# Smoker vs grill: which do you need?

Source: https://charandsmoke.co.uk/blog/smoker-vs-grill
Published: 2026-10-12
Publisher: Char and Smoke

**In short:** A grill cooks hot and fast over direct heat, which suits steaks, burgers, sausages and kebabs. A smoker cooks low and slow with indirect heat and wood smoke for hours, which suits brisket, ribs and pork shoulder. If you mostly cook quick weekday or weekend food, buy a grill; a lidded kettle can also smoke now and then. Buy a dedicated smoker if long cooks are your main interest.

Many people starting out with barbecue are unsure whether they need a smoker, a grill or both. The terms get mixed up because many grills can smoke and some smokers can grill. This article explains the real difference, compares a dedicated charcoal smoker, the 14.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain, with a classic grill, the 57 cm Weber Original Kettle, and shows how to decide which belongs in your garden.

## What makes a smoker different

A grill puts food close to a hot fire. Searing heat browns the outside fast, and most foods are done in minutes. A lid helps with thicker cuts, and you can create a cooler side for gentler cooking.

A smoker keeps food away from the fire and holds a low cooker temperature for many hours, usually with wood chunks, chips or pellets for smoke. Tough, fatty cuts become tender over that time. Bullet smokers like the Smokey Mountain stack a charcoal ring, a water pan and cooking grates in a tall body, so heat is gentle and steady. Offset smokers and pellet grills reach the same goal in different ways.

## Smokey Mountain and Original Kettle compared

These two Weber models show the difference clearly. Figures come from their amazon.co.uk listings.

| Spec | Weber Smokey Mountain 14.5 in | Weber Original Kettle E-5710 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Type | Charcoal bullet smoker | Charcoal kettle grill |
| Cooking area | Two grates, 286 sq in total | 57 cm grate, 2,464 cm² |
| Weight | 10.4 kg | 12.8 kg |
| Size | 37.3 x 37.3 x 79.8 cm | 67 x 65 x 107 cm |
| Best at | Long, low cooks with a water pan | Direct grilling, also indirect and occasional smoking |
| Included | Cover | One-Touch cleaning, ash catcher, tool hooks |

From the product listings

## What you will actually cook

Be honest about your weekends. Most British barbecues are sausages, burgers, chicken pieces, halloumi and vegetables, cooked for a family or friends in under an hour. A grill does all of that well, and a 57 cm kettle has room for a family.

If you find yourself wanting pulled pork, brisket and ribs, and you are happy to start a cook in the morning and eat in the evening, a smoker makes that easier. The Smokey Mountain's water pan and tall shape keep temperatures steady with little fiddling, and its two grates add capacity in a small footprint.

Whatever you cook, burgers, sausages and chicken must reach the safe core temperatures set out by the Food Standards Agency. Our [BBQ meat temperatures](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/blog/bbq-meat-safe-temperatures) article explains them.

## Can one cooker do both?

Yes, to a point. A kettle with a lid can smoke if you bank coals on one side and cook on the other, a method called two-zone cooking; see our [two-zone set-up guide](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/blog/how-to-set-up-two-zone-cooking). Accessories such as charcoal baskets and smoking kits help, and Weber's Master-Touch GBS Premium includes one. You will tend the fire more often than with a dedicated smoker, but results can be excellent.

Kamados and pellet grills are other all-rounders. A kamado sears and smokes; a pellet grill smokes and roasts with little effort but rarely sears hard. Our [pellet grill vs smoker](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/blog/pellet-grill-vs-smoker) article covers that trade-off.

[Compare charcoal smokers](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/best-charcoal-smokers)

## Which should you buy?

Buy a grill if most of your cooking is quick and you want the most versatile first barbecue. A lidded charcoal kettle or a gas BBQ covers nearly everything, and you can try smoking on it. Buy a dedicated smoker if you already own a grill and want easier, steadier long cooks, or if low and slow is your main reason for barbecuing.

Our [best charcoal BBQs](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/best-charcoal-bbq-uk) guide includes kettles that grill and smoke, and our [best charcoal smokers](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/best-charcoal-smokers) guide covers bullets and offsets.

Note: Smokers run for many hours. Place them on a stable, non-flammable surface away from fences and sheds, never leave a lit cooker unattended for long periods, and keep children and pets clear.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can you grill on a smoker?** Some smokers can grill if you remove the water pan and move the grate close to the coals, but they are not ideal for searing.

**Can you smoke on a gas grill?** Yes, with a smoker box or foil pouch of wood chips and a two-zone set-up. See [how to smoke on a gas BBQ](https://charandsmoke.co.uk/blog/how-to-smoke-on-a-gas-bbq).

**Is a smoker worth it for a beginner?** A beginner usually gets more use from a lidded grill first, then adds a smoker later if long cooks become a hobby.

**Which is easier, a bullet smoker or an offset?** A bullet smoker holds temperature with less tending. An offset needs fuel added regularly but offers more space.

## Buying guides on this topic

- https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/best-charcoal-smokers
- https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/best-charcoal-bbq-uk
- https://charandsmoke.co.uk/best/weber-kettle-models-compared

## Sources

- [Weber UK](https://www.weber.com/GB/en/home/)