# Best Kamado BBQ 2026: 10 Ranked Source: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq Published: 2026-10-11 | Updated: 2026-10-16 | Prices checked on Amazon UK on 2026-10-10 ## Quick answer The best kamado BBQ for most buyers is the Char-Griller AKORN Jr at £169.99: 1,000 cm² of grid, which is £17.00 per 100 cm², 16.2 kg to carry, and a 4.6 average from 5,093 owners. If you want ceramic rather than insulated steel, the Kamado Joe Joe Jr gives 958 cm² for £339.99. The £1,316.34 Kamado Joe Classic II carries 1,031 cm² of grid, which is £127.68 per 100 cm², while the £169.99 Char-Griller AKORN Jr carries 1,000 cm², or £17.00 per 100 cm². That is £1,146.35 more money for 31 cm² more cooking area, and the same inversion repeats further down the range, where the £399 Kamado Bono Minimo lands at £31.75 per 100 cm² and the £764.15 Kamado Joe Classic I at £47.38. Grid area, not diameter, is what to shop by. The best kamado BBQ here for a long guest list is a 21-inch egg with 2,262 cm² for £849, while the 23-inch Grande gives 1,860 cm² for £949, so the bigger badge carries 402 cm² less food. A 15-inch model at 1,257 cm² already covers five people, and it costs £450 less than the 21-inch. Weight then decides where the grill lives. Steel compacts start at 16.2 kg and can be lifted into a car, while the ceramic 18-inch and larger models run from 46.6 kg to 130 kg and stay on the patio once built. A 2,262 cm² egg is no use in a household that never gets more than four people round the table. ## The ranking ### 1. Char-Griller AKORN Jr - Price: £169.99 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 5,093 ratings | ranked10 score: 9.3/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/char-griller-akorn-jr - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0779XZXHR?tag=ranked10-21 The best value kamado here: 1,000 cm² of grid for £169.99, with 5,093 owners rating it 4.6. The AKORN Jr is the best kamado BBQ value on this page: 1,000 cm² of grid for £169.99, which is 31 cm² less than the £1,316.34 Classic II. That works out at £17.00 per 100 cm², and 5,093 owners rate it 4.6. The grid, 155 sq in, takes roughly eight burgers or two racks of ribs at once, and the triple-walled insulated body holds anywhere from 200°F to 700°F, so a slow smoke and a hot sear use the same basket of lumpwood. It weighs 16.2 kg with side handles, which means one person can move it to the car. Steel and a powder coat cool faster than ceramic when the lid comes up, and 1,000 cm² will not feed a party of twelve. For that, the 21-inch Kamado Bono gives 2,262 cm², which is 1,262 cm² more grid, for £849, or £679.01 more. Pros: £169.99 for 1,000 cm² works out at £17.00 per 100 cm², the cheapest grid here.; 16.2 kg, less than half the 34.3 kg Joe Jr, so one person can carry it.; 5,093 owners rate it 4.6, the biggest review base on this page.; Holds 200°F to 700°F, enough for a long smoke and a fast sear on one load. Cons: Triple-walled steel sheds heat faster than ceramic once the lid is open, so a long cook needs a full basket.; 1,000 cm² suits a small group, not the twelve people a 2,262 cm² grid handles.; No side shelves, so you need a table next to it for trays and sauces. ### 2. Kamado Joe Joe Jr - Price: £339.99 | Amazon rating: 4.8 from 764 ratings | ranked10 score: 9.0/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-joe-joe-jr - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IJ74RBO?tag=ranked10-21 Right for one or two cooks who want real ceramic: 958 cm², 34.3 kg and a 4.8 average from 764 owners. The Joe Jr suits a household of two that wants real ceramic rather than an insulated steel shell. It is a 13.5-inch egg with a 958 cm² grid, a cast-iron stand and a 4.8 average from 764 owners, the best rating of any kamado here with more than 100 reviews. Two figures define it. The grid is 958 cm², 42 cm² less than the £169.99 AKORN Jr, and the cooking range runs from 110°C to 400°C, so the same shell handles a six-hour smoke and a two-minute sear. The 304 stainless grate and the ceramic heat deflector come in the box, and the cast-iron air vent gives fine control at the top. You pay £339.99 for 958 cm², which is £170 more than a steel grill with 42 cm² more grid, and the ceramic body weighs 34.3 kg. If the same brand appeals with more cooking area, the Classic I gives 1,613 cm² for £764.15, or £424.16 more. Pros: Ceramic shell with a cast-iron stand, and the heat deflector