Charcoal grill buying guide
Find the right charcoal grill for your space.
Compare current models, included equipment and prices. Free standard shipping on orders $99+ in the contiguous United States.
Compare Kamado Joe ceramic charcoal grills with Masterbuilt Gravity Series grills, electric smoking and a compatible pizza oven attachment. Start with the way you cook, then compare size, equipment and current price.
The value of an upgrade comes from equipment you will use: cooking capacity, a suitable cart or standalone configuration, and the level of temperature control that fits your routine. Prices below were checked against the Smokeforges catalog on September 7, 2026; product pages show the current price before checkout.
Smokeforges is an authorized retailer for Kamado Joe and Masterbuilt. Contact us for help comparing configurations, understanding freight delivery and finding manufacturer warranty information before ordering.
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Kamado Joe: compare ceramic charcoal grills
Kamado Joe builds around a thick ceramic chamber that holds heat for hours on a single load of lump charcoal. That is what makes it a low-and-slow smoker in the morning and a 700-degree sear station in the evening. The Kamado Joe collection breaks into three size groups.
Compact and portable: Joe Jr
A 13.5-inch ceramic grill with 150 square inches of cooking surface. Sized for smaller households, camping, tailgating, or as a second charcoal grill next to a larger cooker.
Joe Jr with Cast Iron Stand
13.5-inch ceramic, 150 sq in cooking surface, cast iron stand included.
$499.99
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Joe Jr Cart and Cover Bundle
Same 13.5-inch grill with a rolling cart, folding shelves, and a fitted cover.
$799.99
View productEveryday 18-inch: Classic Joe and Konnected Joe
The 18-inch class is where most buyers land. Enough grate space for a full brisket or two racks of ribs without a 24-inch footprint eating the patio.
Classic Joe II Standalone
18-inch ceramic, 2-tier Divide and Conquer, no cart. The drop-in path for an outdoor kitchen island.
$1,399.99
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Classic Joe III Standalone
Adds the 3-tier Divide and Conquer system, an included SloRoller, and a charcoal basket. No cart.
$1,999.99
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Classic Joe III with Cart
The full flagship 18-inch build: 3-tier Divide and Conquer, SloRoller, rolling cart with folding shelves. 250 sq in primary cooking area.
$2,199.99
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Konnected Joe (18-inch)
Ceramic charcoal cooking with push-button ignition and app-based temperature management. Set it and monitor from your phone.
$2,199.99
View productSeries III models in this guide include a SloRoller for low-and-slow cooking. The 18-inch Konnected Joe does not include one as standard. Follow the instructions for the exact insert and remove it before cooking above its rated temperature limit.
Larger 24-inch: Big Joe
Big Joe is the choice when you are cooking for a crowd rather than a family. More uninterrupted grate width means whole packer briskets, multiple pork butts, or several dishes at once without stacking compromises.
Big Joe II Standalone
24-inch ceramic, 2-tier Divide and Conquer, no cart. Built for an outdoor kitchen surround.
$2,199.99
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Big Joe II with Cart
Same 24-inch cooker on a rolling cart with folding side shelves.
$2,299.99
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Big Joe III Standalone
3-tier Divide and Conquer, included SloRoller, charcoal basket. 864 sq in across all three tiers, 450 sq in on the main surface.
$2,999.99
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Big Joe III with Cart
The top of the ceramic range. Full Series III feature set on the premium rolling cart. The premium cart configuration, with its included premium cart.
$3,299.99
View productStill deciding between sizes? The full Kamado Joe size guide walks through Joe Jr, Classic, Big Joe, and Konnected Joe side by side, and the Big Joe III breakdown covers the premium configuration in detail.
Masterbuilt: Gravity Series grills and smokers
Masterbuilt takes a different route to the same result. The Gravity Series uses a vertical charcoal hopper and a fan-managed airflow system, so you get real charcoal fire with a digital set-and-hold controller and app monitoring. If the ceramic learning curve is what has kept you from pulling the trigger, this is the shortcut. The Masterbuilt collection covers the full range.
Gravity Series digital charcoal grills
Gravity Series 600
The compact entry into hopper-fed digital charcoal. Right size for a smaller patio or a first digital smoker.
$799.99
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Gravity Series 800
Adds a griddle insert to the digital charcoal platform. Smash burgers and breakfast on the same cooker that runs a brisket.
