Which size kamado should I buy?

Across more than 6,000 Grill Bill kamados we see one pattern: starting small sounds sensible, but for more than half of buyers it leads to an upgrade within a year.

Small kamado (13 inch)

A Small kamado is compact, light and suited to balconies, small terraces and quick grilling sessions. As a second kamado alongside a bigger one it is ideal. As your only kamado, if you want to experiment a lot, it quickly becomes too tight.

• Perfect for: balcony, quick steaks, vegetables, satay, 1–2 people
• Capacity: 2 small steaks or 1 small chicken
• Not ideal for: low & slow, large groups, multiple temperature zones
• Note: accessories are size-specific — Small accessories do not fit a Large

Medium kamado (16 inch)

The Medium is fine for couples or small families who grill regularly but not intensively. You can smoke and cook indirectly without the kamado taking up much space. For true kamado enthusiasts the Medium is often just a bit too small in the long run.

• Perfect for: 2–3 people, compact use
• Capacity: 4 burgers, 1 large chicken, a small pulled pork
• Ideal as: a compact all-rounder if you do not want to expand
• Drawback: when cooking indirectly the heat deflector takes up a lot of room — little space left for large cuts or pans

Torn between Medium and Large? Read: Buying a kamado: what should you really look at?

Large kamado (21 inch) — the most popular size

The Large is by far the most chosen size at Grill Bill — accounting for more than 70% of all sales. This size offers the best balance between size, performance and flexibility. You can create multiple zones, prepare large cuts of meat and make full use of every accessory. For 80% of users this is simply the right choice.

• Perfect for: 3–6 people, families, keen grillers
• Capacity: 8 burgers, 2 chickens, a large pulled pork or a full rack of spare ribs
• Suitable for every technique: direct and indirect at the same time, low & slow, smoking, baking
• Future-proof: fully expandable with the Smart Qooking System

More on techniques and temperature: How do you control the temperature in a kamado? and Direct and indirect cooking on the kamado.

XL kamado (23.5 inch) — for large groups and ambitious cooking

The XL is the kamado for those who think big. Thanks to the extra ceramic mass the temperature stays extremely stable during long low & slow sessions — a difference you feel straight away. Ideal for large families, parties or pitmasters preparing several dishes at once.

• Perfect for: 6–12 people, large groups, catering
• Capacity: a whole brisket, several chickens at once, an enormous pulled pork
• Best for: catering, large families, extended cooking days with multiple temperature zones
• Note: heavier and larger — measure your terrace space beforehand

How do you choose the right kamado size?

In practice these are the three decisive questions:

• Number of people — how many do you cook for on an average day? And on a busy day? Size for the busiest day, not the quietest.
• Cooking style — do you grill quick steaks and chicken, or do you also do low & slow and smoking? The more ambitious you are, the more room you need.
• Terrace space — measure your available space before you order. An XL is considerably larger and heavier than a Large.

Our advice: if you are torn between two sizes, always choose the larger one. A kamado that is too big is never a problem. A kamado that is too small almost always is, within six months.

Common mistakes when choosing a size

More pitfalls on your first purchase: Common kamado mistakes — and how to avoid them.

Related articles

• Buying a kamado: where do you start?
• Buying a kamado: what should you really look at?
• The difference between cheap and expensive kamados
• What is the best kamado for beginners?
• How do you control the temperature in a kamado?
• Direct and indirect cooking on the kamado
• Common kamado mistakes