The best side burners for outdoor kitchens balance 12,000 to 60,000 BTU output, fuel type compatibility with your main grill, 304 stainless steel construction, and cutout dimensions that fit your island layout, with single burners for sauteing and sauces and dual or power burners for searing, boiling, and wok cooking.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Our Top Picks
VEVOR Double Grilling Side BurnersDouble Burners25.2 x 13.4 x 12.4 inches28.44 poundsCheck on Amazon
Built-in Single Side Burner for Outdoor Kitchen，Natural Gas15,000 BTU-Side Burner-NG5 x 12.7 x 19.7 inches17.4 poundsCheck on Amazon
Top 3 picks at a glance
How to Choose a Side Burner for Your Outdoor Kitchen Layout
Unlike an indoor range, an outdoor side burner must integrate with gas lines, island cutouts, and ventilation. Buying the wrong fuel type or size means expensive countertop rework. Use these four criteria in order to narrow your choice before looking at brands.
1. Burner Power (BTU) and What You Actually Cook
BTU rating determines how fast a burner heats and what techniques it supports, not just how hot it gets.
- 12,000 – 15,000 BTU single burner: Standard range-equivalent. Ideal for simmering sauces, reheating sides, sauteing vegetables, and keeping food warm while the main grill runs. Most built-in single side burners fall here.
- 18,000 – 25,000 BTU dual burners: Two independent rings allow a low simmer on one side and a high sear on the other. Good for all-purpose outdoor kitchens where you cook full meals outside.
- 45,000 – 60,000 BTU power burner: A single, high-output sealed brass or cast brass burner. Designed to boil large stock pots, fry, steam seafood, and handle a wok at proper stir-fry temperature. Too powerful for delicate simmering without a good low-end valve.
If you only need to heat baked beans or make a pan sauce, a power burner is wasted BTU and gas. If you want to boil 4 gallons of water for crawfish or use a 14-inch wok, a 15,000 BTU burner will never get there fast enough.
2. Fuel Type: Natural Gas vs. Propane
Your side burner must match your grill’s fuel type and your island’s gas supply. You cannot safely convert most sealed burners without a manufacturer conversion kit and re-orificing.
- Natural Gas (NG): Requires a dedicated gas line stubbed to the island. Lower pressure than propane, so NG models typically produce about 10% fewer BTUs than the same burner on propane. No tank to refill and better for permanent installations. Check that your home’s gas line can supply the combined BTU load.
- Liquid Propane (LP): Uses a 20 lb tank or bulk LP tank. Higher BTU per burner on paper and more flexible if you don’t have a gas line. Requires ventilated tank storage cutout and regulator clearance inside the island.
- Dual-fuel islands: If you plan to keep a propane grill but want NG for the house, do not split fuels on the same island without separate, code-compliant lines and shutoffs. Pick one fuel for the entire island.
3. Materials and Construction for Outdoor Durability
Indoor burner materials will pit and fail outdoors. Look for:
- 304 stainless steel: The standard for outdoor kitchen appliances. 16-gauge or thicker on the housing and 18-gauge on the control panel resists corrosion and heat warping better than 430 stainless. Look for welded seams, not just screwed corners.
- Sealed brass burners: Found on power burners like the Blaze Power Burner and Bull Power Burner. Brass retains heat and resists corrosion better than aluminum. Sealed design prevents grease and water intrusion.
- Grates and caps: Continuous, heavy stainless or cast brass grates prevent pots from tipping. Stainless steel caps are easier to clean than porcelain-coated caps, which can chip.
- Ignition and valves: Push-to-turn ignition with flame-thrower or continuous spark, and brass valves with precise low-end simmer control. LED-lit controls are useful for night cooking but add wiring complexity.
4. Cutout Dimensions and Ventilation
Every built-in side burner has a required cutout width, depth, and height that must be framed into the island before the countertop is cut. Cutouts are not interchangeable between brands. Always build to the spec sheet, not the product’s outer trim size.
Leave at least 1 inch of airflow space around the bottom of the chassis if the spec requires bottom ventilation, and never install a gas drop-in burner directly over an enclosed propane tank without an insulated jacket and vent panels. Countertops need heat-resistant material around the trim — granite, sintered stone, or tile — not laminate near the burner box.
Power Budget Calculation: Will Your Gas Line Handle a Side Burner?
Before adding a high-BTU power burner, calculate your island’s total BTU demand against your gas supply line capacity. This is the most common reason installations fail inspection.
Worked example for a natural gas island:
You have a 6-foot island with a 60,000 BTU 32-inch grill, a 15,000 BTU single side burner, and you want to upgrade to a 60,000 BTU power burner instead.
- Current total load: 60,000 (grill) + 15,000 (single burner) = 75,000 BTU/hr
- Proposed total load: 60,000 (grill) + 60,000 (power burner) = 120,000 BTU/hr
- Gas line capacity check: A 1/2-inch natural gas line at 20 feet from the meter typically delivers ~ 90,000 BTU/hr. A 3/4-inch line at the same distance delivers ~ 180,000 BTU/hr.
- Result: Your existing 1/2-inch line would be undersized for the power burner upgrade. You would need to run 3/4-inch from the manifold, or you will see yellow flames, slow preheat, and pressure drop when both appliances run.
