For a trip to the beach or a weekend camping, portable barbecues are the best companion. Unlike the larger garden barbecues made for stationary entertaining (with some of these nowadays resembling mini kitchens) portable barbecues are much more travel-friendly while still enabling you to cook a tasty barbecued meal.
But when choosing a portable barbecue, is a charcoal one better than gas? ? And should you go for a kettle BBQ over an open grill or kamado-style model? “Gas barbecues are easier and quicker to use: just turn them on and they’re ready to cook on quickly,” says Louise Perry-Warnes, founder of outdoor catering company Flames & Feasts. “But the joy of cooking really begins over charcoal or wood. It takes more time and care but there’s something ritualistic about it and it’s much more fun.”
As for choosing the right barbecue type for you, Perry-Warnes explains that design can make a real difference. “If you plan to use it for simple cooking, such as grilled prawns or burgers, an open style barbecue will do the trick. But if you’re a bit more confident or want versatility to slow cook or roast [as well as grill], a ceramic egg-style barbecue offers a superior way of cooking as ceramic distributes the heat better than metal,” she adds.
To help you decide what to pack for your next beach trip or camping holiday, I tested the latest portable barbecues from leading brands including Weber, Campingaz and Kamado Joe, with prices ranging from £14 all the way up to £500.
Read more: 12 best gas BBQs, expert-tested for next-level grilling
The best portable BBQs for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Cobb premier air deluxe BBQ: £189.99, Lakeland.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Hi-Gear folding leg BBQ grill: £25.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best gas – Campingaz tour & grill CV plus barbecue: £195, Millets.co.uk
- Best for wild campers – Petromax atago fire pit barbecue: £229.95, Mountainwarehouse.com
Read more: 12 best charcoal BBQs, tried and tested by grilling experts
Cobb premier air deluxe BBQ
Rating: 5/5
Best: portable BBQ overall
Weight: 4.85kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 33cm diameter
Why we love it
- Versatile cooking
- Fuel-efficient
- Travel bag included
- Looks good
Take note
- Small grill area
It looks like a repurposed washing machine drum, but this Cobb barbecue works brilliantly and is the best portable barbecue I tested. The small fuel basket makes it incredibly fuel efficient: I used much less charcoal than for other barbecues, and it was ‘cook ready’ quickly.
It produced a strong amount of heat which was sustained over three hours: after cooking sausages and kebabs, the cast iron griddle was still hot enough for a dessert of grilled pineapple rings.
The grill area is small but compensated for by ‘oven’ space underneath for roasting or slow cooking, plus a surrounding well where I cooked foiled-wrapped potatoes (you could also add wine or beer here to ‘infuse’ meat).
There are no handles but it’s light and easy to carry. The double wall keeps the outside cool to the touch, and there’s a travel-friendly shoulder bag included. Taking everything into consideration, this is my pick for the best portable barbecue overall.
Buy now £189.99, Lakeland.co.uk
Hi-Gear folding leg BBQ grill
Rating: 4/5
Best: budget portable BBQ
Weight: 3kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 34cm diameter
Why we love it
- Compact with foldable legs
- Light to carry
- Affordable
Take note
- Small grill area
You’ll either love or loathe the lime green lid of Hi-Gear’s folding leg BBQ grill, but it’s a cute and compact grill that is super easy to carry at only 3kg. The kettle barbecue comes partially assembled but still requires screwing a few bolts into place – luckily, a screwdriver is supplied (it’s the only barbecue in the test to come with one).
I appreciated the foldable leg feature, making it even easier to store or fit into the car (rigid legs are awkward on even the most compact of barbecues). This compact barbecue is best suited for couples or a solo trip, and at £30 it’s our best budget portable barbecue I tested.
Buy now £25.99, Amazon.co.uk
Campingaz tour & grill CV plus barbecue
Rating: 4/5
Best: portable gas BBQ
Weight: 10kg
Fuel: Gas (CV 470 cartridge)
Grill surface area: 1,200cm2 (47cm x 25cm)
Why we love it
- Adjustable height (from tabletop to full standing)
- Instantly ready to cook on
- Packs down into carry case
Take note
- No smoky/flame-grilled taste
- Heavy
Unlike charcoal, Campingaz tour & grill CV plus gives an instant flame: as with a gas hob, simply press the ignition and adjust the intensity with a dial. However even after waiting for the griddle to heat up, the food still took a while to char, because the heat wasn’t as intense as from coals.
Easy to clean and convenient, the Campingaz barbecue is perfect for caravaners or those who don’t fancy getting their hands dirty. When finished with it, I was able to pack it away like a briefcase and twisted off the legs before popping them into the carry bag.
