Top Small Charcoal Grills

Our review process

Choosing a grill can take some time. It can quickly escalate into an overwhelming choice. Luckily for you, we've already compiled and analyzed information on over 1,300 different grills and also looked at 89 data specifications for each one so that you won't have to look any further. Out of these grills, we then inspected 21 small charcoal grills using our advanced AI technology. The following article will break down the pros and cons of the 21 grills mentioned above and show you some of the more relevant information our research focused on, such as dimensions and body construction.

After reviewing small charcoal grills, we wanted to share some of our insights with you. Made for searing, charcoal grills give meat rich and tasty flavor and create the perfect texture. They are capable of reaching high temperatures, adding grilled flavors and zest to your food. Charcoal grills cook food gradually over a longer period of time, ensuring that meat remains tender and preserving all of its nutrients. However, they take more time to heat up, resulting in a lengthier cooking process. Also, they tend to build-up carbon and ash, requiring more time, regular maintenance, and a deep clean at least once during the grilling season. A benefit is that they can achieve a rich, smoky taste, maintaining a juicy flavor for all meat. Charcoal grills can burn off unwanted grease and fats, resulting in a nutritive dish. They are excellent for the entire family, offering you ample space to cook ideal portions. Often equipped with two burners, they can simultaneously sear at high temperatures and slow cook at low temperatures. They are no hassle to move, so you can place them anywhere you want in your yard or patio.

Our Top Ranking Grills:

	Product Name	Brand	Cooking Grate Material	Cooking Area
Best Overall Score 1	Weber 14401001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill	Weber	steel plated	363 sq. in.
Runner Up 2	Weber 1211001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill	Weber	steel plated	240 sq. in.
Best Portable Grill 3	Blue Rhino GBT1508B Charcoal Portable Covered Grill	Blue Rhino	porcelain-enameled steel	240 sq. in.
Best Affordable Option 4	LANDMANN 525110 23" Charcoal Freestanding Kettle Grill	LANDMANN	porcelain-enameled steel	380 sq. in.
Best Durable Option 5	RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill	RiverGrille	cast iron	250 sq. in.

Our Top Ranking Grills

Best Overall Score

Weber 14401001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

Customer Rating

Brand

Weber

Cooking Grate Material

steel plated

Cooking Area

363 sq. in.

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Runner Up

Weber 1211001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

Customer Rating

Brand

Weber

Cooking Grate Material

steel plated

Cooking Area

240 sq. in.

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Best Portable Grill

Blue Rhino GBT1508B Charcoal Portable Covered Grill

Customer Rating

Brand

Blue Rhino

Cooking Grate Material

porcelain-enameled steel

Cooking Area

240 sq. in.

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Best Affordable Option

LANDMANN 525110 23" Charcoal Freestanding Kettle Grill

Customer Rating

Brand

LANDMANN

Cooking Grate Material

porcelain-enameled steel

Cooking Area

380 sq. in.

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Best Durable Option

RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill

Customer Rating

Brand

RiverGrille

Cooking Grate Material

cast iron

Cooking Area

250 sq. in.

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Best Overall Score

Weber 14401001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

3.6 by user reviews

The Weber Charcoal Grill is equipped with a tool holder, which provides you with extra room for your appliances. By utilizing durable wheels, this grill will be excellent for parties, camping, and picnics. It features a One-Touch™ cleaning system and a removable ash catcher.

Pros

Steel plated cooking grate is an ideal choice for long-lasting durability
Features a tool holder, providing you with a convenient spot for your appliances
Charcoal infuses your food with a smoky flavor for an authentic grilling experience

Cons

Uses charcoal, taking more time to heat up

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Runner Up

Weber 1211001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

3.1 by user reviews

The Weber Charcoal Grill has a steel plated cooking grate, which is a great option for long-lasting durability. This grill is equipped with an aluminum ash catcher to make cleanup easy.

Pros

Steel plated cooking grate is a perfect choice for long-lasting durability
Uses charcoal, providing your meat with a smoky flavor for an authentic grilling experience

Cons

Uses charcoal, making it harder to have better temperature control from low to high

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Best Portable Grill

Blue Rhino GBT1508B Charcoal Portable Covered Grill

5.0 by user reviews

The Blue Rhino Charcoal Covered Grill is a great addition to any outdoor cooking area. This portable grill has a folding side shelf, so you can enjoy expanded work space. It features a portable design, so you can conveniently bring it camping or to a friend's house. Featuring a warming rack, it is ideal for preventing grilled food from getting cold until the moment you sit down to eat. Use the indirect and direct heat needed to create a two-zone cooking area with this portable grill's large stainless steel main burner. It has a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, providing a strong exterior that protects surfaces from physical damage or impact. This charcoal grill allows you to conveniently regulate the temperature, ensuring tender results each and every time. It is equipped with a continuous-spark ignition to make lighting your charcoal grill as easy as possible with a simple push of a button.

