Best Time to Buy a Grill in 2026 (When Prices Actually Drop)
The best time to buy a grill is genuinely a real question. Prices swing 15–40% across the year on the same equipment, and knowing the pattern can save you $300–$2,000 depending on tier. Here's the honest month-by-month analysis based on what actually happens in the industry, not what discount-hunter blogs claim.
Note: This applies to the industry broadly. Fire Magic and AOG (both RH Peterson brands) operate under a Minimum Sold Price (MSP) policy — RH Peterson's current guidance treats prices more than 10% below MSRP as below MSP. Small in-season discounts within that 10% window can appear, but the deep 20-30% discounts you'll see on other brands don't materialize on Fire Magic or AOG. If you want those brands, timing matters far less than on the rest of the industry.
The one-line answer
Late September through mid-November is the deepest discount window on gas grills, kamados, and pellet grills. Retailers clear summer inventory before winter warehouse costs kick in, and manufacturers push year-end promotions to hit annual sales targets.
Second-best window: Black Friday through mid-December. Discounts are similar to fall but selection is thinner — the fall clearance thinned inventory, and holiday shipping constraints limit what's actually available.
Month-by-month breakdown
January – February
Selection: low. Prices: neutral. Post-holiday. New model-year products announced (typically at January consumer shows) but not yet shipped. Older-year clearance stock at ~5-15% off if you can find it. Not the worst time, not the best.
March – April
Selection: rising. Prices: neutral to slightly up. Peak "new model" launch season. New units at full retail. If you want the newest 2026 hardware, this is when it arrives. If you want a deal, wait.
May – July
Selection: high. Prices: MSRP. Peak grilling season. Full retail across the board. Memorial Day and July 4th weekend get promoted heavily by big-box stores but the discounts are usually 5-10% on selected models — real, but not deep.
August
Selection: high. Prices: modest early discounts appear. End of the peak selling period. Some brands start "back-to-school" promotions that overlap with grill inventory. First wave of ~10-20% discounts on non-flagship models.
September – October (best window)
Selection: full. Prices: DEEPEST discounts of the year. Retailers are motivated to clear inventory before winter storage costs increase. 15-30% off common on premium brands (Summerset, Broilmaster, TrueFlame). Deeper on entry-tier freestandings. Manufacturers push dealer promotions to hit Q3/Q4 targets. Kamado brands (Primo, Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg) discount less but do offer bundled accessory deals.
November
Selection: thinning. Prices: continued discounts through Black Friday. Black Friday through Cyber Monday is the second peak discount window. Similar %-off to September/October but on thinner inventory. If a specific model matters, buy in September, not November — you may not find it.
December
Selection: sparse. Prices: some clearance, some holiday markup. Weird month. Holiday-gift positioning creates some markups on gift-friendly units; leftover fall inventory continues to clear. Selection is thinnest of the year.
What discount % to expect
Tier · Off-peak (Jan-Aug) · Peak sale window (Sep-Nov)
Entry freestanding ($400-800) · 5-10% off · 20-30% off
Mid freestanding ($800-2,000) · 5-10% · 15-25%
Premium freestanding ($2,000-5,000) · Minimal · 10-20%
Entry built-in ($1,500-3,000) · Minimal · 10-20%
Premium built-in ($3,000-8,000) · 0-5% · 5-15%
Kamado grills · Minimal · Bundled accessories, rarely direct discount
Fire Magic / AOG (MSP policy) · 0-10% below MSRP · 0-10% below MSRP
Outdoor kitchens (full builds) · Custom pricing year-round · Not applicable
Percentages are typical, not guaranteed. Real numbers vary by brand and specific model.
The MSP / MAP reality (Fire Magic, AOG, some others)
Some manufacturers enforce pricing policies that limit how far below MSRP an authorized dealer can go. Fire Magic and AOG (both RH Peterson brands) use a Minimum Sold Price (MSP) framework that treats sales more than 10% below MSRP as below-policy.
The practical effect for shoppers:
- Fire Magic and AOG rarely appear at the deep 20-30% discounts you'll see on Summerset, TrueFlame, or Broilmaster
- Modest discounts within ~10% of MSRP can exist within policy
- Some Primo items and some Solaire infrared grills are similarly restricted
Rule: for RH Peterson-policy brands, buy from an authorized dealer at the policy-compliant price and get the full warranty. Deep-discount sites for these brands are often unauthorized (gray market) — the grill may be cheaper but the manufacturer warranty is typically void through unauthorized channels.
The two-tier strategy
Most shoppers should split their thinking into two categories:
Category A: Flexible on brand, want the best deal. Wait for the September–November window. You'll save 15-30% on Summerset, Broilmaster, TrueFlame, ProFire, MHP, Bromic, and most pellet + kamado brands.
Category B: Specific brand in mind, brand is MAP-strict. Timing doesn't help you. Buy from an authorized dealer any time. Focus on install timing, not price timing.
What NOT to wait for
"Presidents Day" or "MLK Day" sales. Not real grill promotions. Some retailers use the language but the discounts are 5% or less.
"Amazon Prime Day." Grills aren't a primary Prime Day category. What appears on sale is usually low-tier freestandings from third-party sellers with questionable warranty support.
Grill manufacturer factory tours or special events. Interesting to visit but not tied to real discount windows.
Timing tips beyond price
Beyond raw discount, some non-price factors that shift with the season:
- Install lead time: outdoor kitchen contractors are booked out 3-6 months from March-August, 2-4 weeks September-November. If you want your grill installed this fall, buy the grill in September and book the mason immediately.
- Delivery timing: fall/winter shipping is faster than spring/summer for premium built-ins. Warehouses are less backed up.
- Warranty registration: register the grill with the manufacturer within 30 days of purchase regardless of when you install it. Warranty starts at purchase, not install.
What to buy in each window
September–October: deep-discount hunting. Anything on your list from Summerset, Broilmaster, TrueFlame, ProFire, MHP, Bromic, or a Traeger pellet.
November: if you missed September, second-chance shopping. Also the best window for kamado accessory bundles (Kamado Joe DoJoe, Joetisserie, controllers packaged together).
March–May: buy the newest model-year hardware at full price. Necessary if you want the latest Fire Magic Echelon revision or the newest Traeger.
Any time: Fire Magic, AOG, and other MAP-strict brands. No advantage to waiting.
FAQ
Are Labor Day sales the best time to buy a grill? Labor Day discounts exist but are typically shallower than September-October clearance. Labor Day is more of a "promoted sale" than a "deep discount" — 10-15% off is normal. Real clearance follows in the 3-6 weeks after.
Do prices drop after Christmas? Very slightly. Post-holiday clearance is 5-10% off on remaining inventory. Selection is thin. Not worth waiting for if you're targeting a specific model.
Should I buy a floor-model grill? Depends. Some retailers sell floor models at 20-30% off with full manufacturer warranty. Ask about cosmetic condition and any handling damage. Never buy a floor model without a full manufacturer warranty in writing.
Does buying at end of season mean I'll have to store it all winter? Not necessarily. If you have a covered patio or a garage, you can install and use through fall/winter (see our cold-weather grilling guide). If you'd need to store it wrapped for 4-5 months, buy the grill in September and cook through the fall — most premium grills are engineered for year-round outdoor use anyway.
Are grill trade-ins a thing? Rarely. A few high-end outdoor kitchen dealers occasionally offer $200-500 trade credit toward a premium built-in. Ask your dealer, don't expect it.
Ready to shop? See what's currently available across built-in grills, freestanding grills, and kamado grills. Every grill on our site ships with the manufacturer's full warranty as an authorized dealer.