The 7 Best Kamado Grills for Every Type of Cook, According to Our Detailed Tests

Kamado grills, or kamado smokers—the names are interchangeable because they can do both—have been gaining popularity in the U.S. since Big Green Egg opened its first store in Atlanta in 1974. But the technology that makes kamados a smart choice for outdoor cooking goes back thousands of years. In fact, clay ovens were first used in China, about 3,000 years ago. Japanese cooks adapted that style of vessel in roughly 300 B.C., which was when it was given the name kamado or stove. 

The shape—an egg-like sphere—and the material make kamados superior for smoking. Traditionally, kamados are made from ceramic, holding heat with little to no temperature fluctuations. Today’s kamado smokers can be either ceramic or aluminum and sometimes swap the oval shape for a circle. (There’s no advantage to this circular shape, despite claims that food cooks more evenly on it.) After testing 14 kamados across various prices, we found seven top picks. Which one should you get? Well, it depends on what you want to cook…and how much you’re willing to spend.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Ceramic Kamado Grill

Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill

$1,299 at Amazon $1,700 at Walmart $1,299 at Home Depot

We didn’t have to babysit this high-quality, well-constructed ceramic grill, because it was excellent at maintaining our target temperatures. Cleaning the Classic Joe II was almost enjoyable. The wheeled stand and shelves were sturdy and could easily hold trays of prepped and cooked food. We also loved the plentiful hanging hooks for tools.

Another Great Kamado Grill

Weber 18201001 Summit Kamado E6 Charcoal Grill, Black

$1,379 $1,249 at Amazon $1,249 at Walmart $1,249 at Home Depot

The aluminum Summit resembles a traditional charcoal kettle grill and requires a similar amount of attention to regulate temperatures. If you enjoy a hands-on cooking experience, this is the kamado grill for you. The 450 square inches of cooking space (more than enough for 20 chicken wings) and 10-year warranty only add to the appeal.

The Best Kamado Grill From a Reliable Brand

Big Green Egg Grill

$1,100 at Ace Hardware

The Green Egg was the first kamado smoker to be marketed in the United States, and it’s only gotten more popular with time—it undoubtedly has the biggest share of name recognition on the market. The Egg’s hefty ceramic exterior is incredible at maintaining a target temperature.

The Best App-Enabled Kamado Grill

Char-Griller Akorn Auto-Kamado Kamado Grill E6480

$416 at Home Depot $399 at Lowe's $429 at Wayfair

The Akorn Auto-Kamado does just about everything for you except light the coals. Download the app, set your target temperature, and an internal fan will kick on and off to maintain ideal cooking conditions. At under $400, it’s priced well, too. 

The Best Budget Kamado Grill

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill

$395 at Amazon $375 at Walmart $353 $329 at Home Depot

The app-free version of the Auto-Kamado, this aluminum smoker impressed us. The Akorn's grate setup—12 inches between fuel and cooking grates—was ideal for low and slow cooking sessions, making it a good buy for cooks who want to use it primarily for smoking (or who already own a traditional grill).

The Best Portable Kamado Grill

Kamado Joe KJ13RH 13.5 inch Joe Jr. Charcoal Grill

$499 $397 at Amazon View on Walmart $450 at Home Depot

This fun-sized, compact smoker has 150 square inches of cooking space. One could argue that the heavy, heat-retaining ceramic construction diminishes the Joe Jr’s portability, but we think the superior wings and steak make the extra weight worth it.

The Best Kamado Grill for Tailgating

Broil King Keg Kamado Charcoal Grill

$877 at Amazon $877 at Home Depot $887 at Lowe's

This kamado is designed to look like a keg, but it’s not just aesthetics that make it party-ready. It has 480 square inches of cooking space, an adeptness at high-heat grilling, and a nifty hitch adapter that allows you to pop the Broil King onto a tailgate for transport.

