Best Charcoal Grill Under $200

It’s time for summer sun and summer fun. You’re tired of the weather keeping you cooped up during meal times.

Now that it’s nice out, you want to get outside and grill. The only problem is that you don’t have a grill. You already booked that great vacation, so your budget is tight too.

If you like the authentic flavor a charcoal grill provides and you’re on a budget, this list is for you. I’ve read reviews on Amazon and compiled a list to find the best charcoal grill under 200 dollars.

1. Char-Griller 2-2424

The Char-Griller 2-2424 is a great option if you already have a stationary grill and want something different. For around $60, the Char-Griller offers both a portable grill and a side fire box for smoking.

To use it for smoking, you have to attach it to one of a few grills. If you don’t have one of those grills or don’t want to smoke meat, this isn’t the best option. It’s made of heavy, durable steel that will last and has a cooking space of about 250 square inches.

There’s also a sliding door for managing the coal. The major complaint about the Char-Griller in reviews is that the paint peels off after the first use, so you might need to repaint it to keep it from rusting.

Pros:

• Heavy gauge steel and sturdy construction
• Vents on the left and right allow great control air flow to fire and of temperature
• Removable ash pan for easy coal clean up
• Sliding door is a great design
• Ample cooking area
• All metal construction holds heat for a long time after cooking

Cons:

• The paint will start bubbling up and flake off if the fire gets too hot

2. Weber 121020

The Weber Go-Anywhere offers a more basic portable grill, so it’s slightly better at meeting its mark.

For around $50, you get 160 square inches of cooking space on a rectangular, steel-plated grate. The porcelain enameled coating will prevent rust, so this is a good option for being on the go and potentially getting rained on. It’s only 14.5x21x12.25 inches, so it doesn’t take up too much space.

That makes it great to throw in the car for a tailgate, or to have around as a backup on a camping trip.

Pros:

• Large enough for two large porterhouse steaks while maintining excellent portability
• 2 adjustable dampers regulate the flow of air, each with 3 vent holes
• Includes a porcelain enameled coating to prevent rust and fading

Cons:

• The handle can get really hot, recommend wearing a oven mitt
• No removable bottom tray (to clean out the ash)

3. Weber 1211001

The Weber Jumbo Joe is only about $10 more expensive, but offers a larger option for portable grilling than the Weber Go-Anywhere.

For around $60, you get 240 square inches of cooking space on a plated steel grate. You get the same features that are typical of weber grills, including aluminum dampers and a glass-reinforced nylon handle.

You also got those on the Weber Go-Anywhere but the main benefit of the Jumbo Joe is the larger cooking space. It’s a good option for a camping trip, where you need to feed a more substantial meal to more people.

Pros:

• Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid with a cooking area of 240 square inch
• Large enough to easily use and small enough to easily transport
• Big enough for 4 half pound burgers simultaneously
• Top carrying handle stays cool enough to touch, can use without a glove or mitt

Cons:

• The bottom vent can be difficult to adjust at times

4. Lodge L410 Premium Charcoal Grill

The Lodge L410 is the best option for durability and quality of materials on the list, because the entire thing is made of cast iron. It’s the most expensive portable grill, at around $90. It’s also the smallest, with only around 150 square inches of cooking space.

It offers two adjustable cooking heights, a draft door to regulate heat, and a flip-down door to access coals. The grate is pre-seasoned, so it’s ready to use when you get it. There’s no lid, so it does take a while to cool down. Despite being small and without a lid, customers rave about its quality in the reviews.

It’s a hibachi-style grill, so if your focus is on quality instead of size, this is a great option. The Weber Jumbo Joe is only the better option if you want that extra size.

Pros:

• Sturdy little hibachi that screams quality
• Cooking grate is seasoned and ready to use
• Easy cleaning

Cons:

• Cast iron design does require some time to heat up and cool down
• Some assembly required
• Heavy

5. Weber 14401001

The Weber Original Kettle grill is the first kettle on the list, and comes in around $150. It has 363 square inches of cooking space.

The bowl is porcelain-enameled for durability. Similarly to the portable Weber models, it has an aluminum damper and glass-reinforced nylon handles.

The grate is plated steel, and there is a build in thermometer in the lid for more control over your heat. It also comes with a high-capacity, removable ash catcher that will make it easier to clean.

