Best BBQ Grills & Smokers Under $500

Understanding the price bands makes the picks easier to judge, so it is worth a short primer before the list.

Under $40 you are looking at small kettle and portable designs. The engineering is minimal, but a charcoal grill's core requirements are a heat-resistant bowl, a grate set above the coals, a chimney or vents for airflow, and an ash catcher. Get those four things right and you have a grill that works. The at $34.99 is a clean example of that formula.

Between $60 and $120 you gain proper grates, better vent control, side tables and, critically, brand names you can research. This is the best value band on eBay and where most of the picks below sit.

Between $150 and $250 you are buying cooking area, cast grids, warming racks and heavier steel. Above that, up to $500, the premiums are mostly thick ceramic shells, side burners, hinged lids and digital temperature control. Nothing in this roundup needed that band, which is why the BBQ grill buying guide is worth reading if you are tempted to spend it anyway.

One honest caveat before we start. This is a budget and mid-market list, and it is a charcoal-heavy one, because that is what the resale market actually supplies at these prices. Pellet smokers and full-size offset smokers in good condition tend to surface above $500, and the listings we found under that ceiling were accessories, thermometer parts and a novelty nutcracker rather than working cookers.

Weber Jumbo Joe — $64.99

The best barbecue deal in the roundup, and not close. The is a genuine Weber, model 1211001, an 18-inch portable steel kettle, listed as new in the box. The Jumbo Joe is a well-known compact Weber design, and at just under $65 for a new boxed unit it undercuts the brand's own direct channel by an enormous margin. The design logic is the point: a 100-square-inch cooking area is genuinely small, but the steel bowl is thin and heats fast, which is exactly what a small grill should do.

• Genuine Weber, model 1211001, new in the box
• 18-inch portable steel bowl that heats quickly
• Well-documented Weber design, easy to research before buying
• Cooking area is small, so it suits two to three people
• No box means no protection during shipping, so check the listing images carefully

For flavour per dollar, nothing else in this list comes close. Buy it if you cook for two or three people and want real Weber char without paying retail.

Tabletop Charcoal Grill, 303 Square Inch Cooking Area — $164.99

The largest cooking area in the roundup and the best choice if you regularly feed four or five people. This is described by the seller as a compact design with two handles for carrying it from trunk to tailgate and convenient front charcoal access, which is the detail that separates a usable tabletop grill from an annoying one. At $164.99 it is the second most expensive pick here, and it earns that by being the only unit in the list that solves the capacity problem.

• 303 square inches of cooking area, the largest here
• Two side handles make it genuinely portable
• Front charcoal access avoids tipping the whole bowl
• At $164.99 it is a premium price for a budget-tier design
• Seller description is brief, so ask about grate material

This is the grill to buy if a Weber Jumbo Joe would leave you cooking in shifts. Buy it if you are cooking for a group and capacity matters more than brand prestige.

Outsunny Charcoal Grill and Griddle with Side Shelves — $75.29

The is a genuine two-in-one: the listing describes both a grill grate and a griddle plate, plus side shelves, aimed at gardens, patios and camping trips. That combination is unusually useful and it is the feature that separates this from every other kettle in the roundup. Griddles and grills have completely different heat behaviours, and owning both in one body means breakfast on the flat plate and burgers on the grate without hauling two appliances.

If your problem is weight rather than capacity, the answer is wheels. The at $93.10 has a 51 centimetre bowl and sits on a wheeled frame, which is the one feature that genuinely separates a garden grill from a portable one. It will not fit in a car boot, and it never has to be moved, which is the trade.

• Grill grate and griddle plate in one body
• Side shelves add real prep space for a compact unit
• Outsunny is an established garden-furniture brand
• Listed as suitable for patios, gardens and camping
• Two surfaces means more parts to clean after use

The most versatile hardware configuration here for the money. Buy it if you want to cook a proper flattop breakfast as well as burgers from one grill.