- Propane equivalent: A 20 lb LP tank with a standard regulator delivers plenty of pressure, but at 60,000 BTU/hr it will consume about 0.64 gallons per hour. A full tank (4.7 gallons) lasts roughly 7 hours of continuous power-burner use. Budget for faster tank swaps if you boil or wok often.
Always add 20% headroom to your BTU total for regulator loss and future accessories like a side burner or infrared rotisserie.
Best Side Burner Types Compared for Outdoor Kitchens
| Burner Class | Typical BTU Range | Fuel Options | Common Cutout (W x D x H) | Best For | General Market Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Built-In Side Burner | 12,000 – 15,000 | NG / LP | 10″ – 12″ x 18″ – 21″ x 8″ – 10″ | Sauces, sides, sauteing | usually $300 – $600 |
| Double / Dual Side Burner | 24,000 – 30,000 total (12k per ring) | NG / LP | 13″ – 16″ x 18″ – 23″ x 8″ – 10″ | Full outdoor meal prep, two pans at once | usually $400 – $800 |
| Power Burner (e.g., Blaze Power Burner, Bull Power Burner) | 45,000 – 60,000 | NG / LP | 16″ – 24″ x 19″ – 25″ x 11″ – 14″ | Stock pots, frying, wok, seafood boil | usually $700 – $1,400 |
| Drop-In Wok / Power Burner with Grate Insert | 50,000 – 65,000 | NG / LP | 18″ – 24″ x 19″ – 26″ x 11″ – 14″ | High-heat stir-fry, round-bottom wok | usually $900 – $1,600 |
| Commercial-Style Stainless Teppanyaki / Plancha Add-on | 18,000 – 24,000 | NG / LP | Varies widely | Flat-top searing adjacent to burners | usually $800 – $2,000+ |
These cutouts are representative classes, not a substitute for your model’s install manual. Brands like Twin Eagles, Coyote, and Hestan also use similar 304 stainless construction but have proprietary cutouts that differ by 1/4 to 1 inch.
Decision Matrix: Match Your Layout and Cooking Style
| Your Situation | Recommended Burner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small island (under 7 feet), grill is the primary cooker, need one extra pan for sauce | Single 12,000 – 15,000 BTU built-in | Smallest cutout, lowest gas demand, lowest cost. Fits beside a 32-inch grill without overcrowding. |
| Cook full meals outdoors for 4-6 people, need two temperature zones | Double side burner | Two independent controls let you simmer and sear at once. Fits standard 15-inch wide base cabinet. |
| Regularly boil large pots, fry, or steam (lobster, corn, crawfish) | 60,000 BTU power burner | Only high-output burners bring 4+ gallons to a rolling boil in under 20 minutes. Requires deeper cabinet and 3/4-inch gas line. |
| Love wok cooking and need true 600F+ wok hei | Power burner with included wok grate / concave ring | Focused flame and recessed support cradle a round wok. Standard flat grates cannot hold a wok safely. |
| Island is propane with tank stored inside | Any LP model with front-access tank storage and vented island | Do not enclose an LP tank without two 20 sq. in. vents (top and bottom). NG power burner plus LP storage violates code in many jurisdictions. |
| Island is compact or already built, no room for new cutout | Freestanding butane/i-butane burner or plug-in induction as supplement | Avoids cutting stone. Not a true built-in but prevents costly rework. |
Installation and Use Tips That Prevent Common Failures
Set the Regulator and Air Shutter Correctly
A yellow, sooty flame means too little air or low gas pressure. A lifting, roaring blue flame means too much air. After installation, adjust the air shutter behind the control panel until you have a tight blue cone with minimal yellow tip. This improves efficiency by up to 15% and prevents carbon buildup on pots.
Plan Wind Protection
Side burners lose up to 40% of effective heat in sustained 10-15 mph wind if exposed on an open island end. Place burners on the leeward side of the island or add a 9-12 inch wind guard. Power burners handle wind better than standard burners due to higher output and recessed design.
Cleaning for Longevity
After each use, burn off residue for 2-3 minutes on high, then brush brass burners with a stainless brush once cool. Remove and clean drip trays. Cover the burner with its stainless lid when not in use — rain and marinades corrode ports faster than heat does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a power burner or is a double side burner enough?
If your largest pot is under 12 quarts and you do not wok, a double side burner is enough and gives better simmer control. Choose a power burner only if you boil 3+ gallons at a time or cook with a round-bottom wok where 15,000 BTU will not maintain temperature after ingredients are added.
Can I install a side burner on any outdoor countertop?
The cabinet must be steel or concrete block framed to the exact cutout, and the countertop must be non-combustible around the trim — granite, concrete, or sintered stone. Combustible surfaces and wood framing without insulating jackets are not code-compliant for built-in gas burners.
What size gas line do I need for a power burner?
For one power burner plus a grill, plan on a 3/4-inch dedicated NG line from the manifold. For a single 15,000 BTU side burner with a standard grill, 1/2-inch is often sufficient up to 20-30 feet. Have a licensed plumber calculate length, elbows, and total BTU before cutting the island.
