The Best Charcoal Grill in 2025 For Your Choice

To save you from the hassle of visiting every product’s page on Amazon, I wrote a quick review about the pros and cons of all eight items. Please take a look.

1. Royal Gourmet CD1824AX 24-Inch Charcoal Grill

View on Amazon

Pros:

•  It has two side tables and built-in tool hangers
•  Can reload charcoal without having to remove the grate
•  Built-in temperature gauge monitors
• Modern design

Cons:

• It is difficult to assemble.

2. Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill

View on Amazon

Pros:

• The handle always stays cool while cooking
• Easy to assemble
• Built-in ash catcher
• Two steel handles for ease of transportation

Cons:

• No tool hangers or side table

3. Char-Griller 2137 Outlaw Charcoal Grill

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Massive total cooking area (950 square inches)
• Attachable side firebox
• Sleek build
• Two side tables

Cons:

• It’s hard to assemble and needs at least two people to do so

4. Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Reasonable price ($130 pre-discount)
• Good cooling handle
• Comes with a set of accessories

Cons:

• Spring clips for the coal ash catcher can be awkward to attach
• No tool hangers

5. Weber Performer Charcoal Grill 22-Inch

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Removable ash catcher, making it easy to clean
• Built-in fold-down table and lid holder
• Has a lid thermometer display

Cons:

• It can be costly for some customers: $349, no discount

6. Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Grill

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Lid-mounted thermometer gauge
• The cover is waterproof
• Maintain consistent temperature while cooking
• The instruction book is easy to follow

Cons:

• Top coating fades to white after some time

7. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Classic and familiar design
• One-touch cleaning system with high capacity.
• Porcelain-enameled lid for heat retention
• A hinged cooking grate enables the user to add more charcoal without removing the grate.

Cons:

• The storage shelf at the bottom is small
• No built-in tool hangers

8. Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill CD1824AC 24 Inch

View on Amazon

Pros:

• Porcelain enamel steel wiring
• Built-in side tables and bottle opener
• Height-adjustable coal pan
• Has a drawer to collect ash

Cons:

• The burn plate is easy to rust

Air Flow Control

This has to be the first and foremost factor you should consider before buying any charcoal grill. Air regulation inside the cooking chamber will determine the flavor of your dish and the juiciness of the meat. 

It also impacts the fuel effectiveness and life span of your grill. If you buy a grill with poor air regulation, the grill will burn through more charcoal and the coal can be snuffed out while cooking.

Poor airflow can also cause heat leaks that will damage the welds of the grill, making it flimsier and prone to chipping.

Available accessories and built-in add-ons

As you can see, many of the grills on my list come with built-in features like side tables, bottle openers, coal ash collectors, removable charcoal grates, etc.

These add-ons are very convenient and they will make your grill much easier to operate. They are not necessary, but if you prefer to have them on, you should consider models made by Weber.

Types of charcoal grills

There are 3 categories of charcoal grill that you need to know:

Kettles: They have a rounded shape and three legs supporting their weight. They are good at holding heat in, compact, and generally more durable due to the nature of their round shape. The ideal foods to cook using the kettles are salmon, chicken, and lamb.

Barrels: they look like a barrel lying on its side, hence the name. This shape enables them to have much more room for food but also requires more charcoal to cook. They have a shorter cook time and are suitable for beginners.

Ceramics and Kamados: These models are the best in holding heat and maintaining a consistent temperature. They are ideal for briskets, rib slabs, and pork shoulders. Their downsides are limited cooking surface, heavy, and pricey.

Fuel Efficiency

The average price for lump wood charcoal is $1.45 per pound. Each time you cook, a small charcoal grill can consume roughly 30 charcoal briquettes, and large barrel grills can burn through 50 to 70 briquettes of charcoal. 

In the long run, the cost of charcoal will add up to a big number. So I recommend a grill with good airflow control and a good fuel efficiency rating.

What is the advantage of using a charcoal grill?

Many people consider smoking and grilling meat the best way to cook them. This cooking method brings out the best flavor possible and retains the majority of moisture inside the meat.

Furthermore, a charcoal grill can be very versatile and convenient. With a large-sized grill, you can even smoke + grill + sear three different dishes using the same cooking space.

They look heavy, can I transport them easily?

You can rest assured. Large, heavy-duty charcoal grills always come with at least a pair of wheels so you can push them by hand. 

If you want to load your grill on a vehicle, you can disassemble it into individual parts and put them in the trunk of your car.

Which type of charcoal grill should I choose?

Your choice must depend on your cooking style and the ingredients you work with. Each type of grill has its advantages and shortcomings.

If you want a large cooking surface and fuel consumption is not your concern, go for a barrel grill, they are also beginner-friendly and easy to use.

If you prefer to cook a specific type of meat, I recommend the Kettles or Ceramics and Kamados models. They will bring out the best flavor and juiciness of every dish you want.

What about coal ash?

Most people are lazy when it comes to cleaning a charcoal grill because coal ash is very dirty and can be tricky to deal with. 

For that reason, you should buy models that have a built-in coal ash drawer or an ash collector. Products made by Weber are highly sought after for this feature.

I think this post pretty much covered the basics you need to know before choosing the best charcoal grill for yourself. With this information, you should be able to buy the best charcoal grill that fulfills your requirements.

Thank you for reading!