Barbecues, smokers and grills
Gas, charcoal or kamado: grill area, fuel and heat compared.
Gas or charcoal, kettle or kamado, how big a grill you need and how long a gas bottle lasts. Compared on cooking area, burners, kW and fuel from the makers' own specifications.
Our top picks
All buying guides- CHARCOALBest charcoal BBQs for UK gardens
Weber Original Kettle 57 cm: One-Touch ash catcher
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - PELLET
286 sq in total, two grids
Best charcoal smokers for low and slowWeber Smokey Mountain 14.5 in: compact bullet smoker
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - ELECTRIC
1,561 cm² (33 x 49 cm)
Best electric BBQs for balconies and flatsWeber Lumin: 2,300 W, 33 x 49 cm, over 315 °C
2,300 W
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - GAS
2,326 cm²
Best gas BBQs for UK gardensWeber Spirit E-310: three burners, 2,326 cm² grill
3 · Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Core temperatures (FSA)
PROBE CHECK- 65 °C149 °Ffor 10 minutes
- 70 °C158 °Ffor 2 minutes
- 75 °C167 °Ffor 30 seconds
- 80 °C176 °Ffor 6 seconds
Burgers: check the thickest part with a probe. Any one of these combinations is the FSA's equivalent of 70 °C for 2 minutes. Juices should run clear and no pink meat should remain.
Common problems
Low flames, flare-ups, coals that die and lids that leak smoke: causes and fixes.
- Igniter clicks but no flameGas BBQ igniter not working? Check the battery, electrode gap, wet wiring, gas supply and blocked burner ports in order, and use the manual's match-lighting method.
- Low temperature or temperature swingsPellet grill not getting hot? Check for swollen pellets, an auger jam, a full firepot, a dirty temperature probe and wind chill, in order, with the fix for each.
- Pellets stay unburnt or give little smokeNinja Woodfire pellets not igniting or not smoking? Check for damp pellets, an overfilled scoop, ash in the smoker box and the right start sequence for each mode.
- Low heat, weak or uneven flameGas BBQ not getting hot? Check cold-weather butane, a regulator in safety mode, spider webs in venturi tubes, worn burners and wind, with the fix for each.
- Low flame or no gas after a bottle changeBBQ gas regulator problems explained: low flame after a bottle change, flow safety devices, the wrong regulator, frosting and leak checks with soapy water.
Topics
Every kind of barbecue on the site, plus cooking and care, at a glance.
kettle
1,735 cm² (269 sq in)
about 16 burgers of 10 cm
kettle
2,552 cm² (396 sq in)
about 24 burgers of 10 cm
kettle
3,526 cm² (546 sq in)
about 33 burgers of 10 cm
kamado
1,662 cm² (258 sq in)
about 15 burgers of 10 cm
Circles drawn to scale. Area is π x radius²; burger counts are rough, with a little space between each.
- Gas BBQsTwo to six burner gas barbecues compared by cooking area, burner count, total kW and extras.8 guides · 5 buying guides
- Charcoal BBQsKettles and charcoal grills sized by grill diameter, lid, vents and how easily you can tend the coals.3 guides · 2 buying guides
- Kamado grillsCeramic egg-shaped grills for searing, roasting and long low cooks, compared by grill diameter and weight.7 guides · 0 buying guides
- Smokers and pellet grillsPellet grills, gravity-fed charcoal smokers and offsets for low and slow cooking in a British garden.5 guides · 2 buying guides
- Electric outdoor grillsPlug-in grills and woodfire-style smokers for balconies and small patios where charcoal or gas is awkward.5 guides · 2 buying guides
- Cooking and careLighting, heat zones, gas bottles, cleaning and the faults that stop a barbecue working properly.9 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Safe core temperatures from the Food Standards Agency and how long a gas bottle lasts.
Comparisons
- Weber Spirit vs Weber GenesisWeber Spirit vs Genesis compared on burners, power, cooking area, sear zone, storage and weight, using listing facts for four current gas barbecues.
- Weber Q vs Weber TravelerWeber Q vs Traveler compared on cooking area, burner power, weight, folding cart and how each travels to a campsite, caravan pitch or small patio.
- Pellet grill vs charcoal smokerPellet grill vs charcoal smoker compared on how much tending each needs, smoke depth, fuel, power and how each copes with wind and rain on a long British cook.
- Pellet grill vs gas BBQPellet grill vs gas BBQ compared on smoke flavour, searing, heat-up time, power needs, fuel storage and British weather, with two example grills side by side.
- Ninja Woodfire vs Woodfire Pro Connect XLNinja Woodfire OG701UK vs Woodfire Pro Connect XL OG901UK compared on capacity, probe, app control, weight and footprint, for small patios and balconies.
- Lumpwood charcoal or briquettes?Lumpwood charcoal or briquettes compared on burn time, heat, ash and lighting, and which fuel suits a kettle, a kamado or a smoker, with notes on UK lumpwood.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of barbecue each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best charcoal BBQs for UK gardens
- Best charcoal smokers for low and slow
- Best electric BBQs for balconies and flats
- Best gas BBQs for UK gardens
- Best large gas BBQs for family parties
- Best pellet grills for UK gardens
- Best portable gas BBQs for camping and caravans
- Best small gas BBQs for a patio or small garden
- Ninja Woodfire grills compared: original, Pro Connect XL and Oven
- Weber gas BBQs compared: Q, Traveler, Spirit and Genesis
- Weber kettle models compared: Original, Master-Touch and Performer
Guides & advice
- Which BBQ should you buy?Which BBQ to buy: a short decision path by garden size, how often you cook, fuel and food, pointing to the right gas, charcoal, pellet or electric guide.
- What size Big Green Egg should you buy?What size Big Green Egg to buy: every Egg size by approximate grid diameter and how many people it feeds, with the Large as the usual reference point.
- What gas bottle do I need for my BBQ?What gas bottle you need for a BBQ in the UK: propane, butane and patio gas compared, common bottle sizes in kg, matching regulators and safe storage.
- Is a Big Green Egg worth it?Is a Big Green Egg worth it? What you pay for in ceramic, dealer support, warranty and accessories, compared with rival kamados and kettles of similar size.
- How to use a pellet grill for the first timeHow to use a pellet grill for the first time: the burn-in, priming the auger, pellet storage in damp UK weather and the shutdown so the firepot does not jam.
- How to use a Ninja Woodfire grillHow to use a Ninja Woodfire grill: grill, smoke and air fry modes, adding pellets to the smoker box, preheating and when to keep the lid closed, in plain steps.