Charcoal BBQ Grills (109 products)

Things To Consider When Buying A Charcoal Grill

For many BBQ fanatics, there is no better flavor than food cooked on a charcoal BBQ. Charcoal simply offers a unique smoky flavor that other grills just can't compare to. When you set out to buy a new charcoal barbecue, there are some things that should be considered to ensure you'll be happily grilling for many years to come.

Since 1998, it has been our passion to help charcoal grillers find the right grill, at the best price possible. We are pleased to offer many of the top brands of built-in, freestanding, and portable charcoal grills in the industry and we thank you for giving us a shot to earn your business. Here are some tips for choosing the perfect charcoal grill for your backyard:

Think About What Kind of Charcoal Grilling You Do

The best charcoal grill for you is the one that fits your cooking need and lifestyle. Do you plan to sear and grill burgers and steaks, or are you looking for something that is best suited for low-and-slow smoking, like BBQ ribs and chicken? If you plan to use your grill as a smoker, you'll need one that offers plenty of space to build your coals on one side or around the perimeter of the firebox, while leaving plenty of space for your food on the other. It's also important to consider air flow and ventilation. The grill needs to be sealed tight to hold in the smoke and the heat, while offering sufficient air vents to regulate the temperature properly. An adjustable charcoal basket that can be raised or lowered is another great feature that is handy for charcoal smoking, and some grill grates let you fold up a section to add or tend to your charcoal.

Consider the Grill’s Durability

Construction should be a major factor when shopping for a charcoal grill. Typically, the most durable charcoal grills are made of commercial-grade 304 stainless steel. Not all stainless is the same, and if the product details don't say it's made with 304, chances are it's not. By purchasing a quality-built grill, you can expect to enjoy it for many years longer than one built of lesser quality materials that may rust or corrode over time.

Look for Outdoor Charcoal Grills that are Easy to Clean

Nobody wants to be stuck with a grill that has to be turned over to clean out any ash or partially burned charcoal. One handy feature to consider is an easy clean-out mechanism. Many kamado grills offer some sort of ash tool or pull-out ash basket, while some kettle charcoal grills have ash trays that can be easily removed and dumped.

Other Popular Features to Look For

Rotisserie. An increasing number of charcoal grills either accommodate a rotisserie or include one. This can really level-up your charcoal grilling game by providing even cooking of larger cuts or whole birds, making the meat more tender, and reducing fat and grease.

Height-adjustable Cooking Grates give you more control over the cooking temperature, especially when cooking over direct heat.

Split-tier, Adjustable Charcoal Trays allow for highly versatile cooking, making it even easier to manage the heat when you are cooking different foods with different heat requirements.

For more helpful information about buying a charcoal grill, visit our Charcoal Grill Buying Guide.

Still have questions about charcoal BBQ grills? Our BBQ experts are always standing by at 1-888-711-6860 to answer all of your charcoal grilling questions, or to help find the perfect charcoal barbecue for you!

Eager to be an outdoor entertaining champion? Our in-house experts are constantly updating our very own Grillabilities® articles, teaching you the skills to grill! Our goal? To take any newcomer from first taste to first place with competition-level execution — and to teach our loyal grill masters out there a few new tricks. Already a killer griller? Rather build your barbecue backyard paradise? Skip the grueling research hours: our many BBQ and Outdoor Kitchen Buying Guides, written by our top specialists, squeeze 20+ years of expertise into the need-to-know info!