Fire Magic vs. Lynx: Cost to Buy, Own and Repair

Short answer: Fire Magic and Lynx are both top-tier grills, and both commonly last 15 to 20 years or more. Neither is a bad buy. The difference shows up in what you do with the grill after year 10: what breaks, what the parts cost, and how easy they are to find. We sell a lot more Fire Magic grills than anything else in this class, and we sell a lot of Lynx parts to people who love their grills and want to keep them running.

Where we're coming from

Pro Grill has cleaned and repaired grills in Southern California and Arizona since 2018, with more than 25,000 grills serviced. Fire Magic is a brand we sell and service. With Lynx, the honest version is narrower: we sell Lynx parts, we do not sell Lynx grills. So this article compares what it costs to own each one and keep it running. It doesn't repeat spec sheets.

Price tiers: what you pay up front

We aren't going to put a price on either brand's grills here. Prices change with size, series, and dealer, and we won't guess. What moves the price on both brands is the same:

• Series. Both brands sell a top line and one or more lower lines. For Fire Magic, that means choosing between its higher and lower series. For Lynx, it means the Professional line versus a lower line. Check each maker's current lineup, because model names change.
• Width and burner count. A 36-inch grill costs more than a 30-inch, and a 42-inch costs more again.
• Add-ons. Sear burners, infrared burners, rotisserie kits, back burners, and lighting all add to the price.
• The island. Swapping one built-in for another is easier when the cutout is the same size. If it isn't, you pay for carpentry, stone, or stainless work.

For general built-in prices and cutout costs, see our guide to the cost to replace a built-in BBQ grill. It covers numbers that apply to any brand.

Fire Magic is made in the USA by RH Peterson, a company that cares a lot about how its products hold up. That attitude shows in the parts support, which matters more over 15 years than the sticker price does.

Long-term ownership: the part most buyers skip

With a grill this good, the purchase price is not the whole cost. Over two decades you will probably replace burners, igniters, and grates, and maybe a rotisserie motor. Plan for that, and the repair bills stay predictable instead of becoming a surprise.

What you want from a brand over that span:

• The maker still sells parts for your model.
• You can identify the exact part without guessing.
• The part cost is reasonable compared with the grill's value.

Both brands do well here. Both companies make their own parts, so you aren't hunting for generic copies. A well-built grill with parts support is worth fixing, and that's why 15 to 20 years is normal for both.

What we see on Lynx grills

Ignition is the common problem. On older Lynx grills, the igniters are the part that most often goes bad. The good news is that Lynx has retrofit kits that upgrade the older igniters to its glow plugs. So the usual fix is also an improvement on the original design.

Parts are easy to find. Lynx makes it simple to identify what you need from the model and serial number. Give us those two pieces of information and we can find the right parts. You don't have to measure an old burner and hope.

Real numbers we see on Lynx parts:

• Standard burner: typically over $500 each.
• ProSear burner: over $700.
• Igniters: as much as $60 each.
• Labor: $200 to $500, depending on how complex the parts are to install.

Those prices tell you what a burner job can look like. A standard burner plus labor can land somewhere over $700 to over $1,000. A ProSear burner plus labor runs higher. Igniters cost far less per part, but if several need replacing, the total adds up. That's why a retrofit to glow plugs is worth asking about before you replace igniters one at a time.

What we see on Fire Magic grills

Fire Magic grills are well built, and most of the repairs we do on them are the normal wear-out jobs that any grill gets after years of heat and weather: burners, igniters, grates, and rotisserie parts. They are not frequent failures of a weak design. They are wear items on a grill that has done its job for a long time.

Parts availability is good because the maker supports its own line. We sell and service Fire Magic, so you can browse our parts diagrams by brand to find your model, then order from the Pro Grill parts store. We don't have Fire Magic repair prices we can quote here. What drives the cost is the part itself, the grill's age, how hard it is to get to, and how many parts are being replaced at once.

Side by side

Which one should you buy?

If you want our straight answer: both are great, and we sell far more Fire Magic grills than any other brand in this class. We like the grills, we like the people at RH Peterson, and we like that they treat making the best product as a real priority. For a buyer starting fresh who wants us to handle sales, service, and parts under one roof, Fire Magic is the easy recommendation.

That does not mean Lynx is the wrong choice. Lynx owners are some of the most loyal we meet. They love their grills and want to fix them up and keep using them, and the parts are there to do it. If you already have a Lynx in your island, or you find one you like, you can own it for a long time.

Before you buy either one, check these three things:

1. Fit. Measure the island cutout and compare it with the grill's cutout dimensions.
2. Features you will use. A sear burner or rotisserie kit adds cost now and parts cost later.
3. Parts support where you live. Ask who will install and service it.

If you already own one

If you own a Fire Magic or Lynx and a part has failed, the question is no longer which brand to buy. It's whether to repair or replace. Our guide on deciding to repair or replace your BBQ walks through that decision. If you aren't sure what a part is called, the main parts of a barbecue grill covers the names.

Gas safety: if you smell gas at any point, turn the gas off at the tank or the supply valve and call a pro before you try to light anything.

Next step

Have the model and serial number ready. That is how we match a part to either brand. Call 800-860-6758 or text 888-418-4226, and we'll help you work out what your grill needs.