What the S-518 PRO is and what it costs
The S-518 PRO is the largest model of the S-Series Pro from Santos Grills, a GmbH based on Hafenstraße in Cologne. According to the operating manual, it is built in China. On the main area work five stainless steel tube burners, behind them sits a rear burner for the rotisserie spit, and next to it an infrared side burner with a ceramic honeycomb.
It is available in three versions: Black, Stainless Steel and All Black Matt. Black and Stainless Steel cost approx. €999 at Santos Grills (on 02.11.2026: €999.00), All Black Matt is above that. Santos presented the Stainless Steel version as a new version in the Santos magazine on 05.08.2025.
The grill is built for three ways of cooking that you want to combine in one evening: direct over five separately adjustable zones, indirect with only the outer burners, and searing on the side burner. The rotisserie spit over the rear burner comes on top, though with a restriction you should know about before buying (more on this in detail below). Where it stands in the rest of the field is shown in our overview of gas grills compared.
Construction, material and set-up dimensions
The grill tub, cooking chamber, control panel and side shelves are made of stainless steel, according to the product page of type 430. That is a ferritic chromium steel without nickel; in principle it is magnetic and less corrosion-resistant than the austenitic grades such as 304, which are also used in grills. The side walls of the lid, cooking chamber and side shelves are made of die-cast aluminium. The lid is tall, double-walled and black enamelled, with the thermometer inside it. For thermal insulation, Santos points to extended side panels of the cooking chamber and a reduced rear lid gap.
Five cast grates with V-shaped bars lie on the burners. According to Santos, the pointed side is meant for branding, the flat, grooved side for small food. Above hangs a three-part stainless steel warming rack that you extend from 14 to 24 and up to 33.5 cm depth.
The control knobs glow blue when they are off and red when they are on. The manual makes clear, however: the lighting only shows the knob position, not whether gas is flowing or a flame is burning. It can be switched off with a light button. Each main burner has its own piezo ignition; the side and rear burners ignite electronically via a battery. According to the data sheet, the grill has no cooking chamber lighting.
The base cabinet holds two pull-out stainless steel wire baskets and a bottle holder with a square footprint for bottles up to 11 kg. On the outside right hangs a hanging basket, and there are hooks on the side shelves. On the Black version, the base cart is made of black powder-coated stainless steel on the bottom, side panels and outer door surfaces. It stands on four large castors with PVC covering, all with locking brakes.
Assembled, the S-518 PRO measures 173 x 119 x 64 cm (width x height x depth); the manual arrives at the same with 1737 x 629 x 1202 mm. With the lid open it grows to 152 cm in height and 78 cm in depth; with a side shelf folded down, the width shrinks to 152 cm. On weight, Santos contradicts itself: 104 kg on the product page, approx. 85 kg in the manual. For transport, the manual recommends two people and protective gloves; the carton measures 64 x 113 x 60.5 cm.
Several things remain open in Santos’s documents: the heat-up time in minutes (Santos only speaks of short heat-up times), the maximum temperature of the main chamber, the measuring range of the lid thermometer, material thickness and finish of the cast grates, the thickness of the stainless steel burner covers and an assembly time. Santos does not state a sheet thickness for the burner covers.
In detail: 23.5 kW on paper, but never all burners at once
According to the manual, the total heat input of 23.5 kW is made up of five main burners with 3 kW each, the side burner with 4.5 kW and the rear burner with 4 kW. The running text of the product page gives 3.5 kW for the rear burner; the table and manual give 4 kW. Only with 4 kW does the sum add up, which is why we consider this value the correct one.
What does that mean for the main area? The 15 kW of the main burners are spread over 4038 cm², which is around 3.7 watts per square centimetre. The smaller S-418 Pro, with four burners of 3 kW each on 3209 cm², likewise comes to around 3.7 watts. The S-518 PRO is therefore not more powerful per area, only wider. How hot it gets under the lid depends, besides output, on insulation and lid gap, and Santos provides no measured values for that.
The most important sentence on the rear burner is in section 4.2.3 of the manual: it must not be used together with the main burners, and the warming rack comes out beforehand. A rotisserie spit and steaks on the grate at the same time are therefore ruled out.
The side burner works differently from the tube burners. There the gas burns on a ceramic honeycomb with many fine openings; the honeycomb glows and gives off its heat mainly as radiation directly to the food, instead of first heating the air under a lid. Santos states up to 800 °C at the honeycomb at 4.5 kW. The area measures 27 x 33 cm, so 891 cm²; the grate above it is made of stainless steel and height-adjustable so you can choose the distance to the heat. It also works as a cooking zone: the manual allows cookware with a diameter of 20 to 26 cm there.
