Elevate your outdoor cooking game with our guide to the best charcoal grills in Canada. We've reviewed top models from brands like Weber and Kamado Joe for flavour, versatility, and durability.
Let us set the scene. You’ve bought your favourite cuts of meat, seasoned them to perfection, and added some delicious veggies to your meal for good measure. You cook them on your gas barbecue, and you’re ready to enjoy. Except you don’t, because the meat is too dry and the flavour just doesn’t hit the way you thought it would. Sound familiar?
Charcoal grills can change all of that. Since they use a combination of direct and indirect heat, they are the best option for locking in moisture. Plus, the constant smoke adds an amazing flavour. Charcoal grills are easy to use once you’ve learned the ropes, and the fuel is also much safer than gas. They can be a lot more portable than standard barbecues, too.
Do you think a charcoal grill is right for your home? Let us help you find the perfect one! Charcoal grills will vary in price, overall size, cooking capacity, and so much more. And all of the features will affect how much you like it and how useful it is to you.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best charcoal grills in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
The Best Charcoal Grills Right Now
Upgrade Pick: Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill
Extra Large Pick: Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill
2-in-1 Pick: Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
Kamado Pick: Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill
Portable Pick: Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill
Our Top Pick for The Best Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Review
What We Think of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill
We are big fans of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. It has pretty much everything we could ask for. It’s pretty compact and portable, but it’s still large enough to cook food for 3-4 people at a time. And the handle has two hooks to hang your tools. We love the convenience.
You won’t have any trouble slow cooking or searing or anything in between with this grill—it’s great at everything. And speaking of great, the grate has a little hinged section that comes up so you can easily add or shuffle the charcoal without taking the whole thing out. And it has an extra-large removable ash catcher so cleanup is easy, too.
We have nothing bad to say about this grill except that we wish it had shelves. Or a prep station. Basically, somewhere to put a plate. And although the lack of said shelving might be a bit inconvenient, it’s certainly no dealbreaker. Right?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill. They actually have nothing bad to say about it at all. The height is perfect for tall and short people alike, and it does a great job cooking at different temperatures. It was also easy to assemble and it’s pretty portable considering it can serve 3-4 people at a time.
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You like having tool hooks right on the handle for easy access
You want ash cleanup to be painless thanks to a removable catcher
You appreciate being able to add charcoal mid-cook through a hinged grate section
You need a compact grill that rolls easily on wheels
Don’t Buy If…
You want built-in shelves for prep space or holding ingredients
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22” Charcoal Grill Specifications
Dimensions: 38.5” x 27” x 22.5”
Weight: 32.3 lbs
Colour: Black
Grill Shape: Round
Cooking Area: 363 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: Yes
Warranty: 10 years
Our Upgrade Pick
Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill Review
What We Think of the Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill
The Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill is a pretty special grill. Its standout feature is the gas ignition. That’s right, all you have to do is push a button to get the charcoal hot—once it’s ready, you can shut the gas off. Efficient, right? We’re also really happy with the extras on this one. It has a removable timer and ash try so you can manage all of the things without any hassle. (Or guesswork.)
The cart that this grill is attached to is also pretty special. It has a ton of useful features. On the bottom, there’s a wire rack for storage of your charcoal, cleaning supplies, and whatever else you want to keep handy. And on the top, there’s a large flat prep station to season your meat and hold the plate once everything’s cooked. There are wheels, too, so you can move the grill around anytime.
There really aren’t many negatives to say about this one, which we’re pretty happy about. Assembly might not be super easy, but you’ll get the job done eventually. Some people also might not love the idea of purchasing small propane cylinders for the gas start, but it’s a super handy feature (in other words, it’s worth it). The price is a bit high, but again, worth it.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill
Reviewers are really impressed by the Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill. They love the prep space provided by the cart surface, and the wheels make it really easy to roll the grill around when they need to. The gas ignition system makes things so much easier, and they’re big fans of the ash catcher. Some of them had a bit of trouble getting it assembled, but that’s small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.
Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want a grill with a sturdy frame, storage tray, and built-in prep space
You like the convenience of the Touch-N-Go gas ignition for effortless starts
Easy cleanup matters to you thanks to a high-capacity ash catcher
A removable cook timer sounds useful for your grilling sessions
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to deal with propane for the gas start
You’d rather avoid a grill that’s a bit tricky to assemble
You’re looking for a budget-friendly option
Weber Performer Deluxe 22” Charcoal Grill Specifications
Dimensions: 43.5” x 48” x 30”
Weight: 91 lbs
Colour: Copper and stainless steel
Grill Shape: Round
Cooking Area: 363 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
Our Extra Large Pick
Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Review
What We Think of the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill
The Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill is our top recommendation if you’re searching for a charcoal grill that’s got a similar capacity to a standard gas barbeque. It’s got a large rectangular cooking surface to take care of your meat, veggies, and other sides. It also has a storage basket underneath and two side shelves to make your life easier.
The thing we like most about this option is the charcoal system. The charcoal is added through a little door at the front, and it’s placed on a tray that can be moved up and down to change the temperature of the grill easily. A steel smoke stack at the top has an adjustable flue to help you control the airflow too. As a result, this grill can be used for any type of cooking. Sweet, right?
This option is pretty solid, but we do have a few things to point out that we aren’t so fond of. Aside from the higher cost of this one, our other minor concern is the size—a large capacity means a large overall grill, and it won’t be a travel-friendly option or suited to apartment balconies. Our main concern is durability. This option is advertised as heavy duty, but that’s a stretch by anyone’s imagination.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 4/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill
Reviewers really like the Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill. The main complaint that pops up is with the durability—it’s not as heavy duty as they were led to believe. But it still performs really well. It’s got a decent temperature range and a great capacity so they can cook for their entire family at once. It’s easy to keep clean, too.
Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want side shelves and a storage basket for plenty of prep and storage space
An adjustable flue on the smokestack appeals to you for better heat control
You like being able to add charcoal easily through a door and adjust its height while cooking
You need a grill with plenty of cooking capacity for big meals
Don’t Buy If…
You’re hoping for a more budget-friendly charcoal grill
You don’t have the space for a very large model
Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Specifications
Dimensions: 51.3” x 27.4” x 50.1”
Weight: 79 lbs
Colour: Black
Grill Shape: Rectangular
Cooking Area: 568 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our 2-in-1 Pick
Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Review
What We Think of the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
The Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo has a lot working in its favour. And yours, of course. One of our favourite features is the 2-in-1 design. It is a 2-in-1 pick, after all. With this grill, you get all the benefits of a true smoker without needing to purchase an entirely separate product. What a bargain. The serving capacity is another wow factor—you can fit 45 burgers on this thing at a time!
Cooking in bulk is assisted by the storage options, too. It has two warming racks so you can keep your food ready-to-serve while the rest is still cooking, a side table for plates and cooking utensils, and a great bottom shelf for storing your charcoal. Talk about convenience! With a digital temperature control panel and a Bluetooth companion app, monitoring a grill has never been easier. Enjoy it.
There are a few things we’d change about this option if we could. First, it’s incredibly expensive (very near the top of the price range), so it won’t be a suitable option for every budget. It’s also incredibly large, so if portability is something you’re looking for, you’d do best to move on. Lastly, the durability leaves something to be desired, and you might run into quality issues with the companion app and digital temperature control.
All in all, the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo is our favourite choice for folks looking for all the benefits of a charcoal grill and smoker all in one. It doesn’t offer the best reliability, but when it works, you simply can’t beat it.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 1.5/5
Quality: 4/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
Reviewers have mostly great things to say about the Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo. It’s incredibly easy to use when the digital control panel works, but many people have experienced some real inconsistencies there. Same with the companion app. However, the extra-large serving capacity is a truly impressive feature, and the gravity-fed smoker is a big hit.
Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Pros and Cons
Buy If…
Smoked meats are your favourite
You’d appreciate some storage space
A large serving capacity is important
Digital temperature control is what you’re after
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer not to spend much on a charcoal grill
Portability matters
Longevity is something you’re looking for
Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo Specifications
Dimensions: 52” x 33” x 61”
Weight: 203 lbs
Colour: Black
Grill Shape: Rectangular
Cooking Area: 1,050 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: Yes
- Warranty: 1 year
Our Kamado Pick
Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Review
What We Think of the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill
The Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill has so much going for it, it’s not even funny. Since it has a thick, heat-resistant ceramic shell and a fibreglass mesh gasket, this thing seals in heat like nothing else. What does that mean for you? Exceptional grilling performance, of course. These features are paired with a top tower vent to give you precise control over the airflow and temperature.
