Weber Q1400 vs Q2400: Which One Should You Buy & Why?

Apartment buildings have increasingly restricted the use of gas and charcoal grills. But as city dwellers, we still love grilling. As a result, that’s created a growing demand for electric grillers.

Knowing this, Weber has introduced their Q series electric grills to the market. It has two models — the Q 1400 and Q 2400. Prior to 2014, they were called Q140 and Q240. 

The newer versions still feature the same inner core, with a few design changes that are more practical (ergonomic handles, bigger turning knobs, stronger frame and more).

The Q2400 is heavier than the Q1400. It’s also larger, offering more cooking space. And therefore more expensive. Is that all or are there other significant differences between the two?

We’re going to find out in this Weber Q1400 vs Q2400 article. So hopefully, it’ll help you decide which model to buy in the end.

If you’re interested in an in-depth review of each grill, please check the links below:

• Weber Q1400 review

• Weber Q2400 review

Unboxing

Weber Q1400

Specifications

• Item Number: 52020001
• Overall Dimensions (Lid Open): 27” W x 20.5” D x 23.5” H
• Overall Dimensions (Lid Closed): 27” W x 16.5” D x 14.5” H
• Type: electric grill
• Power Source: 1560W – 120V (grounded GFCI outlet)
• Cord Length: 6 feet or 1.8 meters
• Total Cooking Area: 189 square inches
• Weight: 29lbs
• Color: gray
• Warranty: 5-year for cookbox, lid, heating element, cooking grates, and plastic parts, 2-year for the rest

>> CHECK ON AMAZON <<

Weber Q2400

Specifications

• Item Number: 55020001
• Overall Dimensions (Lid Open): 31.5” W x 25.1” D x 26” H
• Overall Dimensions (Lid Closed): 31.5” W x 19.5” D x 14.5” H
• Type: electric grill
• Power Source: 1560W – 120V (grounded GFCI outlet)
• Cord Length: 6 feet or 1.8 meters
• Total Cooking Area: 280 square inches
• Weight: 44lbs
• Color: gray
• Warranty: 5-year for cookbox, lid, heating element, cooking grates, and plastic parts, 2-year for the rest

>> CHECK ON AMAZON <<

Weber Electric Grill Reviews

Similarities

Assembly

It only takes a few minutes to put these two grills together. All you have to do is tighten a few screws, place the cooking grids in position, and put the drip pan underneath the grill. Then simply plug it in, turn it on, and start cooking.

However, if you need any assistance at all, there is a free BILT App that’ll show you how to assemble both grills with step-by-step instructions.

Power Or Fuel

The Q1400 and Q2400 use a 1560 Watts or 120 V power source. In addition to that, they need a GFCI grounded outlet with a minimum of 15 AMP. They both feature a 6 ft or 1.8 meters of cord length, which is long enough to reach the nearest outlet from your balcony.

You do have the option of using an extension cord if necessary. Please make sure that it has a “W” mark on it, plus a tag confirming that it’s appropriate for outdoor tools.

Build Quality

Weber uses three main materials to make their electric grills — cast aluminum, stainless steel, and glass-reinforced nylon.

You’ll find that the lid and body are made from aluminum. We love this stuff. It feels strong and heavy-duty. The best thing is its weather-resistant property. This means you don’t have to worry about the body and lid rusting away like regular steel. They will last for years even if you neglect them.

Then we have the stainless steel heating element. Nothing beats stainless steel when it comes to durability. It’s also easy to clean with just a damp cloth.

Finally, it’s the glass-reinforced nylon frame and handles. Keep in mind that it’s actually plastic. But not the low-quality one. This type of plastic is sturdy and resilient. It won’t break easily and will stay in good shape for years.

Besides these, the Q1400 and Q2400 also have porcelain-coated cast iron grill grates. We’ll touch on the cast iron later in this article. But let’s talk about the porcelain coating.

First of all, it protects the cast iron inside from daily use. We all know that cast iron grates are prone to rusting if we don’t take care of them. That’s why we need the porcelain. It also prevents food from sticking, which really makes cleaning up after a piece of cake. You just have to be careful when scrubbing it though. Go gentle so the porcelain won’t chip away quickly.

Overall, there is nothing to complain about the construction of these two Weber electric barbecues. They’re made to last.

