What the S-418 Pro is and what it costs
The S-418 Pro is the four-burner model of the SANTOS Pro series: a gas grill with a base cabinet, rear burner and infrared side burner. SANTOS is the house brand of Santos Grills GmbH, a grill specialist retailer from Cologne, founded in 2005. According to the operating manual, the grill is built in China. It is sold in the company’s own shop at santosgrills.de; none of the product pages links to an Amazon listing.
Four versions are available in the 400 Pro series category: Stainless Steel, All Black Matt, Black and TST. Stainless Steel and All Black Matt cost approx. €999 at Santos Grills (on 02.11.2026: €999.00) and were available immediately. As the earlier price, the shop shows €1,299 in each case. Black is listed at the same price but was not available to order online that day, only on request. TST costs approx. €1,299, so €300 more, and in a promotion it came with accessories worth 10 percent of the grill price. It is delivered by freight forwarder, ready to ship after 1 to 2 working days.
The four are not entirely identical technically. The operating manual applies to all versions, and the burner data match on all product pages. However, only the TST page mentions flame tamers of 1.2 mm and wind shields of 1 mm stainless steel, plus a cooking chamber and base cart made entirely of stainless steel. The “Other materials” field is also filled in differently in the data tables for each version. On All Black Matt, a matt black powder coating runs from the lid over the side shelves and control panel to the base cabinet; according to the table, the lid is enamelled. Santos attributes resistance to scratches, corrosion, abrasion and fading to this finish.
In our overview of gas grills, it is one of the four-burner models at around €1,000.
Burners, grates, housing: the construction
Under the lid are four stainless steel main burners with 3.0 kW each, 12 kW in total. Above them sit stainless steel burner covers and four cast iron grates. You can turn each grate over: pointed bars on top, a flat, grooved side underneath. The burner housing is made of cast aluminium with extended side panels.
Santos gives the main cooking area as 3209 cm², at 43 x 76 cm. Multiplied, however, these dimensions give 3268 cm². The shop does not explain where the 59 cm² difference comes from; below we use the stated value. Above it hangs a three-part stainless steel warming rack, extendable from 14 to 24 and up to 33.5 cm depth. When pushed in, the Stainless Steel page gives 1012 cm², the three other variant pages 1063 cm², both at 13.8 x 77 cm. Recalculated, 1063 is correct. Fully extended it is 2579.5 cm² (33.5 x 77 cm).
The lid is double-walled, extra high according to Santos, and has a thermometer. On the Stainless Steel version, the hood, control panel, side shelves and the complete cooking chamber are made of type 430 stainless steel. The side walls of the lid, cooking chamber and side shelves are made of die-cast aluminium. On the base cart, the bottom, side panels and outer door surfaces are stainless steel, the black side surfaces powder-coated.
The side burner is an infrared burner with a ceramic honeycomb, 4.5 kW strong and, according to Santos, up to 800 °C hot, with a height-adjustable stainless steel grate. The tables for All Black Matt, Black and TST give its area as 891 cm² (27 x 33 cm). According to the manual, pots and pans on it may only have a diameter of 20 to 26 cm.
The main burners are ignited by piezo, so without a battery; the side and rear burners are ignited electronically. After the click, you hold the knob of a main burner pressed for 2 seconds according to the manual, and for at least 10 on the side burner. If needed, you light the main burners one after another from left to right. The base cabinet holds two pull-out stainless steel baskets and a gas bottle holder; on the outside there are hooks and a side storage basket. The grill stands on large, rubberised castors with locking brakes. It has no cooking chamber lighting.
Assembled it measures 154 x 122 x 64 cm (width, height, depth), with the lid open 155 cm high and 80 cm deep. On weight, Santos contradicts itself: the shop states 91 kg, the manual approx. 75 kg. The package measures 64 x 93 x 65 cm, so the grill arrives disassembled.
What Santos does not publish, at a glance: the maximum cooking chamber temperature (only the 800 °C of the side burner is documented), a heat-up time in minutes instead of the phrase “quickly reaches high temperatures”, gas consumption in normal use, working height and size of the side shelves, thickness and steel type of the burner tubes, the year of market launch (the manual is dated August 2025) and a commitment on how long spare parts remain available. The scope of delivery is also incomplete: only the pressure regulator is documented, and whether a hose is included is not stated explicitly anywhere. We did not find an assembly manual online, so we know nothing about the effort and duration of assembly. The Ready2Grill bundle that earlier versions of this page mentioned could no longer be found in the shop on 02.11.2026.
