Table of Content for Best Charcoal Grills
Best Charcoal Grills of 2021
Charcoal grills are portable, user-friendly, and efficient and provide the best grilling experience with the slow-cooking technique, charcoal, and burning fire. It’s, therefore, difficult for any barbecue lover to resist the beauty of the fabulous aroma from one of these appliances. If you’re out for one, make your shopping easier by choosing from the following 15 best charcoal grills:
Best Charcoal Grill Name | Dimensions | Item Weight |
---|---|---|
1. Weber Charcoal Grill | 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 Inches | 3.3 Pounds |
2. Weber Jumbo Charcoal Grill | 19.75 x 20.5 x 19.75 Inches | 18 Pounds |
3. Weber 10020 Portable Grill | 14.2 x 14.5 x 17 Inches | 9.5 Pounds |
4. Lodge Sportsman’s Grill | 19 x 8.25 x 10.25 Inches | 27 Pounds |
5. Dyna-Glo DGN576SNC-D Charcoal Grill | 60.22 x 50.51 x 28.16 inches | 112 Pounds |
6. Royal Gourmet 30-inch Charcoal Grill | 55.1 x 27.2 x 48.4 Inches | 54.2 Pounds |
7. Char-Griller E16620 Charcoal Grill | 26.6 x 24.8 x 21.65 Inches | 90 Pounds |
8. Kamado Joe Charcoal Grill | 26.4 x 26.4 x 36 Inches | 250 Pounds |
9. Char-Broil Charcoal Grill | 29.9 x 27.4 x 14.8 Inches | 36 Pounds |
10. Char-Griller E1515 Charcoal Grill | 31 x 21 x 44 Inches | 50 Pounds |
11. Weber 15501001 Deluxe Grill | 30 x 48 x 43.5 Inches | 91 Pounds |
12. PK Grills Smoker Grill | 16 x 35 x 35.5 Inches | 45 Pounds |
13. Old Smokey Grill | No Info | No Info |
14. Char-Griller E1224 Grill | 62 x 29 x 50 Inches | 113 Pounds |
15. Weber 121020 Charcoal Grill | 12.2 x 21 x 14.5 Inches | 8.8 Pounds |
1. Weber 22-inch Charcoal Grill
Weber 22-inch Charcoal Grill is made from porcelain material and finished with black color. The appliance measures 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 inches and weighs about 32.3 pounds. It can hold up to thirteen burgers constructed with a burger press from Weber. The cooker comes with an inbuilt thermometer. It’s also equipped with rust-proof aluminum dampers.
The one-touch cleaning functionality with a high-capacity catcher for ash offers struggle-free ash cleanup. Additionally, the porcelain-enameled bowl and lid retain heat. The great thing about them is that are both peel and rust-resistant.
You can make use of the lid hook instead of placing it directly on the ground during the grilling exercise. Moreover, the cooking grate comes hinged to allow easy addition of charcoal while you grill. Lastly, the 3-dimensional interactive assembly user-instruction for the charcoal grill can be availed for free via the BILT app.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The Weber 22-inch Charcoal Grill is a perfect charcoal grill for grilling meals for a few or small family. It’s designed for convenience and ease of use. If you love these two features and you wish to buy them for that morning grill for your wife and kids, then let the small wheels not stop you!
2. Weber Jumbo Charcoal Grill
Weber Jumbo Charcoal Grill is another portable unit that you can’t resist the convenience that it offers. With this grill, you’ll be able to prepare a quick and delicious meal while on your yard or patio. It comes in a compact size but has a large grilling area with an ergonomic carry handle, which makes it an excellent unit for any spontaneous beach visit or weekend gateway.
The unit can hold up to 8 burgers made using a burger press from Weber. As mentioned, the compact and lightweight design of the unit allows for grilling anywhere. As you would expect considering the manufacturer, this unit comes with a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid that retain heat inside and don’t peel off or rust.