Design

As we mentioned earlier, the Q2400 and Q1400 have gone through a few design changes after 2014. One of them is the frame. The newer versions’ frame is larger than their predecessors’. It’s actually lighter as well thanks to the lightweight plastic (glass-reinforced nylon). You’ll also find two ergonomic handles attached to the frame that allow you to carry the grills with ease and comfort.

The next one is the cooking grates. Before 2014, they came in one solid unit. Now, they come in two pieces. 

The first benefit is easier cleanup since you can fit each piece into a smaller sink now. The second benefit is that you have the option of fitting a cast iron griddle into the one half. You need to buy it separately from Weber, of course. But this gives you versatility in your cooking. For example, making bacon and eggs in the morning.

Another notable design is the cast aluminum heat liners. There is one inside the lid and another one inside the body. 

The purpose is to create a double-walled construction throughout the grill. Because of that, it keeps the heat from escaping, which in turn gets directed back into the cooking grates and promotes a more evenly heat distribution. This is actually a smart design, especially during the colder months when you don’t want to lose any heat at all.

Maintenance

Cleaning these two grills is fairly simple. There aren’t many parts to clean except for the cooking grates and the bottom heat liner.

We already talked about cleaning up the cooking grates in the previous section. But to reiterate, cleaning is made simple and straightforward due to the split design and the porcelain coating. All you need is some hot soapy water and you’re good to go.

Moving on to the bottom heat liner. You can actually remove it by lifting up the heating element. And it’s just a matter of sliding the liner out carefully. Then you can throw it in the sink alongside the cooking grates for cleaning.

Now, the Q1400 and Q2400 do have a disposable grease pan. All the liquids will drain to that pan so you can just rinse and reuse it. It also comes in standard size, making it easy for you to find a replacement at any grocery store.

Indoors Or Outdoors?

You can use some electric grills inside. But for the Q series, Weber don’t recommend it at all. The reason is because they do smoke quite often. And if you live in an apartment, you really don’t want to wake up your neighbors with the smoke detector.

For that reason, the Weber Q electric series are strictly for outdoor use.

Portability

These two grills are made with portability in mind. With their compact design, you can bring these grills with you anywhere.

And even for the larger Q2400, it only weighs about 44lbs. It’s a manageable weight to go up a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat. It’s actually better if you remove the cooking grates before moving the grill. The grates are the heaviest component among all.

You can also use the grills at home. Now, one thing to keep in mind that they have a low profile so you’d need a table to put them on. Otherwise, it might be awkward and uncomfortable to bend or squat down to cook.

If you end up putting the grills on a tabletop, please make sure to have at least 24” of clearance all around them. This is for proper ventilation and to prevent any potential fire hazard.

Warranty

For warranty, Weber Q electric grills have a 5-year period for the body, lid, heating element, cooking grids, and any plastic parts. And this doesn’t cover any discoloration, fading and normal wear and tear. For the rest of the grills, Weber offers a 2-year warranty period.

Replacement parts are always available should you ever need them. If anything, you can reach Weber support 7 days a week via many platforms and means. They will generally contact you back within 1 day or so.

Lacking

We’ve been talking a lot about the similarities between the Q1400 and Q2400. But they’re all good. Let’s talk about the bads then.

First of all, there are no side shelves in both models. We all understand that Weber is trying to minimize the footprint of these grills. After all, they’re made with portability in mind.

However, two removable side shelves would have been nice. We all need a place to put our cooking utensils, right?

Next, there is no integrated thermometer on the lid. That makes it hard to track the internal temperature of the grill. Because of that, you will have to buy a probe thermometer in order to do so.

Having no built-in thermometer is one thing. But there are also no numbers on the temperature controller knob. Instead, all it has is a bar. Weber don’t make it easy to know the temperature of your grill, do they?

Last but not least, it’s the lack of color choice. Both the Q 1400 and Q 2400 are only available in gray. It would have been nice if they make them in other colors like they do with their Q propane grills series.

Differences

Size & Weight

The Q 1400 weighs around 29lbs with a smaller profile. The Q 2400 weighs about 44lbs with a larger profile.

Cooking Space

The Q1400 only has 189 square inches of cooking space. With that amount, you can fit around 6 burger patties. The Q 1400 is more suitable for a single or a couple. If you want to cook more, you might have to do it in batches.

On the other hand, the Q2400 features a larger cooking area, measuring at 280 square inches. Obviously, you can fit more burger patties, at a maximum of 12. That much space can also fit 6 to 8 chicken breasts. The Q2400 is a good choice for a family of three.

