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Best Charcoal Grills of 2026

Kettles, carts and gravity fed charcoal grills. Kamados and smokers have their own lists.

David Green
By David Green, Managing Editor
Updated October 20, 2026

Nothing tastes quite like food cooked over live charcoal, and a good kettle will last for decades.

Look for a lid that seals, vents that move easily and an ash catcher that empties without a mess.

You do not need to spend much here. That is a lesson from our charcoal grill reviews. A well made simple grill beats a cheap complicated one.

We tested 23 charcoal grills for this guide. Most of them do well on how easy they are to use. Where most fall short is how long they last, so that is where the picks below stand apart.

Our picks

  1. Best overall Black Weber kettle, lid closed with the lid damper showing, on chrome legs and two Weber wheels on flagstone Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22 Leads Weber's 22 in kettles on price: $149.00 buys the same 363 sq in fire the dearer models sell with extras attached. $149 at Amazon
  2. Best charcoal grill for the money Black Weber Smokey Joe 14 kettle on a patio, lid on, chrome bail handle raised, silver ash catcher below the tripod legs Weber Smokey Joe 14 Charcoal Grill At $54.99 the bowl and lid carry the same ten years Weber puts on kettles costing several times more. $54.99 at Amazon
  3. Best charcoal grill for searing steaks Weber Master-Touch 22 inch kettle on gravel beside a lawn, lid closed, ash catcher below the bowl Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill 22 The Original's 22 in fire, no hotter, but Char-Rails pin a two-zone split and the hinged grate feeds it mid-cook. $289 at Amazon
  4. Best charcoal grill for beginners Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill on a pickup tailgate in a stadium car park, wire legs folded down Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill Legs fold over the lid to lock it shut and the tools pack inside, which no kettle on Weber's page manages. $89.99 at Amazon
  5. Best charcoal grill that will last Weber Original Kettle 18 inch on grey paving beside a low brick wall, lid closed Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 18 Enamelled bowl and lid carry ten years, the aluminium legs shrug off rust, and only the grate and small parts sit on two. $126.99 at Amazon
  6. Best charcoal grill for camping Cuisinart CCG-190 portable charcoal grill in black, lid latched shut, standing on three steel legs above its grey ash dish Cuisinart CCG-190 Portable Charcoal Grill Three years of warranty, an enamelled box and a chrome grate for $39.99, with no cheaper channel to wait for. $39.99 at Amazon
  7. Best charcoal grill under $100 Weber Jumbo Joe 18 inch kettle on a stone terrace under a pergola, lid propped open on the grate Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 At $89.99 it matches the Go-Anywhere's price with 240 sq in against 160, and undercuts the same-sized $129.00 kettle. $89.99 at Amazon
  8. Best charcoal grill under $200 Black Char-Griller 22-inch kettle grill on gray patio paving beside a brick wall, lid closed, ash bucket under the bowl Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker At $149.99 the enameled bowl, coal door, ash bucket and five-year cover all arrive together, with nothing held back for the accessories aisle. $134.56 at Amazon

Prices are what the retailer charged when we last checked. More on each pick below.

Best charcoal grill overallWeber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22

Black Weber kettle, lid closed with the lid damper showing, on chrome legs and two Weber wheels on flagstone

The kettle answers its own question. Weber took out the instruments, not the cooking, and then priced its griddle above the grill. If you will read coals rather than a dial, $149.00 buys plenty of fire.

Good to know: The lid hook and tool hooks help, but no thermometer is listed and refuelling means lifting the whole grate off the coals.

$149 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal kettle grill. Avid Griller Score 8.4 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill for the moneyWeber Smokey Joe 14 Charcoal Grill

Black Weber Smokey Joe 14 kettle on a patio, lid on, chrome bail handle raised, silver ash catcher below the tripod legs

The Smokey Joe is the whole Weber kettle argument, shrunk and priced at $54.99. Two dampers, porcelain enamel, and ten years on the parts that rust. Just settle what the grate is made of before you decide how to look after it.

Why it won this award: At $54.99 the bowl and lid carry the same ten years Weber puts on kettles costing several times more.

Good to know: Porcelain wipes down and the catcher lifts away, but the feature list names no One-Touch sweep to push ash into it.

$54.99 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal grill. Avid Griller Score 8.1 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill for searing steaksWeber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill 22

Weber Master-Touch 22 inch kettle on gravel beside a lawn, lid closed, ash catcher below the bowl

The Master-Touch spends its extra money on the cook, not on the coals. Nothing it adds burns hotter. If you use GBS inserts or hate stooping, $60 over the Premium is fair. Otherwise, the Premium serves the same dinner.

Why it won this award: The Original's 22 in fire, no hotter, but Char-Rails pin a two-zone split and the hinged grate feeds it mid-cook.

