Weber Q1200 vs Q2200: Which One Should You Buy?

If you’re looking for a new gas grill that can slide into your car for a weekend getaway or tailgate, you probably have looked at the Weber Q-series of grills.

In this guide, I will take a look at two of the popular Q-series grills, the Q1200 and the Q2200, and go through the key differences and who they are for. 

You also shouldn’t sleep on the new Weber Traveler which comes with a collapsible cart and more grilling space the even the Q2200. More on that at the end.

Read on for more in-depth comparisons between these two grills.

Weber Q1200 vs Q2200 overview – what’s the difference?

The Q-series are Weber‘s most popular gas grills globally. After Weber launched the first Q-series grill in 2004, Weber added different options to suit grill owners everywhere.

They both operate a single gas burner running on a one-pound propane bottle, but they can be upgraded to run on a 20-pound tank with an adapter hose sold separately. 

Both grills are built as tabletop models that you can put on a picnic table at the campground or out on your back deck. However, Weber added further functionality and flexibility with a portable cart for the grill to rest on. The cart is wheeled, giving backyard grillmasters the ability to move their grill around for optimal conditions.

Even though these are smaller grills, Weber still made sure that there was some shelf space with two fold-out shelves on both grills. You can have a plate for burgers when they are done sitting on one shelf. You can have a stack of cheese slices on the other shelf too. 

Both grills have a removable catch pan for grease drippings. The lids have built-in thermometers to monitor how hot the grill gets so you know when it’s ready for searing steaks or if you are trying to keep the temperature a bit lower.

Key differences between the Q1200 and the Q2200:

• The Q2200 has nearly 100 square inches more of cooking space
• The Q2200 puts out 3,500 more BTUs per hour than the Q1200
• The Q1200 is more portable as the Q2200 weighs over 10 pounds heavier and is over 10 inches longer and 3 inches deeper

Both grills have identical warranties with five-year coverage on the cookbox, lid assembly, burner tubes, cooking grates, and plastic components while covering every other part for two years.

	Weber Q1200	Weber Q2200
Dimensions	15.5 x 40.9 x 16.5 in	15.5 x 51.4 x 19.5 in
Weight	31 lbs	44 lbs
Cooking surface area	189 sq in	280 sq in
Cooking capacity	6 four inch burgers	12 four inch burgers
Colors	Titanium, black, red, green, blue, and orange	Titanium
Warranty	5 years	5 years
BTUs	8,500	12,000
Cooking grates	Porcelain-enameled cast iron	Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Shelves	Two fold-out side shelves	Two fold-out side shelves
Ignition	Electronic push button (1 AAA battery)	Electronic push button (1 AAA battery)
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

If you want a lighter grill and aren’t cooking for more than a few people, the Q1200 is a great option. If you want more room for food and are willing to lug around a bit more weight, then the Q2200 is more in line with what you are looking for.

Features face-to-face

Weber characterizes the cooking spaces for the Q1200 and Q2200 in terms of how many burgers they can cook at once. The Q1200’s 189 square inches of cooking space can hold six four-inch patties at once. The Q2200 can hold 12 four-inch burgers on its 280 square-inch cooking space. 

So, in terms of cooking capacity, if you want to be able to cook more burgers at a time, opt for the Q2200. However, this extra cooking capacity obviously means that the Q2200 is the larger and heavier of the two.

If you want a lighter grill that’s easier to transport, then the Q1200 might be the better option. It’s 11 inches shorter in length, three inches shallower in depth, and is 12 pounds lighter. 

Both grills operate on the same propane bottle and use a single burner for generating heat. However, the Q2200 generatres 3,500 more BTUs, meaning it heats up faster and generates more heat than its little brother.

Weber has replacement drip pans available to purchase, as well as covers to help keep the grills protected from the elements. 

The Q1200 works for people who want a grill that they can throw in the trunk for a weekend getaway without crushing their tent. The Q2200 might pack more punch in terms of capacity and performance, this obviously makes it heavier.

While 13 extra pounds may not seem like a lot on paper, it could feel that way if you have to lug a grill over uneven ground to get to your campsite. By sacrificing the extra cooking space, you gain a lighter grill that’s more suited to travel – and still offers great performance. 

So, once again – if more portability and a lighter weight are top considerations for you, then the Q1200 would be the way to go. However, if you don’t mind the extra bulk and weight of a larger grill, then the Q2200 could be a viable option. It’s a great mid-range grill that’s great for home use but compact enough to take out about in certain circumstances. 

For instance, you could load it in the back of a pickup truck to take to a football tailgate and help out by grilling burgers, hot dogs, sausage, and bratwurst for you and a few friends. 

Other grills to consider

If you are still not sure if either grill is for you, there are other portable grills that might be worth taking a look at. Here are some other options.

If you want more portability and cooking space, look at the Weber Traveler

If you look at the Q2200 and think you want even more cooking space, the Traveler boasts 320 square inches of cooking space.

Is This the Best Portable Gas Grill? Weber Traveler Grill Review

If you like the idea of the portable cart add-on, the Traveler comes with its own cart. It has one shelf instead of two, but it does come with built-in tool hooks. 

Here is a more in-depth review if you want more information.

If you are a long-time camper, Coleman has a series of portable grills as well

Coleman is one of the most recognizable names in camping, starting out with the development of a gas-powered lantern by W.C. Coleman in 1900. In 2003, Coleman launched the RoadTrip Grill series.

They offer four grill models and three griddle models. They have a tabletop model, the RoadTrip 225 Tabletop, that offers 225 square inches of cook space and up to 11,000 BTUs of heat across two burners. It does not have any side tables.

They also offer two models with 285 square inches of cooking space and 20,000 BTUs, the X-Cursion and the 285. The X-Cursion has two burners while the 285 has three burners. The 285 also has two side tables, while the X-Cursion only has one.

Wrapping it up

Now that you’ve seen the Weber Q1200 vs Q2200 in a side-by-side comparison, hopefully, you’ll feel more comfortable with making the choice between the two. 

If you’re looking for the most portable grill and don’t need as much cooking space, the Q1200 can fit the bill. If you need more cooking space and are willing to deal with a bit more heft, the Q2200 provides nearly 100 more square inches of cooking space.