The Tests

• Assembly Test: After reading the instruction manual, we started a timer and set up the kamado, using only the tools mentioned by the manufacturer. We rated each kamado according to ease of assembly and how long it took.
• Smoked Chicken Wing Test: The purpose of this test was to assess the kamado’s ability to handle a longer smoking session. We started the grills with a firestarter and chimney filled with lump charcoal, setting them up with a heat deflector if included. We attached a wireless grill thermometer to the inside of the grill, so we could monitor the temperature and compare it with the grill’s built-in thermometer. Once the girl was stabilized at 225˚F (we adjusted the vents as necessary to get there), we arranged seasoned chicken wings on one side of the grates. When a heat deflector was included, we positioned the wings directly over that. We noted how many could fit without touching. Throughout cooking, we clocked the grill’s internal temperature as well as its exterior (we used an infrared thermometer for that). After 45 minutes, we checked the wings for doneness. If they were not yet ready, we continued to cook them, checking in five-minute intervals. Finally, after letting the wings cool slightly, we tasted them, evaluating their flavor, texture, and appearance.
• Reverse Seared Ribeye Test: To test how well the kamados could sear and handle the transition from smoking to high-heat grilling, we adjusted the temperature to 250-275˚F, adding coals if necessary. We added a ribeye steak, sticking it with a probe thermometer, and cooked it until it reached 100˚F. We removed the steak, opened the dampers, and timed how long it took the grill to come to 600˚F. We seared the steak for three minutes total (two on one side, and one on the other), then took the internal temperature. We let it rest for five minutes, took a final temperature reading, and tasted it. Throughout both the chicken and steak tests, we used any proprietary apps to make adjustments in temperature and tracking, if they were included with the kamado grill.
• Cleaning Test: After closing the dampers to kill the fire, we let the grills sit overnight to completely cool. We dumped the ash and cleaned the grills according to each manufacturer’s instructions. As we did, we noted which grills were the simplest to clean.

Anatomy of a Kamado Grill

• Body: The spherical body of a kamado grill holds everything you need to cook. Unlike an offset smoker, the fuel sits underneath the food. The body can be made from ceramic or aluminum.
• Fuel grate: The fuel grate is toward the bottom of the kamado and holds lump charcoal (briquettes produce too much ash). Adding fuel mid-smoking or grilling session can be tricky because, in most cases, the cooking grate and heat deflector first have to be removed. Luckily, kamado grills have great heat retention and don’t require fuel refreshes often. 
• Cooking grate: Situated about 10 to 12 inches above the fuel grate (or less, in the case of portable/mini kamados), this is where food is cooked. It sits level with the bottom of the lid—sometimes an inch or two below it.
• Heat deflector: An aluminum heat deflector can be used for low, slow smoking sessions when the coals are too hot. This simple metal sheet absorbs heat, lowering the temperature of where the cooking grates are located.
• Lid/lid vent: All kamado grills have hinged lids. Many open up to 90 degrees, although a few we tested could only open to 60 or 70 degrees. Most have vents that can be twisted or slid open to regulate airflow and heat.
• Temperature gauge: A temperature gauge on the lid or prep shelf reads the ambient temperature of the grill. While accurate-ish, we found that they varied around 5 to 20 degrees from our probe thermometer readings. On app-enabled kamados, the temperature was a digital readout on the display.
• Dampers: Dampers are situated at the bottom of the kamado grill (or sometimes, one on top and one on the bottom). Sliding them open increases or decreases airflow, boosting or lowering the temperature.

What We Learned

Ceramic Was Tops for Heat Retention

For a kamado grill with excellent heat retention, you can’t beat ceramic. This is ideal whether you’re smoking steady and low or searing at high temps. Use the dampers (or app, if included) to adjust the heat. It may take a bit of fiddling—be mindful that ceramic kamados won’t register temperature changes immediately—but once you’re at your target, you can kick back and relax. Their superior heat retention means you won’t have to make constant adjustments to the intake and exhaust dampers, or the lid vent. You'll want to factor in cool-down time with these grills. Ceramic kamados stay hot for hours after a smoking session. Derick Wade, the executive chef at The Darling Oyster Bar and a kamado expert, says when he cranks the heat to 900˚F, his ceramic grill will stay hot for about 24 hours.

