8 Best Grill Lights To Brighten Up Your Late Night Meals posted by Taylor Munsell Pin Share Tweet Email SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. The gas grill at an outdoor party provides warmth, food, light, and a source of entertainment. Perhaps it is because of those things that the grill tends to become the central hub of activity at any outdoor event that has one, and the “grill-master” has an extremely important job in keeping everything running smoothly. That task becomes pretty difficult, though, once the light starts to fade and it gets more difficult to see. The solution is the grill light, a light specially designed for grill masters to light their workspace without having to actually hold up a light. In this post, I’ll explain grill lights further and go over eight of the best grill light models, selecting different types so that every grill master reading this will find something to cater to their specific grilling style. About Grill Lights First, let’s define what a grill light is and why it’s important for any grillmaster worth their salt to have one. What is a Grill Light? A grill light is a piece of hardware that attaches to a grill and has a light that can be turned on to illuminate the grill. Most modern grill lights have LCD technology, which is brighter but uses less power. Think of them sort of like those reading lights you can use to read a book at night, except heatproof, weatherproof, and a lot bigger. Most grill lights attach to some part of the grill via magnets or a spring-loaded clip. They often have a bendable arm connecting the clip to the light itself that the grillmaster can use to angle the light properly. What Does a Grill Light Do? The grillmaster at a party usually has to work quickly, especially when they’re preparing a lot of food at once. If they don’t, they can easily burn the burgers, veggies, BBQ chicken, or whatever else they’re grilling up. Add that to the fact that the grill is usually red hot, and you can easily see why it’s important the grillmaster can see their workspace clearly. Unfortunately, that can get a bit difficult once the sun goes down unless a grill light is present to save the day. The grillmaster can just flip the light on and it will bathe the grill in a bright light, which helps to avert grilling disasters. What to Consider When Buying a Grill Light If you prefer to do your own grill light research, remember to consider the following when looking at any model: Compatibility Some grill lights just won’t work with certain models of grill. For example, some grill lights attach via magnet and will not work with grills made from 304 or 316 stainless steel, which are not magnetic. Other grill lights attach to a grill’s horizontal handle, so they obviously won’t work on a grill that does not have one. Check out your grill’s specs to make sure it’s compatible with the grill light. Brightness Low-quality grill lights are just not very bright. A dimmer light might be okay if your grill surface is very small, but larger grills generally need more powerful lights. Maneuverability However the grill light you’re looking at attaches to the grill, make sure it can easily be positioned in a way that allows it to shine directly on the grilling surface. A grill light that’s too heavy to move or has too short of a flexible arm will only make using the light a hassle. Best Grill Lights Instead of combing through grill light options yourself, you could just go for one of the pre-vetted models in this handy table. I’ve either owned or researched every one of the lights, and I’ve given each one a “best of” award based on what I believe it excels at. You can read even more about each light below the table. Best OfNamePrice RangeOverall[amazon link=”B01F7RO4YS” link_icon=”none” title=”LED Concepts Magnetic Super-Bright” /]$$VersatileMagnetic LED Lights Set$$$Magnetic[amazon link=”B074HLWVXY” link_icon=”none” title=”Bright Eyes Light Set” /]$$LEDDouble LED Grill Light$$$$Ultra-BrightThe Brighter BBQ Grill Light$$$$$Grill n Go[amazon link=”B07YFCS5WG” link_icon=”none” title=”Weber Handle Grill n Go Light” /]$$SpatulaStainless Steel Spatula with LED$$$Headlamp[amazon link=”B07QGRWZNB” link_icon=”none” title=”GearLight LED Headlamp” /]$$ 1. Best overall: LED Concepts Magnetic Super-Bright by [amazon link=”B01F7RO4YS” link_icon=”none” title=”LED Concepts” /] [amazon fields=”B01F7RO4YS” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”LED Concepts Magnetic Super-Bright LED Lights”] This is my favorite grill light of all time, and the stand-out feature that makes me love it so much is the sturdy-yet-flexible 22-inch neck that attaches the base to the bulb. It makes illuminating and grill, even very large ones, into an easy task. The base of the light is also remarkable. It has a strong magnet that will stick to almost any metal, but it also has a heavy-duty screw clamp that attaches to any surface, even not-metal ones like workbenches. The clamp is also useful for making sure the light does not fall over from the weight of the extra-long bendable neck. My only complaint is that the entire light gets really hot while in use. You may want to look at other lights if you have small children or if you’re planning on grilling in a very cramped space. Other than that, I’d recommend this grill light above others to pretty much anyone. 