The best Kamado barbecues, compared.
Top pick: Char-Griller Akorn Jr Best value: Char-Griller Akorn Jr – Best value in this set: about £169.99 with 4.6 from 5,093 ratings, 16.2 kg and about 1,000 cm². No lid gauge, and the wattage line is not a charcoal result. Updated 22.10.2026.
A kamado barbecue is a lidded charcoal cooker with a heavy shell and vents at the top and the bottom. In the UK you buy one to grill, to smoke and to roast outdoors. It is a different cooker from a kettle and from a gas barbecue. You recognise a suitable kamado barbecue by the shell, the grate and the weight, not by an inch slogan. Ceramic stores heat and can shatter if it is dropped. Triple-wall steel is the lighter kamado-style body. The cooking area should sit close to a circle of the stated grate diameter. A field far from that circle is a listing conflict, not a second measurement. Weight shows whether two or three people are needed at the kerb, or whether you can carry it. You want a bottom intake and a top exhaust. A lid thermometer, where the listing states one, reads air under the dome, not the food. A deflector is in the box only when the included line names it. The order of those checks is in the [kamado barbecue buying guide](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/kamado-barbecue/sub/kamado-barbecue-buying-guide).
A kamado barbecue is a lidded charcoal cooker with a heavy shell and vents at the top and the bottom. In the UK you buy one to grill, to smoke and to roast outdoors.
26 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What do you need to move, and what are you cooking?
The Char-Griller E6714 Akorn Jr is listed at £169.99 with 4.6 from 5,093 amazon.co.uk ratings, 155 square inches of grate, and 16.2 kg with side handles. UK reviews in the file describe a large chicken, a small charcoal load, and a boston butt held low and slow, then the vents shut so fuel remained. Only five of the first 50 texts are marked United Kingdom, so the star count is not a UK-only sample. The listing also prints 20 watts and 12,000 BTU on a charcoal fuel line, which you should ignore, and it does not name a lid gauge. One reviewer says the shell feels thinner than a ceramic egg, which matches the steel specification. Assembly is required, and one review found the lid and handle fiddly. It is the best value here on price among cookers that still clear the score floor, and it is the wrong buy if you wanted a 90 kg ceramic on a trolley.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A patio or camping cook who wants a portable kamado-style grill and will learn the vents.
Less suitable: You want a ceramic shell, a built-in gauge, or a family-sized 50 cm grid.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the body ceramic?
The material field says alloy steel, and the bullet says triple-walled insulation. A reviewer in the file says it does not feel like a ceramic egg.
How much cooking space is listed?
155 square inches, in the bullet and in the area field. That is about 1,000 cm² if you convert the figure. It is not a second measurement.
Does the box include a deflector or a cover?
The included line says user manual. A UK reviewer bought a small rack separately so food was not only on the grate.
The ash Char-Griller E86714 is listed at £232.40, £62.41 more than the black E6714, with the same 4.6 from 5,093 on the star line. The bullets add a heat gauge, dual dampers, an easy-dump ash pan, and a 14 inch cooking diameter, at 15 kg. The cooking-area field says 14 square inches, which fights that diameter, and the two dimension lines in the file do not match each other. The review text is the same block as the cheaper Junior, including the five UK comments about charcoal use and a boston butt. You are not buying a second pile of 5,093 experiences. Take it if you specifically want the gauge and the ash finish printed on this ASIN, and skip it if the black Junior’s £169.99 listing is enough.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the ash Junior and you are buying it for the heat-gauge bullet, with the area field set aside.
Less suitable: You thought 5,093 ratings were a separate UK test, or you need a trustworthy area figure.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the cooking area 14 square inches?
That is what the specification field says. The bullet says a 14 inch cooking diameter. A 14 inch circle is about 154 square inches, close to the other Junior’s 155, not to 14.
Are the 5,093 ratings a separate sample?
The star line matches the black E6714, and the review text in this file is the same block. Treat it as one sample.
Does it list a heat gauge?
Yes. The bullet says heat gauge and dual dampers. The black E6714 bullets do not.
