Types of Charcoal Grills & Smokers
Charcoal Grills & Smokers Buyers Guide: Differences, Advantages & Cooking Styles
Charcoal grills and smokers are favored by purists for one simple reason: flavor. Cooking with charcoal produces rich, smoky results that gas and electric grills struggle to replicate. However, not all charcoal grills and smokers are the same. Each type offers distinct advantages, cooking methods, and learning curves.
This buyer’s guide breaks down every major type of charcoal grill and smoker, explaining how they work, who they’re best for, and what kind of cooking experience you can expect. Whether you’re searing steaks or smoking brisket for 12 hours, this guide will help you choose the right setup.
What Makes Charcoal Cooking Unique?
Charcoal cooking relies on direct heat, radiant heat, and natural airflow rather than burners or digital controls. This creates:
- Deeper smoke flavor
- Better high-heat searing
- More control over fire management
- A more hands-on cooking experience
The trade-off is that charcoal cooking requires more attention and skill, especially with smokers designed for low-and-slow barbecue.
General Charcoal Grills
Best for: Everyday grilling, versatility, beginners to advanced cooks
General charcoal grills are the most common type and come in a variety of forms. They often have a charcoal grate for traditional cooking, and some designs include optional flat-top griddle surfaces. Charcoal grills exist in both built-in and freestanding styles, depending on outdoor setup preferences.
Key Features:
- Charcoal grate for traditional cooking
- Flat-top styles available
- Exist in both built-in and freestanding styles
- Vents or dampers for temperature control
Advantages:
- Classic smoky flavor
- Versatile cooking options with grates or flat-top griddles
- Suitable for both casual grilling and more advanced techniques
- Range of sizes and configurations
Considerations:
- Requires manual fire management
- Temperature control can be less precise than gas
- Ash clean-up required
Cooking Style:
Ideal for direct and indirect grilling, as well as flat-top cooking for vegetables, breakfast items, and seafood. Can be used for short- and medium-length smoking sessions when paired with wood chips.
Drum Smokers
Best for: Flavor-forward smoking, simplicity
Barrel smokers—often called drum smokers—use vertical airflow to cook food directly over a charcoal basket. They are popular among pitmasters who value simplicity and flavor.
Key Features:
- Vertical steel drum design
- Charcoal basket at the bottom
- Food grates positioned above the fire
- Minimal moving parts
Advantages:
- Excellent smoke flavor
- Simple design with few components
- Efficient charcoal usage
- Fast setup and cleanup
Considerations:
- Less precise temperature control
- Limited grilling capability
- Requires manual vent management
Cooking Style:
Barrel smokers are optimized for low-and-slow smoking, producing bold, authentic barbecue flavor for ribs, brisket, and pork shoulder.
Kamado Grills
Best for: Versatility, temperature control, year-round cooking
Kamado grills are thick-walled ceramic cookers known for their exceptional heat retention and efficiency. They can grill, smoke, bake, and roast with ease.
Key Features:
- Heavy ceramic construction
- Airtight design with precision vents
- Wide temperature range (200°F–700°F+)
- Long burn times on minimal charcoal
Advantages:
- Outstanding temperature stability
- Extremely fuel-efficient
- Ideal for low-and-slow and high-heat cooking
- Excellent moisture retention
Considerations:
- Higher upfront cost
- Heavy and less portable
- Learning curve for airflow control
Cooking Style:
Kamado grills are true all-in-one cookers. They handle low-and-slow barbecue, pizza-style baking, roasting, and intense searing.
Offset Smokers
Best for: Traditional BBQ enthusiasts, serious smoking
Offset smokers feature a horizontal cooking chamber with a separate firebox attached to the side. Heat and smoke travel across the food before exiting the chimney.
Key Features:
- Side-mounted firebox
- Large horizontal cooking chamber
- Wood or charcoal fuel
- Adjustable vents and smokestack
Advantages:
- Classic barbecue flavor
- Large cooking capacity
- Excellent smoke penetration
- Ideal for wood-fired cooking
Considerations:
- Requires constant fire management
- Steeper learning curve
- Larger footprint
Cooking Style:
Offset smokers are designed for true low-and-slow barbecue, perfect for long cooks where wood smoke flavor is the star.
Cabinet Smokers
Best for: Controlled smoking with charcoal
Cabinet smokers use an insulated vertical design to maintain steady temperatures over long cooking sessions.
