The best Charcoal barbecues, compared.
Top pick: CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker – Highest star line and the largest sample: 4.6 from 3,189 reviews at about £159.99. Side tables and the coal pan are listing claims, not a lab test. Best value: Weber Compact kettle 47 cm – 4.5 from 377 reviews at about £49.49, the lowest strong-sample price on a porcelain-enamelled kettle here. This Compact has no lid thermometer. Updated 22.10.2026.
A charcoal barbecue is a freestanding outdoor grill that burns charcoal or briquettes under a grate, with a lid you can close. UK buyers use one in a garden for direct grilling, or for roasting when the lid is down and the vents can be set. The shapes that matter are a round kettle, an oil-drum barrel, and a taller trolley with side tables and a coal tray you can raise. You tell a suitable charcoal barbecue from a grate size that matches the description, vents that move, and an ash pan that stays on. Weight shows whether you can lift it. A lid thermometer, where one is stated, measures air under the lid, not the food. Most carts need assembly. An XL title has to agree with the dimensions line, because a small box can sit behind a large name. The order of those checks is in the [charcoal barbecue buying guide](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/charcoal-barbecue/sub/charcoal-barbecue-buying-guide). Keep the fire outdoors. A tent, awning or caravan is not a place to light it.
A charcoal barbecue is a freestanding outdoor grill that burns charcoal or briquettes under a grate, with a lid you can close.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +28,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Which shape do you need?
CosmoGrill’s Outdoor XL charcoal smoker lists folding side tables, a built-in thermometer, an adjustable charcoal pan, a chimney and wheels at about £159.99 and about 24 kg. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 3,189 reviews, the highest star line and the largest sample in this set. UK reviewers call it sturdy once built, praise smoking and the adjustable coal tray, and say there is space for a family cook. Assembly is the main complaint: many screws, a long build, and instructions described as out of date on some steps. Dents on delivery appear, and the loaded grill is heavy to move. Food-count lines stand in for a clear cm² grate figure, so check the live page for surface area. As a top pick it is the strongest reviewed XL smoker cart here, not a lab result for every garden.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an XL charcoal smoker cart with side tables and a large UK review pool, and you will spend an afternoon on assembly.
Less suitable: You need a light 47 cm kettle, or you will not take on a heavy cart build.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a lid thermometer?
Yes. The listing states a built-in thermometer, plus an adjustable charcoal pan and a chimney. The dial reads air under the lid, not the temperature of the meat.
What weight and assembly should you expect?
The weight line is about 24 kg. Assembly is a flat-pack with many screws. UK reviews call some instruction steps out of date and the loaded grill awkward to move. Dents on delivery are also reported.
Is a grate area stated in square centimetres?
No clear cm² figure is stated. The description uses food counts instead. Read the live page before you compare this cart with a kettle that states 1,548 cm².
CosmoGrill’s XXL smoker lists about 3,024 cm², a cover, a raising coal bed, a thermometer, wheels and side shelves at about £212.44 and roughly 33 kg. Stars are 4.5 from 550 reviews. UK reviewers praise the size, the control and the raising coal bed for searing, smoking and slow roasting, and they like the cover. Builds often take a long time, about three hours in one UK review, with paint scratches during assembly. There is no push handle, so moving it with the cover on is awkward. A gap between lid and chimney, missing parts, and one order that arrived as the cover only also appear. Choose it when you need that grate and you already accept a long build. The XL covers most family cooks for less money and a much larger review count.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need the larger CosmoGrill grate and a cover, and you will spend hours on assembly for large cooks.
Less suitable: You want the XL’s larger review pool at a lower price, or a light kettle.
Specifications
Common questions
What cooking area is stated?
The attribute line says 3,024 cm². The description gives food counts rather than a second measurement. There is no separate clash of the Weber kind on this area line.
What do UK reviews say about moving it?
There is no push handle. Reviewers call it awkward to move with the cover on. Weight is about 33 kg. One build was about three hours, with paint scratched during assembly.
Does the price include a cover?
The description includes a cover. One UK order arrived as the cover only until the main box was chased. Check the delivery against the title before you assemble.
Weber’s Compact kettle at 47 cm lists a 1,548 cm² grate, a porcelain-enamelled bowl and lid, an ash catcher and wheels for about £49.49, and weighs about 9 kg. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 377 reviews. UK reviewers praise the enamel, cooking with the lid on, and ash that empties from a small catcher. One review cites a 10-year warranty on that purchase. Assembly is still called fiddly, and some screw fittings felt flimsy enough to replace. This Compact has no lid thermometer. The cooking-surface attribute says 47 square centimetres, which clashes with the 1,548 cm² line. One UK review described a 57 cm kettle while the title says 47 cm, so measure the bowl on the live page. It is the best value here because that price sits on a strong review sample. It is not a side-shelf cart.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 47 cm kettle for a UK patio, you will cook with the lid on, and you accept no built-in thermometer at this price.