…But Aluminum Ruled for Affordability and Nimbleness

Don’t let our admiration for ceramic kamados discourage you from checking out cheaper aluminum models. At the time of writing, our favorite aluminum kamado, the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado, costs about $360—almost $1,000 less than our top-performing ceramic kamado, the Kamado Joe Classic Joe. Aluminum kamados do require more fiddling to maintain a set temperature, but that’s certainly not a bad thing, We think they’re a great option for cooks who like charcoal grilling, or anyone who wants a more hands-on experience. Aluminum kamado smokers are also quicker to get screaming hot and cool down faster when you’re done cooking. Although they may not last as long as ceramic, they’re a fantastic starter option.

App-Controlled Kamado Smokers Were Ideal for Beginners and Aluminum Builds

Using a techy app to control the temperature of a millenniums-old cooking technology may seem silly, but we liked apps that handled the details. Choose a temperature, and the kamado grill will start a fan to self-regulate. (The technology is similar to that of a pellet grill.) These were especially helpful with aluminum kamado grills which were more prone to temperature swings. They’re also a handy “security blanket” for cooks new to this style of grilling. 

Heat Deflectors Were (Usually!) Appreciated

Most kamado grills we tested came with heat deflectors, which could be positioned under the cooking grate. This helped maintain low temperatures integral to slow smoking. A heat deflector is, at best, another handy tool for controlling the target temperature. At worst, in our testing, they were fiddly and cumbersome. The majority of kamados required the heat deflector to be removed before adding fuel mid-smoke, which was annoying enough to stop us from doing it in at least one instance. It’s a tradeoff!

What Can and Can’t You Cook on a Kamado? 

You can cook just about anything on a kamado. “For an avid outdoor cook who wants to cook it all outside, a charcoal kamado grill is excellent,” says Leah Colins, Serious Eats’ senior culinary editor. The excellent heat retention makes them particularly handy for cooks who live in cold climates. “The insulation extends the coals’ life quite a bit,” Leah—who lives in Massachusetts—explains. The heat retention is also what makes ceramic kamado grills ideal for outdoor baking. Using a baking plate is key to prevent overcooking, Leah says, adding that a two-zone fire is also necessary, so you don’t scorch the bottom of the baked good before the top is done.

What aren’t kamados great for? If you’re looking for an extra-large grilling area, this isn’t the best tool for you: “It's roughly the same cooking surface area as a standard charcoal grill, for a much higher price point,” Leah says. If you’re not planning on taking advantage of the superior heat retention—say, you just want to grill burgers and dogs—you’re better off with a charcoal grill. (In that case, we recommend Weber’s Original Kettle Grill.)

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Kamado Grill 

Kamado grills are grouped into two categories: ceramic and aluminum builds. The best ceramic kamados are heavy, with thick walls that hold onto heat and aren’t disturbed by minor temperature swings. Aluminum kamados should be affordable, light enough to maneuver with ease, and have excellent, responsive dampers (and/or an intuitive app) that put you in control of the heat. Ideally, you’ll want about 10-plus inches of distance between the fuel and cooking grates: This is the sweet spot for both smoking and high-heat grilling. A heat deflector is imperative for keeping things slow and steady when the grates are too close.

Our Favorite Kamado Grills

The Best Ceramic Kamado Grill

Kamado Joe Classic II Charcoal Grill

$1,299 at Amazon $1,700 at Walmart $1,299 at Home Depot

What we liked: The Classic Joe is a well-constructed grill made to last for decades. The ceramic exterior is ideal for longevity and superior heat retention. With four wheels (including two that lock) this smoker was easy to roll around, despite its heft. The springy "Air Lift" hinge on the lid is designed to reduce the weight, making it significantly open to a full 90-degree angle. We thought it was smart that the internal cooking mechanisms—cooking grate and heat deflector—were designed to be removed in one piece while the smoker is in use. It was much simpler to add fuel that way. Like most ceramic kamado grills, this one was excellent in the art of heat retention; we didn’t have to adjust the dampers once after finding our target temperature.