Compact Charcoal Grill with Side Handles — $164.99

This is another 303-class unit, described with a compact design, two side handles for transportation and front charcoal access, positioned for beach, park and backyard use. It is functionally the same brief as the tabletop grill above, and priced identically, so the deciding factor is the photographs rather than the specification. In the roundup it earns a place because having two listings at the same price and same size is genuinely useful: you can compare construction detail between them and pick whichever looks better made.

• Same 164.99 price point as the other compact unit
• Two side handles, front charcoal access
• Sized for beach and park use as well as the backyard
• Listing gives no cooking area figure, so verify before buying
• Two near-identical options is a chance to compare build quality

Put it head to head with the other compact grill and buy whichever has the better grate and welds. Buy it if you want the largest portable capacity and want to compare two options first.

Portable Tabletop Charcoal Grill with Warming Rack — $146.99

The is distinguished by a warming rack, which is the small feature that quietly improves every cook. A warming rack sits above the coals and lets you hold finished food above the direct heat zone instead of cutting it into pieces and putting it in a bowl under a foil tent. At $146.99 it sits below the two larger units in price while adding something they do not have.

• Warming rack holds cooked food above the heat
• Tabletop format stores easily and is transportable
• Under $150, cheaper than the two larger units here
• Cooking area not stated in the listing description
• Single verified listing, so check availability early

A sensible middle pick between a small Weber and a large tabletop. Buy it if you cook batches of food and want somewhere to put it while the rest finishes.

14-Inch Portable Charcoal BBQ Grill, Black — $141.67

The is listed for outdoor cooking and tailgating, with a 30-day money-back guarantee stated by the seller and fast shipping on all items. The guarantee is the most useful detail in the listing, because it converts a risky marketplace purchase into something close to a normal retail return, and it is rarer on grill listings than sellers pretend.

• Seller states a 30-day money-back guarantee
• 14-inch portable format, suited to tailgating and small patios
• Black finish, the safest colour for outside storage
• No cooking area or grate material given in the description
• Warranty is the seller's claim, so read the terms before relying on it

Only worth buying if the guarantee is stated in writing on the listing. Buy it if you want a compact black grill and a stated return window.

Portable Folding Campfire Charcoal Grill — $59.99

The is built for the specific problem of a small flat or a tent, and is honest about it. The seller gives compact dimensions of 13 by 10.5 inches and includes a carrying case. That case is the feature that decides this purchase, because the difference between a grill you actually take to the campsite and one that stays in the shed is the strap and the space it occupies when folded. At just under ten by thirteen inches it will fit in most car boots and many cycle panniers.

• Compact 13 by 10.5 inch footprint, stated by the seller
• Carrying case included, which is the whole point
• Charcoal fuel, so no gas to carry or store
• Small enough for a balcony or a fire site with restrictions
• Very little cooking capacity, realistically two people

Best budget choice for genuinely portable use. Buy it if you camp, use a balcony, or need a grill that lives in a cupboard.

Stainless Steel Foldable Charcoal BBQ Grill — $69.00

This is food-grade 304 stainless steel, described as a portable charcoal barbecue grill and folding wood stove, supplied with a storage bag, a user manual and a grill. Stainless steel is the right material for a portable grill because it does not rust, and the dual use as a folding wood stove is a genuinely useful winter feature. The 304 grade is the standard food-grade stainless, which is worth noting because cheaper portable grills often use unspecified plated steel that pits after a season.

• Food-grade 304 stainless steel, stated in the listing
• Dual purpose: charcoal grill and folding wood stove
• Storage bag and user manual both included
• Stainless will not rust, unlike plated steel portable grills
• Stainless retains heat, so it is slower to heat and cooler to handle

Built from the right material, which is rare at this price. Buy it if you want one appliance for summer grilling and winter stove duty.

Grill Time Blue Tabletop Charcoal Grill — $67.00

The is a complete package for someone starting out. The seller states it is brand new and never used, that the box has been opened, and that it comes with everything pictured: the grate, a charcoal sample, grille starter gel and a carry case. That is a meaningfully better proposition than a bare grill, because the two things beginners most often get wrong are lighting and transport, and both are solved by what is in the box. The blue finish is the only distinguishing feature.