For a kettle charcoal grill this is a solid option. Customers were thrilled with the results and durability of this grill.

Pros:

• Classic time tested Weber grill design
• Large cooking area of 363 square inches
• One-Touch cleaning system with aluminum ash catcher
• Glass-reinforced nylon handles with tool hooks

Cons:

• Ash catcher can be a bit tricky to work with
• Assembly instructions leave a bit to be desired

6. Weber 741001

The main difference between the Weber 741001 and the first Weber kettle grill is that the 741001 doesn’t have the removable ash catcher.

However, it does have the same 363 square inches of cooking space and plated steel cooking plate.

This waterproof cover can protect your grill from rain, snow, or other wet weather. So, if you have to leave your grill outside, it won’t be horribly damaged. At around $110, it’s cheaper than the other Weber kettle model.

If you don’t mind some extra cleanup, this is by far the better kettle grill option.

Pros:

• Same classic Weber design without the new style ash catcher of the 14401001
• 363 Square Inches Of Total Cooking Space
• Better price than the 14401001

Cons:

• Ash Tray rather than Ash Catcher, more manual clean up

7. Char-Broil Charcoal Grill

]Now we move into the rectangular grill models, starting with the Char-Broild Charcoal Grill.

For around $130, you get 480 square inches of primary cooking space on a cast iron grate, with an additional 180 square inches on a porcelain-coated secondary cooking plate.

You get a front access cast iron door so you can handle your coals without losing too much heat. You also get two side platforms to set grill tools and plates on, along with wheels and a shelf underneath.

The quality of the grill is questionable, though. According to customer reviews, it’s very hard to put together. Then when it is put together, it can be wobbly.

Some customers claim it’s horrible quality and others claim it’s alright. So, if you’re willing to take a risk on quality, this might be a good grill.

Pros:

• 580 total square inch cooking surface
• Front access cast iron door
• Great price for a large charcoal grill

Cons:

• Assembly can be a pain

8. Blackstone 3-in-1 Kabob Charcoal Grill

The Blackstone 3-in-1 charcoal grill comes in around $200, making it the most expensive grill on the list.

The main feature it boasts is that it can grill, barbecue, and smoke. It even comes with heavy-duty skewers to make kabobs on the grill.

However, for a grill that has “smoker” in the name, a lot of customers reported that it isn’t sealed tightly enough to smoke. You can add some extra sealing yourself if you want to smoke, but you do need to put that effort in.

There were also many customer complaints that the design was “off,” as if the designer had never used a grill.

There were claims that the side shelf was uncomfortably low, the included coal and ash pan was too small, and the holes for the skewers were too far away.

Pros:

• Includes the traditional barbecue, a motorized shish kebob griller and a meat smoker.
• Easy Assembly
• Sturdy and well made

Cons:

• Some mention dented or missing pieces on delivery

9. Dyna-Glo DGN405DNC-D

Next at around $140 we have the Dyna-Glo Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill.

With this model, you get two porcelain-enameled, cast-iron grates, side shelves, a storage basket, wheels for portability, and 568 square inches of cooking space.

The quality of the grilling function itself is good, but there were some complaints in reviews. Multiple customers claimed that all of the steel needs some extra layers of paint added to keep rust away because what’s there is inadequate.

There was also a shared complaint that it’s hard to assemble and occasionally comes with missing or damaged parts.

Pros:

• Premium design will last for a long time
• 568 Total square Inch of cooking space
• Heavy duty cart with side shelve and storage basket
• Steel smoke stack with adjustable flue for heat control

Cons:

• Definitely a pain to assemble, They should add beer as one of the necessary tools as you are going to be here a while!
• Grease drips – If you have a deck surface underneath that is susceptible to staining you might want to put a piece of plywood under this

10. Char-Griller 2-2424

The best rectangular grill is the cheapest, costing around $100 for the Char-Griller 2424.

The Char-Griller acts as both a grill and smoker, with an actually airtight hood and heat gauge.

It’s made of heavy gauge steel with a double bottom and has cast iron grates, so it’s durable.

It comes with three shelves in which you can store spices, sauces, and such as well as a platform to the side for plates or tools. It also has the largest cooking space at 635 square inches.

Reviews say it might need some maintenance over time, but any grill will if you want to keep it for years.

