Breville BGR820XL Smart Grill: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-18

Summary

The 1800 W Smart Grill is a contact grill and panini press that opens flat into a 260 sq in griddle, and its embedded plate elements gave it the most consistent surface temperatures Food & Wine measured across 31 smokeless grills [8][9]. What usually goes wrong is not the cooking: owners flag the price, the lack of included spare plates, oil-catch concerns and replacement plates at $70 to $100 each [11][13][16]. Running cost is low — one owner estimates about $30 a year — and it is a strong buy near $199, weak at the $349.95 direct price [14][16].

Common problems and fixes

Price — the most common complaint: at $349.95 from Breville direct it costs nearly four times the $89.99 value pick in the same lab test, and one review notes capable competitors at less than half the price [9][11]. Fix: buy on sale; at $199 to $249 it is a strong buy [14]. Not a warranty matter.
No spare or griddle plates included — unlike some competitors, the box holds only the ribbed and flat plates, a drip tray and cord storage [11]. Fix: budget for replacements later (see Parts and consumables).
Replacement plates are expensive — a 2026 owner reports plates at $70 to $100 each [16]. Fix: Breville still sells the ribbed plate at $54.95, so buy from Breville rather than third parties [5].
Heavy and large for a countertop — 19.4 to 22 lb and about 16 in wide, a common practical complaint [11][16]. No fix; measure the counter first.
Stock and parts are winding down — AJ Madison lists it discontinued, Best Buy shows it sold out, and Breville’s flat-plate accessory page carries a discontinued banner, though Breville still sells new units direct and a remanufactured SKU [1][4][6][15]. Fix: decide before stock thins further; the 1-year warranty still applies [4][9].

Parts and consumables

Ribbed cooking plate (Breville US part page bgr820rp) — $54.95 at Breville US, October 2026; owners replace it when the non-stick coating wears, on no set schedule [1][5].
Flat cooking plate — $69.99 at Breville Canada, out of stock, October 2026; the US accessory page carries a discontinued banner, so flat-mode parts are the weak point [6][18].
Remanufactured unit RM-BGR820XL — sold by Breville USA as a factory-remanufactured alternative to thinning new stock [15].

Yearly running cost

One owner estimates about $30 a year in total ownership cost [16]. The only real variable cost is replacement plates at $70 to $100 each when the coating wears [16]; there are no filters, pods or subscriptions. Electricity use is not metered in any source: the grill runs at 1800 W, so the cost scales with how often you cook [2].

When it is a good buy

Walmart, October 2026: $199.00 — strong buy for a premium indoor grill, with lab-verified temperature consistency, 260 sq in flat mode and dishwasher-safe plates [14].
Review-average pricing sits at $269.99 with street pricing around $320 [11]; a niche reseller asks $471.00, which is not an anchor [11].
Alternatives: the Hamilton Beach 25361 at $89.99 is Food & Wine’s value pick and the better choice when pure searing on a budget is the goal [9][10]; the Cuisinart Griddler Elite is the head-to-head competitor, with OffSiteKitchen calling the Breville the better performer [17].