2. Most Versatile: Magnetic LED Lights Set by Uncommon Goods This set of two grill lights is extremely easy to transport and can be used on a wide variety of grills. The bendable necks of the two lights are not very long, but the lights have three brightness levels and, since there are two of them, you can position the lights one on either side of the grill to brightly illuminate the whole thing. The lights also have adjustable beams that go from spotlight to wide coverage, allowing you to perfectly light grills of any surface area. As if the lights themselves weren’t enough to justify the purchase, they come in a padded carrying case made of durable hard plastic. It’s a great way to tote them around on camping trips or wilderness parties. I’d definitely recommend this set to people who travel around a lot with their grill lights and want to attach them to different grills. 3. Magnetic: Bright Eyes Light Set by [amazon link=”B074HLWVXY” link_icon=”none” title=”Bright Eyes” /] [amazon fields=”B074HLWVXY” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Bright Eyes Light Set”] The magnetic attachments for these two lights are insanely strong. The metal base surrounding the magnets is built with some of the strongest aluminum on the market, the same type that is used to build airplanes. The result is a grill light that will simply never come unstuck, even if it is pelted by rain and sleet. Note, however, that these magnets are not compatible with most types of stainless steel. The bendable necks on these lights are also fairly long and are well-crafted so they will not bend out of shape easily. This set is ideal for those who enjoy grilling for very long periods of time. 4. LED: Double LED Grill Light by Uncommon Goods The two lights on this model are very bright, with 12 LED bulbs in each of them, but are also very energy-efficient and only use four AA batteries between the two of them. The lights are not separate pieces like in most of these dual-light sets; instead, they both extend from one clamp via two very long and very flexible necks. The device certainly has a unique appearance, looking a bit like a plant that would be growing on an alien planet in an old sci-fi movie. It gets the job done, though, and I think it more than justifies its above-average price for a grill light. I’d recommend this model for those who are energy-conscious but have a large grill that they want to light up completely. 5. Ultra-Bright: The Brighter BBQ Grill Light by Hammacher Schlemmer Speaking of extra-bright grill lights, this model has, hands down, the strongest powers of illumination I’ve ever seen on one of these products. The light has 12 LED bulbs, but they are powered using an incredibly powerful mechanism that provides a whopping 200 lumens of light – which, trust me, is a lot for a grill light. It’s so powerful that it needs four D batteries to operate. Don’t worry, though, it can run on one set of batteries for a long time. The light is also extraordinarily durable, with a handle-clamp design and a casing made from a heavy-duty weatherproof polycarbonate plastic. It’s the most expensive grill light I have personally used, but it provides a pretty awesome experience. If you have a grill with a vertical handle and you like the idea of a heavy-duty grill light, this model is for you. It’s also great for those with middling eyesight because it’s so bright. 6. Handle Grill and Go: Weber Handle Grill n Go Light by [amazon link=”B07YFCS5WG” link_icon=”none” title=”Weber” /] [amazon fields=”B07YFCS5WG” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Weber Handle Grill ‘N Go Light”] This is another handle-clamp grill light, but it’s much lighter and more versatile than the heavy-duty model mentioned above. It clamps on to the grill handle in seconds, and it only uses three AAA batteries. The real stand-out feature, though, is the built-in motion sensor that detects when you are using the grill or not and turns the light on or off accordingly. I’d recommend this grill light for less tech-savvy grill masters who want something simple and quick to install that lets them spend more time mingling with guests. 7. Spatula Light: Stainless Steel Spatula with LED by BBQ Guys This grill light takes a different approach than most: the light is actually built into a restaurant-grade 430 stainless steel spatula so that it illuminates whatever the spatula is flipping. Not only is the light itself very bright, but it also comes into closer proximity with the grill than most grill lights do, meaning the food is illuminated even further. The hue of the light is also precisely tuned to replicate daylight, making it easier to tell when the food on the grill is done just right. In terms of portability, this grill light tops my list. I’d recommend it for those who are always on the move with their grill lights, especially if the grills they are using do not have a place to attach models that attach magnetically or via a clamp. 8. Headlamp: GearLight LED Headlamp by [amazon link=”B07QGRWZNB” link_icon=”none” title=”GearLight” /] [amazon fields=”B07QGRWZNB” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”GearLight LED Head Lamp”] You could also ditch the grill lights all together and go with a headlamp, which accomplishes the same purpose. This model in particular is light, weatherproof, and has a bright LED beam. In short, it’s fantastic for use while grilling. Two lights come in the purchase, too, making them a better value than most grill lights. I’d highly recommend this pair of headlights to those who don’t grill too often and would like to buy a “grill light” that can also be used for other purposes. Light Up the Night A constant flow of smoky grilled food is practically essential to a fun outdoor event, and a high-quality grill light is a must-have for any grillmaster. Not only is it necessary for creating a safe environment, but it also changes the experience of grilling in the dark from a slog into a fun experience.
