The best Folding grills, compared.
Top pick: Amazon Basics campfire grate Best value: No best value – No listing is named best value. A lower price does not make a campfire grate the same product as a charcoal briefcase. Updated 22.10.2026.
A folding grill is a charcoal cooker that packs flatter than a trolley barbecue. On amazon.co.uk the name covers two tools. One is a shallow briefcase, sometimes called a notebook grill, with its own charcoal tray and a grate for food. The other is a campfire grate: mesh on folding legs over a fire, often sold as a stand for pans rather than a surface for bare food. You tell them apart by the fuel tray, by whether the printed cooking area matches a second size line, and by whether the grate, legs and end plates stay with the body once it is folded. BS EN 1860-1:2024 describes a portable solid-fuel barbecue as something you can carry without parts falling off. Listings in this category often do not state that mark. Painted steel, powder-coated alloy and stainless steel all appear. Stainless steel is not a thickness guarantee. Keep the coal load modest, light charcoal only in the open, and let the metal cool before you fold it. Those checks are set out in the [folding grill buying guide](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/folding-grill/sub/folding-grill-buying-guide).
A folding grill is a charcoal cooker that packs flatter than a trolley barbecue. On amazon.co.uk the name covers two tools.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cooking on?
Across 5,727 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 4.6, the Amazon Basics grate at £23.74 is a 1.46 kg welded-steel mesh with folding legs, not a charcoal box. The listing cooking area is 237.19 square inches. The bullet says it is for pots and pans, not direct grilling. UK texts call the steel sturdy enough for a Dutch oven, and also report legs that collapse or sit uneven. You still need a fire you are allowed to light.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already have a lawful campfire and you want a folding mesh for pots, pans or a Dutch oven.
Less suitable: You want a charcoal tray, food straight on the mesh, or a grill you can light where a ground fire is not allowed.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you put food straight on the mesh?
The bullet says the grate is for outdoor cookware, including cast iron, and is not intended for direct-contact grilling. One UK review says they cooked on the mesh anyway.
Does it hold charcoal?
No fuel tray is listed. It is a fire-pit grill grate. UK reviews use it over a fire or as a stand for pots. One review could not use it as a grill because the grass was too long for a ground fire.
Do the legs fold?
The bullet says the legs angle out and fold underneath. Assembly is not required. UK reviews also describe legs that collapse or that do not sit flush on a level floor.
Across 781 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 4.6, the green Charmline at £25.34 is a powder-coated folding charcoal grill with a listed carry case and a 7.6 cm fold. UK texts praise the pack size and say a small coal load cooked a burger, sausages and corn. The repeated complaint is getting charcoal in past the grate. The bullet tells you to keep charcoal below half the tray. The specification says assembly is required, while the bullet says no installation. Warranty on the listing is one month.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a compact charcoal briefcase with a listed carry case, for one to three people, and you will keep the coal load under half the tray.
Less suitable: You need a wide grate for a bigger meal, or you want a mesh stand over an open fire.
Specifications
Common questions
How many people does the listing say it is for?
The title says 1–3 people. The folded size on the listing is 34.7 × 23 × 7.6 cm and the cooking area is 667 cm². Some UK reviews describe larger Charmline sizes. Those sizes are not this ASIN.
Does it come with a bag?
Included components list a carry case. UK reviews mention a canvas bag with room for skewers and firelighters.
Is assembly required?
The specification says yes. The bullet says no installation and that it is ready after unpacking. UK reviews describe joints that move when you pack it down.
Across 1,422 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 4.4, the Direct Designs Notebook at £26.99 is a painted-steel fold-flat charcoal grill with a chrome grid. The bullet cooking size is 44 cm by 26.5 cm, and the cooking-surface field is 1,210 cm². Another dimensions line says 17.7 × 10.8 × 11.8 cm. UK texts describe meals for about four and easy ash emptying. The same texts say the grate and side pieces do not always pack back inside the frame, and that the fuel shelf can buckle with heat. The specification says assembly is required, while reviewers say it arrives ready to unfold.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a fold-flat charcoal tray with a chrome grid around 44 by 26.5 cm, and you will check that the grate packs back in.
