Built-in or freestanding grills?

Start with permanence

A built-in grill becomes part of your outdoor kitchen. It works well when you are ready to coordinate the cooking station, counters, storage and utilities as one project. A freestanding grill arrives with its own cart, making it a useful starting point when your layout is still evolving.

Neither format eliminates the need to plan placement. Leave the manufacturer’s required clearances, allow the hood to open, and consider how you will reach the controls and service connections. Wheels make a cart movable; they do not make every location suitable for cooking.

Make a complete space plan

Measure the whole cooking area, including access routes and the space people need to pass behind the cook. Consider a landing area for food coming off the grill and a preparation surface close enough to be useful. Position a sink, refrigerator or storage where it supports the way you work.

For a cart grill, include the full width with shelves in use. For a built-in, the advertised grill size is not the cabinet cutout. Record the exact model and configuration before finalizing any opening.

Choose the model before the cabinetry

Review the model’s installation manual for the enclosure, cutout, ventilation, clearances and any required liner. A liner is model-specific; it is not a universal solution for any cabinet material. Your installer should review the complete assembly and the utility requirements.

Use Planning details on a category product card to collect the available specifications. Follow its internal product link for documents and verify the manual matches the selected model. Missing measurements are a question to resolve, not an invitation to estimate.

Keep flexibility in the shortlist

If you are deciding between an island and a cart, save both families to Projects without choosing a configuration yet. When the space plan is ready, select the actual fuel and model, then compare those exact configurations. This keeps early inspiration separate from an order-ready list.