$899.99
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Gravity Series 1050
More cooking room than the 800 without moving to the XT platform. The volume option for regular entertaining.
$999.99
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Gravity Series XT
The upgraded, larger platform with a published three-year limited warranty. The premium Gravity Series model, with its upgraded platform.
$1,799.99
View productElectric smoker and pizza oven
710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker
710 sq in across four racks, published 100 to 275°F range, WiFi monitoring, side woodchip loader. Monitor the cook and follow the operating instructions.
$349.99
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Pizza Oven for Gravity Series
Handles pizzas up to 14 inches. Compatible with the Gravity Series 600, 800, 1050, and XT carried by Smokeforges.
$199.99
View productConsidering the Pizza Oven attachment? Confirm compatibility with your exact grill model before ordering. Call 833-777-2962 for help locating the current fit information.
For a closer look at how the Masterbuilt electric platform stacks up against its nearest rival, read the Masterbuilt vs Pit Boss electric smoker comparison.
Which grill fits your patio?
Price is the reason you are reading this. Fit is the reason you will still be happy in three years. Here is the short version.
| If this is you | Start here | Current price |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio with suitable clearances, or you want a portable second grill | Joe Jr with Cast Iron Stand | $499.99 |
| First serious charcoal grill, family of four, want the ceramic experience | Classic Joe III with Cart | $2,199.99 |
| Want ceramic charcoal but not the fire-management learning curve | Konnected Joe (18-inch) | $2,199.99 |
| Building an outdoor kitchen island with a drop-in cutout | Classic Joe III or Big Joe III Standalone | From $1,999.99 |
| You host regularly and cook whole briskets or several butts at once | Big Joe III with Cart | $3,299.99 |
| Want charcoal flavor in a familiar cart-style grill with digital control | Gravity Series 600 or 1050 | From $799.99 |
| Griddle cooking matters as much as grilling | Gravity Series 800 | $899.99 |
| Dedicated low-and-slow smoking, no high-heat searing needed | 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker | $349.99 |
The honest fit note: a ceramic kamado rewards patience. It takes a few cooks to learn vent control, and once you have it, the grill does things a gas cooker cannot. A Gravity Series or an electric smoker gets you to a good result faster with less to learn. Neither choice is wrong. They are different trades.
Why buy your grill from Smokeforges
A clear purchase includes help choosing a configuration, understanding delivery and locating warranty terms.
- Authorized dealer for both brands. Your warranty registers properly and parts requests go through the correct channel, not a gray-market workaround.
- Free standard shipping on orders $99+ in the contiguous United States. Orders under $99 ship for $9.99. Additional carrier fees may apply as outlined in our Shipping Policy.
- Delivery timing on every product page. Larger cookers ship freight with curbside delivery. The estimate is listed before you buy, not after.
- Clear return policy. Our 30-day policy explains eligibility, exclusions, and applicable fees before you order.
- A real person to talk to. Call 833-777-2962 or email info@smokeforges.com and you will reach someone who knows these grills.
Grill buying questions
Where can I find the current grill price?
Open the linked product page and select the configuration you want. This guide reflects catalog prices checked September 7, 2026; prices and availability can change.
Do I need a discount code?
No code is required. Where a compare-at discount is shown, the current price is already applied on the product page and carries through to checkout. Some products in this guide are listed at their regular current price.
Is shipping really free on these grills?
Yes. Free shipping applies to orders $99+. Larger ceramic grills and Gravity Series cookers ship by freight with curbside delivery, and the delivery estimate appears on the product page.
How should I compare value across these grills?
Compare the cooking format, usable space, included equipment, installation needs and delivered cost. Choose the features you expect to use rather than assuming a higher price is always a better fit.
What is the difference between a Series II and a Series III Kamado Joe?
Series III adds the 3-tier Divide and Conquer flexible cooking system, an included SloRoller for low-and-slow work, and a charcoal basket. Series II uses a 2-tier system. Both are the same ceramic construction at their respective sizes.
Can I request a delivery date?
Yes. Freight deliveries are scheduled with you by the carrier, so you can coordinate a window that works. Call us before ordering if you have a specific date in mind and we will flag it on the order.
Find your next grill
Not sure which one is right for your space?
Tell us your patio size, how many people you usually cook for, and your budget. We will point you at the right cooker, even if it is the cheaper one.
Or call 833-777-2962
