12 Best Small Charcoal Grills: 2024 Reviews & Buying Tips

Having a fantastic grill in your backyard or on a camping excursion is a great method to bond with your family and friends. All you need is a grill, some food, and drinks for an enjoyable session. To guarantee your food’s quality, it’s essential to have one of the top-ranked small charcoal grills.

We’ve scoured the marketplace to find the ones that will match all your requirements by assessing their attributes and dependability. By putting out the particulars of the best small charcoal grill alternatives, you’ll have the ability to swiftly come to a choice.

List Of 12 Best Small Charcoal Grill Reviews

1. Char-Griller E22424 Table Top Charcoal Grill

• The Char-Griller Tabletop Charcoal Grill may be attached to a bigger grill or you may use it on its own for optimum versatility. When you’re cooking, you may use this as a grill or as a smoker, based on the sorts of foods that you wish to prepare.
• Cleaning the coals only requires a few minutes. That is because you may get rid of the ash pan and just dump it out. The other elements could be wiped down fast to keep them tidy.
• The body of this small charcoal grill is constructed from thick steel for durability. The grates are manufactured out of cast iron in order they can resist lots of usages. The grates offer you 250 square inches of cooking space, letting you prepare entire meals.

2. Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill

• This kettle-shaped timeless is a phenomenal small grill. An underside port and an aluminum top damper let us dial from the airflow.
• Regardless of the Smokey Joe’s small quantity, there was sufficient space to control the coal for exact cooking-we put mound charcoal on one side to indirect heating and also rotated the lid so the upper damper drew smoke beyond the meals.
• The grill’s set up and cool down are easy, exact, and quick. Years of experience with it’s convinced us of something: It’s a classic that could be nearly impossible to improve upon.

3. Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill

• This hardy charcoal grill is equally as successful for cooking hamburgers in your backyard because it’s for feeding hungry sports fans while tailgating.
• The small charcoal grill includes a thick steel structure with thick foliage grates that provide a wonderful sear on meals, and it provides 218 square inches of cooking surface which could hold up to ten hamburgers simultaneously.
• One of its greatest features is that the height-adjustable charcoal menu, which includes three adjusted settings for various degrees of warmth, and in addition, it has an easy-to-remove ash pan, an expert temperature indicator, and big atmosphere dampeners for an exceptional airflow controller.

4. Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

• Should you want a small and exceptionally maneuverable grill, then you would not fail with Weber Charcoal Go-Anywhere Grill. Aside from the brand, this unit is properly structured to supply you with the very best support a griller would need.
• Should you will need a handy and trustworthy grill, you may never fail with Weber’s merchandise. The Weber hamburger press makes it effortless to form six patties that easily fit the best grates properly. The grates can hold various kinds of foods.
• Weber Charcoal Go-Anywhere Grill provides you a cooking area of 160 square inches. This is sufficient to cook meals for a couple of men and women. They could cook and hold both fish and poultry and other foods with a great deal of ease.
• This small charcoal grill includes a suitable locking lid, which makes it feasible to use the grill in various ways. If you have to consume your food much quicker, all you have to do is lock the lid to maintain the smoke and the warmth indoors.

5. Weber 441001 Original Kettle 18 in Charcoal Grill

• If you are not looking to invest up to a grill, then you could think about a pared-down variant of the best selection: the Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill.
• It is smaller and lacks some of the features of the Premium version, but this cheap Weber Kettle Grill still provides tasty broiled foods infused with the smoky taste of charcoal.
• This grill can hold up to eight hamburgers on its own stainless steel cooking grate, and it includes an enameled porcelain lid and lid, bowl hook, along easy-to-adjust tampers.
• It’s durable wheels for simple transportation, and you may wash up fast utilizing the one-touch cleaning system, which pops debris and ash to the rust-resistant ash catcher.
• Many reviewers favor the “easy” design of the budget-friendly small charcoal grill, so composing that it’s simple to keep and even going so far as to call it the “finest grill ever produced.”

6. Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Premium 14-Inch Portable Grill

• The Smokey Joe dismisses a timeless picture, being basically the ideal image of what folks think about when they speak about grills.
• That picture is totally true to what the Smokey Joe provides: solid functionality, but no real surprises. It’s adequate capacity and decent structure, all in a lightweight and easy-to-store bundle.
• Best of all it’s cheap. You may pick up one of them for around a third the cost of a far better choice, which is excellent if you do not need anything fancy. This makes a fantastic starter or grill.

