For the lowest price, the best time to buy a grill is usually late summer into fall, when stores clear seasonal stock before holiday merchandise takes the floor. Spring gives you the widest choice and the least discount. A clearance grill is a good deal when three things check out: the warranty still starts on your purchase date, replacement parts for that exact model are still sold, and the unit on the floor is complete and undamaged. If any of those fails, the markdown is paying you to take on a risk, not handing you a bargain.
Safety first: a cheap grill is still a gas appliance
Before any price talk, one thing does not change with the sticker. A propane or natural gas grill burns fuel and makes carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says in its grilling safety release (read September 27, 2026): "Never use a grill indoors or in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn." The same release tells owners to inspect hoses "for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks" and to check connections with a soapy solution, where bubbles mean a leak.
That matters more on clearance than anywhere else. A floor model has been assembled by someone else, moved around a store and possibly handled by many shoppers. Whatever you pay, you run a leak check before the first light, and if a leak does not stop when you tighten the connection, the grill goes to a qualified repair service, not onto your patio.
When grill prices actually drop
Most of what ranks for this question comes from grill retailers, and they broadly agree on the shape of the year:
| Window | What you usually get | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (roughly March to May) | New models, full selection, every size and finish | Little or no discount |
| Early summer, around the big cookout holidays | Short promotions | Peak demand, so deals are selective |
| Late summer into fall | Clearance on outgoing stock and floor models | Choice, and sometimes a complete, boxed unit |
| Late fall and holiday sales | Occasional deals on what is left | Very thin stock in many stores |
Not every source agrees on the details. Consumer Reports' grill deals page, dated August 5, 2025 (read September 27, 2026), lists April, May, July, August and September as the good months, which includes spring. Several retailer guides, by contrast, call late spring the weakest time for deals. The honest reconciliation: holiday promotions happen through the year, but the deepest markdowns on a specific model tend to arrive once the store wants the floor space back. A retailer's view of its own calendar is useful, but it is still the seller talking.
So if you are reading this in October, you are in the right window for price and near the end of it for selection. Many stores swap the grill aisle for seasonal goods as fall goes on, which means the remaining stock is often floor models and odd leftovers.
What you give up with an outgoing model
A clearance tag usually means one of three things: last year's model, a floor display, or a return. Each has a different catch.
The warranty clock
Warranty is the first thing to check, because it decides whether a later failure costs you a phone call or a new grill. Weber, for one, is explicit. Its page What Is the Warranty on My Grill? (read September 27, 2026) says: "Warranty coverage is tied to the date of purchase, not the date the grill was made." It also says: "Warranties are not transferable. They apply to the original purchaser of the grill only."
Two practical lessons follow from that wording:
- A new but older grill can be fine. If the maker ties coverage to the purchase date, a grill that sat in a warehouse for a year still gets its full term from the day you buy it. Keep the dated receipt.
- A returned or used grill may not be. If someone else bought it first, you may not be the original purchaser. Ask the store directly whether a returned or open-box unit carries the full warranty, and get the answer in writing on the receipt.
Weber's page also notes that coverage "may vary by part" on some models and points owners to the owner's guide for the specifics. Other brands write their own terms, and some set conditions on where you bought the grill. Read the warranty for the exact model before you pay, not after the first rusted burner.
Parts availability
A grill is a set of wear parts on a frame. Burners, igniters, heat shields, grates and regulators all get replaced over its life. Before you buy an outgoing model, look up its exact model number on the maker's own parts site and confirm that the burners, grates and igniter are listed. If a model has been replaced by a new design, ask whether parts for the old one are still stocked. We cannot tell you how long any brand supports a discontinued grill, because that varies and changes, which is exactly why you check the specific model.
The floor model itself
A display unit is new, but it is not untouched. Go over it before you agree to anything:
- Count the parts against the manual. Grates, heat shields, grease tray, catch pan, knobs and the tank retention hardware are the pieces that go missing.
- Look at the burners and the regulator hose. Kinks, cuts or a cracked hose are reasons to walk away or ask for a replacement part in writing.
- Check for rust and dents on the cookbox and lid. Surface marks are cosmetic. A dent that stops the lid from seating is not.
