This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
On hot summer days, I prefer firing up the grill than cooking indoors on a grill pan. While gas grills are undeniably convenient, I personally enjoy the flavor you get when cooking on a charcoal grill. The best charcoal grills give food a delicious smoky flavor and crisp char marks. During the summer, I use my charcoal grill to cook everything from hamburgers and Grilled Chicken Breasts to Grilled Zucchini and other seasonal produce. Credit: Skinnytaste
Grilling with charcoal does take a little practice. You have to learn how to light the charcoal and adjust the airflow to control the grill temperature. But the effort is worth it for delicious grilled meals. Over the years, I’ve used several of the best charcoal grills. Here are my top picks if you’re in the market for a new grill. My Top Picks
What’s in My Kitchen: Kamado Joe Classic Joe II – $1,299 at Home Depot
Best Budget Charcoal Grill: Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill – $219 at Amazon
Best Cart-Style Charcoal Grill: Char-Griller Classic Charcoal Grill – $299 at Home Depot
Best Portable Charcoal Grill: Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill – $159.18 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Charcoal Grills
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Kamado Joe Classic Joe II
If you’re experienced with charcoal grills, the Kamado Joe Classic Joe II is a worthwhile purchase for your patio. This Kamado-style grill has ceramic walls and a unique egg-like shape that offers better heat retention and fuel efficiency, and it can be used for high-heat grilling as well as smoking. The Classic Joe II has a two-tier grate system that lets you cook foods at different temperatures, and its lid has an assisted-lift hinge that makes it easier to open and close. The grill is mounted on caster wheels and has two side tables where you can place your grilling tools, and with proper care, it will last for many years.
The Specs:
Style: Kamado
Dimensions: 46.5 by 28 by 48 inches
Weight: 233 pounds
Cooking Surface: 250 square inches
The Pros:
Suitable for grilling and smoking
Two-tier grate system
Assisted hinge on lid
Easy-to-empty ash drawer
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Kamado Joe Classic Joe II was named the best kamado grill by Epicurious, and The Spruce Eats gave it a glowing review, scoring it a 4.7 out of 5. It also has a 4.7-star Amazon rating from around 900 buyers.
Buy the Kamado Joe Classic Joe II:
2. Best Budget Charcoal Grill: Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
For beginners, the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is an easy-to-use option that isn’t too expensive. This classic grill has a round grate that’s 22 inches across, and one side hinges upward, allowing you to adjust the charcoal underneath. There’s a hook on the side of the grill where you can hang the lid while tending to your food, and the grill is mounted on two wheels, so you can move it around your yard easily. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but it’s a solid entry-level model that many avid grillers love.
The Specs:
Style: Kettle
Dimensions: 22.5 by 22.5 by 27 inches
Weight: 37 pounds
Cooking Surface: 363 square inches
The Pros:
Reasonable price
Classic, easy-to-use design
One-touch cleaning system
Built-in lid hook
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Weber Original Premium Charcoal Grill is a bestseller on Amazon, with a 4.8-star rating from more than 6,700 reviewers. It’s also a top choice among food publications: both Serious Eats and Food & Wine named it the best charcoal grill in their testing.
Buy the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill:
3. Best Cart-Style Charcoal Grill: Char-Griller Classic Charcoal Grill
Cart grills have built-in side tables and lower storage shelves, making them a convenient all-in-one station for food prep and cooking. This model from Char-Griller has a large cooking surface, as well as a secondary rack for warming foods like burger buns, and it has a crank that lets you raise or lower the charcoal tray to adjust the cooking temperature. The grill is mounted on locking caster wheels for easy portability, and there’s a large pull-out ashtray that makes it easy to clean, as well.
The Specs:
Style: Cart
Dimensions: 57.4 x 27 x 51.7 inches
Weight: 88 pounds
Cooking Surface: 810 square inches
The Pros:
Large cooking surface
Mounted on wheels
Height-adjustable charcoal tray
Side tables and storage shelf
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Char-Griller Classic Charcoal Grill is well-rated among food publications, and both Serious Eats and Food & Wine say it’s the best cart-style charcoal grill.
Buy the Char-Griller Classic Charcoal Grill:
4. Best Portable Charcoal Grill: Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill
If you’re looking for a charcoal grill you can take to the beach, on a picnic, or even to a tailgate, the Everdure CUBE is compact and convenient. It has two large handles that make it easy to carry, and it can be used on any surface, whether it’s a wooden picnic table or a truck bed. The grill comes with a built-in food storage tray and cutting board for on-the-go prep, and they latch into place on top of the grill to serve as a lid while you’re traveling.
The Specs:
Style: Portable
Dimensions: 13.7 x 16.7 x 9.1 inches
Weight: 15.4 pounds
Cooking Surface: 115 square inches
The Pros:
Compact and easy to carry
Built-in food storage tray and cutting board
Can be used on any surface
Available in several colors
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill has a 4.5-star rating from 340 Amazon reviewers, and it’s included on lists of the best portable charcoal grills from The Spruce Eats and Food & Wine.
Buy the Everdure CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill:
Other Charcoal Grills to Consider
PK Grills PK300-BCX Charcoal Grill and Smoker
If you want to grill or smoke your favorite recipes, this model from PK Grills has a four-point ventilation system that gives you more control over its temperature. It offers around 300 square inches of cooking space and is made from cast aluminum, so it’s not too heavy. The grill’s unique oval-shaped design is handy for two-zone cooking, and it comes with a convenient cart that gives you plenty of space to prep food. The PK Grills PK300-BCX Charcoal Grill and Smoker is available at Amazon for $524.99.
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
The Weber Performer Deluxe is a higher-end model of the brand’s classic kettle grill, and it comes with a convenient cart that serves as an all-in-one grilling area. The grill has a 22-inch diameter and around 363 square inches of cooking space, and it’s mounted on wheels, so you can move it easily around your yard. In addition to a cart, it has a basket for charcoal storage, as well as an ash catcher and lid hook, but the grill itself is the same as the classic model. The Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill is available at Amazon for $549.
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Tabletop Charcoal Grill
No room for a full-size grill? The Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler is a compact tabletop model that you can put on a picnic table or other elevated surface. It has 218 square inches of cooking space with heavy-duty cast iron grates, and you can raise or lower the charcoal tray to control the temperature while cooking. An ashtray on the bottom makes for easy cleaning, but the grill is a little pricey, considering its small size. The Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Tabletop Charcoal Grill is available at Amazon for $177.77.
Char-Griller Double Play Gas and Charcoal Combo Grill
If you’re not ready to give up the convenience of a gas grill, the Char-Griller Double Play gives you the best of both worlds. One side of the grill uses propane for quick and easy cooking, while the other is powered by charcoal for those times you want the best flavor. It has a total of 1,260 square inches of cooking space, and it can even be outfitted with an additional side box for smoking meat. The Char-Griller Double Play Gas and Charcoal Combo Grill is…
