The best small charcoal BBQs, compared.
Top pick: Weber Go-Anywhere – Highest score in the set, on 4.7 from 1,645 reviews, with a lid you can close. Best value: Charmline 34 × 23 cm, black – High star line at about £22.34 in the entry band. Price does not raise the score, and there is no lid. Updated 16.10.2026.
A small charcoal BBQ is a reusable charcoal grill you can lift, fold, or wheel, for a few people rather than a 57 cm garden kettle. What separates a keeper from a one-weekend tray is a lid you can close, a grate that does not sag, and a coating that survives assembly. An open folder is lighter and only cooks with direct heat. Stars are the amazon.co.uk lines, damped when the sample is small or the listing contradicts itself. Nothing here was cooked in a lab, and a bullet that says balcony is not permission to use one. The lid-or-folder choice is set out in the [small charcoal BBQ kettle or folding guide](/hub/portable-grills/small-charcoal-bbq/sub/small-charcoal-bbq-kettle-vs-folding). There is no wattage figure that measures charcoal heat.
A small charcoal BBQ is a reusable charcoal grill you can lift, fold, or wheel, for a few people rather than a 57 cm garden kettle.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +19,200 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Do you want a lid you can close?
The Weber Go-Anywhere is about £100.79 on the stored amazon.co.uk listing, at 4.7 from 1,645 reviews, with a 42 × 26 cm cooking area in the highlight and a conflicting 56.66 cm² figure in the specification block. UK reviews describe camping, camper-van, and two-person use, plus one holiday cook for a larger group. One review says the latch loosened after a couple of months. The bullet mentions balconies; that is a listing claim, not a fire-service clearance. It is the top pick in this set on stars, sample size, and a lid you can close.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A lidded portable charcoal grill for a couple, a boot, or a camper van, if you accept the price.
Less suitable: A balcony, a tent, or a party that needs the 1,548 cm² of the 47 cm kettles.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this grill have a lid?
Yes. The listing describes a lid that the folding legs lock for transport, and a damper you can close to cut off oxygen.
How big is the cooking area?
The highlight says 42 × 26 cm. The specification block also says 56.66 cm². Those two figures do not match.
Does the listing say it is for balconies?
The bullet names camper vans, balconies, and small outdoor spaces. That is a product claim. It is not a statement that balcony use is safe.
The black Charmline is about £22.34, shown as 4.6 from 781 reviews, with 667 cm² and a folded size of 34.7 × 23 × 7.6 cm. The green ASIN B0D8H47YGC carries the same star count and overlapping review text, so the two counts are not two separate samples. UK reviews call it a two- or three-person camping grill. The bullet says to limit charcoal. There is no lid.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A picnic or pitch for one to three people, where a lid is not required and the site allows charcoal.
Less suitable: Indirect cooking, a large garden meal, or anyone who needs a separate review sample from the green twin.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this folding grill have a lid?
No lid is described. Heat is direct, and the grate lifts so you can change the charcoal.
How small is it when folded?
The bullet says 34.7 × 23.0 × 7.6 cm. The weight in the specification block is 2.3 kg, and a carry case is included.
How many people does the listing name?
The bullet says 1–3 people, on a cooking area of 667 cm².
The green Charmline is about £25.34, listed at 4.6 from 781 reviews, 667 cm², and 2.5 kg. The stored reviews open with the same text as the black ASIN at about £22.34. The specification block says assembly is required; the bullets say it is ready after unpacking. There is no lid. The specification block lists 2.5 kg and a one-month warranty, which is the only cover that listing names.
Pros
Cons
Best for: The same one-to-three-person picnic job as the black Charmline, if you want the green finish.
Less suitable: A buyer choosing on price alone, or anyone who needs a lid.
Specifications
Common questions
How does this differ from the black Charmline?
This listing is green, about £25.34, and 2.5 kg, model CL-PGL-GN. The black listing is about £22.34 and 2.3 kg. Both show 4.6 from 781 reviews and the stored review text overlaps.
Does it need assembly?
The specification block says yes. The bullets say no installation and that it is ready after unpacking.
Is there a lid?
No lid is described. The listing is a folding charcoal grill with a carry case.
The Smokey Joe Premium is about £84.99, 4.5 from 1,394 UK-labelled reviews in the stored sample, with a 37 cm grate listed at 1,075.86 cm². Reviews praise the size for two and the lid lock. Enamel flaking at the lid handle, including on first assembly, is a repeated UK review theme. A 230 watt catalogue field sits on a charcoal grill and is not heat output. One stored review describes replacing the same model after about 25 years, which sits beside those enamel chips rather than wiping them out.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two people on a table or a camping pitch, if you will assemble it without overtightening the enamel.
