The 6 best charcoal grills of 2024 to bring out the flavors this fall

During the fall (during tailgate season), people love the benefits of charcoal grills. The grill master swears by the flavor, but also the more control they get over the heat.

So you don’t miss out on prime grilling season, we’re bringing you our picks for the best charcoal grills in fall 2024. Whether you’re tailgating, hosting a backyard party or enjoying an evening with friends and family, all of these grills will help you get the most out of your outdoor cooking.

What is the best charcoal grill in 2024?

Charcoal grills come in a variety of sizes – some are portable and can be easily brought to camping or tailgate parties, while others are designed to be a permanent fixture in the backyard or on the patio. These larger models tend to offer many additional features, not to mention the ability to prepare food for more people at the same time.

Whatever your needs and budget, we’ve picked the best charcoal grill options you can get right now. But if you’re looking for a grill that offers the latest in smart technology — and making a practical outdoor grill a no-brainer — check out our list The best smart grills for 2024.

For reviews, roundups and more, be sure to read the constant updates on technology and home, kitchen and outdoor coverage.

Charcoal grills are the best overall: Weber Original Ketel Premium

When it comes to charcoal grills, this is a classic. It offers excellent heat retention, a one-touch cleaning system, a thermometer built into the lid and durable steel construction. The grill is also available in a choice of copper, black or green.

Enjoy 363 square inches of premium cooking space from this 22-inch grill. This is enough space to prepare 13 burgers at once. It offers porcelain-enamel bowls and lids, along with steel-coated cooking grates. Cover height 7.5 inches.

While you’re cooking, charcoal ash falls into a high-capacity catcher tray that’s easy to remove when it needs to be emptied. Without having to lift the lid, you can control the temperature of the grill by adjusting the damper. When you close the dampers completely, this cuts off the oxygen flow and kills the charcoal. And the cover handle has a built in heat shield so it doesn’t get too hot.

Between the classic design, durability and ease of use, you can’t go wrong with the Original Premium Kettle Grill from Weber. And it is also offered at a good price.

Portable charcoal is best grill: Cuisinart CCG-190

The biggest advantage of this charcoal grill is that it can be set up anywhere outside, so you can take it camping, set it up at a tailgate party, park it on your patio, or put it on your deck.

The unit measures just 14.5 x 14.5 x 15 inches and weighs just two pounds. To keep everything together during transport, it has three built in lock covers. The grill also includes an ash catcher and a dual ventilation system.

This Cuisinart grill is available in black with a red lid or all black. For cooking space, there is 196 square inches. And the cooking rack is chrome-plated, thus helping to distribute the heat more evenly.

A slightly larger model is also available ($36). It offers the same design, but 200 square inches of cooking space.

Charcoal grills are the best value: Royal Gourmet CC1830

This charcoal grill from Royal Gourmet is definitely not the most expensive on the market, but at just $100 it’s a great value. This will be a great addition to your backyard space.

The grill offers a 443-square-inch main cooking space that uses a porcelain-enamel steel wire cooking grate. It is accompanied by a 184-square-meter, chrome-plated steel wire heating rack. When you are done cooking, just close the lid and the side air vent to extinguish the charcoal faster. The removable charcoal pan makes ash disposal easy.

The Royal Gourmet CC1830 has a six-pound charcoal capacity and a two-level height-adjustable fire pan. The bottom shelf built into the unit can hold up to 20 pounds. There is also a built-in side tablet that provides some extra space for food preparation.

You can choose to buy the grill on its own, or for $128, you’ll get the grill and a complete 13-piece grill set as a bundle.

Charcoal grills are best for large groups: Royal Gourmet CC2036F

From the popular Royal Gourmet CC2036F charcoal grill, you get 1,200 square inches of cooking space, which makes preparing meals for large groups a breeze. In addition to offering a classic barrel grill design, this model includes a smoker, which offers additional cooking options. All cooking grates are made of porcelain-enamelled steel wire.

The grill is mainly made of alloy steel. It measures 29.92 x 65.94 x 51.18 inches and weighs 87.5 kilograms. Built into the base are two wheels, which make positioning the grill easier.

Once this grill is heated, it will be ready to prepare food for eight to 10 people at a time. The 1,200-square-inch cooking space is divided into three areas – a 668-square-inch main cooking area, a 260-square-inch warming rack and a 272-square-inch offset smoker. The smoker is attached to the main body of the grill.