Less suitable: You need a lid thermometer out of the box, a barrel for a larger group, or folding side tables.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Compact have a lid thermometer?
No. The listing does not state a lid thermometer, and the special-features line says Compact. A UK review flagged a description that implied a dial this grill does not have.
Which grate figure should you use?
Use 1,548 cm² from the description. The attribute line says 47 square centimetres, which is not the same area. Item dimensions and the depth-width-height line also disagree, so measure on the live page.
What do UK reviews repeat?
Praise covers enamel, lid cooking and the ash catcher. Complaints cover fiddly assembly and flimsy screw fittings. One review described a 57 cm bowl while the title says 47 cm.
House of Home’s XL charcoal smoker lists side tables and an adjustable front coal tray at about £99.99, with a 22 kg weight line. Stars are 4.5 from 71 reviews. UK reviews call it spacious and good value, with manageable assembly, useful temperature control, and use as both smoker and grill. Assembly still means many fixings, and the instructions are not always clear. The metal is called quite thin, and one UK review expects about two years from that gauge. No lid thermometer is stated, and no grate area is stated. Against the CosmoGrill XL’s 3,189 reviews this is a thinner sample. At this price it is a mid-set smoker cart if you accept the thinner metal.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an XL-style smoker cart with side tables near this price and you accept a thinner gauge and a smaller review pool.
Less suitable: You want the largest UK review sample, or a porcelain-enamelled 47 cm kettle.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a lid thermometer stated?
No. The product details do not state a lid thermometer. Temperature comments in UK reviews are about control of the fire, not a dial on the lid.
Is a grate area stated?
No. There is no cm² or inch figure for the cooking grate. Do not infer one from the XL title.
What do UK reviews say about the metal?
They praise space and value, and they call assembly manageable. They also call the metal thin. One review expects about two years of life from that gauge. Instructions and the number of fixings still draw complaints.
The Weber Original kettle 47 cm sits at about £111.24 with the same 1,548 cm² grate claim as the Compact, plus wheels, ash handling and a lid thermometer. Weight is about 8.94 kg. Stars are 4.5 from 65 reviews, a thinner pool than the Compact’s 377. UK reviews call assembly easy, cleaning simple, and capacity about four to five people. Size is called too small by people who would order again, and charcoal is awkward to reach once it is lit. The attribute line again says 47 square centimetres against the 1,548 cm² description. The material rows are also messy next to a porcelain-enamelled bowl. Step up to this listing when you want the thermometer on the lid. Skip it if the Compact already covers the grate and the price.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the Weber Original 47 cm with a lid thermometer and you will cook for about four or five people.
Less suitable: You are led by price and the Compact already matches your grate, or you need a long barrel.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Original state a lid thermometer?
Yes. That is the stated difference from the Compact at the same 47 cm class. The dial is lid air, not the meat.
Why is the score the same as the Compact if the price is higher?
The score is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. Both sit at 4.5, so both score 90. The Compact has 377 reviews and the lower price, which is why it takes best value. This Original has 65 reviews.
What do UK reviews say about size?
They describe space for about four or five people, easy assembly and straightforward cleaning. Some call it too small to reorder, and one notes that charcoal is hard to reach once lit.
Big Smokey’s barrel lists a 71 × 35.3 cm main grate, a 72.3 × 13.5 cm warming rack, wheels and air vents for about £67.99 at 11.9 kg. Stars are 4.4 from 173 reviews. Buyers often praise labelled-part assembly, space for about six adults, the warming rack and a sliding grill for adding fuel. The handle is welded on the wheeled leg, so lifting and pushing feel awkward. Lump charcoal can fall through wide gaps in the charcoal grate, so briquettes are the safer fuel on this grate. Early instruction steps were described as wrong. A line claims EN 1860-1. That is the seller’s claim, not a check that the standard was verified. The brand field says Generic while the manufacturer line says BIG SMOKEY. No lid thermometer is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a barrel charcoal barbecue for about six adults under this price and you will use briquettes if lump falls through.
Less suitable: You need a round kettle with a larger review pool, or a push handle that is not on the wheel leg.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing claim EN 1860-1?
