Nothing says spring and summer more than the smell of a freshly lit outdoor grill, and you can achieve that even with the best charcoal grill under £100 whether you're a seasoned pro or a grilling novice. And now that the promise of warmer days are on the horizon, everyone is on the hunt for the best charcoal grill setups. Plus, we can't wait to tidy up our gardens and entertain guests at home with our favourite summer pastime.
However, BBQ grills can be a huge investment, with some models costing way more than many can afford. Even though shelling out on a gas BBQ or hybrid BBQ can be worth it in the long run, charcoal BBQs tend to be cheaper to buy and are generally smaller and easier to store away in the winter months.
Best charcoal grill under £100 at a glance:
• Best premium charcoal grill under £100: Weber Compact Kettle Charcoal Grill Barbecue - View on Amazon UK
• Best barrel BBQ under £100: VonHaus Portable Barrel Charcoal BBQ and Smoker - View on Debenhams
• Best small BBQ under £100: Weber Smokey Joe Premium Kettle Charcoal BBQ - View on Weber
• Best BBQ under £100 for gatherings: Argos Home Trolley Charcoal BBQ - View on Argos
In this buyer's guide, we bring you the best charcoal grills under £100 because serving up a tasty grilled feast shouldn't have to cost the earth.
Best charcoal grills under £100
Best premium charcoal grill under £100
Currently on sale for a little under £100 (normal price £115), this Weber Compact Kettle BBQ brings a reputable BBQ brand and amazing value. Stylish, practical and a good size for cooking for friends and family, it comes with wheels, a grill, and an anti-rust coating. Proving its own quality with the 10-year warranty, you'll find matching Weber BBQ accessories and tools available too.
Customer review: "This BBQ suits us perfectly. It is quite sturdy and was fairly easy to assemble. This was a good buy."
Pros
- Movable and sturdy wheels
- Heat resistant lid
Cons
- The height of the grate isn't adjustable so you have to get your timings right
Best barrel BBQ under £100
www.debenhams.com
Barrel BBQs are great for those wanting to cook for large families, as the extra space means you can fit more delicious food. This one from VonHaus can also be used as a smoker, has a temperature gauge and the grills are adjustable so you can keep an eye on the heat and cooking times.
Customer review: "I bought this Due to the size and price as an upgraded bbq from a kettle style we have been using during lockdown. To be honest I wasn’t expecting anything special given it’s less than £100 and having been previously bought a similar style for c£400, but I was presently surprised... it was that easy to assemble I managed it myself and it’s sturdy, effective and far better quality than I expected!!"
Pros
- Easy to move about
- Good for cooking a lot of food
Cons
- Instructions are a little vague
Best small BBQ under £100
www.weber.com
This Weber BBQ is smaller and more compact than the previous Weber option, but that makes it ideal for on-the-go cooking, whether you're in the garden or camping. All the good quality of bigger Weber BBQs, but just in miniature.
Customer review: "We bought this to use when away camping. Fab little bbq, we've cooked a full English on this and the children LOVE it for toasting marshmallows!"
Pros
- Comes with a lid lock that makes it super easy to store
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Some reviews say it loses temperature quickly
Best BBQ under £100 for gatherings
www.argos.co.uk
A little different from other BBQs that have lids, this party BBQ from Argos comes with chrome-plated adjustable cooking grills and handy shelves storing plates and condiments. Great for quick and easy grilling, we love that it's big enough to cater for those larger outside gatherings.
Customer review: "We had a large gathering and needed a large bbq quickly, this one did the job without any fuss. Plenty of room around the cooking area. Very pleased with the purchase."
Pros
- Variable height racks
- Loads of storage
Cons
- It is large so worth keeping in mind for storage
Best value BBQ under £100
www.argos.co.uk
Argos never disappoints, and this Charcoal Kettle BBQ is an absolute steal. This durable BBQ has a large cooking area and shelves and hooks to make BBQ-ing super simple. It makes a fantastic dupe of the Weber Compact Kettle BBQ with similar features including the ashtray, wheels and bottom shelf.
