The BBQ arrives, the box comes off, and it lands wherever there happens to be a clear patch of paving. Two months later the smoke is drifting straight through the back door, the fence behind it has gone chalky, and whoever is cooking has their back to everyone. Where to put a BBQ is a decision worth making before the first cook, not after the first complaint.
Five things actually decide the spot: the prevailing breeze, clearance to anything that can burn, and what sits overhead. The other two are which way the smoke travels toward your neighbours, and how far the cook ends up from the table. It applies whether you are settling a freestanding trolley from our BBQs and outdoor cooking range or fixing the position for a built-in.
Start with the breeze, not the paving
Most people choose the spot by looking at the ground. The better first step is to look at the air. Every backyard has a prevailing breeze, and in most of Australia it swings around between seasons, so the direction you notice in July is not the one you live with in January.
Spend a week noticing where the washing blows and which side of the house the afternoon sea breeze hits. Then place the BBQ so that breeze crosses the appliance rather than blowing into the open hood. A crosswind is easy to work with. A headwind makes heat uneven and pushes smoke back at the cook.
A full-size unit like the Coleman Revolution 4 Burner BBQ with Side Burner ($1,749) rewards a considered spot. Once it sits in position with a bottle underneath and a bench beside it, nobody moves it again. Treat the first placement as the permanent one.
Where to put a BBQ so it clears walls, fences and eaves
Every gas BBQ ships with a manual that states minimum clearances to combustible surfaces. That figure is the one that governs the spot. It differs between models, and between the back, the sides and the space above the hood, so read the plate on your own appliance rather than copying the neighbours.
Combustible does not only mean timber. Painted fence palings, composite cladding, plastic downpipes, timber-look screening and the underside of an eave all sit in that category. Rendered masonry copes better with heat, but render and paint will still mark over a season if the appliance sits too close. Look up as well as sideways: eaves, low pergola beams and shade sails all count.
Leave a working gap behind the BBQ even when the manual would allow less. You need room to reach the bottle, sweep out leaves and pull the unit forward for a proper clean. In tight backyards and courtyards, a narrower two-burner such as the Coleman Revolution 2 Burner BBQ ($1,249) buys back the clearance a four-burner would swallow.
Open sky, half cover or a roofed alfresco
One rule sits above all the others. Never operate a gas BBQ indoors, in a garage, or in any space enclosed on enough sides to trap fumes. A balcony closed in with glass or blinds counts as enclosed. Cooking under a roof is a different matter, and it is fine when the manufacturer allows it and the clearance above the hood is respected.
| Position | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Open backyard, clear sky | Any BBQ, best smoke dispersal | Sun and wind on the cook; needs a cover |
| Under a roofed alfresco | Wet climates, year-round cooking | Grease on the ceiling; clearance above the hood |
| Against a wall or fence | Compact backyards, tidy lines | Combustible surfaces; keep a cleaning gap |
| Balcony or courtyard | Apartments and small spaces | Strata by-laws; never an enclosed area |
If the BBQ is going under a roof for good, extraction stops the ceiling yellowing and keeps the smell out of the house. A unit such as the Crossray 120cm Technica Rangehood ($2,540) is why a covered alfresco kitchen still smells like a kitchen after five years. Browse the BBQ accessories range once the position is settled.
Smoke, neighbours and the rules that change by street
Smoke is the reason most BBQ positions get moved. Before you commit, stand in the spot and work out what sits downwind: your own back door and windows, the clothesline, and the neighbour's bedroom window. Australian suburban blocks are close together, and a BBQ that vents over a shared fence every Saturday becomes a conversation nobody wants.
Rules matter too, and they vary by state, council and building. Apartment owners should read their strata or body corporate by-laws first, because many restrict BBQs on balconies and others limit the fuel or the bottle size. On total fire ban days the restrictions on outdoor cooking come from your state fire service, and they differ between the states. Your council and building manager are the authorities to ask.
The siting logic here overlaps with open flame, but the constraints are not the same. A BBQ is a contained appliance with a manual behind it, while an open fire needs metres of clearance and a non-flammable base. If you are placing both, our guide on where to put your fire pit covers the open-flame side, and the two zones are usually better apart.
Distance from the table, and the last details
A BBQ tucked into a far corner turns the cook into a spectator. Close enough to talk, far enough that smoke and heat stay off seated guests, is the balance to aim for. Check that the path between the two does not pass behind a chair, because that is where drinks get knocked and kids get bumped.
Two details finish the decision. Make sure the ground is level and firm, since a trolley on soft lawn or uneven pavers slowly sinks and racks. And give the cook some shade in summer, or a BBQ facing due west becomes an ordeal in February.
If the position is out in the open, a fitted cover stops UV, salt air and rain undoing the finish between cooks. The Coleman Premium BBQ Cover - Large ($75) is the small purchase that decides whether the appliance still looks good in three summers.
Where to put a BBQ — frequently asked questions
How far should a BBQ be from the house?
Use the clearance to combustible surfaces printed in your BBQ's manual, because that is the only figure that applies to your appliance. Those distances differ between models and between the back, the sides and the space above the hood. A rendered masonry wall still needs the manual's number, not a guess.
Can I put a BBQ against a brick wall?
Usually yes, as long as you keep the clearance your manual specifies. Brick is not a free pass, though, because heat radiating off masonry bounces back at the appliance and can mark render or paint over a season. Leave a working gap behind it regardless, so you can clean around the unit and reach the bottle.
Can I use a gas BBQ on an apartment balcony?
Only if your building allows it, so read your strata or body corporate by-laws before you buy. Many buildings restrict balcony BBQs, and some limit the fuel type or the size of the gas bottle you may store. Never use a gas BBQ on a balcony fully enclosed with glass or blinds, or in any other enclosed space.
Which way should the BBQ face?
Face the cook toward the guests, with the prevailing breeze crossing the appliance rather than blowing into the open hood. That keeps smoke off the seating and heat more even across the cooking surface. In a coastal home, also point the back of the unit away from the strongest salt-laden wind.
Shop the range
Once the position is settled the appliance choice gets easier, because you already know the width, the clearance and whether it needs to live under a roof. Browse the full BBQ range for freestanding trolleys and built-ins. We deliver Australia-wide with free delivery on orders over $100, and installation is available on request.
