kamado grills buying guide

Ceramic heat retention for searing, smoking, and backyard pizza

A pellet grill smokes. A kamado sears, bakes, and holds 700°F.

Here's how the top-reviewed 2026 ceramic kamado grills compare on cooking area, versatility, and price.

Compare the top kamado grills

Quick answer: Our top pick for kamado grills is the Kamado Joe Classic II (Best Overall). If you're looking for best budget, the Char-Griller AKORN 20-inch Kamado is a strong alternative.

A pellet grill smokes well. It doesn't sear like a kamado can.

Reviewed by the Grillstead team · last updated 2026-08-22

Pellet grills excel at hands-off, low-and-slow smoking, but most only reach 450-500°F — well short of what's needed for a hard sear on a steak or a crisp backyard pizza crust. A kamado's thick ceramic (or triple-wall steel) body traps heat differently, routinely reaching 700°F+ while also holding rock-steady low temperatures for an overnight brisket, covering both ends of the temperature range a single pellet grill can't.

The trade-off is hands-on control: a kamado uses charcoal and manual (or vent-based) temperature adjustments rather than an auger and digital controller, so it takes a bit more attention to dial in and hold a target temperature than set-and-forget pellet cooking.

Ceramic vs. insulated steel

True ceramic kamados (Kamado Joe, Louisiana Grills) hold heat longer and handle temperature swings better, while insulated steel kamados (Char-Griller AKORN) get most of the way there at a much lower price.

Cooking area across tiers

Multi-tier systems can double the usable cooking area over the base grate, useful for smoking and roasting at the same time — check whether tier expanders are included or sold separately.

Temperature range

If backyard pizza or a hard sear is the goal, confirm the model comfortably reaches 650-700°F — some budget kamados are rated lower.

Weight and portability

Ceramic bodies are heavy (150-200+ lbs) and better suited to a fixed spot on a patio; if you need to move the grill often, a compact steel model is easier to manage.

Product Best For Price Rating
Kamado Joe Classic II Best Overall $1,450 - $1,550 4.7/5
Char-Griller AKORN 20-inch Kamado Best Budget $350 - $400 4.4/5
Louisiana Grills 24-inch Ceramic Kamado Best Value $550 - $700 4.5/5
Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Kamado Most Compact $180 - $220 4.3/5
Best Overall

Kamado Joe Classic II

★★★★★ 4.7

An 18-inch ceramic kamado with a 2-Tier Divide & Conquer cooking system, letting you cook different foods at different temperatures simultaneously on the same grill.

  • 2-Tier Divide & Conquer system cooks multiple foods at different temps at once
  • Thick ceramic shell holds heat for hours with minimal fuel
  • Cast iron cart and slide-out ash drawer for easy cleanup
  • Heavy at 188 lbs, not easy to relocate
  • Premium price versus steel kamados
$1,450 - $1,550 View on Amazon
Best Budget

Char-Griller AKORN 20-inch Kamado

★★★★★ 4.4

A triple-wall insulated steel kamado that gets most of the way to ceramic-kamado performance at a fraction of the price, with 445 square inches of cooking space.

  • Triple-wall steel insulation at a fraction of ceramic-kamado prices
  • 445 sq in cooking space handles a full cookout
  • Cart with locking wheels included
  • Steel body doesn't hold heat quite as long as true ceramic
  • Dampers need more hands-on adjustment than PID-controlled grills
$350 - $400 View on Amazon
Best Value

Louisiana Grills 24-inch Ceramic Kamado

★★★★★ 4.5

A genuine ceramic kamado with 689 square inches of two-tiered cooking space and a top end around 700°F, priced well below Kamado Joe.

  • Genuine ceramic body at a below-Kamado-Joe price point
  • 689 sq in of two-tiered cooking space
  • Reaches up to 700°F for real searing and pizza
  • Fewer accessories included than Kamado Joe
  • Less established resale and parts ecosystem than the market leader
$550 - $700 View on Amazon
Most Compact

Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Kamado

★★★★★ 4.3

A smaller version of the AKORN with the same triple-wall insulated design, sized for a balcony or small patio rather than a full backyard.

  • Small enough for a balcony or small patio
  • Same triple-wall insulation as the full-size AKORN
  • Easy to move, lighter than full ceramic kamados
  • Limited cooking area for more than 2-3 people
  • Not enough room for a full 2-tier setup
$180 - $220 View on Amazon

Which one should you get?

You want the best all-around kamado and don't mind the investment

The Kamado Joe Classic II's Divide & Conquer system and proven build quality make it the safest premium pick.

You want real ceramic performance without the Kamado Joe price

The Louisiana Grills 24" Ceramic Kamado gets you genuine ceramic heat retention for hundreds less.

You're short on patio space

The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. fits where a full-size kamado won't, without giving up the insulated design.

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