Top 7 Best Charcoal Grills Under 300 for 2022

To those who are into barbecue and grilling, it is a must to have a griller you can use anytime you please. Of course, apart from your skills, having the best charcoal grill is also an important factor in determining the taste quality of your meals. However, with a definitive budget, it can be a concern for some if they can still achieve a quality meal.

Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to tell you that there are charcoal grills under 300 that are at par with the quality of a higher-end grill. With so many charcoal grills available in the market, the idea of going through each of them can be daunting for anyone.

Here’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll discuss the 7 best charcoal grills under $300 and we’re going over their advantages and disadvantages so you will have a better idea on which grill is right for you.

See also:

• Top 7 Best Charcoal Grills Under 100
• 10 Best Charcoal Grills Under 200
• 4 Best Charcoal Grills Under 500

Top Charcoal Grills under 300

1. Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill – Most Versatile Charcoal Grill

Weber Master-Touch is a kettle-style barbecue grill, known for its Gourmet BBQ System (GBS). With a removable center on the GBS grate, you can add other accessories such as a pizza stone. This will enable you to cook various dishes you might never even thought possible with a charcoal grill.  

Expect that given its 363 sq. in. primary cooking area, you’ll have an enormous space for your grilling. There’s also an additional 80 sq. in. warming rack that gives you a total cooking area of 443 sq. in. This is enough space to hold even up to 13 burgers!

For those wanting to step up their grilling game, Weber Master-Touch is an excellent choice. The built-in lid thermometer makes it easy to monitor your grilled internal temperature, while the lid’s rust-proof aluminum vent controls the temperature and airflow. It is perfect for producing a well-cooked barbecue. If you’re also concerned about the hassle of cleaning, this charcoal grill comes with a removable ash catcher.

The wheels are also perfect for outdoor cooking as it eases movement. However, despite its great additional features, several users experienced assembly issues. This includes the tricky and challenging installation of some parts, especially the legs. Others also complained about how the legs were made cheaply, thus, being a little shaky.

Another thing, there appears to be a difficulty lighting the grill. It would be better with a chimney starter, which can be bought as an additional accessory. The thing is, some users would still prefer a model that won’t need any additional costs.

Pros	Cons
+ Built-in lid thermometer + Gourmet BBQ System Hinged Cooking Grate + One-touch Cleaning System + Removable Ash Catcher + Built-in Lid Holder + Built-in vent controls	– Difficult to assemble – Difficult to light up

2. Weber Performer Charcoal Grill – Most Durable Charcoal Grill

The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill is a kitchen tool that will make you want to grill and roast every day. It is an easy to clean grill with one-touch cleaning system and removable ash catcher to ease your work. Storing and mobility wouldn’t be a problem as well, thanks to its 8-inch durable rubber molded wheels. With this, you can grill and roast all you want hassle-free.

The Performer Charcoal Grill offers a decent cooking area of 363 square inches which is enough to fit up to 13 burgers. With that capacity, you can be confident that you can serve timely meals comfortably. You also get a foldable side table to accommodate your other tools and keep your platters safe. 

One of the unique features of this grill is its built-in lid thermometer, which shows you the internal temperature and allows you to control its internal heat. Plus, it has adjustable dampers that give you precise heat control so you can easily adjust the temperature and its oxygen levels without lifting the lid.

What makes this grill great is that its lid and bowl are porcelain-enameled which allows it to have superior heat retention. Plus, with that coating, it ensures that the cover would not rust, crack, and peel as you grill.

This is perfect for those who prefer outdoor cooking and having grilled and roasted foods. However, some users had a problem with its lid because it could be bent easily. Other users have also said that the handle was poor in quality since it is not made of stainless steel. With those in mind, proper handling and storing is highly recommended.

Pros	Cons
+ Built-in side tables + Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl + Adjustable dampers	– Lid is prone to bending – Handle is not made with same quality as body

3. Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill – Most Efficient Charcoal Grill

Heading for your next campout? Be sure to grab a portable yet versatile grill such as the Char-Griller E56720 AKORN  – a Kamado Charcoal Grill. Apart from its versatility, it’s designed to consume lesser charcoal compared to similar grills.

Astonishingly, this grill has 314 square inches of the cast iron cooking area. Besides the primary space, you will also have 133 square inches of the warming rack. For a bonus, the grill also features two additional folding metal shelves where you can set aside your food after grilling.