• Charcoal sample and starter gel included
• Carry case included, solving transport
• Stated as brand new and never used, box merely opened
• Everything in the listing photograph is included
• Blue finish, so it will not match other patio kit

The most complete first-grill package in the roundup. Buy it if it is your first grill and you want everything needed to light it in one purchase.

Portable Mini Charcoal BBQ Grill with Bag — $28.00

The is the cheapest grill here, and listed as new open box, meaning the packaging was opened but the unit is described as new. A carry bag is included, and the listing describes it as intended for camping, picnics and backyard parties. At $28.00 the arithmetic is hard to argue with, and for someone who grills burgers occasionally in good weather, buying a second, cheap, genuinely portable grill is a legitimate strategy.

• Lowest price grill in the roundup at $28.00
• New open box, per the seller's condition note
• Carry bag included for transport
• Aimed at camping, picnics and backyard parties
• Thin steel and short legs limit both durability and stability

Buy it as a second grill rather than as a main one. Buy it if you already own something substantial and want a cheap spare for picnics.

Portable Stainless Steel Charcoal BBQ Smoker Grill — $84.99

The is a folding, lightweight charcoal grill and smoker in one, described as your perfect outdoor companion and built for easy transport and storage. The combination matters more than it sounds: a grill with a proper lid can hold a low temperature for hours, which is all that low-and-slow barbecue requires, and stainless steel construction is again the right call for something that gets handled a lot. The listing also describes it as suitable for grilling anywhere.

• Grill and smoker functions in one folding body
• Lightweight and foldable, prioritising storage and transport
• Stainless steel construction suits frequent handling
• A lidded grill can hold a low temperature for hours
• No smoking features such as a water pan are described

Best value if your goal is one unit that can both sear and slow-cook. Buy it if you want to attempt brisket without buying a dedicated smoker.

Expert Grill 1-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill — $45.99

The is the best gas grill in the roundup, and the number to look at is the cooking area. The seller states 178 square inches with a capacity of up to nine burgers simultaneously, on a porcelain-coated steel grid with a burner cover. Porcelain-coated steel is a genuine quality marker on gas grills because it resists rust and is far easier to clean than bare stainless, and a stated burger count is more useful than a vague square-inch figure. At $45.99 for gas, this is the least effort per cook you can buy here.

• 178 square inches, stated as nine burgers at once
• Porcelain-coated steel grid, a genuine quality marker
• Burner cover included, which aids ignition and wind protection
• Single burner, so no two-zone heat management
• You will need your own propane cylinder

The best pick for anyone who wants barbecue without charcoal. Buy it if you value speed and low effort over smoke flavour.

Wagon Master GT-2 Gas Barbecue Grill, Cast Iron — $26.99

The is a gas-fired, family-size portable grill in cast iron, shipped by USPS Priority Mail. Cast iron grates are the most durable grate material available and they hold heat exceptionally well, which is a genuine advantage at this price. The caution is the one that applies to all cheap gas equipment: a single-burner unit at $26.99 has a short expected life on the manifold and igniter, so this is worth buying with the assumption that you will replace it in a few seasons.

• Cast iron grates, the most durable grate material there is
• Family-size claim, though area is not stated
• Lowest gas price in the roundup at $26.99
• Gas manifolds and igniters are the usual failure point at this price
• Cooking area not given, so measure before relying on the family-size claim

Treat it as transport and occasional cooking, not a patio fixture. Buy it if you want gas for a couple of seasons at the lowest possible entry price.

GrillPro Deluxe 16-Inch Charcoal Smoker — $38.69

The , model 31816, is described as a top-of-the-line outdoor cooking appliance for barbecue and smoking enthusiasts, standing 16 inches tall. It is the only listing in this roundup whose stated purpose is smoking rather than grilling, and the height is the number to note, because a taller firebox is what lets you load a proper amount of fuel and get a longer, steadier burn. At $38.69 it is the cheapest unit here with a smoking brief.

