The best BBQ covers to keep your grill protected

Come rain or shine - make sure your BBQ is well protected with the best cover.

best bbq cover

by Ellen Kinsey |
Updated on

If you're keen to keep your grill in tip-top condition all year round, the best BBQ cover for your beloved outdoor appliance should be your first port of call. In the UK, we're not blessed with year-round warm weather, so often, we need to leave our best BBQs outside in bad weather due to a lack of space in the garage or garden shed.

However, you can protect your precious garden appliance against blustery weather, dirt, and wear and tear by using a BBQ cover. No matter which BBQ you use — whether it be a charcoal BBQ, a hybrid BBQ or a gas BBQ, we're here to help you find the best protection for your outdoor kitchen.

Best BBQ covers at a glance

Best BBQ cover for large barbecues: Gas Barbecue Aerocover - View offer on Robert Dyas
Editor's choice: Grillman Premium BBQ Grill Cover - View offer on Amazon
Best BBQ cover for Kamado-style barbecues: Kamado Joe Classic Charcoal Grill Cover - View offer on Amazon

We've rounded up the best BBQ cover for all brands, budgets and sizes to ensure your cookout is easy and clean every time. To help protect your BBQ even further, make sure to give it a proper clean with the best BBQ cleaner before you put the cover on. BBQs come in a variety of shapes and shapes, so whether it's a Kamado grill or a Weber Genesis, here at Modern Gardens, we've got you covered with these best barbie buys.

Best BBQ covers

Best BBQ cover for large barbecues

Aerocover gas barbecue coverRobert Dyas

Constructed with strong and lightweight ripstop polyester, this Gas Barbecue AeroCover is made to last. It also takes up very minimal space when tucked away in its bundled storage bag. The "AreoCover" technology is a clever membrane that keeps out dirt and rain, but allows moisture vapor to escape from under the cover to avoid your barbie rusting up.

Pros

  • Strong and lightweight
  • Ripstop polyester technology
  • Protects against rain, dirt, and discolouration

Cons

  • Not completely windproof

Best BBQ cover for charcoal grills

AWNIC BBQ Cover Barbecue CoverANWIC/Amazon

If you keep your barbeque outdoors through all four seasons, then this AWNIC BBQ Cover will offer it protection year-round. This cover is made from a durable, water-, and UV-resistant 420D Oxford fabric that's been given an extra waterproof coating. It's very secure once put in place. One reviewer notes that this has clasps to attach it to the base of the barbecue, so it doesn’t blow off in breezy weather. There are also drawstrings to tighten it around the base making it even more of a snug fit.

Pros

  • Drawstring to keep secure
  • Eco-friendly PU coating
  • Water-resistant

Cons

  • Material not that thick

Editor's choice

Grillman Premium BBQ Grill CoverGrillman/Amazon

Rrp: $59.99

Price: $23.99

Grillman offers this affordable yet premium BBQ grill cover which comes in a range of different sizes from 75 by 66 by 109cm to 183 by 66 by 130cm. This is made from a quality material, described by reviewers as robust, that will protect your BBQ from bad weather; heavy-duty PVC-lined, 600D Oxford material that is waterproof, UV-resistant, and tear-resistant. This has Velcro straps around the middle of the case to tighten it over your grill and reports from those using this cover suggest these work well to secure it.

Pros

  • Fits all standard-size BBQs
  • Durable Oxford fabric

Cons

  • No drawstring in the base

Best BBQ cover for Kamado-style barbecues

Kamado Joe KJ Grill CoverKamado Joe/Amazon

Rrp: $99.99

Price: $93.00
Alternative retailers
Best Buy$94.99View offer
Overstock$96.29View offer
Lowe's$99.99View offer
Wayfair$100.00View offer

If you have a Kamado-style BBQ, then it's worth investing in the heavy-duty Kamado Joe BBQ cover to match. After all, if you've spent the money on the BBQ grill, then you need to keep it protected. This specially shaped cover has a near-perfect 4.7 out of 5 rating on Amazon with 3,000 reviews, so it will be sure to prolong the longevity of your beloved egg-shaped grill. Reviewers state this fits like a glove, but be sure to check your BBQ's measurements before you buy.

