The best electric BBQs in Australia
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Two electric BBQs that reach real cooking heat, for apartment balconies and anywhere gas and charcoal are banned, plus what to check in your strata by-laws.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Power | Modes | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Weber Lumin electric BBQ | 240 V mains | Grill, smoke, steam, warm (Weber) | $649 |
| Best for smoke flavour | Ninja Woodfire Pro XL outdoor electric BBQ, grill and smoker | 240 V | Grill, smoke, air fry, roast (Ninja) | $739 |
Electric BBQs exist because of strata by-laws. Most are weak hotplates that steam sausages. Two reach cooking temperatures worth paying for.
Weber Lumin
A compact electric grill that gets hot enough to sear, with modes for smoking with wood chips, steaming and keeping warm. It looks like a Baby Q, sits on a table or a stand, and it is the electric BBQ building managers recognise. At $649 it is not cheap, but it is a real cooker.
Ninja Woodfire Pro XL
Ninja’s outdoor grill takes a small cup of wood pellets for genuine smoke flavour and adds air-fry, roast and bake modes. It is more of an outdoor multi-cooker than a BBQ, which is exactly what some balcony cooks want. Build is plastic-heavy and the pellet cup is small, so it is a flavour accent rather than a smoker.
The picks
Buy the Weber Lumin if grilling is the point. Buy the Ninja Woodfire if smoke flavour and versatility matter more than searing.
The picks in detail
Weber Lumin electric BBQ
$649 at bcf.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Sears, smokes and steams, and it is the model most strata schemes will accept.
- Power: 240 V mains
- Modes: Grill, smoke, steam, warm (Weber)
- Cooking area: About 1,100 sq cm
- Use: Balconies where gas and charcoal are banned
Pros
- Reaches searing heat, unlike most electric grills
- Allowed on many apartment balconies where gas is not
Cons
- Needs a power point
- Six hundred and fifty dollars is a lot for an electric
Ninja Woodfire Pro XL outdoor electric BBQ, grill and smoker
$739 at amazon.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
A pellet cup for real wood smoke plus air-fry and roast modes.
- Power: 240 V
- Modes: Grill, smoke, air fry, roast (Ninja)
- Smoke: Small pellet cup for real wood smoke
Pros
- Electric with real wood-pellet smoke, so it works on balconies
- Doubles as an outdoor air fryer
Cons
- Small pellet cup, not a true smoker
- Plastic-heavy build
Frequently asked questions
Are electric BBQs allowed on balconies?
Usually, but the by-laws decide. Many strata schemes ban gas and charcoal on balconies and permit electric; some ban all BBQs or require the building manager's approval. Check before buying.
Do electric BBQs get hot enough to sear?
Most do not. The Weber Lumin is the exception, reaching temperatures that put a proper crust on a steak. The Ninja Woodfire grills well but relies more on its smoke and air-fry modes than on searing heat.
Can I use an electric BBQ in the rain?
Not while plugged in. Use under cover, on a dry surface, on an outdoor-rated power point with a safety switch.