The Best Charcoal Grills Under $500 And What You Must Know

1. Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill

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Pros

• Pretty easy to assemble
• Lightweight and portable
• Cheap
• The openings seal up very well, and the unused coals will go out for reuse next time

Cons

• Flimsy metal

2. Kingsford Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter 

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Pros

• Heats up fast
• No lighter fluid
• Works flawlessly
• Makes barbecuing much safer
• Great for the price

Cons

• Rust out after a year or two

3. Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill

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Pros

• Great deal for the price
• Sturdy
• Lightweight
• Excellent temperature control
• Easy to clean

Cons

• The holes in the smoker door are not finished

4. Mueller Portable Charcoal Grill and Smoker

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Pros

• Fits easily in a car for an on-the-go trip
• Nice and compact
• Nicely built
• Solid
• Amazing for wood-fired grilling and smoking

Cons

• The instructions seem a little off

5. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill

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Pros

• Clean-up is easy
• Green cooking machine
• An ash catcher is included
• Easy to put together
• The charcoal is quick to be ready

Cons

• The legs are very tough to install

6. Weber Charcoal Kettle Grill Cover

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Pros

• it is cheap; almost disposable value
• Simple to use
• Lightweight but because of the Velcro strap at the bottom it stays in place very well
• Not rusted even in a long time

Cons

• Not very secured

7. Barbecue Charcoal Grill 

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Pros

• Inexpensive
• Perfect for camping and cooking kabob
• Super light and easy to transport
• Well-ventilated and efficient
• Legs are sturdy enough

Cons

• The grates are not good

8. Weber Jumbo Charcoal Grill

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Pros

• So well-made
• Perfect for our tailgating and camping trips
• 90% as good as the full-sized
• The latching mechanism keeps the lid tightly locked when not in use

Cons

• The top vent is so stiff 

9. Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill

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Pros

• Have no rust even in the harsh weather
• High-quality materials and finishes
• Easy to put together
• Small enough to be portable
• Economical use of charcoal

Cons

• Hard to open/close the lower vent disc

If you have never bought a charcoal grill before and have a tight budget on it, have a look at the instructions below to go for the best charcoal grills under $500.

Materials

When you go shopping for a charcoal grill, seek out its specifications to check what it is made of. Is its material stainless steel, cast aluminum, or iron? If the instruction is not clear, there will likely be rust after a certain time. 

Warranties

Keep in mind that you should never choose a grill with a too short parts warranty. Some even come with a lifetime parts warranty.

Delivery and Assembly

Some charcoal grills are fully assembled and directly delivered to your door. Some just don’t and you will need to spend the whole day setting it up.

Build quality

Other than materials, you should see carefully at the design and how the device is built. If it is good, it may stand up to intensive use over time.

Size and Cooking area

Think about the cooking and storage area you have before picking a charcoal grill.

If you regularly cook for a large number of people and you only have a small–sized grill, you may have to struggle sometimes. By contrast, if you have a too big grill, you will use more fuel.

Do I need to preheat a charcoal grill?

Absolutely yes! Just like any other type of grill, charcoal grills should be preheated, so food doesn’t stick to the grates or overcook. 

How do you control the temperature on a charcoal grill? 

You can control the heat in two ways: adjusting the amount of coal or adjusting airflow using the grills’ vents.

How far from my home should I place my charcoal grill?

As charcoal grills release embers, you should keep a safe distance between them and any other structure. The ideal distance is at least 10 feet.

If you want to cook things on a charcoal grill so that your foods bring a taste of nostalgia, we hope our article will help you find out the best charcoal grill for under $500.