Pros

  • Designed to fit Kamado Joe BBQs
  • Heavy-duty quality material
  • Extra straps to keep it secure

Cons

  • Seams not taped on the chimney section

Best BBQ cover for Weber barbeques

Weber Premium 47cm barbecue coverWeber

Weber is one of the most prominent names in the BBQ industry, and its range of BBQ covers will keep your grill protected from dust, dirt, and rain. Reviewers describe this option as robust, waterproof, and a perfect fit. There are BBQ covers available for all size of Weber BBQs and the brand has a handy list on its website to show which cover you need.

Pros

  • Tailor-made to fit Weber BBQs
  • Well-made
  • Waterproof

Cons

  • Best for Weber BBQs

Best budget BBQ cover for XL barbecues

Unicook Large Heavy Duty Waterproof Outdoor Barbecue CoverUnicook/Amazon

Rrp: $32.89

Price: $29.99

This Unicook Large BBQ cover fits most brands, including Weber, Charbroil, Holland, Jenn Air, and Brinkmann. It gives your grill year-round protection from sunlight, rain, dust, dirt, and other outdoor elements. This cover has ventilation flaps for airflow, Velcro to secure it, and two useful handles to remove it. Reviewers are of the opinion it's good value thanks to its reasonable price.

Pros

  • All weather protection
  • Thick and sturdy material
  • Value for money

Cons

  • Some customers have commented that the material was brittle

Best BBQ cover for Big Green Egg barbeques

Mini Lustrous Big Green Egg CoverMini Lustrous/Amazon
Price: $25.80

Protect your precious Big Green Egg BBQ with this alternative to the official EGG cover. The creators of this BBQ describe it as "so much more than a barbecue" as you can make sourdough bread, pizzas, and smoked fish on this grill. This is available for the large and extra-large BGEs, but will obviously also work with other Kamado-style grills with similar dimensions. Reviewers note that this is a lot cheaper than the official cover.

Pros

  • Alternative to a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe cover
  • Fits well on most eggs

Cons

  • No Velcro straps

Best BBQ cover for medium-size barbeques

Velway Barbecue CoverVelway/Amazon

This medium-sized grill cover from Velway is made with high-quality fabric and is waterproof so that it will preserve your BBQ through the seasons. This gets top points from reviewers for water resistance and general protection. A storage bag is included so you can easily store the cover away when it's not in use. There are air vents to keep air flowing and useful handles for quick removal when it's time to grill.

Pros

  • Secure sealed stitching
  • Built-in air vent panels to help air circulate
  • Thick material

Cons

  • Not very windproof

How we chose the best BBQ covers

All of these BBQ covers have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the product suitability, durability, and materials in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching BBQ covers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.

FAQs

Should you cover your BBQ?

While it’s not essential, if you want your prized BBQ to remain in great condition and last longer, then yes, you should cover it. Even more so if you don’t have a garage or shed and your BBQ is going to be kept outside all year long.

A cover will protect your BBQ from different weather conditions, which, over time, can damage your BBQ and lead to rust. It will also help with general cleanliness, like protecting it from grime, dust and dirt. If your garden is prone to wildlife, it will also shelter it from birds leaving a mess on it too.

What is the best material for a BBQ cover?

There are quite a few different suitable materials, however, the most important thing is that it is waterproof.

Vinyl is better at being waterproof and is also tear-resistant, however, it is usually more expensive. The cheapest material you’ll find is polyester. This is also very lightweight and is used by a lot of manufacturers, but just check it is waterproof before you purchase.

Canvas will be the strongest material for a BBQ cover. It’s naturally water resistant, and if it has a polyvinyl chloride coating, it will be waterproof. It is heavier than both vinyl and polyester, so bear that in mind.

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Ellen Kinsey was a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer and has been a part of Bauer Media since 2020. She has left Bauer Media to study Ayurveda in India to expand her knowledge and skills in the health and wellness field, where she plans to continue making journalistic contributions.

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