Pros

Continuous-spark ignition provides you with an easy way to light your grill
Warming rack helps keep food hot
Features a porcelain-enameled steel grill grate, providing an extremely durable finish that protects against weathering

Cons

Continuous-spark ignition loses its functionality very quickly if it gets too dirty
Charcoal gets dirty and harder to clean

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Best Affordable Option

LANDMANN 525110 23" Charcoal Freestanding Kettle Grill

4.9 by user reviews

If you enjoy hosting outdoor events, the LANDMANN Charcoal Kettle Grill is a perfect choice for you. This charcoal grill features two heavy-duty wheels, which allow it to be easily moved across different environments. It features a temperature gauge, and an adjustable vent on the cover, which provides increased control over the heat in your grill, offering a more customized grilling experience. It has large bakelite handles to keep your barbecue tightly sealed.

This kettle grill has a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to roll it out of the way while you are using your outdoor deck. This charcoal grill cooks the food over a long period of time to develop deeper flavors. Quickly and easily dispose of ashes accumulated during grilling with its removable ash catcher. It includes a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, preventing leaching caused by toxic metals into the food, making it safe to use.

Pros

Includes a porcelain-enameled steel grill grate, providing a strong exterior that protects surfaces from physical damage or impact
Features a storage rack, providing ample storage space for easily accessing all your tools and utensils
Charcoal cooks the food slowly

Cons

Uses charcoal, taking more time to get hot

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Best Durable Option

RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill

4.5 by user reviews

The RiverGrille Desperado Charcoal Barrel Grill is great for enjoying an authentic grilled meal during all your summer events. With the work surface, you'll be able to prep your food before throwing it on the grill. Using charcoal, this barrel grill enables you to conveniently regulate the temperature, ensuring tender results every time. This stainless steel grill provides both a sleek look and proven dependability. Made with a freestanding design, it offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking space. It has adjustable air vents, giving you more control over your grill. This barrel grill has cool touch handles to keep your barbecue tightly sealed. Quickly and conveniently discard ashes accumulated during cooking with its slide-out ash pan.

Pros

Features a side shelf, providing you with a large amount of space to rest your plate of ribs
Stainless steel design is highly resistant to corrosion and rust
Charcoal cooks your food slowly

Cons

Stainless steel design tends to fade over time
Cast iron cooking grate doesn't give a smoky flavor to your food
Uses charcoal, getting messy and harder to clean

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Additional Picks

Weber 14501001 Master-Touch 22" Charcoal Covered Grill

4.6 by user reviews

The Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Covered Grill is an excellent choice for any neighborhood cookout. This Weber grill comes with a warming rack, so you can heat up more food while you cook your main course. Manage the amount of heat with its adjustable dampers. Fueled by charcoal, it cooks your food over an extended period of time to develop a rich barbecued flavor. It has a One-Touch™ cleaning system and an aluminum ash catcher, helping to make post-grill cleanup a quick and hassle-free process.

Pros

Warming rack helps keep food from cooling down
Uses charcoal, barbecuing the food over a longer period of time to develop stronger flavors
Has adjustable dampers to manage the temperature inside your grill

Cons

Uses charcoal, making it harder to have better temperature control from low to high

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Weber 14402001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

2.0 by user reviews

The Weber Charcoal Grill features a tool holder, so you can conveniently store cooking appliances. With durable wheels, this grill will be excellent for hosting parties, picnics, and camping. It is designed with a built-in lid thermometer to keep the perfect temperature for all of your grilling needs.

Pros

Features a tool holder, giving you the flexibility to barbecue with ease by having all your utensils ready to use
Steel plated cooking grate has excellent durability and rust resistance
Charcoal cooks your food slowly to ensure the meat remains moist for an authentic barbecue experience

Cons

Charcoal gets messy and tougher to clean

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Weber 14407001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

2.0 by user reviews

With durable wheels, the Weber Charcoal Grill will be ideal for parties, picnics, and camping. This charcoal grill has a tool holder, providing useful hooks to keep your accessories closeby. It is designed with a One-Touch™ cleaning system and has a removable ash catcher.

Pros

Features a tool holder, providing you with extra room for your accessories
Steel plated cooking grate is a great option for long-lasting durability
Charcoal cooks the food over an extended period of time

Cons

Uses charcoal, making it harder to have better temperature control from low to high

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Weber 15401001 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

2.0 by user reviews

Designed to offer an expanded work space, the Weber Charcoal Grill is built with a side table, so you can keep the next set of hot dogs ready to go. This porcelain-enameled grill has a CharBin™ storage container and is fitted with a CharBin™ storage container, which allows you to tuck away all your accessories for a clutter-free work area. It has a One-Touch™ cleaning system and a removable ash catcher.

