Choosing the best grill grates for Weber kettles comes down to two separate questions, and most people only ask the first one. The first is what you want out of the cooking surface: heavy-duty 304 stainless steel is the community default upgrade because it needs no seasoning, resists rust and releases food cleanly. The second is whether the grate actually fits the kettle you own, and that is where the majority of returns happen.
We spent this roundup matching ten grates against real Weber kettle dimensions, part numbers and owner reports rather than just listing whatever came up in a search. We looked at every 22 inch and 22.5 inch kettle in the group, from the Original Kettle and Master-Touch to the Performer and the One-Touch Premium, and we excluded the grates that only fit Smokey Mountain models or 18 inch bowls. If you want the short version, the first pick below is the one most owners should buy.
A word on what this article is not. We are not claiming we cooked a hundred steaks on every grate here. What we did was cross-reference manufacturer specifications, OEM part numbers and the accumulated owner feedback on each product, then tell you plainly where each one earns its place and where it falls short. The community that keeps kettles for decades trusts sources that admit trade-offs, so every pick in this roundup carries an honest drawback.
One more thing worth setting up front: the 2026 roundup covers charcoal kettles, not the gas models. If you have a Weber gas grill, the fitment logic in this article does not apply to you.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Weber Kettle Grates in 2026
These three are the ones we would put on a kettle first. The hinged OEM grate wins on fit certainty, the standard OEM grate wins on value, and the stainless EasySpin wins if you want to change how you cook rather than just restore it.
Weber Hinged Cooking Grate
- Heavy-duty plated steel
- Flip-up hinged sides
- Built-in wood handles
SnS Grills EasySpin Stainless
- 304 stainless steel
- Spins by hand for two zones
- Hinged opening
- 10 year warranty
The Best Grill Grates for Weber Kettles at a Glance in 2026
Every pick below is a 22 inch class grate, and every one of them carries a real drawback worth knowing before you buy. Read the Cons line as seriously as the Pros line.
| Product | Specs | Action |
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| Weber Hinged Cooking Grate 22 Inch |
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 Weber Cooking Grate 22 Inch |
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 Weber 17 Inch Lower Fuel Grate |
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| SnS Grills EasySpin Stainless Grate |
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 onlyfire 2-in-1 Cast Iron Grate |
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 Uniflasy 8835 Cast Iron Grate |
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 QuliMetal 8835 Cast Iron Grate |
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 GRILLVANA 201 Stainless Hinged Grate |
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 Coolbird Plated Steel Grate |
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 soldbbq 8835 Cast Iron with Center |
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1. Weber Hinged Cooking Grate – Material: heavy-duty plated steel. Pros: exact OEM fit, flip-up sides for adding coals mid-cook, largest owner base in the set. Cons: plated steel eventually rusts, not for Smokey Mountain models.
2. Weber Cooking Grate 22 Inch – Material: plated steel. Pros: the standard OEM replacement, easy-lift handles, enormous review count. Cons: no hinge, so you lift the whole grate to add fuel.
3. Weber 17 Inch Lower Fuel Grate – Material: heavy gauge steel. Pros: a genuine Weber part at the entry point of this list, holds coals clear of the vents for cleaner ignition, fits One-Touch, Master-Touch, Bar-B-Kettle and Performer. Cons: it is a lower fuel grate, not a cooking surface.
4. SnS Grills EasySpin – Material: 304 stainless steel. Pros: spins by hand for true two-zone cooking, no rust, hinged opening, 10 year warranty. Cons: lighter gauge than the OEM grate, needs seasoning to reach its best release.
5. onlyfire 2-in-1 Cast Iron Grate – Material: bare cast iron. Pros: a removable 11.8 inch center ring for easy coal access, no coating to flake, strong heat retention. Cons: needs a real multi-day seasoning routine, and one center insert cracked in service.
6. Uniflasy 8835 Cast Iron Grate – Material: heavy duty cast iron. Pros: the most substantial casting here, removable 12 inch insert, the broadest verified Weber compatibility list. Cons: roughly 20 pounds, so lifting it out of a hot kettle is a two-person job.
7. QuliMetal 8835 Cast Iron Grate – Material: cast iron. Pros: center insert works with a chimney starter or a Vortex ring, bare iron you can wire-brush freely, even heating. Cons: heavy and fragile if dropped, wider marks than a wire grate.
8. GRILLVANA 201 Stainless Hinged Grate – Material: 201 stainless steel. Pros: corrosion resistance over nickel-plated OEM steel, hinged for mid-cook coals, easy maintenance. Cons: 201 is a lighter grade than 304 and the bar gaps are wide.
9. Coolbird Plated Steel Grate – Material: heavy-duty plated steel. Pros: a low-cost drop-in that still claims good hardness, built-in handles, fits the common Weber kettles. Cons: the plating wears and rusts fastest of anything here.
10. soldbbq 8835 Cast Iron with Center Insert – Material: matte cast iron. Pros: directly replaces Weber part 8835 plus the 65171 center insert, removable center for charcoal access, long compatibility list. Cons: heavy, and the center piece chips if you drop it.
Will These Grates Fit Your Weber Kettle?
Fit is the question nearly every kettle owner asks first, and it is the one that decides this purchase more often than material does. The kettle diameter, the model generation and the part geometry all have to line up, and a grate that is off by a few tenths of an inch will not sit flat on the upper prongs.
Here is what the picks in this roundup actually cover.