The extras are pretty great too. It comes with a cart that has locking wheels (a major plus for safety!), and it has two collapsible shelves attached to its sides as well. They even have hooks for hanging your grilling tools. The two-tier design is one of the best things about it. You can cook your meat and veggies at different temperatures at the same time. Pretty cool, right?
When it comes to (almost) everything about this grill, we have no critiques to make. At all. It’s basically flawless. It’s exceptionally heavy, though, so you’ll want to find a permanent home for it somewhere on your property. The price tag is also very high, and while this grill is definitely worth that much money, it won’t be a reasonable purchase for everybody, and that disappoints us. Everyone should get to experience the joy of this grill.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill
Reviewers are thrilled with the Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill. They absolutely love the two-tier design since they can cook two different dishes at the same time, and the temperature range is perfect for all of their grilling needs—this thing can slow cook, sear, and everything in between. The shelves and rolling cart are both a big hit.
Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want a ceramic grill that locks in heat better than almost anything else
Cooking multiple foods at once on a two-tiered system sounds ideal
You like having a sturdy cart with locking wheels and collapsible shelves
Easy cleanup and precise temperature control matter to you, thanks to the ash drawer and top vent
Don’t Buy If…
You’re not ready to spend big on a charcoal grill
You need something lighter and easier to move around
Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II 18” Charcoal Grill Specifications
Dimensions: 18” x 18.1” x 36”
Weight: 250 lbs
Colour: Red
Grill Shape: Round
Cooking Area: 250 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: Yes
Warranty: Lifetime
Our Portable Pick
Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill Review
What We Think of the Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill
The Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill is an amazing addition to backyards, beach days, camping trips, hotel stays, and so much more. It packs easily into any vehicle and is exceptionally durable, so you won’t have to worry if it gets knocked around a little bit. The bowl and lid are both peel-resistant, so longevity isn’t a concern there either.
One of our favourite features is the Tuck-N-Carry lid lock—it doubles as a lid holder so the lid doesn’t ever need to touch the ground. Dampers allow you to control the temperature of the grill, and it’s got a bottom vent and ash catcher to make clean-up a breeze.
There are a few low points that we want you to know about. Since this is a super portable grill, it’s also pretty small, so you won’t be able to cook food for more than two people at once. The size also limits its maximum temperature to roughly 350ºF, so it won’t be great for all types of cooking. Our final point is to remember that you’ll need a stand or taller surface to get this thing to cooking height—it’s basically on ground level.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill
Reviewers really like the Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill. They love how durable it is, and the small size is really convenient for camping trips and beach days. The cooking area is only big enough to serve two people at a time, though, and some people are disappointed that it can’t reach high temperatures like larger charcoal grills can. Most people don’t mind, though.
Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want a truly portable charcoal grill with a lid lock that doubles as a holder
Easy ash cleanup is important to you
You like the durability of a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid
You want basic temperature control with adjustable dampers
Don’t Buy If…
You need a grill with its own stand or cooking-height frame
You plan to cook for more than a few people at once
You want a grill that can hit higher heat than 350ºF
Weber Smokey Joe Premium 14” Portable Grill Specifications
Dimensions: 14.5” x 14.2” x 17”
Weight: 30 lbs
Colour: Black
Grill Shape: Round
Cooking Area: 147 sq. in
Built-In Thermometer: No
Warranty: 5 years
How to Properly Choose Your Charcoal Grill
Price
Charcoal grills can range in price from less than $75 to well over $1,500. That’s a large price range, and there’s a lot of variability in quality in there too. In general, more expensive grills will have a larger cooking surface, more durable/heat-retaining housing, and a larger frame/cart setup with shelving and storage.
Cooking Area
The cooking area of a charcoal grill is one of the most important features. It’ll determine how many people you can serve at once, so if you’ve got a larger family (or like to host gatherings), you’ll want at least 500 square inches of cooking space. If you’re a couple or an individual, 300 square inches or less should do just fine.
Built-In Thermometer
A built-in thermometer is a great addition to a charcoal grill. It lets you keep an eye on the temperature and make adjustments right away—this is super important for getting well-cooked and great-tasting food.
Portability
Lots of people choose charcoal grills for their portability, since charcoal is a lot easier to move around than a heavy propane tank. But some grills are more portable than others. You’ll want to look at weight and overall size to make a decision here.
