Big Green Egg Alternatives: Kamado Joe and COALS Compared Size for Size
The Big Green Egg is the best-known ceramic kamado grill in America, and it earns that reputation. It also costs a lot: a Large Egg lists at $1,199.99 on its own, before you buy a nest to stand it on. If you're shopping for a Big Green Egg alternative, the two names that come up are Kamado Joe and lower-cost ceramic kamados like the COALS by ComfortBilt kamado grills we sell. This guide lines them up size for size, says plainly where the Egg and the Joe are better, and shows where COALS saves you money. Every COALS grill ships with No Sales Tax in any state.
Quick answer: a COALS kamado gives you the same ceramic cooking for much less, especially in the small and Large-Egg sizes. The Egg and Kamado Joe win on warranty and dealer support.
- Large Egg alternative: the COALS 21" kamado grill, $999 with a rolling stand and side shelves. The Large Egg is $1,199.99 for the Egg alone.
- Small Egg, MiniMax or Joe Jr. alternative: the COALS 15" kamado at $179, or the 39 lb COALS 13" portable at $149.
- XL Egg or Big Joe alternative: the COALS 26" XL, $1,699 with a 24" cooking grid, stand and shelves.
- Where COALS falls short: a 1-year warranty that excludes ceramic cracking, versus limited lifetime coverage on the ceramics from Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe.
No Sales Tax in any state, free shipping on orders over $300. Questions? Email info@stovesource.com or text 1-888-866-8206.
Big Green Egg vs Kamado Joe vs COALS: size for size
Kamados are sized by the diameter of the main cooking grate, so that's the fairest way to match them up. Prices below are the manufacturers' own US list prices as of October 2026; dealers often sell for a little more or less, so treat the Egg and Joe figures as "about." The Egg is sold without a nest or stand, which is extra.
| Size class | Big Green Egg | Kamado Joe | COALS by ComfortBilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini / portable | Mini: 10" grid, about $500 | None | COALS 13" portable: 10.7" cooking surface, $149 |
| Small | Small: 13" grid, about $700 MiniMax: 13" grid, about $850 |
Joe Jr.: 13.5" grate, about $500 with cast iron stand | COALS 15" small: 13.4" cooking surface, $179 |
| Medium | Medium: 15" grid, about $900 | None | No exact match: step down to the 15" or up to the 21" |
| Large (the most popular size) | Large: 18.25" grid, about $1,200 (Egg only; nest about $230 more) | Classic Joe Series I: 18" grate, about $1,000 with cart and side shelves | COALS 21": 18.3" cooking surface, $999 with stand and side shelves |
| Between Large and XL | None | None | COALS 23": 20.5" cooking surface, $1,299 with stand and side shelves |
| XL | XL: 24" grid, about $1,650 (Egg only; nest about $250 more) | Big Joe Series I: 24" grate, about $1,500 with cart and side shelves | COALS 26" XL: 24" cooking grid, $1,699 with stand and side shelves |
| 2XL | 2XL: 29" grid, about $2,800 | None | None |
A note on "cooking area." Compare grate diameters, not square inches. Brands count cooking area differently: ComfortBilt lists 412, 487 and 680 sq in for the 21", 23" and 26" XL, which is more than the main grate alone, while Big Green Egg lists 262 sq in for the Large and 452 for the XL, which is just the main grid. A 24" grate is a 24" grate, whoever makes it.
Where the Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe are better
If you're going to spend this kind of money, you should know what the premium buys. It's real.
- Warranty. This is the big one. Big Green Egg covers its ceramic parts with a limited lifetime warranty for as long as the original owner has the Egg, and metal parts for five years. Kamado Joe also gives a limited lifetime warranty on its key ceramic parts and five years on key metal parts. ComfortBilt's warranty on COALS grills is 1 year, and it excludes ceramic cracking. If you want a grill you'll never have to think about replacing, that matters.
- Dealer network. Both brands are sold through local hardware stores and barbecue shops, so you can see one in person, have it assembled, and walk in for a replacement gasket. We sell COALS online and support it by phone.
- Accessory ecosystem. The Egg and Kamado Joe have huge catalogs: tables, nest systems, rotisseries, pizza ovens, multi-level racks and replacement parts for grills decades old. COALS has the core accessories (below), not the full catalog.
- Resale and track record. A used Big Green Egg holds its value, and the brand has been around since the 1970s.
- Kamado Joe at the XL size. At about $1,500 with a cart and shelves, the Big Joe Series I lists for less than the COALS 26" XL. If you want a 24" kamado and the Big Joe I is available near you, it's a strong buy, and we'll say so.
Where COALS wins
- No Sales Tax. We don't charge sales tax in any state. At 7% sales tax, that's about $70 saved on the COALS 21" before anything else.
- Price, especially small and Large. The COALS 15" at $179 cooks on almost the same size grate as the Small Egg (about $700) or the Joe Jr. (about $500). The COALS 13" at $149 is a third of the price of the Egg Mini.
- What's in the box. The 21", 23" and 26" XL all come on a stainless steel stand with four casters (two locking), folding side shelves, a spring-loaded lid hinge and an ash tool. A Large Egg plus its nest runs about $1,430, and that's still without shelves.
