Your first charcoal grill should be forgiving. It should be easy to light, easy to slow down when the fire runs hot, and easy to clean out the next morning. Carne asada, chicken thighs and grilled onions all cook well on charcoal, but you get there faster with a grill that makes the basics simple: vents you can understand, a way to add fuel without lifting the food, and ash that ends up in a pan instead of all over the patio.
This guide is for people buying their first charcoal grill. It leaves out the specialist cookers, such as kamados, offset smokers and hibachis, and compares the grills that make learning easiest, using each maker’s own specifications.
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Quick verdict: which beginner charcoal grill to buy
For most first-time charcoal cooks, the best charcoal grill for beginners is the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch. Weber gives it 363 square inches of cooking space, a lid thermometer, a hinged grate for adding charcoal, and a One-Touch system that sweeps ash into an enclosed catcher. For a smaller household, the Weber Original Kettle 18-inch gives you the same basic design in a smaller size. If you would rather set a temperature and let a fan hold it, choose the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050.
The rest of this page explains why, and which grill fits the way you plan to cook.
Five beginner charcoal grills side by side
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of new charcoal cook, with the specifications each maker or listing states. All seven grills are reviewed in full below.
| Grill | Best for | Cooking area | What makes it easy | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inchBest overall
|
First grill for a family of four to six | 363 sq in | Lid thermometer, hinged grate, enclosed ash catcher | View on Amazon |
Weber Original Kettle 18-inchBest smaller kettle
|
Couples and small patios | Room for 4 to 6 people (Weber) | Two dampers, One-Touch ash cleanup | View on Amazon |
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050Best hands-off temperature
|
Cooks who want to dial in a number | 1,050 sq in | Digital fan holds the set temperature | View on Amazon |
Royal Gourmet Deluxe 30-inch Charcoal GrillBest adjustable fire
|
Big cookouts on a barrel grill | 719 sq in incl. warming rack | Crank raises or lowers the coals; front fuel door | View on Amazon |
Napoleon Legend 14-inch Portable KettleBest small starter grill
|
Cooking for one or two, learning two-zone fires | 150 sq in (Napoleon) | Two-section charcoal basket, top and bottom vents | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Cooking areas and features are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
How this guide differs from our main charcoal grill guide
Our guide to the best charcoal grill covers every kind of charcoal cooker, from kettles to ceramic kamados and offset barrels. This page is narrower. It asks which grills are easiest to learn on, so it favors simple airflow, easy fuel access and tidy ash cleanup over capacity or long smoking sessions.
One grill appears on both pages: the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch. We kept it here on purpose. It combines all three things a beginner benefits from most (a thermometer in the lid, a hinged grate for adding charcoal and an enclosed ash catcher) at a full family size, and no other in-stock grill we found matched it. The other six are different from the main guide’s picks, and from the grills in our best value charcoal grill and best camping charcoal grill guides.
Our picks for the best charcoal grill for beginners
Seven grills: two Weber kettles in different sizes, a digitally controlled gravity-fed grill, a barrel grill with a height-adjustable charcoal pan, a kettle on a cart with a work table, a small portable kettle and a budget full-size kettle. Each one makes at least one of the hard parts of charcoal cooking easier.
1. Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch – Every Beginner Feature in One Kettle
The 22-inch kettle is the grill most charcoal cooks learn on, and the Premium version adds the details that help most in the first few months. Weber gives the cooking area as 363 square inches, with room to cook for six to eight people, and the listing says the grate holds up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press. That is enough for a family dinner with room to keep one side of the grate free of coals.
Three features matter for a beginner. The built-in lid thermometer shows the temperature inside the grill, so you can watch what each vent adjustment does. The hinged cooking grate flips up, according to Weber, so you can add charcoal during a longer cook without lifting all the food off. And the One-Touch cleaning system lets you swipe a lever to clear ash into an enclosed, high-capacity ash catcher, which the listing describes as removable aluminized steel.
