For grillmasters who like it hot, hot, hot, charcoal will always reign supreme.
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IT'S OFFICIALLY that time of year, fellahs. We’re talking about grilling season. (Of course, we’d argue that it’s always grilling season because, rain, hail, sleet, and snow are no reason to avoid grilling. But … we digress.) It’s time to uncover the grill and prep it for another year of pool parties and backyard BBQ’ing. Or, if you don’t yet have a grill or it’s time for an upgrade, it’s time to go shopping for one.
The most critical decision of any grown man’s life—even more important than deciding “boxers or briefs?” and “what is my purpose in life?”—is whether to opt for an old-school charcoal grill or go the fancier gas-powered route. That debate will rage on until our sun burns out, so we won’t attempt to settle it here. But, in general—and, don’t shoot the messenger—many agree that cooking with charcoal tastes better, but cooking with gas is more convenient (albeit far more expensive). There are other differences. We don’t want to oversimply too much, but that’s basically what your choice comes down to. We’ll assume you prioritize tasty food, in which case you’ll want a charcoal grill.
At the end of the day, charcoal grills aren’t complicated. Still, finding the best one for you can be. You’ll need to consider how much space you have to dedicate to your new grill, how skilled you are at building and maintaining a charcoal fire (this is key to consistently good grilled food), and how much you’re willing to spend, because grill prices range from around $20 to more than the price of a used Toyota Yaris. Whatever your skill level and budget, we have a recommendation for you. These are our top nine picks for the best charcoal grills of 2023
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Good ol’ Weber has been a staple of American backyards for almost as long as hot dogs and hamburgers have been a thing. With good reason: Its charcoal grills are simple, reliable, affordable, and easy to use. The 22” Original Kettle Charcoal Grill is no exception. The size is just right—not too small and not too big—for a rolling model. We love the 22-inch surface that’s more than enough for everything from casual dinner grilling to larger family outings in the backyard. Plus, with a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl with aluminum in all the right places, it’s built to last. With regular TLC, this is one charcoal grill you can keep for many, many years.
It’s no surprise that this is also one of the best-rated models on every site that we trust most—from Amazon to HomeDepot.com. More than 90% of buyers typically give it a 4- or 5-star rating. The best part, though? The price. It’s a steal at just under $150. All of which is why this OG Weber model is our hands-down pick for this year’s best charcoal grill overall.
What do buyers say? Out of more than 2,400 HomeDepot.com reviews, more than 94% recommend the Weber 22 in. Original Kettle Charcoal Grill in Black with at least a 4-star rating.
The beauty of charcoal grills is their simplicity: Even many of the best charcoal grills are little more than a durable fire basin to place your briquettes and a metal grate on which to lay out and cook your food. That’s why Cuisinart keeps things dead simple with its ultra-portable CCG190RB grill. Measuring a little over one cubic foot, it’s compact enough to take tailgating, car camping, to the beach, on family picnics—you get the picture. The grill surface is plenty big enough to cook a meal for 1-2 with room for 3-4 decent size steaks.
With more than 12,000 ratings—including more than 8,000 five-star reviews on Amazon alone—it’s not surprisingly one of the site’s best-rated and best-selling charcoal grills. We dig that it’s available in jet-black or traditional red (which, honestly, feels like the exact color a charcoal grill should be). But what truly sets this model apart is the price. With a sale price of just over $20, it’s the most affordable, decent-quality charcoal grill we’ve seen in years.
What do buyers say? “Wonderful to take with you everywhere. I like it and will recommend this BBQ grill for everyone,” said one Amazon reviewer.
Of course, charcoal grills can be more than glorified fire basins. Masterbuilt’s Gravity Series elevates ol’ school briquette burners to a whole other level. It uses smart technology and automatic fans to remove the guesswork out of cooking with charcoal. Just load up the hopper with lump charcoal or briquettes, light it, and set the desired temperature via the digital, WiFi-enabled screen. Add food, and you’re ready to roll. The built-in auger feeds the flames for up to eight hours. It heats up to 700°F in just 15 minutes, and maintains a constant temperature for perfectly grilled food, no matter what’s cooking.