and 304 stainless grate come in the box.; Runs from 110°C to 400°C on one load, so smoking and searing share the same fire.; 4.8 from 764 owners, the strongest average here above 100 reviews.; £339.99, which is £424.16 below the 1,613 cm² Classic I. Cons: 958 cm² is 42 cm² less grid than the £169.99 AKORN Jr, for £170 more.; 34.3 kg on a cast-iron stand with no wheels, so it is a two-hand lift.; One rack and one cooking level, so no two-zone cooks. ### 3. Kamado Joe Classic I - Price: £764.15 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 333 ratings | ranked10 score: 8.8/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-joe-classic-i - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IIUO06Y?tag=ranked10-21 The family 18-inch kamado: 1,613 cm² of cooking area for £764.15, with the Divide & Conquer rack, ash drawer and heat deflectors. The Classic I is the 18-inch ceramic kamado for four to six people, with 1,613 cm² of cooking area, two racks and a slide-out ash drawer for £764.15. It also beats its own dearer sibling, because the £1,316.34 Classic II carries 1,031 cm², which is 582 cm² less grid. Divide the price by the grid and the Classic I comes out at £47.38 per 100 cm², against £127.68 for the Classic II. The Divide & Conquer system splits the grate into half-moon sections on two levels, so you can sear over the coals on one side and finish slower on the other. The heat deflectors, grill gripper and ash tool are in the box, and 16,000 BTU of heating power is the highest figure here. The 18-inch dome limits a full packer brisket, and at 85.3 kg the grill stays where it lands, so pick the spot before assembly. The 4.4 average from 333 owners also sits behind the Joe Jr's 4.8 from 764, though the grid is 655 cm² larger. Pros: 1,613 cm² of grid, which is 582 cm² more than the £1,316.34 Classic II and £552.19 cheaper.; £47.38 per 100 cm² against the Classic II's £127.68.; Two racks with the Divide & Conquer system, so two cooking zones run at once.; Ash drawer, heat deflectors, grill gripper and ash tool all come with it, plus 16,000 BTU of power. Cons: 85.3 kg, so it needs two people and a decided spot before it is built.; The 18-inch dome is tight for a full packer brisket.; 4.4 from 333 owners, behind the Joe Jr's 4.8. ### 4. Kamado Joe Classic II - Price: £1,316.34 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 924 ratings | ranked10 score: 8.6/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-joe-classic-ii - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01INNA89S?tag=ranked10-21 For buyers who want the finished Kamado Joe package, ash drawer and all, and will pay £1,316.34 for 1,031 cm². The Classic II is for the buyer who wants the complete Kamado Joe package: cast-iron cart, locking wheels, patented ash drawer and heat deflectors, at £1,316.34. Its grid measures 1,031 cm², which is £127.68 per 100 cm², the steepest rate on this page. The two-tier Divide & Conquer system and the Control Tower top vent hold a steady airflow through a long cook, and the slide-out ash drawer means you empty the ash without lifting the inner parts out of the dome. It weighs 105 kg, and 924 owners rate it 4.6. The gap to its own siblings is the story. The Classic I gives 1,613 cm², which is 582 cm² more grid, for £552.19 less, and the £169.99 AKORN Jr lands 31 cm² short of this grid for £1,146.35 less. Buy this one for the cart, the vent and the finish rather than the area. Pros: 924 owners rate it 4.6, the second largest review base here.; 105 kg ceramic body holds heat through a long smoke.; Two-tier Divide & Conquer with the Control Tower vent for repeatable airflow.; Slide-out ash drawer, so cleaning does not mean stripping the dome. Cons: £127.68 per 100 cm², the dearest grid on this page.; 1,031 cm² is 582 cm² less than the £552.19 cheaper Classic I.; 105 kg makes it the second heaviest kamado here. ### 5. Kamado Bono 21 inch Green - Price: £849.00 | Amazon rating: 4.9 from 20 ratings | ranked10 score: 8.3/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-bono-21-inch-green - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B099X8FT1D?tag=ranked10-21 For large parties: 2,262 cm², the biggest grid here, with a lifetime ceramic warranty and a 4.9 average from 20 owners. The 21-inch Kamado Bono is the one for a long guest list: 2,262 cm² of grid, the largest here, and a lifetime warranty on the ceramics at £849. At £37.53 per 100 cm² it