Weber says the porcelain-enameled lid and bowl retain heat and resist rust, peeling and scratching. Airflow runs through adjustable dampers in the lid and bowl; the listing describes the damper as rust-resistant aluminum. There is a lid hook for hanging the lid while you cook, two tool hooks, a wire shelf and two wheels. Weber lists the size as 39.5 by 22.5 by 27 inches and gives a 10-year limited warranty.
Why we like it
- Lid thermometer shows what the vents are doing
- Hinged grate for adding charcoal mid-cook, per Weber
- One-Touch system sweeps ash into an enclosed catcher
- 10-year limited warranty
Key specifications
| Model | 14401001 |
|---|---|
| Type | 22-inch kettle on legs and wheels |
| Cooking area | 363 sq in; 6 to 8 people (Weber) |
| Fuel access | Hinged cooking grate |
| Ash cleanup | One-Touch sweep into enclosed, removable ash catcher |
| Temperature control | Lid and bowl dampers; lid thermometer |
| Size | 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 in (Weber) |
| Warranty | 10-year limited |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if this is your first charcoal grill and you cook for a family. It is simple enough to learn on and big enough that you will not outgrow it once you start cooking with a hot side and a cool side.
Skip it if you want the grill to hold a temperature for you. A kettle still needs you to watch the thermometer and move the vents, and the lid thermometer reads the air under the dome, not the meat.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Thermometer, hinged grate and ash catcher in one grill
- Family-size cooking area
- Long warranty
Cons
- Also our main guide’s top pick, so no surprise here
- No side table for prep
- Weight not stated by Weber
2. Weber Original Kettle 18-inch – The Same Design, Sized for Two
If you mostly cook for two or three people, a 22-inch kettle means lighting more charcoal than you need. The 18-inch Original Kettle is the smaller version of the classic Weber, and Weber says it has room to cook for four to six people. Less bowl to fill means less charcoal per cook, which also makes it a cheaper grill to learn on week after week.
It keeps the parts that make a kettle easy to control. Weber lists adjustable lid and bowl dampers, a plated-steel cooking grate and the One-Touch cleaning system, which sweeps ash into a catcher under the bowl. The listing describes that catcher as aluminized steel. The lid handle has a heat shield, according to the listing, and there is an angled lid hook so the hot lid does not end up on the ground.
Weber says the porcelain-enameled bowl and lid resist rust, peeling and scratching, and lists three rust-resistant aluminum legs, two all-weather wheels, a bottom wire shelf and two tool hooks. The listing gives the size as 35 inches high, 23 wide and 18.5 deep, and Weber’s product data gives the weight as 18.7 pounds. Weber’s page gives a 10-year limited warranty. The Amazon listing’s warranty line describes a two-year accessory warranty, so confirm the coverage with Weber.
The main difference from the Premium is what it leaves out. Weber does not list a lid thermometer or a hinged grate for this model, so you add charcoal by lifting the grate, and you judge the heat with a separate thermometer or by hand.
Why we like it
- Room for four to six people, according to Weber
- Less charcoal per cook than a 22-inch kettle
- One-Touch ash cleanup
- Heat shield on the lid handle, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 441001 |
|---|---|
| Type | 18-inch kettle on legs and wheels |
| Cooking area | Not stated in sq in; 4 to 6 people (Weber) |
| Fuel access | Lift the cooking grate |
| Ash cleanup | One-Touch sweep into aluminized steel ash catcher |
| Temperature control | Lid and bowl dampers; no thermometer listed |
| Size | 35 x 23 x 18.5 in (listing); 18.7 lb (Weber) |
| Warranty | 10-year limited (Weber page) |
Why we recommend it
Choose it for a couple or small household, a small patio, or as a low-cost way to find out whether you like cooking over charcoal before buying a bigger grill.
