Gas grill setup
Converting a Propane Grill to Natural Gas: What's Involved and When It's Worth It
If your house already has natural gas, running the grill off it means no more tank swaps. But you can't simply screw a natural gas line onto a propane grill. The two fuels run at different pressures and need different parts.
This is a planning guide: it explains what a conversion involves, how to tell whether your grill can be converted, and when buying a natural gas grill makes more sense. It's general information, not installation instructions. Your grill's manufacturer and a qualified gas professional are the authorities on your specific setup.
Quick answer
- Only convert a grill if the manufacturer offers or approves a conversion kit for that exact model.
- Conversion usually swaps the valve orifices and the gas supply connection, and removes the propane regulator. It's more than an adapter.
- Running a gas line to the patio is a job for a licensed professional and may need a permit.
- Many grills are sold in propane and natural gas versions. If you're buying new, buying the NG version is often simpler.
- Unapproved conversions can create safety problems and may void the warranty.
Why propane and natural gas aren't interchangeable
Propane and natural gas carry different amounts of energy per cubic foot and are delivered at different pressures. Propane from a tank goes through a regulator on the grill's hose. Natural gas arrives from the house supply at a lower pressure. To produce a similar flame, a burner running on natural gas needs a larger orifice (the tiny brass jet that meters gas into each burner) than the same burner on propane.
That's why putting natural gas into a propane setup typically produces weak flames, while putting propane into a natural gas setup can produce dangerously oversized flames. The orifices and supply parts have to match the fuel.
What a conversion typically involves
Details vary by model, but manufacturer conversion kits commonly include some combination of:
| Part | Why it changes |
|---|---|
| Burner valve orifices | Natural gas needs differently sized orifices to deliver the right flow |
| Side burner and sear burner orifices | Every burner on the grill must be converted, not just the mains |
| Supply hose | A natural gas hose, usually with a quick-disconnect fitting, replaces the propane hose and regulator |
| Valve adjustment | Some valves have a low-setting screw that needs adjusting for the new fuel |
| Labels | Kits often include a label to mark the grill as converted, which matters for anyone who uses it later |
Some grills are designed with conversion in mind and the kit is a straightforward bolt-in job. Others can't be converted at all, because the valve design or burner system wasn't built for it.
How to tell if your grill can be converted
- Find the model number on the grill's data label and check the manual for a section on fuel conversion.
- Look on the manufacturer's parts site for a natural gas conversion kit listed for that model.
- Contact customer service and ask directly. Ask whether the conversion must be done by a qualified technician and whether it affects warranty coverage.
- Check the data label itself. It usually states the fuel type and sometimes says “not convertible.”
You'll find universal hoses, adapters and orifice sets that claim to convert any grill. Unless the grill's manufacturer approves them for your model, skip them. A conversion that's wrong can create flame and leak problems that are hard to spot, and an unapproved modification may void your warranty. If no approved kit exists, the honest answer is that the grill stays on propane.
The gas line: who does what
Converting the grill is only half the job. You also need a natural gas outlet where the grill will stand. In most places that means:
- A licensed gas fitter or plumber runs the line. They size the pipe for the distance and the appliance, and install a shutoff valve near the grill.
- Permits and inspection. Many jurisdictions require a permit for new gas lines. Your installer will know local rules.
- A quick-disconnect outlet. A common setup is a shutoff valve with a quick-connect fitting, so the grill hose can be disconnected for cleaning or moving.
- Leak testing. The installer tests the new line, and you should leak-test the grill's connection as the grill manual describes.
Ask the installer to confirm the supply can handle the grill alongside other gas appliances running at the same time, especially for large grills with several burners.
Pros and cons of natural gas grilling
Upsides
No tanks to refill or swap, no running out mid-cook, and the fuel is often cheaper per unit of heat than tank propane, depending on your local rates.
Downsides
The grill is tethered to one spot. Install costs can be significant. Some converted grills run slightly cooler than on propane. Moving later means another gas job.
Our full propane vs natural gas comparison covers the fuel trade-offs in more depth. This article is specifically about the conversion route.
Convert or buy a natural gas grill?
| Your situation | Usually the better move |
|---|---|
| Grill is newer, in good shape, and an approved kit exists | Convert with the approved kit |
| Grill is older, rusty or needs burners anyway | Put the money toward a grill sold as natural gas |
| No approved kit for your model | Stay on propane or buy an NG grill |
| Buying new and already have a gas line | Buy the natural gas version from the start |
| You might move the grill or move house soon | Stay on propane for flexibility |
If you're buying new, many popular gas grills are offered in both versions. The NG model costs about the same and comes set up correctly from the factory, which saves the conversion step entirely.
Browse natural gas grills on Amazon
Hoses and accessories for NG grills
For a grill that's already natural gas, or one converted with an approved kit, the hose and fittings are the parts owners most often need to replace or extend. Use only hoses rated for outdoor natural gas use and approved for your grill, and keep them away from hot surfaces and foot traffic. Don't run extension lengths beyond what the grill manufacturer and your installer approve.
Browse natural gas grill hoses on Amazon
A soapy-water spray bottle for leak checks is a cheap, worthwhile accessory for any gas grill.
Browse leak-check spray bottles on Amazon
Safety checklist after any fuel change
- All burners, including side and sear burners, converted per the kit instructions.
- Grill labeled as natural gas so no one connects a propane tank later.
- Connections leak-tested with soapy water as the manual describes.
- Flames checked: mostly blue, even along each burner, no lifting or roaring.
- Grill placed with the clearances to the house and combustibles that the manual specifies.
- Any doubts referred to the manufacturer or a qualified gas technician.
Questions to ask before you start
Gather answers to these before spending money on a kit or a gas line:
- To the manufacturer: Is there an approved conversion kit for my model and serial number? Who should install it? Does it affect the warranty? Are the converted burner ratings different?
- To the gas fitter: What size line is needed for this distance and appliance? Is a permit required? Where should the shutoff go? Can the supply handle the grill alongside the furnace, water heater and other appliances?
- To yourself: Will the grill stay in this spot for years? Would I want to take it camping or move it around the yard?
FAQ
Can you use a propane grill with natural gas?
Not without converting it. Natural gas and propane need different orifices and supply parts. Only convert using a kit the manufacturer offers or approves for your exact model.
Is it hard to convert a grill to natural gas?
On grills designed for it, the kit can be a fairly simple parts swap, though some manufacturers want a qualified technician to do it. On grills without an approved kit, it isn't something to attempt. The gas line itself is a job for a licensed professional.
Will converting my grill void the warranty?
Using the manufacturer's own kit as directed usually doesn't, but an unapproved conversion may. Ask the manufacturer before you start and keep records of the kit and installer.
Does a natural gas grill get as hot as propane?
A grill built or properly converted for natural gas is designed to perform well on it, but some converted grills run a little cooler. Check the manufacturer's stated burner ratings for the NG version.
Bottom line
A natural gas grill is convenient, but a conversion is a fuel-system change, not an accessory. Use only a manufacturer-approved kit, have a licensed professional run the gas line, and leak-test everything. If your grill has no approved kit, or is near the end of its life anyway, a grill sold as natural gas is the cleaner path.