nobody gets excited about buying a grill cover. You buy it because you know you should, you spend as little as possible, and then nine months later you're wondering why the thing is shredded and your grill looks like it's been left in a parking lot.

The good news is that a genuinely good BBQ grill cover doesn't cost a fortune. The difference between a cover that lasts two seasons and one that lasts seven isn't usually the price — it's knowing what to actually look for before you buy.

This guide breaks it all down. Material, sizing, fit, fastening — the stuff that actually matters.

Your grill is one of the harder-working things in your backyard. It deserves better than a cover that falls apart after one winter.

Why Your Grill Needs a Cover in the First Place

Some people figure their grill is already built for outdoor use, so what's the big deal? And sure, grills are designed to handle a cookout. But they're not designed to sit in the rain for six months, bake under UV exposure all summer, or have bird droppings eating into the finish through winter.

Here's what actually happens to an uncovered grill over time:

• Rust forms on the burners, grates, and frame — first cosmetically, then structurally. A rusted burner doesn't distribute heat evenly. A rusted frame is just a liability.
• Grease residue left in an uncovered grill attracts insects, rodents, and wasps looking for somewhere to nest. Opening your grill in spring to find a wasp nest inside is an experience.
• UV exposure fades and degrades the exterior finish, warps plastic knobs and side shelves, and dries out any rubber seals or gaskets over time.
• Debris — leaves, twigs, dirt — clogs vents and burner ports, meaning you're cleaning out your grill before every use instead of just lighting it.

A decent cover costs somewhere between $40 and $90. A new grill costs several hundred to several thousand. The math isn't complicated.

What to Look for in a Grill Cover

1. Material — This Is the Biggest One

The cover's material determines how long it lasts and how well it actually protects. Here's what you'll see out there:

600D Oxford fabric is the standard to look for. The "D" stands for Denier, which measures thread density — higher Denier means heavier, more tightly woven fabric. 600D is the sweet spot: thick enough to handle sustained weather exposure without being so heavy that it's a pain to take on and off. Many quality covers pair this with a PVC or polyurethane inner coating for added waterproofing.

300D polyester is lighter and cheaper. It works fine for mild climates or grills that have some overhead shelter. For anyone dealing with real winters, heavy rain, or extended periods of direct sun, it's not going to hold up as well.

Canvas is heavy-duty and excellent at UV protection, but it's expensive and heavier than most people want for everyday use. More common in commercial settings.

Avoid: thin nylon covers and anything that doesn't specify a Denier rating. These are the covers that look fine for a season and then crack, fade, or tear the following year.

2. Sizing — Measure Before You Buy

This is where most people go wrong, and it's the easiest mistake to avoid.

A grill cover that's too small won't close properly — which defeats the entire purpose. A cover that's too large flaps around in the wind, acts like a sail, and eventually pulls itself off or wears through at the contact points.

Three measurements. That's it. Width, depth, height — and you'll never order the wrong size.

Before buying, measure your grill in three places:

• Width — across the widest point, including side shelves or handles if they don't fold flat
• Depth — front to back at the deepest point
• Height — from the ground to the top of the lid (or higher if the cover should clear the lid entirely)

The cover should be sized to match or slightly exceed these dimensions. Going an inch or two larger is fine. Going six inches larger is asking for wind problems.

If you have a grill with a back burner, side burner, or attached smoker box, measure those too — and make sure the cover dimensions account for them.

3. Fit and Shape

Not all grills are the same shape, and a generic rectangular cover isn't always going to work well on every configuration.

Standard gas grills with a lid and two side shelves: a typical rectangular cover works well. Most covers are designed around this configuration.

Kettle grills (like the classic Weber round charcoal grill): need a cover shaped to fit the round dome lid — a rectangular cover will bunch up awkwardly and leave gaps.

Kamado grills (Big Green Egg style): very specific dome shape; worth getting a cover designed for this style or measuring precisely and choosing a custom-fit option.

Pellet smokers and offset smokers: tend to be long and low, sometimes with a vertical side smoker attached. These need longer covers with accommodation for irregular shapes.

Built-in grills and outdoor kitchen islands: these sit flush with a counter, so you're covering just the grill head, not a whole freestanding unit — completely different sizing. Check our outdoor gear covers section for appropriate options.

4. Fastening System — Because Wind Is Real

A cover that blows off in a storm isn't protecting anything, and chasing your grill cover across the yard in November is nobody's idea of a good time.

Look for covers with:

Adjustable straps and buckles that tighten under the grill body — these keep the cover anchored even in strong gusts. Make sure the straps are long enough to reach under your grill's profile.

Elastic hem cord or a drawstring at the bottom gives a snug, custom-fit finish and is harder for wind to get under than a loose edge.

Click-close clips are particularly reliable for high-wind situations — they won't shake loose the way velcro or simple ties can.

Avoid covers that rely only on velcro at the bottom. In our experience and based on plenty of customer feedback, velcro loses its grip over time and is the first thing to fail on cheaper covers. Fine as a secondary fastening, not great as the only one.

5. Ventilation — The Detail Nobody Mentions

Here's a thing that surprises people: an airtight cover is not necessarily a better cover.

If moisture gets under a cover with no ventilation — from rain finding a gap, from condensation, or from a grill that wasn't fully dry when covered — that moisture has nowhere to go. It sits on your grill's surfaces and accelerates the exact rust and mildew problems you were trying to prevent.

Good grill covers have subtle ventilation — mesh vents along the sides or at the top — that let moisture vapor escape without letting rain in. It's a small detail that makes a real difference in humid climates and during shoulder seasons when temperature swings cause condensation.

6. UV Protection

If your grill lives in direct sun — no overhead shelter, no tree coverage — UV resistance matters more than it gets credit for.

Extended UV exposure bleaches and weakens cover fabric from the outside, and it damages your grill's exterior finish from underneath if the cover isn't blocking UV effectively. Look for covers that specifically note UV-resistant or UV-coated fabric. On the label, this often appears as "UV protection" or "fade resistant."

One More Thing: Cover It When It's Cool

This sounds obvious but gets skipped constantly — never put a cover on a grill that's still hot or even warm. Trapped heat with no escape route can damage the cover material, and condensation from a cooling grill is significantly worse in an enclosed cover environment.

After cooking, give the grill at least 30–45 minutes to cool down before covering. It takes longer than you think, especially the grates and the interior of the lid.

A properly fitted cover in winter keeps the rust out and the grill ready — so the first cookout of spring isn't a cleaning session.

Quick Reference: What to Look For

What About the Rest of Your Outdoor Setup?

If you're sorting out the grill cover, it's worth thinking about the rest of the backyard at the same time. A covered grill sitting next to uncovered patio furniture or a pool that's wide open is only solving part of the problem.

At Faircovers, we cover the whole backyard:

• Patio furniture covers — for sofas, sectionals, dining sets, and individual chairs. Including L-shaped sofa covers and single chair covers.
• Above ground pool covers — round, oval, and rectangular, in sizes from small backyard pools to large family setups.
• Vehicle covers — for bikes, motorcycles, and golf carts that live outside.
• Outdoor AC covers — for window and wall units that get left outside through winter.

Browse all outdoor covers at Faircovers →

Still Not Sure Which Grill Cover to Get?

If you're not sure which size or style fits your setup, our team is happy to help. Just contact us with your grill's dimensions (or the brand and model if you have it) and we'll point you in the right direction.

Faircovers — Durable covers for grills, patio furniture, pools, vehicles, and more. Protecting your outdoor space, every season.