Best Charcoal Grills (2026): 6 Kettle and Kamado Grills for Searing and Smoking
Six charcoal grills compared on type, size and material, plus how to set up two-zone fires and when a kamado is worth it.
Best overall: Weber Kettle Premium. Best kamado: Kamado Joe Classic. Best value kamado: Char-Griller AKORN. Best portable: Kamado Joe Jr..
Charcoal gives the smoky crust gas grills cannot match. The right grill depends on whether you mostly grill fast or also want to smoke low and slow.
For most backyards, the Weber Original Kettle Premium: simple, affordable and easy to clean. Upgrade to the Kamado Joe Classic to grill, smoke and bake on one ceramic cooker, try the AKORN for kamado cooking on a budget or pick the Smokey Mountain for smoking.
A good probe thermometer matters as much as the grill.
Quick Picks: The Best Charcoal Grills
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Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill (22-Inch)
The classic kettle with easier ash cleanup and a hinged grate for adding coals.
Check Weber Kettle Premium Price →Kamado Joe Classic Joe Ceramic Grill (18-Inch)
A thick-walled ceramic kamado that holds steady heat for searing, smoking and baking.
Check Kamado Joe Classic Price →Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill
Kamado-style cooking in insulated steel, at a fraction of ceramic prices.
Check Char-Griller AKORN Price →Kamado Joe Jr. Portable Ceramic Grill (13.5-Inch)
A small ceramic kamado for patios, tailgates and two to four people.
Check Kamado Joe Jr. Price →Charcoal Grill Comparison Chart
All six side by side. Tap any name to see today’s price on Amazon.
| Charcoal grill | Type | Size | Body | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill (22-Inch) | Kettle | 22 in | Steel | $$ |
| Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill (22-Inch) | Kettle | 22 in | Steel | $$ |
| Kamado Joe Classic Joe Ceramic Grill (18-Inch) | Ceramic kamado | 18 in | Cart included | $$$$ |
| Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill | Insulated steel | Kamado shape | Cart included | $$ |
| Kamado Joe Jr. Portable Ceramic Grill (13.5-Inch) | Ceramic kamado | 13.5 in | Portable stand | $$ |
| Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch Charcoal Smoker | Bullet smoker | 18 in | Two grates | $$$ |
Specs as stated by each brand. Price tiers are a rough guide and change often, especially around Black Friday: $$ under $300 · $$$ $300–700 · $$$$ over $700.
The 6 Best Charcoal Grills, Reviewed
Kettles, kamados and a bullet smoker, each with its strengths for searing and smoking.
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill (22-Inch)
The Weber Kettle is the charcoal grill most backyard cooks learn on, and the Premium version adds the upgrades that matter: a high-capacity ash catcher, a hinged grate for adding coals mid-cook and a lid thermometer. It grills burgers hot and fast and can smoke chicken low and slow.
- Proven, simple design
- Easy ash cleanup
- Grills and smokes
- Thin walls lose heat in wind
- Fewer extras than larger carts
Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill (22-Inch)
The Master-Touch builds on the classic kettle with a removable center grate that accepts inserts such as a sear grate or a griddle, plus baskets that keep coals to one side for two-zone cooking. It suits grillers who already love the kettle and want more control.
- Two-zone setup made easy
- Insert-ready grate
- Same reliable kettle
- Inserts sold separately
- More to clean than the basic kettle
Kamado Joe Classic Joe Ceramic Grill (18-Inch)
Ceramic kamados hold heat like a pizza oven, so they sear at high heat, smoke brisket for hours on one load of charcoal and even bake bread. Kamado Joe’s Classic adds a multi-level grate system and a hinge that makes the heavy lid easy to lift. It is a big investment that can replace a smoker.
- Holds steady heat for hours
- Grill, smoke and bake
- Very fuel efficient
- High price
- Very heavy
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill
The AKORN gives you the kamado shape and much of its heat-holding ability with insulated steel instead of ceramic. It costs far less, weighs much less and still handles low and slow smoking or high-heat searing. Expect a shorter life than ceramic and more care with rust.
- Kamado cooking for less
- Lighter than ceramic
- Good heat control
- Steel can rust
- Shorter life than ceramic
Kamado Joe Jr. Portable Ceramic Grill (13.5-Inch)
The Kamado Joe Jr. shrinks the ceramic kamado down to a size that fits a small patio. It still holds heat for hours, so you can smoke a chicken or sear steaks for a small family. At around 70 pounds it is portable in a car rather than in one hand.
