Kirkland Grill: Everything About Costco’s Kirkland-Branded Grill

If you have ever wandered through Costco for paper towels and somehow ended up staring lovingly at a giant stainless steel grill, congratulations: you have experienced the warehouse club version of romance. And few products capture that feeling better than the Kirkland grill. It is big, shiny, loaded with premium-looking features, and designed to make you think, “Sure, I can absolutely host 18 people this weekend.”

The truth is that Costco’s Kirkland-branded grill is more than a flashy seasonal impulse buy. It is a serious gas grill platform that was introduced as part of a broader Kirkland Signature outdoor cooking push, with a six-burner freestanding model and larger stone-island versions for shoppers who apparently looked at ordinary patios and said, “No, this yard needs a culinary command center.”

This guide breaks down what the Kirkland grill is, what features matter, how the lineup is structured, what owners should realistically expect, and whether it is actually worth the money. If you want the short version, here it is: the Kirkland grill is best understood as Costco’s attempt to offer a premium-style stainless gas grill with crowd-friendly capacity, modern extras, and just enough warehouse-club swagger to make competing grills nervous.

What Is the Kirkland Grill, Exactly?

The model most shoppers mean when they say “the Kirkland grill” is the Kirkland Signature Stainless Steel 6-Burner Gas Grill, item 2327661, model 720-1068. Costco currently lists it as a gas grill with a 304 stainless steel cooking area, 63,000 total BTUs, a 13,000-BTU infrared top sear burner, 737 square inches of total cooking space, LED knobs, electronic ignition, and an included grill cover. It is also listed as dual fuel, which means the unit is designed around propane use but supports natural-gas conversion with the appropriate setup. In practical terms, that makes it less of a bare-bones backyard grill and more of a feature-stacked midsize-to-large outdoor cooker for households that entertain often or simply cook big.

Physically, it is not a tiny balcony grill pretending to be helpful. The unit measures 57.1 inches wide, 24.5 inches deep, and 48.7 inches high, and it weighs just under 165 pounds. Costco ships it in a box and does not include assembly, which is worth knowing now instead of discovering it while standing in your driveway next to a suspicious number of bolts. This is a real grill, not a “snap two parts together and start searing” situation.

Why Costco Made a Kirkland Grill

Costco Connection’s launch coverage makes it clear that the Kirkland grill was not thrown together as a lazy private-label flex. Costco described the line as the result of more than a year of trade-show visits, market analysis, and product development intended to create a premium product that members would see as durable, feature-rich, and worthy of the Kirkland name. That matters because it tells you how Costco wants the grill to be perceived: not as a budget knockoff, but as a serious competitor to specialty-retail gas grills.

That design philosophy shows up in the feature list. Costco highlighted LED knobs, a top sear infrared burner, an upgraded grease management system, and heavy use of 304 stainless steel in major cooking components. In grill language, that is Costco saying, “We know you like value, but we also know you like the good stuff.”

The Features That Actually Matter

1. 304 stainless steel where it counts

Costco Connection emphasized that 304 stainless steel was chosen for corrosion resistance and longevity, especially compared with more budget-friendly grades commonly used in grills. Costco specifically called out 304 stainless steel in the hood, cooking grates, warming rack, and firebox. For buyers, that is one of the Kirkland grill’s strongest selling points. Stainless steel gets tossed around in grill marketing like confetti, but the grade matters. Here, Costco is clearly aiming for a more premium durability story rather than a merely shiny one.

2. The infrared top sear burner

The top sear burner is one of the Kirkland grill’s headline features, and not just because it sounds cool. Costco describes it as a way to deliver consistent infrared heat that locks in moisture and helps create a restaurant-style sear. In regular-person terms, it is there for steaks, seafood, browned cheese, and the kind of grilled finish that makes dinner look more expensive than it really was. This is the feature that nudges the Kirkland grill out of “big box gas grill” territory and into “huh, that is actually pretty interesting” territory.

3. Big cooking capacity

With 737 square inches of total cooking space, the six-burner model is built for volume. That does not automatically mean it is the best choice for every household. If you mostly grill for two or three people, this is arguably more grill than you need. But if your backyard regularly fills with burgers, wings, vegetables, hot dogs, shrimp skewers, and one person loudly asking whether there is room for corn, the Kirkland grill makes more sense. Its size is part of its identity.

4. Dual-fuel flexibility

One of the more appealing parts of the package is fuel flexibility. Costco’s listings and manual show that the grill is set up for propane but supports natural-gas use with the appropriate conversion and gas setup. That matters for homeowners planning a permanent outdoor-cooking zone. Propane gives you portability; natural gas gives you convenience. The Kirkland grill tries to keep a foot in both camps, which is useful, though the manual also makes clear that gas conversion is not something to do casually or carelessly.