What’s more, the unit is equipped with a tuck-and-carry lid lock that serves as a lid holder so that you don’t need to place the lid directly on the ground. The unit’s dampers let you comfortable temperature control within the grill. Lastly, assembly is easy and the instructions are accessible via the BILT app for free.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Weber Jumbo Charcoal Grill is also perfect for on-the-go grilling. Its construction is aimed at providing convenience during grilling and to enable durability. This unit is a pocket-friendly one and anyone looking to own a charcoal grill can afford it. If you can deal with the cons mentioned above, then you don’t have anything else that should stop you from going for it.
3. Weber 10020 Portable Grill
Another unit from Weber, the Weber 10020 Portable Grill is also one for on-the-go grilling. This is made possible by the fact that the unit is durable, lightweight, and with a compact design. It’s the unit you need to make that road trip more enjoyable.
The unit is a “go-anywhere” appliance that’s suitable for cooking up chops, steaks, chicken, vegetables, or small roasts. It’s excellent for tailgate parties and picnics. The unit comes with three legs and an ash catch made of aluminum.
For that reason, this unit is durable thanks to the rust-resistant construction reinforced with a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl. You’ll just throw some charcoal inside and toss your food on the cooking grate made of plated steel for the perfect and deliciously tasting grilled meals.
Additionally, the Weber 10020 Portable Grill features rust-resistant vents to control airflow. It also has a one-glass reinforced handle made of Nylon so that you won’t get your hands burnt. It’s easy to assemble this unit. After the assembly, the unit measures 14.5 x 14.25 x 17 inches (L x W x H).
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This unit indeed has a small grilling space that won’t accommodate cooking for a large group of people. It doesn’t also come with a built-in thermometer to enable precise temperature control. However, it has an excellent grilling capacity. Besides, it’s an ideal on-the-go charcoal grill thanks to its compact and lightweight design. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced grill for your small-scale grilling, why not give it a try?
4. Lodge Sportsman’s Grill
Lodge Sportsman’s Grill is a rugged and hibachi-style unit. It’s the perfect grill for tailgating, picnics, patio, and car camping. The unit comes with a draft door that regulates the temperature inside in addition to flying or grilling.
You can carry this charcoal grill anywhere you want because it’s a self-contained unit for cooking meals. It features 2 adjustable heights and is seasoned as well as ready for use. The Lodge Sportsman’s Grill is constructed using cast-iron, which makes it sturdy and wonderful for patio or backyard barbecues.
What’s more, the unit is rugged enough to withstand the pressures of fishing and camping trips. It includes a wide grilling surface that accommodates a lot of whole fish or burgers and steaks enough for a few.
Additionally, the detachable draft door does a great job of regulating the heating and ensuring that your meals are warm always as you like them. You can also use this grill to heat some tea or coffee besides grilling.
There’s a second door with sunrise marsh scene decorations that opens to offer easy accessibility to the coals. The grill features an attached handle to ease carrying. The built-in shelf allows utensils to rest.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable unit, then this isn’t one of your considerations. That’s because it’s sold at a higher price than many others we have included here. Also, it’s a little weightier than some of the grills we have reviewed in this post. However, it has everything it takes to deliver the best grilling capacity whether on your patio, yard, and outdoors. If the price isn’t a problem, you should give it a shot.
5. Dyna-Glo DGN576SNC-D Charcoal Grill
Dyna-Glo DGN576SNC-D Charcoal Grill is a stylish and practical charcoal grill. It comes with a dual-chamber and stainless construction. The grill features a detachable firebox divider made of steel. The divider allows you to expand or divide the cooking area depending on the type and amount of food or the number of people you have.
Its 2 charcoal trays can adjust separately providing the flexibility needed with cooking heat when different foods need different temperatures simultaneously. The front firebox and lid are double-walled so that they can minimize the heat loss and enhance the burning efficiency of the charcoal. Additionally, the unit has a high-capacity ash collector and is detachable for easy and quick clean up.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Many features make this unit stand out from most of the charcoal grills we have included in this post. One, this appliance comes with dual cooking areas so that you can have a smooth grilling experience, especially if you’ll grilling two different food types at the same time. The unit is durable construction. Though the construction isn’t up to the standard of most units in this list, it’s worth the money. There’s also a large ash pan that will make it easier when it comes to cleaning and a built-in thermometer for precise temperature control. Honestly, considering all the pros, the cons can’t be enough to discourage you from buying it.