You’ll definitely benefit from the Kamado grill’s easy-heat control function. The adjustable top damper, with an assembled temperature gauge, assists its reduction of airflow. You will have more heat insulation due to its triple-wall solid steel structure that will enable the grill to produce more tender meat for you.

It also works like a convection oven for your pizzas and desserts. When you are done grilling, cleaning up is convenient with the easy-dump ash pan and removable warming rack. You can also effortlessly keep it in the storage afterward since it is movable with its locking caster wheels.

On a different note, there are some inconveniences you will have to deal with – starting with the assembly itself. You have to be careful not to damage the grill as you tighten the bolts or the placing handles.  Apart from that, you also do not have the option to add more wood chips or charcoal from the outside as soon as you start grilling.

Lastly, the temperature gauge can be inaccurate; therefore, you will have to prepare yourself to use an external temperature while you work on your meat.

Pros	Cons
+ Removable warming rack + Built-in two folding side tables + Built-in temperature gauge + Adjustable indexed dampers + Easy-dump ash pan + Double wall insulation + Tubular steel construction + Locking caster wheels	– Difficult to assemble – Inaccurate temperature reading

4. Napoleon Pro Charcoal Kettle Grill – Most Portable Charcoal Grill

If you’re looking for the perfect grilling companion, the Napoleon Grill – Rodeo Pro Kettle is what you need! This three-in-one kettle grill can help home cooks do a lot of dishes all together as it has options for grilling, roasting, and smoking.

This charcoal kettle grill has an average total of 365 inches cooking area, which can be powered by up to 100 BTU. The cooking area of the grill is very spacious, and it’s efficient enough to prepare food for over 20 people – perfect for your outdoor picnic parties!

Even with a spacious cooking area, it also has easy-to-access ash catchers for your wood chips and coals. This grill has added compartments allowing you to adjust the cooking grids to three various levels for your convenience. It also contains a heat diffuser. This feature controls heat flow to ensure that it’s regulated and to prevent ash from falling off on the ground.

If you’re worried that it might be challenging to transport the kettle grill from place to place, no need to fret! The product also has rugged wheels that are strong enough to pass through rocky terrains.

A unique feature of this item is its offset hinge, which allows the user to have quick access to all parts of the grill without directly holding it. This keeps customers safe from touching hot parts of the lid, which can result in accidents if not handled with care.

Although this product is a great steal, customers are asked to assemble it themselves that may lead to wrong twists & turns, affecting the overall expected result for the product.

Pros	Cons
+ Cast-iron hinged cooking grids + Improved Pro Air Control system + Porcelain-coated steel body construction + Offset hinge + Built-in ash catcher + Built-in temperature gauge	– Difficult to assemble – Heavier compared to similar models

5. Char-Broil American Gourmet Charcoal Grill – Most Spacious Charcoal Grill

The Char-Broil American Gourmet Charcoal Grill is a classic barrel-style grill perfect for those who enjoy and appreciate the indulging flavors of traditional charcoal grilling. This product allows for both convenience and mobility with its two 8-inch wheels, making it easy to move around your patio. It also features 1.5-inch tube legs that come with significant side braces for durability and stability.

This grill offers 568 square inches of cooking space over cast-iron grates, enough to fit 20 to 24 burgers all at once. It also comes with a 272 square inch warming rack where you can put your freshly grilled meat products without having to worry about losing their flavor and juiciness.

It features a large side shelf, giving you enough space while you prepare and grill your meat products. It also comes with integrated tool hooks perfect for keeping your utensils at palm’s reach. This grill has a cooking chamber lid, and a tube handle to keep your hands safe from the heat.

This unit also provides precise and adjustable heat and airflow control with its 4 dampers and lid-mounted temperature gauge. You also don’t have to worry about shifting from high-heat searing to low- and slow- smoking as it comes with an adjustable charcoal grate.

Although this charcoal grill is perfect for those who enjoy both efficiency and mobility while grilling, it is highly susceptible to rusting and corrosion because of its steel material. This type of grill may also be a hassle if you plan on using wood as fuel instead of charcoal because you would need to cut them into smaller pieces.