The main cooking area takes advantage of the three-level adjustable charcoal pan, which can hold up to 7.7 kilograms of charcoal. The smoker unit holds up to 2.6 pounds of charcoal. When it comes to quick cleaning, the grill has a grease drip cup and the charcoal pan is moved. Built into the grill lid is a handy thermometer.

Kamado charcoal grills are the best: NewAge Products Platinum 22″ kamado grill

This premium quality kamado charcoal grill is a must have in your backyard. It provides the best grilling experience, while capturing the unique flavor that can only be provided in this type of grill.

Thanks to the 22-inch diameter, the grill provides an impressive 450 square inches of cooking space. You can also control the temperature. It can maintain an accurate and even temperature between 225 degrees and 750 degrees Fahrenheit.

This grill is available in three finishes. It includes everything you need to enjoy a powerful grilling experience, no matter what type of food you are preparing. Along with the grill itself, you get a grate expander, a hang cooking set, a griller grate, a charcoal chimney starter, a charcoal tray and a charcoal zone divider. A stainless steel stand, made just for this grill, sold separately.

We love this grill feature. It has a solid ceramic stove box equipped with a natural teak handle. In other words, the Platinum Kamado is built for durability, heat retention and even heat distribution. You also get 8 millimeter stainless steel grates.

Another notable feature is that the grill comes with a patent-pending ash bucket. It collects almost all the ashes. So, once the kamado has cooled down, you can easily pick it up and throw away the ashes. This makes clean-up a breeze.

The best premium charcoal grills: Kamado Joe Classic III

If you’re looking for a charcoal grill that not only makes a bold visual statement but also offers plenty of useful features, we recommend the Kamado Joe Classic III charcoal grill. It comes in red with black accents and measures 24 x 42 x 41.98 inches.

When you open the lid, you’ll find an 18-inch round ceramic cooking grate. The Grill Base is made of heavy duty galvanized steel and features a rolling cart design with locking wheels.

One of the most interesting things about this grill is that it offers a patent-pending design that creates a hyperbolic smoke chamber. In other words, Harvard science turned the Kamado Joe grill into one of the best smokers in the world. By spreading the smoke and heat in rolling, recirculating waves, the cooking room surrounds the food in a cloud of delicious smoke, while evenly distributing the heat. This results in better flavor, with reduced hot spots.

This grill also comes with a practical, multi-level half-moon design, which allows you to cook different foods in different styles at different temperatures – at the same time. Top vents help you maintain a consistent air setting for proper airflow management when opening and closing the dome.

We love that the Classic III is made of powder-coated cast aluminum. Dual-adjustment upper ventilation is rainproof and mildewproof. Allows you to smoke from 225 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. So, while you’ll pay more for this premium grill, what you get for your investment is added flavor, versatility, durability and efficiency.

How to choose a charcoal grill

With so many options when it comes to charcoal grills, here are five things to consider:

• Overall size: Based on the size of your yard, porch or patio, make sure your grill will fit in the space, without causing a fire risk if it is installed near your house, deck, or overhanging trees.
• Cooking room: This affects the amount of food that can be made at once. Note that some grill brands include a warming rack in the calculation for the overall cooking space. For a family of four, 400 to 500 square inches of cooking space is sufficient. For eight to 10 people, you’ll want between 650 and 800 square inches of main cooking space. A more spacious cooking space is best for preparing a rack of ribs. If you plan to grill a large turkey, also pay attention to the height of the cooking space.
• Grill grates: Most grill grates are made of stainless steel, porcelain enameled cast iron, or porcelain enameled steel. All of these options are durable and easy to clean. When cooking a steak, this grate material creates impressive sear marks.
• Materials and durability: For the main housing of the charcoal grill, you want a durable material that holds heat well. Stainless steel, cast iron, enamel or sheet metal are the most common choices. Of these, stainless steel is the strongest material. It can withstand the best outdoor conditions.
• Easy to clean: Dust and debris can rarely make a mess. Ask for a grill that offers a design and uses materials that are easy to clean, but be sure to follow the cleaning instructions in the owner’s manual to avoid damage to the grill or the possibility of mixing dangerous chemicals into food.