6. Royal Gourmet 30-inch Charcoal Grill
Royal Gourmet 30-inch Charcoal Grill is constructed using stainless steel, which enables it to withstand elements, whether grilling at your patio, yard, or in the backwoods. It’s measures 55.1 x 27.2 x 48.4 inches and weighs 54.2 pounds.
The unit provides you with 800 square inches of cooking area. It features porcelain-coated wiring grates made of steel and a warming rack that are chrome plated. There’s also an offset smoker included.
Additionally, the unit has a removable ash pan that lets you clean up it easily. The Royal Gourmet 30-inch Charcoal Grill is a traditional grill combined with an offsite smoker to allow dual style BBQ. You can use the offset smoker as a little grill. It’s recommended that you fuel the unit with lump charcoal and some wood chips to help in increasing flavor.
When you purchase this unit, you’ll get a smokestack, scald-resistant handle, and temperature gauge, access door sideway to tend the charcoal, temperature gauge, side air ventilation, and wheels for easy portability. It has a high-quality coating that can withstand a temperature of up to 400 without peeling off easily.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The Royal Gourmet 30-inch Charcoal Grill offers enough space to grill enough meals for a large group of people. It’s also well-constructed. The offsite smoker is an added advantage you won’t find on many other units. Generally, this unit is worth every buck because it’s stylish, practical, and convenient.
7. Char-Griller E16620 Charcoal Grill
Char-Griller E16620 Charcoal Grill is constructed using metal. It has a nice graphite color and measures 26.6 x 24.8 x 21.65 inches. The weight of the unit is about 90 pounds. It provides 314 sq. inches of the cooking area while the warming rack offers 133 sq. inches totaling 447 sq. inches.
This unit has an insulated design that prevents heat loss, which means that you’ll be using less charcoal and maintaining less airflow. The fact that heat doesn’t escape means that you’ll be enjoying juicy meat.
Additionally, the unit has foldable side shelves that help to store tools. The cooking surface features cast iron while the body is made of high-gauge steel. On the outside, the powder-coated steel increases durability while on the inside; the unit is finished with porcelain-coated steel.
There are superior wheels that facilitate this unit moving with ease. The indexed damper helps you to know the damper’s position. Lastly, this unit has a locking lid, two folding metal shelves, an easy-to-dump ash pan, heat gauge, and double-wall insulation.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
There’s no reason not to purchase the Char-Griller E16620 Charcoal Grill. It offers features are others don’t. For example, the double-wall insulation isn’t something found in many other units. This feature is very useful at preserving heat and providing a smooth and energy-efficient grilling experience. If you don’t mind it being a little heavyweight, then you should make it your best choice.
8. Kamado Joe Charcoal Grill
Kamado Joe Charcoal Grill is durably made from stainless steel and ceramic materials. It’s then finished with a classic blaze red color that makes it look fantastic. The grill measures 26.4 x 26.4 x 36 inches. This unit is a bit heavyweight in comparison to other units we have reviewed here. It weighs 250 lbs and offers a cooking space of 18 inches.
Along with the perfect cooking area of 18 inches, this unit features a Premium cart, including wheels and locking casters. The Divide & Conquer FlexibleCooking System converts the simple grill grate to a robust cooking accessory.
Also, this unit has a revolutionary multi-level and half-moon design that gives you the freedom of cooking foods in the style you want at varying temperatures simultaneously. It features an ergonomic vent that ensures consistent air control for exact airflow management throughout the opening and closing of the dome.
It’s made of cast aluminum that’s powder-coated to enhance durability. Its top vent is both mold and rain-resistant and lets you smoke from 225F to searing at 750F. Additionally, the patented AirLift Hinge reduces dome the weight of the dome by 96 percent. You can lift the grill dome easily, which allows for the most convenient grilling experience.
What’s more, the unit has an Ash Catcher that you can easily remove to dispose of the ash. That makes it easy for you to clean up the unit. It features a patent-pending 6-piece design that gets rid of breakage and boosts the efficiency of the grill.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
First of all, the Kamado Joe Charcoal Grill is constructed with durability in mind. Despite it being a little heavyweight, this unit is going to serve you for years. Assembling it is easy and quick. It’s equipped with excellent features that provide perfect cooking capacity. Generally, this unit deserves every buck!
