Blackstone Review 2026: Which Griddles Are Worth the Money
Blackstone made the backyard flat top cheap and popular. The 36-inch with hood is the one to buy, the combo units are the ones to question, and a one-year warranty means you should inspect everything on day one.
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- Skip the upgrade
- Skip the air fryer combos. The 28-inch combo costs the same $499 as the bigger 36-inch with hood, and owners call its air fryer slow and loud.
- Best time to buy
- Buy when an in-cart discount is showing, as on the 36-inch with hood in October. One reviewer says the price fell $100 a day after ordering and Blackstone would not match it.
Blackstone sells propane griddles from a $159 tabletop to built-in outdoor kitchens above $3,000, and almost all of them share one idea: a thick steel plate over a few burners, cheap enough that a 36-inch station costs less than a mid-range gas grill.
That price comes with trade-offs worth knowing before you order. The warranty is one year on everything, from the manufacturer, North Atlantic Imports. Rust is the most common complaint in low reviews, and freight damage and slow replacement parts are the second. The smart move is to buy the plain 36-inch with hood, skip the gadget combos, assemble it the week it arrives and photograph any damage straight away.
The lineup, model by model
36” Griddle with Hood
$499 A 10% discount was applied automatically in the cart in October, bringing it to about $449.
The full-size four-burner flat top with a hinged hood, and the most-reviewed product Blackstone sells.
This is the griddle most people picture when they hear the name: a 36-inch Omnivore plate over four independently controlled burners, a hood that keeps rain and debris off the steel, rear grease management, an extendable side shelf, tool hooks and an accessory rail. Blackstone says the top holds 30 burgers or 21 pancakes at once. It ships free and weighs 135 pounds.
Owners give it 4.6 out of 5 across nearly 13,000 ratings, many syndicated from retail partners. The newest one-star reviews are about the delivery more than the cooking: dented side shelves, a bent hood and frame, a top that would not sit level, and one wait of three months for a broken part. One owner says the seasoning kept turning white and sticking and Blackstone would not treat the top as defective.
Worth it for
- 4.6 stars from nearly 13,000 ratings
- Hood protects the steel between cooks
- Ships free despite 135 pounds
Watch out for
- Freight damage is the top recent complaint
- One-year warranty on everything
Specs we checked
- Cooking surface 36-inch Omnivore plate
- Burners 4 independent zones
- Size 64.5 x 36.5 x 30 in
- Weight 135 lbs
28” Omnivore Griddle
$279 The same griddle with a hard cover bundle lists at $299.
A two-burner 28-inch station at the lowest full-size price, with no lid in the box.
The 28-inch Omnivore is the entry point to a full-height Blackstone: two heat zones, electric ignition, a side shelf, tool hooks and two fixed casters on a 73-pound frame. Blackstone says the top fits 21 burgers or 15 pancakes, which is plenty for two to four people.
The catch is what you add afterwards. There is no hood or cover, and the rust complaints that run through Blackstone’s reviews mostly come from tops left exposed, so budget for a cover or step up to the $299 hard-cover bundle. Its own reviews are thin, nine ratings averaging 3.4, with complaints about missing hardware, no instructions in the box and support that did not reply. Owners also mention a slightly shaky base.
Worth it for
- Cheapest full-height Blackstone
- Light enough for one person to move
Watch out for
- No lid or cover included
- Only nine on-site ratings, averaging 3.4
Specs we checked
- Burners 2 heat zones
- Ignition electric
- Size 47.25 x 33.25 x 23.5 in
- Weight 73 lbs
17” Tabletop Griddle with Hood
$159 The same griddle with a hard cover instead of the hood is also $159.
A portable propane griddle with a built-in hood that owners rate higher than any full-size Blackstone.
The 17-inch tabletop weighs 33 pounds and sits on non-slip feet, so it works on a camp table, a tailgate or a small balcony where propane is allowed. A built-in hood covers the plate in transit, piezo ignition lights the single burner, and rear grease management keeps the mess in a cup. Blackstone says it fits 11 burgers at once.
Owners rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 213 ratings, with just one one-star review. The weak spot is the igniter: several buyers say it stopped clicking after a use or two, leaving them lighting it with a match, and one describes a fireball when it finally caught. Another found rust and scratches straight out of the box.
