Anyone who has tried to chase both smoke and flame on the same cook knows the tradeoff: a kettle grill gives you charcoal flavor, a dedicated smoker gives you low-and-slow control. The six options below cover a range of approaches, from full grill-plus-smoker combos down to simple kettles, portable charcoal grills, and even an accessory that turns an existing kettle into a proper two-zone setup.
A Quick View Of The Lineup
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch
Vortex Small Direct Cooking Cone for Weber Kettle
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill, 18-Inch
Kamado Joe Half-Moon Cast Iron Grate for Classic Joe
Pilot Rock Park Style Swivel Charcoal Grill
Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #14 (Small)
A Closer Look At Each Pick
The 22-inch Weber kettle is the default mental image most backyard cooks have when they picture charcoal, and for good reason. Its bowl-and-lid geometry traps smoke against the food during longer cooks, while the lower vents let you throttle airflow down to genuine low-and-slow territory.
It also flexes well beyond burgers. Bank the coals to one side, drop in a foil pan of water, and you’ve got a passable bullet-style smoker for ribs or pork shoulder. You may find the legs feel a bit light when hauling it across a sloped yard, though the wheels handle flat ground just fine.
What It Does Well
- Adjustable dampers give real control over airflow and burn rate, useful for both searing and smoking
- Large enough to feed a family of four with room to spare for indirect cooks
- Wide accessory ecosystem means rotisseries, griddles, and slow-cook setups drop right in
- Enamel-coated body holds up to weather across multiple seasons with basic cover care
Things To Consider
- Ash cleanup after a long cook means lifting the bowl and dealing with residual embers
- No built-in thermometer, so an aftermarket probe becomes near-essential for smoking
- Single grate height limits the two-zone flexibility some dedicated smokers offer
Feature Snapshot
Who It Suits Best
Backyard cooks who want a do-it-all kettle that handles both weeknight burgers and weekend brisket sessions with a few small tweaks.
Skip It When
You’d rather have a dedicated smoker box and a smaller portable option like the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill for trips to the park.
The Vortex cone doesn’t replace your grill, it elevates one. Drop it into the bowl of a 22-inch Weber kettle and the coals funnel into a tight chimney of radiant heat, turning the same kettle you already own into a high-heat sear station.
Wings, skirt steak, even smash burgers pick up that direct-flame char without the typical kettle tradeoff of flare-ups. Depending on your lid fit, you may find airflow tightens up more than you’d expect, so a few lid vents stay useful during longer cooks.
A Strong Showing
- Stainless steel build holds up to repeated high-heat cycles without warping
- Creates true two-zone cooking inside a standard kettle for sear-then-move workflows
- Compact footprint keeps the kettle portable rather than turning it into a permanent fixture
Honest Caveats
- It is an accessory, not a stand-alone grill, so you’ll still need a kettle or smoker base
- Learning curve on coal quantity is real, owners commonly report going through a few test cooks before dialing it in
Right Fit For
Grillers who already own a Weber kettle or Smokey Mountain and want a serious upgrade in searing capability without buying a second grill.
Reach For A Different Pick When
You need a full standalone unit, in which case the Pilot Rock Park Style Swivel Charcoal Grill serves as a more self-contained option for outdoor cooking.
The Jumbo Joe takes the classic Weber kettle shape and shrinks it just enough to fit in a trunk. The 18-inch plated steel cooking grate still leaves room for a meal’s worth of food, and the porcelain-enameled bowl handles the same slow-cook tricks the larger kettle does.
Tailgating and campsite cooks will appreciate that it folds down without much fuss. Compared to the full 22-inch Weber Original Kettle Premium, you give up some grate real estate, but you gain the freedom to actually take it somewhere.
Everyday Advantages
- Lightweight aluminum dampers resist rust after repeated outdoor trips
- Glass-reinforced nylon handles stay cool enough to grip mid-cook
- Tuck-Away lid hook inside the bowl keeps the lid from flopping onto the ground
Worth Noting
- Smaller grate means fewer burgers per batch, plan for staggered cooking at bigger gatherings
- Lacks the wheel kit of the full-size kettle, so you’ll carry it more than roll it
- Limited grate height adjustment limits indirect-cook setups on longer smokes
Quick Facts
Made For
Campers, tailgaters, and anyone with limited storage who still wants a real charcoal cookout when they reach their destination.
Consider Something Else When
Your cookouts stay put in a single backyard, where the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill offers more space and airflow control.
This half-moon cast iron grate drops into a Kamado Joe Classic Joe and changes how that grill cooks in subtle, satisfying ways. Cast iron holds heat longer than standard coated steel, so the moment your food hits the grates the surface temperature stays consistent.
The half-moon shape is the clever part. It lets you mix surfaces, leaving one half on cast iron for sear work while the other half runs a stainless or ceramic surface for more delicate items. For owners who already run a Kamado, it’s a refinement rather than a reinvention.
Benefits That Matter
- Cast iron retention delivers deeper sear marks and a more even crust
- Modular design pairs with other Kamado Joe surfaces for tailored cook zones
- Included grate lifter keeps fingers away from a heavy, hot piece of iron
Points To Note
- Cast iron demands seasoning and oiling, owners commonly report that skipping this step leads to rust spots
- Heavier than standard grates, so swaps and cleaning take more effort
Best Suited To
Kamado Joe Classic Joe owners chasing better sear marks and willing to keep up with cast iron maintenance.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
If you don’t already own a Kamado, the Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #14 (Small) is a more approachable starting point for a simple charcoal setup.
The Pilot Rock looks like it belongs bolted down in a state park, which is exactly the point. The swivel and tilt-away base turns the whole grill away from wind and out of the cook’s way, useful when you’re grilling in exposed public spaces.
