These barbecue industry statistics bring together the latest widely cited figures across barbecue restaurants, grill ownership, grill manufacturing, barbecue sauces, charcoal, seasonings, and holiday grilling behavior.
barbecue industry statistics
Barbecue Industry Statistics (Top Highlights)
The U.S. barbecue restaurant market was valued at $5.1 billion in 2025.
There were 15,871 barbecue restaurant businesses in the U.S. in 2025.
U.S. barbecue restaurants employed 306,214 people in 2025.
The barbecue restaurant industry is highly fragmented, with no company holding more than 5% market share.
HPBA said 70% of U.S. households owned at least one grill or smoker, up from 64% in 2019.
38% of grill owners purchased a new grill in the previous two years, according to HPBA’s latest biennial study.
Among grill owners, charcoal reached 65% ownership, gas stood at 63%, and wood pellet grills reached 9%.
The global barbeque grill market was worth $5.28 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $7.08 billion by 2030.
North America accounted for 56.7% of global barbeque grill revenue in 2024.
In the U.S., barbecue sauce manufacturing is a $2.3 billion market in 2025, while barbecue and grill manufacturing is a $1.5 billion market.
The U.S. barbecue charcoal manufacturing industry is expected to total $587.1 million in 2025.
The global BBQ seasoning market was estimated at $14.97 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $20.01 billion by 2030.
North America represented 43.2% of global BBQ seasoning revenue in 2024.
NRF found that 86% of consumers planned to celebrate the Fourth of July in 2025 and spend an average of $92.44 on food items.
U.S. Barbecue Restaurant Market Size
Label
Bar
Value
2024
$4.9B
2025
$5.1B
Max = $5.1B. Widths: 2024 96.08%, 2025 100.00%
U.S. Barbecue Restaurant Businesses
Label
Bar
Value
2024
15,450
2025
15,871
Max = 15,871. Widths: 2024 97.35%, 2025 100.00%
U.S. Barbecue Restaurant Employment
Label
Bar
Value
2024
298,828
2025
306,214
Max = 306,214. Widths: 2024 97.59%, 2025 100.00%
U.S. Household Grill or Smoker Ownership
Label
Bar
Value
2019
64%
2021 survey
70%
Max = 70%. Widths: 2019 91.43%, 2021 survey 100.00%
U.S. Grill Type Ownership Among Grill Owners
Label
Bar
Value
Charcoal
65%
Gas
63%
Wood pellet
9%
Max = 65%. Widths: Charcoal 100.00%, Gas 96.92%, Wood pellet 13.85%
Most Popular Grilling Holidays Among U.S. Grill Owners
Label
Bar
Value
Fourth of July
54%
Labor Day
47%
Memorial Day
44%
Father’s Day
34%
Max = 54%. Widths: Fourth of July 100.00%, Labor Day 87.04%, Memorial Day 81.48%, Father’s Day 62.96%
The barbecue industry spans much more than restaurants. Restaurant revenue, business counts, consumer grill ownership, equipment manufacturing, fuel, sauces, and seasonings all point to a broad ecosystem with multiple growth pockets.
The clearest pattern is that barbecue remains deeply embedded in consumer behavior. U.S. household grill ownership is high, major grilling holidays still drive heavy usage, and adjacent categories such as grills and seasonings continue to show long-term expansion even as some manufacturing niches normalize after the pandemic surge.
Sources
IBISWorld, Barbecue Restaurants in the US Market Size Statistics
IBISWorld, Barbecue Restaurants in the US Number of Businesses Statistics
IBISWorld, Barbecue Restaurants in the US Employment Statistics
IBISWorld, Barbecue Restaurants in the US Industry Analysis
IBISWorld, Barbecue Sauce Manufacturing in the US Industry Analysis
IBISWorld, Barbecue & Grill Manufacturing in the US Industry Analysis
IBISWorld, Barbecue Charcoal Manufacturing in the US Industry Analysis
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 2022 State of the Barbecue Industry
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 2023 State of the Barbecue Industry
Hone your outdoor cooking skills with the 10 best luxury built-in pellet smokers that promise to elevate your grilling experience—discover which models made the cut!
Pick the perfect WiFi smart BBQ controller to enhance your grilling experience and discover which models can truly elevate your outdoor cooking skills.
Amplify your outdoor cooking with the top 10 BBQ islands for ceramic grills—discover which features will elevate your culinary gatherings to the next level.
Maximize your BBQ experience with the top 10 pellet hopper extensions that promise perfectly smoked flavors—discover which ones can transform your grilling today!