- Ask who assembled it. Store assembly is not your problem until it is. A loose fitting on the gas side is the one that matters.
- Get it written as new, not "as is". An "as is" sale can change what you are entitled to if something turns out to be missing or faulty.
Recalls
An older model has had more time to be recalled. The CPSC release above asks: "Has your grill been recalled? Check SaferProducts.gov." Search the brand and model name there, and in the recalls search on cpsc.gov, before you buy. A deep discount on a model under recall is not a deal at all.
Is the new model worth waiting for?
The question behind most clearance hesitation is "what am I giving up by not buying this year's version?" Often the honest answer is: less than the marketing suggests, but it depends on what changed.
Compare the outgoing and incoming models on the things that affect ownership, not the brochure:
- Warranty terms, part by part.
- Cookbox material and gauge, as the maker publishes it.
- Burner count and layout, and whether the burners are the same part number across both years.
- Ignition type and how the igniter is powered.
- Grease management design, since that is what you clean.
If the new model mostly changes color, trim or a side shelf, the outgoing one gives up very little. If it changes the burner design, the warranty or the parts, weigh that before the discount. And resist the reverse trap: a big BTU number or an extra burner on a cheaper body is not a better grill just because the spec sheet is louder.
How to tell if a clearance price is a real discount
A big percentage-off sign tells you the store's claimed original price, not what the grill is worth. Three checks help:
- Compare the model number, not the name. Retailers sometimes sell slightly different versions of a grill line under similar names. Match the exact model number across stores.
- Price the complete setup. A cover, a propane tank if one is not included, and any missing parts all add to the real cost. Our guide to how long a 20 lb propane tank lasts shows how to estimate fuel use from the BTU rating on the label, which helps if you are pricing a spare tank too.
- Price the ownership, not only the purchase. A grill with a long warranty and easy parts can cost less over its life than a cheaper one you replace sooner. The same "cost it yourself" approach we use for electric vs propane patio heaters works here: add up what you pay to buy it, fuel it and keep it running.
We do not quote grill prices on this site. They change weekly, differ by region and store, and a wrong price is worse than none.
If you buy in fall, plan for winter
A grill bought in October may sit for months before its first real use. That changes how you store it. Keep the dated receipt and warranty terms somewhere safe, register the grill if the maker offers it, and store it the way the manual says for your climate. A cover helps with rain and debris, though a cover over a damp grill can trap moisture, a trade-off we look at in do fire pit covers prevent rust. Store the propane cylinder the way its label and the grill manual direct, outdoors and away from ignition sources.
Before the first cook in spring, repeat the hose inspection and soapy water leak check. A grill that has sat unused is exactly the one worth checking twice.
So, is fall clearance a good deal?
Yes, when the checks pass. Buy on clearance if:
- the warranty starts on your purchase date and you are the original purchaser,
- the maker still lists parts for that exact model number,
- the unit is complete, undamaged and sold as new, and
- the model is not under recall.
Wait for spring, or buy a current boxed model, if you need a specific size or finish, if the only unit left is an incomplete display, or if the outgoing model's warranty is shorter than its replacement's. The discount is only worth it when it is the only thing you are giving up.
FAQ
What month is the best time to buy a grill? Retailer guides generally point to late summer and fall for the deepest clearance discounts, while Consumer Reports' August 2025 deals page also lists April and May. Spring brings the widest selection; fall brings the lowest prices on what is left.
Does a clearance or floor model grill still have a warranty? It depends on the brand and the sale terms. Weber says coverage is tied to the date of purchase and applies to the original purchaser only. Confirm with the store that the unit is sold as new, not "as is", and keep the dated receipt.
Is it worth buying last year's grill model? Often, if the changes are cosmetic and parts are still listed for the old model number. Compare warranty terms, burners, cookbox material and parts availability before deciding.
What should I check on a floor model grill before buying? Count parts against the manual, inspect the hose and regulator, check the burners and lid fit, confirm it is not under recall, and run a soapy water leak check before first use.
Are Black Friday grill deals better than end-of-season clearance? Sometimes, but stock is usually thinner by late November. If you want a specific model, the earlier clearance window gives you more to choose from.