Researched comparisonLast updated October 2026 · How we review
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Quick Answer
The Weber Smokey Joe 14 inch is our pick for tailgates and picnics: it is a true kettle with lid and bowl dampers, a Tuck-N-Carry lid lock and a 10 year warranty on the bowl and lid. The Cuisinart CCG-190RB has the lowest price and is the lightest here at 4 pounds. The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. is an insulated kamado that can also smoke low and slow. The Lodge Sportsman’s Pro is a heavy cast iron hibachi made in the USA for searing.
- Weber Smokey Joe 14 Inch Charcoal Grill, Black: best for tailgaters who want a true kettle with lid and bowl dampers and a Tuck-N-Carry lid lock
- Cuisinart CCG-190RB 14 Inch Portable Charcoal Grill: best for beach and picnic trips where the lightest grill here, 4 pounds, matters most
- Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill, Black: best for cooks who want to smoke as well as grill, with a 200 to 700°F range in a portable kamado
- Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill: best for people who want a cast iron hibachi for searing, made in the USA
Prices as of October 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT.
A portable charcoal grill gives you real charcoal flavor at a campsite, tailgate or small balcony. We compared four portable charcoal grills from Weber, Cuisinart, Char-Griller and Lodge, each small enough to carry to the car and built for two to four people.
How We Chose
We picked four well-known grill brands and kept to small charcoal grills you can carry. They are four different styles, so this is a comparison of styles as much as models: the Weber is a 14 inch kettle, the Cuisinart a 14 inch tabletop grill with lid locks, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. a small insulated kamado and the Lodge an open cast iron hibachi with no lid. The weights differ a lot, from about 4 pounds to about 36. Weber does not list a weight on its page for the Smokey Joe, so that weight comes from the Amazon listing and is marked with an asterisk. Lodge lists the cooking surface size instead of square inches. Specs come from each manufacturer’s own product pages and manuals, and each card lists the warranty from the manufacturer’s own pages. Prices are the Amazon prices on the date shown.
The Lineup
Specs come from each manufacturer’s own pages and manuals. * Value from the Amazon listing. † Cuisinart CCG-190RB: the current product page lists 196 sq in, while an older Cuisinart page listed over 150 sq in. Prices as of October 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Amazon may show a different seller than the brand or Amazon.com. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Weber Smokey Joe 14 Inch Charcoal Grill, Black
$54.99 as of Oct 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT on Amazon · Kettle, 10 year bowl and lid
Best for: tailgaters who want a true kettle with lid and bowl dampers and a Tuck-N-Carry lid lock
Weber’s page for the Smokey Joe 14 inch (model 1501695) lists a 147 square inch grilling surface that fits six burgers, a porcelain-enamel lid and bowl, a rust-resistant plated steel cooking grate, lid and bowl dampers for heat control, a Tuck-N-Carry lid lock that doubles as a lid holder and an ash catcher. We like it because it cooks like a full size kettle, with the dampers giving real control over the fire.
Warranty: 10 years bowl and lid
Check Price on Amazon →Cuisinart CCG-190RB 14 Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
$36.99 as of Oct 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT on Amazon · Lowest price, lightest
Best for: beach and picnic trips where the lightest grill here, 4 pounds, matters most
Cuisinart’s page for the CCG-190RB lists a 196 square inch chrome-plated grate, an enamel-coated firebox, dual adjustable vents, three lid locks for transport and a mess-free ash base, and it says the grill weighs only 4 pounds. The product page lists a 3 year warranty, while the manual for the CCG-190 models lists a 90 day limited warranty. We like it for the price and how little it weighs.
Warranty: 3 years
Check Price on Amazon →Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Charcoal Grill, Black
$199.99 as of Oct 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT on Amazon · Insulated kamado, smokes too
Best for: cooks who want to smoke as well as grill, with a 200 to 700°F range in a portable kamado
Char-Griller’s page for the AKORN Jr. (model E6714) lists 155 square inches of cooking space, triple-walled insulation, cast iron cooking grates, dual adjustable dampers, a heat range of 200 to 700°F, side handles for carrying and an EasyDump ash pan. It lists a grill weight of 35.7 pounds and dimensions of 20.5 by 25.2 by 20.1 inches. We like it for ribs and chicken at a campsite, because the insulated body holds low smoking temperatures that a thin kettle struggles with.
Warranty: 5 years
Check Price on Amazon →Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill
$149.90 as of Oct 19, 2026, 5:05 pm CT on Amazon · Cast iron, made in the USA
Best for: people who want a cast iron hibachi for searing, made in the USA
Lodge’s page for the Sportsman’s Pro (LSPROG) describes a seasoned cast iron, hibachi-style grill made in the USA, with a 16.75 by 9 inch cooking surface, dual air vents, a slide-out ash drawer and a set of hook and carry handles. It lists overall dimensions of 19.38 by 9.69 by 7.56 inches and a weight of 33.25 pounds, and there is no lid. We like it for steaks and burgers, because a thick cast iron grate gives deep sear marks.
Warranty: Limited lifetime
Check Price on Amazon →Our Take
Pick the Weber Smokey Joe 14 inch for an all-round portable kettle with a 10 year bowl and lid warranty. Pick the Cuisinart CCG-190RB for the lowest price and the lightest carry. Pick the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. if you want to smoke as well as grill. Pick the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro for cast iron searing with a limited lifetime warranty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which portable charcoal grill is the lightest?
The Cuisinart CCG-190RB, which Cuisinart says weighs only 4 pounds. The Weber Smokey Joe 14 inch is listed at 8.4 pounds on Amazon, while the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro (33.25 pounds) and the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. (35.7 pounds) are much heavier.
Can I smoke food on a portable charcoal grill?
The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. is the best fit here: Char-Griller lists triple-walled insulation and a 200 to 700°F range. A kettle like the Weber Smokey Joe can smoke with careful damper control. The Lodge has no lid, so it is for direct grilling.
How many people can these grills cook for?
Weber says the Smokey Joe 14 inch has room to cook for 2 to 4 people and fits six burgers. The Cuisinart lists 196 square inches and the AKORN Jr. 155 square inches, which is a similar small group size.
What warranty do these grills have?
Weber lists 10 years on the Smokey Joe’s bowl and lid. Char-Griller lists 5 years. Lodge covers its cast iron with a limited lifetime warranty. Cuisinart’s product page lists 3 years, while its manual lists 90 days.
