The 8 Best Charcoal Grills in 2023 Charcoal Grill Reviews

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to weber charcoal grill bring you these selections. If you want a Weber for tailgating, camping, etc., this is one of the best portable grills out there. We noted similar temperature performance from the Nexgrill, along with similar rib results.

Given the enormous variety of products and designs, there is no one-size-fits-all test. A small to medium electric grill usually costs between $299 and $349. In most cases, you can expect to spend between $35 and $3,800.

However, many grilling purists don’t feel that gas grills offer the same smoky flavor that you can get from a charcoal grill. Weber gas grills tend to cost more than charcoal models, but gas is usually cheaper to operate in the long run. The grill is a classic 22-inch kettle, offering 363 square inches of cooking space, and there’s a weather-protected charcoal storage bin underneath the grill’s shelf. Most charcoal grills are simple, but this one has various extra features that make it more convenient.

This 18-inch ceramic grill has thick walls that lock in smoke and moisture, and you can use it to grill and smoke food thanks to its tower-style vent and built-in lid thermometer. Of course, there are several other benefits to charcoal grills. They’re typically more affordable than propane, natural gas, and pellet grills, and they also burn hotter, allowing you to get a beautiful crispy crust on your food. Plus, because charcoal grills typically have a simple design, they’re less likely to break down, and when they do have problems, repairs are usually straightforward. We tested the 22-inch Weber charcoal grill in black, but Weber also offers an 18-inch version of its original kettle design. There are certainly fancier and more expensive grills to use for cooking, but for a balance of affordability and quality, you can’t go wrong with this classic.

The Weber can also smoke low and slow at a rock-steady cooking temperature. With three heavy-duty grates for cooking, you’ll have plenty of room for all those burgers and brats with this stainless charcoal grill from Dyna-Glo. The smoke stack allows for temperature control and the side shelves and storage basket have room for keeping food and grilling tools nearby. “We used our grill for a large BBQ at our house and it was able to handle a large amount of food—chicken, dogs, burgers, veggies. The features make this grill easy to use and adjust to cook your food as you like it.

It has 406 square inches of total cooking space and a built-in thermometer, along with side shelves for storage. I have had over 50 grills—from a Weber gas grill to a Traeger pellet grill. In my search for the best grill, I have found it,” said one buyer.

weber charcoal grill

Here at BestReviews, our goal is help you make sense of your shopping choices. We work with industry experts to identify the most important features for the products we’re evaluating, and we then test out some of the top items to see firsthand how well they work. And because we buy our own products, you can trust that our recommendations are always completely unbiased. weber gas grill Efficient grill that has built-in side tables for small families or gatherings. Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she’s tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.

They’re versatile too since they can use either traditional charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. Our last test is grilling barbecued ribs, specifically baby back pork ribs. This style of cooking requires strict temperature control over a period of multiple hours. Ideally, a quality charcoal grill (or any smoker) will keep its fire humming along close to 225 degrees F for as long as possible. Lidless charcoal grills may be good for simple grilling, like cooking burgers and shrimp over direct heat, but you need a lid to successfully roast turkeys and smoke ribs. The average full-size grill is around 400 to 500 square inches—plenty of room to make enough food for a backyard gathering.