Unbiased Small Barrel Grills Review


Our review process

We've taken a look at thousands of grills in total, including plenty of different brands, models, and features. We used our progressive AI technology to rank each individual grill based on a few data parameters. These features range from installation type and dimensions to durability and additional cooking accessories. The following guide will put forth small barrel grills in particular, of which we found seven different grills. We hope that this article will assist you in your choice.

There are both pros and cons to getting a small barrel grill. Barrel grills use charcoal, creating a smoky flavor and caramelized texture. They have a round or oval shape, so they distribute heat evenly and consistently, making sure that each piece of meat is equally grilled. Barrel grills have ventilated heat regulation, ensuring a consistent level of airflow. They have an extensive surface area, so you can cook a complete chicken or roast. Providing enough space to comfortably cook, they let you prepare all of your favorite dishes. Typically equipped with two burners, small grills are able to simultaneously sear at high temperatures and slow cook at low temperatures. They can be moved around easily, enabling you to place them anywhere you want in your yard or patio.

Our Top Ranking Grills:
Product NameBrandFuel TypeCooking AreaCooking Grate Material
Best Overall Score
1
An image of Char-Broil 463666115 Quickset Gas Portable Barrel Grill
Char-Broil 463666115 Quickset Gas Portable Barrel Grill
Char-Broil
gas
265 sq. in.
Runner Up
2
An image of Char-Broil Gas Freestanding Barrel Grill
Char-Broil Gas Freestanding Barrel Grill
Char-Broil
gas
280 sq. in.
Best Affordable Option
3
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS287CB-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill
Dyna-Glo DGSS287CB-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill
Dyna-Glo
charcoal
287 sq. in.
porcelain-enameled steel
Best for Smoking
4
An image of RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill
RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill
RiverGrille
charcoal
250 sq. in.
cast iron
Best Durable Option
5
An image of Char-Griller 1515 Charcoal Stainless Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill
Char-Griller 1515 Charcoal Stainless Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill
Char-Griller
charcoal
250 sq. in.
cast iron
Our Top Ranking Grills
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Broil
Fuel Type
gas
Cooking Area
265 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Broil
Fuel Type
gas
Cooking Area
280 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
Customer Rating
Brand
Dyna-Glo
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
287 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
porcelain-enameled steel
Customer Rating
Brand
RiverGrille
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
250 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Griller
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Area
250 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Best Overall Score
An image of Char-Broil 463666115 Quickset Gas Portable Barrel Grill

Make the perfect home-grilled meals with the Char-Broil Quickset Gas Barrel Grill. This gas grill features a portable design, which makes it excellent for weekend trips. It has two burners, so you can experience an even more diverse range of meals. This gas grill features built-in handles to keep your barbecue securely closed. Using gas, it enables you to easily adjust the heat to meet your personal preferences.

    Pros
    • Features side shelves, offering a wider surface space for food prep
    • Runs on gas, cooking food quickly
    Cons
    • Requires gas, needing more regular maintenance than other fuel types, due to its complexity
Runner Up
An image of Char-Broil Gas Freestanding Barrel Grill

If functionality and easy setup are your main priorities, consider the Char-Broil Gas Barrel Grill. This barrel grill has built-in handles to keep your barbecue tightly sealed. It features a piezo starter, which ignites the grill in no time. Using gas, it heats food quickly and is simple to use for your convenience. This weather-resistant grill is perfect for both summertime summer and winter cookouts. Equipped with a freestanding design, this gas grill offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking area. It features two burners, letting you use the direct and indirect heat necessary for two-zone cooking.

    Pros
    • Piezo starter makes lighting your gas grill quick and simple
    • Features side shelves, offering a wider surface space for chopping all your food
    • Runs on gas, distributing heat evenly across the grill
    Cons
    • Features a piezo starter, losing its ability to work quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Requires gas, needing more regular maintenance than other fuel types, due to its complexity
Best Affordable Option
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS287CB-D Charcoal Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

If you are someone who enjoys grilling up a storm at your backyard events, the Dyna-Glo Charcoal Barrel Grill is an excellent choice for you. With a freestanding design, this barrel grill offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor dining space. It is designed with a porcelain-enameled steel grill grate, providing a strong, rust-resistant, and won't peel or fade. This grill has heat-resistant handles to keep your barbecue tightly sealed.