22 inch Original Kettle, Original Kettle Premium, Master-Touch and Performer – picks 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 name these models explicitly, and picks 1, 4 and 8 state fit for 22 inch Weber kettles generally.
22.5 inch One-Touch Silver, Bar-B-Kettle, Performer Premium and Performer Deluxe – picks 5, 6 and 7 name the 22.5 inch group directly; picks 1, 2, 9 and 10 list them as well.
Weber Gourmet BBQ System on 22 inch kettles – picks 6 and 7 list model 8835, and pick 10 replaces the 8835 outer grate plus the 65171 center insert. Pick 6 also names the 741001 Original Kettle for use with the Gourmet BBQ System griddle, wok and sear grate.
Recteq Bullseye and Pit Barrel Smoker – pick 6 fits the Recteq Bullseye RT-B380 and RT-B380X plus the Pit Barrel Smoker 22.5, and pick 10 also lists the Recteq Bullseye.
Not covered here – the 18 inch Original Kettle and Jumbo Joe, the Go-Anywhere, the 26 inch and 26.75 inch bowls and the 36 inch Original Kettle all use different geometry, and nothing in this roundup is verified for them. Pick 6 is the one exception on the Smokey Mountain Cooker, which it lists explicitly.
Three of the picks in this list carry an explicit Smokey Mountain exclusion in their own product data. If you own a Smokey Mountain Cooker, only pick 6 lists that model, and the Smokey Mountain exclusions on the rest mean you should look elsewhere entirely, because the bowl and the grate seat are shaped differently.
To measure your own kettle, do it in three steps. First, measure the outside diameter of the bowl at its widest point, not the lid. Second, note the model stamped on the cart, usually on the front of the frame under the front table. Third, compare both numbers against the fitment list above before you add anything to a cart, and if the model number is not legible, take a photo of the cart and check the support section for Weber with the number and the year.
1. Weber Hinged Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22 Inch Grills – Best Overall Replacement
Weber® Hinged Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22″ Grills, Charcoal Components
Heavy-duty plated steel
462 sq in cooking surface
Flip-up sides
Weber part 7436
Pros
- Exact OEM fit on 22 inch Weber charcoal grills
- Flip-up sides make adding coals mid-cook effortless
- Built-in raised handles
- Resting fit on the upper prongs lifts out cleanly
Cons
- Plated steel eventually rusts and needs regular brush cleaning
- Not for Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker models
- Confirm your grill model before ordering
This is the grate we recommend to most people, and the reason is fit certainty rather than any material advantage. It is a genuine Weber part, which means the geometry of the upper prongs, the handle placement and the grate diameter all match the factory design on the 22 inch kettles. Nothing about it is a gamble.
The flip-up sides are the feature that owners defend hardest, and they exist for one job: letting you add briquettes in the middle of a long cook without hauling the entire grate out. If you have ever banked coals for a two-zone cook, you already know how much of a nuisance that is without the hinge. Reviewers describe the same thing from the other side, calling the hinged sections the reason the grate is convenient to live with.
It is also the honest baseline for this whole roundup. Weber rates this as heavy-duty plated steel, which means the same substrate as the standard grate in pick two with a hinge mechanism added. Plated steel is not a long-term material: owners consistently report scrubbing it after every cook and watching surface rust eventually show up at the edges where the plating thins.
The cooking surface is listed at 462.25 square inches, and the grate measures 21.5 inches across with a height of 1.8 inches. The handle material is listed as wood, which is the one detail that differs from the alloy handles on the standard grate and explains why it feels different in the hand when it is hot.
Who this grate suits
This is the right buy if you cook on a 22 inch Weber kettle, you want the grill to feel factory-correct out of the box, and you still add coals mid-cook. It is also the safest choice for anyone who is not sure how much they care about material, because it changes nothing about how you cook and removes the whole seasoning question from your life.
Because it is an OEM part, it is the pick we suggest for a first replacement, a matched pair of kettles, or a grill you intend to sell. An original part on a used kettle reads better than an aftermarket one to most buyers.
What it does badly
It is not an upgrade in cooking performance, and nobody should sell it as one. Plated steel heats faster than cast iron and stores less of it, so the sear is good but not the deep, dark, almost-charred crust you get on heavy iron. If you chase heavy smoke flavor, look at picks five, six, seven or ten instead.
The rust cycle is the other honest limitation. Weber’s own care instruction is to preheat on high for 15 minutes and brush clean, and that routine is not optional if you want the plating to last. Owners who skip it get a grate that looks tired within a couple of seasons, and the flip-up hinge adds two more joints where corrosion can start.
There is also a one year limited warranty, which is short next to the stainless pick further down. It is worth remembering if you are the kind of owner who grills two or three times a week rather than a few times a year.
2. Weber Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22 Inch Grills – Best Value OEM Replacement
Weber® Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22″ Grills, Charcoal Components
Plated steel with alloy frame
21.5 inch round
Weber part 7435
Weighs 13.6 ounces
Pros
- Exact OEM fit for the Weber kettle
- Performer
- Master-Touch and Bar-B-Kettle
- Built-in easy-lift handles
- Simple lift-out installation
Cons
- Fixed design so the whole grate lifts to add charcoal
- Not for Smokey Mountain Cooker Smokers
- Plated finish wears and rusts with extended use
If your old grate is rusted through and you want factory behaviour back without changing anything about how you cook, this is the part Weber built for that job. It is the standard replacement cooking grate for the 22 inch family, and its supported list covers the models most people actually own: Original Kettle, Original Kettle Premium, Master-Touch, Bar-B-Kettle and Performer.
