If you have the privilege of owning a coveted outdoor space like a backyard or patio, you'd be remiss not to have one the most essential pieces of summertime equipment at your disposal: A grill.
Grilling is one of the great pastimes of outdoor cooking, and one you don't want to miss out on. Think about all the delicious meals you can whip up, all while basking in the fresh air and spending some time with your family and friends.
It’s time to get with the program and get yourself a grill — a charcoal grill, specifically (we'll tell you why they're so great in just a bit). And thankfully, we're here to help you pick out the perfect one for your outdoor space. You're welcome.
Charcoal grills come in many different forms, which means that you have plenty of options when picking one out for your home — which, let's be honest, can do more harm than good at times. With more choices, comes more stressing over choosing the wrong one.
Try to stay grounded while you shop, remember one thing: Just because it's the most expensive, doesn't mean it's the best grill for you. It's all about matching your personal needs and space, and that super pricey grill with all the fun gadgets attached to it might not make you as happy as the budget grill that gets the job done just as well.
Size: Not just the amount of physical space it takes up (which is still important), but also take note of the amount of total cooking space. How much food do you normally cook at once? Are you regularly feeding a whole family? The more food, the more surface area you’ll want.
Shape: Seriously, the shape of your charcoal grill matters. Normally, charcoal grills come in a more rounded shape, which helps center the coals and direct heat to a concentrated point on the grate. But that's the classic way of doing it — lots of charcoal grills now come in shapes and sizes that more closely mirror their gas-powered counterparts, allowing for more surface area and heat points. There's also a bit of familiarity with these types of grills for those who are used to using a gas version. Both are good, but are used differently, so consider your cooking skills as well.
Versatility and extra features: This can range anywhere from temperature regulation vents, to side shelves, to warming racks, to built-in rotisseries, to equipment storage, and more. It’ll all come down to what you see as necessary, and what you see as superfluous.
Get those three priorities in check, and you’ve already done most of the work when it comes to finding your forever grill.
The debate over which grill you should buy — either gas or charcoal — is never-ending, and one that has no definitive answer.
The "answer" to that question will depend on where your priorities lie — convenience or flavor? Gas grills are all about the former (as well as helpful features that many charcoal grills just don't have). You can light them immediately, and they’re normally ready to cook on within minutes. With a charcoal grill, it’s a different story. These generally take 20 to 30 minutes to start up, which can be frustrating if patience isn’t your strong suit.
If you're willing to wait, you'll be rewarded. Many pro grillers say that cooking with a charcoal grill helps you retain a smoky flavor, resulting in a better tasting final result. Gas grills usually end up vaporizing a lot of that flavor, even though it gets the job done more quickly.
Gas grills are naturally more versatile and easier to operate, but that's not to say that charcoal grills don't have their helpful perks as well. Gas grills allow you to more meticulously control the temperature of your cooking surface with numbered knobs, while charcoal grills employ an adjustable vent that requires a little bit of finesse. You’ll end up paying more for a gas grill, and buying charcoal is a whole lot easier than refilling your propane tank in terms of availability.
You can’t really go wrong, though. Consider your cooking style, budget, and taste preference, then make an informed decision. Don’t stress over it — it’s just food after all — and both will give you the opportunity to be outside and get grilling.
We're happy to help answer that for you — below are our top picks for the very best charcoal grills you can order online.
If you want to upgrade from the normal Weber Kettle grill to better accommodate your larger outdoor space, the Performer Deluxe(opens in a new tab) takes that winning design and adds some useful features for those who have more than one or two mouths to feed.
You'll recognize the Kettle design within the Performer Deluxe — it's basically the same thing. Some distinguishing upgrades include an external thermometer, a touch-and-go lighter to set those coals ablaze, an extended workspace with a built-in digital timer, and a bin to store your to-be-used charcoal. You'll get that nifty airflow vent and ash collector from the Kettle, too.
It's going to cost you more than the regular Kettle model, but if you're feeding a family or have some square footage to fill in your backyard, the Weber Performer Deluxe is well worth the extra cost.
This probably doesn't come as a surprise, but Weber is taking our top spot. They took the crown in our gas grills roundup, too — they just make really good grills.
Weber's Original Kettle Premium charcoal grill(opens in a new tab) has stood the test of time and is the number one choice for grillers everywhere due to its ideal mixture of performance and price. This grill in particular is also a model of simplicity, not bogging you down with difficult usage or an overly complicated setup (assembly is a breeze).
