Checklist · 12 picks · 5 categories
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Charcoal grilling needs less gear than people think. A 22-inch Weber kettle is the classic first grill, and Serious Eats' reviews still puts it on top. A chimney starter lights the coals without lighter fluid, long tongs keep your hands off the heat, and a good brush cleans the grates while they're hot. Heat-proof gloves and a wireless thermometer are the nice-to-haves that make smoking and big cooks easier. Every pick won a named spot in Serious Eats' published tests, with budget, mid and splurge options, and each card shows the drawback the tester called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you cook on gas; the grill, chimney and charcoal picks are for charcoal grilling.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 29, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill | budget | $100+ | your first and maybe only charcoal grill | 1 outlet |
| Weber 22-Inch Master-Touch Charcoal Grill | mid | $100+ | a kettle with extra polish | 1 outlet |
| Weber 22-Inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill | splurge | $100+ | beginners who want help getting it right | 1 outlet |
Best charcoal grillbudget pick · 22 in
Best for your first and maybe only charcoal grill
Serious Eats' best charcoal grill and best budget pick: equally good at grilling and smoking, with a highly adjustable damper.
Heads up. The ash catcher was hard to clean, and the build could be sturdier
1 outlet. Serious Eats best charcoal grill (and best budget).
$100+
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mid pick · 22 in
Best for a kettle with extra polish
Serious Eats' more luxe Weber kettle: grates spaced ideally for fast, even cooking and well-designed dampers.
Heads up. One owner had to replace an ash-cleaning arm after years of use (an inexpensive fix)
1 outlet. Serious Eats more luxe weber kettle.
$100+
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splurge pick · 22 in
Best for beginners who want help getting it right
Serious Eats' best charcoal grill for beginners: an upgraded kettle that makes the whole process easier.
Heads up. Adding charcoal partway through a long cook was tricky
1 outlet. Serious Eats best charcoal grill for beginners.
$100+
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Best chimney starterbudget pick · 6 qt
Best for lighting charcoal without lighter fluid
Serious Eats' best chimney starter: lights charcoal faster and cleaner than lighter fluid, and holds enough to cover a 22-inch Weber.
Heads up. Serious Eats gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. Serious Eats best charcoal chimney starter.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broil King Baron Barbecue Tong | budget | $15-25 | a cheap, solid pair | 1 outlet |
| OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs | mid | $15-25 | everyday grilling | 1 outlet |
| ThermoWorks BlueDOT Alarm Thermometer | mid | $50-100 | smoking and roasting without hovering | 1 outlet |
| Typhur Sync Dual WiFi Wireless Meat Thermometer | splurge | $100+ | two cuts of meat at once | 1 outlet |
Best grill tongsbudget pick · Long
Best for a cheap, solid pair
Serious Eats' best budget grill tongs: an easy push/pull spring and scalloped edges that grip hot dogs and kebabs.
Heads up. Can't be hung up, and the square tips are less nimble
1 outlet. Serious Eats best budget grill tongs.
$15-25
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mid pick · 16 in
Best for everyday grilling
Serious Eats' best grill tongs: long, sturdy and quick to open and close, keeping your hands away from the heat.
Heads up. No hook for hanging, and the rubber tab wore off over time
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill tongs.
$15-25
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mid pick · 1 probe
Best for smoking and roasting without hovering
Serious Eats' best Bluetooth meat thermometer: so simple everyone in the tester's family used it, with a huge temperature range.
Heads up. Only one probe
1 outlet. Serious Eats best bluetooth meat thermometer.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 2 probes
Best for two cuts of meat at once
Serious Eats' best double-probe wireless grill thermometer: sleek, compact and simple to set up and use.
Heads up. The app is cluttered, with an AI helper that pops up too often
1 outlet. Serious Eats best double-probe wireless grill thermometer.
$100+
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Best grill brushbudget pick · 18 in
Best for fast cleanup, no wire bristles
Serious Eats' best steam-cleaning grill brush: the fastest in its test, cleaning grates in about 12 seconds without metal bristles.
Heads up. The plastic body doesn't feel built to last
1 outlet. Serious Eats best steam grill brush.
$15-25
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mid pick · Long
Best for heavy-duty cleaning
Serious Eats' best grill brush: bristles plus coiled metal for hot or cold cleaning, cutting through grease faster than most.
Heads up. The big head is hard to store in a drawer
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill brush.
$25-50
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Best grill glovesbudget pick · Knit
Best for occasional grilling
Serious Eats' best budget gloves for occasional grillers: they beat pricier knit gloves on heat resistance and grip, and they're machine-washable.
Heads up. Polyester is less comfortable than aramid knits
1 outlet. Serious Eats best budget grill gloves.
$15-25
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mid pick · Knit
Best for handling hot grates and skillets
Serious Eats' best grill gloves: a double-sided silicone grip and a tidy, comfortable fit.
Heads up. Dry-clean only, though the silicone wipes clean
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill gloves.
$15-25
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A grill, a chimney starter, charcoal, long tongs and a grill brush. Gloves and a meat thermometer make it easier and safer, especially for smoking.
Charcoal grills cost less and give more smoky flavor; gas lights instantly and is easier to control. A Weber kettle is the classic budget start, and it can smoke too.
It's the easiest way to stop guessing. A wireless one lets you watch the temperature from your phone or a remote while the meat cooks.