Less suitable: You need a listed carry case, or you will trust only one of the two size lines on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a campfire grate or a charcoal barbecue?
The listing is a notebook folding grill with a charcoal cooking method and a chrome-plated grid. Included parts are a lid and a rack. It is not a mesh stand for a separate fire.
How big is the cooking area?
The cooking-surface field is 1,210 cm². The bullet says 44 cm by 26.5 cm and a height of 31 cm. Another dimensions line says 17.7 × 10.8 × 11.8 cm. Both lines are on the listing.
Does it need assembly?
The specification says assembly is required. UK reviews say it arrives assembled and folds open for use, then folds flat again.
Across 46 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 4.4, the Elsjoy at £19.98 is a powder-coated campfire grate at 2.38 kg, with locking legs and a pull-out handle. The listing cooking area is 212.5 square inches. The bullet gives a folded height of 2.3 inches. Five UK texts call it sturdy and easy to store. The bullet says not to grill food directly on the mesh. One UK review says the legs do not adjust for a low flame. Another uses it as a warming rack on a different barbecue.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a powder-coated campfire grate with locking legs, for pans and kettles over a fire you are allowed to light.
Less suitable: You want food straight on the mesh, a height-adjustable grate, or a charcoal briefcase.
Specifications
Common questions
Can food go straight on the grate?
The bullet says it is not recommended to grill food directly on the mesh. It says the grate works with skillets, pots, tea kettles, frying pans and griddles.
Do the legs adjust?
The listing describes locking legs that fold, and says assembly is not required. It does not list a height adjustment. One UK review says the legs do not adjust, so the flame has to reach the grate.
What is included?
Included components list the grill grate only. There is no carry bag on the listing. Weight is 2.38 kg and the colour is black.
Across 388 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 4.2, the WixbFyn at £19.99 is a stainless folding charcoal grill listed at 2.05 kg. The bullet describes four height settings. The specification also lists 4 main burners and 4 heating elements, which does not make it a gas barbecue. UK texts like the pack size and say a couple of steaks or about six burgers fit. One updated review describes warping and a very hot centre on a single layer of supermarket briquettes. Another says it did not warp. The bullet unfolded size and the specification dimensions do not match, and no cooking-area figure is given. There is a one-year warranty line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light stainless folding charcoal grill, and you will treat the four-level line as grate height, not as gas burners.
Less suitable: You need an agreed size, a cooking-area figure, or a carry case.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it have four burners?
The specification lists 4 main burners and 4 heating elements. The bullet and the item highlight describe a 4-level heat control on a charcoal grill. It is not a gas barbecue.
Is assembly required?
The specification says no. UK reviews include a grill that fell apart on opening and had to be rebuilt without an instruction booklet.
How large is it when open?
The bullet says 71.2 × 16.3 × 20.5 cm unfolded and a much smaller folded size in inches. The specification dimensions are 2.6 × 21.5 × 43 cm. Weight is 2.05 kg. No cooking-area figure is given.
The Rammento at £9.25 has 4 amazon.co.uk ratings averaging 4.2, and three UK review texts. It is a 2.81 kg painted-steel charcoal grill with a chrome grid the bullet sizes at 44 × 26.5 cm, a cooking-area field of 1,116 cm², folding to 4 cm, and a box described as the carry case. One review says the end plates slide out and the plate will not pack inside. Treat the star line as a very small sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low-priced painted-steel briefcase that the bullet folds to 4 cm, and you accept a very small review sample.
Less suitable: You need a deep set of UK reviews, or end plates and a grate that are known to pack back inside.
Specifications
Common questions
How flat does it pack?
The bullet says it collapses to 4 cm deep and weighs 2.81 kg. The centimetre dimensions are 42 × 4 × 45 cm. One UK review says the end plates fall out and the grill plate does not fit back inside.
What fuel does it use?
