Every gas grill we sell comes in a natural gas version and a propane version, and the two are not interchangeable. The decision is usually made for you by three things: whether there is a gas line within reach of the patio, what the NYC Fire Code allows where you live, and how much you hate running out of gas mid-cook. This guide covers the physics (why the burners differ), the money, the install, which brands let you convert later, where you can legally keep a propane tank in New York City, and what to do when you have no gas line at all. We install both kinds every week across Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey, so the opinions here are earned. Browse the store by fuel: built-in natural gas grills, built-in propane grills, freestanding natural gas and freestanding propane.
The short answer
If your house has gas service and the grill is going in one place, buy natural gas and have a licensed plumber run the line. It cooks the same, you never run out, and it is the only gas option most NYC apartment buildings allow. Buy propane when the grill has to move, when there is no gas service, or when running a line is unrealistic. Decide before you order, because converting later is a parts-and-labor job and some brands do not allow it at all.
Key takeaways
- Natural gas and propane grills cook the same. The orifices and regulator differ, so the two versions are separate SKUs and not interchangeable.
- If the house has gas service and the grill stays in one place, buy natural gas and have a licensed plumber run the line. Cheaper per BTU and it never runs out.
- Buy propane when the grill has to move, there is no gas main on the street, or trenching a line across finished pavers is not worth it.
- In NYC buildings with three or more units, 20 pound propane cylinders are banned on balconies, roofs and yards. One- and two-family homes may keep two.
- Conversion later is a parts-and-labor job with the manufacturer's kit. Lynx, Blaze and Napoleon document kits; Weber does not allow it. Decide before you order.
- Match every appliance on the island to one fuel. A natural gas grill next to a propane side burner is a mistake we have had to fix.
In this guide
- Why are natural gas and propane grills different?
- Does one cook better?
- Which costs less to run?
- Which is more convenient?
- What does a natural gas grill installation involve?
- Can you convert a grill later? Brand by brand
- What size propane tank, and where do you keep it?
- What do NYC rules allow for propane?
- What about Long Island and New Jersey?
- No gas line? Your options
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Why are natural gas and propane grills different?
Propane carries roughly two and a half times the energy of natural gas per cubic foot: about 2,500 BTU per cubic foot against about 1,000. It is also delivered to the grill at a higher pressure. Most grill manuals call for a supply of about 11 inches of water column on propane and about 7 inches on natural gas. To get the same flame out of the same burner, a natural gas grill has to let a lot more gas through, so its orifices (the tiny brass jets at the base of each burner valve) are drilled larger than the propane ones, and the regulator is set for the lower pressure.
That is the whole difference, and it is why the grills are sold as two SKUs. The Lynx L30TR natural gas and the Lynx L30TR propane are the same stainless steel, the same 600 square inch primary grate and the same 48,000 BTU; the orifices, regulator and fuel label are what change. Hook a propane grill to a natural gas line and you get a weak yellow flame that will not reach temperature. Hook a natural gas grill to a propane tank and you get a dangerous oversized flame. Neither is a "close enough" situation.
Does one cook better?
No. The rated BTU output is the same for both versions of a grill because the manufacturer sizes the orifices to deliver it. Searing, rotisserie performance and recovery after you load the grate are identical on the same model. The old claim that propane "burns hotter" comes from its energy density per cubic foot, not from what reaches the grate. If you can taste a difference, it is the marinade.
What does differ is consistency. A natural gas grill gets the same pressure on the first cook of the season as the last. A propane tank gets sluggish in the cold and as it empties, and a near-empty tank on a January afternoon on a Long Island deck is a real thing. Natural gas owners never think about it.
Which costs less to run?
We will not quote dollar figures because gas and propane prices move every season and vary by utility, but the structure of the cost is stable. Natural gas is metered and billed by your utility at the same rate as your furnace and range, and in this region it is consistently the cheaper fuel per BTU. Propane is bought by the tank, and the price per gallon at an exchange cage is higher than at a refill station, which is higher again than what a natural gas customer pays for the same heat. On top of that, the exchange cage gives you a tank that is usually filled to 15 pounds rather than 20.
The upfront cost runs the other way. A natural gas grill needs a gas line, a shutoff valve and a licensed plumber, and in NYC that means a permit and an inspection. A propane grill needs a tank. For a freestanding grill that cooks twice a week, the fuel savings pay back the plumbing slowly. For a built-in that is part of a full outdoor kitchen with a side burner and maybe a pizza oven, natural gas is cheaper to run from the first summer and simpler to live with.
Which is more convenient?
Natural gas wins on one axis and propane wins on the other, and which one matters depends on how you live.
