The best charcoal BBQs in Australia
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Charcoal BBQs sold in Australia from a $100 drum to a $599 insulated kamado, with the difference between grilling and cooking under a lid explained.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Fuel | Lid | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Char-Griller Akorn kamado kooker charcoal BBQ | Charcoal | — | $599 |
| Best budget | Jumbuck 45 cm charcoal drum BBQ and smoker | Charcoal | — | $109 |
| Best portable | Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal BBQ | Charcoal or briquettes | Yes, with vents | $149.95 |
| Best looking | Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Cube portable charcoal BBQ | Charcoal | — | $189 |
| Best for smoking | Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 37 cm | Charcoal | — | $599 |
| Cheapest | Wanderer Portable suitcase BBQ grill | Charcoal | — | $99.99 |
Charcoal is slower, messier and better tasting than gas, and the people who buy it know that. What matters is buying one with a lid and vents, because that is what turns a grill into something that can roast and smoke.
Grills versus cookers
An open grill, hibachi or suitcase BBQ cooks directly over coals and does nothing else. It is perfect for the beach, satay and steaks. A lidded kettle or drum adds temperature control and indirect cooking. A kamado adds insulation, so it holds a low temperature for hours on very little fuel and reaches pizza heat at the other end.
Steel versus ceramic
Ceramic kamados hold heat best but weigh over a hundred kilos with a cart and cost from $700. The Char-Griller Akorn uses triple-wall insulated steel to get most of the way there at half the weight and price. It is the sweet spot for someone who wants one charcoal cooker that does everything.
The picks
The Char-Griller Akorn Kooker is our overall charcoal pick because it grills, roasts and smokes, sits on a cart, and costs $599. The Jumbuck 45 cm drum is a lidded kettle for a hundred dollars and does far more than its price suggests. The Weber Go-Anywhere is the portable with a real lid. The Everdure Cube is the design object. The Weber Smokey Mountain is not a grill at all; it is the smoker to buy if brisket and ribs are the goal, and it has its own guide. The Wanderer suitcase is the cheap beach grill.
The picks in detail
Char-Griller Akorn kamado kooker charcoal BBQ
$599 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Insulated steel kamado on a cart: sears, roasts and smokes for $599.
- Body: Triple-wall insulated steel
- Cooking area: About 314 sq in main grate
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Cart: Yes
Pros
- Full-size kamado performance at less than half the price of ceramic
- Light enough to move on its cart
Cons
- Steel body can rust if left uncovered
- Less thermal mass than ceramic for long smokes
Jumbuck 45 cm charcoal drum BBQ and smoker
$109 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
A lidded 45 cm kettle-style drum for $109.
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Style: Kettle-style drum with lid
- Size: 45 cm
Pros
- Kettle cooking for about a hundred dollars
Cons
- Thinner and less airtight than a Weber kettle
Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal BBQ
$149.95 at amazon.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Six kilos, a lid with vents, and the Weber name for $150.
- Fuel: Charcoal or briquettes
- Cooking area: About 1,000 sq cm
- Weight: About 6 kg
- Lid: Yes, with vents
Pros
- Cheapest Weber, and the lid makes it a real cooker not just a grill
- Fits in any boot
Cons
- Small
- Charcoal takes 20 minutes to be ready
Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Cube portable charcoal BBQ
$189 at amazon.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Heston's cube with integrated storage. Grilling only.
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Size: Compact cube with storage tray
- Colours: Graphite, khaki, orange, stone
Pros
- Best-looking portable charcoal grill on the market
- Integrated storage for food and tools
Cons
- Small cooking area
- No lid, so grilling only
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 37 cm
$599 at bcf.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
The bullet smoker that made home brisket normal.
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Style: Bullet water smoker
- Grates: 2
- Sizes: 37 cm and 47 cm
Pros
- The benchmark charcoal smoker for brisket and ribs at home
- Holds temperature for hours with little attention
- Ten-year warranty on the bowl and lid
Cons
- Charcoal only, so it needs tending
- 37 cm fits one brisket; the 47 cm is better for families
Wanderer Portable suitcase BBQ grill
$99.99 at bcf.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
A hundred-dollar folding grill for the beach.
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Style: Folding suitcase with legs
Pros
- A hundred dollars for a beach and camping grill
Cons
- Thin steel
- No lid
Frequently asked questions
Charcoal or briquettes?
Lump charcoal lights faster, burns hotter and leaves less ash; briquettes such as Heat Beads burn longer and more evenly and are cheaper per hour. Kamados and smokers prefer lump. Kettles are fine on either.
Why does my charcoal BBQ need a lid?
Without a lid you can only grill directly over the coals. With a lid and vents you control airflow, which controls temperature, and you can cook indirectly, roast, and smoke. A lid is the difference between a grill and a cooker.
How do I light charcoal without firelighters?
A chimney starter and one sheet of newspaper or a natural firelighter. Coals are ready when they are grey with ash, about 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid lighter fluid; it taints food.