7. Cuisinart CCG190RB Portable Charcoal Grill

• The Cuisinart 14″ Portable Charcoal grill provides the best answer for all your on-the-go grilling requirements. This compact small charcoal grill is lightweight & easy to transfer but nevertheless provides over 150 square” Of grilling area – enough to grill for the whole family or the carload in the big game.
• The firebox is enamel coated – providing it durability & strength to endure the harshest grilling requirements. The double venting system helps to control the heat so it’s possible to cook low & slow or upward at searing hot temperatures. For extra convenience, the lid is fastened by 3 durable locks, & the ashtray is available for simple clean-up.

8. Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill

• The ideal grilling alternative where space is restricted; the Char-Griller Patio Pro BBQ Grill packs a powerful grilling punch with each meal. The Char-Griller Patio Pro BBQ Grill features cast-iron grates for cooking, a simple dump ash pan for simple cleanup, and a double bottom structure for superior heat management. Conveniently supplies 250 sq. in. Of grilling capability delivering excellent taste and performance.

9. Char-Griller E6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill

• The Char-Griller Kamado Kooker Grill includes 153 square inches of room to cook your dishes. The grate is constructed from cast iron, ensuring durability and a fresh flavoring for those foods that you prepare.
• Since this small charcoal grill is easy to transfer, it is possible to take it anywhere from picnics to preparing a meal in your backyard. It keeps heat efficiently because it’s triple-walled. It’s possible to cook meals in a temperature assortment of 200 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The body of this grill is 22-gauge steel. There’s a ceramic coating on the inside and a powder coating on the outside. Both these coatings help to keep the integrity of this grill and further its heat retention skills so you can cook a lot of foods with no cold or cold spots.

10. GoBQ Portable Charcoal Grill

• This folding GoBQ is a book, innovative portable grill unlike any other. It packs up at a tube eight inches in diameter and 14 inches in length and communicates easily by the handle at the top or using the included shoulder strap. Made from silicone-coated fiberglass cloth with a collapsible metal framework, it can withstand temperatures up to 2,200 levels.
• We appreciated the ease of installation, and after we had been comfortable with the small charcoal grill we can open this up in moments. A flexible metallic basket keeps the charcoal, and also we analyzed both with it complete and with approximately 12 briquettes to get a fast meal.
• Once open, the exterior carrying case becomes a hood to cover the grill and also include warmth. In our testing, we grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and bone-in poultry on the GoBQ, all of which culminated with the anticipated, flavorful results.
• The GoBQ grill is a superb alternative for traveling, tailgating, or even for individuals with little apartments, provided its ease of packing, stowing, and transporting.

11. Weber 15501001 Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill

• Many small charcoal grills are rather straightforward, however, this one has an assortment of additional features which make it even more suitable to use. For example, it is outfitted with a propane-powered ignition system that gets your coals lit fast and easily, and there is a cooking timer built into the grill.
• The grill itself is a traditional 22-inch kettle that provides 363 square inches of cooking area, and there is a weather-protected charcoal storage bin beneath the grill’s shelf.
• It’s the manufacturer’s one-touch cleaning system along with also a high-capacity aluminum ash catcher, and the grill’s two-part grate system may be employed with Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System cleansing set.

12. Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill

• Searching for great searing, smoking, & exceptional low & slow cooking? Look no farther than the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado charcoal grill, slate.
• With features such as a simple dump ash pan & Dual adjustable dampers, this grill is simple to use & provides great results. Cast iron small charcoal grill a heating Rack creates cooking for the entire team a breeze.

Buying Guide for the Best Small Charcoal Grill

A charcoal grill may not be pricey and complex as a gas grill is also, but it’s still crucial to find the ideal. One reason people would rather have a charcoal grill above a gas grill would be that the smoky taste it leaves your meals.

The grill is also easier to install and might also be much more economical as fuel price is concerned. But never underestimates the value of having top-notch units by following this manual. Below are a couple of things you Want to Think about when shopping for a small charcoal grill:

Ash Catcher

While searching for a small charcoal grill, then there are a number of things you will need to put under account. One of these is that access to an ash catcher. This really is a bowl-shaped or pot-shaped container that’s latched onto the base of almost any grill. Ash residue is then steered to it based on the version you’re using. The ash can occasionally also work as a bottom vent.

Electronic Gas Ignition

Among the most bothersome things which have made a lot of men and women prefer gas grills on charcoal grills would be that the challenge of light it. That is, nevertheless, not an issue anymore. Some bigger new versions include a small propane tank for powering the digital ignition which comes fitted at the grill. The digital ignition fires up the briquettes, and in a couple of minutes, the small charcoal grill will soon be ready to go.