9. Char-Broil Charcoal Grill
Char-Broil Charcoal Grill is the perfect yard BBQ accessory. This unit comes with 360 sq. inches of grilling area. The cooking space features a porcelain-coated cooking grate. Additionally, the porcelain coating finish on its bottom and lid ensures maximum protection from the elements.
It has a vented slide in the ash catcher that offers efficient air circulation and heat throughout the charcoal grill. To allow better temperature control during the grilling, the grate can be adjusted to take the heat further away or close to the food as required.
Two dampers smoothly control the temperature. Moreover, the unit is equipped with two wheels that ease mobility while a chrome-plated wire shelf at the bottom enhances the unit’s stability.
Notable Features
10. Char-Griller E1515 Charcoal Grill
If you don’t have a lot of space in your home but you still want a charcoal grill, then you should Char-Griller E1515 Charcoal Grill. It has a compact design that fits small spaces perfectly. The unit is also lightweight weighing 50 pounds only and has wheels that facilitate movement.
The Char-Griller E1515 Charcoal Grill measures 31-inch wide by 21-inch deep by 44-inch height. It’s the perfect charcoal grill for any small space. The unit features an easy-to-dump ash collector that makes the ash disposal efficient and quick.
You won’t need to lift out a greasy grill or tip over your grill to remove and dump the ash. You just pull out the ash pan and throw the ash away. What’s more, this unit is made using heavy-duty steel then coated with powder increasing durability.
The grill features cast-iron construction and provides an amazing sear to your meat. In case you have foods that can fit on your grill, there’s a side shelf to place a tray and provide more room for the food on the grill. Moreover, there’s also a storage rack beneath the grill where you can store your charcoal bag.
Notable Features
11. Weber 15501001 Deluxe Grill
Weber 15501001 Deluxe Grill comes with sophisticated features that make it stand out from others. First, it has a built-in thermometer that displays the temperature inside the grill to help you be aware of when you should adjust the heat.
Second, it comes with an electric touch-and-go gas ignition function that lets you ignite charcoal with a simple press of a button. Third, it features a precision temperature control that helps you to control the heat in your grill without having to lift the lid by conveniently adjusting its dampers.
If you completely close the dampers, you’ll be cutting the flow of oxygen making the grill to extinguish the coals. Fourth, the unit has a heat shield handle that prevents the lid from becoming too hot.
Additionally, you can conveniently slide this lid over to its side and tuck it off to avoid placing it directly on the ground during the cooking. The detachable backlit LCD timer mounts to the grill’s work table to provide an easy way of setting timers for both pre-heat and grilling sessions.
You can hang all your grilling accessories like tongs and spatulas on the hooks to allow easy access and a well-organized cooking area. Lastly, the worktable is there to help in preparing food, keeping platters, seasonings, and tools handy.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
There are very few features that the Weber 15501001 Deluxe Grill doesn’t have compared to what it offers. This unit is all about great features, including touch-and-go ignition and an inbuilt thermometer. It’s so convenient using this unit. Apart from it’s a little heavyweight, there’s every other reason to purchase this product.
12. PK Grills Smoker Grill
PK Grills Smoker Grill comes with an outstanding capsule shape and four vents that ease grilling low & slow or hot & fast. It’s constructed of cast aluminum that’s rust-resistant, lightweight, durable, and has high heat conduction capacity.
This grill and smoker easily detaches to allow convenient portability. Being portable as such, the units makes for great tailgating, fishing or hunting cabins, camping, and other outdoor activities. It’s built offering 300 sq. inches of grilling surface. Though the surface is relatively small compared to other units on this list, it can still handle grilling for at least a few people.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The PK Grills Smoker Grill is the perfect unit for a small family. Don’t mind about it being pricy because the features it offers warrant the price. With its compact, lightweight, and rust-proof construction, it will withstand all the elements during your outdoor activities with your family. The great thing is that it comes with up to 10 years limited warranty – buy with confidence!
