So what could be better than one magnetic grill light? Two, of course. This set includes an identical pair of Permasteel lights so you can stick one to either side of the grill, or use one for cooking and the other for prep. Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: magnet Dimensions: 1.
When we put a wide range of grills to the test in our Lab, Weber models took both of the top spots. So it should come as no surprise that the brand's light is also a great choice. Made for grills with a hinged top, this light clamps to the handlebar and casts hands-free light down onto the grates when the lid is open.
It's weather-resistant and can simply stay attached to your grill throughout the year. The coolest feature of the Weber light is its motion sensor: It automatically turns on when the lid opens and off when it closes, to save both battery and effort.
It's compatible with Weber Spirit, Genesis, and Summit models, but it may not fit all brands' handle sizes—and it won't work with a kettle grill or any other model with a handle on top of the lid.
Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: clamp Dimensions: 5. If you want to treat yourself with a splurge, this expensive model can light up the whole of even a large grill surface with ease. Its 12 LEDs put out an impressive amount of illumination, over an impressively wide area.
Its clamp can grab onto nearly any grill handle, or really most flat surfaces, and the head pivots to put light exactly where it's supposed to be. On top of that, a 6-minute automatic shutoff keeps you from burning through too many D batteries.
The weatherproof polycarbonate material of this light will last you through tough weather elements and plenty of years of heavy use.
Reviewers love that it's able to fully illuminate their four- and even six-burner grills. If you have a large grill with a lot of surface area, a big light like this could make sense.
Besides the high price, another con we found is that accessing the battery compartment can be tricky. Power source: 4 D batteries Mount Type: clamp Dimensions: Making authentic barbecue often requires hours of cooking—and frequent fire-stoking—on a proper smoker. For serious pitmasters, this inexpensive light's adjustable second lamp is ideal for monitoring both grill top and fire box at the same time.
Its heavy-duty plastic and 10 bright LEDs can hold up to heat and rain while illuminating a large area, and the RVZHI even comes with your first set of AAA batteries free.
The C-shaped clamp will attach to a wide range of handle sizes on different grill models, but it will only attach to a round handle, so make sure your grill has one before you buy this light.
Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: clamp Dimensions: 7 x 3. With an extra-large grill, you need an extra-large light, and the Grilluminate's side panels extend out to cover even more space.
Each of the three sections has three LEDs that deliver a strong, bright glow without using very much power. And the fully adjustable handle clamp should be able to hold to just about any model of grill.
The body of the Grilluminate may look like regular plastic, but it's actually made of glass-reinforced nylon that will hold up to wind, rain, snow, and sun—the LEDs are made to provide at least 10, hours of light, and the rest of this light will last that long, too.
Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: clamp Dimensions: 7. The grill fanatic who's out there with spatula and tongs all year long is bound to use their light a lot, and that means burning through a lot of batteries.
This model replaces disposable AAAs with a rechargeable unit that doesn't need to be replaced. You simply plug the light into the included USB charger, and then you're set for another several grill sessions.
Besides being rechargeable, the Yukon Glory is fairly similar in design to other handle-mounted lights.
Its round bracket adjusts to accommodate various sizes of handle, and it screws into place semi-permanently. When it's time to recharge, you simply slide the light off the mount and then back into place, no readjustment required.
Power source: rechargeable battery Mount type: bracket Dimensions: 4. This versatile lamp's flexible neck lets you direct light basically anywhere, and it has both a magnetic foot and an adjustable clamp that let you attach it to basically anything.
It's great for nighttime grilling, but you can also get one for the garage, basement, attic, or anywhere else you need a powerful, cordless light source. The inch gooseneck on this lamp can rotate a full degrees and will stay in whatever position you need it, making it great to illuminate a cutting board for cooks who like to prep next to the grill, or to pull right up next to your thermometer to check the progress of a large cut of meat.
The magnet will also hold the base strongly in place but also allows you to grab the whole thing and move it without having to adjust any screws and dials. Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: magnet or clamp Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 5 inches. These lights are two-in-one, with a focused gooseneck lamp and another lamp on the side of the base that puts out weaker but wider illumination.