- Ceramic heat in a small size
- Smokes and sears
- Fits small patios
- Small grate
- Still heavy to carry
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch Charcoal Smoker
If smoking is the main goal, the Weber Smokey Mountain is a long-time favorite. Two grates hold a brisket and chickens at once, the water pan keeps the heat low and steady, and the side door lets you add charcoal without lifting the lid. It is a smoker first, not a searing grill.
- Steady low temperatures
- Two cooking levels
- Simple to run
- Not built for searing
- Takes practice to tune vents
Kettle, Kamado or Smoker?
Kettle
Light, affordable and easy to learn. Great for grilling, good for smoking with practice.
Kamado
Thick walls hold heat for hours. Grills, smokes and bakes on very little charcoal.
Bullet smoker
Built for long, low cooks like brisket and whole chickens. Not for searing.
Weighing other fuels? Compare the top pellet grills and the best outdoor griddles, or read griddle versus grill.
Charcoal Fire Setups That Work
| Setup | How and when to use it |
|---|---|
| Two-zone | Coals on one side, empty on the other. Sear over the coals, finish chicken and roasts on the cool side |
| Direct high heat | Coals spread under the whole grate for burgers, kebabs and thin steaks |
| Snake method | A line of briquettes around the kettle edge for 6 to 8 hours of low smoking |
| Kamado low and slow | A full basket of lump charcoal with a heat deflector, held at 225 to 250°F |
| Kamado high heat | Vents wide open for pizza and searing at 600°F and above |
Use a chimney starter instead of lighter fluid for cleaner flavor.
How to Choose a Charcoal Grill
Six things to check before you buy.
Kettle, kamado or smoker
Kettles grill best for the money; kamados do everything; smokers excel at low and slow.
18 to 22 inches
A 22-inch grate feeds most families; 13 to 15 inches suits two to four people.
Ceramic or steel
Ceramic holds heat longest; insulated steel is lighter and cheaper.
Good dampers
Top and bottom vents are how you control charcoal temperature.
Ash catcher
A removable ash pan makes the weekly clean much easier.
Shelves and wheels
Side tables and a cart make heavy kamados easier to use.
Gear up the griller: see the best tongs, the best outdoor pizza ovens and these gifts for grill-loving dads.
Charcoal Grill FAQs
What is the best charcoal grill?▼
The Weber Original Kettle Premium for most people: simple, affordable and easy to clean.
Is a kamado grill worth it?▼
Yes if you also smoke and bake. It holds steady heat for hours on little charcoal, but it costs more and is heavy.
Kettle or kamado: which is better?▼
A kettle is better value for grilling; a kamado is better for long smokes, pizza and steady temperatures.
Is ceramic better than steel for a kamado?▼
Ceramic holds heat longer and lasts for years; insulated steel is lighter and much cheaper.
Lump charcoal or briquettes?▼
Lump burns hotter and leaves less ash; briquettes burn longer and more evenly.
How do you light a charcoal grill without lighter fluid?▼
Use a chimney starter with newspaper or fire starters underneath.
How do you control charcoal grill temperature?▼
With the vents. Open them for more heat and close them partly to cool it down.
What is a two-zone fire?▼
Coals on one side and none on the other, so you can sear hot and finish food gently.
Can you smoke meat on a charcoal kettle?▼
Yes. Use a two-zone or snake setup with wood chunks on the coals.
How long does charcoal take to get ready?▼
About 15 to 20 minutes in a chimney, until the top coals are covered in gray ash.
How often should you clean a charcoal grill?▼
Empty the ash after each cook once cold and brush the grates while hot.
What size charcoal grill do I need?▼
22 inches for most families; smaller portable grills suit two to four people.
The Bottom Line
- Best overall: Weber Kettle Premium; upgrade: Weber Master-Touch.
- Kamado: Kamado Joe Classic; value kamado: Char-Griller AKORN.
- Portable: Kamado Joe Jr..
- Smoking: Weber Smokey Mountain.
Learn your vents and a two-zone fire, and any good charcoal grill will cook well. A probe thermometer takes the guesswork out.