Skip it if you regularly cook for six or more, or want a thermometer built in. The 22-inch Premium gives you both, and the extra space makes a two-zone fire easier to set up.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Uses less charcoal
- Same airflow and ash system as bigger Webers
- Light at 18.7 lb
Cons
- No built-in thermometer listed
- Grate must be lifted to add fuel
- Warranty wording differs between Weber and the listing
3. Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 – Set a Temperature, Let the Fan Hold It
Controlling heat with vents is the skill that takes beginners longest to learn. The Gravity Series takes that job over. You load charcoal into a tall hopper beside the cooking chamber, set a temperature on the digital control panel or in the Masterbuilt app, and a DigitalFan feeds air to the fire to hold that temperature. Masterbuilt’s own description is to load the hopper, set the temperature and light a fire starter.
The listing says the hopper takes 10 pounds of lump charcoal or 16 pounds of briquettes, for up to eight hours of use, and that the grill reaches 225°F in 8 minutes or 700°F in 15 minutes. That range covers both low-and-slow smoking and hot searing. The cooking area is 1,050 square inches including two porcelain-coated warming racks, and the reversible cast iron grates have one side for searing and one for smoking. There is a built-in temperature gauge and a meat probe, and the app can monitor the probes and shut the grill down.
Our main charcoal grill guide includes the smaller Gravity Series 800, which adds a griddle insert. The 1050 is a different, larger model, and it suits a beginner who wants this kind of control and has a big family or a lot of guests. It is also a large, heavy machine with a fan and electronics, so plan for a power source and read the manual for the requirements. Masterbuilt’s warranty on the listing is one year.
Why we like it
- Digital fan holds the set temperature
- Hopper runs up to 8 hours on one load, per the listing
- Reaches 700°F in 15 minutes for searing, per the listing
- Meat probe and app monitoring included
Key specifications
| Model | MB20041220 |
|---|---|
| Type | Gravity-fed digital charcoal grill and smoker |
| Cooking area | 1,050 sq in incl. warming racks |
| Fuel access | Side hopper: 10 lb lump or 16 lb briquettes |
| Ash cleanup | Not stated in the listing |
| Temperature control | Digital control panel, app, DigitalFan; gauge and meat probe |
| Size | Not stated in the listing |
| Warranty | 1 year (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a beginner who wants charcoal flavor without learning vent control first, or who wants to smoke as well as grill, and who has the space and a power source for a large cooker.
Skip it if you want a simple grill with nothing to plug in. A kettle has no electronics to fail, takes up far less space and costs much less to replace.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Temperature control without vent adjustments
- Grills and smokes
- Very large cooking area
Cons
- Needs power for the fan and controller
- Large and heavy
- Short one-year warranty
4. Royal Gourmet Deluxe 30-inch Charcoal Grill – Turn a Crank to Move the Fire
On a kettle you control heat with air. On this barrel grill you can also control it with distance. The charcoal pan is height-adjustable with a crank handle on the front, according to Royal Gourmet, so you can raise the coals close to the grate to sear and lower them when the outside of the food is cooking faster than the inside. For a new cook that is easy to understand: closer is hotter.
The second feature that helps is the front charcoal access door. Royal Gourmet says it lets you tend the charcoal without opening the main lid, so you keep the heat in while you add fuel or spread the coals. Airflow comes in through a side damper and leaves through a stack on the lid, and the listing title names a temperature gauge.
It is built for groups. The listing gives 498 square inches of porcelain-enameled steel wire grates plus a 221-square-inch chrome-plated warming rack, for 719 square inches in all, and says the pan holds up to 7.5 pounds of charcoal. The side tables fold down, there are S hooks for tools and a large bottom shelf. A Home Depot listing gives the size as about 50.4 inches high, 58.7 wide and 27.6 deep. Royal Gourmet gives a one-year warranty, and the listing does not describe how ash is removed.
Why we like it
- Crank raises or lowers the charcoal pan
- Front door for adding fuel without opening the lid
- 719 sq in in total, including the warming rack
- Collapsible side tables
Key specifications
| Model | CD2030AN |
|---|---|
| Type | 30-inch barrel grill on a cart |
| Cooking area | 498 sq in grates + 221 sq in warming rack |
| Fuel access | Front charcoal access door; pan holds up to 7.5 lb |
| Ash cleanup | Not stated in the listing |
| Temperature control | Crank-adjusted pan, side damper, lid stack, gauge |
| Size | About 50.4 x 58.7 x 27.6 in (Home Depot listing) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your first charcoal cooks will be for big groups (fajitas for a party, a dozen chicken quarters) and you want a simple, visible way to raise and lower the heat.
