A barbecue is a great way to make the most of your garden or patio during the summer months.

There are so many styles to choose from, whether it's a gas barbecue, charcoal barbecue, a firepit or brazier, a masonry barbecue, portable barbecue or chiminea.

Read on to find the one that best fits your way of life.

When choosing a barbecue, ask yourself:

• How much do I want to spend?
• What style of barbecue suits me?
• How many people will I have to cater for?
• What additional features do I want?

Use this handy table to calculate the size of barbecue you'll need:

These usually run on propane gas (also called 'bottled gas' or 'patio' gas), supplied in a red cylinder. When you first purchase a cylinder, it's usual to pay a hire charge or deposit for the cylinder as well as for the gas. From then on, you just pay for the gas.

Gas barbecues are simple to use and quick to light with push-button ignition, you can start to cook in about 10 minutes.

Flavouriser bars sit above the burners and under the grill top. Juices and fat from cooking meat drip onto the flavouriser bars, vaporising into smoke that flavours the food. They also aid the distribution of heat and help avoid flare-ups.

There's no charcoal to dispose of, and flavouriser bars - unlike lava rock - don't need cleaning.

Some gas barbecues feature multiple burners - great if you want to cook different foods at different temperatures. The more burners your barbecue has, the quicker it will use gas - and larger gas cylinders are available to purchase.

Heat output is measured in Kilowatts (kW), and ranges from 8.2 - 15.5kW. Models with adjustable heat give you better results.

Benefits include:

Heat at the touch of a button
Multiple burner models give you greater cooking versatility
Side burners and warming racks let you cater more easily for more people
Cleaning is easy, and no ash is produced.

Charcoal is ready to cook on when it's white hot - and it usually takes about 45 minutes to reach this temperature. Different types of charcoal include:

Heat adjustment on these traditional barbecues is made by raising or lowering the grill. Kettle barbecues have lids that enclose the cooking area, for a roasted or braised result. Other models have lids that double as windshields - to keep the smoke out of your eyes.

Benefits include:

Food gets a distinctive flame grilled appearance
Portable versions can be taken anywhere
Ash from untreated charcoal can be recycled as garden compost.

A great focal point and a source of warmth, firepits and braziers can help to bring a garden or patio to life. Some models have a removable barbecue grill plate; always check that a plate or grill is included if you want to barbecue food. Otherwise, get yourself a long toasting fork!

Warning - although the experience of a real fire is great for creating atmosphere, it is not recommended for homes with young children or pets.
An open fire should be supervised at all times.

Are made from stone, terracotta or moulded composite materials and often combined with stainless steel or - in high end models - copper.

These semi-permanent barbecues act as a patio heater, garden focal point and a firepit. They can usually burn several different types of fuel, which is great if you want to start with a barbecue cooked over charcoal then move to sitting around a log fire.

Some models have space for fuel storage below the cooking area, and include shelving for food or utensils.

The grill height is adjustable, while smoke is channelled through a chimney, keeping it out of the way.

Benefits include:

Versatile, they can be used for heating and cooking
Robust with year-long use, they do not have to be taken inside over the winter
A range of designs from traditional to contemporary will fit with any garden or patio.

Compact, lightweight and convenient, you can take these anywhere. Ideal for day trips or camping, they're quick to set up and easy to dismantle when you've finished.

Variations in design include barrel grills, bucket barbecues, suitcase-style openers and drum or kettle shapes. Some include wheels, fold-open table features, integrated thermometers and utensil storage space. Others are more simple, with space for charcoal and a grill to cook on.

Portable barbecues are available as charcoal or gas burners

Benefits include:

Will go where you do for the taste of home cooking wherever you go.

Here are some other features to consider when buying a barbecue: