Best Gas Cooktop (30-Inch, 36-Inch and Compact Picks)

A gas cooktop is judged by two numbers. How hot its biggest burner gets, and how low its smallest one can go without the flame going out.

Most cooktops get the first number right. Far fewer get the second, and that is where sauces scorch and rice sticks. The eight picks below cover that full spread of heat. They also cover the details you notice later, like smooth grates, flame-failure cutoffs and propane parts.

The short version: For a standard 30-inch opening, get the GE JGP5030SLSS. It runs from a 15,000 BTU center burner down to 5,000 BTU, and its continuous grates go in the dishwasher. Before you buy any cooktop, measure your counter cutout: that number decides what fits.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

• Best overall: GE JGP5030SLSS 30-Inch Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best value 30-inch: Empava 30GC5B70C 30-Inch 5-Burner Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best with a griddle: Gasland Chef PRO GH3305SF 30-Inch Gas Cooktop with GriddleJump to review ↓
• Best premium: Café CGP95302MS1 30-Inch Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best 36-inch: Empava 36GC61-GX 36-Inch 5-Burner Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best six-burner: Cosmo COS-DIC366 36-Inch Drop-In Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best side-control design: Cosmo COS-DIC304 30-Inch Gas CooktopJump to review ↓
• Best compact 2-burner: Gasland Chef GH30SFA 12-Inch 2-Burner Gas CooktopJump to review ↓

These are built-in cooktops that drop into a hole in the counter. If you want burners and an oven in one box, you need a range instead, and our best 24-inch range guide covers the narrow ones.

Gas Cooktops Compared

Cooktop	Width	Burners	Strongest burner	Lowest burner	What sets it apart
GE JGP5030SLSS	30 in	5	15,000 BTU	5,000 BTU	Continuous, dishwasher-safe grates
Empava 30GC5B70C	30 in	5	12,000 BTU	3,400 BTU	Propane kit in the box
Gasland PRO GH3305SF	30 in	5	13,000 BTU wok	4,000 BTU	Griddle plus flame-failure cutoff
Café CGP95302MS1	30 in	5	20,000 BTU tri-ring	5,000 BTU	Strongest 30-inch burner here
Empava 36GC61-GX	36 in	5	20,000 BTU triple ring	4,500 BTU	51,000 BTU total
Cosmo COS-DIC366	36 in	6	18,000 BTU (x2)	6,000 BTU	Six burners, two of them strong
Cosmo COS-DIC304	30 in	4	18,000 BTU	9,000 BTU	Knobs on the side, wide spacing
Gasland GH30SFA	12 in	2	6,500 BTU	5,000 BTU	Fits a 10.7-inch-wide cutout

1. GE JGP5030SLSS 30-Inch Gas Cooktop: Best Overall

The GE JGP5030SLSS does the everyday jobs well and makes cleanup easy. Five sealed burners give you a clear range of heat. The 15,000 BTU center burner boils a big stockpot of pasta water without crowding the other four. The 5,000 BTU rear burner holds a sauce low.

Who should buy it: Anyone replacing a 30-inch cooktop who wants dependable burners and grates that go in the dishwasher. Its common cutout often fits the old hole.

2. Empava 30GC5B70C 30-Inch 5-Burner Gas Cooktop: Best Value 30-Inch

The Empava 30GC5B70C wins on low heat. Its smallest burner runs at 3,400 BTU, the gentlest flame on any 30-inch cooktop here. Melting chocolate or holding rice warm needs a flame that small.

The second reason it stands out is what comes in the box. Empava packs propane nozzles and a conversion kit with the cooktop. Homes on a propane tank do not have to hunt for parts.

The warranty is two years as standard. If you need a different width or burner layout, Empava’s full gas cooktop line runs from 24 to 36 inches.

Who should buy it: Cooks who simmer more than they sear, homes on propane, and anyone who wants a full five-burner cooktop on a budget. It suits a budget small kitchen remodel well.

3. Gasland Chef PRO GH3305SF 30-Inch Gas Cooktop with Griddle: Best With a Griddle

The Gasland Chef PRO GH3305SF solves two problems most cooktops ignore. It comes with a reversible griddle, and every burner has a flame-failure cutoff.

The griddle sits over the burners for pancakes and eggs, and flips to a ridged grill side. It saves buying a separate griddle pan for pancakes.

The flame-failure device shuts off gas to a burner if a boil-over or draft puts its flame out. More on how it works below.