What separates it from pick one is the absence of a hinge. The handles are there, and owners like them, but they let you lift the grate out rather than fold a section up. For short cooks that is genuinely no inconvenience at all, and for most weeknight grilling it never comes up.
The weight is worth noting, because at 13.6 ounces it is far lighter than any of the cast iron options in this roundup. That sounds trivial until you have lifted a soaking wet cast iron grate out of a hot bowl with one hand and a towel. This grate goes in and out without thinking about it.
Dimensions are 21.5 by 21.5 inches with a height of 2 inches, and the frame material is listed as alloy steel. The care routine is the same 15 minute high preheat followed by a grill brush, which is the standard Weber instruction across this whole roundup.
Who this grate suits
This is the correct pick for the majority of people reading this. You have a 22 inch Weber kettle, the factory grate is rusty or shedding, and you want the grill to cook the way it did when you bought it without changing your technique at all.
It is also the pick for anyone whose kettles are already a matched pair, because an OEM part in both bowls keeps the setup symmetrical. The ease of lifting means you will not dread the weekly cook the way some people do with a heavy aftermarket casting.
What it does badly
It cannot do what the hinged grate does, and the two are not interchangeable for people who bank coals. That is the one functional loss, and it is the reason pick one ranks above it despite a similar rating.
The plating is the other limitation. Owners report the surface wearing and rusting with extended use, and since the material is not stainless, corrosion protection depends entirely on how consistently you brush and oil it. A 4.8 average across close to 6,700 reviews tells you the part is well made, not that the material is permanent.
3. Weber 17 Inch Lower Fuel Grate for 22 Inch Kettles – Best Lower Fuel Grate
Weber® Replacement Charcoal Cooking Grate for 22″ Kettle Grills
Heavy gauge steel
17 inch lower grate
Sits below the cooking grate
Weber part 7441
Pros
- Creates airflow between the vents and the coals for better ignition
- Fits 22.5 inch One-Touch and Master-Touch models
- Heavy gauge steel rated for high heat
- Round shape matches the bowl contour
Cons
- It is a lower fuel grate and not an upper cooking surface
- Does not fit Smokey Mountain Cooker or 18 inch models
- 17 inch size confuses buyers expecting a 22 inch part
Before you skip this one, read the title again. This is a lower fuel grate, and it is the entry-level genuine Weber part in the roundup, but it is not a replacement cooking surface. It sits at the bottom of the bowl, holds the charcoal, and creates the gap between the vents and the coals that gets a kettle lit quickly and evenly.
That function matters more than it sounds. Owners mention the airflow benefit first when they review this part, and on a kettle that is slow to light or lights unevenly, a warped or corroded lower grate is a genuinely common culprit. Replacing it is cheap and the difference is immediate.
The measurements trip people up constantly. It is a 17 inch round grate in heavy gauge steel, and the listed maximum temperature setting is 500 degrees F, which is a fuel grate’s job description rather than anything to do with searing. Buyers expecting a 22 inch cooking surface and receiving this are the single most common complaint in the reviews, and the confusion is understandable because both parts live inside the same bowl.
Fit covers the 22.5 inch One-Touch, Master-Touch, Bar-B-Kettle and Performer. It does not fit the Smokey Mountain Cooker or any 18 inch model, and Weber carries a one year limited warranty on it.
Who this grate suits
Buy this if your kettle has been sitting for years, if ignition has become slow or lopsided, or if you can see rust on the charcoal support when you lift the cooking grate out. It is also the sensible add-on when you have already replaced the cooking surface with one of the other picks in this roundup.
Owners of long-running kettles tend to replace the lower grate on a simple schedule rather than waiting for a failure, and at this level of the market that is a reasonable way to do it. It weighs 1.4 kg, so it is not a two-person lift.
What it does badly
It will not cook anything. If you are replacing a rusted upper cooking grate and buy this, you will be disappointed within about a week, because your food will be sitting on the same old surface you were trying to fix.
It also has narrower fit coverage than the cooking grates here. The Smokey Mountain and 18 inch exclusions are explicit, and the listed model group is narrower than pick two’s. Check the model list before you order, because the difference between a 22 inch and a 22.5 inch Weber frame decides this one.
4. SnS Grills EasySpin 304 Stainless Steel Grate – Best for Two-Zone Cooking
SnS Grills EasySpin Charcoal Grill Cooking Grate, 304 Stainless Steel, Large Hinged Opening, Perfect for 2-Zone Cooking, Replacement Grate Compatible with Weber & Other Grills – Fits 22” Kettles
304 stainless steel
21.5 inch round
6.3 pounds
SnS part 22ESG-SS
Pros
- Spins by hand to create true two-zone cooking with no power
- 304 stainless resists rust and outlasts a chrome OEM grate
- Large single hinged opening for mid-cook charcoal
- Extra rails near the handles add usable cooking area
Cons
- Slightly lighter gauge than the original Weber grate
- Needs seasoning to build a natural non-stick patina
- Cannot be deep cleaned without stripping that seasoning
This is the stainless upgrade most owners in the kettle forums name when the question is cooking performance rather than corrosion. The 304 stainless construction means no rust, no flaking plating, and a surface that works immediately on a weeknight without a seasoning ceremony.