Skip it if you want a grill that will last decades. A one-year warranty is short next to Weber’s ten, and the listing does not say how you clear out the ash.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fire height adjusts with a crank
- Add fuel without lifting the lid
- Large cooking area
Cons
- One-year warranty
- Ash removal not described
- Takes up a lot of patio
5. Nexgrill 22-inch Charcoal Kettle with Table Cart – A Kettle With a Work Table
A plain kettle has nowhere to set down a platter or a pair of tongs, and new cooks tend to underestimate how much that matters. Nexgrill’s version sets a 22-inch kettle into a cart with a work surface, integrated storage for tools and charcoal, and a foldable side table. Everything you need stays at the grill instead of on a chair.
The grill itself covers the beginner basics. The listing gives 358 square inches of cooking space, a porcelain-enameled lid and bowl, adjustable air dampers, a built-in temperature gauge and a removable ash catcher for cleanup. Nexgrill says it is designed to need few tools to assemble.
Nexgrill’s own product page gives the assembled size as about 64 inches wide, 23.2 deep and 46.6 high, so check that against your patio, and the listing gives a one-year warranty. The listing does not describe how you add charcoal during a cook, so expect to lift the grate as on most kettles.
Why we like it
- Cart with prep space and storage
- Built-in temperature gauge
- Removable ash catcher
- Foldable side table
Key specifications
| Model | 810-0026HC |
|---|---|
| Type | 22-inch kettle in a table cart |
| Cooking area | 358 sq in |
| Fuel access | Not stated |
| Ash cleanup | Removable ash catcher |
| Temperature control | Adjustable air dampers; built-in gauge |
| Size | About 64 x 23.2 x 46.6 in (Nexgrill) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
It suits a beginner who wants a kettle and a prep station in one purchase, with storage for the charcoal bag and tools.
Skip it if patio space is tight. The cart makes it far wider than a kettle on legs, and Nexgrill’s warranty is one year.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Work surface and storage built in
- Thermometer in the lid
- Ash catcher
Cons
- About 64 inches wide assembled
- One-year warranty
- Fuel access not described
6. Napoleon Legend 14-inch Portable Kettle – Learn the Two-Zone Fire Small
A small grill is a cheap way to learn how charcoal behaves, and this one has a feature most small grills lack. Napoleon fits it with a dual-section charcoal basket, which the listing says lets you cook with direct high heat or set up indirect, lower heat for roasting and smoking. Two-zone cooking (coals on one side, food finishing on the other) is the single most useful technique for a beginner, and the basket makes it easy to set up.
Napoleon’s spec sheet gives a main cooking area of 13.5 inches across, enough for about nine burgers, and 150 square inches in total. The lid and bowl are porcelain-enameled, the cooking grid is chrome-plated, and adjustable top and bottom vents control the airflow. A steel-plated drip pan sits underneath for cleanup, according to the listing.
Napoleon gives the size as 18 inches high, 14 wide and 14 deep, and the locking lid and carry handle make it easy to move. The warranty is 10-year limited. It does not appear in our camping grill guide, but it would travel well.
Why we like it
- Two-section basket for direct or indirect heat
- Top and bottom vents
- Locking lid and carry handle
- 10-year limited warranty
Key specifications
| Model | NK14K-LEG-3 |
|---|---|
| Type | 14-inch portable kettle |
| Cooking area | 150 sq in total; about 9 burgers (Napoleon) |
| Fuel access | Lift the cooking grid |
| Ash cleanup | Steel-plated drip pan (listing) |
| Temperature control | Top and bottom vents; dual-section basket |
| Size | 18 x 14 x 14 in (Napoleon) |
| Warranty | 10-year limited |
Why we recommend it
Buy it if you cook for one or two, want to try charcoal without a big grill on the patio, or want a second grill for the park later.