Worth it for
- 4.7 stars from 213 ratings
- Built-in hood for transport
Watch out for
- Igniter failures are the main complaint
Specs we checked
- Burners 1
- Ignition piezo
- Size 22.75 x 13 x 23.5 in
- Weight 33 lbs
17” Electric Tabletop Griddle
$199 No sale price was showing on Blackstone’s site in October.
A 1,600-watt plug-in griddle with a ceramic coating and glass hood, popular but with a failure pattern in its low reviews.
For anyone who cannot run propane, the E-Series 17-inch plugs into a wall outlet and puts 1,600 watts under a ceramic-titanium non-stick plate. An LCD display sets the temperature and a glass hood covers it when not in use. Unlike the steel griddles, it needs no seasoning, but Blackstone warns that metal utensils will damage the coating.
Owners rate it 4.7 out of 5 across almost 3,400 ratings, so most units work. The one-star reviews, though, describe the same failures: a temperature setting that will not rise, units that stopped turning on after three to five months, an error code on the screen, and one that started tripping the breaker after a year, right as the one-year warranty ended. At $199 we would wait for a discount.
Worth it for
- Works indoors with no propane
- No seasoning needed
Watch out for
- Several reports of dying within months
- Coating rules out metal tools
Specs we checked
- Power 1,600 watts
- Surface ceramic-titanium non-stick
- Controls LCD temperature display
36” Griddle Airfryer Combo
$1,199 No discount showing in October; its page lacked the free-shipping note other griddles carry.
A 36-inch griddle on a cabinet base with two air fryer drawers and a warming drawer, at more than twice the plain griddle’s price.
This combo puts the same 36-inch Omnivore top on a heavier cabinet base with two air fryer drawers, a warming drawer, push-button ignition and an extendable side shelf. It weighs 192 pounds. Blackstone’s description says the drawers are 4 quarts each, while the spec list on the same page says 40, so check before you plan around capacity.
Owners rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 343 ratings, higher than most Blackstones. Low reviews mention stripped screws in assembly, air fryers that blew air but did not heat, paint chipping and rust on the hood within a month, and one side of the top running cooler. Blackstone’s shipping policy charges $199 for freight orders over 150 pounds, so confirm the delivery cost at checkout.
Worth it for
- 4.8 stars from 343 ratings
- Cabinet storage and warming drawer
Watch out for
- $700 more than the 36-inch with hood
- Conflicting drawer capacity on its own page
Specs we checked
- Cooking surface 36-inch Omnivore plate
- Drawers 2 air fryer, 1 warming
- Size 66.5 x 43 x 30.5 in
- Weight 192 lbs
28” AirFryer Combo
$499 The same price as the larger 36-inch Griddle with Hood before its in-cart discount.
A two-zone 28-inch griddle with one air fryer drawer, priced the same as Blackstone’s bigger and better-reviewed 36-inch with hood.
On paper the 28-inch combo adds a lot: two cooking zones with 34,000 BTU between them, a 13,000 BTU air fryer burner feeding one 4-quart fryer drawer, a 4-quart warming drawer, a painted hood and electronic ignition. Its product description even mentions Walmart-exclusive control knobs, a hint of where most of these are sold.
We pass because the money buys more elsewhere in the same catalog. At $499 you can have the 36-inch with hood, which gives you four zones and a larger top. Owners rate the combo 4.4 out of 5 from 68 ratings, and the low reviews are pointed: an air fryer called slow and loud next to a countertop model, a top that warped after a year, a torn hood and hinges, and weak heat at the edges in wind.
Worth it for
- Air fryer and warming drawer built in
- Painted hood comes in the box
Watch out for
- Same price as the bigger 36-inch with hood
- Owners call the air fryer slow and loud
Specs we checked
- Griddle burners 2 zones, 34,000 BTU total
- Air fryer burner 13,000 BTU
- Drawers 4 qt fryer, 4 qt warming
At a glance
| Product | Call | Best for | Price | Key spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36” Griddle with Hood | Smart buy | Most backyard griddle cooks | $499 | Cooking surface: 36-inch Omnivore plate |
| 28” Omnivore Griddle | Good buy | Small patios and couples | $279 | Burners: 2 heat zones |
| 17” Tabletop Griddle with Hood | Good buy | Camping and tailgates | $159 | Burners: 1 |
| 17” Electric Tabletop Griddle | Wait for a sale | Apartments without propane | $199 | Power: 1,600 watts |
| 36” Griddle Airfryer Combo | Wait for a sale | Outdoor kitchens on a budget | $1,199 | Cooking surface: 36-inch Omnivore plate |
| 28” AirFryer Combo | Pass | Few buyers, at this price | $499 | Griddle burners: 2 zones, 34,000 BTU total |
Pick yours in ten seconds
- If you want the most griddle for the moneyGet the 36” Griddle with HoodFour zones, a hood and free shipping for about $449 with the in-cart discount.
