A charcoal grill changes the texture of your weekend. Burgers come off with a real char, ribs pick up that smoky depth a gas burner can’t fake, and the ritual of tending coals turns dinner into something slower. The lineup below covers the core scenarios most people face, from a hybrid gas-and-charcoal tray to a built-for-the-park workhorse.
A Quick View Of The Lineup
Charbroil Gas2Coal 2 Burner Charcoal Tray
Char-Broil 5+ Burner Rip-Stop Grill Cover
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch
Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18-Inch
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
Char-Griller Portable Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box
Charbroil Performance Series 4-Burner Gas Grill
Pilot Rock Charcoal Grill Park-Style Swivel
Meet The Standout Selections
The Charbroil Gas2Coal tray slips into a compatible Charbroil gas grill and turns it into a charcoal-cooking station without a second appliance crowding the patio. You load briquettes onto the tray, light them with the gas burners, then cook once the coals ash over. For households that already own a Charbroil Performance gas grill, this is a sensible add-on rather than a standalone purchase.
It suits people who genuinely want that charcoal flavor on weeknights without managing a separate fire. The trade-off is platform lock-in. If your current grill isn’t a matching Charbroil unit, this tray won’t drop in cleanly, and forcing a fit isn’t a recipe for even cooking.
Points In Its Favor
- Converts an existing Charbroil Performance gas grill into a charcoal cooker in one swap
- Lights coals with the gas burners, so there’s no lighter fluid smell lingering on the food
- Saves patio space by avoiding a second full-size grill
- Designed for two-burner Charbroil setups, leaving room for indirect heat zones
Things To Consider
- Confirmed fit only on matching Charbroil Performance models, so cross-brand shopping is risky
- The ash that drops during cookouts needs emptying after each use to keep burners clean
Made For
Charbroil Performance owners who already love their gas setup but crave real charcoal flavor on weekends without buying a whole new grill.
Consider Something Else When
Home cooks starting from scratch get more value from the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, which delivers the same flavor experience as a complete, dedicated unit.
A cover is unglamorous until your grill rusts out after two winters. The Char-Broil 5+ Burner Rip-Stop cover steps in for owners of large multi-burner grills who need real weather protection, not a thin sheet that shreds the first time wind catches it.
The rip-stop fabric pattern helps small tears from spreading, and the sizing targets five-burner-plus cabinets. Owners commonly report the snug fit being the difference between a covered grill that still looks new after a season and one with faded panels and peeling handles.
Strong Points
- Rip-stop weave resists tearing better than smooth polyester covers
- Extra-large cut fits five-burner-plus cabinets and side shelves
- Helps extend paint, handle, and stainless finish life across wet seasons
Worth Noting
- Only useful if your grill is in the five-plus burner size range
- Needs to be removed and dried occasionally to prevent mildew on the underside
Feature Snapshot
Right Fit For
Owners of large multi-burner gas or charcoal cabinet grills who leave their setup outdoors year-round and want one less thing to replace every spring.
Skip It When
A smaller kettle owner is better served by a Weber-tailored cover sized for the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, which hugs that specific silhouette.
The Premium version of Weber’s classic kettle adds a hinged cooking grate that lifts so you can drop fresh charcoal without hauling the grate off mid-cook. That single feature reshapes how the grill feels on long indirect cooks, where adding a handful of briquettes every 45 minutes can otherwise be a juggling act.
Beyond the hinge, it keeps the same porcelain-enameled bowl that made the standard kettle famous, plus the One-Touch ash cleaning system. It’s the upgrade path for someone who already knows the kettle format and wants to remove its single biggest annoyance.
