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How to measure a BBQ for a cover

Updated: 22 October 2026

You have a tape measure, a barbecue with side shelves, and two amazon.co.uk size lines that do not match. The usual failure is a cover that is the wrong length, not a cover that is the wrong colour. This is how to measure a BBQ for a cover so you write down three numbers before you order. Width, depth, and height come from the barbecue as you store it, with the lid shut. The [barbecue cover comparison](/hub/grill-accessories/barbecue-cover) shows which of the twelve listings print a box near those numbers. Peter F. used the 19 October 2026 size lines. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You have a tape measure, a barbecue with side shelves, and two amazon.co.uk size lines that do not match. The usual failure is a cover that is the wrong length, not a cover that is the wrong colour.

Our top picks

GrillTough GrillTough, 147 cm

Best overall

GrillTough GrillTough, 147 cm
8.6/10about £34.99
View offer
Grillman Grillman, 132 cm

Rank 2

Grillman Grillman, 132 cm
8.5/10about £32.99
View offer
Flintronic Flintronic, 76 cm

Rank 3

Flintronic Flintronic, 76 cm
6.7/10about £11.59
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Three measurements
  2. 2.Two UK guides disagree on the handle
  3. 3.When the listing prints two sizes
  4. 4.Put it on and keep it there

Three measurements

Close the lid. Put the side shelves in the position you leave them between cooks. If they fold down for winter, measure them folded down. If they stay out, measure them out. A cover cut for shelves-in will sit like a tent on shelves-out, and the wind gets underneath. Width is the long side, shelf to shelf, across the front of the trolley. Depth is front to back. Height is from the patio to the highest point you need inside the cloth. If you are still unsure whether you need a circle or a rectangle, read round BBQ cover or rectangular gas cover before you measure a trolley as if it were a kettle.

Two UK guides disagree on the handle

The Cover Company tells you to include handles in the width and knobs in the depth, then to choose a cover at least 3 cm larger in width and depth, and 2–5 cm shorter in height so air can move. Those centimetres are that retailer’s allowance, not a British Standard. World of BBQs’ FAQ says not to include the hood handle or the control panel in the depth. Follow the diagram for the cover you are actually buying, and write down whether your own number includes the hood handle. A hem that reaches the patio can fill with wind. One retailer rule of thumb puts the hem about 3–15 cm off the ground. That is a reason to prefer straps over a cord that only cinches a loose skirt.
GrillTough GrillTough, 147 cm

Testsieger

GrillTough GrillTough, 147 cm
8.6/10about £34.99
View offer

When the listing prints two sizes

Three listings in this set disagree with themselves, and you should not average them. GrillTough’s title is 147 × 61 × 122 cm and the item line is 138 × 60 × 108 cm. That is 9 cm on the length and 14 cm on the height. Grillman’s title is 132 × 66 × 109 cm and the item line is 109 × 66 × 109 cm, so the length is the field that moves. Flintronic’s title is 76 × 66 × 110 cm and the item line is 30 × 2.5 × 23 cm. Treat 30 cm as a packed size. It is not the cover. Kauytt, both Ezilif sizes, RICHIE’s rectangle, YOTOM, KHAMAL, and both BEEWAY lengths agree with themselves. The round cover is close rather than a clash: the title says 73 × 71 cm and the item line says 73 × 73 × 71 cm. Agreement means you can compare your tape to one box.

Put it on and keep it there

When the cover arrives, put it on with the barbecue cold. GrillTough’s bullets say to let the grill cool completely before covering. A hot lid can melt cloth. Turn the gas off at the cylinder. If you smell gas, stop and get a gas-safe person rather than hiding the barbecue under fabric. Fasten whatever the parcel actually contains. A drawstring at the hem plus straps or buckles is what you want in a UK gust. RICHIE’s 132 cm listing already shows the risk in one review: straps off within a week. The round cover, at 260 g, has a review that says the cords do not hold. After heavy rain, lift the cover and let the cavity dry. A waterproof cloth can still hold moist air against the steel, which is the subject of the BBQ cover condensation rust page.

Common questions

Do you include side shelves that fold?
Include them in the position you leave them under the cover. Folded shelves need a shorter width than shelves left out for the week. A cover bought for the folded size will not drop over shelves that stay open, and the straps then have nothing square to hold. If you sometimes fold and sometimes do not, measure the larger position.
What do you do when the title and the item line disagree?
Do not average them. Measure the barbecue and compare your numbers with each printed line. GrillTough differs by centimetres on length and height. Grillman differs on length, 132 cm against 109 cm. If neither line clears your trolley with a small margin, that ASIN is the wrong order.
Is 30 × 2.5 × 23 cm the Flintronic cover?
No. That item line is far smaller than the title, which says 76 × 66 × 110 cm. Treat 30 × 2.5 × 23 cm as a packed size. The cover you spread over the barbecue is the larger figure, and even that title is disputed by reviewers who say the sheet seems bigger than 76 cm. Measure the barbecue.
How tight should straps and the drawstring be?
Tight enough that a gust cannot lift the hem into a sail, and loose enough that you are not tearing the seam. Fasten straps or buckles as well as the cord. On a windy patio the round cover’s 260 g cloth is the one reviews already describe blowing off.
Do you cover a hot barbecue?
No. Let it cool completely. GrillTough prints that instruction, and a hot lid can melt the cloth on any of these covers. If you smell gas, or the hose and regulator look damaged, stop. A cover is not a repair.

Related pages

BBQ cover buying guide

Barbecue cover

Best BBQ cover UK: listing score, not a weather test

BBQ cover condensation and rust under a sealed sheet

Round BBQ cover or a rectangular gas trolley cover

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest. Shelf prices, stars, sizes, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. Weber and AeroCover prices outside this set are from the pages named below, not from this table.

  1. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. The Cover Company: gas barbecue cover measuring allowances (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. World of BBQs: weatherproof, not waterproof (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. World of BBQs: storing a barbecue in winter (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Outback: vented barbecue cover and trapped moisture (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Weber UK: 57 cm charcoal cover (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  7. amazon.co.uk Best Sellers: Barbecue Covers (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  8. Ideal Home: how to store a barbecue (retrieved 19 October 2026)