The EasySpin mechanism is the actual point. You lift the grate by its welded handles and rotate it a quarter turn, which moves food from the hot side of the bowl to the cool side without tongs, without a second grate and without a charcoal basket. Owners confirm it spins smoothly, and on a round kettle grate that rotation is what makes a two-zone cook practical.
Fit is stated broadly, covering 22 inch kettles including the Weber Original Kettle, Performer and Master-Touch series, and the extra rails near the handles are a nice touch because they recover some of the usable area the center opening removes. The listed dimensions are 21.5 by 21.5 inches at 2 inches high, and it weighs 6.3 pounds.
Two details are worth flagging before you commit. SnS lists a 10 year warranty and a 10 year spare part availability duration, which is longer than anything else in this roundup. And the same owners who praise it are the ones who raised the most common complaint about it, which is gauge.
Why the thin steel criticism is fair
Across the kettles forums the recurring note on this grate is that the steel is thinner than what Weber ships. That comparison is against a heavy gauge plated OEM grate, and thin stainless does have a real consequence: it stores less heat and radiates less of it back into the food, so the sear is quicker and the bark is thinner than on a heavy cast iron surface.
If you are coming from a cast iron grate and you love the crust, that is the trade you are making. If you are coming from a rusty chrome wire grate, you are gaining heat retention and losing nothing you cared about. Owners also report pairing it with a Slow ‘N Sear basket, and the center opening is large enough to work with one.
What it does badly
Stainless is not self-seasoning in practice. Owners consistently report needing a couple of cycles of oiling and heat to build a natural non-stick patina, and they consistently report the same consequence: once that patina exists, you cannot aggressively scrub the grate without stripping it and starting over. That is a different cleaning culture from a bare wire grate, and it takes a week to get used to.
The rating is 4.7 across 684 reviews, which is a strong but not spotless record. Buyers who expected a drop-in no-maintenance replacement tend to be the ones who end up unhappy, because the spin function and the seasoning requirement are both a change in habit rather than a pure win.
5. onlyfire 2-in-1 Cast Iron Grate – Best Removable Sear Insert
onlyfire 2-in-1 Cast Iron Grill Grate Replacement Weber Gourmet BBQ System
Bare cast iron
21.5 inch outer grate
11.8 inch inner insert
Weighs 8 pounds
Pros
- Removable 11.8 inch sear ring gives easy charcoal access
- Real cast iron with no coating to flake off
- Casts cleanly with no rough flash
- Strong even heat and pronounced sear marks
Cons
- Requires an extended oiling and baking seasoning routine before first use
- One review documents the removable center ring fracturing after a few uses
- Some castings are rough around the center insert
This two-piece design is the most interesting shape in the roundup. Instead of one solid ring, you get a 21.5 inch outer cooking grate with an 11.8 inch center insert that lifts out on its own raised side handles, so you can add coals without disturbing the food that is already on the outer ring.
It is bare cast iron rather than porcelain-coated, and owners treat that as the main selling point. There is no enamel to chip, and once it is seasoned a wire brush is fair game. Several reviewers specifically call out the clean casting with no rough flash, which is the thing that separates a usable aftermarket grate from one that catches your spatula.
Fit is stated for 22.5 inch Weber grills: the Original Kettle, the Original Kettle Premium and the Performer Premium. The listed cooking surface area is 1452.2 square inches, which is much larger than the wire grates here because cast iron bars are wide, and that same geometry is what produces the deep, wide sear mark this grate is chosen for.
The listed weight is 8 pounds and the package contains the outer grate and the insert. Finishes are listed as painted, handle material as stainless steel, and the set is finished in black, which is normal for bare iron that is not yet seasoned.
Who this grate suits
Buy this if searing is the point of your grill. Cast iron stores heat and radiates it back into the food, which is exactly what produces the dark, defined, almost-charred crust people chase on steaks, and the wide bars hold that heat across the surface rather than losing it to the bowl.
It is also a good fit for anyone who cooks larger quantities and needs the center ring to come out. Removing an 11.8 inch insert is easier than lifting a full grate out of a hot bowl, and the raised side handles are designed for exactly that gesture.
What it does badly
The durability report is the thing to weigh. One review documents the removable center ring fracturing after only a few uses, and while a single report is not a pattern, cast iron center inserts are the weak point in every design in this roundup. Handle the insert the way you would a cast iron skillet: with both hands, away from the edge of the bowl.
The seasoning burden is real and it is multi-day. Oil it, heat it, let it cool, repeat, and plan on doing that a few times before the first cook. Owners who try to shortcut this end up with a grate that sticks, and that frustration is the most common theme in the reviews for this pick.
6. Uniflasy 8835 Cast Iron Grate – Best Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Upgrade
Uniflasy 8835 Cast Iron Grill Grate for Weber 22 and 22.5 in Kettle Grills Gourmet BBQ System
Heavy duty cast iron
21.5 inch total diameter
12 inch inner grid
Weighs 20.3 pounds
Pros
- Very heavy well-made casting that fits Weber kettles
- Removable 12 inch center insert for charcoal access
- Resists chipping and rusting better than enameled bars
- 90 day warranty with free replacement parts
Cons
- Very heavy at roughly 20 pounds which is awkward to lift when hot
- Center opening is smaller than some owners want for a chimney starter
- Grate claw and picker are not included
This is the heaviest grate in the roundup, and that is both its selling point and its problem. At 20.3 pounds it is a substantial piece of cast iron rather than a light aftermarket casting, and the reviews describe the weight itself as the evidence of quality.