Less suitable: A group meal, or a buyer who wants wheels and a 47 cm grate.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the lid lock part of this model?
Yes. The listing calls it Tuck-N-Carry. It locks for transport and lowers to hold the lid.
What do UK reviews say about the enamel?
Several reviews describe enamel cracking or flaking where the lid handle is fixed, including during first assembly.
How many people is the 37 cm grate for?
UK reviews often say two people, sometimes two to four. The listing recommends picnics and small garden parties.
The Weber Compact Kettle is about £49.49, 4.5 from 377 reviews, with a 1,548 cm² grate in the bullet and a 47 cm² figure in the specification block that does not match. UK reviews praise the enamel and the size for two, and one review expected a thermometer this model does not list. A stored review is titled as a 57 cm kettle. It is the stand kettle in this set with wheels and an ash catcher at under £50. At 9 kg it stays on the patio wheels rather than in a rucksack, and the bullets name a lid hook and a wire shelf the open folders do not have.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small garden kettle you wheel out, if 47 cm is enough and you do not need a lid gauge.
Less suitable: A backpack or a picnic table, or a buyer who wants the Original’s thermometer.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 47 cm kettle include a thermometer?
The bullets do not list one. A stored review says the buyer expected a built-in thermometer and this model does not have it.
What cooking area does the listing claim?
The bullet says 1,548 cm² and four to six people. The specification block says 47 square centimetres, which does not match.
Does it have wheels?
Yes. The title and bullets include a stand, all-weather wheels, a wire shelf, and an ash catcher.
The Garden Vida Kansas is about £22.99, 4.5 from 136 UK-labelled reviews, with a 35.5 cm chrome grate and a listed weight of 2 kg. Bullets claim porcelain enamel and a lid air inlet. One UK review says the bolts varied in size. It is a budget kettle, not a folding tray. Several other UK reviews call the assembly simple, on an outer size of 40.5 × 40.5 × 45.5 cm, with a lid lock for carrying.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheap lidded kettle for one or two people, including a trip, if you can get the bolts in.
Less suitable: A wheeled patio kettle or a flat-folding picnic grill.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Kansas have a lid?
Yes. The bullets describe a lid with an air inlet, a heat shield on the handle, and a lid lock for carrying.
How heavy is it?
The specification block says 2 kg. The outer size is 40.5 × 40.5 × 45.5 cm.
What do reviews say about assembly?
Several UK reviews say it is simple. One says the bolts varied in size and were difficult to fit.
The Original Kettle 47 cm is about £111.24, 4.5 from 65 reviews, with the same 1,548 cm² bullet as the Compact and with a lid thermometer and One-Touch cleaning the Compact does not name. Only five of 34 stored reviews are labelled United Kingdom. A German line in the file reports unpainted, rusting rod holders. It costs more than twice the Compact in this batch. UK comments in that small labelled set mention easy assembly and a grate used for about four or five people, while the lid thermometer reads the air in the bowl, not the centre of the meat.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 47 cm kettle if you specifically want the thermometer and One-Touch cleaning.
Less suitable: A buyer who can use the Compact at about £49.49 without a lid gauge.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this different from the Compact 47 cm?
This listing adds a built-in lid thermometer and a One-Touch ash sweep. The stored price is about £111.24. The Compact is about £49.49 and does not list a thermometer.
Are the reviews mostly from the UK?
The raw file stores 34 review bodies. Five are labelled United Kingdom. The 4.5 from 65 is the listing score.
Does the thermometer check the food?
The listing calls it a lid thermometer for monitoring heat in the barbecue. It does not say it reads the centre of the meat.
The CUSIMAX is about £59.98 and 4.3 from 9 reviews. Only three review bodies are stored. Bullets claim an 18 inch or 180 square inch grate, a warming rack, dual vents, and a lid thermometer. One review says a plastic vent melted and a grate bar came away. Another says the base gets very hot on a table.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small lidded grill with a warming rack, only if you accept a nine-review listing.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants a large UK review sample or a proven enamel kettle.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing include a thermometer?
Yes. The bullets describe a lid-mounted thermometer and a warming rack. The raw file has only three reviews, so there is little comment on the gauge.
How many reviews are stored?
The listing score is 4.3 from 9. The raw file contains three review bodies, all labelled United Kingdom.
