Small charcoal grills have a stubborn kind of charm. They don’t demand a giant patio, they fire up fast, and they leave more cash in your pocket for the food that actually goes on them. The seven picks below cover everything from a folding camping rectangle to a barrel-style grill big enough for a small crowd, and they all share one thing: low cost without cutting corners on the cook.
A Fast Comparison Of The Options
Vortex Small Charcoal Grill Cone for Weber Smokey Mountain
BEAU JARDIN 18 Inch Portable Charcoal Kettle Grill
Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #18 (Medium)
Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #14 (Small)
Kendane Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side Shelf
Charmline Foldable Compact Charcoal Grill 14 x 9
IronMaster Mini Cast Iron Hibachi Grill
Meet The Standout Selections
The Vortex is a clever bit of kit, and it earns its spot here because it does something a standard kettle can’t. Drop this stainless steel cone into a Weber Smokey Mountain or kettle and you turn a basic charcoal setup into a multi-zone cooker. Direct heat, indirect heat, or a combination of both sit at your fingertips, which is genuinely useful for weeknight cooks who want to sear chicken and gently warm a side without juggling foil packets.
Where it differs from the BEAU JARDIN kettle coming up next is specialization. The Vortex isn’t a standalone grill, so you need an existing kettle or WSM to use it. For someone already running that setup, though, the upgrade path is painless and the cone itself is built from long-wearing stainless steel.
Where It Helps
- Lets a small kettle pull double duty for searing and slow cooking.
- Stainless steel body resists warping over repeated hot firings.
- Made in the USA, which matters to shoppers trying to keep their dollars domestic.
- Compact cone footprint keeps grate space open for food rather than hardware.
Things To Consider
- Not a standalone grill, so it only makes sense alongside an existing kettle or WSM.
- Takes a few cooks to learn the airflow sweet spot, depending on your charcoal brand.
Built With In Mind
Existing kettle and WSM owners who want more control over heat zones without buying a second grill.
Reach For A Different Pick When
The Old Smokey #18 suits you better if you don’t already own a kettle and want a ready-to-go standalone grill.
The BEAU JARDIN kettle is what most people picture when they think “small charcoal grill,” and for good reason. An 18-inch plated steel grate gives you around 255 square inches of cook space, which handles a family dinner without feeling stingy. Wheels on the base and insulated handles make it easy to chase shade across a small patio, and the kettle shape handles airflow predictably for first-time charcoal cooks.
Compared with the Vortex cone above, this is a complete, ready-to-cook package rather than an upgrade for a grill you already own. It also sits a step up in size from the Old Smokey #14 you’ll meet later, so it’s worth measuring your storage spot before committing.
The Practical Payoff
- Plated steel grate handles typical family meals without crowding burgers or skewers.
- Wheels and insulated handles make repositioning on a patio simple.
- Kettle shape runs cooler at the edges, giving you a natural two-zone cook.
- Round profile stores upright against a wall in tight garage spaces.
Points To Note
- Plated steel will eventually show surface wear, so a fitted cover extends its life in damp climates.
- At 18 inches, it’s smaller than full-size kettles but still demands a corner of patio or garage.
Made For
Small households on small patios who want a familiar kettle shape without the full-size footprint or price.
Look Elsewhere When
The Charmline folding grill fits your life better if your “patio” is actually the trunk of a hatchback.
The Old Smokey #18 looks like a metal drum with legs, and that’s basically what it is. That simplicity is the whole pitch: aluminized steel that resists rust, a single body that pulls double duty as bowl and lid, and a price that makes you do a double take. It’s made in the USA from domestic and imported parts, and it has been a favorite of folks who just want to cook food without thinking about the grill.
The trade-off shows up when you compare it to the BEAU JARDIN above. There’s no wheeled base, no insulated handle, no chrome trim. You get raw durability instead of polish, and most owners of this style report the grill outlasts fancier hardware sitting next to it.
Key Advantages
- Aluminized steel body resists rust far better than painted steel in coastal or humid zones.
- Lightweight build makes it easy to lift into a truck bed for camping trips.
- No-fuss assembly means you can cook the same afternoon you unbox it.
- Honest, simple design keeps replacement parts and accessories cheap.
Honest Caveats
- No wheels or handles, so moving a hot grill across a patio takes two hands and a plan.
- Single-wall construction loses heat faster than an insulated kettle, which matters on cold-weather cooks.
Feature Snapshot
Right Fit For
Long-term backyard cooks who care more about durability and price than extra features or wheel kits.