With natural gas there is no tank to run out, no gauge to squint at, no Sunday trip to the hardware store because the flame died with the ribs half done. The grill is always ready. The cost is that it is anchored. A built-in grill does not move anyway, so for anything going into an island this is a free win. For a freestanding grill on a cart, a natural gas hookup is a 10 to 12 foot hose with a quick-disconnect fitting, so you can still roll the cart a few feet to clean behind it, but it lives on that side of the patio. Cart grills like the American Made Grills Estate 30 natural gas and its propane twin, or the Blaze BCM 32 cart in natural gas and propane, are sold both ways for exactly this reason.
Propane goes anywhere. That matters for renters, for people who grill at a beach house part of the year, for decks where running a line is a construction project, and for anyone who wants the grill out of sight when it is not in use. The price is tank management. Owners who do it well keep two tanks and swap the empty the same day. Owners who do not tend to grill less.
From our install team
If there is any chance the grill will end up in an island later, buy natural gas now and run the line to where the island will go. Capping a stub on the patio is cheap during a plumbing job. Coming back a year later to trench across finished pavers is not.
What does a natural gas grill installation involve?
In New York City, a natural gas grill must be installed by a NYC licensed master plumber under the NYC Fuel Gas Code, and the piping has to be inspected and tested. That is not a formality we add to be safe; it is the Buildings Department's rule, and the Fuel Gas Code also prohibits commercial-grade grills in residences. Outside the city the same logic applies: a licensed plumber pulls the permit, runs the line, and pressure-tests it before the grill is connected.
Three things the plumber will size and you should know about:
- Load. Pipe size depends on the total BTU on the branch and the length of the run. A 32-inch grill with a rear infrared burner is about 66,000 BTU on its own; add a double side burner and a gas pizza oven and an outdoor kitchen can be well over 100,000 BTU. Long runs on undersized pipe starve the grill, which shows up as a weak flame when everything is lit at once.
- Pressure. Grills are low-pressure appliances. If your house has a two-pound (higher pressure) system, the plumber adds a regulator ahead of the grill. The grill's own regulator (or lack of one) is specified in its manual and should not be improvised.
- Shutoff and connection. A shutoff valve within reach of the grill, a listed outdoor flex connector or a quick-disconnect hose for carts, and for built-ins, a stub positioned where the manual says the gas enters the grill. On islands we also provide the access door the plumber and the inspector need to reach the valve.
Built-in grills arrive with the fuel type factory-set, which is why the store lists most models twice: the Blaze BCM 32 natural gas and Blaze BCM 32 propane, the Hestan GMBR36 natural gas and Hestan GMBR36 propane, the American Made Grills Estate 30 natural gas and Estate 30 propane, the Broil King Imperial S 470 natural gas and Imperial S 470 propane. Tell us the fuel when you order and we will make sure the grill, the side burner and any power burner all match, because an island with a natural gas grill and a propane side burner is a mistake we have had to fix for other people.
Can you convert a grill later? Brand by brand
A conversion means replacing the orifice on every burner (main burners, rear rotisserie burner, side burners), swapping or adjusting the regulator, and on some grills changing valves. It has to be done with the manufacturer's kit for that exact model, and on the natural gas side it still needs the plumber. Done right it works. It is never free, and on some brands it is not allowed. What we have verified:
| Brand | Field conversion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lynx | Yes, kit | Lynx lists NG and LP conversion kits (PRONGK1 and PROLPK1) on its Professional grill product pages. Separate kits for side burners. |
| Blaze | Yes, kit | Blaze offers conversion kits for its gas grill series through dealers, with separate kits for the Professional LUX line. Ask us for the right kit by model. |
| Napoleon | Yes, kit (some models) | Conversion kits exist for the Built-In 700 Series 32, 38 and 44 and several freestanding lines. Confirm by model before buying. |
| Fire Magic | Dealer orifice sets | Fire Magic sells model-specific orifice sets for main burners, backburners and power burners. It is a service job, not a boxed kit. |
| Mont Alpi | Yes, kit | Ships propane; the natural gas conversion kit is an option we list on each Mont Alpi island. |
| Weber | No | Weber does not sell conversion kits and states that converting voids the warranty. Buy the fuel version you need. |
| Hestan, Twin Eagles, Summerset, Broil King, AOG | Varies by model | Sold as NG and LP SKUs. Ask us before assuming a field conversion is available or covered. |
Buy the fuel you will use. If a gas line might come later, pick a brand with a documented kit and budget for the parts and a service call.
Not sure what fits your space? Send us a photo of your gas meter or the nearest gas appliance and a photo of where the grill will go, and we will tell you whether a line is realistic and what it involves. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
What size propane tank, and where do you keep it?
