According to many top grillmasters, nothing offered an authentic barbecue taste like a charcoal grill. Most people often choose a gas grill because they deem it to be convenient, but it isn’t right.
A charcoal grill can make your grilling experience pleasant if you’ve got the right unit. Therefore, if you’ve made a choice (probably a charcoal grill), then the next step is finding the right unit for you.
In this post, we’ll look at the best charcoal grill under $200 taken into account several factors, including the size and shape of the BBQ. Plus, there’s a comprehensive buying guide to ensure you make the right choice.
See also:
no posts foundReviews of Top 7 Best Charcoal Grill Under $200 Consumer Reports
Here are best selling Charcoal Grill Under $200 on the market today
Top 1 – Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
The Weber Kettle is a top brand in the industry and one of the best products from the manufacturer. It comes in an array of colors and sizes, which is definitely a bang for your buck. This model offers a vast 363 sq in cooking space and a 22-inch diameter steel cooking grate.
Further, this charcoal grill comes with an efficient ash catching system that allows users to remove ash easily. It also includes two heat-resistant nylon handles, making it safer to remove the lid without hurting oneself.
In addition, it offers brilliant performance matching a fantastic build quality. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill has a better venting system to enable versatile cooking while maintaining total control over the cooking temperatures.
This all-round charcoal grill is crafted with high-quality materials, which makes this unit able to withstand high temperatures and effective temperature control by adjusting the dampers.
Pros:
- Wheels for easy movement
- Hinged cooking grate for easy charcoal addition
- Easy to clean
- Great for slow and low cooking
- Durable and sturdy design
Cons:
- The legs are a bit flimsy
#2 – Char-Griller 6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill
This is another charcoal grill within our budget range from Char-Griller. This unit allows users to enjoy the Kamado style of cooking. Char-Griller 6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill enables users to cook different dishes, which is ideal for social events.
In terms of build construction, this model comes with triple-walled 22-gauge steel. The exterior and interior features a powder-coated finish for extra durability. This product has an ample 153 sq inches cooking surface made from cast iron. Other features include a dump ash pan for easy and quick cleaning.
Since this unit has a sturdy build construction, Char-Griller 6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Charcoal Grill has no trouble maintaining your cooking temperature. On top of that, this unit can quickly achieve and maintain a temperature between the range of 200 to 700 degrees F.
Pros:
- Easy temperature control
- Fuel efficient
- Durable and sturdy
- Enough room for grilling
Cons:
- Poor quality control
#3 – Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill
Considering the reputation of Weber grill, no surprise, we are reviewing another product from this brand. While this unit may be similar in appearance with other models, it offers distinctive functions that make it an excellent choice for the best charcoal grill.
Like the Original Kettle, the Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill comes with similar features and still comes with unique features to stand out in the competition. This model is equipped with dampers on the lid, which offers total control over your cooking temperature without having to remove the lid.
This means closing the dampers cuts the flow of oxygen to the fire. Therefore the coal eventually gets extinguished. Similarly, if you want more fire, then you need to crank open the grill’s dampers for more flow of oxygen. Besides, you can make use of a thermometer to know the grilling temperature for safe measures.
Pros:
- Looks great
- Deep and ample cooking space
- Made of reliable and durable stainless steel
- Plated with BBQ paints for withstanding higher temperatures
Cons:
- One-color option
- No wheels for easy movement
#4 – Expert Grill Heavy Duty 24-Inch Charcoal Grill
This budget-option charcoal grill offers a massive 24 inches cooking space, which should be enough to cook a lot of food at a go. Also, it comes with a warming rack, which is a great addition to warm and toast your buns and vegetables.
Furthermore, this adjustable charcoal tray can be rotated using a handle. Thus, this feature helps make it easy to either grill directly or indirectly. This heavy-duty unit comes with a side shelf to encompass BBQ seasoning sauces or place plates.
This unit comes with an in-built thermometer is placed on lid allowing users to view current cooking temperature. This thermometer measures the temperature 200 to 800 degrees F.
It comes with more room on the unit’s bottom to hold charcoal bags or extra sauces, dishes, or food. In turn, it helps increase customer’s comfort, and offer higher efficiency, without breaking the bank.
Pros:
- Handy warming racks
- Adjustable charcoal trays
- Special ash catcher
- Includes bottle opener
Cons:
- Assembling takes a while
- The instructions could be better
#5 – Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
This high-quality charcoal grill comes with a large cooking surface area, which makes it a go-to for those looking for a large unit to handle backyard or bug family parties. The Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker comes with a primary cooking surface of 438 sq inches and a swing-away 179 sq inches of warming rack surface.
The warming rack will come in handy for warming and toasting your vegetables and buns. Above all, you get a total cooking area of 800 sq inch, which is plenty enough for feeding up to 10 people in a go.