The Kettle is known mostly for its adjustable lid vent that helps control airflow, allowing the coals inside to heat up further or cool down when closed. The Premium model also has a better ash collector, making cleanup much easier. Other features include a hinged grate that allows you to add coals as you grill, heat shields on the lid's handle, and a hook for your grilling tools.
When you take that killer price, ease of use, stellar performance, and put them all together, it's easy to see why the Weber Original Kettle grill is the best of the best.
New to grilling? Outdoor space limited? Enjoy portability? All those questions are addressed by the Lodge Sportsman's charcoal grill(opens in a new tab) due to its small size and low skill floor.
If you know anything about Lodge's popular cast iron skillets, you'll be happy to know that this hibachi style grill is also built to last and seasonable from the jump for better flavor retention. The adjustable grates hold heat better than that of non-cast-iron grills, so it naturally requires less charcoal get hot enough for use.
The pint-sized grill also has a sliding hatch to control airflow (not as simple to use as the Weber Kettle, but still useful), and a door for coals to be added whenever you need. Plus, that cast iron construction gets you a better sear on your food.
Whether you have little to no space outdoors or you just like taking your grill along with you wherever you go (who knows when you're going to need it?), the Lodge Sportsman's charcoal grill won't disappoint.
We think the Everdure Fusion grill(opens in a new tab) is an ideal choice for anyone who regularly engages in the art of rotisserie or anyone who wants to make an investment in a device that will up their cooking game.
The Fusion's built-in rotisserie has three adjustable heights for you to play around with to get your food cooked to perfection, and has jaw-like clamps to keep everything in place. With the grill's fast ignition system, you can light up your coals electronically and have the surface ready to cook in as little as 10 minutes. The grill is also removable from the free-standing pedestal for cooking on different surfaces, giving you some more freedom when it comes to portability. It's still pretty big, though, so we wouldn't recommend it as your go-to on-the-go grill.
If you have the patience and passion for rotisserie cooking, as well as $1,000 to burn, the Everdure Fusion charcoal grill is a high-tech (and high-end) machine that will deliver.
If you expect to be hosting many barbecues this summer or are just committed to having the best grill in the market, the Everdure 4K Smoker and Charcoal Grill will live up to any standards — if you can afford it, that is.
The grill boasts enough features though that an argument can be made for its price. It has a sophisticated airflow control system that ensures temperature adjustments are even and quick-to-execute, with bottom and top vents that provide a balanced flow of air. Its cooking temperature ranges from 230 to 725 degrees Fahrenheit, so there's a heat setting suitable for any cut of meat.
The temperature is displayed on the LED touch glass display and on Bluetooth-connected iOS/Android app, so you don't have to linger around the grill constantly checking the temp — step away and socialize as you like, as long as you have your smartphone.
The Everdure 4K is pet- and child-friendly, since it's got an auto-locking lid and a double-walled, insulated design that's cool on the outside even when it's at maximum heat inside.
Have we mentioned it's energy-efficient? One kilogram of charcoal will get you up to nine hours of cooking, and the grill is 429.5 square inches — big enough for 25 small burgers, apparently.
Sometimes, all you need is a no-frills grill that applies fire to meat. The Expert Grill 24-Inch Charcoal Grill does that, and then some. It has all the staples of a solid grill, with adjustable cooking temperature, built-in thermometer, and side and bottom shelves for storage and food prep space.
It also has a built-in bottle opener for the grillmaster to have their drinks without leaving the food to burn, which is a thoughtful part of the design but sadly a necessary one, since this grill doesn't come with remote settings like some fancier models, and the way that cooking temp is adjusted is via the hand-cranked height of the charcoal pan. That might make the position of grillmaster a little more tedious, but the pride of serving up plate after plate of tasty food doesn't change.
Plus, there's always the option of taking turns at the grill for maximum socialization. After all, good company is what makes the barbecue, and money saved on the grill is more money available for drinks and food!
Barbecues don't just start and end with your typical chicken wings, hot dogs, and burgers. The possibilities are endless, especially with the Pit Boss Memphis 2 Ultimate 4-in-1 and its smoking abilities. Brisket, turkey, even cheese — assemble your own charcuterie board and have yourself a proper summer evening.
If you know what you're doing, the options this 4-in-1 gives you are endless. Each component works well for its function — the charcoal grill has a 6-position grate adjustment and air dampers for the more particular chef, the smoker has a cold smoke option if you prefer a distinctively smokey taste, and the three-burner gas grill will serve up perfect sausages on demand.
True, the whole setup is a bit clunky and definitely not the most portable out there, but if you're only planning on hosting barbecues in your backyard, it'll do the trick. Plus, it's got four wheels to help you haul it around, and removable ash and grease pans for easier cleanup.