The 13,000 BTU wok burner gives a good hot center, and the 4,000 BTU burner is low enough for a gentle simmer. Both natural gas and propane nozzles come in the box. Gasland also makes the same design as a 36-inch model, the PRO GH3365SF.

Who should buy it: Families with kids in the kitchen and weekend breakfast cooks who want a griddle included. Season the griddle like any cast iron skillet and it gets better with use.

4. Café CGP95302MS1 30-Inch Gas Cooktop: Best Premium

Café is GE’s premium line, and this cooktop shares the GE’s cutout. The difference is a 20,000 BTU center burner, the strongest 30-inch burner here.

That center burner is a tri-ring design. Three rings of flame spread heat across the whole base of a wide pan, not one hot circle. A heavy flat-bottom wok or a 12-inch skillet heats more evenly as a result.

Who should buy it: Cooks who stir-fry, sear steaks and boil big pots often, and who want premium finishes to match. Pair it with a ducted under-cabinet range hood to keep up with that 20,000 BTU burner.

5. Empava 36GC61-GX 36-Inch 5-Burner Gas Cooktop: Best 36-Inch

The Empava 36GC61-GX puts the most total heat of any pick on this list into a 36-inch top: 51,000 BTU across five burners. The star is a 20,000 BTU triple-ring burner, matching the Café for raw power at a far lower cost.

The spread is well judged. A 10,500 BTU rapid burner handles a second big pot, and the 4,500 BTU burner keeps a sauce at a low simmer.

When the power goes out, the igniters stop, but you can still light these burners with a long lighter.

Who should buy it: Families and keen home cooks with a 36-inch opening who want strong heat across five burners without paying premium-brand prices.

6. Cosmo COS-DIC366 36-Inch Drop-In Gas Cooktop: Best Six-Burner

Most 36-inch cooktops have five burners. The Cosmo COS-DIC366 has six, and two of them run at 18,000 BTU. You can boil pasta and sear a steak on full power at the same time, which no other pick here allows.

Each side has a strong, medium and low burner, so two people can cook at once.

At just 2.84 inches tall, it also leaves more room under the counter.

Who should buy it: Large households and anyone who regularly cooks four or more dishes at once, like holiday hosts and batch cooks.

7. Cosmo COS-DIC304 30-Inch Gas Cooktop: Best Side-Control Design

The Cosmo COS-DIC304 uses four burners instead of five and puts the knobs on the side. Each burner gets more room, so a Dutch oven and a 12-inch skillet sit side by side without touching.

The side knobs sit away from the front edge, where kids are less likely to bump them.

Who should buy it: Cooks who use a few big pans rather than many small ones, and homes with young children who want the knobs away from the front edge.

8. Gasland Chef GH30SFA 12-Inch 2-Burner Gas Cooktop: Best Compact 2-Burner

A full-size cooktop is too much for some spaces. The Gasland Chef GH30SFA is a 2-burner cooktop that needs a cutout just 10.7 inches wide. That opens up places a normal cooktop never fits.

Think of a studio, a tiny house, an RV, or a flame beside an induction cooktop. Our studio apartment kitchen ideas show how much a few saved inches can change a small layout.

Two burners handle most daily meals; our guide to cooking a full meal with only two burners shows how.

It also has a flame-failure cutoff, which matters even more in a small, closed space like an RV.

Who should buy it: Studio renters with a landlord’s OK, tiny-home and RV owners, and anyone adding a flame to an induction kitchen.

Need 24 inches? Gasland’s 24-inch 4-burner black enamel cooktop with griddle and Empava’s 24-inch 4-burner gas cooktop give you four burners in a narrow galley counter.

What BTUs Actually Mean on a Gas Cooktop

BTU stands for British thermal unit. On a cooktop, it tells you how much heat a burner puts out in an hour at full flame. More BTU means more heat, faster.

But the top number is only half the story. A great cooktop has a wide spread from high to low.

Burner size	What it does well	Example on this list
15,000 to 20,000 BTU	Boiling big pots, searing, stir-frying	Café 20,000; Empava 36GC61-GX 20,000
9,000 to 12,000 BTU	Everyday frying, sautéing, steaming	GE 12,000; Cosmo 12,000
6,000 to 8,000 BTU	Eggs, small pans, reheating	Empava 36GC61-GX 8,000
5,000 BTU or less	Simmering sauces, melting, keeping warm	Empava 30GC5B70C 3,400; Gasland 4,000

One burner of 15,000 BTU or more covers boiling and searing. For the low end, look for 5,000 BTU or under. If yours runs hotter, a flat heat diffuser plate under the pot helps.