Pros	Cons
+ Adjustable charcoal grate + Multiple adjustable dampers + Built-in side table + Integrated tool hooks + Includes warming rack + Built-in temperature gauge	– Prone to rust and corrosion – Difficult to assemble

6. Viemoi Kamado Grill Mini Charcoal Grill – Most Compact Charcoal Grill

Kamado grills have been gaining traction in recent years due to their efficiency and portability. Some Kamado grills also come in vintage designs such as the Viemoi Mini Kamado Charcoal Grill. This grill is perfect for those looking to upgrade their cooking game while improving their lawn’s aesthetics at the same time.

Its 89 square inches cooking surface provides enough space to cook for at least two people or about 3 to 4 burgers at a time. It also allows you to regulate the temperature – at high heat, you can cook your steaks, at medium, you can get your perfect barbecues, at low heat, you can prepare your vegetables, or even use it as a smoker!

The grill is coated with porcelain, which should keep the grill rust-free for a long time. Its cooking grid is made of stainless steel, which effectively retains heat and keeps your meat from sticking to the grill. Not to mention, the stainless steel used is FDA food-grade, so you won’t have to worry about where you put your food. For your convenience, it also has a side table made of prime quality bamboo wood, which can be used to hold your cooking materials.

Even though it’s very portable at its size, one of the problems with this grill is that it has no wheels. And at 53 lbs., it can be a pain to lug around or transfer. It’s also quite small, so you shouldn’t expect to be able to use this alone when serving food for a large number of guests.

Pros	Cons
+ Built-in temperature gauge + Porcelain enamel steel cooking grid + Cast-iron top vent	– Difficult to clean

See also: Top 3 Best Kamado Grills Under 1000

7. Cobb Kitchen in a Box – Most Multifunctional Charcoal Grill

The Cobb Kitchen-in-a-Box is an all-in-one package featuring all your favorite outdoor grill essentials. It includes the Cobb premier portable BBQ grill, Cobb cookbook, grill grid, frying pan, wok, griddle, roasting rack, dome lid extension, chicken roasting rack, two lifting forks, and a carry bag that you can use anytime, anywhere.

With all these equipment, the whole kit has a grilling area of approximately 160 square inches and a weight of 20 lbs. You don’t have to worry about its portability because it can all fit inside a carry bag. Moreover, Cobb’s patented design allows just the right amount of oxygen into the fire chamber from small holes below the charcoal. This creates an evenly heated cooking surface suited for your grilling needs. Although the grill reaches up to 450 degrees inside, the base is entirely cool outside, ensuring the safety of your outdoor recreation wherever you decide to use it.

The kitchen-in-the box is one of Cobb Grill’s premiere products. Its unique feature lies in its versatility. You can grill, roast, bake, and even steam food using this. Imagine having that camping trip you’ve always dreamed of, it’s now possible because you’ve got the essentials covered. What’s more, it’s also fuel-efficient and dishwasher-safe because of its stainless-steel design.

All these features come with a price, and it’s a hefty one at that at almost $300. Other customers also recommended that it would be best to include a rice steamer in the package and to include a guide on the measurements of the cookbook. Nevertheless, the kitchen-in-a-box stays true to its promises of meeting your basic outdoor cooking needs.

Pros	Cons
+ Multifunctional + Durable stainless steel construction + Dishwasher friendly + Fuel-efficient + Non-stick cooking surface	– Relatively small cooking space

FAQs for Charcoal Grill under 300

Do you close the grill when heating coals?

In the process of heating the grill, it is better to let more air circulate. If you close the lid during the process, it will kill the fire and you have to start over.

How do I keep my charcoal grill lit?

After being lit, you need to ensure that the smoker has a proper ventilation. The charcoal will die if there’s no sufficient amount of air. Clean out the ash to keep the coal lighting. Maintain the airflow on the coals so it will continuously heat up.

Can you add charcoal while grilling?

Adding coals can help to add more heat. You may add by intervals to keep the coal burning. Do not add directly to the burning coals, it might lower the temperature. Make sure to spread it evenly in order to not lose heat.

Conclusion

This sums up the list of the best charcoal grills that are under $300. These grills prove that you do not need to spend a fortune over their higher-end counterparts! From here, you can decide which grill is right for you based on how you intend to use them.

However, if you’d rather be given the #1 best charcoal grill on this list, we highly recommend Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill. It has most of the features you would want in a grill like the warming rack, side tables, spacious cooking area, etc. At the same time, it’s able to remain compact and portable.