There's a strong magnet at the base of each light that will stick to a grill or any other surface made of steel, but the kit also includes round metal stickers you can use to mount the lights pretty much anywhere.
At twenty bucks for a pair of lights, this Image model is a budget-friendly way to light up the grill, or you could buy a bunch and light up your whole outdoor space.
Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: magnet Dimensions: 7. Big Green Egg's solution is this magnetic gooseneck light, which comes with a mounting bracket made to fit on the metal "belt" of the brand's grill models, as well as slide into all of its tables and stands.
The magnetic base will of course stick to any steel surface, as well. Power source: 3 AAA batteries Mount type: magnet and bracket Dimensions: 8. Most grill lights attach to the grill or other surface using either a magnet or clamp. Magnetic mounts are convenient, as they simply stick in place by themselves, but they'll only stick to magnetic materials.
That's not a problem with the steel bodies of most grills, but a magnetic light might not work with a ceramic grill like a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe. Clamps come in various shapes and sizes, but they're all made to screw into place on either the side or the handle of the grill.
They can be adjustable to varying degrees but may not be able to fit every grill. It's always a good idea to double-check measurements, or to buy a light designed explicitly to fit your model of grill.
Of course, some lights come with both a magnetic mount and a clamp so you can attach them essentially anywhere. Grill lights with a flexible gooseneck let you direct the illumination wherever you want it to go, though the lamp itself often has a more narrow cone shape that lights up a smaller area.
Other models have rectangular lamps that can cover more surface at once but might only be able to tilt up and down, if they can move at all. Most grill lights use standard single-use batteries AAA is very common , and those should last for a surprisingly long time.
Energy-efficient LEDs can run for dozens of hours between battery changes, and some models even include automatic shutoff functions to save even further on battery life.
If you plan to leave your light running for long periods frequently, you may want to try a model with a rechargeable battery instead; you simply plug the battery pack or the entire light unit into the wall for a few hours when you run out of energy.
Many of the product listings above talk about their LEDs lasting for thousands or tens of thousands of hours; keep in mind that this is the total lifetime for the lights, not how long they'll run on a single set of batteries.
Obviously, it's possible to grill after the sun goes down without an extra light source, but having one makes the process both easier and safer. Grilling involves getting your hands relatively close to very high heat, and a hands-free light helps you keep your fingers away from any grates that are hidden in shadow.
The ability to focus the illumination onto an individual item also gives you a better look at its color and texture, which is important for judging the doneness of steak and similar meats. Most grill lights are made of heavy-duty plastic and corrosion-resistant metals designed to hold up to heat, sun, and water, and it's generally safe to leave them clamped or stuck to your grill at all times.
However, nothing is completely invulnerable to the elements, and repeated beatings by rain or snow might cause your light to rust or its batteries to short out. It's a good idea to keep your grill covered when not in use anyway, so find a cover that fits over your light, too.
Sara Tane has written nearly a dozen buying guides for The Spruce Eats, understanding what consumers and cooks need to consider before making a new purchase for their culinary adventures.
She is a professionally trained chef in addition to an outdoor cooking enthusiast. With many weekends of cooking elaborate, delicious meals out in the great outdoors, she is no stranger to what it takes to have a successful bout of outdoor and sometimes nighttime!
After researching different grill lights and their characteristics and interviewing Paul Sidoriak , cookbook author and owner of Grilling Montana, she can help you find the best grill light for all of your nighttime cooking needs.
This handle-mounted unit features a bright, long-lasting LED light that rotates degrees to illuminate your work surface. The universal clamp design easily attaches to most grill handles.
The fan arrangement allows you to direct them independently — for instance, one to blow the smoke away and one to cool the cook.
This model does require significantly more batteries than most reviewed here, but it also provides another function. The best lighting for your grilling area depends on your needs. Whether you want a magnet-mounted light like the Permasteel PA Grill Light or the hands-free convenience of a headlamp, such as the GearLight LED Headlamp , the possibilities are many.
You'll want to consider how much ambient light you have in your grilling area before selecting a light or light set.