Everyday Advantages
- Hinged grate adds charcoal mid-cook without lifting the whole cooking surface
- 22-inch diameter comfortably feeds a family of four with room for indirect zones
- One-Touch cleaning sweeps ash into a high-capacity catcher
- Porcelain-enameled bowl resists rust far longer than raw steel
Trade Offs
- Sits at a higher tier than the standard Weber Original Kettle, which may stretch the budget
- Kettle shape limits true two-zone setups compared to larger barrel grills
Quick Facts
Best Suited To
Backyard cooks who already know they want a kettle, grill most weekends, and value the convenience of a hinged grate during longer cooks.
Look Elsewhere When
Budget-focused shoppers who don’t need the hinge should consider the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, which delivers the same cooking surface for less.
This is the kettle that taught a generation of Americans how to cook over charcoal. The Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch is the stripped-down version of the Premium above, keeping the porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, the One-Touch cleaning, and the dampers that actually hold temperature once you learn their range.
For someone buying their first serious charcoal grill, this is the safe, sensible choice. You give up the hinged grate, but you don’t give up anything that affects how the food actually cooks. The honest read is that this is the one most seasoned grillers started on.
Everyday Perks
- Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl hold heat and shrug at weather
- Dampers give precise airflow control once you dial them in
- One-Touch system makes post-cook cleanup fast and painless
Honest Caveats
- Standard grate means lifting the whole thing to add charcoal mid-cook
- Learning curve on damper settings for true low-and-slow cooks
- Wheels work on patios but struggle on soft lawn or gravel
Who Should Grab It
First-time charcoal buyers who want a proven, long-lived kettle without paying extra for hinge-driven convenience upgrades.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Tailgaters and apartment dwellers tight on space should consider the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18-Inch, which keeps the kettle feel in a more portable footprint.
The Jumbo Joe takes the familiar Weber kettle silhouette and shrinks it to an 18-inch package that fits in a trunk. For tailgates, beach days, and apartment patios, it’s the rare portable grill that doesn’t feel like a compromise on heat retention.
Compare that to the full-size 22-inch kettles above, which offer more cooking surface but won’t fold into a hatchback. The trade-off is capacity. A Jumbo Joe feeds a small group comfortably; a hungry crowd of six needs a hotter coal bed to keep up.
Where It Delivers
- 18-inch grate still cooks 240 square inches of food, more than most portable grills
- Porcelain-enameled bowl holds heat well for a grill this size
- Glass-reinforced nylon handles stay cool enough to grip during setup
- Locks into a Weber portable grill cart for stable cooking on grass
Room For Improvement
- Smaller grate means tight spacing for cookouts feeding five or more
- Bottom grate is plated steel rather than porcelain, so it needs oiling to slow surface wear
Feature Rundown
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Tailgaters, beach-day regulars, and small-space dwellers who want a real Weber kettle in a portable, stowable package.
Swap It Out When
Anyone planning to grill for a big crowd regularly is better served by the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch, which has the cooking area a party needs.
The Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler is a tabletop charcoal grill built for serious cooks who travel. The standout feature is its height-adjustable charcoal tray. You raise the coals for searing steaks or lower them for low-and-slow ribs, which is unusual in a portable format where most grills lock you into one heat setting.
It’s a different animal than the kettle-style picks above. The square shape, heavier build, and damper-equipped lid put it closer to a mini offset than a portable kettle, which is exactly why some pit-minded cooks prefer it.
Real-World Strengths
- Height-adjustable charcoal tray gives real two-heat cooking in a small footprint
- 218 square inches fits a full pack of ribs laid flat
- Tabletop design sets up on tailgates, fire pits, or camp tables without legs
Points To Keep In Mind
- Heavier than the Weber Jumbo Joe, so it’s a tabletop grill rather than a true carry
- Smaller grate means limited airflow adjustments compared to barrel smokers
Perfect Match For
Low-and-slow enthusiasts who want charcoal control on the road and don’t mind carrying a slightly heavier unit to a campsite.
Reach For A Different Pick When
If you want a more traditional kettle experience on the go, the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18-Inch offers that classic round-cook feel with lighter carry weight.