Can the rear burner run together with the main burners?
No. According to the operating manual, the rear burner must not be operated together with the main burners, and before lighting, the warming rack must be removed so that it is not damaged. A rotisserie spit on the S-418 Pro therefore means: main burners off, heat only from behind.
Santos gives two figures for its output. The description text says 3.5 kW, the data table and manual say 4 kW (291 g/h). The sum in the manual speaks for 4 kW: 12 kW main burners, 4.5 kW side burner and 4 kW rear burner add up exactly to the 20.5 kW total heat input stated there. With 3.5 kW it would be 20 kW. We consider 4 kW the more reliable value.
The burner itself is made of stainless steel and has a stainless steel cover that you can hang in and remove, according to Santos even while the rear burner is running. After the click, you hold its knob pressed for at least 5 seconds. It is intended for an electric rotisserie spit. None is included; at least none appears in the documented scope of delivery. Santos sells a separate “Magnetic rotisserie spit” for S-401, S-410 and S-418 for €89.90.
In detail: 12 kW on 76 centimetres, direct and indirect
If you divide 12,000 W by the stated 3209 cm², you get around 3.7 W per square centimetre. For the larger S-518 Pro, with 15 kW on 4038 cm², it is likewise around 3.7 W, and for the Rösle Videro G4-S Vario+, with 14 kW on 3,150 cm², around 4.4 W. A power density is not a temperature. How hot the grate gets also depends on how tightly the lid and chamber close and how much heat the grates store. It does show, however, that the S-418 Pro does not fire its area harder than its big brother.
The split is more interesting. Four individually adjustable burners on 76 cm work out arithmetically at 19 cm of width per burner. For indirect grilling, the manual describes a fixed scheme: lid closed, the two outer burners on the lowest setting, the others off, 160 °C at most. The food then sits above the two middle burners, so on roughly 38 x 43 cm. In our assessment, a large roast or a chicken fits there with room at the sides. According to the manual, indirect grilling also works on the extended warming rack. How the two zones work together is explained in our guide to direct and indirect heat.
For direct grilling, Santos specifies preheating times. For meat, at most 5 minutes on the highest setting with the lid closed; for thin pieces around 2 to 3 minutes; for fish and vegetables at most 2 to 3 minutes. In addition there is a hard limit, quoted here verbatim from the manual: “Never operate the appliance for longer than 15 minutes at the highest burner setting. Then open the lid or turn the gas controls to the lowest burner setting.” According to the manual, brief flare-ups from dripping fat are to be accepted to a certain extent.
With the infrared side burner, the gas burns on the surface of a perforated ceramic plate. The ceramic glows and gives off its heat mainly as radiation, which is why such burners reach high surface temperatures on a small area. On the 891 cm² there are 4.5 kW, so a good 5 W per square centimetre, clearly more than on the main grate.
On the material: type 430 is a ferritic chromium steel with around 17 percent chromium and no nickel. It is magnetic and less resistant to corrosion than the common type 304 (1.4301). Surface rust and temper colours are more likely to appear on 430, especially if the grill is stored damp. Cast iron stores more heat than thin stainless steel bars, but rusts when bare, wet and without a film of fat.
These three alternatives are worth a look
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANTOS S-418 Pro (this one) | 4 burners, rear burner, infrared side burner with 4.5 kW | approx. €999 | 8.4 | you want a rotisserie spit and searing in one appliance and can accommodate 154 cm of width |
| SANTOS S-518 Pro | 5 main burners on 43 x 95 cm, 173 cm wide | approx. €999 | 8.5 | you often grill for large groups and have 19 cm more room |
| Rösle Videro G4-S Vario+ | Infrared prime zone plus gas hob, no rear burner | approx. €849 | 9.2 | you do not need a rotisserie spit but want to cook a pot next to the grate |
| Broil King Regal 590 | 5 dual-tube burners with 16 kW, rear burner with 4.4 kW | approx. €1,649 | 9.4 | you want more cooking area and can spend around €650 more |
The prices are guide values from our price boxes and change. The rating is our editorial assessment based on manufacturer data; we have not measured anything.