Strong burners need the right pans to make use of them. A thick-based sauté pan spreads high heat evenly, and our guide to choosing energy-efficient cookware explains why a flat base matching the flame size wastes less gas.

Sealed Burners: Why Every Pick Has Them

A sealed burner has its base closed off from the inside of the cooktop. Spills stay on the top surface instead of dripping down into the burner box.

Every cooktop on this list uses them. To keep them burning well, wipe spills once the cooktop is cool. Lift off the burner caps now and then and clear the small ports with a pin or soft brush. A weak or yellow flame usually means a blocked port, the same problem covered in why a gas grill has a weak flame.

Continuous Grates vs Separate Grates

Continuous grates form one flat surface across the cooktop. You can slide a heavy pot from burner to burner without lifting it. The GE, Café and both Cosmo picks use them.

Separate grates are easier to fit in the sink, but you lift pans over the gaps.

Heavy cast iron grates hold steady under a cast iron skillet. Dishwasher-safe grates, like the GE and Café ones, save the most cleaning.

A tea kettle made for gas stoves with a wide, flat base sits steady on any of these grates.

Cooktop Top Materials: Stainless, Enamel or Glass

The surface under the grates decides how the cooktop looks after a year of cooking.

Stainless steel is the classic choice but shows fingerprints. Black enamel hides stains but can chip. Gas on glass wipes clean easily but can crack from a hard knock.

Most picks here use stainless steel. Heat can leave rainbow marks on stainless near the burners, which is harmless, as explained in why stainless steel turns rainbow. The same cleaning tips from our guide on how to clean stainless steel pans work on a stainless cooktop.

Flame-Failure Safety: The Feature Few People Check

A flame-failure device, also called a thermocouple, is a small metal probe beside each burner. While the flame burns, it stays hot and keeps the gas valve open. If the flame goes out, the probe cools and the valve closes within seconds.

Both Gasland picks list this cutoff on every burner. If you have young children, cook in a drafty spot, or plan to put a cooktop in an RV or tiny home, put this feature high on your list.

After lighting, hold the knob in for a few seconds so the probe can heat up.

Gas vs Induction Cooktop

Both are good. They suit different cooks.

	Gas	Induction
How it heats	Open flame under the pan	Magnetic field heats the pan itself
Speed	Fast	Faster
Pans	Any pan, including round-bottom woks	Magnetic pans only
Power hookup	Gas line plus a 120V outlet	Usually a 240V circuit
Kitchen heat	Warms the room	Keeps the room cooler
Ventilation	Needs good venting for combustion gases	Venting for cooking smoke only

Curious about induction? A plug-in unit from our best induction cooktop for the money guide lets you try it on the counter. Check your pans first with our guide to cookware that works on induction.

Planning a full range swap instead? See our best slide-in electric range picks.

30-Inch vs 36-Inch Gas Cooktop

A 30-inch cooktop is the standard and fits a regular base cabinet. A 36-inch model adds room for a fifth or sixth burner, so two big pans fit side by side.

Choose 36 inches if you cook for a crowd often and your counter run is long. Stay at 30 inches if counter space is tight, which is common in galley kitchens and condos. Our small kitchen layout ideas show how the width of the cooktop shapes the work zones around it.

Cutout Sizes and Installation

The cutout is the hole in your counter. Every cooktop lists its own, and they differ by fractions of an inch.

Cooktop	Cutout width	Cutout depth
GE JGP5030SLSS	28.5 in	19.625 in
Café CGP95302MS1	28.5 in	19.625 in
Empava 30GC5B70C	28.62 in	18.77 in
Gasland PRO GH3305SF	28.58 to 28.78 in	18.93 to 19.13 in
Empava 36GC61-GX	34.25 in	19.61 in
Gasland GH30SFA	10.7 in	18.9 in

Replacing an old cooktop? Measure the existing hole first. A larger cutout means trimming the counter; a smaller one may leave a gap.

Can You Install a Gas Cooktop Yourself?

Setting the cooktop in the counter is DIY work. The gas hookup needs a licensed gas fitter or plumber, who also leak-tests every joint.

You also need a 120-volt outlet in the cabinet below for the igniters. Plan a shutoff valve within easy reach. While the work is done, our tips on how to cook without a stove can keep meals going for a day or two.