13. Old Smokey Grill
Old Smokey Grill is a barrel-designed grill and the most suitable unit for the outdoors because of its compact and portable design. The barrel retains heat and all the smoke within the cooking area. That makes your food moist, soft, and delicious.
This unit is sufficiently tall to prevent you from getting burnt during the cooking process. As mentioned, it’s portable. That means it is lightweight weighing only 19 pounds, which also means you can lift and take it with your anywhere.
Whether you’re going camping, picnic, or a road trip in your RV, this unit has got you covered. It comes with two handles on the sides to ease lifting. The unit is constructed using aluminized steel, which ensures durability. Also, the grill can put up with strong winds so that you have a smooth cooking experience.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Generally, if you want a unit to grill for a large group of people, then this isn’t the unit to go for. It has a small cooking area compared to others we have included on our list. However, if you just want a charcoal grill for picnicking with your other half, or going outdoor with your small family in your RV, then there’s nothing that should stop you from purchasing this product.
14. Char-Griller E1224 Grill
Char-Griller E1224 Grill comes with a traditional design with a side firebox that offers that Texas-style BBQ. The side firebox and grill barrel offer a heavy-duty steel construction reinforced with a powder coating.
The stick-free cast-iron grates allow for even heating while the removable charcoal trays allow you to add charcoal or damp ashes hassle-free. Additionally, the double-bottom helps to boost durability.
There is a 580 sq. inches cooking area and 250 sq. inches side firebox allows for either smoking or charcoal cooking. That means the total cooking space on this unit is 830 sq. inches. The unit measures 62 x 29 x 50 inches and weighs 146 lbs. Though assembly will be required, it’s easy to do so.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This unit is developed with ease of use in mind. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced with charcoal grills, you’ll find using this unit very easy. It boasts of up to 830 sq. inches of cooking area, which isn’t found in many units. The best part is that it’s a budget-friendly unit. What should stop you from making the purchase?
15. Weber 121020 Charcoal Grill
Like the first charcoal grill on our list, the Weber 121020 Charcoal Grill also has porcelain in its making. And as you might have already noticed, the units are from the same brand so you can expect the quality to be the same.
This unit is constructed using porcelain-coated cast iron and also comes in fine black color. It measures 12.2 x 21 x 14.5 inches and weighs 6.59 kilos. The Weber 121020 Charcoal Grill is described as a “Go-Anywhere” unit. It’s, hence, portable and has a nice rectangular shape that can perfectly fit in most car’s backs.
Also, the unit can hold up to 6 burgers created with burger press from the Weber. As mentioned, it’s highly portable and comes with a compact and lightweight body that facilitates a perfect grill on the go!
This unit also comes with a porcelain-enameled base and lid that help in retaining heat and don’t peel or rust. To allow for enhanced portability, the lid will lock while the dampers let you easily set the temperature within your grill.
What’s more, the unit has durable cooking grate made of plated steel. The grade retains heat and makes for easy cleaning. Clear user assembling instructions are easily accessible via the BILT app for free.
Notable Features
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Yes, the Weber 121020 Charcoal Grill has its downside but overall, it’s a decent charcoal grill for the money. Its compact and lightweight design makes it possible for you to carry it anywhere with you to enjoy a perfect grill on the go. So, if you don’t plan to grill for so many people, and you want a cost-effective unit, then this should be the option for you.
Buying Guide – Features of a Suitable Charcoal Grill
Now that you’ve already gone through the 15 Best Charcoal Grills above, it’s important that we also give you some tips to assist you in identifying the suitable unit for both your need and budget.
You must ensure that the grill you pick has got all the features that will enable you to have an efficient grilling experience. However, if you aren’t familiar with the features, then you might get confused or overwhelmed by all the many different brands of charcoal grills.
Since we don’t want that to happen to you, we have prepared a precise buying guide that you’ll find useful. Go through it to know which features you should be looking for on the grill you hope to invest your money in.
Grilling Area & 2-Zone
Using a charcoal grill isn’t for everyone. It’s a skill by its own right. However, if you’ve not used one before, don’t worry. As long as you’re a grilling and BBQ lover and want to learn how to do it like a Pro, well, it’s not rocket science. Charcoal grills are easy to use.