5. Easier cleanup than the average grill headache

Costco promoted an upgraded grease management system with larger capacity and easier front access, and even noted that the removable grease components can go in the dishwasher. Apartment Therapy also highlighted the accessible grease trays and flame tamers designed to distribute heat and turn drippings into smoky flavor. That may not sound glamorous, but cleanup is one of the biggest reasons people quietly start resenting their grills by mid-summer. A grill that is easier to clean is a grill that gets used more.

6. LED knobs, because drama matters

Do LED knobs make food taste better? No. Do they make the grill feel more upscale and more usable in low light? Absolutely. Costco, Costco Connection, and lifestyle coverage all leaned into the LED-knob feature because it is both practical and visually impressive. It is the sort of detail that makes the grill look more premium even before the first burger hits the grate.

The Bigger Kirkland Grill Family

The six-burner freestanding model gets most of the attention, but Costco’s Kirkland grill story is actually bigger. Costco Connection introduced a three-model line made up of the six-burner grill, a seven-burner stone-island version, and a massive 12-burner Stone Island Grill. That broader lineup is important because it reveals Costco’s strategy: the company was not just launching one grill, it was building a full private-label outdoor-cooking identity.

The 7-burner Stone Island Gas Grill adds a built-in island feel, 81,000 total BTUs, 653 square inches of cooking space, LED knobs, a removable griddle, a cover, and dual-fuel capability. It also includes side burners and dramatically ups the outdoor-kitchen vibe. Meanwhile, the 12-burner Stone Island Gas Grill is essentially Costco asking whether your patio would like to become a restaurant. It offers 118,000 total BTUs, 1,220 square inches of total cooking space, a built-in 342-square-inch griddle, LED knobs, dual-fuel setup, and a weight pushing roughly 591 pounds. It is less “weekend grill” and more “suburban outdoor empire.”

So if your search is really about Kirkland-branded grills as a category, the answer is that Costco has positioned the six-burner model as the most accessible entry point, while the stone-island versions serve shoppers who want a more permanent and visually dramatic outdoor setup.

Who Makes the Kirkland Grill?

Costco does not loudly market the six-burner model by outside manufacturer name on the product page, which is typical for a private-label product. However, parts and repair listings for model 720-1068 are widely mapped to Nexgrill in current replacement-parts catalogs. That strongly suggests the Kirkland 6-burner grill is built on a Nexgrill-related platform or manufacturing relationship. I would still be careful about stating that as official branding unless Costco or the manufacturer says so directly, but there is enough support evidence to say the grill appears to have a clear Nexgrill connection.

That is actually useful news for buyers. Replacement parts and service support matter a lot with gas grills, especially large ones with ignition systems, burners, regulators, flame tamers, and multiple moving pieces. Current parts sites list a deep bench of replacement components for 720-1068, which is better than owning a mystery grill that becomes impossible to maintain two summers from now.

What the Warranty Says

The official 720-1068 manual adds a useful reality check. The warranty is more generous in some areas than many shoppers expect and less magical in others. The stainless steel tube burners carry a 10-year limited warranty against perforation. Grids and grates get a 3-year limited warranty. Stainless steel parts also get a 3-year limited warranty against perforation. Most other parts, including valves, frame, housing, cart, control panel, igniter, regulator, and hoses, are covered for 1 year.

That sounds strong on paper, but the same manual also says cosmetic issues like scratches, dents, discoloration, surface corrosion, and rust are not treated the same way as structural failures. Translation: the Kirkland grill is designed to last, but it is still a stainless outdoor appliance, not a superhero. If you want it to stay handsome, you still have to clean it, cover it, and avoid treating it like a rain-catching sculpture.

How Good Is It, Really?

Here is where the Kirkland grill gets interesting. Independent testing snippets from Consumer Reports indicate the 720-1068 performed very well in heating-evenness tests, which is a meaningful positive sign. In other words, the grill appears capable of delivering the kind of heat consistency buyers actually care about when they are cooking more than one thing at a time and would prefer not to play “guess which side is lava.”

At the same time, public shopper reaction has not been universally glowing. Coverage from The Kitchn and Apartment Therapy showed early excitement, especially around the look, size, LED knobs, and top sear burner. But later consumer-oriented commentary from House Digest highlighted mixed reviews, with some buyers praising the grill’s sturdy feel and cooking performance while others complained about assembly difficulty, ignition quirks, damaged delivery, or finish concerns. That mixed reaction does not make the grill bad. It makes it what many large gas grills are: impressive when everything goes right, frustrating when setup or quality control does not.