When the S-418 Pro fits and when another grill does
Santos rates the S-418 Pro for 8 to 12 people. We would plan with the lower number, because the warming rack is meant for topping up and keeping food warm, not as a second main grate.
The placement is the second question. With both side shelves, the grill needs 154 cm of width, and 80 cm of depth to open the lid. The minimum clearance to anything that can burn, which the manual prescribes (see the setup section below), weighs more heavily. On a city balcony it can hardly be met.
Then the S-518 Pro. In our site’s data it likewise costs approx. €999, has five main burners with 3.00 kW each on 43 x 95 cm according to Santos, and also a rear burner and an infrared side burner. At 173 cm, however, it is 19 cm wider and, according to the shop, weighs 104 kg, 13 kg more than the S-418 Pro according to the shop’s figure. At the same price, the main argument for the S-418 Pro is therefore space. There is one exception: in All Black Matt, Santos charges approx. €1,299 for the S-518 Pro, while the S-418 Pro costs €300 less in this colour.
The Rösle Videro G4-S Vario+ is at approx. €849, €150 below the S-418 Pro. Rösle gives it four main burners with 3.5 kW each on 70 x 45 cm, an infrared prime zone with 3.5 kW in the side table and next to it a side burner with 3.0 kW for pots. Only the G4-SB variant has a rear burner. Anyone who never wants to turn a spit therefore saves money and gets an additional cooking zone.
The Broil King Regal 590 costs approx. €1,649, €650 more. For that you get, according to the manufacturer, five stainless steel dual-tube burners with 16 kW, a rear burner with 4.4 kW and a 2.7 kW side cooking plate instead of an infrared burner.
Include the accessories in your budget: approx. €999 for the grill, €99.90 for the Santos cover and €89.90 for the rotisserie spit add up to €1,188.80, without a gas bottle. We would only pay the premium for TST if the continuous stainless steel cooking chamber and the 1.2 mm flame tamers are worth the difference to you.
Gas, accessories and warranty
The grill is built for gas category I3B/P(50), so for 50 mbar. According to the manual, butane, propane or a mixture of the two work; the shop table lists propane in the 11 kg bottle. A 50 mbar pressure regulator is included. If you replace it, Santos requires a low-pressure regulator to EN 16129 with 1.5 kg/h, bottle connection IG 7/16-28 UNEF and hose connection G 1/4 LH-KN, plus a hose line for PS 10 bar of no more than 1.5 m in length. The manual lists bottles of 5, 8 or 11 kg, and the bottle may stand in the base cabinet while grilling. The nozzles measure 0.73 mm on the main burners, 0.85 mm on the rear burner and 0.90 mm on the side burner. Which bottle suits what is covered in the guide Gas bottle for the grill.
On consumption there are only nominal values. Each main burner draws approx. 218 g/h at full output, the side burner approx. 327 g/h, the rear burner 291 g/h, all together 1491 g/h. You never reach this total, because the rear burner must not run with the main burners. At most the four main burners plus the side burner can run at the same time, around 1199 g/h. With the four main burners alone (approx. 872 g/h), an 11 kg bottle lasts 12.6 hours at full load by calculation. Since the manual limits full load to 15 minutes at a stretch, this is only the calculated lower limit. According to the manual, you replace the pressure regulator and hose after 10 years at the latest; the hose carries a rating plate with an expiry date from the factory. A quiet humming of the pressure regulator is normal according to Santos.
For accessories, Santos lists on the product page the cover, the cast iron insert pan for €105.90, a stainless steel XXL plancha for 400 and 500 models for €169.90, a wind shield for the side burner for €54.90 and the stainless steel BBQ Cart Pro for €499.00. As a replacement grate, Santos lists a “Stainless steel cast grate for SANTOS S-401 & Pro series” for €99.90. Anyone using a plancha or pan must follow four rules from the manual: never cover the entire cooking area with pans, leave at least one grill grate in the grill when using a steak plate, operate the burner under a steak plate or stainless steel pan only on the lowest setting, and keep at least 2 cm distance from all side walls.
