Being outside means different to different people, but one thing that everyone agrees on is barbequing. If you are an expert, then bravo! And if you are new and what to know the best charcoal grill under 500, then you are in the right place.
I have put together a list of the best charcoal grills under 500, which are the most popular and most-rated charcoal grills in the market. Take a look at this charcoal grill under 500 that will surely take your grilling to the next level.
Table of Contents
Best Charcoal Grill Under 500
Following are the best charcoal grills under 500:
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Top Pick
 |
Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black |
best budget charcoal grill Suitable for small spaces Easy to use and affordable |
Check On Amazon |
 |
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill, Graphite
Incredibly versatile
Good value for money
Build quality could be better
Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
Easy to clean
Portable charcoal grill is just over 26 inches long and around 19 inches wide
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
You can grill, sear, smoke, and roast once you truly learn this grill
Quality materials and construction
Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill, Red
The relatively affordable price point
Simple to assemble, with clear instructions
Char-Griller E1224 Smoking Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box, 50 Inch, Black
Durable construction
It can be used as a grill or smoker
Good warranty coverage
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill, Black
Good build quality from porcelain-coated steel will last a lifetime
Easy to clean and maintain
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
Ease of use
The accessory range with the GBS and other add-ons has a lot to offer
1. Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black
When you’re hungry and want to smell meat cooking on the grill, there is nothing better than cooking on the balcony or patio. Whether you have a large yard or are limited by space, there’s an option for you to start grilling.
Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black, is one of the best inexpensive charcoal grills I have used. It’s a compact grill, suitable for small spaces. This Char-Griller has been on the market for many years and has continuously received positive consumer reviews.
Key Features
Size: The grill measures 31 by 21 by 44 inches with a weight of about 50 pounds. It is suitable for small spaces. 250 square inch total cooking area delivers exceptional taste and charcoal flavor.
Material and Construction: The charcoal grill uses powder-coated heavy-duty steel to enhance durability. The stand that supports the grill, the lid, and the exterior of the grill is made using sturdy stainless steel.
On the other hand, the cooking grates are made using cast iron material. When it comes to cooking, cleaning, and maintenance, cast iron is better. The cooking grates are thick. They’re designed to be thick to facilitate even heat distribution.
Cooking area: since the grill is small, your cooking area is limited to 250 square inches so that it can fit a whole chicken. Moreover, there’s a shelf on the side of the grill where you can place your supplies when grilling.
Transport: The patio charcoal grill has two wheels that aid in the movement for easy transportation. The size of the wheels is relatively small. It might be a challenge maneuvering rough and uneven terrain.
Temperature Control: Aside from the cooking grates that help in heat distribution, this portable charcoal grill has a large side air vent that controls the entry of oxygen when grilling. You can adjust the vent for better airflow and regulate the heat accordingly.
What do I like about it?
This is the best budget charcoal grill. It is sturdily constructed and suitable for small spaces. It is also very easy to use and Affordable. It does not bother me when it comes to assembling or cleaning.
What do I not like about it?
It has a very limited small for cooking. I can only cook very limited food at a time. It is also prone to rust and peeling. Its One vent minimizes temperature control capabilities.
2. Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill, Graphite
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill is one of the best charcoal smokers under $500. I have three smokers, and Char-Griller is one of them, and it works great. I’ll take you through everything you need about Char-Griller Akorn in our review.
First impression
I’ve been cooking on my Big Green Egg for several years, and I can attest to how great it performs and have recommended it to many people. The Akorn has 447 sq inches of cooking surface and can cook up to 27 burgers at a time.
Specifications
| Model | E16620 Akorn Kamado grill |
| fuel | Charcoal |
| Primary Capacity | 302 square inches |
| Secondary Capacity | 120 square inches |
| Item Price | $392 |
Keys Features
Design: The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado is made from triple-walled, insulated steel. It retains heat fairly well, considering the low price and steel build. It has a 20-inch diameter cooking area which is equal to 314 square inches.