The gas barbecue can be set at three different heights: without legs for tabletop cooking; short legs for a metre-high grill; or longer legs enabling you to stand-up and cook (no awkward crouching). The hose and regulator are included, so it was simple at just attaching the gas cartridge.
Buy now £195, Millets.co.uk
Petromax atago fire pit barbecue
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: portable BBQ for wild campers
Weight: 6.1kg
Fuel: Charcoal or firewood
Grill surface area: 34cm diameter
Why we love it
- Collapsible design
- Versatile cooking
- Doubles as a fire pit
Take note
- Expensive
- No lid (so open to the elements)
Out of the box, the Petromax atago is ready to go with a quick pull up on the handle to extend the sections and click them into place. It’s an open grill with no lid so vulnerable to wind and rain, however, it produced a fierce amount of heat quickly thanks to multiple ventilation holes.
There’s depth between the fuel pit and grill, but this serves as oven space for compatible Petromax pots (sold separately), and allows the barbecue to double-up as a fire pit. The clever design prevents heat radiating downwards so it can safely sit on a picnic bench, and the double-walling keeps the outside cool.
While great for outdoor enthusiasts, Atago’s interesting ‘crashed spaceship’ appearance may attract some doubletakes on the campsite.
Buy now £229.95, Mountainwarehouse.com
George Foreman on-the-go portable barbecue
Rating: 4/5
Best: value for money portable BBQ
Weight: 6.3kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 41.3cm x 26.5cm
Why we love it
- Foldable, compact design
- Large grill surface
- Travel bag included
Take note
- Requires a fair bit of charcoal
- Fiddly assembly out of the box
Although George Foreman’s on-the-go portable barbecue requires attaching fiddly handles, legs and vents (assembly before your trip is a must, it took me 30 minutes), it was a neat barbecue once ready. It’s most comparable to Weber’s go-anywhere, but it has extra features (such as the temperature gauge) and it costs half the price.
The wide fuel pit took a while to get going, but that meant a large grill area for four burgers and some veggie kebabs, which cooked quickly. The lid helped protect the coals from wind and drizzle, and side handles enabled me to move it when hot.
The ‘toolbox’ design makes it easily transportable: once you’ve finished, simply close the lid, fold the legs around it, and tuck it into the handy travel bag.
Buy now £58.99, Amazon.co.uk
Weber smokey Joe barbecue
Rating: 4/5
Best: portable kettle BBQ
Weight: 5.1kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 37cm diameter
Why we love it
- Easy to carry
- Produces nice charring
- Large grill surface
Take note
- Legs don’t fold down
Weber’s smokey Joe barbecue is the best portable kettle barbecue I tested on my trip to rural Norfolk. It has a sizeable grill area, which takes a while to heat up, but once ready it grilled food quickly with nice surface charring. When finished with, it’s light to lift via the carry handle.
I had to attach the legs, handle and air vents before using the Weber barbecue, but this was an easier assembly job than some others I’ve tested. The domed lid protects lit coals from the elements and the legs keep it high off the ground. However, those legs don’t fold, making it bulkier when transporting in the car or storing away.
Buy now £76.49, Amazon.co.uk
Weber go-anywhere charcoal barbecue
Rating: 4/5
Best: portable BBQ for style
Weight: 7kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 53cm x 31cm
Why we love it
- Foldable, compact design
- Split grill (for easy access to coals)
- Heats up very quickly
Take note
- Fairly heavy
- Wear oven gloves when closing vents
Once you’ve popped on the handle and legs, the Weber’s go-anywhere charcoal barbecue is a very compact, a minimalist design that you could even call ‘chic’.
Like the George Foreman, this is a ‘toolbox’ style barbecue with a large grill area, legs that neatly wrap around the box, and a handled lid for easy carrying. The grill is split in two if you only need a small cooking area and an open side for access to the fire.
It produced an intense amount of heat quickly: good for cooking but not when you need to close the air vents which, were too hot to touch without anything heat-proof (unlike the tabbed vents on the George Foreman). And without side handles, I couldn’t move it when hot.
Buy now £112, Blacks.co.uk
Bar-Be-Quick smoker and grill barbecue
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: portable BBQ for large groups
Weight: Approx. 3kg (portable section only)
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 40cm diameter
Why we love it
- Versatile cooking
- Easy-access door to grill
- Large grill area
Take note
- Fiddly to assemble
- A little flimsy
In its three-tiered entirety, this barbecue grills, smokes, steams and roasts. The grill is largest I tested, making this the best portable barbecue for large groups. For comparison, I only used the portable barbecue section (first tier with lid). Even this involved fixing numerous screws, but once ready the fire got going quickly.