Pros:

• Use as a table top grill or horizontal Texas style smoker
• 250 square inches of cooking space
• Sliding drawer for easy access to coals and ashes
• Great price for a small portable grill

Cons:

• Kind of a pain to assemble
• Paint can bubble and flake off if grill gets too hot
• Holds heat for a long time after cooking

Top Charcoal Grill Under $200 – A Buyer’s Guide

When deciding on a type of grill to buy, a lot of people go for charcoal grills because it provides a lot of advantages over electric and gas grills.

One of the most significant benefits that attract a lot of people is the distinct taste you can obtain by using a charcoal grill to grill meats. They are also quite easy to move around and don’t cost a lot to purchase.

[su_note note_color=”#F0F8FF”]This charcoal grills buyers guide gives an insight on some of the important features of a good charcoal grill as well as some important questions you need to answer before choosing a charcoal grill to purchase for your BBQ events.[/su_note]

In this charcoal grills buyers guide, questions such as the types of charcoal grill, types of fuel for a charcoal grill, features of a charcoal grill, are answered.

Some important questions you should ask yourself before choosing a charcoal grill are;

Cost

The cost of the grill you intend to buy is the most important factor when selecting a grill. It should fall within the budget you have set.

What type of charcoal grill do I want?

Charcoal grills are of various types. There is the barrel charcoal grill, the Kettle charcoal grill and also the ceramic charcoal grill. Depending on your style, you can pick one that suits you best. The ceramic charcoal grill is very effective and can be used for more than just grilling meat. This is because the ceramic used helps in retaining any heat generated.

Is the grill constructed to last long?

You can answer this question by checking the grill you intend to buy. If it is made from high-quality materials like ceramics or stainless steel, you can be sure it will last a long period. Also, shake the grill and listen for any loosely fitting part which indicates it may fall apart soon.

What type of fuel will I be using for my cooking?

There are two common fuels used. These are the lumped charcoal and the charcoal briquettes. If you desire a cheaper fuel which lasts longer, you can go for the charcoal briquettes. The lumped charcoal requires a bit more experience but burns hotter than the charcoal briquettes.

Will I need to move my grill?

You need to decide on if you are setting up your grill permanently or you intend to pack it up after each use. For this reason, the grill needs to be easy to assemble and disassemble. It also needs to be easily movable in case the need arises.

How large should the grill be?

A bigger grill grants you the convenience of space when using it. It also lets you prepare enough to serve a lot of people at a go. You should also ensure you have the space to set up the grill. You should decide on the size of the grill based on how many people you intend to serve during your BBQ events.

After answering these questions, there are some important features you should look for in a grill. These may include;

Best Charcoal Grill Features

Air Vents

The air vents are important in helping to control the temperature of the grill. Closing and opening the vents can serve as a means of increasing and reducing the temperature respectively. The grill may have more than one of these vents.

Temperature Gauge

The temperature gauge helps in monitoring the temperature of the grill. This helps to prevent overcooking and burning anything you are cooking. Some grills come with thermometers while you may need to get a meat thermometer in other cases.

Grill Hood

This is also called the lid. This is used to control the amount of oxygen fed into the charcoal. Opening the lid too much can cause the temperature to increase more than required.

Ash Pan

An ash pan is used to collect the ash generated from burning the coal. The ash needs to be regularly removed as it can affect the performance of the grill.

Tires

Tires may not be available on all grills. It is great if you intend to move the grill around without disassembling it.  It seems simple but sometimes you just assume your grill comes with them and it might not.  Make sure if you need them you get a model that has wheels.

Charcoal Grate

This is the surface where place the items you want to cook. It is usually placed directly above the coal.  There are different types of materials used for grates which can have an impact on cooking times.

Conclusion

Charcoal grills are great for summer outdoor cooking and also provide a unique flavor when compared to regular home cooked meals. This charcoal grills buyers guide answers some frequently asked questions that you need to answer when you want to purchase a charcoal grill for your personal use.

You choice depends on your grilling needs, but overall the best charcoal grill under 200 dollars seems to be the

 It’s a great balance of price, features, and quality. Unless you want portability for a grill, the Char-Griller is the best choice.

The Char-Griller is so cost effective that you could buy it along with a portable model and still keep your $200 budget. So instead of getting one of the best charcoal grills, grab the Webster Jumbo Joe and have all of your needs covered!