Buying guide
American Made Grills Atlas vs Encore
Gas or hybrid?
Two 36-inch built-ins. A much bigger choice than size.
The decision
Buy Encore for its fuel flexibility, not simply its position in the range.
American Made Grills Atlas is the more direct choice when your outdoor cooking will revolve around gas. Encore is worth considering when you actively want to cook with charcoal or hardwood as well. Its hybrid trays and larger equipment package change the job the grill can do—and the island you need to build around it.
Start with Atlas
You want a substantial stainless-steel gas grill with a briquette system, lighting and useful warming racks. You would rather put the rest of the kitchen budget toward preparation space or another task than buy solid-fuel capability you rarely use.
Choose Encore
You want the gas burners to help ignite charcoal or hardwood in the specified trays, and you expect to use the supplied griddle, sear burner and rotisserie equipment. The hybrid is a deliberate cooking choice.
The cooking experience
Think about what happens between the burners and the food.
A closer look at the Atlas gas-grilling range.
The Atlas spreads heat through its easy-clean briquette system. Encore’s trays make solid fuel part of the appliance’s intended cooking method. A generic smoker box on a gas grill is not the same equipment arrangement. If tending charcoal and hardwood sounds like a weekend you will enjoy, the difference matters; if you want quick gas cooking almost every night, Atlas remains a serious option.
Exact 36-inch configurations
Same nominal width, different cooking systems.
| Decision | Atlas 36-inch | Encore 36-inch |
|---|---|---|
| Main burners | 3 U-tube burners; 54,000 BTU/h combined | 5 tube burners; 110,000 BTU/h combined |
| Heat arrangement | Easy-clean briquette system | Hybrid solid-fuel trays and heat-zone separators |
| Published total cooking surface | 853 sq. in., including warming space | 1,106 sq. in. total |
| Published cutout | 34 W × 19¾ D × 10 H in | 35 W × 25 D × 15 H in |
| Current selected price | $4,335.00 | $10,158.72 |
These outputs describe the appliances, not a promise that twice the gas input produces twice the useful cooking performance. Compare the complete kitchen budget as well as the appliance prices: the Encore’s deeper opening, selected equipment and surrounding work can change the project. The published cooking-surface figures are totals. Use the current cutout sheet with the exact appliance and any required liner before fabricating the island.
The Hearth Outpost view
Spend on a capability you will actually use.
Our take on Atlas
We like Atlas for an outdoor kitchen built around straightforward gas grilling. The included vinyl head cover and warming racks are useful without turning the package into an accessory list. Its shallower published opening can also matter to the island plan, although that must be checked with the installer.
Ratings cover the Atlas gas grill family.
Our take on Encore
Encore makes sense to us when solid-fuel cooking is part of the brief. The included griddle, sear burner, rotisserie kit and fuel kit make the upgrade more substantial than an extra burner or cosmetic finish. We would not choose it solely because the larger total output looks impressive on a table.
Ratings cover the Encore hybrid grill family.
What owners say
The two available family ratings describe satisfied owners, with comments about appearance and straightforward use. One account concerns the 54-inch model, so these are family impressions rather than a separate evaluation of the 36-inch.
Before the island is built
An Atlas opening is not an Encore opening.
The 36-inch Encore needs a deeper and taller published cutout than the 36-inch Atlas. That affects cabinetry, support and the surrounding worktop. A nominal 36-inch label is not a retrofit guarantee.
American Made Grills offers both Atlas and Encore as built-in and freestanding grills, with propane and natural gas configurations. This comparison selects 36-inch natural-gas built-ins; choosing a cart changes the package and price. Confirm your fuel choice and current configuration availability on the product page.
Both examples here select natural gas. Check the correct gas configuration, electrical needs for lighting, service access, ventilation and construction requirements with the matching manual. If the enclosure needs an approved insulated liner, plan that exact liner and its opening as part of the project.
The package difference
Encore adds equipment as well as fuel flexibility.
Atlas supplied package
- Cooking grates and two multi-position warming racks
- Briquette system and removable drip tray
- Weather-proof vinyl grill-head cover
Encore supplied package
- Vinyl cover and rotisserie kit
- Stainless-steel griddle and drop-in infrared sear burner
- Grate-lifting tools, gloves, wood/charcoal fuel kit and care kit
Shop the ranges
Continue with the exact configuration.
These cards select the 36-inch natural-gas built-ins. The same nominal width does not mean the same opening or package.
American Made Grills
Atlas 36-inch built-in
$4,335.00 $4,768.50
36-inch natural gas built-in head. Plan the matching island opening.
American Made Grills
Encore 36-inch hybrid built-in
Encore hybrid grill family rating
$10,158.72 $11,174.60
36-inch natural gas hybrid built-in head. Plan its deeper island opening.
Warranty and documents
Know what supports the purchase.
Atlas
The Gold Standard warranty provides lifetime coverage for stainless-steel construction and listed cooking components, including burners and cooking grates. Other parts and electrical components receive three years.
Encore
The Gold Standard warranty also supports Encore’s stainless-steel construction and listed key cooking components with lifetime coverage, plus three years for other parts and electrical components.
Your shortlist
Make the next conversation useful.
Let’s find the right fit for your project.
Tell us how you cook and where the grill will be installed. We can help compare the complete Atlas and Encore packages before the island is committed.
Speak to an Expert
Common questions
Before you choose.
Can Atlas use the Encore hybrid trays?
Do not assume that hardware transfers between ranges. Atlas and Encore have different cooking systems. Use only equipment explicitly approved for the exact grill.
Can Encore replace an Atlas in the same opening?
Not on the basis of the nominal width. The listed 36-inch cutouts differ in width, depth and height. Review the actual opening and enclosure with the installer.
Does Encore include its rotisserie kit?
Yes, the listed Encore package includes the rotisserie kit, griddle and drop-in infrared sear burner. Check the complete package before adding duplicates.