your grill and vanishing into the neighborhood. You’ll need to weigh them down with extra materials or stones to prevent this. Basically, heavier is better.

Some grill covers are also tear-resistant. These can be nice if your grill is stored in a crowded garage where it’s easy for them to get caught and torn on other machinery or tools, but tear-resistant covers won’t break as easily.

Overall, look for grill covers that are made with sturdy, heavy materials and check to see if they come with a warranty. Grill covers that are attached to a good warranty are likely made with quality in mind.

Weather Resistance

The ability of your grill cover to resist weather damage and disturbance is of critical importance. Make sure that your chosen grill cover is rated to withstand snow and water damage, with waterproof material being the best of all. Waterproof grill covers won’t allow moisture to damage the surface of your grill, even under heavy rain.

Read more – Guide to cold weather smoking

Some grill covers made with heavy-duty PVC or similar materials will be able to effectively protect your grill from sun damage, as well. UV-resistant covers are great for those who live in sunny climates.

‘Over-exposure to the sun can cause your grill’s surface to fade or its parts to warp if they become hot enough.

Conclusion

There are many excellent grill covers to choose from.

The AmazonBasics Cover is a great example of an all-around good choice for a variety of grill types and sizes. It has weather-resistant material, wind-resistant straps, and a lifetime replacement guarantee.

All of these give it excellent value for money. Add to that a host of sizing options and it’s clearly an ideal choice for most.

Whatever kind of cover you need, consider options carefully. Remember to measure your grill before finalizing a purchase.