On the downside, you pay for all this convenience. At roughly $900, it’s not the most premium grill on the market, but it’s far from the cheapest. It also takes at least a couple of hours to put together, which is why we don’t recommend doing it solo. Enlist a grillin’ buddy, if you can. Still, if you’re willing to invest time and a little extra money, you’ll be rewarded with one of the easiest to use charcoal grills of 2023.
What do buyers say? “Great grill and smoker combo. Easy to use and gets to temperature quickly. We like it so much, the whole family has one now!” said one HomeDepot.com reviewer.
Portable grills are designed to minimize size and weight, so you can take your grill game anywhere. But that usually means sacrificing on quality. Not so with PK Grills’ PKGo Portable Charcoal BBQ Grill and Smoker. The roughly $400 price tag should be a clue that this is no ordinary tabletop grill. The clever, capsule-like design opens to reveal two grills in one, which effectively doubles the cooking surface to more than 200 square inches. Both sides boast a cast iron cooking surface and an ultra-durable aluminum exterior that’s guaranteed to never rust. It all collapses into a space smaller than a carry-on suitcase for maximum portability.
It’s hard to overlook the price tag or the almost 50-pound weight. But, the versatile nature of this model means it works just as well in your backyard, at the beach, or while car camping. For some people, that could mean it’s the only grill they’ll ever need. The fact that it works great for both direct grilling and smoking makes this a no-brainer for anyone looking to buy just one charcoal grill.
What do buyers say? “Best portable grill hands-down. They aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for, especially in this case,” said one Amazon reviewer.
If your heart is set on a rolling design and you’d appreciate not spending a small fortune on a charcoal grill, this model from Expert Grill is a solid bet. At roughly 45” wide and 26” deep, this is a legit, full-sized charcoal grill worthy of any backyard cookout. The generous 372-square-inch cook surface is roomy enough for up to 20 burgers or up to a dozen steaks, and the 200-square-inch chrome warming rack adds more flexibility. Plus, the heavy-duty cast iron cooking surface is a welcome addition, especially for a sub-$100 griller.
Negatives? At nearly 70 pounds, it’s a beast, which could be a good thing for anyone who values heft over portability in their charcoal grills. We highly recommend two very patient people put it together, however, as the assembly process isn’t easy. It also doesn’t maintain a consistent temperature as fast or as easy as others we’ve seen. Some reports note that it took more than two hours to roast a whole chicken, for example (that’s more than a half hour longer than expected). Still, if you’re looking to kickstart your next backyard grilling adventures on the cheap, you could do worse.
What do buyers say? “Very good charcoal grill! Was annoying to put together but once we got it all set up it was amazing to use,” said one Walmart reviewer.
If you’re reading this, you probably take grilling pretty seriously. But if you take your grilling very, very seriously, you need to be ready to invest in a model that’s up to the task. Napoleon’s 67.5” Professional Charcoal Grill is a rare, stainless steel model in the world of jet-black enamel charcoal grills. It’s a premium look and finish designed to fit nicely in high-end outdoor kitchens. Under the hood, the commercial-grade, 850-square-inch cast iron cook surface is roomy enough for up to 30 burgers, several chickens, or even a small pig. The rear charcoal burner maintains even heat through the use of dedicated vents to control the temperature whether you’re smoking, slow roasting, or “just” grilling.
At roughly $1,600, there’s no getting around the fact that this thing is pricey. It’s also big and extremely heavy (weighing almost 240 pounds fully assembled). But, for avid backyard cooks who really love to grill, this is probably one appliance worth splashing out on. Napoleon does provide a limited lifetime warranty so, on the plus side, it may be the last charcoal grill you need to buy for a very long time.
What do buyers say? “I love this BBQ. Huge cooking area, well built, adjustable coal bed, worth the money. I did a 30-pound pig on the rotisserie no problem,” said one Wayfair.com reviewer.
Cheap doesn’t have to mean cheap. Royal Gourmet’s 24-inch Charcoal Grill is priced right at just over $100. But this basic briquette burner has everything most backyard chefs are looking for. The jet-black exterior is clean, smple, and guaranteed to work with the vibe of any outdoor space. Under the hood, the roomy cook surface measures almost 400 square inches, while chrome warming racks add another 200 square inches.