Charcoal. The cooking method is direct grilling on a chrome-plated grid listed at 44 × 26.5 cm, with a cooking-area field of 1,116 cm².
How many reviews are on the listing?
The amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 out of 5 from 4 ratings. Three of the review texts are headed United Kingdom.
The WINB at £8.99 is listed at 4.1 from 149 amazon.co.uk ratings. The title calls it a mini charcoal grill and a fire pit for 1–2 people, in brushed stainless steel, with a carry bag. The specification weight is 410 g and the bullet says 1.15 lb. The specification prints 25 × 25 × 25 mm against a title size of 8.2 × 5.5 inches. The bullet also mentions wood as well as charcoal. The saved review texts are not from the United Kingdom. They describe a very small grate, some warp, and heat thrown downwards.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a mini stainless grill with a carry bag for one or two people, and you will ignore the millimetre size line.
Less suitable: You need UK review texts, an agreed weight, or a grate for more than a couple of skewers.
Specifications
Common questions
Who is it sized for?
The title and the bullet say 1–2 people. The folded size in the title is 8.2 × 5.5 inches. The specification instead prints 25 × 25 × 25 millimetres.
Are the reviews from the UK?
The listing line is 4.1 out of 5 from 149 ratings on amazon.co.uk. The 50 saved review texts are headed United States, Australia, Germany or Canada. None say United Kingdom.
Does it include a bag?
Included components list a carry case. The bullet calls it a waterproof carry bag and describes a five-piece snap build with no screws.
Across 63 amazon.co.uk ratings, averaging 3.8, the Kizmyee at £16.67 is a folding charcoal grill in stainless steel, with no assembly on the specification. The bullet says 430 stainless steel. UK texts include easy set-up and also a grate that sags or bends, a wobbly frame, and a size below the pictures. The cooking-area figure of 350.75 square inches and the 60 × 22 cm size do not describe the same rectangle. The title includes the word smoker, but there is no separate smoker-chamber field. The warranty line is incomplete.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a no-assembly folding charcoal grill in stainless steel, and you will measure it against the pictures.
Less suitable: You need a cooking area that matches the centimetre size, a complete warranty line, or a rigid grate.
Specifications
Common questions
What are the measurements?
The specification says 60 × 22 × 6 cm and 1.83 kg, with a cooking area of 350.75 square inches. The bullet says 27.5 × 12.7 × 8.66 inches and about 2 kg. One UK review says it is smaller than the pictures.
Does it need to be built?
The specification says assembly is not required. The bullet says you put the folding legs down and start.
Is it a smoker?
The title includes the word smoker. Fuel is charcoal and the cooking method is grilling. There is no separate smoker-chamber field.
Eight amazon.co.uk folding-grill listings were scored from the star line only: stars divided by 5, times 100. A 4.6 is 92. A 4.4 is 88. A 4.2 is 84. A 4.1 is 82. A 3.8 is 76. Review count does not add points. Listing awards are empty, and the notes for this set do not name a winner, because a charcoal briefcase and a campfire grate are different products. The weights below are those buying checks. They are not points on the star score. This page gives no top pick and no best value. Table order follows that star score. It is not an award. This is not a lab cook.
Type
25%A briefcase has a charcoal tray. A campfire grate does not. Two grates in this set say not to cook food directly on the mesh, or that the grate is not for direct contact. Star ratings do not separate the types.
Size and pack
25%Prefer the cooking area and the folded thickness, and read both dimension lines when they disagree. A larger printed figure that conflicts with the other line is not the size to buy on.
Parts stay put
20%BS EN 1860-1:2024 describes a portable solid-fuel barbecue as something you can carry in one hand without parts falling off once it is folded. None of these listings state the mark. Grates, legs and end plates that fall out of the case fail this check.
Material and load
20%Painted steel, powder-coated alloy and stainless steel all appear. Stainless steel is not a thickness guarantee. A thin tray wants a modest coal load. One listing says keep charcoal below half the tray. Warp shows up in some reviews and not in others of the same listing.