The standard grill cylinder is the 20-pound tank, which holds about 4.7 gallons of propane, roughly 430,000 BTU when full. Every freestanding propane grill we sell is built around it, and island tank cabinets are sized for it. Larger 30 and 40-pound cylinders exist and will run a grill, but they do not fit most carts and cabinets, and New York City's residential allowance is written around 20-pound cylinders, so stick to those. The small 16.4-ounce canisters used on camp stoves are the only propane permitted in most NYC apartment situations, and they are not a practical fuel for a real grill.
Where to keep a tank, anywhere:
- Upright, outdoors, in the shade, with the valve closed when the grill is off.
- Never indoors, never in a basement, never in a garage, never in a closed cabinet without the ventilation openings the grill manual calls for. Propane is heavier than air and pools low.
- In an island, in the tank enclosure the grill manufacturer specifies, with its vents clear. Our island builds include that enclosure when the grill is propane.
- Spares outside too. Keep the one you are using and one full spare; do not stockpile.
What do NYC rules allow for propane?
New York City regulates barbecues under Fire Code section 307.5 and the Fuel Gas Code section 623, and the Buildings Department publishes a plain-English summary. This is what it says, and it is why natural gas is the default fuel for city grills.
- Apartment and multi-family buildings (three or more units): standard 20-pound propane cylinders may not be used or stored on a balcony, roof deck, roof, rear yard or courtyard. That rules out a normal propane grill almost everywhere in a Brooklyn or Manhattan apartment building.
- Roofs, any building: only propane containers smaller than 16.4 ounces may be used, for a short time, and they may not be stored on the roof at all.
- One- and two-family homes: propane grills are permitted with no more than two 20-pound cylinders on the property.
- Natural gas grills: permitted when installed by a NYC licensed master plumber under the Fuel Gas Code, with the piping inspected and tested. Grills made for commercial use are not allowed in a residence.
- Charcoal: allowed on a terrace or in a backyard with 10 feet of clearance from the building, but not on a balcony or roof.
- Electric grills: allowed on balconies, terraces, roofs and in yards, on a properly rated circuit.
- Everyone: keep any grill at least 10 feet from anything combustible, keep a hose or extinguisher within reach, and never use or store a grill on a fire escape.
The FDNY's own LPG rules add that no propane container larger than 16.4 ounces may be brought into a residential building, that storage inside a dwelling is limited to four such small containers, and that none may be kept in a basement. Co-op and condo boards often go further than the code, and some insurers prohibit grills outright, so read your house rules before you buy anything with a flame.
Put it together and the picture is simple. In a one- or two-family house in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx or Staten Island, you can run propane legally, but if the house has gas service a natural gas grill is cheaper to feed and you never carry a tank again. In an apartment building, a natural gas grill on a plumber-installed line, or an electric grill, is the path. That is why the overwhelming majority of grills we install inside the five boroughs are natural gas.
What about Long Island and New Jersey?
Outside the city the Fire Code is different and the 20-pound tank rules above do not apply, which is why propane carts are everywhere on Long Island and in Jersey. But the same economics hold. If your house already has a gas furnace, water heater or range, you have gas service and a licensed plumber can extend it to the patio with a town permit. Nearly every built-in outdoor kitchen we do in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and northern New Jersey ends up on natural gas for that reason.
Propane stays the right answer in a few situations we see often: homes on oil heat with no gas main on the street, which is common in parts of Suffolk and the North Fork; beach houses used seasonally; and decks and rooftops where trenching or sleeving a line is not worth it. For those, the American Made Grills Muscle 36 propane (there is a natural gas Muscle 36 too) and the Blaze BCM 32 on a cart are the freestanding propane grills we point to first. One Long Island-specific note: salt air near the South Shore and the East End is hard on grill bodies and on propane fittings, so look at marine-grade stainless options and keep the regulator and hose out of the spray.
No gas line? Your options
If there is no gas service, or you are in an apartment building and a line is not possible, you still have good choices.
Propane in a house. Any built-in propane grill can live in an island with a tank cabinet, and any freestanding propane grill rolls where you want it. Keep two 20-pound tanks (the NYC limit for one- and two-family homes) and you will never be caught out.
Electric in an apartment.Electric grills are the one category the city allows on balconies, terraces and roofs. They do not sear like a 60,000 BTU gas grill, but a good one on a dedicated circuit cooks dinner for a family, and it is legal where propane is not.
Charcoal in a yard. With 10 feet of clearance and a hose nearby, a kamado or charcoal grill is legal in a NYC backyard or on a terrace, just not a balcony or roof.
Plan for natural gas later. If the house will get gas service eventually, buy a grill from a brand with a documented conversion kit and keep the tank cabinet. When the line arrives, the plumber converts the grill and the island stays put.