When lighting, the three burner types differ. After the click, you hold the main burner pressed for 2 seconds, the rear burner for at least 5, the side burner for at least 10 seconds. You light the main burners from left to right.
Is the S-518 PRO enough for 20 guests?
Santos gives two figures. In the running text of the product page it is up to 20 people, in the data table of the same page 10 to 15. We plan with the smaller number because it is the more cautious one and because the manufacturer shows no calculation behind either.
The table gives the main cooking area as 4038 cm², with 43 x 95 cm as the dimensions. That would be 4085 cm². The highlights list gives 95 x 42.5 cm, and that is exactly what gives 4038. Santos quantifies the extended warming rack at 33.5 x 96.5 cm, so 3232.75 cm². That is a shelf above the heat, not a second cooking area directly over the flame.
For indirect grilling, the manual’s rule is: lid closed, not above 160 °C, outer burners on the lowest setting, the others off. According to Santos, this also works on the extended warming rack. Anyone who wants to serve a large group with roast and vegetables at the same time thus has an area in the middle without a direct flame.
With pans and plates the manual is strict. You never cover the whole area, with a steak plate at least one grill grate stays in the grill, the burner underneath runs only on the lowest setting, and 2 cm distance remains to the side walls. Santos sells a stainless steel XXL plancha for the 400 and 500 models of the S-Series Pro. Whether the size suits your parties, you can run against your number of people in the Grill Finder.
Gas, consumption and running costs
The grill runs on propane, butane or a mixture of both, gas category I3B/P(50), connection pressure 50 mbar. Hose and pressure regulator are included; according to the scope of delivery, a gas bottle is not. For replacement, the manual prescribes a low-pressure regulator to EN16129 with 50 mbar outlet pressure and 1.5 kg/h capacity, plus a medium-pressure hose line of no more than 1.5 m. You replace the pressure regulator and hose according to manufacturer information or national regulations, after 10 years at the latest, and the hose additionally before the expiry date on its rating plate. The injectors are 0.73 mm (main burners), 0.85 mm (rear burner) and 0.90 mm (side burner).
The manual gives consumption per burner: approx. 218 g/h per main burner, approx. 327 g/h for the side burner, 291 g/h for the rear burner, 1709 g/h together. This total never occurs in operation because the rear burner must not run with the main burners. Our calculation: five main burners plus side burner at full setting give approx. 1417 g/h and thus stay below the 1.5 kg/h of the prescribed regulator.
How long does an 11 kg bottle last? If only the five main burners run at full output, that is approx. 1090 g/h, and the bottle would be empty after around 10 hours. That is a lower limit from our own calculation. The manual allows the highest setting with the lid closed for only 15 minutes at a stretch anyway, after which you open the lid or turn down. In everyday use the grill therefore runs below full load, and the bottle lasts correspondingly longer. What else to consider when choosing a bottle is in our guide on the Gas bottle for the grill.
Santos lists spare parts individually in the shop, for the S-518 including the hood, doors, grease tray, cast grate, rear burner cover, infrared burner and base plate. A cast grate for the S-518 is also available individually there. As accessories there is a rotisserie spit for the S-518, a wind shield for the side burner and the BBQ Cart Pro, all available individually in the Santos shop.
Warranty: what the 15 years really cover
The Pro series warranty applies only after registration with email address, name and device number. The number is on the inside of the door or on the underside of the control panel. Santos grades it by component: 15 years on the stainless steel hood, the porcelain-enamelled hood and stainless steel grill grates, 5 years on stainless steel tube burners, stainless steel flame tamers and the ceramic infrared burner (without protection), 2 years on all other parts.
Here is a gap that can affect you. The S-518 PRO has cast grates, but the list speaks of stainless steel grill grates and does not list cast iron separately. Whether the grates fall under the 15 or the 2 years, we would clarify in writing with customer service before buying.
The warranty applies in the EU and Switzerland, only to the first buyer, and is not transferable. For a claim you need the proof of purchase as well as model designation and serial number. Excluded are damage from improper operation, poor maintenance, grease fire, environmental influences, accidents, modifications and replacement parts from other manufacturers, as well as scratches, dents, paint damage, corrosion and discolouration. After the first year, Santos may discharge its obligation by refunding the material price of the part. Separately, you have two years of statutory warranty from handover, against the retailer.
Cleaning, care and safety according to the manual
Before first grilling, you remove the protective film with a soft sponge and hot soapy water. Before every use, the manual requires a complete gas leak test: appliance assembled, bottle full, all knobs OFF, open the valve slowly, spray the connections with soapy water (washing-up liquid and water 1:1) or leak detection spray. If bubbles form, the spot is leaking; you tighten and test again. During this you do not smoke and never test with an open flame. If you cannot get a leak sealed, the grill stays off and you contact customer service.