The Pro series warranty is only available after registration and is graded by component: stainless steel hood and porcelain-enamelled hood 15 years each, stainless steel tube burners and stainless steel flame tamers 5 years each, ceramic infrared burner 5 years (without protection), all other parts 2 years. The 15 years for grill grates apply to stainless steel grates according to the table. There is no separate line for cast grates; they would probably fall under the 2 years. In a warranty case, Santos supplies a replacement part if a part rusts through or burns through; after the first year Santos may instead refund the material price, and the warranty does not cover labour and installation costs. You must provide proof of purchase, model designation and serial number. Excluded are improper operation, poor maintenance, grease fire, environmental influences, accidents and modifications, as well as scratches, dents, paint damage, coatings, corrosion or discolouration from heat or cleaning agents. Replacement parts from other manufacturers end the warranty.
Setup, cleaning and safety
For the location, the manual gives these rules, quoted here verbatim: “Use the appliance only outdoors in a well-ventilated place. The appliance must never be operated in enclosed spaces.” “Do not use the appliance in a depression, as escaping gas can collect there.” “Do not operate the appliance in rain or strong wind.” “Always set up the appliance on firm, level ground.” “Do not permanently install or enclose the appliance.” “Always keep a minimum distance of 3 m on all sides of the appliance from flammable objects and structures.” The manual mentions a balcony neither as permitted nor as prohibited. What this means for balconies and house rules is covered in the guide Grilling on a balcony.
Before every use, Santos requires a complete gas leak test. For this the grill must be fully assembled and the bottle full. You mix washing-up liquid and water in equal parts in a spray bottle (leak detection spray also works), set all knobs to OFF, open the bottle valve slowly and spray all connections from the bottle to the pipe leading to the burners. Where bubbles form, there is a leak: close the valve, tighten the fitting, repeat until no more bubbles appear. If a leak cannot be fixed this way, you must not use the grill and should contact customer service. Smoking is prohibited during this, as is testing with an open flame.
Before lighting, you open the lid and clear the base cabinet of anything flammable or heat-sensitive. Lighters and accelerants are prohibited for lighting, and you do not lean over the appliance while doing so.
Cleaning is done after every use, because old grease can cause corrosion through its fatty acids according to the manual. Beforehand the grill cools down completely, you switch it off, close the gas valve and remove the bottle. The manual’s sequence: burn off for 15 minutes with the lid closed (this also applies before the first grilling), then clean the fixed housing parts, grates and removable parts and the interior, the grease tray especially thoroughly, loosen stubborn residues with a scraper and a fibre or brass brush, clean the burners with a soft brush or compressed air and a soft cloth, and the lid with kitchen paper. Then dry everything well and let it dry open, rub the cast grates thinly with sunflower or rapeseed oil (no acidic oil such as olive oil) and let the interior dry completely before the grill runs again.
There are also prohibitions. For the grates, the manual allows only brass or silicone brushes, and never a wire brush in the interior. Water hose, pressure washer, dishwasher and chlorine-containing cleaners are excluded. Santos also wants only SANTOS care and cleaning products to be used, and excludes liability for damage and discolouration from other cleaning agents. You should know about one contradiction: in one place the manual prohibits brushes with metal or nylon bristles, in another it prescribes brass or silicone brushes for the grates. We would follow the grate-specific instruction and use a brass or silicone brush for the cast grates, and no metal bristles in the interior. More on this in the guide Cleaning a gas grill.
After grilling, you disconnect the bottle from the appliance, never store it in enclosed spaces and cover the grill with a suitable cover, in a dry place protected from the weather.
Who is it suitable for?
The manual clearly limits its use. The grill is intended only for grilling and for food suitable for grilling, for private use or household-like use; any other use is considered not as intended, and it is not a children’s toy. Anyone who wants to equip a snack stand or catering is wrong here.
In our comparison, the S-418 Pro suits you if you have a garden or a large patio, occasionally want to turn a chicken on a spit and sear steaks on the side burner, and have no room for the 19 cm of width of the S-518 Pro. It is less suited to second-hand buyers: the manufacturer warranty applies only to the first buyer and is not transferable. If you are still unsure which grill size suits your household, the Grill Finder helps.