While this model is overwhelmingly well-reviewed on both Amazon and Walmart, it’s not perfect. The relatively thin shell doesn’t maintain heat as well as other models we’ve seen. That makes it take longer to heat up and harder to maintain a consistent temperature, which can make slow-cooking a challenge. Plus, it burns through charcoal faster than most in this category and price range. But, for roughly $100 for a full-sized and relatively full-featured charcoal grill, we still it’s a solid option.
What do buyers say? Out of more than 1,800 Amazon reviews, 84% recommend the Royal Gourmet 24" CD1824A Charcoal Grill with at least a 4-star rating.
Out of all the charcoal grills we’ve seen over the past few years, Burch Barrel’s might be the most unique. The tripod-meets-open-flame design recalls cowboys simmering hearty game stews around a campfire. That’s where the similarities end, though. This is a thoroughly modern open-fire camp grill that works as a charcoal griller or a fire pit—often both in the same night. When you’re done with dinner, just raise the lid via the locking chain and you have yourself a ready-to-go campfire. Plus, it burns charcoal, wood pellets, or both, adding versatility to any cookout.
If you love the outdoors as much as we do and money is no object, this is an obvious pick for the best charcoal grill. But, of course, it’s not for everyone. It’s pricey, for one, at more than $1,000. It’s also heavy and bulky, making it a difficult sell for front-country camping. But, if you want the coolest, one-of-a-kind charcoal grill of 2023, you’ve found it.
Grilling—even on the best charcoal grills—isn’t rocket surgery. But, maintaining a nice, consistent temperature with traditional charcoal can be a challenge for some. Char-Broil’s proprietary TRU-Infrared technology uses an entirely different design that most charcoal grills. It’s the same radiant grilling tech used in its high-end commercial and gas-powered models that eliminates flare-ups and helps maintain a far more even heat. If you’ve had trouble cooking with charcoal before, this is your man. This model also features a generous 360-square-inch cooking surface—plenty for most family outings—all wrapped in a durable porcelain enamel shell that rolls easy for maximum portability.
At their core, most charcoal grills—even the best charcoal grills—are little more than fancy fire basins. But, modern models add plenty of bells and whistles that can make comparing different grills from different brands a little confusing. The best option for you comes down to a few key considerations:
Like any new home appliance, consider how much real estate you can realistically dedicate to a grill. If you’re an apartment dweller, a smaller, table-top model may be the way to. If you’re a homeowner and you have a decent-sized backyard, the sky may be the limit on how big of a grill you can buy. Also consider the size of the cooking surface. Whether you’re a solo griller, a cooking couple, or an entire family, you need to know that your new grill offers enough cooking surface space to accommodate all that food.
Every charcoal grill burns charcoal, of course. But some models offer the versatility to burn different types of charcoal and even wood or wood pellets. Keep an eye toward which fuel sources your potential new charcoal grill works with.
Charcoal grills vary widely in price. Our favorite budget model, Cuisinart’s Portable Charcoal Grill, for example, costs less than $25. Solid mid-range alternatives can be had for a few hundred dollars. But ultra-high-end options run as much as a used car. The most notable difference are usually the overall size and the build quality. Lower-end models are made with thinner materials and don’t retain heat as well, while premium residential options are often double-walled and hold their heat as well as some commercial-grade grills.
Over the last few years, we’ve researched, compared, and personally tested many top-selling charcoal grills from the most popular names on the market, including Char-Broil, Weber, PK Grills, and more. We compared every feature and spec, from cooking surface size and heat retention to overall aesthetic and price. For this roundup, we also included several models with overwhelmingly positive ratings and buyer reviews on the websites we trust most, like Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot. The list above represents our honest picks of the best charcoal grills worth buying in 2023.
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South Africa, and survived a near-miss great white shark attack in Mexico. His travel advice has appeared on the websites for Forbes, Travel + Leisure, CNET, and National Geographic. He loves the great outdoors and good bourbon, and (usually) calls Tulsa, Oklahoma home. Mike also enjoys speaking in the third person.
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