What broke in those reviews?
One review says the plastic air vent melted and a metal grate bar came away. Another says the base gets very hot on a table.
The WixbFyn is about £19.99, 4.2 from 388 UK-labelled reviews in the stored sample. The bullet gives an unfolded size of 71.2 × 16.3 × 20.5 cm and four grate heights. The dimension block also says 25 × 215 × 429 mm. One UK review says it fell apart on opening, and a later update said it was not up to the task. There is no lid.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A narrow folding grill for a picnic, if you check that it locks open before you travel.
Less suitable: A lid, indirect heat, or a wide family grate.
Specifications
Common questions
What does four-level heat control mean?
The bullet describes four grate heights, not four gas burners. The specification block still says four heating elements.
How big is it open?
The bullet says 71.2 × 16.3 × 20.5 cm unfolded. Other dimension lines say 2.6 × 21.5 × 43 cm and 25 × 215 × 429 mm.
Did reviews report it coming apart?
One UK review says it fell apart on opening. Another reviewer updated on 25 April 2026 to say it was not up to the task.
The Kizmyee is about £15.99 and 4.1 from 1,715 reviews, the largest sample among the open folders. The bullet says 1.6 kg and 430 stainless steel; the spec block says 1.29 kg, iron, and chrome-plated mesh. A UK review says the grate bowed into the coals after one use. The title says smoker; the bullets describe a folding grill. UK reviews in the file use it for camping and a single steak, and a stored shelf rank of first in Portable Barbecues is a catalogue position, not a cook test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost tabletop cook for a short trip, if you accept a thin grate.
Less suitable: Repeated weekend use, or anyone who wants a lid and dampers.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a smoker?
The title says portable folding charcoal smoker. The bullets describe folding legs and a grill, not a separate smoke chamber.
What weight does the listing give?
The bullet says 1.6 kg. The specification block says 1.29 kg.
What failed in UK reviews?
One review says the grate was thin and bowed into the coals after the first use. Another says the tray arrived damaged.
The HOMION kettle is about £28.99, 4.1 from 150 UK-labelled reviews, about 75 × 43.5 × 47.5 cm and 3.5 kg. Bullets include an ash pan, wheels, and a lid. UK reviews mention a tray that drops out, a cracked wire rack, and a vent that is hard to reach. It is the cheap wheeled kettle in this set. The bullets claim a cover, a spatula, and a lower rack, and one reviewer does not expect the thin metal to last a second season.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first wheeled kettle at a low price, if you can accept thin metal.
Less suitable: Someone who wants the Weber Compact’s enamel and a clearer damper.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include a cover?
The title and the included-components line list a grill cover, a lid, and a spatula.
What do UK reviews say about the ash tray?
Reviews say the coal tray is easily dislodged and drops out. Another says the bottom vent is on the inside of the drum.
Is the title’s caravan line a safety approval?
No. The title names a caravan among places. It does not say the grill is safe inside a caravan.
The Minxchen is about £14.99 and 3.8 from 106 reviews, the lowest star line in this set. The bullet says a 44 × 28 cm grate and five vents. The dimension block says 50 × 50 × 50 mm, which contradicts that grate. Of 50 stored reviews, 14 are labelled United Kingdom. Those mention a wonky charcoal tray, paint coming off, and sharp edges.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A one-off fold-flat grill only if you file sharp edges and accept the tray fit.
Less suitable: A regular cook, a lid, or a buyer using the 50 mm line as the real size.
Specifications
Common questions
Which size figure should you use?
The bullet says a 44 × 28 cm cooking area. The dimension block says 50 × 50 × 50 mm. Use the bullet for the grate and treat 50 mm as a bad catalogue field.
What do UK reviews complain about?
UK-labelled reviews mention a wonky charcoal tray, paint coming off the sides, sharp edges, and a flimsy frame. Fourteen of 50 stored reviews are labelled United Kingdom.
Is it stainless steel?
The bullet says stainless steel. UK reviews also say paint is coming off the sides, so the finish is not only bare stainless in those reports.
Twelve small charcoal BBQs on amazon.co.uk were scored from the stored listing facts. The star line is damped when the review count is small, when few reviews are labelled United Kingdom, or when the listing contradicts itself. Points come off for faults that recur in the stored reviews: enamel chips, a bowed grate, a tray that falls out, a melted vent, and sharp edges. Price does not raise the score. The best value badge is on the black Charmline because the star line is high and the price sits in the entry band. The top pick is the Weber Go-Anywhere, which has the highest score. This is not a laboratory cook.