Featuring a smoker add-on, this barrel grill is great for adding more flavor to whatever you're cooking. Built from steel, it is highly durable and resilient to harsh environments. This charcoal grill cooks your food and offers a rich, smoky taste. It has a removable ash pan, making grill cleanup quick and easy.

    Pros
    • Equipped with a smoker add-on for that rich, slow-cooked flavor and juicy results
    • Uses charcoal, cooking your meat to give it an authentic smoky taste
    • Features a freestanding design, allowing you the freedom and flexibility to push it out of the way while you are using your patio
    Cons
    • Charcoal takes much more time to get to its ideal temperature
Best for Smoking
An image of RiverGrille CG2065303-RG Desperado 17.5" Charcoal Stainless Steel Barrel Grill

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
Best Durable Option
An image of Char-Griller 1515 Charcoal Stainless Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

The Char-Griller Charcoal Barrel Grill is a superb choice for those who enjoy an authentic grilling experience. Made with a freestanding design, this barrel grill provides greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking space. Built with two large wheels, it will be perfect for hosting, camping, or picnics. Manage the amount of heat on your grill with its dual venting system. This stainless steel grill offers both a sleek look and proven dependability. Fueled by charcoal, this barrel grill infuses your food with a smoky flavor, for an authentic barbecue experience. It has a slide-out ash drawer and tool to make cleanup simple.

    Pros
    • Features a side shelf, offering added space for food prep
    • Stainless steel design is both sleek and durable
    • Uses charcoal, cooking the meat to give it a delicious smoky flavor
    Cons
    • Stainless steel construction tends to lose its color over time
    • Includes a cast iron cooking grate, taking a considerable amount of time to get to the desired temperature
    • Charcoal takes more time to heat up
Additional Picks
An image of Pit Boss 71340 Wood Pellet Freestanding Barrel Grill

Host excellent summer parties with the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Barrel Grill. This wood pellet grill features a warming rack, which helps keep your food hot once it is done cooking. It has an electronic ignition, which allows you to light your wood pellet grill simply and effortlessly. This barrel grill is equipped with digital temperature control for added convenience.

This barrel grill has a freestanding design, which gives you the freedom and flexibility to move it out of your way while you are using your patio. It features a porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grate, providing an extremely hard finish that protects against scratches. With lockable casters, it ensures your grill stays in one place if someone or something bumps up against it. Built with two locking wheels, this barrel grill will never roll away when you're cooking. It has a removable ash catcher, so cleanup is hassle-free. This wood pellet grill is ideal for a variety of cooking styles, including smoking, roasting, or braising meat to your personal taste.

    Pros
    • Electronic ignition makes lighting your wood pellet grill quick and easy
    • Designed with a warming rack to keep food hot
    • Features a porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grate, providing a strong, scratch-resistant, and won't fade or peel
    Cons
    • Porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grate causes rust and tarnishing much easier than stainless steel or normal cast iron
    • Electronic ignition loses its functionality very quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Wood pellets are more difficult to find than other fuel types
An image of Dyna-Glo DGSS443CB-D Charcoal Stainless Steel Freestanding Barrel Grill

If you're looking for maximum functionality, consider the Dyna-Glo Charcoal Barrel Grill. With two oversized steel wheels, this barrel grill is perfect for hosting parties, picnics, or camping. It has a temperature gauge and adjustable air vents, giving you more control over your grill. It has cool touch handles to keep your barbecue securely closed.

This stainless steel grill is highly durable and resilient in harsh conditions. Fueled by charcoal, this barrel grill cooks your meat and offers a rich, smoky flavor. It features a freestanding design, which saves space, giving you greater flexibility in your outdoor dining space. This charcoal grill has a collapsible steel front workstation, so you can enjoy extra work space.