Good to know: $289.00 buys the same 363 sq in as $149.00, and $60 over the Premium pays for comfort and GBS access, not cooking.

$289 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal grill. Avid Griller Score 8.4 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill for beginnersWeber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill on a pickup tailgate in a stadium car park, wire legs folded down

You are not buying grate here. You are buying a shape that closes. It is a very good shape.

Why it won this award: Legs fold over the lid to lock it shut and the tools pack inside, which no kettle on Weber's page manages.

Good to know: No ash catcher is published, while the $54.99 Smokey Joe lists one, so spent ash leaves this box by hand.

$89.99 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal grill. Avid Griller Score 7.8 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill that will lastWeber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 18

Weber Original Kettle 18 inch on grey paving beside a low brick wall, lid closed

The 18 is the right Weber kettle for a small household with a small outdoor space. It cooks exactly like the bigger bowls, only for fewer people. If you often feed six, spend the extra $20 and buy the 22.

Why it won this award: Enamelled bowl and lid carry ten years, the aluminium legs shrug off rust, and only the grate and small parts sit on two.

Good to know: At $129.00 against $149.00 for 363 sq in, the bigger Weber kettle buys far more grate for each extra dollar.

$126.99 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal kettle grill. Avid Griller Score 8.0 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill for campingCuisinart CCG-190 Portable Charcoal Grill

Cuisinart CCG-190 portable charcoal grill in black, lid latched shut, standing on three steel legs above its grey ash dish

196 is a square number on a round grill. That is the one place Cuisinart oversells the CCG-190. Everything else at $39.99 is plain and honest: enamel, chrome, three latches, three years.

Good to know: Chrome plating sits directly in the fire and no replacement grate is listed, though three years is long for the price.

$39.99 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal grill. Avid Griller Score 7.6 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill under $100Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18

Weber Jumbo Joe 18 inch kettle on a stone terrace under a pergola, lid propped open on the grate

The Jumbo Joe is the 18-inch kettle's grate and fire without the kettle's legs. Put it on a table and it cooks just like its taller sibling. If you cannot give it a table, the $129.00 Original Kettle earns its premium.

Good to know: No sweep feeds the ash pan, so clearing a cold bowl means lifting the grate out and tipping the whole grill.

$89.99 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal grill. Avid Griller Score 7.8 out of 10.

Best charcoal grill under $200Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker

Black Char-Griller 22-inch kettle grill on gray patio paving beside a brick wall, lid closed, ash bucket under the bowl

The second noun in the name is the one this kettle earns. Two dampers and a coal door keep a small fire useful for hours. Just do not ask it to sear past the figure Char-Griller is willing to print.

Good to know: Char-Griller publishes one heat figure, up to 400°F, and rates the bowl for only 2 lb of charcoal.

$134.56 at Amazon Read the full review

Charcoal kettle grill. Avid Griller Score 7.9 out of 10.

Questions people ask

What is the best charcoal grill?

Our top pick is the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22. The kettle answers its own question. Weber took out the instruments, not the cooking, and then priced its griddle above the grill.

What is the best value charcoal grill?

The Weber Smokey Joe 14 Charcoal Grill. At $54.99 the bowl and lid carry the same ten years Weber puts on kettles costing several times more.

How much should I spend on a charcoal grill?

Most of the charcoal grills we tested cost between $90 and $240. Our top pick costs about $149. Across all our scores, paying more buys a little, and much less than the price tag suggests.

How long does charcoal take to be ready?

In a chimney starter, charcoal is usually ready in about 15 to 20 minutes. Look for coals covered in a thin layer of gray ash. That is when the heat is steady and the chemical smell is gone.

What is the difference between lump charcoal and briquettes?

Lump is charred wood. It lights fast, burns hot and leaves little ash. Briquettes are pressed and uniform, so they burn longer and more evenly. Many cooks use lump for searing and briquettes for long cooks.

How do you light charcoal without lighter fluid?

A chimney starter is the easiest way. Fill it with charcoal, light a fire starter or newspaper underneath, and wait. Then pour the hot coals into the grill. Electric starters and paraffin cubes also work well.

How do you control the heat on a charcoal grill?

The vents do most of the work. Open vents let in air and make the fire hotter. Closing them partway cools it down. Bank the coals to one side so you always have a cooler spot.

How we picked

Every pick comes from our own testing, scored the same way across six things that matter to an owner. The overall pick is the highest Avid Griller Score. For the money, for searing steaks, for beginners and that will last go to the top Value, Heat Performance, Ease of Use and Long-term Reliability scores. For camping is the top scorer small enough to pack, and the price picks the top scorer under $100 or $200 at the retailer we checked. How we score.

Looking for something else? See all our best grill guides.