undercuts the £1,316.34 Classic II by more than £90 on the same measure, and it gives 402 cm² more grid than the 23-inch Grande, which costs £100 more. The dual-zone system and two racks let you run direct heat on one side and indirect on the other, and 4.9 from 20 owners is the highest average on this page. Three things work against it. It weighs 50 kg, only 20 buyers have rated it so far, and a 2,262 cm² grid wants a full basket of lumpwood every time it is lit. For a household of two, the 1,257 cm² Kamado Bono Minimo at £399 is £450 cheaper and plenty. Pros: 2,262 cm², which is 402 cm² more than the 23-inch Grande for £100 less.; £37.53 per 100 cm², well below the £127.68 of the Classic II.; Lifetime warranty on the ceramics, as on every Kamado Bono here.; Dual-zone cooking with two racks, and 4.9 from 20 owners. Cons: Only 20 buyers have rated it so far.; 50 kg, so it is a patio fixture rather than a grill you move.; A 2,262 cm² grid burns a full basket of lumpwood for even a small cook. ### 6. Kamado Bono 23 inch Grande - Price: £949.00 | Amazon rating: 4.5 from 89 ratings | ranked10 score: 8.1/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-bono-23-inch-grande - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0793S5XYS?tag=ranked10-21 Aimed at feeding 10 or more: a 23-inch dual-zone grill with 1,860 cm² and a brand that warranties the ceramics for life. The Grande is aimed at ten or more people at once: a 23-inch dual-zone egg with 1,860 cm² of grid, two side tables, and the ceramic chicken sitter, rain cover and ash remover in the box, at £949. Its rate is £51.02 per 100 cm², still well under the £127.68 the Classic II asks, and 89 owners rate it 4.5. The dual-zone layout lets you grill over the coals on one side and bake or smoke on the other, and the ceramics carry a lifetime warranty, the same cover given on the other two Kamado Bono models here. Two things work against it. It weighs 100 kg, so it is a permanent garden fixture, and the 21-inch Kamado Bono gives 402 cm² more grid for £100 less. Buy the Grande for the 23-inch footprint and the included cover and chicken sitter, not for the grid maths. Pros: 1,860 cm² of dual-zone cooking, enough for ten or more people.; £51.02 per 100 cm², well below the Classic II's rate.; Rain cover, ceramic chicken sitter, ash remover and two side tables come with it.; Lifetime warranty on the ceramics, and 89 owners rate it 4.5. Cons: 100 kg, so it does not move once built.; 1,860 cm² is 402 cm² less than the £100 cheaper 21-inch Kamado Bono.; Two side tables still leave you short of worktop for a party of ten. ### 7. Kamado Joe Classic Joe III - Price: £2,199.00 | Amazon rating: 4.5 from 249 ratings | ranked10 score: 8.0/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-joe-classic-joe-iii - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BX8189V?tag=ranked10-21 The top of the range: three cooking tiers and the SlōRoller smoke chamber at £2,199, for cooks who want the most flexible Kamado Joe. The Classic Joe III is the top of the range: three cooking tiers, the SlōRoller smoke chamber and an Air Lift hinge that takes the dome weight down to one finger, at £2,199. Here you pay for flexibility rather than area. Three tiers mean a long smoke can hold ribs on one level with a drip tray underneath, and the SlōRoller recirculates smoke inside the dome for a milder flavour. The cart runs on locking wheels and the side shelves fold, so a 130 kg grill can still be shifted around a patio. The 4.5 average comes from 249 owners. That 130 kg is the heaviest kamado here, and £2,199 is £882.66 more than the Classic II and £1,434.85 more than the £764.15 Classic I, which both cook on an 18-inch dome. If you grill twice a week and smoke twice a year, the Classic I covers the same footprint for a third of the money. Pros: Three cooking tiers against the single rack on the £764.15 Classic I.; SlōRoller smoke chamber for low and slow cooks.; Air Lift hinge lifts the dome with one finger.; Locking-wheel cart with folding side shelves, and 249 owners rate it 4.5. Cons: £2,199 is £882.66 more than the Classic II and £1,434.85 more than the Classic I.; 130 kg, the heaviest kamado here.; The extra tiers suit long cooks, so a quick two-person supper leaves most of the grid cold. ### 8. Kamado Joe Joe Jr Essentials Pack - Price: £549.00 | Amazon rating: 5.0 from 13 ratings | ranked10 score: 