Best Charcoal Grills of 2023

These highly rated barrel- and kettle-style charcoal grills cook evenly and give you plenty of control

By Paul Hope

Updated January 1, 2023

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

Charcoal imparts a unique taste on food while also offering the utmost in control when you employ it in your charcoal grill.

With charcoal, the more you add, the hotter the fire. If you know what you’re doing, you can control the cooking surface to masterfully grill anything from a quickly seared steak to a slow-smoked pork shoulder. (If you’re really serious about grilling and smoking, you might consider trading up to a kamado-style grill, which combines charcoal with an airtight design to give you even more control.)

Today, charcoal grills are the second most popular type of grill (after gas grills), far outpacing the sales of pellet grills or kamado grills. Not sure where to start? Check our grill buying guide for a rundown of all your options.

Best Barrel-Style Charcoal Grills

Best Kettle-Style Charcoal Grills

Paul Hope

Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.