Build Quality: The cooking grates are made from cast iron and are sturdy and make cooking very easy due to the great heat retention. There is even a small circle in the middle that is removable for adding coals.
Ease of use: The assembly of the Char-Griller Akorn is generally quite easy. There are good instructions that will help you spend roughly 30 – 60 minutes getting it ready to cook. As they are very well insulated, they will keep their heat well.
3. Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill, Black
Today I am going to take a look at Oklahoma Joe’s 19402088 Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill. I’ll talk about what I like and things I didn’t like and told you all that you need to know if you are thinking of treating yourself to a portable charcoal grill.
At a glance
| Color | Black |
| Size | L 68cm* W49cm * H 55cm |
| Material | Steel and Cast Iron |
| Fuel | Charcoal |
Size: This portable charcoal grill is just over 26 inches long and around 19 inches wide. What I did notice is that it is pretty tall. This isn’t necessarily bad; a substantial cooking chamber makes for more even cooking, which I like.
Cooking Surface: At 21 square inches, you’ll have ample room to cook anything you like; it will easily accommodate four large steaks, ten burgers, or a combination of both.
Performance: One thing you want on the best portable grill is the ability to cook effectively. It can have all the features in the world, but it will miss the mark if you can’t cook your food how you want. Fortunately, with this portable charcoal grill, you have plenty of options.
Easy to clean: A front-mounted slidable ash pan makes cleanup much easier. It’s a great feature. Whether it’s ash, grease, or even a part of your failed attempt at homemade burgers, pull the pan out, tip it away and wipe it.
4. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
The Weber 22-Inch Original Kettle charcoal grill is, as the name explains, a charcoal-fired grill. In this Weber Original kettle grill review, I will discuss all the key features and their specifications in detail. This is one of the best grills under 500.
What I like
Easy Cleanup: As we said before, the One-Touch enclosed ash catcher is a definite upgrade, and we’re happy to see this feature. It can hold quite a lot of ashes and is easy to remove and reattach with the spring-loaded handle.
Convenient Design: Not only is the cleanup convenient, but several other features are designed with the user’s convenience in mind – such as the heat shield on the lid, the hinged cooking grate, a lid hook to keep your lid off the ground, and a tool hook for your tongs and spatulas.
Portability: The Weber Original Premium 22″ Kettle has a pair of heavy-duty, durable wheels built to withstand the elements and increase the grill’s portability. You can transport this grill around your yard when weighing just over 32 pounds.
It’s a Classic: Weber is known for the dependability of its grills. The Premium Kettle has a few advanced features that make it superior to the original kettle. Still, once you have cooked on a Weber kettle, you will see why it has been one of the most popular names in grilling generation after generation.
What I don’t like
Lid Thermometer: The lid thermometer sits high above the meat sizzling away on the hot grate, and being that far away from the coals means you aren’t getting an accurate read on the grill temperature. Invest in a good quality digital thermometer, and the problem is remedied.
Three-Leg Design: We loved the portability and high qualities of the Weber Original Premium 22″ Kettle, but the legs themselves can be a bit unstable sometimes, making it seem like the grill itself is top-heavy.
Placement of the Lid Hook: If you can actually get the lid to attach to the lid hook and hang properly, then it blocks part of the grill and makes cooking on that side somewhat impractical and inconvenient. We often found ourselves just placing the lid on the ground anyway, the sole thing that this hook was made to avoid.
5. Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill
Grilling is my favorite pastime, which means that I’m constantly curious about the latest trends. With kamado grills becoming more popular, I decided to take a closer look at a few of them to see what all the fuss was about. Here are my findings:
Key Features
Size: Because of their unique shape, kamado grills don’t typically offer a large surface area. Some units will include multiple shelves, making it easier to prepare more than one meal component at a time, but this requires a fair amount of skill and practice.
Cost: You can expect to spend a bit more on a kamado grill than you would on a kettle-style unit of similar size, but it is still the best grill under 500. Fortunately, you often get what you pay for in terms of quality.