It replaces the Weber 8835, which is the part number used across the 22 inch line, and the package includes a 12 inch center insert that lifts out for charcoal access. Because it matches the OEM geometry, the insert also works with the Weber Gourmet BBQ System cookware, which is a compatibility detail that matters more than it sounds if you own a sear grate or a wok.
Fit coverage is unusually broad for a cast iron replacement. It names One-Touch Silver, Bar-B-Kettle, Master-Touch, Performer Premium, Performer Deluxe, Original Kettle, Original Kettle Premium, the Smokey Mountain Cooker and model 741001, plus Weber 8835, the Recteq Bullseye RT-B380 and RT-B380X, and the Pit Barrel Smoker 22.5. That matters if your kettle is not a plain 22 inch Original, because it is the one pick here verified for the Smokey Mountain Cooker.
Owners report even heat distribution, clean seasoning behavior once cured, and a surface that resists chipping compared to porcelain-enameled bars. Dimensions are 21.5 inch total diameter with a 12 inch inner cooking grid, and the listed overall size is 22.5 by 2.3 by 22.5 inches.
Who this grate suits
This is the pick for an owner who treats the kettle as a long-term heat source and cooks on it several times a week. If you want the deepest possible sear, do not want to worry about plating or enamel, and will buy a grate claw so you are not lifting 20 pounds of cast iron with a towel, it is hard to argue with.
It is also the best choice here for a Gourmet BBQ System owner, because the 12 inch insert is the size the system cookware expects. That is the specific reason to choose this over the other cast iron options in the roundup.
What it does badly
The weight is the honest drawback and it is not a small one. Multiple owners describe the difficulty of lifting it in and out of the kettle, and several say they now use a helper or a grate claw where they never did before. A grate that is hard to remove gets removed less often, and that is worse than a grate that is merely plain.
Two smaller notes. The 12 inch center opening is tighter than some owners want if you start a chimney in the middle. And while the listing images show a grate claw and picker, they are not in the box, which is a recurring point of complaint. There is a 90 day warranty with free replacement parts, which is the shortest warranty stated anywhere in this roundup.
7. QuliMetal 8835 Cast Iron Grate – Best Cast Iron Fit for Accessories
QuliMetal 8835 Grill Grates for Weber Kettle 22″ & 22.5″ Charcoal Grills
Cast iron outer grate
12 inch inner cooking grid
364 sq in surface
Bare cast iron
Pros
- Removable 12 inch center works with a chimney starter or Vortex ring
- Stayed rust-free over two years of owner use
- Not porcelain coated so a wire brush can be used freely
- Strong sear marks with minimal sticking once seasoned
Cons
- Heavy and needs gloves or a log grabber to handle hot
- Vulnerable to cracking if dropped even from a short height
- Traps heat and gives very wide grill marks
QuliMetal builds to the same 8835 geometry as the Weber original, and the detail that makes it worth considering over the other two cast iron options here is the 12 inch center insert. Owners specifically call out using it with a chimney starter or a Vortex ring, which means you can keep your indirect cooking setup without pulling the grate apart.
It is bare cast iron with no coating, and owners mention that as a practical advantage rather than a philosophical one. On an enameled grate you are cautious with your tools because a chip ruins the surface. On this one you can use a wire brush without thinking about it, which matters on a grate that sees flare-ups.
Durability over time is the strongest theme in the reviews. Owners report the casting staying rust-free across two years of use, which is the natural outcome of well-seasoned bare iron and a fair bit of maintenance. They also report even heating and good heat retention, with strong sear marks and minimal sticking once the seasoning has built up.
Fit covers the 22.5 inch group including One-Touch Silver, Bar-B-Kettle, Master-Touch, Performer Premium and Performer Deluxe, plus the Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22 inch, and it is usable with the Gourmet BBQ System griddle, wok and sear grate. The listed total is 21.5 inches in diameter with a 12 inch inner cooking grid.
Who this grate suits
This is the pick if you already own a Vortex ring or run a chimney starter in the center, because the 12 inch insert is built for it. It is also a good fit for anyone who wants cast iron searing without committing to the 20 pound handling problem of pick six.
At 8.94 kg it sits between pick five and pick six on weight, and that middle position is where most owners end up. It is heavy enough to sear properly and light enough that you will not dread the swap at the start of a cook.
What it does badly
Cast iron grates chip if you drop them, and this is the one to handle with two hands. Owners are explicit that a fall from even a short height can crack the grate or the center insert, and a cracked insert is a replacement you did not plan on. Gloves or a log grabber are the practical answer.
Cleaning near the center ring is called out as harder than cleaning a wire grate, and the wide marks are a genuine cooking-time consequence. Dense metal bars hold heat so aggressively that the darkest part of a grill mark keeps radiating after you move the food, which is a feature if you want char and a cost if you want precision.