Review evidence
10%A large amazon.co.uk sample with UK review texts is a different record from four ratings, or from a star line whose saved review texts are not headed United Kingdom. The star score does not add points for that sample size.
Choose the type before the star count. A charcoal briefcase and a campfire grate are not one product. On these listings, shelf prices run from about £8.99 to about £26.99. There is no top pick and no best value. A 4.6 on a mesh stand is not a win over a 4.6 on a tray.
A folding grill in the UK is either a shallow charcoal barbecue that packs flat, often called a briefcase or a notebook grill, or a campfire grate with folding legs. The briefcase holds its own fuel and food goes on the grate. The grate sits over a fire you are allowed to light, and many listings sell it as a stand for pans rather than a surface for bare food. People buy one for camping, a van, a flat with no room for a trolley, or a single summer meal.
A campfire grate has no charcoal tray. Amazon Basics says it is not intended for direct-contact grilling. Elsjoy says not to grill food directly on the mesh. You still need a fire you are allowed to light.
Notebook prints two centimetre sizes. WINB prints millimetres against an inch title. Kizmyee’s square-inch cooking area and its centimetre size are not the same rectangle. Keep the line that matches the other, or treat both as unresolved.
Cool the grill before you move or fold it. Charmline says keep charcoal below half the tray. About 5 cm of charcoal is the GOV.UK outdoor figure. Do not use petrol or paraffin, and do not serve pink burgers, sausages, kebabs, poultry or pork.
Type comes first. A briefcase holds charcoal in a folding tray and food sits on the grate. A campfire grate is mesh on legs and has no fuel box. The Amazon Basics bullet says the grate is not intended for direct-contact grilling. The Elsjoy bullet says not to grill food directly on the mesh. Star ratings do not tell those two types apart. A 4.6 on the mesh and a 4.6 on a compact tray can share the top of a star table and still be different purchases. Size is the next fork.
Material is painted steel, powder-coated alloy or stainless steel. Stainless is not a thickness guarantee. Charmline tells you to keep charcoal below half the tray. Kizmyee and WixbFyn reviews include warp, and other reviews of the same listings say the opposite. GOV.UK’s outdoor figure is about 5 cm of charcoal. Do not heap a thin tray, and do not start it with petrol or paraffin. WixbFyn’s bullet describes four height settings. The specification also copies 4 into burner counts.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need a charcoal tray that packs flat, and you will only light it in the open, away from the awning. The green Charmline is about £25.34, at 4.6 from 781 ratings, with a listed carry case and a 7.6 cm fold. The title says 1–3 people. UK texts praise the pack size. The repeated complaint is getting charcoal in past the grate, and the bullet says to keep the load under half the tray.
You want a grate around 40 cm and you accept a short coal life. The Direct Designs Notebook is about £26.99, at 4.4 from 1,422 ratings. The bullet cooking size is 44 cm by 26.5 cm. UK texts describe meals for about four and also say the grate and side pieces do not always pack back inside. That people count is a review description, not a feeds-four guarantee.
You already have a lawful campfire and you only need a stand for pans. The Amazon Basics grate is about £23.74, at 4.6 from 5,727 ratings, and 1.46 kg. The bullet says it is not intended for direct-contact grilling. UK texts call the steel sturdy enough for a Dutch oven, and also report legs that collapse. It is not a briefcase.
This page does not name a top pick or a best value. Listing awards are empty, and the notes for this set do not name a winner. The table score is the amazon.co.uk star line mapped to 100, so 4.6 from 781 ratings and 4.6 from 5,727 ratings share the top of the table, and they are different tools: a compact charcoal briefcase and a campfire mesh. A briefcase with a tray and a grate over a fire you are allowed to light are not the same purchase. Choose by type, whether the size lines agree, and whether the parts stay in the case. None of these scores is a lab cook.
No best value
No listing is named best value. A lower price does not make a campfire grate the same product as a charcoal briefcase.
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, last checked on 22 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures saved for these ASINs.
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.