Construction: Many kamado grills feature a ceramic construction, with extra-thick walls to help hold in the heat. While this is the traditional choice, ceramic is also quite fragile and prone to cracking. Cooking grates are usually made of either stainless steel or cast iron.
Lid: Since you’ll probably be cooking with the lid closed most of the time, it’s in your best interests to make sure that it’s a good lid to begin with. The fit should be completely snug, with no gaps. If there’s a lock, it should be easy to operate and made of high-quality hardware.
Temperature Gauge: The best kamado grills will include built-in gauges that allow you to check the temperature of the cooking chamber.
Dampers: On this type of grill, the temperature is controlled by the amount of air that flows in and out of the cooking chamber. Both the lid and bottom half of the grill should be equipped with working dampers that allow for a higher degree of control over this airflow.
Care and Maintenance: If the grill is outfitted with an ash catcher, it should be easy to remove. Ditto for the cooking grates—their construction should allow for simple cleanup.
Specifications
- Kamado grill with triple-wall 22-gauge steel construction
- Cast iron cooking grate measuring 14 inches in diameter
- Built-in temperature gauge
- Side handles for portability
- Tripod design with three sturdy legs
- Dual damper system
- Locking lid
- Removable ash pan
6. Char-Griller E1224 Smoking Pro 830 Square Inch Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box, 50 Inch, Black
Barrel-style grills have a strong following that holds just as true today as they did thirty years ago because it is one of the best charcoal grills under 500 with a side firebox. Following are some features that make it worth buying.
Key Features
Construction: The Char-Griller E1224 Smoking Pro is made from very durable thick-grade steel, protected by a heat-resistant black powder coat. This gives it a lot of long-term staying power.
Ease of Assembly: When it comes to assembly, the issue is weight rather than complex techniques. If possible, try to recruit a friend or two to help hold the heavy barrel body in place while you secure the cart base. It is exactly the sort of thing you would pay $5 to a pair of teenagers to do!
Grilling Performance: The offset smoker is just as much a secondary grill and warmer as it is a smoker box. This means you could grill up hot dogs for the kids while roasting two whole chickens in the primary chamber without having to worry about the two touchings.
Grilling Areas: The primary grill grate measures an impressive 580 square inches. The offset smoker provides another 250 square inches for a grand total of 830.
Special Features: The grate height adjustment is a nice touch that lets you influence the relationship between the meat and the heat. It’s just not easy to adjust in the middle of a grilling session. The pull-out charcoal drawer also makes ash cleanup easier.
Comparison Table
| Char-Griller E1224 Smoking grill | Char-Griller E06614 AKORN |
| Heavyweight | Lightweight |
| Hard to assemble | Easy to assemble |
| Easy to clean up | Hard to clean |
| Large cooking area | Lesser cooking space |
| High priced | Low priced |
7. Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill, Black
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill, Black, is my favorite smoker taking fishing and grilling. It has a lot of uses and is the best cheap charcoal grill that I recommend. Find out what I have discussed about quality and ability in this article.
Specifications
| Overall Dimensions | 21” W x 14.5” H x 12.2” D |
| Material | porcelain-coated steel |
| Color | black |
| Cooking Grate Material | plated steel |
| Total Cooking Space | 160 square inches |
| Charcoal Grate Material | heavy gauge steel |
| Weight | 15lbs |
| Fuel Type | charcoal |
| Handles | glass-reinforced nylon |
| Dampers | rust-resistant aluminum |
| Legs | plated steel + Tuck n Carry lid lock |
| Lid Hooks Inside Lid | yes |
| Hinged Opening | no |
| Warranty | 10 Year |
Key Features
Material: Similar to other Weber charcoal grills, the Go Anywhere features the same porcelain-coated steel for the lid and body. This material is durable and won’t peel or rust if properly cared for. Better yet, it also retains heat well, allowing you to control the temperature of the grill better.
Construction: food grate is made of lightweight plated steel. It doesn’t cook food as well as a cast iron grate, but it still gets the job done. The charcoal or fire grate is a little heavier than the cooking grate. That’s due to its denser steel.
