Compare a sale grill the way you would compare it at any other time: write down cooking area, burner or fuel system, build, warranty and parts support for both candidates, then see which one still wins. Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. A banner date says nothing about whether a grill suits the way you cook.
This guide does not claim any grill will be discounted this year. It gives you a method for judging whatever offers you find, using the same two-column comparison whether the grill is gas, charcoal, pellet or electric.
Choose on the checklist first, then ask whether the sale grill beats your short list. A marked-down model with weak parts support, vague warranty terms or a seller the maker does not authorize is not a bargain.
The dates, and what they do not tell you
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26, according to the federal holiday schedule published by the US Office of Personnel Management. Black Friday is defined as the day after Thanksgiving, which makes it November 27, and Cyber Monday is the Monday after that, November 30. Both 2026 dates follow from those definitions.
Retailers choose their own sale windows and can change listings at any time, so the calendar works best as a reminder to compare. If a countdown timer pushes you to check out before you have filled in the checklist below, the timer has done its job and you have not.
The side-by-side checklist
Open two tabs, or two columns on paper, and fill in the same fields for each grill. Use the maker's manual or spec sheet where you can, because listings summarize and sometimes blur categories.
| Check | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Cooking area | The primary cooking surface, kept separate from warming racks and side burners. Some listings add these together, so look for the primary figure and compare it with how much food you cook at once. |
| Burners or fuel system | Gas: burner count and layout, igniter type, propane or natural gas, and whether a conversion kit is needed. Charcoal: vents, ash handling and grate adjustment. Pellet or electric: hopper, controller and outlet needs. |
| Build | Body and lid material, grate material, how the lid closes, cart stability and wheels. Look for photos of the back and underside, not only the hero shot. |
| Warranty | Written terms you can read before buying, which parts are covered, for how long, and whether coverage follows the original purchaser only. |
| Parts support | Whether burners, grates, igniters and heat shields are sold for that exact model, and where the model number is printed. |
| In the box | Cover, propane cylinder, side shelves, cart, hardware, and what arrives assembled. A grill with fewer extras can still be the better buy. |
Only fill in facts. If a field stays blank because the listing does not say, that is information too. Before you compare, decide which two rows matter most for your cooking, such as cooking area for big family cookouts or parts support for a grill you want to keep a decade. Then let those two rows break any tie, instead of letting the discount do it. Our general how to buy a grill guide explains how fuel type and cooking area relate to the way you cook, which is the step before this comparison.
Check the model number, not the name
Grill lines come in many versions, and a familiar name on a sale listing does not guarantee the version you read about. Match the model number or SKU on the listing to the one on the maker's own product page, then compare burner count, cooking area and included parts line by line.
If a listing has no model number, treat it as a missing field rather than a small omission. When two grills look similar, the one with documented specs and a findable parts list is the safer purchase, discount or not.
Warranty and parts: what a discount cannot fix
Under the FTC's warranty rules, the written terms of a warranty on a consumer product costing more than fifteen dollars must be available to shoppers before they buy. The law does not require any seller to offer a written warranty at all. A warranty is called "full" only if it meets all five conditions in the FTC guide, and anything short of that is "limited", so read what is covered, for how long, and what the owner must do to claim it.
Maker pages show why the seller matters. Char-Broil's warranty page ties coverage to the original consumer purchaser, asks for proof of purchase from an authorized source, and says products from unauthorized sellers may not qualify for parts or other manufacturer-backed benefits. Blackstone's warranty page limits coverage to the original purchaser and says the full warranty does not apply to griddles bought from unlicensed third-party resellers, at a discount because of missing or damaged parts, or as floor models. Other makers write their own terms, so read the one for your grill.
Keep the receipt, and screenshot the listing showing the model number and seller name. Both matter if you ever need a replacement part or have to show where and when you bought the grill. Ask the maker, before you buy, which sellers it counts as authorized for your model.
Reading a sale price without trusting it
The FTC's Guide Against Deceptive Pricing says a "was" price is a fair comparison only if it is a genuine price at which the item was offered to the public on a regular basis, and that a trivial markdown can mislead. You cannot audit a retailer's price history from your couch, but you can protect yourself:
- Compare the same model number at two or three sellers, not the same seller's "was" and "now".
- Look at the listing a few weeks before the sale if you can, and note what changes.
- Ignore percentage-off badges. Judge the grill on your checklist and the final price you would pay, including delivery.
Delivery matters here too. Under the FTC's mail-order rule, a seller that states a shipping time must have a reasonable basis for it, and where no time is stated the default is shipment within thirty days of a properly completed order. A seller that cannot ship on time must offer you the choice of waiting or cancelling for a prompt refund. Read the delivery date promised at checkout, and the return terms for large items, which can differ from the store's general policy.
Budget for what the sale grill will need on day one
The grill price rarely covers the first two purchases most new owners make. A cover protects the finish between cooks, and a thermometer replaces guesswork with a reading. Our guides on exact-fit versus universal covers and instant-read thermometers cover what to look for. Search these by your grill's dimensions or model number, then confirm fit with the maker.
Grill cover for your model
Best for Any grill that lives outdoors
Match the cover to the grill's model or measured dimensions, and check whether side tables and shelves are included in the sizing.
Instant-read thermometer
Best for Gas, charcoal and pellet cooks alike
Look for a thin probe, a readable display and a stated way to calibrate or check it. Keep one at the grill, not in a drawer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Black Friday the best time to buy a grill?
The calendar alone cannot tell you that. Stores set their own schedules and discounts, and no deal is guaranteed. Compare the grill you want across a few sellers over several weeks and judge it with the checklist above.
What are the Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates in 2026?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Black Friday is the next day, Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30.
Does the warranty still apply if I buy a grill on sale?
That depends on the maker's terms and the seller. Some makers limit coverage to the original purchaser and to authorized sellers, and exclude floor models or discounted units sold with missing or damaged parts. Read the warranty before you pay.
How can I tell whether a sale price is real?
Compare the same model number at several sellers and over several weeks, and treat unverifiable "was" prices with caution. If a listing has no model number, you cannot make a fair comparison.
What if my grill does not ship on time?
Under the FTC's mail-order rule, a seller that cannot meet its shipping date must offer you the choice of agreeing to a delay or cancelling for a prompt refund. Keep your order confirmation.
- US Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays: Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26.
- timeanddate.com, Black Friday: Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving; Cyber Monday is the Monday after.
- FTC, Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law: pre-sale availability, full versus limited warranties.
- FTC, Mail, Internet or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule: stated and default shipping times, delay and refund options.
- 16 CFR Part 233, Guides Against Deceptive Pricing: former-price comparisons.
- Char-Broil warranty and Blackstone warranty: original purchaser and authorized-seller terms.
No prices, discounts or retailer offers are quoted, and no sale is promised. The 2026 Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates are derived from the day-after and Monday-after definitions. Confirm return windows, restocking terms and warranty details with the seller and the maker for your exact model.