A description line claims EN 1860-1. That is the seller’s wording. It is not proof the appliance was verified against BS EN 1860-1:2024, and it is not proof it failed.
Which fuel do UK reviews suggest?
Lump charcoal can fall through the charcoal grate. Reviewers point to briquettes. The sliding main grate is for adding fuel, not a coal-height crank.
Why is the brand field Generic?
The brand field says Generic and the manufacturer line says BIG SMOKEY. The title on the listing is the name to match on delivery.
HOMION’s 43.5 cm kettle bundles a cover and utensils at about £28.99 and 3.5 kg. Stars are 4.1 from 150 reviews. UK buyers call it fair value for two people and often easy to assemble. The same reviews call it flimsy and easy to knock over. The bottom shelf and ash tray fall off unless they are tied on. Included tongs broke for some buyers. The bottom vent sits inside the bowl, so it only moves when the grill is cold. A wire rack cracked on a first wash, a sharp bowl edge appears, and several UK reviews doubt it will last more than a season. No grate area and no lid thermometer are stated. Use it as a light outdoor starter. It is not a tent heater, and the low price is not a best-value award.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light lidded charcoal starter for two people and you accept a short service life.
Less suitable: You want enamel durability, side shelves, or a grill that stays planted in a breeze.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the best value because it is the lowest price?
No. Best value is the Weber Compact, named for 4.5 from 377 reviews at about £49.49. HOMION is about £28.99 and 4.1 from 150 reviews. The lower shelf price is not a badge.
What do UK reviews say about the build?
Assembly is often called easy, and the size suits about two people. The bowl is called light and easy to knock over. The ash tray and bottom shelf drop off unless secured, and some tools and the rack failed early.
Can you take it camping in a tent?
No. The 3.5 kg line makes it easier to lift outdoors. A tent, awning or caravan is not a place to light any charcoal barbecue on this page.
The Kendane portable lists 238 square inches of cooking surface plus a warming rack, at about £79.98 and 3 kg. Across 114 amazon.co.uk ratings it scores 4.0. UK reviews often say it cooks well once built and cleans down easily. Several call the frame sturdy for the money. Assembly is the recurring friction: instructions called unclear, builds past an hour, and nuts or tools missing so a spanner was needed. Harder complaints include a ventilation hole and metal racks melting after one use, a damaged bottom shelf on arrival, and a size that felt smaller than expected. The listing states a thermometer, an ash pan, wheels and a side shelf. Check the metal on the first cook rather than treating 3 kg as a thick cart.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light wheeled portable with a stated thermometer and warming rack, and you will check the metal before you rely on it.
Less suitable: You need a porcelain-enamelled kettle with a large UK review pool, or you will not do a long first build.
Specifications
Common questions
What grate and weight are stated?
238 square inches of cooking area, plus a warming rack, and a weight of 3 kg. Dimensions are 58 × 46 × 27 cm. Some buyers still found it smaller than the title suggested.
Is assembly required?
Yes. UK reviews call the instructions unclear and the build longer than an hour. Nuts or tools were missing on some deliveries.
What failed in UK reviews?
A ventilation hole and metal racks melted after one cook in harder complaints. A bottom shelf arrived damaged. Other reviews still praise the cook and the cleaning once it is built.
KEYO’s 23 inch charcoal barbecue lists 469 square inches, a viewing window, a thermometer, wheels and a side shelf at about £127.99 and 18.2 kg. The star line is 4.0 from 19 reviews. UK notes call the packaging good, assembly easy and the grill sturdy, with one saying it fits 12 kebab skewers. The window itself is not discussed in those UK notes. Reviews that are not marked as United Kingdom report cracked or damaged viewing glass on arrival. That is a reason to inspect the glass, not a UK failure rate. At this price and sample size it is a windowed cart, not a default kettle. No warming rack and no coal-height crank are stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a windowed 23 inch KEYO cart and you will inspect the glass on delivery.
Less suitable: You want a thick UK review pool, or a 47 cm kettle at a lower price.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing include a viewing window?
The title states a viewing window. UK notes on this listing do not discuss the glass. Inspect it on arrival. Reports that are not UK notes mention cracked glass.
What grate area and weight are stated?
469 square inches and 18.2 kg. Dimensions are 53 × 122.5 × 96 cm. No warming rack is stated.
Why does 4.0 not match the CosmoGrill XL?
Both use stars times 20. This listing is 4.0 from 19 reviews, so 80. The XL is 4.6 from 3,189 reviews, so 92, and it takes the top pick. Nineteen reviews are a thin sample.