8. GRILLVANA 201 Stainless Steel Hinged Grate – Best Hinged Stainless Upgrade
22 Inch 201 Stainless Steel Hinged/Cooking Replacement 22” grill grate – Compatible with Weber 22″ Charcoal Grills – Kettle Charcoal BBQ Grilling Accessories
201 stainless steel
22 inch round
22 inch wide by 1.1 inch high
Solid pattern
Pros
- Stainless resists the corrosion that eats through nickel-plated OEM grates
- Hinged design adds briquettes without removing the whole grate
- Easier to clean and maintain than plated steel
- Listed as rust free and reusable
Cons
- 201 stainless is a lighter grade than 304 and can show surface rust in harsh conditions
- Wider bar gaps let small food pieces fall through
- No listed weight information
This is the answer for a specific person: a 22 inch Weber kettle owner whose OEM nickel-plated grate has corroded to the point of shedding, who wants stainless instead, and who still wants to add coals without lifting the whole grate. The hinged layout gives you that middle section, and the stainless construction stops the rust cycle that caused the problem in the first place.
Compared to pick one, the argument is straightforward. Both are hinged, both fit 22 inch kettles, and one is plated steel that will need replacing again eventually while the other will not. The trade is that the plated part is factory, lighter and comes with the Weber fit list written on it.
The honest qualification is the grade of stainless. This is 201, not 304, and 201 has more chromium and less nickel, which means it is more prone to surface rust if it sits wet or outdoors in harsh conditions. That is a real difference, and it is why the pick four recommendation goes to 304 for anyone who grills year round and stores the grate outside.
The listed size is 22 inches with dimensions of 22 inch wide by 1.1 inch high, the shape is round and the pattern is solid. Care instructions list hand wash only, and the product is listed as rust resistant and reusable rather than fully rust proof.
Who this grate suits
Buy this if you want to stop maintaining plating but do not want to change your grill’s behavior. The hinge keeps the mid-cook coal access that owners of the OEM grate value most, and stainless means you can leave it on a covered porch without watching for rust spots.
It is also a reasonable first stainless purchase for someone who is unsure whether they want to commit to the seasoning habit that a heavier stainless grate can ask of you. Clean-up is closer to the plated steel routine than to the cast iron routine.
What it does badly
The bar spacing is the practical issue. Owners report that smaller pieces of food can fall through the wider gaps, which matters most for anything cut small or for a skirt of thin meat hanging off the edge. Wide bars are also the reason the grill marks are broader than on a fine wire grate.
And the 201 grade question is not academic. If your kettle lives outside in a wet climate and you are not disciplined about drying the grate after cooking, you will see surface rust sooner than you would on the 304 in pick four. It is manageable, but it is a difference you are choosing to accept.
9. Coolbird Plated Steel Cooking Grate – Best Low-Cost Replacement
Replacement Cooking Grate, Fits 22 inch Weber Charcoal Grills (22″ Original Kettle and Original Kettle Premium, Master-Touch, Bar-B-Kettle, Performer), Silver
Heavy-duty plated steel
22 by 22 by 2 inches
Weighs 2 pounds
Built-in handles
Pros
- Low-cost drop-in replacement for the common 22 inch Weber grates
- Good hardness that resists deformation
- Built-in handles for adding fuel mid-cook
- Weighs only 2 pounds so it is easy to handle
Cons
- Plated steel coating wears and rusts faster than stainless or cast iron
- Bar spacing is wide enough that small food can fall through
- Fit is not guaranteed for non-Weber 22 inch grills
Sometimes the right answer is the one that puts your grill back the way it was at the least fuss, and this is that answer. It is a heavy-duty plated steel grate at 22 by 22 by 2 inches that installs without any complications on the common 22 inch Weber kettles, and at 2 pounds it is the easiest grate in the roundup to lift out of a hot bowl.
The fit list names the Original Kettle, the Original Kettle Premium, the Master-Touch, the Bar-B-Kettle and the Performer, which covers the majority of kettles in circulation. Built-in handles let you add fuel mid-cook without a separate tool, even though the design is not hinged.
Owners mostly value this as a functional replacement rather than an upgrade, and the reviews are honest about that. The plate thickness is praised for holding its shape, and the same reviewers note the wide gaps between bars and the fit caveat for non-Weber grills.
Who this grate suits
This is the pick for a budget decision, a backup grate, or a kettle you use occasionally. If you cook a few times a season, the difference between plated steel generations is less important than it is for someone cooking twice a week, and this one handles the job without any learning curve.
It is also a sensible spare. Grates get cracked, misplaced and carried off to someone else’s yard, and having a second one that weighs 2 pounds means a mid-cook mishap is an inconvenience rather than the end of a barbecue.
What it does badly
The plating is the whole weakness, and the reviews are consistent about it. Plated steel on an aftermarket part does not have the fit tolerance or the finish quality of an OEM Weber grate, so the coating wears and rusts sooner. If you already own an OEM grate that lasted 15 years, this is not the same product with a different label.
Wide bar spacing means small food can drop through, and there is no guarantee for non-Weber 22 inch grills even though the dimensions may look identical. Weber also carries an explicit Smokey Mountain exclusion on this style of part, so if you have one of those, move on.
10. soldbbq 8835 Cast Iron Grate with Center Insert – Best Direct Part Replacement
8835 Cast Iron 21.5″ Grill Grates with 12″ Removable Center Grate for Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch Charcoal Grill, Replacement Parts for Weber 22″ Performer Premium Grill, One-Touch Grills
Matte cast iron
21.5 inch grate with 12 inch center
Weber part 8835 and 65171
6.71 kg
Pros
- Matches the OEM 8835 outer grate plus the 65171 center insert
- Removable center grate for charcoal access and Gourmet BBQ System use
- Cast iron heats evenly and is easy to clean once seasoned
- Broad compatibility list covering most 22 inch Weber variants
Cons
- Heavy cast iron requires two hands and gloves to handle
- The removable center piece is vulnerable to chipping or cracking if dropped
- No lift handle on the center insert so a separate tool is needed when hot
This is the pick for the owner who wants cast iron and wants the part numbers to match. It replaces Weber part 8835 plus the 12 inch center insert 65171, and the box contains one 21.5 inch matte cast iron cooking grate and one 12 inch center insert, so the geometry lines up with the factory parts exactly.