• Model 31816, dedicated smoker rather than a modified grill
• 16-inch height, which aids fuel capacity and burn time
• Cheapest listing here aimed explicitly at smoking
• Top-of-the-line claim is the seller's own wording
• Build quality at this price should be assumed modest

Best budget entry into low-and-slow barbecue. Buy it if smoking is the goal and you are prepared to manage the fire closely.

14-Inch Ceramic Hibachi Charcoal Grill — $204.79

The is the most expensive grill in the roundup and the only ceramic one, built from thickened ceramic clay described as resistant to high temperatures, working as a 2-in-1 charcoal grill with an anti-scalding wooden handle. Ceramic is a genuinely different heat profile from steel: it heats slower, holds temperature more steadily and radiates rather than conducts, which produces noticeably more even cooking. The handle detail shows the designer thought about the one genuine hazard of a ceramic cooker, which is that the shell gets hot enough to burn you.

• Thickened ceramic clay shell, stated in the listing
• Ceramic heats slowly but holds temperature far better than steel
• 2-in-1 charcoal grill design
• Anti-scalding wooden handle addresses the main ceramic hazard
• At $204.79, the most expensive pick and still a fraction of a kamado retail

The best heat retention per dollar anywhere in this list. Buy it if you cook often and want steady temperature control that steel cannot match.

Short version. If you want the best flavour for the least money, take the Weber Jumbo Joe at $64.99 and do not look further. If you need to feed a group, the tabletop charcoal grill with 303 square inches at $164.99. If you refuse to handle charcoal, the Expert Grill propane unit at $45.99. If you want smoke, the GrillPro Deluxe smoker at $38.69. If you want temperature stability for the price of a mid-range kettle, the ceramic hibachi at $204.79.

Grill	Fuel	Best For	Price
Weber Jumbo Joe	Charcoal	Best flavour per dollar	$64.99
Tabletop Charcoal, 303 sq in	Charcoal	Cooking for a group	$164.99
Outsunny Grill and Griddle	Charcoal	Two cooking surfaces	$75.29
Stainless Foldable Grill	Charcoal	Durable portable unit	$69.00
Grill Time Blue Tabletop	Charcoal	Complete first package	$67.00
Expert Grill 1-Burner	Propane	Speed, no charcoal	$45.99
GrillPro Deluxe Smoker	Charcoal	Low and slow cooking	$38.69
14-Inch Ceramic Hibachi	Charcoal	Steady heat retention	$204.79

The pattern across the whole table is worth stating plainly: the charcoal grills cluster between $28 and $75 with two outliers above $140, and the gas grills are both cheaper and shorter-lived than the charcoal equivalents. That is not a quirk of these listings, it is the structural difference between a fuel you can light with a match and a fuel that requires a sealed system.

Three checks separate a genuine bargain from a listing that will disappoint. The first is asking for the underside of the grate, which is where a cheap grill gives itself away: thin, warped, badly welded or already rusting. The second is checking whether the vents are adjustable, because a fixed-vent kettle cannot be controlled once lit, and control is what separates a grill you can cook on from one you can only wait beside. The third is measuring the legs, which sounds trivial and is not, because short legs make a grill unstable on grass and unusable at head height for a larger cook.

A word on what to ignore. Grilling tool sets, burger presses and novelty accessories dominate the results for grill searches and are frequently bundled into the price of a grill. You need a spatula, a pair of tongs and a thermometer. The at $21.75 is a reasonable purchase and a far better use of money than a tool set that duplicates what a fork does, and it is the single accessory that most improves results on a cheap grill, because it replaces guessing with measuring.

Finally, the same honesty that applies to everything else in this roundup. eBay prices change and vary by seller, condition and shipping, and every figure here was confirmed on September 29, 2026 for one specific listing rather than as a going market rate. Grills are heavy, so shipping is a real component of the true cost, particularly for the ceramic hibachi and anything described as boxed. Check the delivered total rather than the headline price, read the seller's condition note carefully on anything marked open box, and buy a cover at the same time, because a steel grill stored wet will be rusting within a season.