KEYO’s 29 inch charcoal grill titles 537 square inches with a central charcoal tray, a thermometer, an ash pan and a side shelf at about £112.99 and 15.2 kg. Only four amazon.co.uk ratings sit behind the 4.0 line. The UK notes call the quality decent for the price, then describe a long assembly, missing screws, and wheel-bar threads cut on one side so other hardware was used. A height crank is not named, and wheels are not a clear yes on the product details. Four reviews are not evidence on the scale of 3,189. Treat the star line as provisional.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You specifically want the 29 inch KEYO grate claim and you accept a four-review sample.
Less suitable: You need hundreds of UK reviews before spending about £113.
Specifications
Common questions
How many reviews are behind the stars?
Four amazon.co.uk ratings, at 4.0. The score is that star line times 20, which is 80. A sample of four does not take a badge.
Are the wheels clearly stated?
Not as a clear yes. UK notes describe wheel-bar threads cut on one side. Do not assume the cart rolls until you have fitted the hardware you receive.
Is the coal height adjustable?
A divider tray is stated. A height crank is not named, so the table leaves coal height blank rather than claiming a crank.
DYUEE’s barrel lists a 71.5 × 35.5 cm grate, a thermometer, wheels, an ash pan and a side shelf at about £99.99 and 10 kg. Stars are 3.7 from 29 reviews. UK reviews say it can hold heat and fit about six burgers, and some call it handy for a small group. Arrival damage, a poor fit and a two-person assembly appear. A grill tray fell into the coals on first use in one UK review, and outer paint bubbled and flaked after one weekend. The item dimensions line says 25 × 40 × 19 cm, which does not match a large barrel title. Read the live dimensions before you treat the grate line as the box you will receive.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a barrel-shaped listing near this price and you will inspect paint, tray fit and the dimensions on day one.
Less suitable: You need a durable enamel kettle, or a high-scoring smoker cart with thousands of reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Why do the dimensions and the title disagree?
The title reads as a large barrel and the grate line says 71.5 × 35.5 cm. The item dimensions line says 25 × 40 × 19 cm. Those cannot all describe the same box. Check the live page before you order.
What failed in UK reviews?
A grill tray fell into the coals on first use. Paint bubbled and flaked after one weekend. Bent or scratched arrivals and an awkward fit are also reported. Some reviews still say it holds heat for a small group.
Is a thermometer stated?
Yes. Wheels, an ash pan, a side shelf and an adjustable charcoal pan are also stated. The star line is 3.7 from 29 reviews, so the feature list is not a quality score.
Campfire’s XL lists a multi-level charcoal cart, a 58 × 42.5 cm grate line and an attribute of 2,455 cm², plus a side shelf and wheels, at about £99.99. No weight is stated. The amazon.co.uk rating is 3.2 from 82 reviews, the weakest star line in this set. Assembly dominates the complaints: hours of work, poor diagrams, unnumbered parts, misaligned holes and missing screws. Some buyers still call the coated split grate easy to soak and the cook solid once it is built. Paint bubbled on the top after a couple of uses in one report, and one UK reviewer discarded the grill after a single cook. A charcoal tray that would not drop low enough also appears. A lift handle is mentioned. A coal-tray crank is not named. It is not a calm first charcoal barbecue.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a large footprint near this price and you will rebuild fasteners despite a 3.2 star line.
Less suitable: You want a first charcoal barbecue with a calm build and a strong UK review pool.
Specifications
Common questions
What grate area is stated?
The description gives 58 × 42.5 cm. The attribute line says 2,455 cm². No weight is stated. There is no lid thermometer.
Why is the star line the lowest here?
It is 3.2 from 82 reviews, so the score is 64. UK reviews concentrate on assembly: hours, poor diagrams, missing screws and misaligned holes. A low price does not offset that sample.
Is the coal height adjustable?
A lift handle is mentioned in the description. A coal-tray crank is not named. One buyer said the tray would not drop low enough. The table leaves coal height blank.
Twelve amazon.co.uk charcoal barbecue listings were scored as the star rating times 20. That number is not a lab test of heat, enamel or assembly. The top pick is the CosmoGrill XL, 4.6 from 3,189 reviews. Best value is the Weber Compact kettle at about £49.49, 4.5 from 377 reviews. A sample of four or nineteen reviews keeps the same formula and takes no badge. The weights below are the buying checks in that order. They sum to 100 and they are not a second penalty inside the star score.
Shape
20%A kettle around 47 cm is the small-household grill. A barrel or a trolley is the crowd grate, with shelves only where the description says so.
