The best kamado BBQs in Australia
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.
Seven kamado grills sold in Australia from $249 to $2,015: ceramic versus insulated steel, what sizes mean, and which one to buy for two people, a family or a crowd.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Body | Cart | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Kamado Joe Classic I 18 inch with Divide and Conquer | Ceramic, 18 inch | Yes | $1,468 |
| Best value | Char-Griller Akorn kamado kooker charcoal BBQ | Triple-wall insulated steel | Yes | $599 |
| Best budget ceramic | Char-Griller Ceramic kamado grill and smoker | Ceramic | Yes | $799 |
| Biggest under $1,000 | Matador 22 inch ceramic Hardie kamado grill | Ceramic, 22 inch | Yes | $998 |
| Best small | Kamado Joe Joe Junior 13.5 inch | Ceramic, 13.5 inch | — | $699 |
| Cheapest | Char-Griller Akorn Jr kamado portable grill and smoker | Insulated steel, not ceramic | — | $249 |
| Best for crowds | Kamado Joe Big Joe I 24 inch | Ceramic, 24 inch | Yes | $2,015 |
A kamado is a thick-walled egg that behaves like a wood-fired oven: insulation holds heat, and airflow through the vents sets the temperature. Once you learn the vents, it is the most versatile single cooker you can own.
Ceramic and steel
Kamado Joe, Char-Griller’s ceramic model and Matador’s Hardie are ceramic. They are heavy (a Classic with cart is over a hundred kilos), they hold heat like a kiln, and they last indefinitely if not cracked. Char-Griller’s Akorn range uses triple-wall insulated steel: lighter, cheaper, easier to move, slightly less stable over a very long cook, and it will rust if left uncovered.
Accessories are the ecosystem
Kamado Joe’s Divide and Conquer system splits the grate into halves at two heights, so you can sear on one side and roast on the other. Bunnings stocks the full accessory range: pizza stones, deflector plates, expanders, rib racks. House-brand and Char-Griller kamados have smaller ranges, and generic accessories for the common 18 inch size fit most of them.
The picks
The Kamado Joe Classic I is the one to buy if the budget allows. It is the standard everyone else copies, and the lifetime warranty on ceramics is real. The Akorn Kooker is the value pick and the right choice for most first-time kamado buyers. Ceramic on a tighter budget means the Char-Griller ceramic or, for size, the Matador Hardie 22. The Joe Junior and Akorn Jr are for couples and campers. The Big Joe is for people who host.
The picks in detail
Kamado Joe Classic I 18 inch with Divide and Conquer
$1,468 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
The reference 18 inch ceramic with the Divide and Conquer grate system and a lifetime ceramic warranty.
- Body: Ceramic, 18 inch
- Fuel: Charcoal
- System: Divide and Conquer two-level grate
- Cart: Yes
Pros
- The reference ceramic kamado, with the best accessory ecosystem
- Lifetime warranty on ceramics (Kamado Joe)
- Holds 110 degrees for twelve hours or sears at 400
Cons
- Nearly fifteen hundred dollars
- Over a hundred kilos with the cart
Char-Griller Akorn kamado kooker charcoal BBQ
$599 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Insulated steel does most of what ceramic does for $599 and half the weight.
- 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
Char-Griller Ceramic kamado grill and smoker
$799 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Real ceramic under $800.
- Body: Ceramic
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Cart: Yes
Pros
- Ceramic kamado for under eight hundred dollars
- Holds low temperatures for long smokes
Cons
- Heavy
- Accessory range is smaller than Kamado Joe
Matador 22 inch ceramic Hardie kamado grill
$998 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
22 inch ceramic from Bunnings' house brand.
- Body: Ceramic, 22 inch
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Cart: Yes
Pros
- Biggest ceramic kamado under a thousand dollars
- Bunnings returns and warranty
Cons
- Very heavy
- House-brand accessories only
Kamado Joe Joe Junior 13.5 inch
$699 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Kamado Joe build at 13.5 inches, with handles.
- Body: Ceramic, 13.5 inch
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Portable: Yes, with handles
Pros
- Kamado Joe quality in a size you can carry
- Great for two people or a balcony
Cons
- Small grate
- Dear for the size
Char-Griller Akorn Jr kamado portable grill and smoker
$249 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
Kamado cooking for $249, light enough to camp with.
- Body: Insulated steel, not ceramic
- Cooking area: About 155 sq in (about 1,000 sq cm)
- Weight: About 17 kg
- Fuel: Charcoal
Pros
- Kamado cooking for two hundred and fifty dollars
- Light enough to take camping, unlike ceramic kamados
Cons
- Steel holds heat less evenly than ceramic
- Small
Kamado Joe Big Joe I 24 inch
$2,015 at bunnings.com.au · checked 12 Sep 2026
24 inches: two briskets or four chickens at once.
- Body: Ceramic, 24 inch
- Fuel: Charcoal
- Cart: Yes
Pros
- Cooks for a crowd; two briskets at once
Cons
- Over two thousand dollars
- Needs two people to move
Frequently asked questions
What size kamado should I buy?
13 to 14 inches feeds two to three. 18 inches (the Classic size) feeds a family and fits a full brisket. 22 to 24 inches is for regular entertaining. Most people are happiest with 18.
Ceramic or steel kamado?
Ceramic holds temperature more steadily and lasts for decades, but it is heavy, dear and cracks if dropped or thermally shocked. Insulated steel is lighter, cheaper and easier to move, and gives up a little stability on very long cooks.
How much charcoal does a kamado use?
Far less than a kettle. A full load of lump charcoal in an 18 inch kamado can run a 12-hour low-and-slow cook, and you close the vents and reuse what is left.