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Top 8 Charcoal BBQ Grills For 2024
As the aroma of sizzling meat and charred vegetables wafts through the air, evoking memories of summer barbecues and backyard gatherings, a primal question arises: Is charcoal grilling merely a means of cooking, or is it a ritualistic dance with fire, a celebration of human ingenuity and connection to the natural world?
So, before you toss your next meal onto the gas grill, consider this: Is there something more to charcoal grilling than meets the eye? Is it a form of artistic expression, a way to connect with our ancestors, or simply a delicious way to cook food? The answer, like the smoke and embers swirling around your charcoal grill, is both simple and profound, waiting to be discovered.
Charcoal BBQ grills are a popular choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts due to the rich, smokey flavour they impart to food. These grills use charcoal as the primary fuel source, providing a traditional and authentic grilling experience. Using charcoal for grilling has been practised for centuries and continues to be cherished by many for its unique taste and aroma.
One of the key advantages of charcoal BBQ grills is their ability to reach high temperatures, often allowing for a quick sear and or caramelisation of meats and vegetables. The smokey flavour produced by charcoal infuses the food with a distinct taste that is highly sought after by barbecue aficionados.
While charcoal grilling requires a bit more attention and skill than gas grilling, many people appreciate the ritual and hands-on approach, making it a beloved outdoor cooking method.
This post will explore the broad choices of top charcoal BBQ grills currently available in the marketplace.
Please Note: We independently selected all the products mentioned in this Buyer’s Guide. The guide includes amongst others, Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a commission from any purchases made through these links. For more information, please refer to our affiliate’s FAQ page.
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Top 8 Charcoal BBQ Grills For 2024
If you don’t have much time, use the link below to quickly find out my ‘Top Pick’ from the ‘Top 8 Charcoal BBQ Grills For 2024’ available for you on Amazon. You can be assured we only recommend products based on our research, product quality, usability, and value for money… ‘Best Overall’ Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill Barbecue
Charcoal BBQ Grills: A Beginners Guide To Get You Going
Product Image
Highly Recommended 
Highly Recommended 
Best Budget 
Model/Make
Tepro
Weber
Deuba
Material
Alloy Steel
Porcelain/Steel
Steel/Wood
Dimensions (L x W x H)
60cm x 89cm x 103cm
63cm x 63cm x 98cm
83cm x 44cm x 87cm
Grill Surface (Approx)
52cm x 36 cm
56cm x 56cm
50cm x 30cm
Powder Coated
Charcoal Bowl
Enamel
Porcelain Enamelled Steel
Enamelled
Grate
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Chromed Stainless Steel
Warranty
N/A
10 Years
N/A
More Information
Highly Recommended
Product Image
Model/Make
Tepro
Material
Alloy Steel
Dimensions (L x W x H)
60cm x 89cm x 103cm
Grill Surface (Approx)
52cm x 36 cm
Powder Coated
Charcoal Bowl
Enamel
Grate
Chrome Plated
Warranty
N/A
More Information
Highly Recommended
Product Image
Model/Make
Weber
Material
Porcelain/Steel
Dimensions (L x W x H)
63cm x 63cm x 98cm
Grill Surface (Approx)
56cm x 56cm
Powder Coated
Charcoal Bowl
Porcelain Enamelled Steel
Grate
Chrome Plated
Warranty
10 Years
More Information
Best Budget
Product Image
Model/Make
Deuba
Material
Steel/Wood
Dimensions (L x W x H)
83cm x 44cm x 87cm
Grill Surface (Approx)
50cm x 30cm
Powder Coated
Charcoal Bowl
Enamelled
Grate
Chromed Stainless Steel
Warranty
N/A
More Information
Last update on 2024-11-21
Charcoal BBQ Grills – A Buyers Guide
Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill
If you’re looking for a stylish and classic charcoal BBQ grill, the Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill is definitely worth considering.
This 57cm (22in) black grill features a heat-resistant bowl and lid with vent, a triple-plated cooking grate, a heavy-gauge steel fuel grate, and a handle with a built-in heat shield.
With a porcelain-enamelled bowl that is easy to clean and maintain making it ideal for cooking and grilling food to perfection.
Whether you’re cooking burgers, sausages, pizza, or any other food, this grill will give you the perfect smoky flavour that you’re looking for. You can use ‘charcoal lump wood’ or ‘briquettes’ to cook your food to perfection.
