Big Green Egg vs Kamado Joe

How the two compare

This table sums up widely documented differences between the brands. Exact contents depend on the model, generation and bundle, so check before buying.

Sizes and how many people they feed

Both brands offer a family size with a grid of about 46 cm: the Big Green Egg Large and the Kamado Joe Classic. That size suits four to eight people and is the reference most recipes are written for. Each brand also has smaller models for couples and balconies where allowed, and larger ones for big families.

Big Green Egg has the wider spread of sizes, which helps if you want something very small for travel or very large for parties. Kamado Joe keeps to three main sizes. Our what size Big Green Egg guide lists the Egg sizes and who each suits.

What comes in the box

This is the biggest practical difference. A Kamado Joe Classic is usually sold ready to cook with a stand on wheels, side shelves, the Divide and Conquer rack with half-moon heat deflectors, and tools. A Big Green Egg is usually sold as the ceramic cooker, and you add a nest or table, side shelves (EGGmates) and a ConvEGGtor for indirect cooking. Dealers often sell Egg bundles that include these.

When comparing, add up a like-for-like set: cooker, stand, shelves and a heat deflector for indirect cooking. Then compare the totals, not the headline price.

Design details: hinge, vents and gasket

Ceramic lids are heavy. Kamado Joe's Air Lift hinge on the Classic and Big Joe takes most of the weight, and its top vent, the Kontrol Tower on recent models, is designed to stay in position when you open the lid. Big Green Egg uses a spring-assisted hinge on many sizes and its own top vent cap. Both brands use a felt or fibreglass gasket between lid and base, which wears over time and can be replaced.

Both control temperature the same way: more air in through the bottom vent and out through the top makes the fire hotter. Our how to use a kamado guide explains vent settings.

Buying, warranty and support

Big Green Egg is known for its dealer network: you buy from an authorised dealer who can advise, assemble and help with warranty claims. Kamado Joe is sold more widely, including online. Both offer warranties on the ceramic parts, with different terms for metal parts and gaskets; read the current terms on each maker's website rather than relying on a figure from a forum.

If you are still deciding whether a kamado suits you at all, a 57 cm kettle with a smoking kit does many of the same jobs for less money and weight; see kamado vs kettle, best charcoal BBQs and best charcoal smokers.

Compare charcoal smokers →

Frequently asked questions

Is Big Green Egg better than Kamado Joe? Not in cooking terms; both hold heat and smoke very well. The differences are sizes, included kit, design details and how you buy.

Which is easier to use? Similar. Kamado Joe's included multi-level rack and lid hinge make set-up a little easier out of the box; an Egg with a ConvEGGtor works the same way.

Can I use Big Green Egg accessories on a Kamado Joe? Some third-party accessories fit both at the same size, but brand accessories are designed for their own grills. Check sizes carefully.

Do kamados need lumpwood charcoal? Makers recommend good lumpwood, which burns cleanly with little ash; see lumpwood or briquettes.