Pros and Cons of the Kirkland Grill

What it does well

The Kirkland grill looks premium, cooks on a large surface, includes features that are not usually found on entry-level warehouse grills, and benefits from Costco’s strong value-and-service reputation. The 304 stainless cooking components, included cover, infrared top sear burner, dual-fuel flexibility, and roomy cooking area make it feel more ambitious than a typical “summer aisle special.” It also helps that Costco designed the line with real attention to durability and cleanup.

Where it may not be the perfect match

The size can be overkill, especially for smaller households. Assembly is not trivial. The grill is heavy enough to remind you that physics is real. And because it is a complex stainless gas grill, fit-and-finish complaints from some owners are not shocking. Also, while the price has historically hovered in the upper-hundreds depending on listing and promotion, it is not cheap enough to buy carelessly. This is not a disposable grill. It is a deliberate purchase.

Who Should Buy It?

The ideal buyer is someone who grills often, cooks for a group, values stainless-steel construction, likes premium-style features, and wants a lot of grill without stepping immediately into luxury-specialty pricing. If you host neighbors, feed a large family, or treat grilling season like a sacred annual festival, the Kirkland grill makes a lot of sense.

If you want something compact, ultra-simple, or nearly foolproof to assemble, then no, the Kirkland grill is probably not your soulmate. It is more like a charismatic extrovert: impressive, powerful, fun at parties, and occasionally a little high-maintenance.

What the Ownership Experience Usually Feels Like

Living with a Kirkland grill is probably best described as a mix of “wow, this thing looks fantastic” and “okay, let me get the manual.” The first impression is undeniably strong. The six-burner model has the clean, all-stainless style that makes a patio feel more expensive, and the LED knobs add just enough visual flair to feel modern without tipping into spaceship territory. If you care about how your outdoor setup looks, the Kirkland grill wins points before you even light it.

Then comes assembly day. This is where expectations need to be realistic. Because the grill is large and feature-rich, setup is not a two-screw, fifteen-minute affair. It is the sort of project where clear floor space, patience, and a second person are highly recommended. Once assembled, though, the size and layout start making sense. There is enough room to cook dinner for a crowd without stacking food like a game of burger Jenga.

On an average weeknight, the grill’s biggest advantage is capacity. You can cook proteins on the main grates, move finished items to the warming area, and still have room for vegetables or bread. That is where the Kirkland grill starts to feel less like a flashy purchase and more like a practical backyard workhorse. The top sear burner is especially useful for the kind of finishing touches people normally fake in their heads before dinner. With this grill, you can actually get that browned top, quick sear, or steakhouse-style finish without pretending the food “looks rustic” because it was under-seared.

Cleanup is one of the better parts of the experience. Grills do not become beloved because they are easy to scrub, but easier grease access and removable trays make a difference over time. A grill that punishes you every time you use it tends to get abandoned. The Kirkland design at least tries to reduce that problem. That may sound minor, yet it matters just as much as BTUs once the honeymoon phase ends.

There is also the emotional side of ownership: the Kirkland grill feels like you bought a lot of grill. That sounds silly, but it matters. Costco shoppers are not just buying function; they are buying the thrill of getting a premium-looking product under a house label known for value. The Kirkland grill delivers on that feeling better than most private-label products do. It looks substantial, it has the right feature buzzwords, and it makes entertaining easier.

Of course, the real-world experience is not universally perfect. Because this is a complex gas grill, small annoyances hit harder. If an igniter wire is loose, if assembly takes longer than expected, or if a component arrives less than pristine, your patience can evaporate faster than the propane. That is why the best ownership experience with the Kirkland grill usually belongs to buyers who go in with the right mindset: this is a serious outdoor appliance that rewards setup, maintenance, and a little attention.

Over time, the ownership story comes down to habits. Cover it. Clean the grease system. Inspect the burners. Treat the stainless properly. Do that, and the Kirkland grill has a much better chance of feeling like a smart buy instead of an oversized summer fling. Neglect it, and even a handsome grill starts acting like a very expensive yard ornament.

Final Verdict

Costco’s Kirkland-branded grill is not just a novelty with a warehouse logo stuck on the lid. It is a thoughtfully positioned, feature-rich gas grill line anchored by a compelling six-burner model that looks premium, offers meaningful cooking power, and tries to deliver long-term value through materials, capacity, and support. It is not perfect, and it is definitely not tiny, but for the right buyer it hits a sweet spot between flashy and functional.

If you want a Costco grill that feels like a real upgrade, the Kirkland 6-burner is the one to watch. If you want to go even bigger, the seven-burner and twelve-burner stone-island versions show that Costco is not merely dabbling in outdoor cooking. It is trying to own a whole section of your backyard. And honestly, that is very on-brand. You went in for snacks. You came out planning an outdoor kitchen.

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