The Ynni TQ0C23GR is listed at £810 with 4.5 from 7 amazon.co.uk ratings, a 50 cm grid (1,982 cm²), a 59 cm shell, and 95 kg on a trolley. The bullets describe a chip feeder for wood during a long smoke, a removable second thermometer, four lockable wheels, and two bamboo side tables. The included-components line says only thermometer, so the trolley is a bullet claim until you see it on the listing. Both UK reviews praise the food and the supplier, and one asks for weight and lifting instructions because the ceramic can be damaged if it is lifted badly. Seven ratings are a thin sample next to the Akorn’s thousands. This is the top pick on the published score because the ceramic listing is complete and the two UK texts are positive, not because seven reviews outvote 5,093. It is a kerbside weight, not a cooker you carry upstairs alone. The printed 20 year ceramics line is the listing sentence. It is not evidence that a drop, courier damage or frost is covered.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household that wants a 23 inch ceramic with a trolley and a chip feeder, and that can move 95 kg from the kerb.
Less suitable: You need a large review sample, or you have to carry the cooker up stairs.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing include a trolley?
The bullets say a black powder-coated trolley with four lockable wheels and two bamboo side tables. The included-components line says only thermometer, so check the photos against both lines.
How heavy is it?
Net weight is 95 kg, and the bullet also says 103 kg with cartons. A UK review asks for lifting instructions because mishandling can damage it.
Can you add wood chips without opening the lid?
The bullet describes an external chip feeder for that. The other cookers in this comparison do not.
The Relaxdays kamado is listed at £137.90 with 2.6 from 6 amazon.co.uk ratings, a grill diameter of about 26 cm, and 530.93 cm², which matches that circle. It weighs 21.3 kg, with a bamboo handle, two air vents, and a thermometer the title rates to 450°C. The feature line also says digital temperature control, which the title does not explain, so treat the gauge as a lid thermometer. One UK review calls the quality excellent. The other texts are about ceramic that arrived cracked or in pieces, including a reviewer who says it happened twice. The warranty field is a dash. It is the lowest price in the set and a small cooker, and it is a weak buy if you need the ceramic to arrive whole.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small outdoor egg for one or two people, if you accept the delivery-damage reviews and inspect the box before you assemble it.
Less suitable: You are cooking for a family, or you want a review sample that is not mostly about broken ceramics.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a family-sized egg?
The grill diameter is about 26 cm and the area is 530.93 cm². That is a small egg beside the 21 inch and 23 inch ceramics in this set.
What do the reviews say arrived broken?
One UK review says the quality was excellent. Other reviews describe a cracked base, a bowl that arrived broken twice, and an inner ceramic basket in two pieces.
Is assembly required?
Yes. The included line is one kamado and does not list a stand or tools.
The Goods Emporium BBQ-KE21 in red is listed at £589.99 as a 21 inch ceramic egg with a wheeled stand, bamboo side boards, a stainless grill, and a built-in lid thermometer. There is no star line and no review text in the file, so you are buying the specification. The bullet says about 75 kg and a two-to-three person lift, the specification says 85 kg, and delivery is kerbside because a drop can crack the ceramic. The cooking-area field says 0.27 m², about 2,700 cm², which is larger than a 21 inch circle, so do not quote that area as the grate without the conflict. Top and bottom vents are in the bullet. A main-burner count of 2 on a charcoal cooker is not supported by the bullets. The same model is also listed in the other two colours at different prices. It is an unreviewed 21 inch package, not a reviewed alternative to the Ynni.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a red 21 inch ceramic with a stand in the included list, and you can receive a pallet.
Less suitable: You want UK reviews, a single weight figure, or a cooker you can carry.
Specifications
Common questions
How heavy is the delivery?
The bullet says about 75 kg and two or three people. The specification says 85 kg. It is kerbside on a small pallet, and the listing says the ceramic can crack if it is dropped.
Are there reviews?
This file has no star line and no review text. The black, green and red listings share the model number BBQ-KE21.
Does it include a stand?
Yes. The included list names a metal stand with wheels, bamboo side boards, an ash tray, a stainless steel grill, and a manual with assembly tools.
