There are a few differences between the Spirit and Genesis lineups. Genesis tends to have a larger cooking surface area, greater fire power, a searing zone, and more storage space. On the flip side, the Spirit models are better suited to smaller spaces, are more budget friendly, and are ideal for beginner cooks.
When it comes to gas grills, it doesn’t get better than Weber. However, I was curious about how their two best selling lines, Spirit and Genesis matched up against each other. So, with the help of some fellow grillmasters, I put these lines to the test!
In this post, I will compare the Weber Spirit vs. Genesis lines. I have also mentioned some of their similarities to help you get a better feel for each of these series.
Here are the main differences between the Weber Spirit and the Weber Genesis grills. If you want a quick comparison between the two lines, check out this table:
Features | Spirit | Genesis |
Target Audience | Meant for beginner users or for those who are looking for compact, user-friendly grills. | Designed for experienced grillers who want larger and more sophisticated grills. |
Models | There is the Spirit and Spirit II series, with a combined 8 models in the lineup.
| There is the Genesis and Genesis II series, with a combined 17 models.
|
Sizes (Inches) | Smaller dimensions, with the smallest grill measuring in at 48.5 H x 62 W x 27 D and the largest grill with dimensions of 48.5 H x 68.5 W x 27 D. | The grills are larger, with the smallest option having dimensions of 44.5 H x 48 W x 27 D and the largest grill with measurements of 45.8 H x 50.1 W x 25.8 D. |
Cooking Surface Area (Sq. Inches) | Has smaller cooking spaces, ranging from 360 to 424,along with a warming rack. | Boasts larger cooking areas from 513 to 646 with an additional top cooking rack. Some models also have side burners. |
Burner Capacity | Has a lower burner output, with a maximum capacity of 32,000 BTU, with a side burner max output of 7,500 BTU. | Has a higher burner output with a max output of 42,000 BTU. The max side burner output is 12,000 BTU. |
Storage Space | With the exception of the E 210 and E 310, all the grills have cylinder storage. | The grills have a larger cylinder storage area and the premium grills have an additional grill locker as well. |
Price | The grills are cheaper with a price range from $500 - $900 | The grills are more expensive with a price range from $900+ - $2000. |
Warranty | The warranty is lower, with the cooking chamber and associated parts having a warranty of 12 years. The rest of the parts are guaranteed for 2 years. | Most of the components have a warranty of between 10 and 12 years, with the minimum guarantee of 3 to 5 year. |
One of the main ways that Weber Spirit and Genesis are different from one another is who they were designed for, and their target audience.
Weber Spirit is meant for those who are new to grilling or someone who grills only occasionally. You can see this in the size, build quality, price, and features of this line.
The Weber Spirit works well for anyone who wants to give grilling a try, wants a good quality grill, but doesn’t want to invest too much money in their new hobby.
The Weber Genesis grills, on the other hand, are meant for pros or those who are serious about their grilling. Once again, this is evident from the size of the grills, the cost, the features, and more.
When it comes to Weber Spirt, there are nine gas grill models to choose from. This includes the Spirit E 210, Spirit II E 210, Spirit E 310, Spirit II E 310, Spirit E 330, Spirit EX 315, Spirit EX-325s, Spirit SX 315.
All of these models are available as natural gas or liquid propane options.
Weber Genesis has more models in its lineups. There are 13 models, but there are double the amount of gas grills as each model comes with either a natural gas or propane option.
These grills are Genesis SPX 435, EPX 355, E 325s, EX 325s, S 325s, E 355, S 325, S 355, E435, E 335, EPX 335, S 435, SX 335.
The Genesis lineup also has a set known as the Genesis II series. While this is quite a popular line, it isn’t always available in online stores or physical stores.
The models in this lineup include E 310, E 415, LX S 340, and LX S 640.
In terms of choice, the Weber Genesis is the clear winner here. As there are more models to choose from, naturally you have more choices.
On average, the Weber Genesis grills are larger. The smallest grill has dimensions of 48.5 H x 62 W x 27 D inches. The largest model, on the other hand, measures 48.5 H x 68.5 W x 27 D inches.
When it comes to Weber Spirit, the smallest grill is 44.5 H x 48 W x 27 D inches. The largest grill is 45.8 H x 50.1 W x 25.8 D inches.
However, I wouldn’t automatically say that this lineup wins this category.
