Measure the grill’s full outside footprint with the lid closed — width, depth, and height — including side shelves, handles, knobs, and vents, then buy a cover that matches those numbers.
An undersized grill cover is the most common and most expensive mistake in outdoor cooking gear. You order what looks right online, it arrives, and it will not stretch over the side shelves. The whole problem comes down to one habit: measuring the grill body instead of the widest, deepest, and tallest outside points. Classic Accessories, Lowe’s, and Barbecues Galore all publish sizing guides that agree on the same method, and it takes about five minutes with a tape measure.
What to Measure Before You Buy
Three numbers decide whether a cover fits: width, depth, and height, all taken with the lid closed.
Measure width from the farthest left outside edge to the farthest right outside edge. Measure depth from the front-most point to the back-most point. Measure height from the ground or floor up to the highest point of the closed grill.
Get those three right and the cover size follows. Get any one wrong and you are back on the returns page.
Set the grill up exactly the way it will sit under the cover before you start. Lid down. Side shelves and tables in whatever position they will occupy while covered. If a shelf folds, you can measure it folded — but only if that is how you will store the grill.
The Parts Everyone Forgets To Include
Side shelves and side burners that do not fold down count toward the width, and leaving them out is the single fastest way to end up with a cover that will not pull over.
Depth is where the sneaky inches hide. According to Classic Accessories’ measuring guidance, you should account for handles, control knobs, and rear vents when taking the front-to-back measurement. The main firebox is rarely the deepest point — the lid handle is usually sticking out front, and the rear vents push the back line out too.
Height has the same trap. Measure to the highest point of the closed grill, which is typically the hood or the lid handle. Those two can differ by an inch or more, and an inch matters when a cover is cut close.
Built-in grills follow the same three dimensions. Rotisserie arms and other permanent accessories that stay attached belong in the measurement too. If it sticks out and it will be under the cover, it gets included.
Grill Measurement Cheat Sheet
| What You’re Measuring | Where To Run The Tape | Don’t Forget |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Farthest left outside edge to farthest right outside edge | Non-folding side shelves and side burners |
| Depth | Front-most point to back-most point | Lid handles, control knobs, rear vents |
| Height | Ground or floor to the highest closed point | Lid handle if it sits above the hood |
| Lid position | Closed for every measurement | An open lid changes nothing about the cover’s fit |
| Side shelves | Measure in the stored position | Include them if they stay extended |
| Built-in grills | Same three dimensions as freestanding models | Rotisserie arms and handles |
| Rear vents | Back edge of the grill | They set your true depth |
Matching Your Numbers To A Cover Size
Choose a cover that matches your outside dimensions or slightly exceeds them. Compare tested BBQ grill covers by size and material once you have your three numbers written down — shopping with the tape still in hand beats guessing from a product photo.
Write the measurements on your phone before you open a single product page. Cover listings are built around outside dimensions, and a grill that reads 55 inches wide on paper is often 62 inches with the shelves out. Shopping with the real numbers in front of you is the difference between one order and three.
Weather protection is the whole point of a cover, and Lowe’s guide to measuring a grill for a cover treats a snug, complete fit as the goal — not a tight one. A cover that fights you on installation will get left off, and a grill left bare through a wet winter is the outcome you were trying to avoid.
FAQs
Should I measure my grill with the lid open or closed?
Closed. The lid position does not change how the cover sits, but the closed lid is the reference point the sizing sources use for the top measurement. Run your height tape from the ground up to the highest point of the closed grill, which is usually the hood or the lid handle sitting above it.
My side shelves fold down — do I still count them?
Only if you plan to store the grill with them folded. If a shelf folds and you always fold it before covering, measure it collapsed. If it stays out, add it in. Same logic for side burners: a fixed burner belongs in your width number, a folding one does not.
What if my grill sits exactly between two cover sizes?
Go up. A slightly larger cover still protects the grill, and the extra room helps air circulate underneath.
References & Sources
- Classic Accessories. “How to measure BBQ Grills.” Source for including non-folding side shelves, handles, knobs, and rear vents in the measurements.
- Lowe’s. “How to Measure a Grill for a Cover.” Source for the fit and clearance guidance when matching grill dimensions to a cover size.
- Barbecues Galore. “Measuring for Barbecue Covers.” Source for measuring width, depth, and height to the outermost points.