The drum shape kept wind at bay, and an easy-access door allowed me to prod food on the large grill without removing the lid.
The overall structure felt a little flimsy and I sometimes struggled to get the lid to sit snugly over the grill, but the food was cooked quickly and infused with a nice smoky flavour. Back home, you have the option of setting up the full barbecue for more cooking options, so it’s good value.
Buy now £85, Argos.co.uk
Asda George portable barbecue
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: portable BBQ for occasional use
Weight: 2kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 34cm diameter
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Extra light
Take note
- Fiddly to assemble
Asda’s George portable barbecue is a bright red, UFO-like kettle barbecue. It looks good and was the cheapest (at £14) and lightest (at 2kg) in the test, but it still came with an incredible number of tiny nuts and bolts to assemble the stand, handle and air vent.
After a frustratingly long time getting it ready and the charcoal was lit, it was ‘cook ready’ in about 30 minutes, and grilled my vegetables, sausages and halloumi quickly.
With a carry handle and clips to secure the lid, it’s easily portable. Although it’s not huge, the rigid stand means it’s not as compact as some others I tested. Overall, it’s good for anyone looking for a cheap portable barbecue to use just once in a while.
Buy now £14, Asda.com
Kamado Joe jnr with cast iron stand
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: for barbecue connoisseurs
Weight: 31kg
Fuel: Charcoal
Grill surface area: 34cm diameter
Why we love it
- Versatile cooking
- Heats up quickly and retains heat
- Looks the part
Take note
- Very heavy (requires 2+ people to carry it)
- Large and not collapsible
- Expensive
Kamado Joe claims its Jnr model can be taken on a trip, but at a whopping 31kg (its own instructions recommend at least two people lift it) it’s not the most portable: it even needed its own seat in the car. However, I can’t deny it is pretty special.
This shiny glazed egg looks impressive, and the ceramic shell retains heat long after lighting. A small amount of charcoal produced a decent fire, and the temperature gauge showed how quickly it heats up.
It was a tad intimidating: I feel that to fully appreciate its versatility (roasting, smoking, etc) it’s really one for barbecue enthusiasts, not for casually cooking bangers on the beach.
Buy now £488.99, Amazon.co.uk
Your portable barbecue questions answered
What is the best portable barbecue?
For its versatility, fuel-efficiency, and undeniable portability Cobb’s premier air deluxe is the best portable barbecue I tried. Allowing you to steam and roast (not just grill), it’s like taking a mini oven on holiday that weighs less than 5kg.
Those content with classic grilling, particularly if you prefer smoky, flame-grilled food, will find the George Foreman on-the-go barbecue provides everything you need at half the price of similar premium models. Anyone looking for something cheaper still, particularly if you will only use it occasionally, Hi-Gear’s folding leg barbecue is easy to use, carry and store away.
How I tested portable barbecues
I took all the portable barbecues in this guide on a trip to rural Norfolk, testing their portability from the moment they were packed into the car. Using the fuel recommended by each brand, I cooked a range of foods – classic sausages and burgers, but also vegetables, halloumi and pineapple rings – to test the grill time and distinctive smoky flavour that is part of the joy of barbecuing. Here’s a list of the criteria I looked for:
How to clean a portable barbecue
Let your barbecue cool slightly before attempting any clean. Perry-Warnes recommends cleaning your grill while it’s still warm [not hot], favouring a quick scrub and a wipe down rather than a full clean with products. Her top tip involves a sliced lemon: “Rub it over the grills for a quick clean. The natural acid in lemon breaks down the grease, and when it’s still warm the particles are easier to lift,” she explains. I tried this and it genuinely works – it’s perfect for light cleans or to loosen tougher debris before scrubbing.
Check the product guidelines for specific cleaning instructions in case some detergents or cleaning tools can damage finishes. Some of the barbecues tested include dishwasher safe parts, while others advise soaking grills in warm soapy water to help remove stuck on dirt.
Where can you use a portable barbecue?
Any portable barbecue can be used in your garden, on a patio or balcony (though it’s worth checking local smoke regulations), but their main advantage is being able to take them out and about. That said, barbecue use is restricted in some public spaces, where they may be banned entirely or only allowed in certain areas or at specific times, so it’s always best to check your local authority guidance before you go.
What are the main tips for using a portable barbecue safely?
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Over the years, lifestyle writer Kerry Law has tested and scrutinised all kinds of home appliances and health-related products for national publications, including the best juicers, hand blenders, vacuum cleaners, bread makers, vitamin supplements and more. A fan of nature, she loves any excuse to go camping or escape to the beach, and truly believes that most food tastes better when cooked and eaten outdoors.
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