Grate Construction

Aside from the grills being flexible, the building material also issues a lot. The same as other tiny grills, small charcoal grills comprise grates made from various materials. A few are chrome plated wire; others comprise nickel, stainless steel or stainless steel, cast iron.

These substances have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s vital to know them well before deciding on any. Your intended use of this grill will even determine this.

The very best small charcoal grill ought to have heavy-gauged stainless steel, enameled steel or iron, and cast aluminum. If its structure isn’t bending, then it may not retain heat well and also have rust stains. Usually, it may not be as lasting as anticipated.

Hinged Grate

Obtaining a barbecue version using a hinged grate is an extra advantage. The hinged grate makes it effortless to get into the ember bed, and you also do not need to take out the grate. This also assists in maintaining the grate in position when moving or hauling it.

Adjustable Grates

The grates occasionally differ based on how big the grill in the query. By way of instance, when having a larger version, the cinders frequently sit an easily adjustable grate. As a consequence, that you may lower or increase the grates employing a twist based upon the cooking temperatures required.

On the flip side, a more compact version wants a device that makes it much easier to fix the cooking grates to make different temperatures. A small charcoal grill with a lever or wheel allows you to move the dirt or grates down and up.

This leaves space for many cooking procedures. If you’re fortunate enough, you could get updated grates provided by a few companies. Or you may purchase aftermarket grates sold individually.

Seamless Kettle Construction

A rusted grill can be quite disappointing, but it’s inevitable if you select the best small charcoal grill. The very best and the simplest method of preventing rust in a barbecue is by choosing a unit that includes a smooth structure. This is no matter the form of the firebox you decide on.

Chimney Starter

Most of us have different tastes when it comes to picking a grill. While there a few who are fine with the digital ignition, some believe it isn’t dependable. Therefore, some favor using lighter fluid to make it began. If you aren’t comfortable with those two light procedures, you can really go for different models that rely upon a chimney starter to burn off the coals quickly.

Cooking Area

Before you settle on the dimensions of this small charcoal grill, you have to purchase, take care to pre-determine your cooking needs. Even though a little or midsize will serve you just like a big unit, it may be quite inconvenient if preparing food for lots of men and women. Thus, be certain that you select your grill based on the number of individuals that you expect to sponsor per serving.

Vents

Nothing matters more in the standard of the foods you create than airflow. This is more significant than coal quality, fantastic grates, and structure. Airflow makes it feasible to feed a flame and sear your meat as you desired. You’ll also maintain a moderate heat to smoke nice and slow or roast a chicken. The longer vents a barbecue gets, the better.

Tight-fitting Lid With Lock

Irrespective of the version you opt for, a skillet is a necessity. Whether you intend on using it for cooking, grilling, or whatever it is, ensure it includes a skillet. In the event you’re planning to use your grill for a smoker, then make sure it’s a fantastic seal. For those fans of outdoor activities like camping and tailgating, amongst others, pick a small charcoal grill with a lid that latches. This makes it a lot easier to transfer.

Dampers

For efficient gas burning, small charcoal grills need dampers for controlling airflow. This can, however, be an issue if you don’t understand how to begin doing it. The very best thing would be to go to get a unit with double dampers-just one damper for ingestion and another for exhaust. Though one damper may also get the job done, it’s much less effective as a double.

Base, Stand, or Legs

The worst thing that will occur is inviting your loved ones and friends for supper in your home just to be let down by your barbecue. Obtaining a unit that’s not robust or firm enough isn’t just risky, but it’s also quite dangerous. Just envision tipping over a hot grill filled with burning embers. This may result in accidental fires in-home or in dry woods.

Simultaneously, all of the hungry mouths that were hoping to be fed by the small charcoal grill will be quite disappointed. The solution to this is on the lookout for a unit with a sturdy stand, foundation, or thighs.

The Warranty

Purchasing an appliance that charges you a hundred bucks, and obtaining a one-year limited guarantee does not seem so great. Any product heading for that should be ensured for three or more decades, or even more. When at all possible, they ought to provide infinite cover or in part. Some of the costliest grills have life part guarantees.

Conclusion

These would be the best small charcoal grills. All of them have their benefits, but the Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill is your best choice. It is easy to take it with you because it’s compact and lightweight. It resists rust and holds sufficient food at a time to nourish roughly four individuals. You also have control over the grill’s temperature, which makes it simple to cook meats to your preferred degree.

There are rather many benefits of working with a charcoal grill when compared with your gas grill. A charcoal grill may hold continuous temperatures for a prolonged interval provided that the flame is tended equally and airflow managed nicely. Together with the above details about the best small charcoal grills on the current market, you don’t have any reason for not possessing a grill.