Best Kamado Grills
Kamado grills — the thick-walled, egg-shaped cookers derived from ancient Japanese clay ovens — are the most versatile backyard cookers you can buy. They smoke low-and-slow at 225°F, sear at 700°F+, bake pizza, and roast with indirect heat, all with the same unit. The thick ceramic walls hold heat and moisture better than any steel cooker, and they're remarkably fuel-efficient once up to temperature.
The price range is also enormous — from $300 entry-level steel versions to $2,000+ ceramic flagship models. Here's what you're actually paying for and where the value breaks.
Ceramic vs. steel kamados: the core tradeoff
| Ceramic kamados | Steel/cast-iron kamados | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat retention | Excellent — thick walls hold heat for hours, forgives inattention | Good, but not as consistent as ceramic over long cooks |
| Durability | Ceramic can crack from thermal shock; essentially lasts forever otherwise | Steel rusts if not maintained; generally shorter lifespan |
| Weight | Heavy (100-250 lbs) — once it's placed, it's staying | Lighter and more portable |
| Price | $700-$2,000+ for quality ceramic | $300-$600 |
What actually matters when choosing a kamado
- Grate size. The most common complaint about kamados is "I wish I'd bought bigger." The cooking area shrinks further when you add a heat deflector for indirect cooking, and you lose more space to the dome of the lid. Standard sizes are 18" (Big Green Egg Medium/Kamado Joe Classic), which handles most family cooks, and 24" (Big Green Egg XL/Kamado Joe Big Joe), which is the right size if you cook for large groups or want a full brisket flat to fit.
- Hinge quality and lid lift. A poorly balanced or flimsy hinge makes the lid annoying to use, and a lid that slams down can crack the ceramic. The better brands have smooth, counterbalanced hinges.
- Damper design. Top and bottom dampers control airflow and therefore temperature. More precise dampers = easier temperature control. The cheap ones jump around; the good ones hold where you set them.
- Included accessories vs. aftermarket cost. A kamado without a heat deflector plate (for indirect cooking) or a divided fire basket is only half a cooker. Some brands include these; others make you buy them separately, which can add $100-$300 to the true cost.
Best ceramic kamado: Kamado Joe Classic II or III
Kamado Joe Classic II / Classic III
Kamado Joe is the most credible Big Green Egg alternative, and in most practical comparisons it wins on included accessories and features at a comparable price. The Classic III added a SloRoller hyperbolic insert (for better smoke distribution at low temps) and a three-tier divide-and-conquer rack system out of the box. Big Green Egg charges extra for equivalent accessories. Both are quality ceramic; the Kamado Joe typically comes with more included.
The Classic size (18") handles a chicken, pork butt, or 3-rack rib cook comfortably. For a full brisket, step up to the Big Joe (24").
Best for: most home cooks who want a quality ceramic kamado; good value vs. Big Green Egg at comparable price.
Check Price on AmazonBudget ceramic pick: Char-Griller AKORN
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
The AKORN is a triple-walled steel kamado rather than ceramic — which means it's a fraction of the weight and cost, but gives up some of the heat retention that makes ceramic kamados special. For cooks who want to try the kamado format without committing $1,000+, it's a reasonable starting point. Expect to replace it in 5-8 years as the steel shows wear; a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe is a longer-term buy.
Best for: budget-conscious cooks who want to try kamado cooking, or apartment/condo situations where permanent installation isn't practical.
Check Price on AmazonPremium option: Big Green Egg
Big Green Egg (Medium or Large)
The BGE is the benchmark that everyone else is compared to — and it's an excellent cooker. The ceramic quality is very good, the dealer network is strong (local dealers often provide assembly and accessories), and the community of BGE owners is enormous with decades of recipe and technique content. The knock against it is that accessories are expensive and the base price includes less than Kamado Joe at the same level.
If you buy from a local BGE dealer (rather than online), you often get better support and can see the product in person — worth knowing before buying online.
Best for: cooks who value dealer support and the established BGE community, or those who prefer to buy in person.
Search Big Green Egg on AmazonNot sure if a kamado is right for you?
Compare it to your other options in our charcoal vs. pellet smoker guide — it covers where kamado-style charcoal cooking wins and where a pellet smoker's convenience is worth more.