Preparing your steaks using a charcoal grill is one of the best ways of enjoying your dishes.
It’s because smoke from the burning coal adds extra flavor to the meals you are preparing and this makes them a lot tastier.
Charcoal grills aren’t that expensive since most usually don’t have complicated designs and features.
They basically feature a coal holding area, a cooking grate, and an ashtray for collecting the used up ash. They are a great investment that will take your cooking to the next level.
The most affordable ones that you can get are those that cost less than $100.
To help you find the best charcoal grills in this price range, I searched the market extensively and settled on the following as the best outdoor grilling devices for the money.
Which are the Best Charcoal Grills Under $100?
Grills that run on charcoal give the dishes that smoky flavor that everyone enjoys.
These cooking devices can be cheap or pricy but here are the ones that you won’t regret buying since they are made of quality material and come with useful features and a nice design.
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill | Check Latest Price |
 | Char-Griller E22424 Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box | Check Latest Price |
 | Uten BBQ Charcoal Barbecue Grill | Check Latest Price |
Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill
Weber has been at the forefront when it comes to amazing cooking appliances and the Weber 741001 Original Kettle grill is one of their amazing creations.
- Holds up to 13 burgers made with a Weber burger press
- One-Touch cleaning system provides hassle-free ash cleanup
- Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl Retain heat, and won’t rust or peel
- Use the lid hook to avoid placing the lid on the ground while grilling
- Dampers allow you to easily control the temperature inside your grill
- Durable plated steel cooking grate retains heat and is easy to clean
Cooking space
Its dimensions are 25 x 22.5 x 39.5 inches and it weighs 7 lbs. The cooking area has a space of 363 square inches and a diameter of 22 inches.
It is larger than most charcoal grills this price range can offer. You, therefore, have enough space to cook the foods that you love and enjoy. If you get it you will be able to prepare 13 burgers at the same time.
An innovative design
This model comes in an innovative design of a curved bowl and a lid. The lid has a 7.5-inch height.
The curved bowl ensures that you have enough space to hold the fuel while the lid comes in handy if you want your steaks to have that rich smoky flavor.
Made of steel
The unit is made of steel which is one of the strongest elements on earth.
This, therefore, makes this grill quite strong and will ensure that you get to use it for a very long period of time.
Its exterior has also been coated with porcelain enamel that makes cleaning it very easy. It has a One-Touch cleaning system for easy ash cleaning.
Damper to control the heat
Most people prefer the ability to control the temperature when cooking and this is what you will get when you buy this Weber model.
It comes with a damper that allows you to control the heat within the grill without having to lift the lid.
You can, therefore, adjust the damper to increase the heat if you want sear marks on your steaks or lower the heat if you want to cook your food slowly.
Sturdy cooking grate
The cooking grate is made of plated steel that is resistant to the high temperatures generated in the device. It has handles on either side that makes it easy to refuel it when you are grilling.
Char-Griller Portable Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box
The Char-Griller 2-2424 Table Top charcoal grill and Side Fire Box is a portable model that is ideal for grilled food enthusiasts who like Texas-style smoky meals.
You can use it as a tabletop grill or horizontal Texas style smoker. The device has a heavy-duty design that makes it very durable.
- Removable ash pan for easy coal clean up
- Offset for Texas style smoking
- Attaches to all Char-Griller barrel grills (#2123, #2828, #2137 and the #5050 Duo Gas and Charcoal Grill)
- Use as a table top grill or horizontal Texas style smoker
- You can go from a grill to a side fire box, once done you cannot go back to the grill
- Fits the Chargriller Pro Deluxe, Wrangler, Outlaw and Duo as a Side Fire Box
- Heavy steel construction, Cast iron cooking grates, 250 -square inch of primary cooking space
- Sliding drawer for easy access to coals and ashes, Easy dump ash pan and Stay Cool hood handle
Cooking area
Its dimensions are 18.5″ x 17″ x 16″ and it weighs 40lbs. This grill isn’t that big and this means that you will not be able to cook several meals at a go.
The cooking space of this unit is just under 250 square inches which is ideal for hot dogs, burgers, and a few steaks.
Light & portable
No matter if it lacks in cooking space, it makes up for it by being light and portable. It weighs just 40 pounds so it is easy to carry as you head out for your adventures.
This model attaches to all Char-Griller barrel grills (#2123, #2828, #2137, and the #5050 duo gas and charcoal grill) and fits the Chargriller Pro Deluxe, Wrangler, Outlaw and Duo as a side fire box.
Dampers to adjust the temperature
It comes with two adjustable dampers that allow you to adjust the grilling temperature.
Other than that, it has a sliding drawer that makes it easy to access the charcoal and used up ashes.
The cooking device has easy dump ash pan and the hood handle stays cool.
Durable grill
It is made of powder-coated heavy steel. The cooking grate is strong enough to withstand the high temperatures generated within the grill.
It is durable so you will be able to use it for a very long period of time without buying a new one.
Uten Portable Barbecue Grill
The Uten Barbecue Grill is an excellent small charcoal model that you can get for little money.