7.8/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-joe-joe-jr-essentials-pack - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GZR1T4NZ?tag=ranked10-21 For anyone who wants the Joe Jr with the cart, folding side shelves and cover in the box, at £549. The Joe Jr Essentials Pack suits the buyer who wants the 34 cm Joe Jr with the cart, folding side shelves and cover sorted in one order, at £549. The grid measures 0.1 m², which is 1,000 cm², so it matches the AKORN Jr's 1,000 cm² and slightly beats the £339.99 Joe Jr on its own. The hinged stainless grate lets you drop in more charcoal without lifting the whole cooking surface, and the cast-iron air vent gives the same fine control as the bigger Kamado Joe models. It weighs 46.6 kg with the cart, and 13 owners rate it 5.0. The price is the sticking point. You pay £209.01 more than the plain Joe Jr for the cart, shelves and cover, and 13 buyers have rated it so far, the smallest pool here. If no cart is needed, the £339.99 Joe Jr does the same job on a cast-iron stand. Pros: 1,000 cm² (0.1 m²) of grid, slightly more than the £339.99 Joe Jr.; Cart, folding side shelves, tool hooks, bottom storage shelf and a cover all come in the box.; Hinged stainless grate, so you top up charcoal without lifting the full grid.; 13 owners rate it 5.0, the top average on this page. Cons: £209.01 more than the Joe Jr grill on its own.; 46.6 kg once it is built, so it stays in one spot.; Only 13 buyers have rated it so far, the smallest pool here. ### 9. Kamado Bono Minimo 15 inch - Price: £399.00 | Amazon rating: 4.3 from 51 ratings | ranked10 score: 7.4/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/kamado-bono-minimo-15-inch - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XWL9KGF?tag=ranked10-21 The cheapest route into a 15-inch ceramic kamado at £399, with 1,257 cm² and a heat deflector and cover included. The Minimo is the entry point to ceramic cooking that still takes a proper grate: a 15-inch egg with 1,257 cm², a heat deflector, a cover and an ash remover in the box, for £399. At £31.75 per 100 cm² it is the cheapest ceramic kamado here, and it gives 299 cm² more grid than the £339.99 Joe Jr for £59.01 more. The 40 cm grate cooks for up to five people, the fibreglass gasket seals the lid against smoke loss, and the ceramics carry a lifetime warranty. Two limits matter. It weighs 46 kg, so it is not a grill to carry to a campsite, and 4.3 from 51 owners is the lowest average among the ceramics here. If portability comes first, the 21 kg Alivio at £69.99 saves £329.01 and fits in a car boot. Pros: £31.75 per 100 cm², the cheapest ceramic here.; 1,257 cm², which is 299 cm² more than the £339.99 Joe Jr for £59.01 more.; Heat deflector, cover, ash remover and a fibreglass gasket come in the box.; Lifetime warranty on the ceramics. Cons: 4.3 from 51 owners, the lowest average among the ceramics here.; 46 kg, so it is not a grill you take camping.; A 40 cm grate covers five people, not a party. ### 10. Alivio 13 inch Ceramic Kamado - Price: £69.99 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 38 ratings | ranked10 score: 6.9/10 - Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/garden/best-kamado-bbq/alivio-13-inch-ceramic-kamado - Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D54G4GHQ?tag=ranked10-21 A £69.99 starter kamado for a balcony or camping trip: 13-inch ceramic body, 21 kg and a 4.4 average from 38 owners. The Alivio is the cheapest way into a ceramic egg: £69.99 for a 13-inch kamado that weighs 21 kg, light enough for a balcony or a car boot. At 21 kg it is the lightest ceramic kamado here, 25 kg less than the 46 kg Kamado Bono Minimo, and the built-in thermometer plus the adjustable lid vent give the airflow control a kamado cook depends on. It has a 4.4 average from 38 owners. Buy it as a starter grill rather than a family cooker. A 13-inch body holds far less food than the 1,257 cm² Minimo, so it suits two people, the box holds the grill itself, which means a heat deflector for indirect cooking is a separate purchase, and the ceramics carry a 6-month warranty against the lifetime cover on every Kamado Bono here. Pros: £69.99, which is £329.01 less than the 15-inch Kamado Bono Minimo.; 21 kg, the lightest ceramic kamado here and 25 kg lighter than the Minimo.; Built-in thermometer and adjustable lid vent for heat control.; 4.4 from 38 owners. Cons: A 13-inch body cooks for two, far less than the 1,257 cm² Minimo.; The