Pros

Features a CharBin™ storage container, providing a durable, waterproof container that conveniently holds charcoal in its original bag, so it's always ready to pour
Charcoal cooks your food over a long period of time
Side table adds ease to the grilling experience

Cons

Charcoal gets incredibly messy and tougher to clean

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Weber 40020 Charcoal Porcelain-Enameled Grill

2.0 by user reviews

The Weber Charcoal Grill has a steel plated cooking grate, which has excellent durability and rust resistance. This charcoal grill features a porcelain-enameled construction, which retains heat and won't rust or peel. Using charcoal, it grills the meat and offers a delicious smoky flavor.

Pros

Steel plated cooking grate has superior durability and rust resistance
Uses charcoal, grilling the food for a longer period of time to enrich the flavor for an authentic barbecue experience

Cons

Charcoal is difficult to use during the winter because it requires more time to get to its ideal cooking temperature

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Searching for the Perfect Small Charcoal Grill for You:

The Ins and Outs of Body Construction for Small Charcoal Grills

Stainless Steel Grills

There is one small charcoal grill with a stainless steel design. Anti-corrosion stainless steel grills will stay in great condition for long-term use. Built with weather-resistant materials, they will handle harsh conditions. They are easy to clean, saving you time dealing with any residue or spills. With a bacteria-resistant surface, they will protect your meat from contaminants while cooking. One downside is that stainless steel grills aren't great at retaining heat, so they are harder to keep hot as opposed to cast iron grills, which can reach and maintain incredibly high temperatures. Ready to pick out the right small charcoal grill for you? You can get started here.

Cast Iron Grills

There is one small charcoal grill available with a cast iron design. Check out this one to see if it's what you'd like. Manufactured with flame-resistant materials, cast iron grills can protect against the damaging effects of heat exposure. They have heavy-duty designs for everyday use. With excellent heat retention, they will remain hot for longer. However, they require more maintenance than other types of grills, so they take more time and work to clean up. Also, cast iron grates tend to rust quite easily, but this can be somewhat prevented if you don't leave them outdoors and always dry them right after you wash them.

Ceramic Grills

If you want an idea of a great small charcoal grill with a ceramic design, you can get started here. Ceramic grills feature flame-resistant material, protecting against the damaging effects heat can cause. With superior corrosion resistant, they can withstand rough climates. Built with heat retaining technology, ceramic grills will remain hot for longer.

You'll Want to Think Cooking Grate Material for Small Charcoal Grills

Grills with Stainless Steel Grates

There are five small charcoal grills with a stainless steel grate design. Stainless steel grates have heat retention technology, lessening the amount of charcoal you need when you grill. Built with anti-corrosion properties, these grates provide long-term durability even after repeated use. They are simple to clean, so most standard grill brushes should be able to do the job. With a non-stick coating, they will prevent meat from sticking to the grate after cooking. These grates feature a low maintenance design for an easy cleanup. Now that you're feeling more confident about stainless steel grates, check out this highly-rated small charcoal grill.

Grills with Chrome Plated Grates

If you want a small charcoal grill with a chrome plated grate design, you can find a great one here. Chrome-plated grates are simple to clean, so most grill brushes should be able to do the job. With material appropriate for occasional use, these grates suit beginner cooks. They feature a low maintenance build for an easy cleanup.

Grills with Cast Iron Grates

There are six small charcoal grills with a cast iron grate design. Cast iron grates can circulate heat evenly, so you can create the perfect consistency and texture for your food. These grates are built with heat retaining materials, minimizing fuel consumption while cooking. They feature a non-stick finish, which will prevent food from sticking to the grate after grilling. However, these grills require careful maintenance since the grates can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and they can't be cleaned with all types of detergent. Additionally, these grates are quite heavy, making them more cumbersome and harder to handle and install. Now that you're feeling more confident about cast iron grates, check out this highly-rated small charcoal grill.

What Is the Optimal Grill Type for Your Small Charcoal Grill?

Kamado Grills

The following will help you narrow down what to look for when considering kamado grills. You can check out this small charcoal grill if these types of grills are what you're looking for. Kamado grills have ventilated heat regulation, ensuring a safe level of airflow. Designed with ceramic materials, they provide varying low and high temperatures to be reached in a little amount of time. Kamado grills preserve flavor and moisture due to the frequent rotation of the grill's interior, preventing meat from getting dried out and ensuring the most delicious results.

Covered Grills

The following will help you narrow down what to look for when considering covered grills. You can check out this small charcoal grill if these types of grills are what you're looking for. Covered grills have even temperature distribution, which gives for juicy, delicious results. They feature ventilated heat regulation, enabling you to grill meat or seafood at a steady temperature without it burning or overcooking. With a larger surface and flame for cooking several food items at the same time, they are great for making a whole meal for all your friends and family.

Kettle Grills

The following will help you narrow down what to look for when considering kettle grills. You can check out this small charcoal grill if these types of grills are what you're looking for. Kettle grills disperse heat at a consistent rate, so meat can be cooked to the ideal temperature. They have ventilated heat regulation, enabling you to cook meat or seafood at an even temperature without it overcooking or burning. Kettle grills have a round or oval shape, directing heat inwards to cook food at a faster rate.