Renters need the landlord’s written OK before any gas work.

Converting a Gas Cooktop to Propane (LP)

Most cooktops ship set for natural gas. Propane runs at a higher pressure, so the burners need smaller jets, called orifices, and the regulator must be set for LP.

Cooktop	Propane parts
Empava 30GC5B70C	LPG nozzles and conversion kit included
Gasland PRO GH3305SF	Propane nozzles included
Gasland GH30SFA	Convertible to propane
Empava 36GC61-GX	Runs on natural gas or LPG
Cosmo COS-DIC366 and COS-DIC304	Conversion kit sold separately

Have a licensed fitter do the conversion and adjust the low flame afterward. The tricks in how to tell if a propane tank is empty work for a home tank gauge.

Ventilation: A Gas Cooktop Needs a Hood

Burning gas makes heat, moisture and combustion gases along with smoke, and a hood pulls them out.

A ducted hood that vents outside works best with gas. For a 30-inch cooktop, a 30-inch under-cabinet range hood is the usual fit, and a 36-inch cooktop wants a 36-inch hood. If you have no duct to the outside, a ductless range hood filters grease and smells, but it does not remove combustion gases, so open a window too.

Run the hood before and after cooking. Our small kitchen guide to range hood ventilation explains how to size a hood. Clean the filter often, using the schedule in how often to clean a range hood filter, because a clogged filter cuts airflow.

What About a Gas Cooktop With Downdraft?

A downdraft vent pulls smoke down through a slot by the burners. It struggles with tall pots and strong flames, because hot air rises, so an island hood usually works better. Our small kitchen island ideas cover how to plan cooking on an island.

Which Gas Cooktop Should You Buy?

Start with the width of your opening, then match the burners to how you cook.

• 30-inch opening, want the safest all-round choice: GE JGP5030SLSS.
• 30-inch opening, simmer a lot or run on propane: Empava 30GC5B70C.
• Want a griddle and a flame-failure cutoff: Gasland Chef PRO GH3305SF.
• Sear and stir-fry often, want premium finishes: Café CGP95302MS1.
• 36-inch opening, want the most heat for the money: Empava 36GC61-GX.
• Cook four or more dishes at once: Cosmo COS-DIC366.
• Use a few big pans, have small children: Cosmo COS-DIC304.
• Tiny kitchen, RV or a second flame beside induction: Gasland Chef GH30SFA.

Whichever you choose, measure the cutout twice and line up a licensed fitter before the cooktop arrives.

Related Guides

• Best Induction Cooktop for the Money
• Best 24-Inch Range
• Best Slide-In Electric Range
• Small Kitchen Guide to Range Hood Ventilation
• Best Tea Kettle for Gas Stove
• How to Use Non-Induction Cookware on an Induction Cooktop
• Store Pots and Pans in a Small Kitchen

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gas or induction cooktop better?

It depends on what you value. Gas gives you a visible flame, works with any pan, and handles round-bottom woks and charring. Induction heats faster, wastes less energy and keeps the kitchen cooler, but it needs magnetic pans and usually a 240-volt circuit. If you already have a gas line and love cooking over a flame, gas is the simpler choice.

How many BTUs do I need on a gas cooktop?

For most home cooking, one strong burner of 15,000 to 20,000 BTU is plenty for boiling and searing. The other number that matters is the lowest burner. Look for 5,000 BTU or less so sauces and rice can sit at a gentle simmer without scorching. Total BTU matters less than this spread from high to low.

Should I get a 30-inch or 36-inch gas cooktop?

Get 30 inches for most kitchens. It fits a standard cabinet, takes four or five burners, and leaves more counter space. A 36-inch cooktop fits a fifth or sixth burner and lets two large pans sit side by side without crowding. Choose it if you cook big meals often and your counter run and hood can match the width.

Can a natural gas cooktop be converted to propane?

Most can. Propane runs at a higher pressure, so the cooktop needs smaller burner jets and a regulator set for LP. Some cooktops include the propane jets in the box, while others sell the kit separately. Have a licensed gas fitter do the conversion and adjust the low flame afterward, since a wrong setting can cause yellow, sooty flames.

Can I install a gas cooktop myself?

Cutting the counter and setting the cooktop in place is DIY work for a handy person. The gas connection is not. In most areas, the hookup must be done by a licensed gas fitter or plumber, who will also leak-test every joint. You also need a 120-volt outlet under the counter for the igniters, and a shutoff valve within reach.