Skip it if you cook for a family. At 150 square inches, a full dinner means cooking in batches, and there is no thermometer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built-in way to make a two-zone fire
- Small and portable
- Long warranty
Cons
- Small cooking area
- No thermometer
- Grid must be lifted to add fuel
7. Gas One 22-inch Charcoal Kettle Grill – A Full-Size Kettle With an Ash Catcher
Gas One is better known for portable gas stoves, and this kettle is a recent addition to its range. The listing describes a full-size 22-inch bowl with a domed copper-tone lid, a wire charcoal grate under a chrome-plated steel cooking grate, and a heat-resistant lid handle. It stands on a three-leg steel stand with two wheels.
For a beginner, the useful feature is the built-in ash catcher. Gas One says it collects ash as you grill, so cleanup means lifting it out and emptying it rather than scooping ash from the bowl. The listing gives a one-year manufacturer warranty.
The listing leaves out details that the Weber and Nexgrill pages state. It gives no cooking area, does not mention a thermometer, and does not describe dampers or vents, which are how you control the heat on any kettle. Check the photos and the manual before you buy, and treat it as a budget option rather than a like-for-like alternative to the Weber.
Why we like it
- Full-size 22-inch bowl
- Ash catcher for easier cleanup
- Separate charcoal and cooking grates
- Wheels for moving it around
Key specifications
| Model | CG-22 |
|---|---|
| Type | 22-inch kettle on a tripod stand with wheels |
| Cooking area | Not stated |
| Fuel access | Not stated |
| Ash cleanup | Built-in ash catcher |
| Temperature control | Not stated in the listing |
| Size | 22-inch bowl; overall size not stated |
| Warranty | 1 year (manufacturer) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a beginner who wants a full-size kettle and an ash catcher on a tight budget, and who is happy to check the details when it arrives.
Skip it if you want the specifications in writing before you buy. The listing does not state the cooking area or describe the vents, and the warranty is one year.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Full-size bowl
- Ash catcher
- Recognized maker
Cons
- Vents and cooking area not stated
- No thermometer mentioned
- New listing with little track record
How to choose a first charcoal grill
A restaurant kitchen picks equipment that new staff can use correctly on day one. The same thinking works for a first grill. These five points decide how forgiving it will be.
1. Airflow you can understand
Charcoal burns hotter with more air and cooler with less. Kettles control this with a vent in the bowl and one in the lid; a barrel grill like the Royal Gourmet uses a side damper and a stack on the lid. Fewer, clearly placed vents are easier to learn. If you never want to touch a vent, the Masterbuilt’s digital fan does it for you.
2. A way to see the temperature
A lid thermometer, as on the Weber Premium, Nexgrill and Royal Gourmet, shows you what each vent change does. It reads the air under the lid, not the food, so pair it with an instant-read thermometer for doneness. Our guide to the best charcoal grill accessories covers thermometers and the other tools worth having.
3. Room for two zones
The most useful beginner technique is a two-zone fire: coals banked on one side for searing, nothing on the other side for finishing thicker food gently. A 22-inch kettle has room for both, the Napoleon’s split basket builds it in, and the Royal Gourmet lets you change the heat by raising or lowering the coals. A grill that is too small for two zones gives you less margin for error.
4. Adding fuel and clearing ash
Longer cooks need more charcoal, and a hinged grate (Weber Premium), a front door (Royal Gourmet) or a hopper (Masterbuilt) lets you add it without moving the food. Afterward, an enclosed ash catcher like Weber’s One-Touch system makes cleanup a two-minute job, which makes it more likely you will grill again next weekend.
5. Size and warranty
Buy for the number of people you usually cook for, not the biggest party of the year. Weber and Napoleon give 10-year limited warranties on these grills; Royal Gourmet, Nexgrill, Gas One and Masterbuilt list one year.
