TrueFlame Grills Compared: TF Series vs E Series (25, 32 and 40 Inch)
TrueFlame makes two lines of built-in gas grills: the TF Series with LED lighting in 25", 32" and 40", and the simpler E Series in 25" and 32". Prices run from $1,389 to $3,499 for the grill head, and every model is #304 stainless steel with a Gold Standard Lifetime Warranty. The two lines share the same cooking area and the same island cutout size for size, so the choice comes down to burners, grates, lighting and the rear rotisserie burner. This guide puts all five grills in one chart.
The difference in one paragraph
The E Series is the essentials grill: a #304 stainless body and hood, 14,000 BTU stainless tube burners, 8mm round grates, and no lights, transformer or rear burner. The TF Series keeps the same body size and the same 14,000 BTU per burner, but uses cast #304 stainless burners and square stainless grates, adds a full-length LED strip, backlit knobs that turn red when a burner is on and halogen interior lights, and on the 32" and 40" adds a 10,000 BTU rear infrared burner for rotisserie cooking. The TF Series also accepts TrueFlame's drop-in infrared sear burner; the E Series does not.
TrueFlame grill comparison chart
| E Series | TF Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 25", 32" | 25", 32", 40" |
| Price, built-in | $1,389 to $1,699 | $2,499 to $3,499 |
| Construction and hood | #304 stainless steel | #304 stainless steel |
| Main burners | 14,000 BTU #304 stainless tube | 14,000 BTU cast #304 stainless |
| Number of burners | 3 or 4 | 3, 4 or 5 |
| Rear infrared burner | None | 10,000 BTU on the 32" and 40"; none on the 25" |
| Total BTU | 42,000 to 56,000 | 42,000 to 80,000 |
| Cooking grates | 8mm round stainless | Square stainless |
| Under the grates | #304 stainless flame tamers, heat zone separators | #304 stainless burner covers, heat zone separators |
| Warming rack | Yes | Yes, with a removable cooking tray |
| Ignition | Flame Thrower, manual flash tube | Flame Thrower, manual flash tube |
| Lighting | None | LED strip above the knobs, backlit knobs that turn red when on, halogen interior lights |
| Power at the grill | None needed (optional rotisserie motor plugs in) | Included transformer plugs into an outlet for the lights |
| Rotisserie | Optional kit | Optional kit |
| Drop-in infrared sear burner | Not compatible | Optional (TF-IRB) |
| Hood hinge | Balanced, multi-position | Balanced, multi-position |
| Side and rear clearance to a combustible wall | 18" | 14" |
| Certification | ETL | ETL |
| Warranty | Gold Standard Lifetime Warranty on the stainless construction, grates, burners, burner covers, valves, flame tamers and heat zone separators; 3 years on other parts and electrical. Register within 30 days. | |
Prices at Dreamwood Living as of October 2026. Specifications are from each product page. Every grill comes in natural gas or liquid propane, with orifices for the other gas included.
Every TrueFlame grill by size and price
| Grill | Built-in | With cart | Burners | Total BTU | Main grilling area | Island cutout (W x D x H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Series 25" | $1,389 | $2,388 | 3 | 42,000 | 398 sq in | 23 1/4" x 20 3/4" x 8 1/4" |
| E Series 32" | $1,699 | $2,798 | 4 | 56,000 | 530 sq in | 30 3/4" x 20 3/4" x 8 1/4" |
| TF Series 25" | $2,499 | $3,498 | 3 | 42,000 | 398 sq in | 23 1/4" x 20 3/4" x 8 1/4" |
| TF Series 32" | $2,999 | $4,098 | 4 + IR | 66,000 | 530 sq in | 30 3/4" x 20 3/4" x 8 1/4" |
| TF Series 40" | $3,499 | $4,798 | 5 + IR | 80,000 | 663 sq in | 38 1/4" x 20 3/4" x 8 1/4" |
Prices at Dreamwood Living as of October 2026. IR = rear infrared burner, included in total BTU. Warming racks add 141, 186 or 229 sq in on the 25", 32" and 40".
TrueFlame E Series: #304 stainless for less
The E Series is the lowest-priced way into a TrueFlame, and it does not cut corners on the steel: the body, hood, burners and flame tamers are all #304 stainless. Each burner is a 14,000 BTU #304 stainless tube burner under 8mm round stainless grates, with heat zone separators between them, an upper warming rack and Flame Thrower ignition backed by a manual flash tube. It has a knurled, heat-resistant hood handle and the same balanced, multi-position hood hinge as the TF Series.
What it leaves out is everything electrical. There are no lights, no transformer and no rear burner, so you do not need an outlet at the grill unless you add the optional rotisserie. The E Series comes in 25" and 32" only, and TrueFlame's drop-in infrared sear burner is listed for the TF Series, not the E Series.
TrueFlame TF Series: cast burners, square grates and lights
The TF Series uses the same #304 stainless body and the same 14,000 BTU per burner, but the burners are cast #304 stainless and the grates are square stainless. The look is what most people notice: a full-length LED strip above the knobs, knobs that are backlit and turn red when a burner is on, and halogen interior lights for cooking after dark, all powered by an included transformer that plugs into an outlet. The upper warming rack also has a built-in, removable cooking tray.