Stars and sample size
40%The amazon.co.uk star line is the start. A small count, or few reviews labelled United Kingdom, damps it. Nine reviews do not beat a thousand.
Faults in the reviews
25%Points come off for enamel chips, a bowed grate, a tray that falls out, a melted vent, and sharp edges when those faults recur in the stored reviews.
Listing consistency
20%A cooking area, a weight, or a material line that fights another field on the same page is marked down. A wattage figure on charcoal is not heat output.
Format for the job
15%A lid you can close, a grate that does not sag, and a coating that survives assembly matter more than a party-size bullet. Price is not part of this score.
This is the order of checks for a small charcoal BBQ you can lift, fold, or wheel. It is not a second ranking. Shape comes first, then a cooking area you can believe, then where you are allowed to stand it, then the star line damped by the review count. Shelf prices in this set run from about £14.99 to about £111.24. A lid thermometer is not the food temperature. We did not cook on these grills.
A small charcoal BBQ is a reusable charcoal grill you can lift, fold, or wheel. It is for a few people, not a 57 cm garden kettle. In this amazon.co.uk set the shelf prices run from about £14.99 to about £111.24. Quality is a lid with dampers you can close, a grate that does not sag, and a coating that survives assembly. There is no wattage figure that measures charcoal heat. Nothing here was cooked in a lab. The shapes split three ways.
A wattage line, a 47 cm² area field, and the Minxchen 50 mm block are not the cooking area. The Compact and the Original claim 1,548 cm². The Minxchen bullet says 44 × 28 cm. Use the figure that describes a grate, and treat the tiny field as a catalogue error.
London Fire Brigade says not to barbecue on a balcony or on decking. A listing that names balconies, a tent, an awning, or a caravan is not permission. The grill stays outside until the coals are cold, because they can keep producing carbon monoxide.
The Food Standards Agency cites 70°C for 2 minutes in the centre, or the published equivalents, for poultry, pork, burgers, sausages, and kebabs. A dark outside is not that check. A lid thermometer reads the air in the bowl, not the centre of the meat.
A lidded kettle holds heat and lets you shut the air. An open folder is lighter and flatter, and it only does direct heat. The Weber Go-Anywhere sits between them: a lid, folding legs, and a highlight line of 42 × 26 cm, at about £100.79. The tabletop kettles are the Smokey Joe Premium at 37 cm and about £84.99, and the Garden Vida Kansas at about £22.99 with a 35.5 cm grate.
Stand the grill on level ground. Not on decking, not on a balcony, and never indoors, in a tent, under an awning, or in a caravan. London Fire Brigade and GOV.UK fire guidance are the limit. A campsite or a Forestry England wood can ban fires even when a smoke control area does not. GOV.UK allows outdoor barbecues in a smoke control area. A bullet that says balcony is not permission. Then read the star line against the count. Nine reviews do not beat a thousand.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You cook most weekends and you can store a kettle on a patio. The Weber Compact 47 cm is about £49.49, 4.5 from 377 reviews, with wheels and an ash catcher. At 9 kg it stays on the patio rather than in a rucksack. The bullets do not list a thermometer.
You want a lid in the boot or on a table, and you accept a smaller grate and a higher price. The Weber Go-Anywhere is about £100.79, 4.7 from 1,645 reviews, with a highlight area of 42 × 26 cm. The Smokey Joe is the 37 cm tabletop alternative if you prefer a round kettle.
The pitch allows charcoal and you need a folder under about 3 kg. The black Charmline is about £22.34, shown as 4.6 from 781 reviews, at 2.3 kg, with no lid. The cheapest folders in this set carry warp and sharp-edge reviews.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Weber Go-Anywhere. It has the highest score, a lid and a damper, and 4.7 from 1,645 reviews, at about £100.79. The highlight cooking area is 42 × 26 cm, and a conflicting 56.66 cm² line in the specification block should not replace it. The best value is the black Charmline at about £22.34, because the star line is high and the price sits in the entry band. It has no lid, and the green Charmline repeats the same review text. Price does not raise the editorial score. Nothing here was cooked in a lab.
Weber Go-Anywhere
Highest score in the set, on 4.7 from 1,645 reviews, with a lid you can close.
Charmline 34 × 23 cm, black
High star line at about £22.34 in the entry band. Price does not raise the score, and there is no lid.
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 and the stored amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 16 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the UK figures in the display file.
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 from the UK listings in this set. We did not cook on these grills.