It comes in a solid design that makes it strong and durable to outdoor elements.
It is perfect for 3-5 people who want to have a delicious meal ready on a barbecue device.
- ★ GO ANYWHERE: This tiny portable charcoal grill can go with you and your family for a road trip or a beach party etc. Perfect for 3-5 people family/party.
- ★ COMPACT and STURDY: Made of cold-rolled iron and premium chrome Wire mesh. Heat-resistant and scratch-resistant. Legs are more sturdy than similar products.
- ★ FOLDABLE EASY STORAGE: It can be folded away after you use. Handle designed make it save space and is convenient to take it to anywhere to have fun.
- ★ 12 AIRWAY VENT: Star a fire Faster and Easier with 12 Airway Vent design. Easy to clean as the baking net can be pulled out. WARNING: Use it on a flat, sturdy surface or table.
- ★ PERFECT GIFT: Uten folding portable lightweight BBQ grill is a perfect BBQ tool for beach, picnics, parties, trailers, a camping trip or anywhere you want.
Heavy-duty iron material
It is made purely of cold-rolled iron and premium chrome wire mesh so the device is heat and scratch-resistant and can’t get easily deformed.
It is resistant to rust so you won’t have to worry about the rain and moisture if you leave it outside. Its legs are sturdy so cooking will be easy.
Cooking space
Its dimensions are 14.72 x 12.76 x 3.07 inches. The cooking area is small so you will have to take the time to prepare your dishes for the guests.
The grill has 12 airway vent design for an easy start. You will be able to use it in 5-10 minutes.
The most lightweight charcoal grill
It is, however, very light so you can easily take it with you as you head out to camp or for a picnic. It weighs only 4lbs. The device has handles on either side for effective handling and transportation.
Portable and foldable grill
This model is the most portable among all three options that I recommend as it has foldable legs.
This feature makes it a perfect match for camping, backpacking, or fishing trip. You won’t have trouble with the cleanup as it has a baking net that can be pulled out.
Should you get a small portable charcoal grill?
When it comes to cooking appliances, you get what you pay and that is exactly the same with charcoal grills.
With some useful features and the finest material, they get the job done, which is to help you prepare the best-smoky dishes.
Some of the features that you can get with this type of grills include a strong cooking grate, a strong build, and an ashtray.
Charcoal grills in this price range may not be very large so you won’t be able to cook much food at the same time. However, they are perfect for a small family or serving a guest at your home.
What is the best small charcoal grill?
Uten made perfect small bbq grill that you can take it on the picnic, camping, to the neighbor, on the beach, or wherever you like. It won’t cost you much and lasts for years if you maintain it.
It is made of cold-rolled iron and premium chrome wire mesh. This model is resistant to rust and scratches.
You will be able to start it fast and cook a small portion for your loved ones. It has handles for transportation, can be folded, and weighs only 4 pounds. This model is great for the price.
How much is a small charcoal grill?
You can get small charcoal grills from $20-$100. Today anyone can buy one and cook that smoky flavor food. The quality of the unit depends on material, construction, and usability.
You should consider your needs when buying it. For example, if you will host more people than it is best to look for the bigger cooking grate than smaller. This way you will be able to serve more people at the same time.
Small grills are wonderful, especially if they can be folded, as you can pack them and take on the outdoor adventure.
They are lightweight and portable so they won’t burden you too much when you carry them on the trail.
How do you grill on a small charcoal grill?
A small cooking unit doesn’t need much fuel to grill the food so you won’t need to use much charcoal or wood to start a fire.
It doesn’t have much cooking space so you will be able to put some pieces of food on the grates (space depends on the model).
I suggest that you use some briquettes and cook on the full grate to see how much fuel is enough to grill with full capacity.
This way you will learn how to use the right portion of the fuel to prepare food.
How much charcoal do you put in a portable grill?
As I said in the previous paragraph you won’t need large quantities of charcoal to cook food on a small and portable grill.
In general, portable models don’t have a large cooking area so you will have to add smaller quantities of fuel to prepare food. Also, consider the fact that the more you add fuel to the grill the hotter it will get.
How long do you let the charcoal burn before cooking?
There is a rule when it gets to using briquettes for cooking. When are the briquettes ready to cook? Light them and let them burn for about 20-30 minutes.
When the coals are hot, colored gray and there isn’t any smoke it is time that you start preparing the food.
How do you keep a small charcoal grill hot?
These units don’t have much space for the charcoal so the grill can cool down faster than bigger ones. So, how to keep it hot to serve food to all your guests?
They have vents at the bottom that you can open as you like to get some air to the briquettes. The air will help coals to give more heat to the food.
You can also add some briquettes additionally if you see that you will need extra to serve all of your guests.
Small and budget-friendly grills
Grills that run on charcoal are excellent for preparing delicious dishes.
Other types of grills may claim to be able to help you prepare your meals faster but none brings out the natural flavors of food better than this type of grill.
So, if you want to cook for yourself and your family or to treat a friend that came over you should get one of these small and portable grills that won’t break your wallet.
