Affordable Kamado Grills


Our review process

Choosing a grill can be a long and detailed process. It can quickly escalate into an overwhelming decision. Luckily for you, we've already spent many hours gathering and analyzing information on more than 1,300 different grills and also looked at 89 data specifications for each one. Out of these grills, we then inspected four affordable kamado grills using our progressive AI technology. The following article will lay out the advantages and disadvantages and show you some more relevant information our research focused on, such as brand and body construction.

Looking to balance your budget? You might want to consider getting an affordable kamado grill. Built with ceramic materials, kamado grills are able to increase temperature and heat at a quick to sear all your favorite meat. They use charcoal, which adds a smoky flavor and caramelized texture. Kamado grills help meat retain flavor and moisture to bring delicious taste to every meal. They have ventilated heat regulation, adjusting extremely high temperatures to ensure that your food is properly cooked.

Our Top Ranking Grills:
Product NameBrandFuel TypeCooking Grate MaterialBody ConstructionCooking Area
Best Overall Score
1
An image of Char-Griller 6520 Akorn 22" Charcoal Steel Kamado Grill
Char-Griller 6520 Akorn 22" Charcoal Steel Kamado Grill
Char-Griller
charcoal
cast iron
steel
Runner Up
2
An image of Char-Griller 06614 Akorn Charcoal Cast Iron Portable Kamado Grill
Char-Griller 06614 Akorn Charcoal Cast Iron Portable Kamado Grill
Char-Griller
charcoal
cast iron
cast iron
153 sq. in.
Best for Smoking
3
An image of Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Charcoal Steel Freestanding Kamado Grill
Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Charcoal Steel Freestanding Kamado Grill
Char-Griller
charcoal
cast iron
steel
471 sq. in.
Best Portable Grill
4
An image of Vision Grills CS-TE19C1CBVDX-S7 Charcoal Ceramic Portable Kamado Grill
Vision Grills CS-TE19C1CBVDX-S7 Charcoal Ceramic Portable Kamado Grill
Vision Grills
charcoal
stainless steel
ceramic
137 sq. in.
Our Top Ranking Grills
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Griller
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Body Construction
steel
Cooking Area
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Griller
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Body Construction
cast iron
Cooking Area
153 sq. in.
Customer Rating
Brand
Char-Griller
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Body Construction
steel
Cooking Area
471 sq. in.
Customer Rating
Brand
Vision Grills
Fuel Type
charcoal
Cooking Grate Material
stainless steel
Body Construction
ceramic
Cooking Area
137 sq. in.
Best Overall Score
An image of Char-Griller 6520 Akorn 22" Charcoal Steel Kamado Grill

Transform your grilling experience by using the Char-Griller Akorn Charcoal Vessel/kamado Grill. Using charcoal, this kamado grill infuses your food with a smoky flavor, for an authentic barbecue experience. It includes a cast iron cooking grate, supplying a trustworthy surface that you can rely on for a long time. With a steel construction, it is able to withstand harsh conditions. Designed to offer extra working space, it is equipped with a prep and serving table, so you can keep your seasonings nearby. Made with a freestanding design, this kamado grill offers greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor dining space. Control the level of heat with its dual adjustable dampers. It has an easy-dump ash pan, so cleanup is simple.

    Pros
    • Uses charcoal, cooking your food over a longer period of time to ensure the meat remains juicy
    • Features a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to push it out of the way while you use your outdoor deck
    • Prep and serving table adds convenience to the grilling process
    Cons
    • Includes a cast iron cooking grate, requiring constant oiling to stop rusting
    • Charcoal gets incredibly messy and harder to clean
Runner Up
An image of Char-Griller 06614 Akorn Charcoal Cast Iron Portable Kamado Grill

Are you a fan of hosting great barbecues? Think about the Char-Griller Akorn Charcoal Vessel/kamado Grill for a delicious grilling experience. This kamado grill features a portable design, which makes it ideal for weekend trips. It includes a cast iron cooking grate, supplying a dependable non-stick surface that will last a long time. Fueled by charcoal, it cooks your meat and gives it a rich, smoky taste. Manage the level of heat with its adjustable air vents.

    Pros
    • Grease pan collects grease from your food and prevents it from damaging the grill
    • Charcoal cooks your food for a long period of time to ensure the meat remains soft for an authentic barbecue experience
    • Fitted with adjustable air vents to control the temperature within your grill
    Cons
    • Cast iron construction has a much bulkier structure than stainless steel
    • Features a cast iron cooking grate, taking a considerable amount of time to get hot
    • Charcoal is difficult to use during colder seasons because it requires more time to get to its ideal cooking temperature
Best for Smoking
An image of Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Charcoal Steel Freestanding Kamado Grill

Enjoy a perfect barbecuing experience with the help of the Char-Griller Akorn Charcoal Vessel/kamado Grill. Featuring a steel construction, this kamado grill is able to withstand harsh environments. Fueled by charcoal, it cooks the meat and infuses a rich, smoky flavor. It has a storage rack, providing convenient storage space, so you can keep your work space organized and clutter-free. This kamado grill is fitted with a tool holder, giving you the flexibility to barbecue like a pro by having all your utensils ready to use. Designed to offer an expanded surface space, it features folding side shelves, so you can keep your seasonings nearby. It includes a cast iron cooking grate, supplying a dependable non-stick surface that you can rely on for a long time. With a freestanding design, this kamado grill provides greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking area.