Pros
- Great value
- Handy shelves
- Durable
Cons
- Very low for taller people
Best smokeless charcoal grill under £100
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
This XL portable BBQ from electriQ is not only lightweight and easy to transport but virtually smokeless too. So, you can still get the glorious chargrilled flavour without your clothes getting a wave of smoke. Ready to use in under five minutes thanks to the built-in fan, it can hold up to 500g of charcoal for 60 minutes of cooking, and with enough space to feed up to five people. It's available in a standard size too for an even lower cost, and comes with a heavy-duty zipper bag included.
Customer review: "I've used many portable BBQs including standard charcoal and Cobb and this is a game changer. It's a fraction of the cost of a Lotus grille and is well made and comes with its own bag. If I have one criticism it's that I would have liked a lid, similar to the Cobb. The XL has a large cooking area and starts up really quickly due to the electric fan. I thought it would be a bit of a gimmick but it really does work well and with not a lot of charcoal or briquettes. The fan also helps to keep the heat up as the coals burn away."
Pros
- Virtually smokeless
- Cool outer surface
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Some wish there was a lid
Best smoker charcoal grill under £100
www.debenhams.com
Small and practical, this Upright Smoker can be used as a fire pit, a grill, two grills, or a smoker - making it a versatile addition to your outside space. Super affordable at under £40, it has a built-in thermometer to keep track of temperatures, an adjustable air vent and even two access doors, giving you the flexibility to check how your food is doing or to add more charcoal.
Customer review: "Delivered quickly. Well made and easy to use. Recommend a cold smock source for items such as cold smoke cheese."
Pros
- Loads of cooking options
- Small and compact
Cons
- Limited customer reviews
Best on a budget
www.johnlewis.com
Coming in at less than £30(!), the John Lewis portable BBQ is similar to the Weber Smokey Joe in build but at a fraction of the cost. Simple yet effective, it has space to cook for up to four people and is portable yet surprisingly good quality. In a stylish cool grey design, this is an easy and affordable addition to your outdoor party or beach trip with hood clips to carry once the BBQ has cooled.
Customer review: "Ideal BBQ to take away with you, impressed how well made it is for the price I paid, easy to store. You can get quite a bit of food on it."
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Stylish design
- Easy to store
Cons
- Some found it fiddly to assemble
FAQs
What size charcoal grill BBQ do I need?
When looking for a budget buy you're limited on options, but it's still good to know exactly how many people you can feed with your new charcoal BBQ.
According to Argos, these are the general size guidelines:
Two - four people: 1800cm2 cooking area
Six people: 2000cm2 cooking area
Eight people: 2500cm2 cooking area
For those BBQs under £100, you're likely to find more compact options; great for taking on the go but not so good for cooking a great deal of food at once. That being said, we've found a couple of fab options that'll accommodate the family cookout without the risk of anyone going hungry.
What coals shall I use on a charcoal grill?
Coals play a huge part in getting your BBQ nice and hot, but they also make a difference to the taste of your food. You'll find two types of charcoal for grilling: Briquettes and hardwood lump charcoal.
Briquettes are the more popular and cheaper option, providing a long-burning heat that’s great for grilling larger pieces of meat. Hardwood lump charcoal is much more about the flavour and burns hotter, less evenly, and more quickly than briquettes. Depending on what type you use, it will come through in the food that you cook. Hardwood lump charcoal is great for quick cooking, say if you're just cooking a few sausages and burgers.
You can find out more on the best BBQ fuel, and the best types of coal and briquettes, in our BBQ fuel guide.
How to light a charcoal grill?
From using fuel, kindling, or chimney starters, there are loads of ways to get a BBQ going. Here are a few tips we've found along the way:
• Set up an open space, away from fences or trees.
• Try and buy good-quality sustainably produced charcoal.
• If it's windy, arrange your charcoal in a stack and put balls of newspaper or natural firelighters (such as wood shavings or wool) between the charcoals.
• Wait until the coals have stopped smoking to start grilling. If you want direct heat, wait for the coals to be glowing white hot with red centres. For indirect heat, wait for ashy white coals.
• How you arrange your coals will give you different heat zones and more control over your barbecue, make sure you know whether you need indirect or direct heat to cook your food. Indirect is great for things that cook more slowly.
What to read next:
Get grilling with a gas BBQ to show off your alfresco cooking skills
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace, tending to her houseplants and chilling in her jungle garden with her sausage dog Waffle.