The 32" and 40" add a 10,000 BTU rear infrared burner for use with the optional rotisserie kit; the 25" does not have one. The TF Series is also the only TrueFlame line that takes the $229 drop-in infrared sear burner, and it is the only line with a 40" size.
At 32", the TF Series costs $1,300 more than the E Series. For that you get the cast burners, the square grates, the lighting and the rear infrared burner, with the same cooking area and the same island cutout.
Built-in or freestanding
Every TrueFlame grill can go into an island or onto TrueFlame's deluxe cart with fold-down side shelves. We list each grill both ways, and the freestanding version is the grill plus the cart.
| Add-on | 25" | 32" | 40" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe cart | $999 | $1,099 | $1,299 |
| Rotisserie kit | $199 | $219 | $229 |
| Insulated grill liner | $749 | $799 | $899 |
| Drop-in infrared sear burner (TF Series only) | $229 | ||
Prices at Dreamwood Living as of October 2026. The 40" cart and grill liner fit the TF Series only, since the E Series has no 40".
Planning the island
TrueFlame's manuals call for a non-combustible island, such as cement board over steel studs. If the grill goes into a wood or other combustible surround, the insulated grill liner is required, and you cut the island to the liner's cutout instead of the grill's: 26", 33" or 40 3/8" wide by 22" deep by 9 3/4" high. The island also needs ventilation, either one open side or at least two vents totaling 40 sq in.
Clearances differ between the lines. To a combustible wall at the sides and back, the TF Series needs 14" and the E Series needs 18". Both need at least 5 feet of open space above the countertop, and both should never go under unprotected combustible overhead construction. Under a covered patio, the TF Series manual calls for an exhaust hood of at least 1,000 CFM under combustible overhead construction, and the E Series manual calls for at least 1,200 CFM under any overhead construction. Check the installation section on each product page before you build.
Finishing a TrueFlame outdoor kitchen
TrueFlame also makes the pieces around the grill, so the whole kitchen can match:
- 30" built-in griddle ($2,399): two 18,000 BTU burners under a 495 sq in, 1/2" thick stainless cooking surface
- Double side burner ($999) and power burner ($1,799)
- Outdoor vent hoods from 36" to 72", with 1,000 or 2,000 CFM motors
- Outdoor rated refrigerators, wine coolers, a kegerator, sinks, access doors and drawers
You can see the full line in our TrueFlame collection.
So which TrueFlame grill should you buy?
Choose the E Series if you want a #304 stainless grill at the lowest price, if there is no power at the island, or if you simply do not need lights. The 32" at $1,699 is the lowest-priced 4-burner TrueFlame.
Choose the TF Series 25" if you want the lighting and cast burners in a compact island, and you can live without a rear burner.
Choose the TF Series 32" or 40" if you want rotisserie cooking with the rear infrared burner, the option of a drop-in sear burner, or the 40" size for a crowd.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the TrueFlame TF Series and E Series?
Both are #304 stainless steel with 14,000 BTU burners and the same cooking area and cutout in each size. The TF Series adds cast stainless burners (the E Series uses tube burners), square grates instead of 8mm round, LED and halogen lighting, a 10,000 BTU rear infrared burner on the 32" and 40", compatibility with the drop-in sear burner, and a 40" size.
Does a TrueFlame grill need electricity?
The E Series does not; it has no lights or transformer, and only the optional rotisserie motor plugs in. The TF Series lights run from an included transformer that plugs into a grounded outlet, so plan an outlet near the island.
Do I need the TrueFlame grill liner?
Only if the grill goes into a combustible surround, such as a wood-framed island. In a non-combustible island, like cement board over steel studs or masonry, the liner is not required. If you use it, cut the island to the liner's cutout, not the grill's.
Can I swap an E Series for a TF Series in the same island?
In the 25" and 32" sizes the two lines list the same island cutout: 23 1/4" or 30 3/4" wide by 20 3/4" deep by 8 1/4" high. The TF Series also needs a nearby outlet for its lights, and its clearances to combustibles are smaller. Confirm against the line drawing on the product page before you cut.
What warranty do TrueFlame grills have?
Both lines carry the Gold Standard Lifetime Warranty on the stainless steel construction, cooking grates, burners, burner covers, valves, flame tamers and heat zone separators, plus 3 years on all other parts and electrical. Register online within 30 days of purchase. Coverage is replacement parts only, for the original purchaser.
Where are TrueFlame grills made?
The product pages list TrueFlame grills as made in China and ETL certified.
How does TrueFlame compare with Summerset?
Their price ranges overlap, and both carry a lifetime warranty on the stainless parts. One difference worth knowing: the TrueFlame E Series uses a #304 stainless body, while Summerset's lowest-priced Sizzler uses #443. See our guide to Summerset grills compared for the full Summerset lineup.
Planning a full outdoor kitchen? See our outdoor grill ideas for inspiration, and compare other brands in built-in grills.
Talk to us before you build
Call us at 888-486-2909 with your island cutout, whether it is combustible, your fuel type and whether you have power at the grill, and we will help you pick the right TrueFlame and size. We are here 9am to 9pm CST.