Our recommended models
Every grill below is sold in both fuels or ships with a documented conversion path, and every one is a grill we have connected more than once. The fuel in the name is the one we link; the twin is one click away on the product page.
Natural gas picks
Propane picks
Which should you choose?
Choose natural gas if:
- Your house already has gas service for a furnace, water heater or range.
- The grill is going into an island or will stay on one side of the patio.
- You live in a NYC apartment, condo or co-op where propane is off the table.
- The outdoor kitchen will have a side burner, power burner or pizza oven on the same line.
- You never want to think about a tank again.
Choose propane if:
- There is no gas main on the street, which is common in parts of Suffolk and the North Fork.
- The grill is a cart that has to move, or you rent.
- The house is a seasonal beach place and a plumbing job is not worth it.
- Running the line means trenching across finished pavers or sleeving a deck.
- You are in a one- or two-family home and can legally keep two 20 pound cylinders.
Our recommendation: if you have gas service and the grill is staying put, natural gas, every time. Have the licensed plumber stub the line where the island will go even if the island is a year away. Choose propane only when the fuel is genuinely unavailable or the grill genuinely moves. If gas service might come later, buy from a brand with a documented kit (Lynx, Blaze, Napoleon) and treat the conversion as insurance, not a plan.
Built-in natural gas grillsBuilt-in propane grillsFreestanding natural gas grillsFreestanding propane grillsAll BBQ grillsBuilt-in grillsFreestanding grills
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a propane grill with a natural gas line?
Not as-is. The orifices and regulator are sized for propane's higher pressure and energy density, so on natural gas you get a weak flame that will not reach cooking temperature. The grill has to be converted with the manufacturer's kit for that model, and the line still has to be run by a licensed plumber.
Is natural gas cheaper than propane for grilling?
In this region, yes, per BTU. Natural gas is metered by your utility at household rates; propane is bought by the tank at a higher price per unit of heat, and exchange tanks are often filled to 15 pounds rather than 20. The natural gas grill costs more upfront because of the plumbing, so the payback is faster the more you cook.
Does propane grill hotter than natural gas?
No. Both versions of the same grill are rated at the same BTU because the manufacturer sizes the orifices to deliver it. Propane has more energy per cubic foot, so the grill uses less volume of it, but the heat at the grate is identical.
Can I have a propane grill on my balcony or roof in NYC?
Not with a standard 20-pound tank. In NYC, 20-pound propane cylinders may not be used or stored on the balcony, roof deck, roof, yard or courtyard of a multi-family building. On a roof, only containers smaller than 16.4 ounces may be used briefly and never stored. One- and two-family homes may have up to two 20-pound tanks. Natural gas grills installed by a licensed master plumber and electric grills are the options for most apartments.
Who can install a natural gas grill in New York City?
A New York City licensed master plumber, working under the NYC Fuel Gas Code, with the piping inspected and tested. The Fuel Gas Code also prohibits commercial-use grills in a residence. Outside the city, a licensed plumber with a town permit.
Which grill brands can be converted between natural gas and propane?
Lynx lists conversion kits on its product pages. Blaze and Napoleon offer kits for most of their gas grills through dealers. Fire Magic sells model-specific orifice sets. Mont Alpi ships propane with an optional natural gas kit. Weber does not offer conversion kits and says converting voids the warranty. Other brands vary by model, so ask before you buy.
How long does a 20-pound propane tank last on a grill?
A full 20-pound tank holds roughly 430,000 BTU. A 32-inch grill with four 14,000 BTU burners running wide open uses 56,000 BTU per hour, so a little under eight hours at full blast, and considerably longer at normal cooking settings. Big 42-inch-plus grills at 70,000 to 100,000 BTU empty a tank in four to six hours of hard use, which is why their owners keep a spare.
Where should I store a propane tank?
Upright, outdoors, in the shade, valve closed, away from the house and never in a basement, garage or unventilated cabinet. In an island, use the vented tank enclosure the grill manufacturer specifies. In NYC, no propane container larger than 16.4 ounces may be brought into a residential building.
Talk to a specialist
Not sure if you can get a gas line to the patio? Ask us.
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We will tell you straight whether natural gas or propane is the right call for your house, your building and your block, and we coordinate the licensed plumber when it is natural gas.
Book a free consultationCall 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens.
Related guides
Browse all buying guides and expert advice →
Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources:NYC Department of Buildings barbecue rules (Fire Code 307.5, Fuel Gas Code 623), FDNY Fire Code, LPG chapter (residential container limits), Lynx L30TR product page (PRONGK1 / PROLPK1 conversion kits), Blaze Premium LTE+ 32 spec page, Blaze BCM 32, Napoleon Built-In 700 Series 32 (NG), Weber: converting between propane and natural gas. Specifications and code requirements change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual and your licensed plumber.