You may not need the brightest lights if you're working in a well-lit space. Conversely, you'll want to light up your grill like Las Vegas if you're working in the dark. For most grill lights, whether hands-free or mounted, you're choosing between single-use batteries or rechargeable ones as your power source.
On the other hand, if you're working in a fixed location with an electrical outlet most of the time, an electric grill light may be a better choice for you. You'll want to determine if you can use a magnetic base in your grilling area or if you need a clamp-mounted light.
Grill material aside, after playing with the positioning, you may decide that a clamp or a magnet would serve you better in your particular situation. Three industry professionals lent their expertise to this list: Rob Nelson , chef and co-founder of the restaurant group Good Gravy in Bentonville, Ark.
After consulting them, we scoured the market for the best options based on their input and our expertise. We weighed these grill lights and others that did not make this list against several criteria, including value, ease of use, consistency, and quality of construction.
There are some inherent risks associated with grilling at night. Low-light conditions make it easier to burn oneself from being unable to see potentially hot surfaces.
The probability of trip hazards also increases in low light, which could combine with burn probabilities. Situational and spatial awareness is always important when cooking, especially when grilling at night, according to Walker.
Less physically impactful but an important factor, nevertheless, grilling in the dark may make it harder to see if your food is becoming charred or is undercooked. Good lighting and a sense of doneness by touch or probe thermometer are recommended. White lights are the best grill lights, according to Nelson.
Many don't realize that the hue of a light bulb will project onto the food. Fluorescents are advised against for this reason, and anything with a yellow tint will create an off-putting shade on white or light-colored foods that will make you doubt their freshness.
White lights will let you see the food at the closest to its actual color. Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with decades of experience in the food industry. For this piece, he interviewed chefs Rob Nelson , Megan Walker , and Sam Jones to find out what the pros look for in grill lights.
He then used their insights and his expertise combined with market research to curate this list. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content.
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Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. By Greg Baker. In This Article Expand. Our top picks. Our Favorite. Factors to Consider. The Research. Our Expertise. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Best Clamp Style:.
Best Handle Mounted:. Best Headlamp:. Best Handheld:. Most Versatile:. Best Splurge:. Best Overall. Permasteel Grill Lights 2-Pack. Pros These lights are compact, long-lasting, bright, and easily positionable. Cons We'd prefer a rechargeable battery, and the magnetic base is not a good option for stainless steel grills.
Best Clamp Style. LED Concepts BBQ Grill Light. Pros The extra-long gooseneck and the multiple attachment options make this easy to attach and illuminate many surfaces. Cons This light doesn't have the best weather resistance, so it may be damaged if you leave it outside.
Best Handle Mounted. Cuisinart Grill Light. Pros It fits most portable and stationary grills, the mounting strap is heat resistant, and the casing is weather resistant should you accidentally leave it outside.
Cons It's mainly unidirectional, moving on a horizontal axis, but it does have a degree of vertical movement. Best Headlamp. GearLight S LED Headlamp Flashlight. Pros The S has four white light modes, and the head adjusts 45 degrees for better focus. Cons A minor design flaw makes a small piece of plastic uncomfortable when wearing this for extended periods, and the battery life could improve at higher settings.
Best Handheld. Streamlight Flashlight. Pros The Protac is compact, lightweight, and provides powerful, bright light in a small form.
Cons The belt or pocket clip is a little flimsy, and the battery power in such a small light can make the flashlight hot. Most Versatile. Image Magnetic BBQ Grill Lights. Pros The gooseneck is adjustable to degree angles with multiple intensities, and the side lights provide choices of area illumination.
Cons You can't use both the headlight and the side light simultaneously. Best Splurge. Sharper Image BBQ Grill Light and Fan.
Permasteel Grill Lights 2-Pack · Weber Handle Grill 'N Go Light · Hammacher Schlemmer The Brighter BBQ Grill Light · RVZHI Lights Portable Torch Weather Resistant Multi Purpose Lamps for Outdoor Grilling Pocket BBQ Grill Lighting · $$ FREE We spoke to professional chefs and pitmasters and researched the best grill lights based on value, ease of use, and functionality