- If you cook for two on a small patioGet the 28” Omnivore GriddleThe cheapest full-height Blackstone; add a cover.
- If you cook at campsites and tailgatesGet the 17” Tabletop Griddle with HoodThe best-rated propane model, and it packs into a car.
- If you cannot use propane at homeGet the 17” Electric Tabletop GriddlePlug-in and coated, but wait for a discount.
The policies, plainly
- Trial
- No trial; unused items in original packaging returnable within 30 days
- Returns
- 30 days, unused and boxed, by RMA from customer service; buyer pays return shipping; bundles cannot be partly returned
- Warranty
- One year on all parts, finish and workmanship, original purchaser only, from North Atlantic Imports
- Shipping
- Griddles ship free; freight over 150 lbs is $199; 7-10 business days to the contiguous US
- Support
- Phone 435-252-3030 ext. 1, live chat and tickets; weekday hours only
- Financing
- Affirm is built into the site; no terms are posted
Read on Blackstone's US site in October 2026.
What buyers complain about
On Blackstone’s own site the ratings are high: 4.6 from nearly 13,000 for the 36-inch with hood and 4.7 for both 17-inch models, with many ratings syndicated from retailers.
Off-site the picture flips. Trustpilot rated blackstoneproducts.com 1.9 out of 5, “Poor”, in October, from a small set of reviews. Those reviews, like the one-star reviews on Blackstone’s site, cluster around three things: tops that rusted or warped despite seasoning and a cover, parts that arrived damaged or missing with replacements on long back order, and support that does not answer. One 2026 reviewer says Blackstone refused a price match on a $100 drop and charged a 10% restocking fee on an unopened return, a fee not stated in the return policy.
The lesson: unbox and assemble at once, and keep your receipt for warranty claims.
Where the 3.3 comes from
| Part | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Product | 3.6 | 35% |
| Value | 4.0 | 30% |
| Policies | 2.4 | 20% |
| Buying experience | 2.5 | 15% |
| Smart Score | 3.3/5 | |
Low prices and a huge base of happy owners, pulled down by a one-year warranty, buyer-paid return shipping, frequent freight damage reports and a Trustpilot score of 1.9 built on support complaints.
If Blackstone is not it
- Weber. Choose it instead if you want a rust-resistant griddle top and a five-year warranty and can pay about $600.
- Camp Chef. Choose it instead if you would rather buy a propane flat top from a camping-stove specialist.
Things people ask
How long is the Blackstone griddle warranty?
One year from purchase, covering all parts, finishes and workmanship, and only for the original buyer with a dated receipt. It is issued by North Atlantic Imports, the manufacturer. Blackstone says the full warranty may not apply to griddles bought from unlicensed resellers, as floor models, or at a discount because of missing or damaged parts.
Will my Blackstone griddle rust?
It can. The top is bare steel protected only by seasoning, and rust is the most common complaint in low reviews, including from owners who say they kept it covered. Blackstone’s advice is to oil the top lightly after every cook. A hood or hard cover helps, and its FAQ notes the steel can be resurfaced and re-seasoned.
Can I return a Blackstone griddle bought online?
Yes, within 30 days if it is unused and in the original packaging. You must call customer service for a return authorization number, pay return shipping yourself and include the invoice. Refunds are issued within 10 business days of processing. Damaged deliveries are handled under the warranty instead, so open a support ticket for those.
What we read
- Blackstone product pages and catalog data for the 36-inch with hood, 28-inch Omnivore, 17-inch tabletop, 17-inch electric and both air fryer combos, read October 2026.
- Blackstone return and cancellation, shipping and warranty pages, read October 2026.
- Owner reviews shown on blackstoneproducts.com for each pick, lowest-rated first, October 2026.
- Trustpilot reviews of blackstoneproducts.com, most recent first, October 2026.