After all, not everyone is looking for a larger grill. If you live in an apartment or have minimal yard space, then you will obviously want a smaller size.
In this sense, I would say that it is a draw. If you are looking for a larger grill, then the Genesis would fit you well. Otherwise, for a more compact option, go with the Spirit lineup.
As you will have reasoned from above, Weber Genesis does boast larger cooking surface areas and a greater number of burners as well. That being said, let’s take a closer look at the difference in cooking space.
With the Weber Spirit, the gas grill with the smallest cooking space is the Spirit II E 210. The primary cooking area is 360 square inches but there is a warming rack above that is 90 inches. The grill also contains two burners.
There are actually two grills with the largest cooking area in this lineup. This is the EX-315 Smart Grill and the EX 325s. They have a cooking surface area of 424 square inches and a warming rack of 105 sq. inches. These grills have three stainless steel burners.
The Genesis cooking space areas are considerably greater. The smallest grill is the E 325s. It has a main cooking surface area of 513 square inches and a warming rack of 274 square inches.
The largest gas grill is the SPX 435. The main cooking area is 646 sq. inches and the top warming rack is 348 sq. inches.
In the case of the largest cooking surface area, Genesis takes the lead again when it comes to grilling space. Not only is the primary cooking area larger but many of the top racks can be extended.
In doing so, you can actually use them as secondary cooking surfaces. Now, the temperature will be lower for these levels so the cooking time will be longer. Still, this does help you to cook more food at once.
The other thing to compare is just how much heat output each lineup can put out. After all, when it comes to grilling, it is all about getting the cooking temperature as high as possible, especially when it comes to searing.
Once again, the Genesis lineup comes in hot with the highest burner output. The highest output is 42,000 BTU, with a sear burner of 12,000 BTU.
In comparison, the best that the Weber Spirit has to offer is 32,000 BTU with a sear zone burner of 7,500 BTU.
I have to say that both the grills from each line offer a great grilling experience. The Spirit holds its own against the Genesis line.
That being said, if you are looking for really high temperatures and a sear zone in particular, then the Genesis is the option for you.
Also, if you are someone who likes to multi-task, you will like the fact that many of the premium grills with the Genesis lineup come with a side burner.
For the most part, the Weber Genesis and Spirit are evenly matched when it comes to storage areas. This is because apart from the Spirit II E 210 and E 310, there is a compartment underneath the grill that allows you to store the gas cylinder.
However, it is only the premium versions of the Weber Genesis that have a grill locker as well. This allows you to store additional components of the grill when they are not in use.
It should come as little surprise that Genesis has the more expensive models. The cheapest model is just under $1000 and the most expensive model is almost $2000.
Of course, there is a reason behind this higher price tag. You really are getting what you pay for – the biggest gas grilling innovation the brand has to offer. You have a larger grill that comes with a greater cooking area as well as a greater amount of storage space.
To add to this, the Genesis line also boasts higher temperatures, and many of the models are equipped with a sear zone burner.
This doesn’t mean that the Spirit line is cheap. Rather, you can get a more affordable model at around $500. The most expensive model in this lineup costs under $900.
There are differences in the warranty for each line.
For instance, when it comes to the Genesis models, the warranty is as follows:
It is 12 years for the cooking chamber and the lid assembly. The 10 years warranty is for the burner tubes, cooking grates, and Flavorizer bars. Then it is 3 years for the electrical components and 5 years for the rest of the parts.
As for the Spirit models, you get 12 years of coverage for the cooking chamber, lid, burners, burner tubes, and stainless steel grates. It is 5 years for the porcelain enameled grates and Flavorizer bars. It is 2 years for the rest of the parts.
Now, for Spirit II, the coverage is 10 years for all parts and components.
As you can see, the coverage for Genesis is far better. This isn’t too surprising considering that these grills cost more and that they are made of higher quality materials as well.
Of course, it is only natural to wonder who comes out on top when these grills go face to face. To get to the bottom of this, I decided to see how the two best selling models – Spirit II E 310 and Genesis E 325s fared against one another.
Now, I know that a more comparable showdown would have been between Spirit II and Genesis II Series. However, it is rare for the Genesis II lineup to be available stateside, and is largely an international series.
Here is a table if you are looking for a brief comparison:
One of the biggest differences between Spirit II E 310 and Genesis E 325s is the primary cooking area. With the the E 310, you get 424 square inches of cooking area and a warming rack of 105 sq. inches.