What we didn’t like: Heat adjustments took about 10 to 15 minutes to register, but that’s typical for ceramic kamados, which hold onto heat for longer than aluminum models. The classic Joe is expensive, although you can knock a few hundred dollars off the price if you opt for a version without the stand.

Key Specs

• Materials: Ceramic
• Dimensions: 46.5 x 46.5 x 48.5 inches
• Cooking area: 250 square inches
• Weight: 231.5 pounds
• Warranty: Lifetime on all ceramic parts, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on electric parts, and 2 years on other/miscellaneous parts

Another Great Kamado Grill

Weber 18201001 Summit Kamado E6 Charcoal Grill, Black

$1,379 $1,249 at Amazon $1,249 at Walmart $1,249 at Home Depot

What we liked: The Summit comes from Weber, a brand best known for their reliable charcoal and gas grills. We’re confident that this kettle-kamado mashup will last for years, and the warranty is certainly generous. With over 450 square inches of cooking space, it’s plenty big. The heat deflector is ideally sized and well-placed for indirect cooking. The built-in cleaning system is delightfully innovative—three blades sweep ash into a catch below. The Summit, more than any other smoker we tested, required regular adjustments for temperature regulation, and we think that’s a mark in the plus column for cooks who like to grill or enjoy tinkering.

What we didn’t like: We spent a full 30 minutes attempting to line the legs up with the base. The internal components had to be removed to add fuel when the deflector was in place. The intake damper got clogged with ash, making temperature adjustments tricky. It’s quite pricey for an aluminum grill.

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminum with stainless steel parts
• Dimensions: 35.8 x 34.8 x 44.9 inches
• Cooking area: 452 square inches
• Weight: 117 pounds
• Warranty: 10 years for bowl and lid, 5 years for cleaning system, 5 years for plastic components, 2 years for all remaining parts

The Best Kamado Grill From a Reliable Brand

Big Green Egg Grill

$1,100 at Ace Hardware

What we liked: The Green Egg doesn’t just have good name recognition—it was the first brand of kamado to be marketed in the U.S. It’s an eye-catching smoker; incredibly well-made and sturdy. We found the dampers responsive, particularly the intake damper, which is fitted with a mesh grate for greater control of airflow. It maintains a target temperature beautifully thanks to the ceramic construction, and the on-lid thermometer matched our external probe the whole way through. Both the chicken and ribs were tender, with a great amount of smoked flavor.

What we didn’t like: With three separate manuals and tedious steps, assembling this kamado was a journey. It took under an hour (56 minutes, to be exact), but we had to unscrew already-attached bolts to put it together and acquire a necessary wrench that was not included in the kit. Adding fuel mid-smoke was challenging with the heat deflector in place. We had to remove all of the internal parts of the grill to clean it; a task that was easier with the Kamado Joe.

Key Specs

• Material: Ceramic exterior
• Dimensions: 27 x 22 x 31 inches
• Cooking area: 262 square inches
• Weight: 162 pounds
• Warranty: Lifetime limited on all ceramic parts, 5 years on metal parts, 1 year on wood parts, 1 year on temperature gauge and gaskets 

The Best App-Enabled Kamado Grill

Char-Griller Akorn Auto-Kamado Kamado Grill E6480

$416 at Home Depot $399 at Lowe's $429 at Wayfair

What we liked: This smoker is controlled via an app; we admired more than once during testing that the only thing the Char-Griller Auto-Kamado doesn’t do for you is light the coals. It had warming and cooking grates, and setting them up was simple. Adding fuel could be done without removing the grates if the heat deflector was not in use. The app was easy to master: An internal fan would kick on if a new target temperature was set. 

