Gas and charcoal grills are going head to head in the outdoor BBQ grill market. Each side has its proponents and opponents and both types of grills have unique benefits. Some people just can't choose and actually own both a charcoal and a gas grill.

Statistics show that right now gas grills make up more than half of the grills being sold. Gas grills make up about 60 percent of the grills on the market, while charcoal grills make up roughly 33 percent. Electric grills account for the rest. Check out the pros and cons of each type of grill before deciding which one is best for you.

Gas grills are known for being a bit easier to use which is a perk for new grillers. They also heat up extremely quickly. You do not have to fuss with messy coals and do not have to figure out how many coals you will need for a small, medium, or large fire, which takes some time to learn. The pros swear by charcoal grills. You will never see a barbecue cook-off contestant using anything other than a charcoal fired grill. They know exactly how many coals to use for the food they will be cooking, and it turns out perfect every time.

Charcoal is known for producing a smoky, mesquite, finger-licking good taste. They are also known for being worse for the environment because of the noxious fumes they produce. There are remedies for this however so you can grill tasty barbecue with charcoal and be environmentally conscious. You can purchase a chimney starter to light your coals which will eliminate fumes. You can buy these for less than $20.

There are also, gasp, hybrid grills. Specifically there is a charcoal gas grill that has a charcoal frill and also has a small propane tank that you can use to light the coals. While prices range on both grills, charcoal grills tend to be on the cheaper side where gas grills can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

Depending on the space you have in your backyard a charcoal grill may be a better fit. Because they can actually be lit with an electric starter you can have virtually no open flame, so a smaller charcoal grill could be fine to have on your back porch. A large one might not be such a good idea. Gas grills are not the safest grills to have on your back porch because they are known to flare-up occasionally. Because of this they need to be away from any structure that could catch fire.