box holds the grill alone, so a heat deflector for indirect cooks is a separate buy.; The ceramics carry a 6-month warranty, against the lifetime cover on the Kamado Bono models. ## All 10 compared | # | Product | Cooking area | £ per 100 cm² | Grill size | Weight | Price | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Char-Griller AKORN Jr | 1,000 cm² | £17.00 | Junior | 16.2 kg | £169.99 | | 2 | Kamado Joe Joe Jr | 958 cm² | £35.49 | 13.5 in | 34.3 kg | £339.99 | | 3 | Kamado Joe Classic I | 1,613 cm² | £47.38 | 18 in | 85.3 kg | £764.15 | | 4 | Kamado Joe Classic II | 1,031 cm² | £127.68 | 18 in | 105 kg | £1,316.34 | | 5 | Kamado Bono 21 inch Green | 2,262 cm² | £37.53 | 21 in | 50 kg | £849.00 | | 6 | Kamado Bono 23 inch Grande | 1,860 cm² | £51.02 | 23 in | 100 kg | £949.00 | | 7 | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III | n/a | n/a | 18 in | 130 kg | £2,199.00 | | 8 | Kamado Joe Joe Jr Essentials Pack | 1,000 cm² | £54.90 | 34 cm | 46.6 kg | £549.00 | | 9 | Kamado Bono Minimo 15 inch | 1,257 cm² | £31.75 | 15 in | 46 kg | £399.00 | | 10 | Alivio 13 inch Ceramic Kamado | n/a | n/a | 13 in | 21 kg | £69.99 | ## Which kamado BBQ gives the most grid for the money? The best kamado BBQ for value is the Char-Griller AKORN Jr: £169.99 for 1,000 cm², which is £17.00 per 100 cm². The £1,316.34 Kamado Joe Classic II gives 1,031 cm², or £127.68 per 100 cm², so it asks over seven times more per square centimetre for 31 cm² more cooking area. Run that one sum before anything else. The maths works the same way up the range. The 15-inch Kamado Bono Minimo lands at £31.75 per 100 cm² and the 21-inch Kamado Bono at £37.53, both far below the £127.68 of the Classic II. A £950 kamado is not automatically twice the cooker of a £400 one; often it is the same grid with a heavier cart. ## What size kamado do I need? Size should follow the number of people you feed, not the diameter in the model name. A 13-inch egg such as the Alivio cooks for two, the 15-inch Kamado Bono Minimo gives 1,257 cm² for up to five people, the 18-inch Classic I gives 1,613 cm² for four to six, and a 21-inch grid at 2,262 cm² feeds a party of twelve. Grid area tells you more than diameter does. The 21-inch Kamado Bono measures 2,262 cm² while the 23-inch Grande measures 1,860 cm², so the smaller-sounding grill carries 402 cm² more food. Compare in cm², every time. ## Is a ceramic kamado worth it over a steel one? Yes if you smoke often, no if the grill has to move. Ceramic walls hold heat and moisture for hours on one load of lumpwood, while an insulated steel shell such as the AKORN Jr's triple-walled body weighs 16.2 kg against the 34.3 kg Joe Jr and comes up to heat faster. The warranty tells you what the makers expect from the material. Every Kamado Bono here carries a lifetime warranty on the ceramics, which is a statement about surviving heat cycles, and the Alivio covers its ceramics for 6 months. Ceramic costs more per square centimetre, and it is what most buyers end up wanting anyway. ## How do I control the temperature on a kamado? With the top and bottom vents, moved in small steps rather than big ones. A kamado holds heat because it holds air, so opening the bottom vent lets oxygen in and the fire climbs, and closing it starves the coals and the temperature drops. Most models here pair a cast-iron top vent with a bottom vent, and the Kamado Joe grills add the Control Tower and Kontrol Tower vents to hold a setting while the lid opens. Give every change ten minutes before judging it. A ceramic or steel body takes time to settle, and chasing the dial with repeated tweaks is the most common mistake. For a long cook, aim to reach the target on the way up rather than after an overshoot. ## Does a kamado use less charcoal than a kettle BBQ? Yes, usually a good deal less. The insulated shell means the fire needs less fuel to hold a temperature, and shutting both vents at the end of a cook puts the remaining lumpwood out instead of burning it away, so the leftovers go into the next session. Use lumpwood rather than briquettes. Lumpwood lights faster, burns hotter and leaves less ash, and a kamado's airflow is built around a clean, hot fire. Keep the ash drawer or base clear, because a blocked bottom vent is what turns a steady 110°C into a fire that will not go out. ## Can a kamado stay outside in the rain? Yes. Glazed ceramic and powder-coated steel both cope with British weather, and