This ‘anti-rust’ kettle BBQ provides a consistent temperature for even cooking, giving you that classic BBQ taste. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty, so you can be confident in its quality
The ‘Weber’ is designed to be portable and durable. It comes with wheels that make it easy to move around. Making it great for ‘cooking’ for friends and family anywhere around the garden or backyard.
While some assembly is required, the Weber compact is easy to put together with some patience and care. Customers have noted that it’s a solid and robust piece of equipment, and because of its larger size, it is perfect for those larger groups.
Overall, the Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill is a great choice for those who want a stylish and durable barbecue grill that is easy to clean and offers versatile cooking options. While assembly may require some patience and care, the end result is worth it. The mobility with wheels is also a great feature.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Stylish and Classic Design
- Versatile Cooking Options
- Easy to Clean
- Movable with Wheels
- 10-Year Warranty
- Assembly Required
Tepro Grillwagen Toronto Click
Looking for a reliable and efficient charcoal barbecue for your outdoor cooking needs?
The Tepro Grillwagen Toronto Click Charcoal Barbecue is a great option to consider.
With an innovative design that allows for easy and quick setup in less than 30 minutes, this barbecue is perfect for those who want to get ‘grilling’ right away.
One of the standout features of this barbecue is its size. With a grill surface of approximately 56cm x 41.5 cm (22in x 16in) and a warming surface of approximately 53cm x 24cm (21in x 9.5in), you’ll have plenty of space to cook up all your favourite foods.
The chrome-plated cooking grate and warming rack, as well as the easily height-adjustable charcoal tray, make it easy to cook your food to perfection.
The removable ‘grill insert’ is another great feature of this barbecue. It allows you to use different elements, giving you more versatility in your cooking.
The wheels make it easy to move and align well, while the robust legs ensure that the trolley stands securely in place.
Overall, the Tepro Grillwagen Toronto Click is a great choice for anyone who wants a reliable and efficient barbecue that is easy to use and offers plenty of space for cooking.
With its additional storage area on the side, you’ll have everything you need to cook up a delicious meal for your family and friends.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Easy setup
- Spacious Grill Surface
- Adjustable Features
- Mobility
- Assembly Difficulties
- Quality Concerns Space
- Charcoal Management
Deuba Gardebruk BBQ Grill
If you’re looking for a versatile and practical BBQ grill, the Deuba Gardebruk BBQ Grill on wheels is one you may want to take a look at.
With this mobile BBQ grill, you’ll certainly be ready for any upcoming barbecue parties in your garden or backyard.
The grill is equipped with two wooden shelves, one on the side and one below the grill just above the floor, making it easy to place your grilled food and accessories within comfortable reach.
The grill grate is a ‘5-fold’ height adjustable one, so you can adjust the height for your individual needs. In addition, the grill itself is ‘chrome-plated’ and made from stainless steel.
The Deuba Gardebruk BBQ Grill is effortless to move or manoeuvre using the 2 wheels and a wooden handle, making it ideal for uncomplicated transport. The product dimensions are 83cm x 87cm x 44 cm (approx 33in x 34in x 17 in), and the grill grate dimensions are 50cm x 30 cm.
The grill is made of metal as described above, and the shelves and handle are made of wood. The grate and skewer are made of stainless steel, and the weight of the grill is around 7 kg (approx 15 lbs).
Overall, the Deuba Gardebruk BBQ Grill is an excellent cost-effective choice for those looking for a practical and versatile BBQ grill that can be used almost anywhere.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Easy setup
- Spacious Grill Surface
- Adjustable Features
- Mobility
- Assembly Difficulties
- Quality Concerns Space
- Charcoal Management
Outsunny 55cm Charcoal Barbecue Grill
If you’re looking for an affordable dual-purpose charcoal barbecue grill that can cook several burgers and sausages at the same time, and when the cooking is over double up as a firepit, then the Outsunny 55cm Charcoal Barbecue Grill is a great option.
The grill has a Φ55cm (22in) grilling area and an adjustable grill height to ensure perfect cooking. The secondary grill can also be used to ‘store’ cooked food to keep it warm.
The ‘wooden’ chopping board (on the side) is a convenient addition for your food preparations, this chopping board can also be removed for easy cleaning and compact storage.
The grill also has ‘5 hooks’ to hang your BBQ utensils, tools, or other essentials. With a handy ‘vent’ at the bottom, this grill makes hassle-free ash cleanup easy.
