Blackstone 28 vs 28 XL
The XL adds the zone the 28 is missing, and adds a specification you have to check before you buy.
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Quick picks
Ranked on published specifications using our scoring rubric. Tap a row for the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Blackstone 28" Original GriddleMost households | Most households | 8.4 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore GriddleThree zones without the 36's footprint | Three zones without the 36's footprint | 7.9 | Check price on Amazon |
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Side by side
Same fields on both sides. Heat density is computed from the published BTU and cooking area, not quoted from a manufacturer.
| Specification | Blackstone 28" Original Griddle | Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore Griddle |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 525 sq in | 613 sq in |
| Burners | 2 | 3 |
| Total output | 34,000 BTU | 45,000 BTU |
| Heat density | 64.8 BTU / sq in | 73.4 BTU / sq in |
| Cooktop | 10-gauge rolled carbon steel | Omnivore plate |
| Best for | Most households | Three zones without the 36's footprint |
| Our score | 8.4 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 |
Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore Griddle: Retailers list this body at 28,500 BTU (Academy), 45,000 BTU and 48,000 BTU — all at 613 sq in. The surface area is settled; the heat output is not. Check the BTU figure on the exact listing you are buying.
The XL’s case: the third zone
The 28’s main limitation is having two zones. That covers most cooking, but it means a holding area costs you one of your two cooking temperatures.
The XL’s third burner fixes exactly that, in a body only modestly larger — 613 against 525 square inches. It is the best zone-to-footprint ratio Blackstone sells, and for multi-component cooking it is a real upgrade.
Electronic ignition is a quieter second advantage: it is more durable than the 28’s piezo button, and ignition is the component most likely to irritate you over several years.
The 28’s case: you know what you are getting
The XL ships at three different BTU ratings. 28,500 BTU (Academy), 45,000 and 48,000 across other retailers, all at 613 square inches.
That works out at 46.5, 73.4 and 78.3 BTU per square inch. The bottom figure is the lowest heat density of any cart griddle in our guide; the top is among the highest. They are functionally different griddles sharing a body.
The standard 28 is a consistent 34,000 BTU across 525 square inches — 64.8 per square inch, every time. If you do not want to scrutinize a spec panel, that certainty is worth something.
Plate: the 28
The standard 28 uses 10-gauge rolled carbon steel, which is thicker than most cooktops at this size and gives it more thermal mass than its BTU figure alone suggests. The XL uses the Omnivore plate — a different surface that takes seasoning differently and is not directly comparable on thickness.
Seasoning differs
The Omnivore plate is not the classic bare rolled steel. It takes seasoning differently, and the first few rounds will not look like what you would expect on a standard top.
Follow Blackstone’s guidance for that specific plate rather than generic carbon-steel advice — we cover both surfaces and compare the two plates directly.
Which to buy
28 XL if you want three zones, will check the BTU figure on the listing, and have room for the slightly larger body. The 45,000 or 48,000 BTU versions are excellent.
Standard 28 if you want a predictable specification, a thicker plate and the classic carbon-steel surface, and two zones is enough for how you cook.
Neither, and a Weber Slate 30, if you want three zones with no ambiguity at all plus a rust-resistant top — at 66.7 BTU per square inch.
The picks in detail
Specifications are linked to their source on every card. Scores are ours, derived from those specifications.
#1 · Most households
Blackstone 28" Original Griddle
The size most people should actually buy: 525 square inches and two zones covers a family of four with headroom, on a footprint that fits a normal patio.
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Key specifications
- Cooking area
- 525 sq in (28¾ × 18¼ in)
- Burners
- 2, stainless H-burners
- Total output
- 34,000 BTU
- Cooktop
- 10-gauge rolled carbon steel
- Ignition
- Piezo
- Zones
- 2, independently controlled
Specifications from BBQGuys spec sheet.
Scores
- Cooking area7.5
- Heat output7.0
- Zone control7.0
- Surface care6.5
- Portability5.0
What works
- The 10-gauge plate is thicker than most griddles at this size, which is what keeps temperature steady when cold food hits it
- Two zones is genuinely enough: one hot side for searing, one moderate side for holding
- Fits a standard patio and a standard cover, which the 36 often does not
What to know
- Only two zones — you cannot run a dedicated warming zone and two cooking temperatures at once
- 34,000 BTU over 525 sq in is modest heat density; recovery after a big load is slower than the 36
- Bare carbon steel needs seasoning and a cover, same as every Blackstone
#2 · Three zones without the 36's footprint
Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore Griddle
Three zones in a 613-square-inch body — the useful middle ground — but the BTU rating genuinely varies between variants, so read it off the listing in front of you.
#ad We publish no prices: there is no verified price feed on this site, so the retailer’s page is the only price. How this is funded
Key specifications
- Cooking area
- 613 sq in
- Burners
- 3
- Total output
- 28,500 / 45,000 / 48,000 BTU depending on variant
- Cooktop
- Omnivore plate
- Ignition
- Electronic
- Height
- 59.44 in
Specifications from Academy Sports listing.
Listings disagree: Retailers list this body at 28,500 BTU (Academy), 45,000 BTU and 48,000 BTU — all at 613 sq in. The surface area is settled; the heat output is not. Check the BTU figure on the exact listing you are buying.
Scores
- Cooking area8.0
- Heat output7.5
- Zone control8.5
- Surface care6.5
- Portability4.0
What works
- Three zones at 613 sq in is the best zone-to-footprint ratio Blackstone sells
- Electronic ignition is more reliable over time than a piezo button
- Meaningfully more surface than the 28 without the 36's storage problem
What to know
- The BTU rating is not consistent across listings — the same 613 sq in body appears at 28,500, 45,000 and 48,000 BTU
- A 28,500 BTU example over 613 sq in is thin heat; that variant recovers slowly
- The Omnivore plate is a different surface from the classic carbon steel and takes seasoning differently
Common questions
Is the Blackstone 28 XL worth it over the 28?
How many BTU does the Blackstone 28 XL have?
Is the Omnivore plate different from the standard Blackstone top?
Sources
Every specification on this page came from one of these. If you find one of them has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Read next
Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore
613 square inches, three zones, Omnivore plate — and a BTU rating that varies by variant. How to buy the right one.
Blackstone 28" Original
525 square inches, two zones, 10-gauge rolled carbon steel. The default recommendation for most households.
Blackstone Original vs Omnivore
Blackstone's classic bare rolled carbon steel against the Omnivore plate: seasoning, cooking and what to expect from each.
The best 28-inch griddles
The 28 to 30-inch class compared. Two zones or three, bare steel or rust-resistant, and why this is the right size for most people.
Weber Slate 30"
540 square inches, three zones, rust-resistant and pre-seasoned. The strongest pick for people who cook occasionally.
How to season a Blackstone griddle
The Blackstone routine for both the classic rolled carbon steel plate and the Omnivore plate, which seasons differently.