Also, it comes with a side smoker allowing you to prep your food and infuses them with a sweet smokey flavor. Besides, there is a seamless connection between the grill and the Smoker that makes it heat up quickly.
Besides, the side smoker is tightly sealed for maximum heat retention, and no heat is escaping. With this feature, you can easily use this unit as a smoker, charcoal, or BBQ grill.
Pros:
- Large cooking area
- Heat-resistant paint
- Swing-away warming rack
- Includes two storage racks
Cons:
- lacks hooks for hanging cooking tools
- Assembling is time-consuming
#6 – Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill
Another charcoal grill from Char-Griller with side firebox for Texas-style BBQ. This unit is constructed using heavy-gauge powder-coated steel to ensure impressive durability. Plus, the cooking grates are made from cast iron to make it non-sticky and offer uniform heat.
In terms of cleaning, this model comes with a removable charcoal drawer, which allows users to dump charcoal and ash easily. Further, its double bottom assures that the unit will serve you for more years.
Pros:
- Side firebox
- Large cooking area
- Wheel for easy transport
- Temperature gauge
- Heavy-duty steel construction
Cons:
- Customer service could be better
#7 – Weber 14402001 Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Last on our list is Weber 14402001 Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill coming with a 22-inch diameter porcelain-coated bowl, which offers a reasonable cooking surface area. A 363 sq inches cooking space should be plenty enough for feeding a group of five at a go.
Also, Weber 14402001 Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill features a removable ash catcher crafted from aluminum with high capacity to ensure a one-touch cleaning system. Besides, it comes with two glass-reinforced handles, an aluminum damper for easy temperature control, and hooks for holding tools.
Pros:
- Rust-resistant aluminum damper
- 363 square inch cooking space
- One-Touch cleaning system
- Includes hooks for holding your BBQ tools
Cons:
- Legs might wobble
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Charcoal Grill Under $200
In this section, we’ll look at the essential features you need to consider when choosing a charcoal grill and how they influence your decision. They are available in different sizes, types, materials made with, and extra cool features, which this post will explore.
Type of grill
Within this category, charcoal grills are subdivided based on the type, shape, cooking methods, and any other features. The ceramic grills and Kamado-style grill are popular choices since they offer great convenience.
These units come in an egg-like design allowing users to a pleasant cooking experience. Both grills offer multiple cooking surfaces and several smoking features for versatility and cooking more foods.
Kamado grills coming in large sizes are not compact, which makes them less popular like the kettle grill. The latter offers portability without compromising functionality.
Total cooking area and bowl diameter
When it comes to a charcoal grill, how much space the grill will occupy, and the cooking surface area offered is vital. Most of the unit’s total cooking area on the market is measured in square inches.
The diameter of the bowl indicates the total cooking area of the unit, but they differ slightly since some models come with several surfaces. More importantly, you should choose a unit offering the ideal cooking space to feed your family and those who tend to feed.
This means if you are cooking for a larger group, you should consider larger charcoal grills and vice versa.
Durability and material used
When it comes to durability, ease of use and sturdiness of grill, the materials used in its engineering play an integral part. The sturdiness of a unit isn’t about how long it can serve you because these models are used for outdoor cooking.
This means they are susceptible to the harshest weather conditions. And for this reason, a lot of people prefer kamado grills since it’s made from sturdy ceramic materials. Also, units coated with porcelain are a great choice for stability and durability.
Warranty
While this factor may be straightforward, it’s one of the least considered criteria. Most charcoal grills on the market come with different warranty periods, which is based on the manufacturer’s level of confidence.
Some mode comes with a whopping 10-year manufacturer guarantee and does just come with lesser. However, the warranty protects your investment and time and makes your encounter with the unit less hassle.
Conclusion
With this review, it should be easier for you to choose the best charcoal grill under $200 without a hassle. And, if you still find it hard to make a choice, go through our detailed buying guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For a stainless steel grill on average two burners can produce a total of 16,000 BTUs of heat. The steel-wrapped grate has a surface area of 184 square inches, which can hold up to nine burgers at once.
Weber gas grills are built on a foundation of excellent customer care and offer outstanding value – they’re inexpensive but still deliver excellent cooking results. Weber grills are frequently regarded as the greatest of all grills sold in home improvement stores.
A gas barbecue can cost as little as $100 or as much as $10,000. Charcoal grills can cost as low as $20 or as much as $2,000. The price difference might be due to a variety of factors, but one of the most essential is durability.
Overall Flavor
It’s entirely a matter of personal preference when it comes to the flavor of a gas vs. charcoal barbecue. Some people love the smokey flavor of charcoal grills because it adds a unique flavor to their cuisine. For many people, the type of charcoal used determines the flavor character of grilled food.
One of the biggest reasons to buy a charcoal grill is because it can go hotter than regular gas grills without infrared burners, and heat is what you need to get steaks and lamb chops crispy on the exterior while remaining red or pink on the inside.