The Goods Emporium BBQ-KE21 in black is listed at £599.99 as a 21 inch ceramic egg with a wheeled stand, bamboo side boards, a stainless grill, and a built-in lid thermometer. There is no star line and no review text in the file, so you are buying the specification. The bullet says about 75 kg and a two-to-three person lift, the specification says 85 kg, and delivery is kerbside because a drop can crack the ceramic. The cooking-area field says 0.27 m², about 2,700 cm², which is larger than a 21 inch circle, so do not quote that area as the grate without the conflict. Top and bottom vents are in the bullet. A main-burner count of 2 on a charcoal cooker is not supported by the bullets. The same model is also listed in the other two colours at different prices. It is an unreviewed 21 inch package, not a reviewed alternative to the Ynni.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a black 21 inch ceramic with a stand in the included list, and you can receive a pallet.
Less suitable: You want UK reviews, a single weight figure, or a cooker you can carry.
Specifications
Common questions
How heavy is the delivery?
The bullet says about 75 kg and two or three people. The specification says 85 kg. It is kerbside on a small pallet, and the listing says the ceramic can crack if it is dropped.
Are there reviews?
This file has no star line and no review text. The black, green and red listings share the model number BBQ-KE21.
Does it include a stand?
Yes. The included list names a metal stand with wheels, bamboo side boards, an ash tray, a stainless steel grill, and a manual with assembly tools.
The Goods Emporium BBQ-KE21 in green is listed at £649.99 as a 21 inch ceramic egg with a wheeled stand, bamboo side boards, a stainless grill, and a built-in lid thermometer. There is no star line and no review text in the file, so you are buying the specification. The bullet says about 75 kg and a two-to-three person lift, the specification says 85 kg, and delivery is kerbside because a drop can crack the ceramic. The cooking-area field says 0.27 m², about 2,700 cm², which is larger than a 21 inch circle, so do not quote that area as the grate without the conflict. Top and bottom vents are in the bullet. A main-burner count of 2 on a charcoal cooker is not supported by the bullets. The same model is also listed in the other two colours at different prices. It is an unreviewed 21 inch package, not a reviewed alternative to the Ynni.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a green 21 inch ceramic with a stand in the included list, and you can receive a pallet.
Less suitable: You want UK reviews, a single weight figure, or a cooker you can carry.
Specifications
Common questions
How heavy is the delivery?
The bullet says about 75 kg and two or three people. The specification says 85 kg. It is kerbside on a small pallet, and the listing says the ceramic can crack if it is dropped.
Are there reviews?
This file has no star line and no review text. The black, green and red listings share the model number BBQ-KE21.
Does it include a stand?
Yes. The included list names a metal stand with wheels, bamboo side boards, an ash tray, a stainless steel grill, and a manual with assembly tools.
Scores on the seven amazon.co.uk kamado barbecues in this set use the shelf prices, star lines and listing notes from 19 October 2026. They are not a laboratory cook. A star rating is not a BS EN 1860-1 result. None of these rows is scored as certified to that standard. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the lowest shelf price among rows at 50 or above that are not the top pick. The weights below sum to 100.
Stars
40%Up to 40 points from the amazon.co.uk star line, as stars divided by 5, times 40, then rounded. A listing with no star line scores 0 on this part, and a missing star line is also a deduction.
Review volume
20%Up to 20 points from the review count: none scores 0, a handful scores low, and 1,000 or more scores 20. If the review text is the same block as another ASIN in this set, volume is capped.
Listing fit
25%Up to 25 points for a ceramic or stated triple-wall shell, a lid gauge, top and bottom vents, a grate area close to the stated diameter, and a stand, wheels or side handles. A single vent scores less than two.
Sentiment
15%Up to 15 points from the written reviews. No review text scores 0. Repeated arrival breakage scores low. Mostly positive UK comments with fewer than 10 UK texts score in the middle of this part.
Choose by shell, grate area, the kilogrammes you can move, and vents you can set. A large review count does not make a steel Junior into a ceramic egg. Prices are the amazon.co.uk lines saved on 19 October 2026. There is no laboratory cook.