Before lighting, you open the lid, because there is a risk of explosion with the lid closed. Lighters and accelerants are taboo, and the base cabinet stays free of anything flammable. You never line the bottom of the grill tray with aluminium foil, sand or a grease-absorbing substance. Before first use and after every use, you burn off the grill: all main burners on the highest setting, 15 minutes, lid closed.
The set-up rules are in section 2.2 of the manual, and in full they are: only outdoors in a well-ventilated place, never in enclosed spaces, not in a depression because escaping gas can collect there, not in rain or strong wind, always on firm, level ground, do not permanently install and do not enclose. On all sides you keep 3 m distance from flammable objects and structures. During operation you do not move the grill and never leave it unattended, and a suitable fire extinguisher stands ready.
Only the cooled-down grill is cleaned, switched off, with the valve closed and the bottle removed. The manual prohibits aggressive cleaning agents, brushes with metal or nylon bristles, knives and metal sponges. For the grates it allows only brass or silicone brushes, no wire brush in the interior, no dishwasher, no water hose and no pressure washer. In step 11 on cast grate care, it deviates by also naming nylon alongside silicone and brass; we stick to the prohibition above. After every use, you rub the cast grates thinly with sunflower or rapeseed oil, no acidic oil such as olive oil, and store them dry.
For stainless steel surfaces, Santos allows only ferrite-free scouring sponges and ferrite-free steel wool, chlorine-containing cleaners are prohibited, followed by an oil-based stainless steel care product, inside only food-safe oils. The manufacturer excludes liability for damage from care products other than SANTOS ones. Before storage, parts and grill dry open for at least 8 hours. According to the manual, the grill spends the winter in a dry, closed room, rubbed with stainless steel care product; the gas bottle is never stored in enclosed spaces and never where it can get warmer than 50 °C. More on the procedure is in our guide Cleaning a gas grill.
These three alternatives are worth a look
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANTOS S-518 PRO (this one) | 5 main burners, 4038 cm², infrared side burner up to 800 °C | approx. €999 | 8.5 | you want to sear and cook indirectly for large groups |
| SANTOS S-418 Pro | 4 main burners, 3209 cm², 154 instead of 173 cm wide | approx. €999 | 8.4 | you mostly grill for 8 to 12 people or are short of 19 cm of space |
| Broil King Crown 590 | 13.2 kW on 3411 cm², rotisserie set with motor included, side cooking plate instead of infrared | approx. €967 | 9.0 | you want to buy the rotisserie spit straight away and can do without the 800 °C zone |
| Broil King Regal 590 | 16 kW on 4032 cm², rotisserie set with motor included, no infrared side burner mentioned | approx. €1,649 | 9.4 | you want an equally large area with a factory rotisserie spit and have the budget for it |
The prices are guide values at Santos Grills as of the stated date and can change at any time. The rating is our editorial assessment from the data comparison; nobody has measured it.
When the S-518 PRO fits and when another grill does
For the placement, plan for more than the 173 cm width, because the 3 m clearance to flammable objects applies on all sides. Our assessment: on a typical balcony with a house wall, awning or wooden decking this can hardly be met. Santos does not state any balcony approval, and for rented flats the house rules come on top.
Anyone planning a masonry outdoor kitchen is wrong with this model, because the manual prohibits permanent installation and enclosing. For that, Santos offers the Free S-510 Pro as a built-in grill, likewise with five main burners of 3 kW each and a rear burner; it costs approx. €899 at Santos Grills and thus €100 less than the S-518 PRO.
For the rotisserie spit, look at the scope of delivery. With the S-518 PRO you buy it separately, and while it runs, the main burners stay off. Broil King includes a rotisserie set with an electric motor with the Crown 590; the Crown 590 costs approx. €967 at Santos Grills, so €32 below the S-518 PRO. For the Crown 590 as well, its manual says: rear burner and main burners not at the same time.
Anyone who wants to sear steaks with very high radiant heat finds the infrared honeycomb here only on the two Santos models (S-518 PRO and S-418 Pro); the two Broil King models have a 2.7 kW side cooking plate there. At approx. €1,649, the Regal 590 costs €650 more than the S-518 PRO and brings 16 kW main output and the rotisserie spit from the factory in return.
If you mostly grill for eight to twelve people, we would pick the S-418 Pro. In Black it currently costs the same, is 19 cm narrower and, as calculated above, has the same output per square centimetre. Anyone who rarely grills for more than six people and has no garden with room for 3 m clearance is poorly advised with a grill of this width.