the bigger risk is the fittings rather than the shell, so hinges, vents and the cart last longer under a cover. The Kamado Bono Grande and the Joe Jr Essentials Pack both include one, and the rest are worth buying one for. Empty or seal the charcoal after a wet week. Damp lumpwood takes far longer to light and smokes badly for the first twenty minutes, and a grill left with a wet basket over winter can grow mould inside the dome. Leave the top vent slightly open under the cover so air can move. ## How much should I spend on a kamado? Under £100 buys a 13-inch starter egg such as the £69.99 Alivio, which suits a balcony and two people. Between £170 and £550 you get a compact cooker with a serious grid: the AKORN Jr at £169.99 gives 1,000 cm² and the £399 Kamado Bono Minimo gives 1,257 cm². From £760 to £950 the grills step up in size, with the 18-inch Classic I at 1,613 cm² and the 21-inch Kamado Bono at 2,262 cm². Above £1,300 you pay for build and features instead of area: the £1,316.34 Classic II carries 1,031 cm² and the £2,199 Classic Joe III adds three tiers and the SlōRoller chamber rather than more grid. ## Verdict The best kamado BBQ here on grid per pound is the Char-Griller AKORN Jr at £169.99: 1,000 cm² for £17.00 per 100 cm², 16.2 kg, and 5,093 owners rating it 4.6. It is not the one to buy if you want ceramic, because the triple-walled steel body loses heat faster than a clay shell once the lid comes up, and 1,000 cm² will not feed twelve people. For that buyer the second name is the Kamado Joe Classic I: 1,613 cm² of ceramic grid for £764.15, which is 613 cm² more cooking area than the AKORN Jr for £594.16 more. If the patio is small, the 46.6 kg Joe Jr Essentials Pack at £549 puts the same ceramic cook on a cart with a cover, and the £69.99 Alivio does it on a balcony. ## FAQ **What is the best kamado BBQ?** The Char-Griller AKORN Jr at £169.99 gives the most grid for the money: 1,000 cm², or £17.00 per 100 cm², against £127.68 per 100 cm² for a Kamado Joe Classic II. It weighs 16.2 kg, so one person can move it, and 5,093 owners rate it 4.6. Choose it if you want kamado cooking on a budget rather than ceramic. **How much does a kamado BBQ cost?** Prices run from around £70 for a 13-inch starter egg to over £2,000 for a large ceramic with three cooking tiers. Most buyers land between £170 and £550, where you get between 1,000 cm² and 1,260 cm² of grid. Ceramic costs more than insulated steel at the same size, and a bigger price does not always buy more cooking area. **What size kamado should I buy for four people?** An 18-inch kamado with roughly 1,600 cm² of grid covers four to six people comfortably. If you usually cook for two, a 15-inch model at about 1,250 cm² is lighter, cheaper and easier to keep hot. A 21-inch or 23-inch grill only earns its space when you regularly feed ten or more. **How long does a kamado take to heat up?** A kamado reaches searing heat in about 15 to 20 minutes and settles at 110°C for a slow cook in roughly half an hour. The ceramic or steel mass heats slowly, so bring it up in stages and give each vent change ten minutes to take effect. A larger grid takes longer to come up than a small one. **What charcoal should I use in a kamado?** Lumpwood, not briquettes. Lumpwood lights quickly, burns hot and leaves little ash, which keeps the bottom vent clear and the airflow steady. Load enough for the whole cook before lighting, because every lid lift costs heat, and shut both vents afterwards so the leftovers can be reused. **How heavy is a kamado grill?** Compact models run from 16.2 kg for the Char-Griller AKORN Jr up to 46.6 kg for a cart-mounted ceramic, and large ones reach 130 kg. That weight is why kamados usually stay in one spot on a patio. If the grill has to move twice a year, buy the lightest one you can live with. **Can I leave a kamado outside in the rain?** Yes, the shell copes with rain, but a cover is worth having for the hinges, vents and cart. Clear the ash before winter and never leave a wet basket of charcoal inside the dome for weeks. Leave a little airflow so the inside does not stay damp. **How do I clean a kamado?** Empty the ash every few cooks and leave the ceramic alone. A kamado does not need the firebox scrubbed, because a hot fire burns off grease on the grid and the inside of the dome blackens by design. Scrape the cooking grate, clear the bottom vent, and check the gasket seal once a year.