Now, even though the Q1400 is smaller than the Q2400, it actually cooks food faster than its bigger brother. Let me explain in the next section.

Performance

You see, both of these grills use a 1560 Watts power source. That equals roughly 5300 BTUs. If you read this website enough, you’d know that we recommend heat flux as a better measure for a grill’s performance (or heat output) rather than BTU.

Heat flux is calculated by dividing the total BTU by the total square inches of the main cooking grates (minus any additional warming rack).

If you do the math, the heat flux of the Q1400 ends up being higher than the Q2400’s (5300 BTUs remains constant while the square inches change). So the Q1400 cooks food faster than the Q2400 because of the higher heat output. And the Q2400 cooks more food but at a slower pace due to the lower heat output.

Does it make sense? If it doesn’t, please leave a comment down below and we’ll try our best to explain further.

With that said, both of these grills are still capable of pumping out more heat than their competitors. That’s partially because of the double-walled construction which we’ve discussed earlier.

Another reason is because of the cast iron cooking grates. Cast iron is superior at conducting heat. Bar none. With all the heat reflected back from the liners, the cast iron grates absorb and deliver all that energy straight to your food. That’s why Weber claims that these two electric grills can get up to 550F. It’s no small feat for an electric griller.

Available Accessories

You can buy the extra cast iron griddle and cover for both grills. However, the ones available for the Q1400 are less expensive than the ones for the Q2400. Just something to keep in mind.

Weber also makes carts for the Q1400 and Q2400. For the Q1400, you only have the #6557. It has two wheels and attached tool hooks. No side shelves however. You can also fold this cart down if needed.

For the Q2400, you can use it on the #6557 but it also fits the #6525, which isn’t compatible with the Q1400. The #6525 is similar to the #6557, except that it isn’t foldable. In our humble opinion, the #6557 is actually better because you can fold it down when not in use. Save on some space, you know!

Price

Obviously, the Q2400 comes with more accessories plus a bigger cooking space. Therefore, it’s more expensive than the Q1400.

Weber Electric Grill Q1400 vs Q2400 Comparison Table

Which Model To Buy & Why?

Now that we understand the similarities and differences between Weber Q 1400 and 2400, let’s see which one that you should buy and why.

The Q1400 has a smaller cooking space, but it cooks food faster. It’s also less expensive and lighter so it’s easy to carry around. We think this one is best if you’re a single person or a couple that lives together.

The Q2400 features a larger cooking space, but it cooks food slower. It’s more expensive and a bit heavier than the Q1400. If you have more mouths to feed, then definitely consider this grill instead.

Keep in mind that these two grills have the same build and design. Not to mention the warranty and ease of use. They also provide that “cleaner and healthier” electric-grilled flavor. Last but not least, they can be both used at home or on the go.

To conclude, it all boils down to what you’re cooking, how often, how many people you’re planning to feed, and how much you’re willing to spend. Please take these as a general guideline and use the information here to make your final decision.

For the Weber Q1400, click here for more information on Amazon.

For the Weber Q2400, click here for more information on Amazon.

The Alternatives

Price seems to be the one factor that makes people think twice about the Weber Q electric series. Keep in mind that Weber is a quality BBQ company. So you get what you pay for, right?

That said, we’ve included here a few budget-friendly options for you to consider.

Cuisinart CEG-980

This one is a great alternative to the Q1400. It has about 145 square inches of cooking space, which is quite close to the Q1400’s (145 vs 189). It’s also small and compact, suitable for home use and/or on the road. However, it’s made from painted steel, which isn’t as good as the Q1400’s aluminum. 

The Cuisinart CEG-980 comes in a tabletop version and another one with an included stand. 

For more pictures and information on the grill, please follow the link here.

George Foreman GGR50B

The GGR50B is a good substitute for the Q2400. They both have similar cooking space (240 vs 280). Unlike the Q2400, the GGR50B actually comes with a removable stand. It can also be used indoors.

For the pricing of this grill, please click here.

Conclusion

We hope you find this Weber Q1400 vs Q2400 comparison helpful. It was a lot of work putting it together. If you don’t mind sharing, we’d really appreciate that.

And again, if our heat flux explanation doesn’t make much sense, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or email us. We’ll try our best to explain it to you.

Happy grilling!