One of the skills that you’ll require to achieve the best grilling results is to learn how to create a 2-zone setup. This is one of the best charcoal grilling skills. That will allow you to move your meat or food from the hot flame to a cool flame area.
By so doing, your food will use the indirect heat of the hot flame area to roast. That makes it very taste crispy. But, if your area of grilling is too small, then you won’t be able to come up with the 2-zone setup.
Therefore, you should choose a grill that gives you generous space to place your hot charcoal on one side while the low hot charcoal goes to the other side to create a perfect 2-zone setup.
Cooking Grates
Cooking grates are the net-like cooking surfaces on which you’re going grill your food. These grates are exposed to high temperatures for a long time. For that reason, they are supposed to be durable.
That means, before you purchase your grill, you should ensure that the cooking grates of the unit are strong enough. You also should make sure that the cooking grates can radiate heat evenly in all directions to allow your food is grilled uniformly from all areas.
Stainless steel and Cast iron grates are the main types of cooking grills available. While stainless steel is rust-resistant and perfect in radiating heat, cast iron is considered to be more durable because it can withstand high temperatures for a long time.
Easy to Remove or Add Charcoal
A suitable charcoal grill is one that allows you easy access to charcoal. Generally, you’ll need to add or remove charcoal to your grill during your cooking process. For example, you don’t want the temperature of the grill to go down when the food isn’t yet cooked. In that case, you’ll need to add some charcoal to maintain the optimal temperature. The opposite is true.
Thus, the grill you’re going to buy should be designed in a way that makes it easy to add or remove the charcoal. The 15 units listed above features different kinds of charcoal access.
Luckily, most of the contemporary grills include a simple to open-and-close door through which you’ll be adding or removing charcoal from the grill. And easy access to the charcoal lets you control the temperature of your grill effectively.
Temperature Control
One feature of temperature control in a charcoal grill is the ease of adding or moving charcoal. There are several other heat control features that you should pay attention to as well. As we may have mentioned already, having better control of the temperature of your grill is extremely important to achieve the best results in your cooking.
For that, always ensure that the grill you’re about to buy has all the heat control features needed. Check to see that it has adjustable dampers and side handles to help you adjust the space between the charcoal and food.
Make sure too that it has a lid with proper air vents to provide efficient control of the grill temperature. Choose the unit with the features you’re sure are the easiest for your handling.
The Lid of the Grill
The lid is also an important feature. It’s the top-covering of the grill that traps the food within it. The lid captures heat when it closes the grill to enhance the cooking process.
Check and ensure that it’s tightly fit on your potential grill to allow heat to remain inside for longer. See that the grill has a nice locking system that makes the lid fit tightly to the grill.
Dampers
Dampers help with the gas intake and exhaust from a grill. Most grills will come with at least 2 dampers to help to make the mentioned processes efficient. Having dampers also means that you can control the temperature of the grill by igniting the charcoal or extinguishing it from the intake or exhaust dampers respectively.
What’s more, a charcoal grill that’s equipped with dampers experiences better intake or exhaust of gases. Therefore, ensure that the unit you choose comes with at least 2 dampers to facilitate these processes.
Thermometers/Temperature Gauge
A grill that comes with an integrated temperature gauge allows you to eliminate the guesswork when it comes to the temperature control of the grill. It will help you know exactly when to add or remove charcoal because it gives you the real-time temperature. Though it’s not necessary, you’re better off with a grill that comes with a built-in thermometer.
Ash Removal
Since you’re using charcoal to grill your food, it means that you’ll eventually need to dispose of some ash. Failure to do so, the ash will interfere with the proper lighting of the charcoal, which will increase the time taken by your grill to heat up. That will, of course, increase the time you’ll take to have your food cooked.
Most of the contemporary charcoal grills come with removable ashtrays to allow for quick and convenient ash disposal. So, keep that in mind.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you have the complete information you need to make an informed buying decision. Remember that cost is big a factor to consider. The 15 best charcoal grills above are available at different prices. Certainly, you’ll also find among them, one that matches your budget.