The Char-Griller E82424 pulls double duty. It works as a standalone portable charcoal grill, then bolts onto most Char-Griller barrel and dual-fuel grills as a side fire box for Texas-style offset smoking. That second life is the real reason it earns a spot on this list.
Cast iron cooking grates hold heat beautifully and sear well, while the heavy-gauge powder-coated steel body shrugs at the heat cycling an offset smoker demands. For someone already running a Char-Griller barrel, this is the upgrade that unlocks real smoke flow.
What Works In Its Favor
- Cast iron grates sear harder and hold seasoning better than plated wire
- Doubles as a standalone portable grill and a side fire box attachment
- 250 square inches of cooking area handles up to a dozen burgers at once
- Heavy-gauge steel construction resists warping under sustained smoking heat
Minor Gripes
- Cast iron grates require pre-seasoning and regular oiling to stay nonstick
- Standalone mode lacks a side shelf, so prep space is limited without a table nearby
Who Will Love This
Existing Char-Griller barrel owners who want to add offset smoke flow without buying a separate smoker.
Not Your Match When
Anyone wanting a straightforward charcoal cooker should look at the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, which is simpler to operate on day one.
The Charbroil Performance 4-Burner starts life as a propane cabinet grill, then upgrades into a griddle or charcoal setup with separately sold Charbroil accessories. That modular idea matters because it lets a household move between formats without buying multiple appliances.
The cabinet format gives you enclosed storage for a propane tank, tools, and rub bins, which keeps the patio cleaner than the open-frame kettles elsewhere in this list. The catch is that the upgrade parts are sold separately, so the full system costs more once you add a charcoal insert.
Where It Excels
- Three-format design covers gas, griddle, and charcoal with the right accessories
- Cabinet enclosure hides the tank and provides dry storage
- Side burner adds a hot spot for pots or sauces during grill cookouts
Points To Note
- Charcoal function requires a separately sold Charbroil accessory, raising total cost
- Bigger cabinet footprint than a kettle, so smaller patios need to measure first
Built With In Mind
Outdoor kitchen builders who want a single base platform that can swap between gas weeknights and charcoal weekends.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Grillers who specifically want a dedicated charcoal experience get more focused value from the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch.
The Pilot Rock park-style grill lives in a different category from every other pick on this list. It’s an alloy-steel post grill built for shared outdoor spaces, campsites, and roadside cookouts, where the rotating base tilts the entire cooking bowl 360 degrees to dodge wind.
The adjustable cooking grate offers four height levels, so you can drop steaks down for a hard sear or raise them for slower cookouts. It’s a no-frills, public-space design, but that simplicity is exactly why parks and campgrounds trust it.
The Upside
- Alloy steel construction handles weather and rough use without corrosion
- 360-degree swivel and tilt-away design keeps the fire useful in wind
- Four-level grate adjustment covers everything from sear to slow roast
- Post-mount format keeps the cooking surface off the ground and away from critters
A Few Limitations
- Not designed for small residential patios or covered balconies
- Requires a permanent in-ground or surface mount for stable operation
Who It Suits Best
Campground hosts, park managers, and rural property owners outfitting a shared outdoor cooking area rather than a typical backyard.
Another Choice May Suit
Suburban homeowners after backyard flavor are better matched with the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, which fits a patio footprint.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Builts In Charcoal Grill
Match The Grill To Your Cooking Style
Start by naming what you actually cook most weekends. A 22-inch kettle handles a family dinner with indirect heat zones and direct grilling. A portable kettle like the Jumbo Joe trims down for tailgates, while a dedicated side fire box like the Char-Griller E82424 only makes sense if you already run a compatible barrel. Pickers who want real two-zone control on long cooks benefit most from kettles with dampers that hold low temperatures, while searing-focused cooks care more about grate material and coal bed density.
Decide Between Dedicated And Modular Setups
Dedicated charcoal grills, including every kettle on this list, do one thing very well. Modular platforms like the Charbroil Performance Series start as gas and add charcoal through accessories, which suits households that genuinely toggle between formats. A modular approach costs more once you add the parts, but it consolidates patio space. A dedicated kettle is cheaper and simpler for households that always reach for charcoal first.
