Best Time of Year to Buy a Grill

The best time of year to buy a grill is typically late summer through early fall, roughly August through October, when retailers clear out current-season inventory to make room for holiday goods. A smaller secondary window opens in early spring, right before grilling season ramps up, when stores sometimes discount older models to move stock ahead of new arrivals. Buying mid-summer, right when demand peaks, is usually the most expensive time.

Why grill prices follow the seasons

Grills are seasonal merchandise, much like patio furniture, and they follow a similar sales rhythm. Retailers stock up heavily in spring anticipating Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day demand. Once the peak grilling months pass, stores need floor and warehouse space for fall and winter categories — patio heaters, holiday decor, snow gear — so grills get marked down to clear them out. This is the same pattern that drives the best time to buy patio furniture, and it’s worth reading that guide too if you’re furnishing an outdoor space at the same time as buying a grill, since the discounts often overlap.

Manufacturers also tend to release new grill lineups in late winter or early spring, which means outgoing models — often identical or nearly identical in function to the new ones, just with a different paint color or minor cosmetic update — need to go. That creates downward price pressure right around late summer and into fall, before the next spring refresh cycle begins.

Shopper comparing two grills in a store aisle to find the best time to buy a grill

The two real discount windows

Late summer to early fall (the bigger window)

This is the most reliable stretch. Once the July Fourth rush passes, retailers shift into clearance mode for outdoor categories. Labor Day weekend is often a visible marker for this, but the actual discounting frequently continues for weeks afterward as stores work through leftover inventory. Floor models, discontinued colors, and last season’s grills commonly see the deepest markdowns in this window — sometimes similar in depth to the seasonal cuts you’d see on patio furniture or on the appliances covered in our guide to when to buy appliances for the lowest prices.

Early spring (a smaller, less predictable window)

Some retailers discount remaining grill stock in late winter or very early spring, before the new model year lineup fully arrives and before grilling season demand kicks in. This window is less consistent than the fall clearance and depends heavily on how much inventory a store is still holding. If you see a grill discounted in February or March, it’s often because the retailer wants it gone before newer models take up shelf space — worth grabbing if the specs fit your needs, but don’t count on finding one every year at this time.

When to avoid buying if you can help it

Late May through July: Peak demand means peak prices. Retailers know grills sell themselves during this stretch and have little reason to discount.
Right after a major grill fails: Emergency replacements rarely align with sale timing. If your old grill dies in June, you’ll likely pay closer to full price unless you get lucky with an odd clearance item.
Right before a holiday weekend: Prices sometimes tick up slightly in the days leading into Memorial Day or July Fourth as demand spikes, even if a “sale” is technically listed.

What actually drives the price down

It’s not just the calendar — a few concrete factors matter more than the date on your receipt:

Model year turnover. Grills with a new model coming soon get discounted faster than ones without a refresh planned.
Floor and display units. Assembled floor models often carry extra markdowns simply because they can’t be sold as “new in box,” even if the difference is cosmetic.
Fuel type demand shifts. Charcoal, propane, natural gas, and pellet/wood-pellet grills each have slightly different demand cycles; a glut of one type can trigger deeper discounts on that category specifically.
Clearance space pressure. Stores with limited warehouse space discount harder and faster than ones with room to hold inventory into the following year.

This mirrors what happens with other bulky seasonal goods — the same reasoning explains why furniture markdowns intensify at certain points, as covered in our piece on when furniture actually goes on sale. Retailers everywhere are managing floor space, and grills are no exception.

A simple example, not a promise

To be clear about scale rather than a specific claim: general-market patterns for seasonal outdoor equipment often show clearance discounts in the range of 20-40% off original pricing once a model is being phased out, with steeper cuts on discontinued colors or floor units. A mid-range gas grill that might otherwise run somewhere in the $300-500 band in peak season could show up notably cheaper during fall clearance — but treat that only as an illustration of the pattern, not a quote on any specific product, since actual pricing varies by brand, retailer, and year. Always check current listings before assuming a “sale” price is actually a good deal.

How to shop the sale window smartly

Decide on fuel type and size before you shop. Knowing whether you want gas, charcoal, or pellet, and roughly how much cooking surface you need, keeps you from being talked into a clearance unit that doesn’t actually fit your needs.
Check for floor models and open-box options. These often carry the steepest discounts and, if the unit has been inspected, can be a genuinely good value.
Compare warranty terms, not just price. A heavily discounted grill with a short or prorated warranty may cost more in the long run than a slightly pricier one with better coverage.
Ask about assembly and delivery. Clearance items sometimes come with reduced or no assembly service — factor that into your total cost and effort.
Watch multiple retailer types. Big-box home improvement stores, warehouse clubs, and specialty outdoor retailers don’t always clear inventory on the same schedule, so it can pay to check more than one type of store during the fall window.

If you’re timing several household purchases at once — say, a grill alongside new patio seating or an appliance replacement — our deal timing and sales calendars hub is a useful place to cross-reference when different categories tend to go on sale, so you can bundle shopping trips around the months that actually make sense.

Frequently asked questions about the best time to buy a grill

What month is cheapest to buy a grill?

September is generally the strongest single month, since it falls after peak summer demand and squarely within the fall clearance window most retailers use to move outdoor inventory before winter merchandise arrives.

Is it better to buy a grill in spring or fall?

Fall tends to offer deeper, more consistent discounts because retailers are actively clearing stock. Spring discounts happen too, but they’re less predictable and depend on how much leftover inventory a store is still holding.

Do grill prices drop after Labor Day?

Yes, in many cases prices continue dropping in the weeks following Labor Day as retailers keep clearing remaining stock, rather than the discount ending exactly on the holiday itself.

Should I buy a grill on clearance even if it’s an older model?

Often yes, since most year-over-year grill changes are cosmetic rather than functional. Just confirm the warranty is intact, check for any missing parts, and make sure the fuel type and size still match what you actually need.

Is buying a floor model grill a good idea?

It can be, since floor models are usually discounted specifically because they’ve been assembled and displayed, not because of a functional defect. Inspect it for scratches or wear and ask whether the full warranty still applies before buying.

Shopper Marts publishes general shopping and buying information, not financial advice, and we are not a retailer. We do not verify real-time prices, stock, or sale terms — always confirm current price, availability, and return policy directly with the seller before buying. Product categories, not specific real brands or models, are discussed unless otherwise noted, and nothing here is a guarantee of price or performance.