Which size kamado should I buy?

3 December 2025· 8 min read

Which size kamado should I buy?

For most users a Large (21 inch) is the best choice: versatile, future-proof and suitable for 3 to 6 people. A Medium (16 inch) works for small households but gets tight quickly. An XL (23.5 inch) is ideal for large groups or pitmasters. If you are torn between two sizes, always choose the larger one.

For most buyers, the Large (21″) is the right size
More than half of Medium buyers upgrade within a year
Small (13″): 2 steaks or 1 small chicken — balcony or second kamado
XL (23.5″): a whole brisket, 6 to 12 people
Accessories are size-specific — upgrading means buying everything again

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. Unsure about the model as well as the size? Every choice is laid out under buying a kamado BBQ.

Quick decision guide: which size suits you?

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Recommended size

Balcony, very small garden, 1–2 people, quick sessions

Small (13 inch)

Small household, 2–3 people, occasional use

Medium (16 inch)

Family or enthusiast, 3–6 people, every technique

✅ Large (21 inch) — most chosen

Large groups, 6–12 people, or pitmaster

XL (23.5 inch)

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. 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 most 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

Size comparison at a glance

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Inch

People

Capacity

Low & slow

Best for

Small

13″

1–2

2 steaks / 1 chicken

Limited

Balcony, small garden, as a second kamado

Medium

16″

2–3

4 burgers / 1 large chicken

Possible

Compact household, as a second kamado

Large

21″

3–6

8 burgers / 2 chickens / ribs

✅ Excellent

✅ Most users

23.5″

6–12

Whole brisket / several chickens

✅ Optimal

Large groups / pitmaster

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

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Why it goes wrong + the fix

Starting too small

More than half of Medium buyers want to upgrade to a Large within a year. Start bigger straight away.

Forgetting to factor in indirect cooking

When cooking indirectly the heat deflector takes up room — on a Medium there is little left for large cuts or an oven dish.

Overlooking accessories

Grates, heat deflectors and the Smart Qooking System are size-specific. Upgrading means buying everything again.

Underestimating terrace space

An XL is considerably larger and heavier than a Large. Measure up before you order.

Choosing only for today

Your cooking style grows. What seems enough now is often too tight a year later. Choose future-proof.

Common mistakes when choosing a size

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

FAQ

Which size kamado is best for beginners?

A Large (21 inch) is the most versatile size for beginners. You have enough room for several cooking techniques and dishes, without restrictions. Also unsure which model? See: What is the best kamado for beginners?

Which size kamado do I need for 2 people?

A Medium (16 inch) works well for 2 people technically. Even so, many couples choose a Large — the flexibility when guests arrive and the extra room for low & slow tip the balance. If you never cook for more than 2 people and rarely do low & slow, a Medium is perfectly fine.

Is an XL kamado worth it?

Yes, if you regularly cook for 6 or more people, do a lot of low & slow, or like working with large cuts and pans. The extra ceramic mass keeps the temperature extremely stable during long sessions. Usually cooking for a small group? Then a Large is almost always more than enough.

Can I cook low and slow on a Small kamado?

You can, but the limited space makes it awkward with larger cuts of meat. For serious low & slow sessions — pulled pork, brisket, spare ribs — we recommend a Large as a minimum. A Small will take a little pulled pork or some chicken thighs, but no more than that.

Which size kamado sells the most?

The Large (21 inch) is by far the most popular size at Grill Bill. This size offers the best balance between size, performance and versatility for most users.

Do accessories differ per size?

Yes, all kamado accessories are size-specific. Grates, heat deflectors, the Smart Qooking System and other parts are made for each size (Small 13″, Medium 16″, Large 21″, XL 23.5″). If you change size, you have to buy your accessories again too.

What is the difference in charcoal consumption between the sizes?

Larger ceramic needs more charcoal to come up to temperature. In practice: a Large uses roughly 2–3 kg of charcoal for a 12-hour low & slow session (110°C). An XL around 3–4 kg. Thanks to the thick ceramic, both are significantly more economical than comparable steel barbecues.

Which type of Grill Bill kamado sells the most?

That is the Pro III. Even though it is slightly pricier, customers still choose the model with the most accessories. What we often hear is that buying those separately afterwards costs more than getting everything in one go.

Written by

Bobby

Grill Bill specialises in ceramic kamado barbecues and shares knowledge about low & slow cooking, smoking, grilling and baking on the kamado.