    Pros
    • Stainless steel construction is durable and has an elegant appearance
    • Charcoal infuses your meat with a smoky flavor for an authentic cookout experience
    • Features a freestanding design, allowing you to roll it out of the way to save space when it's not in use
    Cons
    • Stainless steel design tends to fade over time
    • Charcoal gets messy and harder to clean
If You Need Help Making Your Choice, Here's Some Additional Information About the Small Barrel Grills Available:
What Type of Installation Do You Need?
Freestanding Grills

Want to learn more about freestanding grills? Well, keep reading the following section to learn more about them, specifically in accordance with small barrel grills. And if you think that a freestanding small barrel grills is good for you, then check out this grill. Freestanding grills are especially great for first-time grillers since they don't demand the same commitment that built-in grills do and don't come with the same price tag. They are easy to move around, giving you the freedom and flexibility to push them out of the way when you are done cooking. They typically include internal storage compartments to help keep all grilling supplies in one convenient place. With a compact design, they are an excellent option for small outdoor locations. One downside is that these freestanding grills don't have any prep space, unlike built-in grills, so if you're trying to set-up an entire outdoor kitchen, they're not the best option.

Portable Grills

Not sure if you should get a portable grill? We can help you decide by giving you some information that you need. Portable grills typically include internal storage compartments, making them great for keeping all barbecuing accessories in one convenient area. They are compact, making them a space-saving choice. However, they require additional measures for safety, so if you decide to get one, you'll want to read up on proper use. Ready to pick out the right small barrel grill for you? Get started here.

Body Construction for Small Barrel Grills
Stainless Steel Grills

With three small barrel grills with a stainless steel design, there's lots to know about what makes them unique. Manufactured with weather-resistant materials, stainless steel grills will withstand rough climates. They have excellent corrosion resistant for long-term use. With a bacteria-resistant surface, they will protect your meat from contaminants while grilling. Stainless steel grills are easy to clean, ensuring that you won't need to spend so much time dealing with any spills or residue. One downside is that they aren't great at retaining heat, so they can't maintain a high cooking temperature once you've removed the heat source. Check out this small barrel grill that we found.

Steel Grills

There is one small barrel grill available with a steel design. Check out this one to see if it's what you'd like. Featuring superior resistance to corrosion, these steel grills will stay in great condition for long-term use. They are easy to clean, saving you time dealing with any spills and leftover residue. These steel grills are bacteria-resistant, making sure that your food will not be contaminated while you're cooking. A potential downside is that they aren't great at retaining heat, so they can't maintain a high cooking temperature once you've removed the heat source.

Which Cooking Grate Material Is Best for Small Barrel Grills?
Grills with Cast Iron Grates

With two small barrel grills with a cast iron grate design, there's lots to know about what makes them unique. Cast iron grates are heat retentive, reducing fuel consumption while grilling. The grates can disperse temperature evenly, making them excellent for ensuring that meat is thoroughly cooked. They feature a non-stick finish, which will stop meat from sticking to the grate after cooking. Something to keep in mind is that they need to be maintained carefully: It's best if you oil them before use and clean them while they're still warm. Also, these grates have a heavier design, making it difficult to adjust or remove them for cleaning. Now that you're feeling more confident about cast iron grates, check out this highly-ranked small barrel grill.

Grills with Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron Grates

If you want a small barrel grill with a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate design, you can find a great one here. Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates are designed with high-quality materials for added durability. The grates are designed with heat retaining materials, delivering a perfectly cooked meal quickly and efficiently. They feature a non-stick finish to help you remove any remains of food after you have finished cooking. Something to keep in mind is that they need to be maintained carefully: It's best if you oil them before use and clean them while they're still warm.

Grills with Porcelain-Enameled Steel Grates

With two small barrel grills with a porcelain-enameled steel grate design, there's lots to know about what makes them unique. Porcelain-enameled steel grates are heat retentive, reducing the fuel required while cooking. With rustproof properties, the grates provide long-term durability even after repeated use. They are easy to clean, so you can use a standard grill brush to get off any grease. They feature a non-stick surface to help you remove any remains of food after you have finished cooking. They have a low maintenance build for quick clean-up. Now that you're feeling more confident about porcelain-enameled steel grates, check out this highly-ranked small barrel grill.