When grilling season hits there’s nothing like a perfect steak to celebrate the season. Whether you use a gas grill or charcoal grill the question is the same: what’s the best temp to grill steaks?
The cooking process for a good steak can be daunting. Steak is more expensive than ground beef or chicken so you want to get it right the first time. There’s nothing better than a perfectly cooked juicy steak, and nothing worse than a dry overcooked steak.
For a pro guide to buying steak, getting perfect grill marks, complete instructions for grilling steaks perfectly every time and more, check out our How to Grill Steak Perfectly guide.
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Best grill temperature for grilling steak
Most recipes call for a high heat temperatures; 450 degrees to 500 degrees.
This allows quick searing of the steak to develop the Maillard reaction. It’s a chemical reaction creating a nice crust on the steak, great flavors and it seals in the juices.
The chemistry of the Maillard reaction involves breaking down the proteins in foods into individual amino acids that react with the sugars in foods when in the presence of high temperature.
What does this all mean? It produces the caramelization on the outside of foods, as well as the color, aroma and texture of the meat.
How long to grill steak?
Different sizes and different types of steak cook in different amounts of time. The cooking time for grilling steak depends on:
- thickness of the meat
- type of steak
- the amount of marbling (or fat in the meat)
- how done you want it
Time on individual grills can vary so always check the steak’s internal temperature with a digital instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the steak for an accurate reading.
General guideline: remove the steak from the grill when the instant read digital thermometer reads 130 degrees for medium-rare or 140 degrees for medium. The steak’s temperature will continue to rise (around 5 degrees) as it rests.
| Doneness | Remove from Grill (temp F) | Resting time (minutes) | Final Steak Temperature (F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120 degrees | 5 | 125 degrees |
| Medium-Rare | 130 degrees | 5 | 135 degrees |
| Medium | 140 degrees | 5 | 145 degrees |
| Medium-Well | 145 degrees | 5 | 150 degrees |
| Well done | 155 degrees | 5 | 160 degrees |
Here are some specific guidelines for popular grilling steaks:
Filet Mignon & Center-cut Ribeye Steak
| Thickness | Rare (110 to 120 F) | Medium Rare (120 to 130 F) | Medium (130 to 140 F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2 inches | 3 minutes EACH SIDE | 3 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 4 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 1 3/4 inches | 3 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 4 minutes EACH SIDE | 4 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 2 inches | 4 minutes EACH SIDE | 4 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 5 minutes EACH SIDE |
Sirloin Strip Steak, Ribeye Steak & Porterhouse Steak
| Thickness | Rare (110 to 120 F) | Medium Rare (120 to 130 F) | Medium (130 to 140 F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 4 minutes EACH SIDE | 5 minutes EACH SIDE | 6 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 1 1/4 inches | 4 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 5 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 6 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 1 1/2 inches | 5 minutes EACH SIDE | 6 minutes EACH SIDE | 7 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 1 3/4 inches | 5 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 6 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE | 7 1/2 minutes EACH SIDE |
| 2 inches | 6 minutes EACH SIDE | 7 minutes EACH SIDE | 8 minutes EACH SIDE |
Do steaks need to be at room temperature?
They don’t have to be but if they are they’ll cook more quickly and evenly. You can take them out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling as the grill heats.
Expert Tips
Full preheat the gas grill or charcoal grill. Don’t start grilling until the grill is fully heated for even cooking.
Use a meat thermometer. Though the press-texture method works to determine the level of doneness, an instant read digital thermometer is more reliable. In seconds the internal temperature will register so not much heat is lost and you can be sure your cooked steak meets food safety requirements too.
Always rest steak for 5 minutes. After grilling remove the steak from grill grates and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute for a juicy steak. The steak’s temperature will increase around 5 degrees as it rests.
Mike says
I am glad you included a doneness chart with the temperatures. Very helpful.
Katie says
I’m new to grilling, so this is so helpful! A steak cooked well is hard to beat.
hannah says
this is perfect for the upcoming summer grilling season, thank you for sharing!
Eden says
This is SO helpful!! I never get the temperature right and your guide and chart are really really useful! Thank you!
Suzanne says
Thank you, Thank you! I love grilling steak but have never really known what temperature to grill them. This detail is perfect.
Alisa Infanti says
Thanks for making a great steak so simple!
Beth says
This is such a great guide! Grilling steaks is so hard for me. I can make the perfect steak in a cast-iron pan, but if I put it on the grill, it’s a disaster.
GUNJAN says
These are great tips and well explained. Loved this post and bookmarked it so that I can refer all through the summer.
Dana says
This is such a useful guide! I’m the griller in the family and take total pride in how I grill my steaks, but I’m always still incredibly anxious when I do it. I always want them to be perfect. Saving this post for extra guidance and reassurance!
Michelle says
Definitely bookmarking this chart for grilling season! Lots of great tips and tricks!