Alloy steel construction gives it the kind of heft you’d expect from a commercial-grade outdoor unit. The 224-square-inch grate is split across adjustable levels, so you can push coals closer for high heat or drop the grate down for longer cooks.
What Earns Its Place
- Full 360-degree swivel plus tilt-away movement handles gusty conditions better than most stationary grills
- Four-level adjustable cooking surface lets you tune heat distance for different foods
- Solid steel build tolerates the rough handling of campground and tailgate life
Practical Considerations
- Bulky and heavy, this is a grill you set in place rather than tote around casually
- Open design means no lid for true closed-cook smoking sessions
Spec Overview
Who Will Love This
Camp hosts, park managers, and anyone grilling outdoors in windy or shared spaces where a sturdy, repositionable unit makes life easier.
Not Your Match When
You want closed-lid smoking on a regular basis, where the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill offers that flexibility out of the box.
Old Smokey has been making charcoal grills since the 1950s and the #14 shows why the design stuck around. The aluminized steel body cuts weight without sacrificing heat tolerance, and the compact 14.5-inch footprint fits on small patios and apartment balconies where bigger kettles won’t go.
There’s no lid thermometer, no wheels, no frills. The trade-off is honest: you get a small, dependable charcoal cook that handles weeknight meals without taking over your outdoor space. For longer smoke sessions, you’ll likely want to add a foil-pan water tray and rotate the lid carefully.
Reasons It Performs
- Aluminized steel resists corrosion better than standard painted steel
- Compact 21.5-inch height fits under patio covers and balcony railings
- Lightweight enough to move between storage and cooking spot without strain
Small Caveats
- No lid means you’re cooking open-top, which limits true smoking setups
- Smaller grate capacity means cooking in batches for more than two people
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Apartment dwellers and small-space grillers who want charcoal flavor without dedicating half a balcony to a full kettle setup.
Look Elsewhere When
You want a proper lid and more airflow control, where the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill offers a similar portable footprint with closed-lid cooking.
How To Choose The Right Charcoal Grills With Smoker
Cooking Surface and Footprint
Grate size matters more than most people expect. A 22-inch kettle fits a full meal for a family of four, while an 18-inch or 14-inch model works for couples and small patios. Measure your outdoor space before falling for a larger grill, because a grill you can’t comfortably place never gets used.
Smoker Capability vs Grill Capability
True smoking depends on low, steady heat and the ability to close the lid for hours. Kettle grills can smoke in a pinch with coal banking and a water pan, but a unit with built-in dampers, lid thermometers, and adjustable grates handles long cooks with far less babysitting. If your priority is brisket and ribs, lean toward designs that close tight and vent precisely.
Build Materials and Long-Term Durability
Porcelain-enameled bowls resist rust and clean more easily than bare steel. Cast iron grates sear better but need seasoning. Aluminized steel sits between the two, lightweight and reasonably tough. Match the material to your climate and how much maintenance you actually plan to do.
Portability and Storage
Tailgaters and campers need folding legs, locking lids, and manageable weight. Stationary backyard cooks should prioritize wheel kits, side shelves, and storage hooks instead. Pickers often overlook that a grill too heavy to move also stays covered in snow all winter.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Common Buying Traps First Timers Hit
The biggest mistake is buying a grill for the cook you want to make, not the cooks you actually make most weekends. A dedicated bullet smoker sounds ideal until you’re lighting it for two burgers. Start with a versatile kettle, then add a smoker accessory or upgrade grate once you’ve cooked on it for a season.
Where The Extra Money Actually Goes
Premium charcoal grills earn their higher price with thicker steel, better dampers, and tighter lid fits that hold smoke longer. The performance gap shows up most on long, low-and-slow cooks where heat retention and airflow control matter. For quick weeknight grilling, a mid-range kettle delivers nearly the same results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a regular charcoal grill be used as a smoker?
Yes. Banking coals to one side, adding a foil water pan, and keeping the lid closed turns most kettles into serviceable smokers. A model like the Weber Original Kettle Premium handles this well with dampers and a tight-fitting lid. Long smoke sessions still benefit from a dedicated unit or accessory upgrade.
What size charcoal grill do I need for a family of four?
A 22-inch grate handles a family of four comfortably with room for indirect cooks. Smaller 18-inch grills work for couples or smaller households, while 14-inch models suit apartment patios where space matters more than capacity. Bigger gatherings call for a grate at least 22 inches across.
Is cast iron better than steel for grill grates?
Cast iron holds heat longer and delivers deeper sear marks, but it needs seasoning and weighs more. Plated or stainless steel grates are lighter, easier to clean, and tolerate neglect better. Pick cast iron if sear quality matters most, and steel if low-maintenance cooking is the priority.
How do I control temperature on a charcoal grill?
Airflow is the main lever. Bottom vents feed oxygen to the coals, and lid vents release smoke and excess heat. Opening vents raises the temperature; closing them drops it. Most charcoal cooks settle into target heat ranges within ten to fifteen minutes of vent adjustment.
Do portable charcoal grills smoke food well?
Portable grills can smoke, though their smaller size limits airflow control and long-cook stability. The Weber Jumbo Joe handles ribs and small cuts with lid-closed cooking, while smaller units like the Old Smokey work better for quick grilled meals than extended smoke sessions.
Wrap Up
The right charcoal grill depends on what you cook most and where you cook it. A backyard cook chasing both sear marks and slow-smoked ribs will live well with a 22-inch kettle, while a tailgater needs the lighter footprint of a portable model. Add an accessory like a cast iron grate or sear cone once you’ve cooked on your base grill enough to know what you actually want from it.