- Free shipping on orders over $300, which covers every full-size COALS grill.
- The same way of cooking. Every COALS grill has a thick glazed ceramic shell, fireproof felt seals, top and bottom dampers and a built-in thermometer, and ComfortBilt rates them up to 840°F for searing. The 21", 23" and 26" XL have a hinged section in the grate so you can add charcoal or wood chips without moving the food.
COALS grills are made by ComfortBilt, the same company behind the pellet stoves we sell. If you heat with one, our ComfortBilt pellet stove lineup guide compares all ten models.
Which size do you need?
- 1 to 3 people, camping, tailgating or a balcony: the COALS 13" portable. At 39 lb it's light enough to carry, with a 10.7" cooking surface.
- A couple or a small family, or a second grill: the COALS 15". Its 13.4" surface takes a rack of ribs or dinner for a small family, and it has side handles. It weighs 77 lb, so it's "movable," not really portable.
- Most families (4 to 6 people): the COALS 21". This is the Large Egg class, big enough for a whole bird or a family cookout, and it takes the widest range of accessories.
- You regularly smoke two pork shoulders or several racks of ribs: the COALS 23", a size neither the Egg nor Kamado Joe makes.
- Big families, parties, or cooking for a crowd: the COALS 26" XL, with a 24" cooking grid, the same grate size as the XL Egg and Big Joe.
Weight is worth a thought before delivery day: the 21" weighs 190 lb, the 23" 246 lb and the 26" XL 275.5 lb. Plan on two people to set the body on the stand.
Kamado accessories worth adding
The COALS grills come ready to grill. For low-and-slow smoking and baking, add a heat deflector; the rest depends on how you cook. Prices below are by grill size.
| Accessory | What it does | Fits / price |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic heat deflector | Blocks direct flame for indirect cooking and smoking | 21" $36.99, 23" $38.99 |
| Divide & Conquer cooking system | Splits the grill into a hot direct zone and a gentler indirect zone | 21" $79.99, 23" $89.99, 26" $99.99 |
| Half-moon cast iron griddle | Smooth side for eggs and smash burgers, ribbed side for sear marks; works with Divide & Conquer | $49.99 |
| Cast iron grate (sear plate) | Holds more heat than stainless for steakhouse grill marks | 21" $59.99 |
| Ceramic pizza stone | Crisp-crust pizza, flatbread and bread (use with the heat deflector) | 21" $39.99, 23" $43.99, 26" $47.99 |
| Grid expander | Second stainless tier 4" higher, up to 60% more cooking surface | 21" & 23" $26.99, 26" $29.99 |
| Grill cover | Waterproof, full-length cover for the grill and stand | 21" $29.99, 23" & 26" $34.99 |
If you only add one thing, make it the heat deflector (21" and 23") or the Divide & Conquer system (all three full-size grills), since indirect heat is what turns a kamado into a smoker. Check the size on each product page before you order. Browse everything in our kamado grills and accessories collection.
How to make any kamado last
- Bring it up to temperature gradually. Heating cold ceramic too fast is a common cause of cracks on any brand.
- Don't let a big fire run with the lid open for long; kamados are built to cook with the dome closed and the dampers doing the work.
- Burp it: crack the lid an inch for a few seconds before opening it fully when it's hot, so a rush of air doesn't flare up.
- Cover it and keep water out of the firebox. Wet ceramic heated quickly can crack.
Download the owner's manual from the product page of your grill for ComfortBilt's assembly and use instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Kamado vs pellet grill: which should I buy?
A pellet grill plugs into the wall, feeds wood pellets with an auger and holds a temperature you set on a digital controller, so it's the easier smoker. A kamado burns charcoal and needs no electricity, holds heat and moisture in thick ceramic, and gets much hotter for searing (COALS grills are rated up to 840°F). If you want set-and-forget smoking, buy a pellet grill. If you want one cooker that smokes, sears, roasts and bakes pizza, buy a kamado.
Can a kamado grill smoke as well as a pellet grill?
Yes, once you learn the dampers. With a heat deflector in place, a ceramic kamado holds a low temperature for hours on one load of charcoal. It takes more hands-on adjustment at the start of a cook than a pellet grill does.
Is a COALS kamado as good as a Big Green Egg?
It cooks the same way: thick glazed ceramic, top and bottom dampers, felt seals and a built-in thermometer. The real differences are the warranty (1 year on COALS, excluding ceramic cracking, versus limited lifetime on Egg ceramics), the dealer network and the accessory range. You pay for those with the Egg.
What size Big Green Egg is the COALS 21-inch?
It's the Large Egg class. The COALS 21" has an 18.3" cooking surface; the Large Egg grid is 18.25" and the Classic Joe is 18".
Do Big Green Egg accessories fit a COALS grill?
Don't assume they do. Kamado accessories are sized to each brand's firebox and grate, so buy the matching COALS accessory for your grill size.
Do I need a heat deflector?
For grilling burgers and steaks, no. For smoking, roasting a bird or baking, yes. It's what separates the food from the direct flame.
Questions about sizing or accessories? Email info@stovesource.com or text 1-888-866-8206. Every COALS kamado ships with No Sales Tax in any state, and free shipping on orders over $300. Shop all kamado grills.