Consider Material, Finish, And Long-Term Care
Porcelain-enameled bowls resist rust far longer than raw steel and tolerate weather swings without cracking. Cast iron grates sear harder and hold seasoning, but they need oiling. Plated steel grates are lighter but wear faster. If your grill lives outdoors year-round, an alloy steel or porcelain body plus a heavy-duty cover like the Char-Broil Rip-Stop pays back over multiple seasons.
Think About Portability And Storage
A full-size kettle needs roughly two feet of patio space plus clearance behind the lid. A portable kettle fits a trunk. A park-style grill like the Pilot Rock requires an in-ground mount and is non-negotiable for shared spaces. Measure your storage spot before you order, since a grill that doesn’t fit under a deck cover invites weather damage regardless of how tough its finish is.
Where Shoppers Go Wrong In This Category
Mistaking Size For Versatility
A bigger grate sounds appealing until you realize the cookware on it never gets truly hot because you’re spreading fuel too thin. Kettles in the 18-to-22-inch range handle most household needs. Going larger without planning the cooking volume leaves you managing uneven temperatures instead of enjoying the grill.
Skipping Cover And Storage Planning
A charcoal grill left uncovered loses finish fast, especially the painted or plated steel models in this list. Many shoppers forget to budget for a cover, then wonder why handles flake after one season. Adding a fitted cover up front often costs less than replacing parts later.
Why Top Tier Costs More In This Category
Materials And Hinge Engineering Drive The Premium
The Weber Premium costs more than the standard Original Kettle because of the hinged grate, a small but mechanically significant feature that adds parts, tooling, and assembly time. Likewise, the cast iron grates on the Char-Griller E82424 cost more than plated wire because cast iron is heavier, more brittle to ship, and needs pre-seasoning. The higher tier pays for material and convenience rather than branding.
Modular Platforms Bundle More Hardware
Convertible units like the Charbroil Performance Series include cabinets, side burners, and storage that a basic kettle skips. The extra steel and assembly is what you’re funding, and that cost compounds when you add accessory inserts to enable the charcoal mode. You may find the modular premium worth it if patio space is tight and you genuinely want both gas and charcoal capability from a single footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size charcoal grill fits a family of four?
A 22-inch kettle, like the Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill 22-Inch, typically handles a family of four with room for both direct and indirect heat zones. Smaller 18-inch models feed three comfortably and stretch to four on lighter menus.
How long does a porcelain-enameled bowl last?
Porcelain-enameled bowls resist rust and weather far longer than raw steel, often lasting a decade or more with seasonal cleaning. Covering the grill between uses extends that lifespan further.
Can you use a charcoal tray inside a gas grill?
Yes, hybrid trays like the Charbroil Gas2Coal are designed to drop into compatible gas grills and convert them to charcoal cooking. Compatibility matters, so the tray should match the specific Charbroil Performance model you own.
What’s the advantage of cast iron cooking grates?
Cast iron holds heat more steadily than plated wire and sears with deeper grill marks. The trade-off is heavier weight and a need for pre-seasoning and oiling to keep the surface nonstick.
How do you control temperature on a kettle grill?
Kettle temperature control comes from the top and bottom dampers. Closing them drops airflow and lowers the fire, while opening them raises the heat. Most cooks learn the sweet spot for low-and-slow within a few sessions.
The Takeaway
A charcoal grill earns its place on the patio by matching the way you actually cook, not by chasing the biggest grate or the most accessories. Kettle loyalists get the most value from a Weber, modular households may prefer the Charbroil convertible, and public-space cooks need a Pilot Rock-style post mount. Pick the format that fits your weekend, then add a fitted cover to protect the finish. Your future self will thank you when the first cookout of the season still feels like a fresh grill.