A kamado is a lidded charcoal cooker with a heavy shell, a bottom vent and a top vent. In a UK garden it works as a grill, a smoker and an oven. A thin kettle is not this shape, and a gas trolley is a different fuel. The notes below come from public standards and from the listing fields in this comparison. They are not a laboratory cook. Do not treat any of these rows as certified to BS EN 1860-1:2024, which covers reusable solid-fuel barbecues.
The shell inch is not the cooking surface. A 23 inch class can state a grid near 20 inches. An area field that cannot fit the stated diameter is not a specification you should quote.
A large ceramic egg is a kerbside lift for two or three people. A drop can crack the body. Photograph a split ceramic and take it up with the seller. A printed ceramics term is not proof that a drop or courier damage is covered.
A wattage or BTU figure on a charcoal line is not heat output. Two ASINs with the same review text are one sample. Three colourways with no star line are one unreviewed model.
The shell is the first check on a kamado barbecue. Ceramic stores heat and can shatter if it is dropped. A cracked body on arrival is a seller problem under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9. Photograph it before you assemble. Triple-wall steel is the lighter kamado-style shell. It is not a kettle. In this set the 23 inch ceramic is listed at 95 kg. The 21 inch ceramic says about 75 kg in the bullet and 85 kg in the specification. Those figures disagree, so do not average them.
Read the grate, not the inch slogan on the shell. Compare the stated area with a circle of the stated grate diameter. An area within about 15 percent of that circle is consistent. An area that cannot fit the diameter is a conflict. Here, 1,982 cm² sits close to a 50 cm grid. 530.93 cm² matches about 26 cm. 155 square inches is about 1,000 cm². The ash Junior’s field says 14 square inches against a 14 inch diameter.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a 23 inch ceramic with a trolley and a chip feeder in the bullets, and you can move 95 kg from the kerb. The Ynni TQ0C23GR is about £810, with 4.5 from 7 ratings. Seven ratings are a thin sample, and the included line is narrower than the bullets. Skip it if you have to carry the cooker upstairs.
You want a portable kamado-style grill and you will learn the vents. The Char-Griller Akorn Jr E6714 is about £169.99, with 4.6 from 5,093 ratings, 155 square inches and 16.2 kg. Ignore the 20 watt and 12,000 BTU lines. It is the wrong buy if you wanted a ceramic shell and a lid gauge.
You are cooking for one or two and you will open the carton before you assemble it. The Relaxdays kamado is about £137.90, about 26 cm and 21.3 kg, with 2.6 from 6 ratings. Several reviews describe ceramic smashed in transit. It is a weak buy if you need a family grate or a review sample that is not mostly about breakage.
In this set the top pick is the Ynni Kamado 23 inch at about £810. It states a 50 cm grid and 1,982 cm², a chip feeder in the bullets, 95 kg on a trolley, and 4.5 from 7 amazon.co.uk ratings, both of them from the United Kingdom. Seven ratings are a thin sample, and the included line says thermometer only. The best value is the Char-Griller Akorn Jr E6714 at about £169.99, with 4.6 from 5,093 ratings, 16.2 kg and about 1,000 cm². Ignore its 20 watt and 12,000 BTU lines, and it has no lid gauge. The ash E86714 is about £232.40 and names a heat gauge, but the area field says 14 square inches and the review text matches the cheaper Junior. Relaxdays is about £137.90 with 2.6 from 6, and several reviews describe a cracked ceramic. The three Goods Emporium BBQ-KE21 colourways, about £589.99 to £649.99, have no star line. Their 75 kg and 85 kg lines disagree, and 0.27 m² is larger than a 21 inch circle.
Char-Griller Akorn Jr
Best value in this set: about £169.99 with 4.6 from 5,093 ratings, 16.2 kg and about 1,000 cm². No lid gauge, and the wattage line is not a charcoal result.
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 on satisfactory quality, smoke, carbon monoxide and barbecue fire safety, plus buyer notes on kamado size and vent lag. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines saved on 19 October 2026. These listings are not scored as certified to BS EN 1860-1.
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. We did not run a lab test.