The Outsunny Charcoal Barbecue Grill is made of steel and has a black finish. It measures 95cm x 64cm (37in x 25in) H x W and has an adjustable height of 88cm -101cm (35in x 40in). The bowl dimension is 64cm W x 13cm D (25in x 5in), and the chopping board has a max load of around 3kg.
Overall, the Outsunny Charcoal Barbecue Grill has many great features that make it a solid choice for outdoor cooking. This grill is a great option for those who want a reliable and convenient charcoal barbecue grill for garden party cooking.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Easy setup
- Spacious Grill Surface
- Adjustable Features
- Mobility
- Assembly Difficulties
- Quality Concerns Space
- Charcoal Management
Oil Drum Charcoal BBQ Grill
If you’re looking for an affordable and very versatile charcoal BBQ grill, then the Oil Drum Charcoal BBQ Grill is a great contender.
This BBQ grill is made from strong alloy steel, with a ‘chrome-plated steel’ cooking grid, and warming rack.
With a ‘built-in temperature gauge’ in the lid, and side vents for airflow adjustment, which all go to make for more precise cooking, this grill has more than enough for your BBQ needs.
It should be noted that a ‘lid’ on a charcoal BBQ provides several important benefits.
Firstly, it helps to regulate the cooking temperature by trapping heat and allowing for more even cooking. Additionally, using the lid creates ‘convection’ within the grill body, enabling lower-temperature cooking and indirect grilling.
Lastly, the lid prevents flare-ups by limiting oxygen, leading to a more controlled cooking environment.
This is quite a large (92 cm x 94cm x 89cm – 36in x 37in x 35in) freestanding BBQ grill, perfect for that ‘larger’ garden barbeque get-together for your family and or friends, you will not be found wanting for any ‘grilling’ space.
As mentioned above, the ‘warming rack’ is a great feature of this grill as it provides additional space for ‘keeping food warm’ while you finish cooking other foodstuffs.
Need to move the grill? No problems there either, The grill comes with ‘base wheels’, making it easy to move around your outdoor space.
One of the main drawbacks of the Oil Drum Charcoal BBQ Grill is that it doesn’t have a ‘drain’ or emptying point for cleaning out the ash, making it difficult to clean. I could not find any warranty either over and above the UK standard consumer requirements.
While it has some drawbacks, the majority of user reviews praise the Oil Drum Charcoal BBQ Grill for being well-made and good value for money. Overall, this is a solid option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly BBQ grill with some useful features
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Value For Money
- Easy Assembly
- Versatile Cooking
- Large Grilling Area
- No Drain for Cleaning
Sunshine BBQs Extra Large Brick BBQ Kit
Do you mind undertaking some DIY? No, Looking for a high-quality large brick BBQ kit able to cater for all your cooking needs.
Then the Sunshine BBQs Extra Large Brick BBQ Kit ticks all the boxes.
This super BBQ kit is slightly larger than the average, measuring some 112cm x 40cm, (44in x 16in) and comes with a heavy-duty 6mm (1/4in) stainless steel cooking and warming grill.
The ‘ash tray’ is made from thick 2mm (1/16th in) steel with a 7mm (1/4in) chromed steel charcoal grate, and features a 70mm ( 2 3/4in) lip to prevent ash from falling on your food.
One of the best things about this BBQ kit is the heavy-duty charcoal grate, which locks into the tray and allows for approximately 50mm (2in) of airflow for the ‘coals’ underneath. With a gap of only 20mm (3/4in) between the charcoal bars, you can be sure that your food will cook evenly and thoroughly. ‘Please note that bricks are not included’ in this kit.
If you are happy to carry out the DIY needed for this BBQ kit to give you a large, solid grilling area in your garden, a garden kitchen in effect, then you’ll have plenty of room to cook for a very large group of people.
Although a little pricey, in addition to buying your bricks, overall, the Sunshine BBQs Extra Large Brick BBQ Kit is an easy clean, top-quality product that is built to last. Its complete weight of approximately 22kg makes it the heaviest on the market for its size, which is a testament to the quality of the materials used. Once installed you can trust that this BBQ kit will deliver great results every time.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Large Size
- Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel
- Ash Tray
- Large Grilling Area
- Charcoal Grate/ Airflow
- Assembly
- A Bit Pricey
Baisal Portable Charcoal Grill
BBQing on the move? Need a portable charcoal BBQ grill that can cater to your outdoor cooking needs? On the beach, picnic, or the garden.
Look no further than the Baisal Portable Charcoal Grill. This grill is designed to provide you with a spacious cooking area of 60cm x 25cm (24in x 10in), allowing you to cook a full meal for 2-8 people.
