Grill Bill Classic, or a Pro Kamado BBQ after all?

Grill Bill Classic or Pro: three versions, one kamado. That sounds contradictory, but it is exactly how it is: the ceramic under the Classic, the Pro II and the Pro III comes from the same mould and has the same wall thickness. The warranty does differ: 10 years on the ceramic for the Classic, up to 20 years for the Pro II and Pro III (10 years as standard, 20 years if you complete the free GB Academy). Buying a Classic does not mean buying a lighter version of the same egg. The difference lies elsewhere: in the gasket, the glaze and what else is in the box. Below is exactly what that means per size. Still unsure about the size first? Read buying a kamado BBQ.

Large (21") and Extra Large (23.5")

With the two large sizes you have the full choice of three versions. This is what differs per version:

Both Pro versions of the Large and the Extra Large come with the Divide & Conquer system: two half stainless steel grates, two half cast iron grates, a ring for a pan or wok, and two half stones for indirect cooking. That lets you cook two ways at once. Ribs at 110 degrees on the left, a piece of fish searing on full heat on the right — without swapping anything over.

The Pro III builds on that, and above all on the convenience around it. The kamado is fixed to the cart, there's a handle at the back for steering, and the Grate Organizer holds the grate while you switch levels. Small things on paper, every one of them. In practice they're exactly the movements you make every session.

Medium (16") and Small (13")

The two small sizes have no Pro III. There the choice is between Pro and Classic.

The Small Pro is the exception here: it comes with a stainless steel grate only, no cast iron version.

Why fibreglass and not felt?

Felt does its job fine, until it doesn't. After a few seasons it compresses, tears in places and the lid closes just a little less tightly. Fibreglass holds its shape. The lid closes the same way year after year, hardly any heat escapes and you spend less time correcting your vents. Part of the Pro's premium sits exactly there. Want to know how to fire up the kamado so that seal can do its work? You'll find it in our lighting instructions.

Grill Bill Classic or Pro: where the extra cost goes

The matt colour isn't a coat of paint but a second pass through the kiln, at high temperature. The Classic goes through once, the Pro twice — twice the kiln hours, twice the cost. What you get back is a rougher, deeper surface that won't polish up to a shine. With the Pro III we go one shade further: ultra matt black, the deepest finish we make.

On top of that, with the Pro II you pay for what's included — the cast iron grates and the charcoal basket you'd otherwise buy separately. With the Pro III, the larger wheels, the fixed mounting to the cart, the handlebar and the hinge protection come on top. No decoration: these are the parts that make daily use easier.

What comes in the box as standard

The Medium, Large and Extra Large always include a firebox, charcoal grate, heat deflector, dome thermometer and top and bottom vents. The Large and XL additionally get a fire ring, charcoal basket, cart on wheels and side tables. One detail that often causes confusion: on the Large and XL Pro, the Divide & Conquer system replaces the separate heat deflector. That's an upgrade, not an omission.

The Small is deliberately more basic: one stainless steel grate and nothing else. No heat deflector, no wheels. For a balcony, a fixed spot on the patio or taking along to the campsite, that's fine. If you want to cook indirectly on it, you buy a separate plate setter.

Specifications per size

Guideline: up to 12 people. The largest in the range, and the size you choose if you regularly cook for a full garden or want to run a long low & slow without compromise. View all Extra Large kamados.

Guideline: up to 8 people. This is the size that leaves the door most often, and that's no coincidence: the 21 inch cooks comfortably for a group without a giant standing in your garden. If you're torn between the three versions here, the Pro III is the most relaxed choice in the long run for most people. View all Large kamados.

Guideline: up to 5 people. Compact, but not limited. The Medium sits on a table stand: no wheels, no side tables, but a fixed spot on the patio. Do bear in mind the 32.5 cm grate surface — you won't fit a three-kilo brisket on it properly. If you want to run that kind of session, look at the Large after all. View all Medium kamados.

Guideline: up to 3 people. The Small isn't a shrunken Large, but very much its own animal. Ideal on a balcony, along to the campsite, or as a second kamado next to your big one. There's no heat deflector in the box, so for indirect cooking you buy a separate plate setter. When cleaning, also bear in mind the coated stainless steel grate. View all Small kamados.