Consider Something Else When
The BEAU JARDIN kettle makes more sense if you want wheels and an insulated handle for patio use.
The #14 is the smaller sibling to the #18 above, and it leans into the same no-nonsense formula. Aluminized steel again, made in the USA again, just shrunken down to a footprint that fits on a balcony or a fire escape. At 14.5 inches across, it’s the kind of grill a couple can use to feed themselves without leaving half the grate cold.
The honest read is that you give up a meaningful chunk of cook area. For two people cooking dinner, that’s fine. For weekend hosting, you’ll feel the squeeze, and stepping up to the #18 or the Kendane barrel later in the list makes more sense.
Useful Strengths
- 14.5-inch width slips onto balconies and small concrete pads where larger kettles won’t fit.
- Aluminized build handles weather well in apartments with outdoor storage closets.
- Easy to clean after a cook thanks to the simple drum-and-grate layout.
- Light enough to move one-handed when cool.
Trade Offs
- Limited grate area means batch cooking for guests requires patience and rotation.
- No lid handle insulation, so a basic grilling glove is a smart add-on.
Feature Snapshot
Perfect Match For
Couples and apartment dwellers who need a real charcoal cook on a balcony or fire-escape-sized pad.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
The Old Smokey #18 makes more sense if you host often or want to cook for four without juggling.
The Kendane is the largest pick on the list, and it leans into a different job than the kettles and cones around it. A barrel body with a side shelf gives you roughly 500 square inches of porcelain-enameled cooking space plus a real place to rest a tray of raw burgers or a plate of buns. If you’ve ever tried to juggle plating on a tiny kettle lid, that shelf feels like a quiet luxury.
Where it parts ways from the Old Smokey #18 is polish and convenience. Enamel-coated grates wipe down easier, and the chrome warming rack adds a second tier for toasting buns or keeping finished food warm while the rest catches up.
Reasons It Performs
- Around 500 square inches of grate handles up to a dozen burgers in a single round.
- Side shelf gives a real prep surface, so a separate table isn’t required.
- Porcelain-enameled grates clean up faster than bare steel after a fatty cook.
- Chrome warming rack doubles your usable cook area on busy weekends.
Worth Bearing In Mind
- Bulkier footprint than the kettles on this list, so plan storage space accordingly.
- Barrel design runs hotter than a kettle, which can scorch delicate foods without a cool side.
Feature Card
Best Suited To
Backyard hosts and small-party cooks who need grate space and prep room in a single footprint.
Skip It When
The Old Smokey #14 fits your life better if you only cook for two and storage space is tight.
The Charmline is the most unusual pick on the list, and arguably the most useful for the right buyer. Folded up it’s roughly the size of a sheet of letter paper at 14 by 9 by 3 inches, and it opens without tools or assembly into a small charcoal grill for one to three people. For campers, tailgaters, or anyone whose “patio” is a parking lot, that’s the entire feature.
Compare it to the IronMaster hibachi you’ll see next, and the trade-off is clear. The Charmline is lighter and folds flat for transport, but it doesn’t hold heat the way solid cast iron does. Still, for occasional picnic cooks, the portability is hard to beat.
What Stands Out
- Folds to roughly 14 by 9 by 3 inches for backpack or trunk storage.
- No assembly needed, so it goes from bag to cook in a couple of minutes.
- Serves one to three people comfortably on a single small batch.
- Lightweight frame keeps it easy to carry on uneven picnic terrain.
Less Ideal Details
- Thin metal construction loses heat fast, which can lengthen cook times on cold days.
- Not designed for steady backyard use, so frequent cooks may wear it out faster than the heavier picks above.
Feature Snapshot
Who Will Love This
Campers, picnickers, and tailgaters who want a real charcoal grill in a bag without hauling a kettle.
Not Your Match When
The BEAU JARDIN kettle suits you better if grilling happens on a fixed patio most weekends.
The IronMaster Mini is a different beast entirely. Solid cast iron, weighing in like a paperweight, with an 11 by 6.7 inch grate that cooks yakitori-style skewers, small steaks, or a couple of burgers for two people. The trade is heat retention and durability, and this thing stores thermal energy like a bank account stores cash. It is genuinely heavy for its size, so the catch is weight.
Where it edges ahead of the Charmline above is in how it cooks. Cast iron holds steady temperatures, sears beautifully, and rewards owners who give it a quick brush, dry, and oil wipe between sessions. Owners commonly report that basic upkeep pays off in years of service.