That exact match is the reason the center insert can also be swapped for Weber Gourmet BBQ System cookware, which is a detail you will appreciate if you own a sear grate or a wok. Owners report that lifting out the center for charcoal access is convenient, and that heating is even once the seasoning has cured.
Fit is the widest verified list of the cast iron options here: Original Kettle, Original Kettle Premium, Performer Deluxe, Performer Platinum, Performer Premium Black, Performer Silver, Performer Touch-N-Go, One-Touch Gold, One-Touch Platinum, Master-Touch 22 and 22.5 inch, the 70th Anniversary Edition and the Recteq Bullseye. Dimensions are 21.5 inches across with a half inch height.
At 6.71 kg it is the lighter of the cast iron picks, which is a genuine advantage over pick six. It is bare matte iron with no coating, so a wire brush is fine on it, and owners describe it as a solid, well-made replacement that heats evenly.
Who this grate suits
Buy this if you want cast iron searing, you want the factory part numbers to line up for future servicing, and you run a lot of different Weber models or lend grates out. The compatibility list alone makes it the easiest cast iron pick to order without a second round of research.
It is also the most sensible cast iron option for a person who found the 20 pound grate in pick six too much to handle. You get most of the same heat retention and the same insert convenience at a weight that most people can manage alone.
What it does badly
The center insert has no lift handle, and owners call that out specifically. You need a separate tool to lift it when the bowl is hot, which is a small extra step compared to pick five whose insert has raised side handles. Plan to keep a good pair of gloves and a grate hook within reach.
The drop risk is the same as the other cast iron options here: the removable center piece chips or cracks if it hits the edge of the bowl or the concrete. The rating reflects this balance, with owners broadly satisfied and the caveats concentrated on weight and handling rather than on cooking results.
Stainless Steel vs Cast Iron vs Plated Steel Grates
If you only read one comparison section, read this one, because the material question causes more buyer regret than the fit question does. Here is the honest version, with no winner declared for everyone.
Cast iron wins on heat, loses on handling. The 20.3 pound Uniflasy in pick six and the 8 pound onlyfire in pick five both store heat and radiate it back into the food, which is the mechanism behind a dark, defined, wide sear mark. Cast iron is also the material here that carries no coating at all, so there is no enamel or plating to chip and flake into your food. The cost is weight, drop risk and a multi-day seasoning routine that you have to complete before the first real cook.
Stainless steel wins on maintenance, loses on sear depth. The 304 grate in pick four resists rust, releases food cleanly after a short seasoning period, and comes with a 10 year warranty. What it does not do is store as much heat as iron, so the crust is thinner and the marks are lighter. The 201 grate in pick eight has the same maintenance story with a lower corrosion grade, so store it dry when you are not cooking.
Plated steel wins on fit certainty, loses on lifespan. The Weber grates in picks one and two are the safest fit on a 22 inch kettle because they are the parts that were designed for it. They are also the material that most often brings a purchase back, because the plating wears with extended use and the maintenance is manual. Skim the 201 stainless pick if your main problem is that the plating keeps rusting.
On bar thickness, the community rule is simple and it holds up against the specs: thicker steel resists warping and radiates more heat, and the gauge is what tells you whether a grate will still be flat in five years. The two cast iron options at 8 and 20 pounds and the stainless pick at 6.3 pounds are all substantially heavier than the wire grates. Thin steel is not a defect, it is a design choice that trades heat retention for weight and price, and you should decide which side of that trade you are on before you buy.
The one combination that does not work well is heavy cast iron plus a slow, indirect cook with a lot of drippings. The same density that gives you a hard sear also means the grate stays hot enough to scorch thin fish and vegetables sitting in a corner. If most of your cooking is low and slow, stainless or a wire grate serves you better.
Replacement or Upgrade: How to Choose
The second most common kettle question is whether to bother at all, usually from someone with a ten or fifteen year old grill whose grate still works. It is a fair question, and the answer depends on what your grate is doing right now rather than its age.
Run through these four checks. First, look at the underside: if the plating is flaking into the bowl, or bare metal is showing through and rust is spreading, replace it. That is a food safety and a corrosion issue, not a performance preference. Second, lay a spirit level or a straight edge on the cooking surface: if the grate rocks or the bars have cupped, replace it, because a warped grate will not sear evenly no matter what you cook on it. Third, cook a steak and look at the marks: if they are pale, patchy and inconsistent, the grate has lost its flatness and the upgrade is justified. Fourth, ignore the age entirely if all three pass, because a 15 year old plate that is still flat is doing its job.
That fourth point is the one most upgrade guides skip. Kettle owners argue about this constantly in the forums, and the practical answer is that the OEM grate is engineered for a round bowl with a specific bar gauge and nothing aftermarket changes the fuel efficiency of your grill. You are buying better heat behavior and better marks, not a faster grill.