The grill comes in a carry/storage bag with two stainless steel baking grills and a non-stick enamelware pan that can be used for frying and grilling, making it ideal for outdoor adventures like picnics and beach parties.
One of the standout features of this grill is its efficient ventilation design, with 19 vents that provide a faster fire and fuller charcoal burning, so that the food quickly achieves the taste of ‘crispy’ outside and ‘tender’ inside.
The grill also comes with three shelves for convenient placement of seasoning, making it more convenient to grill with easier access to your ingredients.
The Baisal Portable Charcoal Grill is solid, highly heat resistant, durable, and easy to clean, with removable grills that can be removed and cleaned if dirty. The grill is also designed with safety and health in mind, with separate high-temperature charcoal troughs and anti-burn handles for convenient charcoal ash cleaning.
Assembling the Baisal may be a little time-consuming, as some users have reported that the assembly process can be a bit tricky, and the instructions could be clearer.
While researching this product I could not find any extended warranty over and above that of the standard consumer protection warranties that apply in the UK.
Baisal, although not providing an extended warranty for the grill, is overall a great option for those looking for a portable grill that is efficient, easy to use, and provides a spacious cooking area.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Non-Stick Pan
- Carry Bag
- Stainless Steel
- Ash Tray
- Large Grilling Area
- Charcoal Grate/ Airflow
- Assembly
- A Bit Pricey
- No Extended Warranty
Uten Barbecue Grill (Stainless Steel)
Looking for that lightweight, portable grill to take with you on your outdoor adventures? Look no further than the Uten Barbecue Grill.
This BBQ grill is ideal for cooking mouth-watering burgers and sausages or whatever you fancy cooking up on your outdoor travels.
The Uten Barbecue Grill is designed to be both ‘foldable’ and ‘portable’. Its lightweight folding legs are perfect for easy transport and storage. Non-slip rubber feet also make the grill more stable, so you can enjoy the benefits of grilling anywhere.
In addition, the comfortable lifting handles make it easy to take from the storage room to the backyard or garden effortlessly.
This grill is also easy to assemble and use as many attest to. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions for stress-free assembly without the need for tools.
The Uten BBQ grill is designed with ‘air ventilation’ vents on both ends of the grill so that airflow can be controlled easily and heat distributed evenly throughout the grill. It is also easy to use and clean.
Made of 430 rust-resistant stainless steel, the Uten Barbecue Grill is durable and safe to use. It is heat-resistant and not easy to be deformed. The grill is also included with small and large barbecue wire mesh panels, meeting all your needs. Some users have reported that the cooking mesh can ‘stretch’ a little during use, which can make it difficult to cook certain foods.
Overall though, the Uten Barbecue Grill is a great choice for BBQ parties, picnics, or a night on the patio, with your friends and families, it will make your life convenient and fast. While it may not be the most sturdy grill on the market, it’s a great value for the price and is sure to provide you with many delicious meals.
Pro’s
Con’s
Price
- Portable And Lightweight
- Easy to Assemble And Use
- Rust-Resistant Stainless Steel
- Large Grilling Area
- Assembly Required
- Unstable Grill
- Stretchy Cooking Mesh
FAQs
Can I Use Charcoal BBQ Grills For Smoking Food?
Yes, you can use charcoal BBQ grills for smoking food. Simply by adding ‘wood chips’ or ‘chunks’ to the charcoal and maintaining a low, consistent temperature, you can achieve delicious ‘smoked’ flavours in your food.
What Should I Look For When Buying a Charcoal BBQ Grill
1. Size: Choose a grill that is large enough to cook for the number of people you usually cook for.
2. Material: The most common materials for charcoal grills are steel, aluminium, and ceramic. Steel is the most affordable option, but it is also the least durable. Aluminium is more durable than steel, but it is also more expensive. Ceramic is the most durable option, but it is also the most expensive.
3. Features: Some grills come with features such as a built-in thermometer, warming shelves, side shelves, and a lid. These features can make grilling more convenient and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Charcoal BBQ grills offer a traditional and authentic grilling experience, imparting a unique smoky flavour to the food. They are versatile, portable, and suitable for outdoor cooking.
However, it’s essential to consider factors such as maintenance, cleaning, and the time required for starting, preparing and lighting the charcoal. Despite these considerations, charcoal BBQ grills remain a popular choice for family and friends BBQ enthusiasts, who appreciate the rich, smoky taste that they impart to various dishes.