What we didn’t like: Putting together this smoker was one of the lengthiest processes of all we tested—an hour and 24 minutes. We wondered if the plastic parts of the grill might degrade over time. There was a latch on the lid that made it tricky to open one-handed. Although we struggled to maintain a consistent temperature over time, we realized that was due to an improperly installed damper. The warranty covers just one year.

Key Specs

• Material: Aluminum
• Dimensions: 30.9 x 45 x 48.2 inches  
• Cooking area: 445 square inches (314 square inches of primary cooking space)
• Weight: 91 pounds
• Warranty: 1 year for both grill and grates

The Best Budget Kamado Grill

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill

$395 at Amazon $375 at Walmart $353 $329 at Home Depot

What we liked: It took us just a cool 33 minutes to set up this kamado, which is the app-free version of the Auto-Kamado. It’s lightweight and maneuvering it around a yard was no problem. There’s a grate removal tool, which came in handy for pulling them out mid-smoke. Once we reached our target temperatures, minimal adjustments were necessary (although the dampers were a cinch to master and we would have felt confident using them). The chicken wings were out of this world with glossy tan skin and enviable smoke flavor. 

What we didn’t like: Some parts, like the clip that attached the lid to the base, felt cheaply made. The cooking grate sits about a foot away from the charcoal grate, which wasn’t ideal for high-heat cooking—but did create excellent conditions for smoking. It didn’t come with a heat deflector.

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminum
• Dimensions: 31 x 46 x 48 inches
• Cooking area: 314 square inches
• Weight: 97 pounds
• Warranty: 5 years for grill, 1 year for parts and accessories
  

The Best Portable Kamado Grill

Kamado Joe KJ13RH 13.5 inch Joe Jr. Charcoal Grill

$499 $397 at Amazon View on Walmart $450 at Home Depot

What we liked: We assembled this smoker in five minutes and seven seconds, so you tell us if it earned its “portability” superlative. The lid hinges open smoothly to a full 90 degrees and has a cushioned lining between its bottom and the smoker base. We liked that there were two dampers, and appreciated that the top was more useful for tiny changes as we cruised to our target temperature. Once we got there, the heat retention was excellent, as was heat distribution. The steak was great; the wings were decent (we admit they’d have been better if we removed the heat deflector and grate midway through smoking to add more fuel, but the idea of disassembling the entire internal structure gave us pause). 

What we didn’t like: We couldn’t fit all 20 chicken wings on the cooking grate, but hey: At 150 square inches, we thought 16 wings were pretty good. We would have had to remove the heat deflector to add fuel during a smoke, which stopped us from doing so. It’s portable in that it’s small, but it’s certainly not lightweight.

Key Specs

• Materials: Ceramic
• Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 27 inches
• Cooking area: 150 square inches
• Weight: 77 pounds
• Warranty: Lifetime on all ceramic parts, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on electric parts, and 2 years on other/miscellaneous parts

The Best Kamado Grill for Tailgating

Broil King Keg Kamado Charcoal Grill

$877 at Amazon $877 at Home Depot $887 at Lowe's

What we liked: This kamado grill has 480 square inches of cooking space. Need we say more? This is the kamado for large-format smoking and cooking for a crowd. (There are 280 square inches of primary cooking space—still the biggest we tested!) We were surprised by how easy such a large vessel was to assemble; we did it in under 15 minutes. The main cooking grate is made from heavy cast iron—great for searing, although less ideal when removing to add more fuel midway through a session. The Broil King excelled at high-heat cooking—the steak was perfectly smoky and had nice caramelization. Its efficiency at standard grilling combined with its generous size, lightweight, and fun aesthetic makes this the perfect kamado to bring to a tailgate or backyard barbecue. Pick up the reasonably-priced hitch adaptor, and you can transport it on the back of a truck.