Now the folding-side question, because it decides between picks one and two more than anything else. The hinged grate exists to let you add coals mid-cook without removing food. If you bank coals, run a two-zone cook, or do long indirect cooks where you top up the fire, a hinged grate is a genuine functional gain and pick one is the right answer. If you finish most cooks inside 30 minutes and never add coals, the standard grate does the same job and saves the difference.
One more thing before you buy cast iron: check what accessories you run. If you use a Slow ‘N Sear basket, a Vortex ring or Gourmet BBQ System cookware, the grate has to leave room for it and the center insert has to be the right diameter. Picks five, six, seven and ten all list a removable center, and picks six and seven state accessory compatibility explicitly, which makes them the safer buys for an accessorized kettle.
Care and Maintenance by Grate Material
Most grate problems trace back to a skipped maintenance step rather than a bad product. The routines are short, and the correct routine is completely different for each material.
Plated steel – Weber’s own instruction for the OEM grates is to preheat on high for 15 minutes and then brush clean with a grill brush. Do that every cook without exception, oil lightly while warm, and dry it before it goes anywhere near a wall. Once you see rust bloom, a light pass with 0000 steel wool and a fresh coat of oil brings it back, but a grate that has rusted through is a replacement, not a restoration job.
Stainless steel – clean while warm with a grill brush, and oil lightly after the first two or three cooks to build the natural patina owners describe. The rule that catches people out is that once the patina exists, deep cleaning strips it. Skip the aggressive wire wheel on the cooking face and stick to a brush.
Cast iron – season it properly before the first cook: oil every surface, heat it, let it cool, and repeat over a few days. Afterward, wipe it with a paper towel while it is still warm, use a wire brush freely because there is no coating to damage, and oil it again before storing. Never put bare cast iron in a dishwasher and never leave it wet in the bowl overnight, because standing moisture is what ends the life of an insert.
For porcelain-coated and enameled grates the rule inverts: no wire brush, no steel wool, and no prolonged soaking. Use a soft nylon bristle brush and a mild dish soap, and replace the grate when the enamel chips rather than trying to cook on exposed iron. None of the picks in this roundup is porcelain-coated, which is one reason bare iron and stainless dominate the list here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best replacement grill grates for Weber grills?
For most 22 inch Weber kettles, the best replacement is the OEM hinged plated steel grate if you add coals mid-cook, or the standard OEM plated steel grate if you do not. Both fit the Original Kettle, Original Kettle Premium, Master-Touch, Bar-B-Kettle and Performer exactly. Choose a cast iron aftermarket grate instead if searing performance matters more than weight and seasoning effort.
What are the best stainless steel grates for a Weber kettle?
The SnS Grills EasySpin is the strongest all-round stainless choice for 22 inch kettles, using 304 stainless with a rotating grate for two-zone cooking and a 10 year warranty. GRILLVANA’s 201 stainless hinged grate is the alternative if you want a hinge for mid-cook coals, though 201 is a lighter grade that can show surface rust if left wet.
Are Weber stainless steel grates worth it?
Yes, when the problem is rust. A stainless grate removes the plating that eventually flakes and corrodes, needs no seasoning beyond a few oiled cooks, and releases food more cleanly than a worn wire grate. The trade is heat: stainless stores less than cast iron, so the sear is lighter and the marks are less deep.
Which is better, stainless or cast iron grill grates?
Cast iron wins on heat retention and sear depth because it stores heat and radiates it back into the food, which is what produces dark, defined marks. Stainless wins on maintenance because it does not rust and needs almost no seasoning. Choose cast iron for searing and low-and-slow heat, and stainless for weeknight cooking and minimal upkeep.
What is the best product to clean Weber grill grates?
A standard wire grill brush is the right tool for plated steel and bare cast iron, used while the grate is still warm. For stainless steel, use a grill brush and avoid a wire wheel on the cooking face, because aggressive scrubbing strips the natural patina. Never use steel wool on porcelain or enameled surfaces, and never put any of these grates in a dishwasher.
What are the best mods for a Weber kettle?
For grates, the highest-impact mods are a hinged grate for mid-cook coal access, a cast iron grate for searing, or a stainless grate for rust resistance. Beyond grates, the most common kettle mods are a Slow ‘N Sear basket for two-zone cooking and a Vortex ring for indirect heat. Check center insert diameter before combining a grate with either accessory.
The Best Grill Grates for Weber Kettles: Our Recommendation
For a 22 inch Weber kettle and no other information, the hinged OEM grate is the purchase we would make first. It carries the highest review volume in this roundup, the fit is exact, and the flip-up sides solve a real problem that aftermarket grates mostly ignore. If you never add coals mid-cook, the standard OEM grate does everything you need for less.
If you want to change how the grill cooks rather than just restore it, the SnS EasySpin is the pick, with the understanding that its steel is lighter gauge than the factory grate. If searing is your priority and you are willing to do the seasoning work, choose a cast iron option, and pick the Uniflasy only if you are comfortable with a 20 pound grate or you need Gourmet BBQ System compatibility.
Before you order anything, confirm your kettle model and measure the bowl. Fit is the one variable that no amount of material preference will fix, and it takes two minutes to get right. If you are still weighing up grill types rather than grates, our Weber pellet grill picks for searing cover a different corner of the market.
Whichever one you choose, buy it for a reason you can name. A grate you can explain is a grate you will cook on, and that matters more than any spec on the list.