Key Features:
- Vertical cabinet layout
- Insulated walls
- Charcoal or charcoal-with-wood chunks
- Multiple cooking racks
Advantages:
- Consistent temperatures
- Efficient fuel usage
- Large capacity in a compact footprint
- Easier temperature control than offsets
Considerations:
- Limited grilling capability
- Less traditional fire management
- Heavier than basic smokers
Cooking Style:
Cabinet smokers are ideal for set-it-and-monitor-it smoking, producing reliable results for competition-style barbecue.
Kettle Charcoal Grills
Best for: Beginners, everyday grilling, versatility
Kettle grills are the most recognizable charcoal grills. Their round shape promotes excellent airflow and even heat circulation, making them versatile and easy to use.
Key Features:
- Round bowl with domed lid
- Adjustable top and bottom vents
- Direct and indirect cooking zones
- Lightweight and portable options
Advantages:
- Easy to learn and affordable
- Excellent for grilling and basic smoking
- Great heat control with vent adjustments
- Ideal for steaks, burgers, chicken, and ribs
Considerations:
- Limited cooking space on smaller models
- Less temperature stability for long smokes
- No insulation
Cooking Style:
Kettle grills excel at high-heat grilling and short-to-medium smoking sessions using indirect heat. With practice, they can handle ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket.
Santa Maria Grills
Best for: Live-fire grilling, high heat, open-flame cooking
Santa Maria grills feature an open design with an adjustable grate that raises or lowers over a live charcoal or wood fire.
Key Features:
- Open grill design
- Hand-crank or wheel-adjusted grate
- Wood or charcoal fuel
- Heavy-duty steel construction
Advantages:
- Exceptional heat control through grate height
- Ideal for wood-fired flavor
- Large cooking surface
- Dramatic live-fire experience
Considerations:
- Minimal smoke containment
- Not designed for low-and-slow smoking
- Requires outdoor space
Cooking Style:
Santa Maria grills excel at high-heat grilling for steaks, tri-tip, and vegetables cooked directly over live fire.
Pig Roasters
Best for: Whole hogs, large events, catering, competitions
Pig roasters are designed to cook entire animals or very large cuts evenly over long periods. They are commonly used for whole hog roasts, large gatherings, and commercial or semi-commercial applications.
Key Features:
- Large enclosed roasting box or rotisserie-style spit
- Charcoal positioned above, below, or offset from the meat
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Designed for long, even cooks
Advantages:
- Extremely even heat distribution
- High-capacity cooking
- Excellent moisture retention for whole animals
- Ideal for events and large crowds
Considerations:
- Large footprint and storage needs
- Not intended for everyday grilling
- Longer setup and cleanup time
Cooking Style:
Pig roasters are optimized for slow roasting at moderate temperatures, producing tender, evenly cooked meat with a crisp exterior.
Chicken Cookers
Best for: Poultry-focused events, fundraisers, catering, and small-scale roadside BBQ operations
Chicken cookers are purpose-built for cooking large quantities of chicken efficiently and consistently, while also excelling with other foods such as sausages, burgers, steaks, and vegetables.
Key Features:
- Innovative sandwich-style grates allow flipping an entire rack of meat with one hand
- Durable stainless steel construction ensures long-lasting performance without rust concerns
- Carefully designed grate-to-fire distance prevents drying out and maintains crispy skin
- Vertical separation between fire and food, similar to a traditional block pit
- Airflow vents at the bottom sides and top create even heat and consistent smoke
Advantages:
- Produces tender, juicy chicken with crispy skin every time
- Versatile enough for multiple types of grilled foods
- High-capacity cooking for events and catering
- Easy to master for large batch cooking
Considerations:
- Larger footprint than standard grills
- Purpose-built for poultry, may not be ideal for everyday home grilling
- Requires understanding of airflow and heat management for optimal results
Cooking Style:
Chicken cookers excel at indirect grilling, allowing food to cook evenly while maintaining moisture and texture. The vertical design and controlled airflow ensure consistent heat and smoke, delivering golden, juicy chicken and versatile results for a variety of grilled dishes.
Final Thoughts
Charcoal grills and smokers offer unmatched flavor and a rewarding outdoor cooking experience. From general charcoal grills with flat-top options to advanced kamado cookers, traditional offset smokers, and specialty cookers like pig roasters and chicken cookers, each type serves a unique purpose.
Understanding the differences will help you select equipment that matches your cooking style, skill level, and outdoor space. Whether you’re cooking for family, friends, or large events, choosing the right charcoal grill or smoker ensures better results, richer flavor, and an enjoyable grilling experience every time.