The Value In It
- Cast iron grate holds steady heat for a true sear on small cuts.
- Compact 11 by 6.7 inch footprint works as a tabletop centerpiece for date-night cooks.
- Heavy build resists warping over years of repeated high-heat sessions.
- Solid construction shrugs off transport in a car trunk for picnic duty.
Possible Compromises
- Heavier than other small picks, which matters for hikers and backpackers.
- Cast iron needs quick cleaning and an oil wipe after each session to prevent surface rust.
Who Should Grab It
Couples and tabletop cooks who want hibachi-style results and don’t mind giving the grate a quick wipe-down after each meal.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
The Charmline folding grill fits better if your priority is backpack-friendly weight over heat retention.
Picking The Right Small Charcoal Grill For The Way You Cook
Match The Grill To Your Usual Cookout
The most useful first question is where this grill will actually live. Backyard cooks with a small patio get the best mileage from a kettle like the BEAU JARDIN, where the round shape handles two-zone cooking without much fuss. Apartment dwellers with a balcony usually find the Old Smokey #14 is the realistic size, and anyone whose cookout is a parking lot benefits more from the Charmline foldable than from a fixed kettle.
Think About Cook Surface, Not Just Footprint
The number that actually matters is grate area in square inches. The Old Smokey #14 at 14.5 inches wide covers a couple of dinners, while the Kendane barrel near 500 square inches easily handles a dozen burgers in a single round. Always think in terms of how many people you’re actually feeding on a typical cook, not the biggest crowd you’ve ever hosted.
Weigh Portability Against Heat Retention
Lighter grills like the Charmline foldable win on transport and disappear into a backpack, but they lose heat fast on cool evenings. Heavier cast iron like the IronMaster Mini holds temperature like a champ but adds real weight to your picnic kit. Aluminized steel like the Old Smokey line sits comfortably in the middle and works for most people.
Decide If You Need Accessories Or A Standalone Grill
The Vortex cone above only makes sense if you already own a Weber kettle or Smokey Mountain. Standalone options like the Old Smokey, BEAU JARDIN, and Kendane work straight out of the box. If you don’t yet own a kettle, a standalone grill gives you better value per dollar for your first cook.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Where Shoppers Go Wrong
A common slip-up is buying on footprint alone and ignoring grate area, which leaves you rotating food endlessly for guests. Another is ignoring storage. A kettle might fit the patio, but measure the garage or closet before you commit, because a grill that’s awkward to store tends to stay in the box. Finally, don’t skip a cover in damp climates, since even aluminized steel lasts longer when kept dry between cooks.
What The Higher Tier Buys
Stepping up from a basic barrel to a feature-rich kettle or barrel grill typically buys enamel-coated grates that clean faster, a warming rack that doubles your usable cook area, and a side shelf that turns the grill into a real prep station. These aren’t must-haves, but they change how often you reach for the grill on busy weekends, and they show their worth once you start cooking for more than two on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cheap Small Charcoal Grills Worth The Savings?
Yes, for most casual cooks. Entry-level aluminized steel holds heat and seasons much like a pricier kettle, and the main differences are polish like side shelves or warming racks rather than cook quality.
How Big Should A Small Charcoal Grill Be?
For two people, a 14 to 18 inch grate handles dinners with room to spare. For a family of four, an 18 inch kettle or larger barrel grill prevents the bottleneck of constant rotation.
Can Small Charcoal Grills Stay Outside Year-Round?
Most can, though a fitted cover and a sheltered spot extend the life of plated and aluminized steel alike. Cast iron picks like the IronMaster Mini need a quick dry and oil wipe to avoid surface rust.
What Is Two-Zone Cooking?
Two-zone cooking means arranging charcoal on one side of the grill so you have a hot sear zone and a cooler indirect zone on the other. Kettle and barrel shapes both support this with a little charcoal placement.
Do I Need A Cover For A Small Charcoal Grill?
A cover helps in any climate where rain or morning dew reaches the grill. Even rust-resistant aluminized steel benefits from staying dry, and plated steel finishes last longer with basic weather protection.
Closing Remarks
The honest read on small charcoal grills is simple: pick the size that fits your space, the grate area that fits your usual cook, and the build quality that matches how often you actually fire it up. None of the seven picks above try to be a full-size outdoor kitchen, and that’s the point. For weeknight dinners, weekend picnics, or the occasional backyard hang, any one of them will give you honest charcoal flavor without burning a hole in the budget.