The primary cooking area is 513 sq. inches and the top grate is 274 sq. inches. Now, unlike with the warming rack, this top grate is extendable and, as a result, can be used as an additional cooking grate.
Despite the fact that they have different cooking surface areas, each of these grills have three burners.
However, the power output is quite different here. The combined burner output for the E 325s is 39,000 BTU. The E 310, on the other hand, has a total output of 30,000 BTU.
When it comes to storage, the Weber Genesis wins again. This is because it has a locker underneath the grill to store the gas canister.
The E 310, however, has an open cart design which means that the canister has to be attached to the side.
As far as additional features go, the E310 and the E325s, the grills are pretty evenly matched. They both have side tables, and 6 hanging hooks for their grilling tools each.
The only real difference here is that the E 310 has two all-weather wheels while the E 325s has four wheels with two swivel locking casters.
Considering that both of these models belong to Weber Grills, it isn’t too surprising to learn that they do have some points of commonality.
Here is an in-depth look at how the Weber Spirit and Genesis are similar to one another. If you would like a quick breakdown, check out this table:
Features | Weber Spirit and Genesis Lines |
Fuel Options | Both include models for either propane gas or natural gas connections |
Burners | The burners for all grills are made from stainless steel |
Cooking Grates | Most of the cooking grates are made from porcelain coated enamel, with only a few of the premium Genesis models having |
Side Tables | At Least One Side Table |
Tank Storage | Yes |
Connectivity Features | Weber Connect |
One of the things that I really like about the Weber gas grills is that you can choose from either the natural gas model or the propane design. Every model has this option.
This is a lot rarer than you might realize. While a lot of brands have grills that are designed to be used with a propane tank, there aren’t as many that are suitable for a natural gas line.
It is great that you can get the same features, heat output, and prices across the board! This certainly levels the playing field for natural gas users!
Another thing that I like about both the Spirit line and Genesis line is that they are committed to fundamental quality. Due to this, you will find that that you get stainless steel burners and burner tubes for all grills, regardless of model and price range.
Due to this, not only do you have more reliable burners that will function well time and time again, but you also have burners that will last longer too.
Now, I do want to start off this point by saying that not all the Weber gas grills have porcelain enameled cast iron grates. All of the Weber Spirit grills have them and so do the cheaper options for the Genesis grill models.
The more expensive Genesis grill models have stainless steel cooking grates.
This doesn’t mean to say that porcelain enameled cast iron grates are cheap. On the contrary, I love them on grills as they offer the perfect non-stick surface.
I have also found these grates to transfer heat pretty well and this makes for a more even cooking experience.
The only thing to be mindful about these cooking grates is that they do have a tendency to scratch and peel. When this happens, they may begin to rust.
One of the things that I really like about the Weber brand is that there is at least one side table, regardless of the model or the cost. This helps with everything from prep work to storing food when it comes off the grill.
Now, with the higher up models, you have one side table and one side burner.
Another really cool feature is that with the exception of two models for Spirit, all of the grills have a place to store your tank. This helps you to keep the grilling area clutter free and also makes things more aesthetically appealing.
You get Smart Grill models for both the Spirit line as well as the Genesis. However, these are only for the more premium models.
This allows you to connect the smart grill to an app on your phone. Once you have done this, you will be able to control the grill via a Wi-Fi connection.
Here is the moment of truth – Is Genesis the better choice or does Spirit win this battle?
Well, I would argue that there is no straightforward answer here. This is because these lines are designed for a different audience and performance.
The Spirit lineup is meant for those who are a bit more budget friendly. The basic lines are better suited to those who are just getting started with BBQing.
In general, the Spirit grills work better for those who are looking for more compact rills as well.
The Weber Genesis lineup, on the other hand, is largely meant for the pros. These grills are larger, offer more firepower, and tend to come with additional features like a side burner.
These grills are also better suited to those with larger backyards.
Due to this, I can’t really pick a winner here. Overall, both Spirit and Genesis models are well reviewed and perform beautifully across the board.
So, if you are hoping to choose one out of the two, I would consider asking yourself what you are looking for in a grill. If it has compactness, good grilling performance, and a lower cost, then the Spirit series is the way to go.
If you want something with space, power, and top-notch features, then the Genesis line is for you!
