The best portable charcoal grills, like the Weber Smokey Joe and the Weber Go Anywhere, are awesome for traveling, but there are plenty of other design options that you can use when building your own portable charcoal grill.
Below are eight great DIY projects to help you make your own portable charcoal grill.
Whether you collect reclaimed bits of wood, use a kitchen sink, or some other cool idea, these homemade portable charcoal grills can be used over and over with ease.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black | Best Overall |  |
| Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Premium 14-Inch Portable Grill | Budget Pick |  |
| Kamado Joe Jr. KJ13RH Charcoal Grill 13.5 inch Blaze Red | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight design
- Pre-assembled
- Very easy to assemble
- Sturdy
- Highly portable
- Very economical
- Has an aluminum bowl for the charcoal
- The charcoal bowl can easily be covered with a lid (not included)
Cons:
- Drawbacks: Difficult to clean, No vents
If you are looking for one of the best portable charcoal grills, then this is one that you should definitely consider. It is one of the favorites for many campers, tailgaters, and even backyard barbecuers because it offers 622 sq. in. of cooking area.
Just like the name suggests, this portable charcoal grill is an 18-inch compact grill. It uses a charcoal grate to hold the charcoal, which is highly affordable. It only weighs 20 lbs. which makes it extremely easy to carry to any location.
It is a very sturdy charcoal grill with a lot of positive feedback from users. We recommend that you use this unit over a campfire pit. If you intend on using it indoors, then you would need to add additional vents to make it work.
2. Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill,Black,14.5" H x 21" W x 12.25" L
Pros:
- Large cooking area
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Improves with age
Cons:
- Smallish for a charcoal grill
- Very small fuel storage area
- Small cooking grates
The Weber Go Anywhere charcoal grill is a compact grill but has a lot of space for small meals or medium sized meals. It is simple to use and doesn’t take a lot of time to get going. It requires very little maintenance and will work for years.
The Weber Go Anywhere charcoal grill has a lot of things going for it and it handles well considering its small size. The full portion of the grill can usually fit six hamburgers. The cooking grates are small but the large cooking area of the grill makes up for it.
The Weber Go Anywhere charcoal grill has two handles that make it easier to stack when you pack up for the day. It can be used at home or at any campground. While it is designed for smaller meals, the small size doesn’t make it for cooking for an entire crowd. The smallish size and fuel storage means it isn’t going to hold that much fuel and you will need to refuel often.
3. Char-Griller E06614 Charcoal Grill
Pros:
- The thick, non stick coating of the grill makes it easy to clean
- It has a stand
- You can adjust the height to cater to your needs
- Affordable
Cons:
- A bit shaky
- The lid is a bit flimsy
- The grill grate isn’t durable
- The paint coating can easily chip out
The Char-Griller grates are made with heat resistant aluminum. The grate is wire which is easy to clean. The grill surface is wide and long, making it easy to cook food for a crowd. It can be easily stored when not in use due to the fold-down stand.
This charcoal grill has a lid with a thermometer which is very useful if you plan to grill for a long time. The grill’s temperature can be easily adjusted according to your needs. The large surface of the grill allows you to cook food for a large gathering.
There are also multiple wheels which make it easy to move the Char-Griller around. This saves you time in the cleanup process since you have to move the grill away once you are done with the grilling.
4. Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Premium 14-Inch Portable Grill
Pros:
- Available in 6, 8, and 10 inch
- Portable charcoal grill
- Budget-friendly price
- The lid doubles as a skillet
- Easy to maintain
- Lightweight and compact
- Comes with a removable cooking grate
- 5 year warranty
When it comes to convenience, portability, and a value for the price, few other grills can match the Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Premium Portable Charcoal Grill. It's durable, lightweight, and easy to use grilling solution.
Whether you're tailgating, camping, or just grilling in your backyard, the Weber 40020 will give you a great grilling experience. Based on the classic Smokey Joe design (hence the name), it's easy to see why the Weber 40020 has been so popular with outdoor chefs for so long. Because it’s a carbone grill it'll cook your meat evenly, and your food will be fully flavored and tenderized.
The grill features side handles for easy portability and a removable drip tray so you can enjoy a drip-free grilling experience. It also comes with a handy grease cup to drain off any excess fat that comes from meats cooked on the grill.
5. Old Smokey Charcoal Grill #22
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Large grilling surface area
- Durable construction
Cons:
- Heavy
- Some parts are made of metal and could rust if not properly maintained
The Old Smokey Charcoal Grill is built to last for years of rugged use in the backyard. It is one of the most affordable charcoal grills we came across yet it’s also one the most durable. Its large size makes it perfect to grill up dinner for the whole family and entertaining guests.
The cast iron cooking surface and the stainless steel lid will last through many meals and won’t rust over time due to the powder-coated exterior. The sturdy metal legs make sure the grill doesn’t fall of the table or blow over in the wind (or when your kids accidentally push it over).
We also love that it comes with three cooking grates. The top one is for charcoals and the lower two are for food when cooking. This way you can have dinner prepared in less time. The grates are also adjustable so you can get just the right distance between the food and the charcoal.
6. Kamado Joe Jr. KJ13RH Charcoal Grill 13.5 inch Blaze Red
Pros:
- Compact design
- A ton of ventilation
- Two options for temperature control
- Easily portable
Cons:
- Heavy
- Takes a long time to heat up
The Kamado Joe Jr. is a quality portable charcoal grill to take with you when camping, hiking or just travelling. It features a compact, lightweight design and is very durable. It also comes with two options to heat. The Kamado Joe Jr. is a quality portable charcoal grill to take with you when camping, hiking or just travelling. It features a compact, lightweight design and is very durable. It also comes with two options to heat.
One is a blow tube which is used to heat it up in a few minutes. The other is a regular charcoal chimney. You do have to get the coals nice and hot, but once you do, the infra-red temperature controller helps regulate the temperature to your specifications.
There are plenty of vents in the top and bottom which allows for good airflow to make your charcoal last longer. Some reviewers have commented that you do have to use high quality charcoal otherwise it might burn and give off fumes.
7. Cuisinart CCG-100 Portable
Pros:
- Grills up to 330 square inches
- 26,500BTU grill which heats up to 400 degrees
- Easy to move
- Hinged cooking grate
- Side fire box
- Removable ash catcher
Cons:
- The propane tank is sold separately
- Propane tank needs to be bought separately
For the size, the Cuisinart CCG-100 portable charcoal grill can cook up to 18 hamburgers and the 17.7" L x 18.5" W x 15.4" H. It has a built-in thermometer to help you keep track of the temperature. Aside from its portability, it has a large cooking area which makes it a great choice for bigger families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best portable charcoal grill?
The best portable charcoal grill is the Camp Chef Explorer 2-Burner. This model is relatively cheap but it still gives you a lot of features. It has a 2 burner setup and each burner totals 20,000 BTU. The cooking area is 660 square inches with a 420 square inch warming rack.
It also has a porcelain cast iron grill grate which can be transferred to a camp table and a rust-resistant aluminum tray with water reservoir. It comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
It has 341 customer reviews on Amazon and has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars based on reviews. It is also top rated by consumers on other websites. With all great customer reviews, it is no wonder that this is the most popular portable charcoal grill.
What is the best charcoal grill on the market?
The best portable charcoal grill has to have 3 criteria: decent product quality, value for money, and good customer reviews. Here are the best products that stand out in our research:
Which is healthier gas or charcoal grill?
There’s a healthy de