What we didn’t like: Moving the Keg could have been easier: We wished it was fitted with caster wheels. The lid doesn’t open to a full 90 degrees. There was a stressful amount of temperature fluctuation, even when the dampers were adjusted. But with persistent monitoring, we were able to cook a nearly perfect steak with nice caramelization, and wings kissed with just the right amount of smoke.

Key Specs

• Materials: Steel
• Dimensions: 27.5 x 41 x 47 inches
• Cooking area: 480 square inches
• Weight: 126 pounds
• Warranty: 10 years for body, 2 years for all remaining parts

The Competition

• Slow ‘N Sear Deluxe Kamado Grill, Gen 2: We liked plenty about this kamado, including the numbered dampers and stabilizing rear cradle bucket. But there’s no ash catch and it’s eye-poppingly pricey.
• Kamado Joe Konnected Joe™ Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, 18-Inch (KJ15041123): This kamado grill did well in initial tests, and the app was easy to use. Unfortunately, long-term testing has shown the Konnected Joe tends to break and get glitchy after about six months.
• Primo Ceramic Grills Round Charcoal, 18.5-Inch (All-In-One/Kamado Round): We were unimpressed with the lid which didn't latch and was off-centered due to a manufacturing issue. These problems allowed a lot of smoke to escape and caused temperature stability issues.
• Pit Boss K22 Ceramic Charcoal Grill (71220): This was a fine kamado, although it didn’t wow us when compared with our winners. We were disappointed in the chicken wings’ inconsistent flavor, caused by only one wood chunk burning during the smoke session. However, its big size may appeal to people who want to do primarily large-format smoking.  
• Grilla Grills Kong Ceramic Kamado Grill, 24-Inch: The Kong’s lid was distressing because it only opened to a 70-degree angle and constantly felt in danger of slamming shut. Both the chicken and steak were average, with faint smoke flavor and little-to-no snap or char. 
• Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Kamado Grill, 14-Inch (E86714): This R2-D2 doppelganger sure is cute, but we had many quibbles with it. The steel exterior is likely to rust (an issue not covered by the warranty). We weren’t able to stabilize the temperature at our desired 225˚F for smoking, and it’s not great for high-heat grilling.
• Big Green Egg MiniMax Ceramic Grill, 13-Inch: For a petite kamado, the MiniMax is annoyingly immobile. It’s heavy and does not have wheels. The lid only opened 60 degrees and did not latch securely. When in operation, the coals were very close to the cooking grate, but the included heat deflector did help ameliorate the issue.

FAQs

Is a kamado a smoker or a grill?

Kamados can be used for smoking and grilling. Baking, too! Ceramic models are fantastic at temperature retention, which is ideal for smoking at a low, set temp. But pile on the fuel, open the dampers, and they’ll get screaming hot—perfect for searing. 

Are ceramic kamado smokers worth it?

We think so. They’re more expensive than steel kamados by hundreds, but they’re built to last for decades (indeed, generations), and you simply cannot beat their heat retention. 

Are kamado smokers good for beginners?

Typically, yes. Owing again to that reliable heat retention, a well-made kamado will release you from the need to fiddle with intake and exhaust dampers constantly. If the finer points of fire starting and maintenance feel beyond your skill level, choose a smart kamado. Set and change your target temps in the app, and the smoker will take care of the rest for you. But if you don't plan on doing a lot of smoking, you're better off with a charcoal grill.

What type of fuel do kamado grills use? 

Kamados are fueled by lump charcoal. You can also add wood—some brands, like Kamado Joe, sell proprietary wood chunks, but those are meant as a flavor enhancer—not the primary fuel source. Avoid briquettes, which produce a lot of ash and ultimately restrict airflow.

Why We’re the Experts

• For this article, we reviewed 14 kamado smokers, putting them through a series of rigorous, controlled tests, including ease of use and heat retention.
• Rochelle Bilow is a commerce editor at Serious Eats. She’s written about food for 15 years years and has been reviewing cooking gear for the past three.
• Previously, she was a freelancer for the site. She’s written numerous reviews about charcoal grills and grilling equipment.