This kamado grill has lockable casters, ensuring your grill stays in one place if something or someone bumps up against it. Featuring a warming rack, it is ideal for preventing grilled food from getting cold until the moment you sit down to eat. Made with two locking wheels, it will be great for sloped or elevated areas. It is designed with a temperature gauge and features adjustable dampers, giving you more control over your grill. This kamado grill has an ash tool, helping to make cleanup a simple process.

    Pros
    • Warming rack helps keep food from cooling down without it overcooking
    • Features a storage rack, providing enough storage space for conveniently tucking away all your tools and utensils
    • Charcoal cooks your food for an extended period of time to ensure the meat remains juicy for an authentic barbecue experience
    Cons
    • Cast iron cooking grate doesn't provide a smoky taste to your food
    • Uses charcoal, getting dirty and tougher to clean
Best Portable Grill
An image of Vision Grills CS-TE19C1CBVDX-S7 Charcoal Ceramic Portable Kamado Grill

Transform your barbecuing experience with the Vision Grills Charcoal Vessel/kamado Grill. This ceramic grill includes a stainless steel cooking grate, giving you a simple-to-maintain, dependable, non-stick surface. It features a portable design, which makes it outstanding for weekend trips. This ceramic grill features a temperature gauge and adjustable air vents, which provide increased control over the heat in your grill, offering a more customized cooking experience. Using charcoal, it grills your food and offers an excellent smoky taste.

    Pros
    • Charcoal infuses your meat with a smoky flavor for an authentic cookout experience
    • A temperature gauge ensures that you won't overcook your meat
    • Anti-tip stainless steel stand makes packing up hassle-free
    Cons
    • Ceramic construction is at a greater risk of having cracks
    • Stainless steel cooking grate is much more costly than other grate materials
    • Uses charcoal, getting incredibly messy and harder to clean
Here's Some More Information To Think About When Purchasing Your Next Affordable Kamado Grill:
The Ins and Outs of Body Construction for Affordable Kamado Grills
Cast Iron Grills

There is one affordable kamado grill with a cast iron design. Flame-resistant cast iron grills can protect against the damaging effects of heat exposure. They have heavy-duty builds to tolerate the stresses of frequent use. Built with heat retaining technology, they stay hot for extended periods of time. However, they require more maintenance than other types of grills, so they take more work and time to clean up. Additionally, cast iron grates tend to rust easily, but this can be somewhat prevented if you don't keep them outside and always dry them right after you wash them. If you think a cast iron grill is the right choice, here's one to take a look at.

Ceramic Grills

There is one affordable kamado grill available with a ceramic design. Take a look at this one to see if it's what you'd like. Flame-resistant ceramic grills will protect against the damaging effects that heat can cause. With excellent resistance to corrosion, they can handle rough climates. They retain heat well to keep the surface hot for longer.

Steel Grills

If you want an idea of a great affordable kamado grill with a steel design, you can get started here. Anti-corrosion stainless steel grills will stay in great shape for long-term use. With a bacteria-resistant surface, they will protect your meat from contaminants while grilling. They are easy to clean, saving you time dealing with any residue or spills. Something to consider is that they aren't great at retaining heat, so they are harder to keep hot as opposed to cast iron grills, which can reach and maintain very high temperatures.

All About Grate Materials for Affordable Kamado Grills
Grills with Stainless Steel Grates

If you want an affordable kamado grill with a stainless steel grate design, you can find a great one here. With anti-corrosion materials, stainless steel grates offer long-term durability even after repeated use. The grates are heat retentive, minimizing the fuel required while grilling. They are non-stick, which will prevent food from sticking to the grate after grilling. The grates are simple to clean, which means that a variety of standard grill brushes will do the trick. They have a low maintenance build, making it easy to keep them in great shape over time.

Grills with Cast Iron Grates

There are one affordable kamado grills with a cast iron grate design, such as this one. Cast iron grates are heat retentive, decreasing the fuel required while cooking. The grates have even heat transmission, making them excellent for ensuring that food is thoroughly cooked. Including a non-stick surface, they make sure that food does not stick to the grate after cooking. However, the grates have a heavier design, so you may need a special tool to lift and replace them on the grill. Additionally, these grills require careful maintenance since the grates can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and cleaned right after.

What Type of Affordable Kamado Grill Should You Install?
Freestanding Grills

Want to learn more about freestanding grills? Well, keep reading the following paragraph to learn more about them, specifically in concurrence with affordable kamado grills. Freestanding grills are particularly great for grilling novices since they don't demand the same long-term commitment that built-in grills do. They are easy to move, allowing you to save space in your outdoor area. They typically include internal storage units, making them great for keeping all grilling supplies in one convenient place. They are compact, so you can move the grill into any for grilling, then move it into storage when it's not in use. However, they don't have any prep space, unlike built-in grills, so if you're trying to set-up an entire cooking station, they're not the best option. Thinking about getting a freestanding grill? You might want to consider this one.

Portable Grills

Want to learn more about portable grills? Well then, keep reading the following paragraph to learn more about them, specifically in concurrence with affordable kamado grills. Portable grills often include internal storage compartments, making them great for keeping all barbecuing utensils in one convenient area. They are compact, so you can move the grill into any for grilling, then move it into storage when it's not in use. One downside is that they often don't feature safety mechanisms, so if you choose to get one, it's a good idea to read up on proper use. Thinking about getting a portable grill? Check out this one.