Cooking area
20%Use the figure in the description and flag a clash. An attribute of 47 square centimetres is not the Weber grate when the description says 1,548 cm². A missing area stays missing.
Heat control
20%Vents come first. A stated lid thermometer reads air under the lid, not the meat. The Compact does not state a dial. Four reviews are not the same evidence as 3,189.
Weight
15%The stated kilogram line is the lift test, from 3 kg portables to a 33 kg cart. A low weight is not proof of thick metal. Campfire states no weight.
Ash, wheels and assembly
15%An ash pan that stays on, wheels where stated, and an honest assembly note. A seller line that claims EN 1860-1 is not a verified test.
Review sample
10%The published score is stars times 20. Review count decides whether that star line can carry a badge. Thin samples stay in the table without an award.
Choose the shape before the star line. A kettle suits a small household. A barrel or a trolley is the larger grate. On this page the shelf prices run from about £28.99 to about £212.44. The top pick and the best value are named from the star sample, not from the lowest or highest price alone.
A charcoal barbecue burns charcoal or briquettes under a grate. With the lid open you grill. With the lid down and the vents set, the same fire can roast. The three shapes in this category are a round kettle, an oil-drum barrel, and a taller trolley with side tables and a coal tray you can raise or reach from the front. A kettle around 47 cm is the small-household grill. A barrel or trolley is the crowd grate, with shelves only where the description says so.
DYUEE’s dimensions line says 25 × 40 × 19 cm while the title reads as a large barrel. Weber’s attribute says 47 square centimetres while the description says 1,548 cm². Read both lines before you order.
The Weber Compact does not state a lid thermometer. The Original at the same 47 cm class does. A dial, where fitted, is lid air, not the meat.
Use about 5 cm of charcoal and recognised firelighters. Never use petrol. Never light a charcoal barbecue in a tent, awning or caravan. Cold ash only. Carbon monoxide symptoms mean fresh air, then NHS 111 or 999.
Start with shape. A kettle around 47 cm is the small-household grill. A barrel or trolley is the crowd grate, and shelves exist only where the description says so. Then read the cooking area in the description. Keep a clash visible: 47 square centimetres is not 1,548 cm², and a 25 × 40 × 19 cm line is not a large barrel. Heat control is vents that move. A stated thermometer is lid air. The Compact and House of Home do not state a dial.
Weight runs from 3 kg to 33 kg in the lines that state it. Campfire states none. A light bowl can be easy to lift and easy to knock over, which is the HOMION pattern in UK reviews. An ash pan that stays on, and wheels where they are actually stated, matter on the first weekend. Assembly complaints dominate the Campfire 3.2 from 82 reviews. The published score is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. The CosmoGrill XL is 4.6 from 3,189 and takes the top pick.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You grill and roast under a lid for a small household and you can live without a dial. The Weber Compact is about £49.49, 47 cm, 4.5 from 377 reviews, with a 1,548 cm² grate claim and no lid thermometer. The attribute line that says 47 square centimetres clashes with that grate.
You want side tables and a coal tray, and the patio can take the cart. The CosmoGrill XL is about £159.99 and about 24 kg, at 4.6 from 3,189 reviews. Assembly is long, and a clear cm² grate is not stated. It is the top pick on sample size, not a lab test.
You want a light kettle for two and you will keep it outdoors. HOMION is about £28.99 and 3.5 kg, at 4.1 from 150 reviews. UK reviews call it easy to knock over and doubt it lasts a season. The low price is not best value. Never use it in a tent.
The top pick is the CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker at about £159.99. It is 4.6 from 3,189 amazon.co.uk reviews, the highest star line and much the largest sample in this set. Side tables, a thermometer and an adjustable coal pan are listing claims, not a bench test. The best value is the Weber Compact kettle, 47 cm, at about £49.49, with 4.5 from 377 reviews, a porcelain-enamelled bowl and no lid thermometer. Three other listings also score 90 on stars times 20 and take no second badge. Four reviews do not equal 3,189. Neither award is the only charcoal barbecue for every garden.
CosmoGrill XL charcoal smoker
Highest star line and the largest sample: 4.6 from 3,189 reviews at about £159.99. Side tables and the coal pan are listing claims, not a lab test.
Weber Compact kettle 47 cm
4.5 from 377 reviews at about £49.49, the lowest strong-sample price on a porcelain-enamelled kettle here. This Compact has no lid thermometer.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for these ASINs. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines for these ASINs. We did not run a lab test.