Safety basics for a first charcoal grill
Read your grill’s manual first. These points come from the National Fire Protection Association’s grilling safety tip sheet, the US Fire Administration and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Use charcoal grills only outdoors, well away from the home, deck railings, eaves and overhanging branches (NFPA). The USFA also says not to store or use a grill on a porch or balcony.
- Never burn charcoal inside homes, garages, vehicles or tents. Burning charcoal gives off carbon monoxide, which has no odor and can kill (CPSC).
- A chimney starter lets you light charcoal with newspaper instead of fluid (NFPA). If you use starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid and never add it, or any other flammable liquid, to a fire that is already lit (NFPA).
- Keep children and pets at least three feet from the grill, and never leave it unattended (NFPA).
- Let the coals cool completely before you put them in a metal container (NFPA).
For lighting, our guide to the best chimney starter compares chimneys by size and handle.
How we picked these beginner grills
We started from what makes a charcoal grill forgiving: simple airflow, a way to see the temperature, room for a two-zone fire, easy fuel access and easy ash cleanup. We searched Amazon in the United States for charcoal grills from established makers, checked each one’s stock with Amazon’s product data, and kept only grills that were in stock and not down to their last few units. Specifications come from the makers’ own pages where we could read them (Weber, Masterbuilt and Napoleon), from Nexgrill’s product page and a Home Depot listing for sizes, and otherwise from the maker’s Amazon listing; each review says when a detail is not stated.
We left out kamados, hibachis, offset smokers and the grills already chosen for our main, value and camping charcoal grill guides, except the Weber Premium, for the reason given above. Several grills we looked for, including the Weber Performer, Napoleon’s 22-inch kettles and Char-Griller’s barrel grills, were out of stock or nearly sold out when we checked, so the list stops at seven rather than adding unbranded grills. We also searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall notices for these makers and found no recall of these grills. We have not cooked on these grills for this guide.
Beginner charcoal grill questions, answered
What is the easiest charcoal grill for a beginner?
A 22-inch kettle with a lid thermometer and an enclosed ash catcher, such as the Weber Original Kettle Premium, is the easiest to learn on for most people. If you want the grill to hold the temperature for you, a gravity-fed grill with a digital fan, such as the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050, removes vent control from the job, at the cost of size and electronics.
Is a kettle or a barrel grill better for beginners?
A kettle is simpler: two vents, a round grate and a small footprint. A barrel grill gives more cooking area, and models with a crank-adjusted charcoal pan, like the Royal Gourmet, add another way to control the heat. Pick a kettle for a family of four, and a barrel if you regularly cook for a crowd.
How do I control the temperature on a charcoal grill?
Mostly with air. Open the vents for more heat and close them partway for less, giving the fire a few minutes to respond before you adjust again. The amount of charcoal and where you put it matter too: a two-zone fire gives you a hot side and a cooler side on the same grate. When you finish, follow your grill’s manual for shutting the vents and letting the fire burn out.
What size charcoal grill should a beginner buy?
Match it to how many people you cook for. Weber says its 18-inch kettle has room for four to six people and its 22-inch Premium for six to eight. For one or two, a 14-inch grill like the Napoleon Legend uses less charcoal.
Do I need lighter fluid for a charcoal grill?
No. A chimney starter lights charcoal with newspaper or a fire starter, as the NFPA notes, and it avoids waiting for fluid to burn off before you cook.
Our final pick for a first charcoal grill
Buy the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-inch if you want one grill that is easy to learn on and big enough to keep: it has a thermometer, a hinged grate and an ash catcher in a family-size kettle. Choose the 18-inch Original Kettle for a smaller household, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 if you want the temperature held for you, and the Royal Gourmet if you cook for crowds.
For every kind of charcoal cooker, including kamados and offset barrels, see our guide to the best charcoal grill. If you are cooking on a tight budget, the best value charcoal grill guide has more options, and our guide to fajitas is a good first meal to cook on it.
And if you would rather leave the grilling to us tonight, see the menu or call to order.