Design: They have two positions. When you rotate them down, they do what they’re supposed to do, providing a stable foundation for the grill. The second position is when you rotate the legs up. They then lock the lid in place, turning the grill into a small toolbox.
Assembly: The GA requires some minor assembly before you can use it. There is no giant bag of nuts and bolts to lose—only a minimal amount of hardware.
Temperature control: The top vents are similar to other Weber charcoal grills. They’re the round daisy wheels with holes. If you’re a fan of Weber, you already know how they work. They’re two long tabs that run along the long sides of the GA. When you slide them up or down, they expose or cover the vent holes on the grill body.
Cooking area: At 160 square inches of grilling area, you can fit four medium-sized steaks plus some small veggies. In terms of burger patties, you can cook six of them all together on a Go Anywhere. It might be hard to fit a whole chicken or a small pork butt.
Portable: Weighing around 15lbs, the GA is lightweight to travel with. Due to its lid lock system and the rectangular shape, the grill becomes a compact package that you can fit in any car trunk or even rear footwell. The small profile also makes it easy to store.
Clean and maintenance: You can clean the exterior of the Go Anywhere with a damp cloth. That should keep the glossy finish looking good for many years to come. One tip to keep the grill clean and protected from ash and grease is to line the bottom with aluminum foil.
What I Like
- Quick and simple assembly
- Durable porcelain-coated steel retains heat well
- Affordable
- Legs design serves two purposes: lid lock and stable base
- Lid hooks to hang it or create a windshield
- Lightweight and compact for maximum portability and storage
- Rectangular shape offers more usable cooking space
- Versatile for different cooking setups
- The ability to control the temperature with more accuracy via the vents system
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Ability to do different mods
- Great warranty and support from Weber
What I Don’t Like
- Handles get hot during cooking
- Bottom dampers can get stuck due to the tension from the spring-loaded legs.
- Limited headroom
- Tend to cook hot due to the small gap between the food and the charcoal grate
- Lack of built-in thermometer
8. Weber Performer Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black
I want to give you my personal review of Weber Performer Charcoal Grill. I have never used it and thought to give it a try. It is the best budget charcoal grill if you are new to grilling. The following are the things that I have noticed so far.
Design: The first thing I noticed was its design. The lightweight yet sturdy steel tube frame is easy to handle and holds the tuck-away lid holder and instrument hooks. The finish is perfect and durable, and the lid thermometer has a nice touch.
Touch-n-go ignition System: The Touch N Go gas ignition system is electronic and makes starting this charcoal grill quick and swift with a click of a button, very similar to a gas grill. You start by heating the coals for 5 minutes with the propane flame before turning it off and then letting the coals build up their own heat.
Gourmet BBQ System: The steel-plated hinged cooking grate in the Weber Performer Deluxe helps make this grill uber convenient. Both sides of the grate can flip up, enabling you to reach the twin charcoal baskets below while your food still grills.
One-Touch Cleaning System: This stainless-steel one-touch system makes cleaning Weber performer grills so much easier, so you never have to dread the cleaning again.
Prep Area: To the right of the Weber performer grill is a metal-painted and heat-resistant work surface area. This is great for food prepping, a place to stand rubs and sauces or to place your beverage while flipping your burgers.
Specifications
Dimensions (with lid closed): 43 ½” (H) x 48” (W) x 30” (D)
Diameter: 22”
Fuel Type: Charcoal
Built-in lid thermometer
Worktable
Removable LCD cook timer
FAQs: Best Charcoal Grill Under 500
What is the Best Charcoal Grill Under $1000?
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black, is the best charcoal grill under $1000. It is quite popular among people because of its durability, and it is also very easy to clean.
Conclusion
There you have it, the best charcoal grill under 500. By combining their takes with our expertise, we weighed these grills and others against several criteria, including the factors listed above.
There is a reason why there are several Weber grills on this list. They make some of the most reliable and best grills under $500. All you have to consider is which one of the top 5 charcoal grills works best for you. Thank you!