Big Green Egg Large vs Weber Summit Kamado E6
Quick take: The Big Green Egg Large costs $350 less; the Weber Summit Kamado E6 offers more cooking space (452 vs 262 sq in); the Big Green Egg Large reaches a higher max temp (750 vs 700°F).
| Spec | Big Green Egg Large | Weber Summit Kamado E6 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,049 | $1,399 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (3,400) | 4.7★ (524) |
| Type | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 262 sq in | 452 sq in |
| Max Temp | 750°F | 700°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Ceramic | Dual-Walled Insulated Steel (Porcelain-Enameled) |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 21 x 24 x 31 in | 45 x 35 x 36 in |
| Weight | 162 lbs | 142 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime (ceramic) | 10 years (bowl/lid rust & burn-through) |
Pros & cons
Big Green Egg Large
- ✓The thick ceramic retains heat and moisture so well that it sips lump charcoal - long smokes use a fraction of the fuel of a steel cooker
- ✓It's astonishingly versatile, going from 200°F low-and-slow brisket to 700°F+ pizza and steak searing in the same cooker
- ✓Ceramic walls hold temperature rock-steady for hours, so overnight cooks need minimal tending once dialed in
- ✓Food comes out exceptionally moist because the sealed ceramic environment traps humidity
- ✓It's built to last generations, with a lifetime warranty on the ceramic components
- ✓The massive EGGcessory ecosystem (convEGGtor, pizza stones, racks) lets you bake, roast, and cook nearly anything
- ✓The Large size is the sweet spot - enough capacity for most families plus the widest accessory selection
- ✓It holds and radiates heat so evenly that searing and baking results rival dedicated ovens and grills
- ✗It's expensive - the Large alone is around $1,000, and a usable setup with a nest and table pushes well past that
- ✗The ceramic is heavy (162 lbs) and fragile - drop the lid or crack it and you're facing an awkward warranty claim
- ✗Only 262 sq in of cooking area on a single grate, far less than steel grills of similar price (vertical/tiered racks help)
- ✗Temperature changes are slow - because the ceramic holds heat so well, overshooting your target temp is hard to recover from quickly
- ✗Charcoal lighting, ash cleanup, and the learning curve for vent control all apply
- ✗There's no built-in app or automation, though aftermarket fan controllers exist
- ✗The base unit ships without a stand or side tables, so the real cost is higher than the sticker
- ✗Loading and dumping ash through the bottom vent is more tedious than a kettle's One-Touch sweep
Weber Summit Kamado E6
- ✓Dual-walled air-insulated steel holds low-and-slow temps like ceramic while burning noticeably less charcoal - a single load can run an overnight brisket
- ✓At 142 lbs it's roughly half the weight of a comparable 24-inch ceramic kamado, and steel can't crack from a drop, a move, or thermal shock
- ✓The 452 sq in grate is meaningfully bigger than a Big Green Egg Large or Kamado Joe Classic, so full packer briskets and multiple rib racks fit without a struggle
- ✓The hinged, two-position diffuser flips up so you can add charcoal or wood chunks mid-cook without unloading the grates - a real pain point on ceramic kamados
- ✓Weber's One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash into a removable catch cup, making cleanup dramatically easier than scooping ash out of an egg
- ✓The hinged RapidFire lid damper flips fully open to spike airflow, so it climbs from smoking temps to 600-700°F searing heat impressively fast
- ✓The cooking grate accepts Weber's Gourmet BBQ System inserts (pizza stone, griddle, wok), adding versatility without kamado-priced accessories
- ✓AmazingRibs awarded the Summit Kamado line a Platinum Best Value medal, and the bowl and lid carry a 10-year rust and burn-through warranty
- ✗At around $1,399 it costs as much as many ceramic kamados, and stepping up to the S6 with cart and gas ignition pushes well past $1,800
- ✗The three-legged stand is the top owner complaint - the legs and small casters feel flimsy and wobbly under a premium-priced grill
- ✗The E6 has no Snap-Jet gas ignition (that's S6-only), so you're lighting with a chimney or starter cubes like any kettle
- ✗No side tables or work surface on the stand - there's nowhere to set a tray or tools without buying a separate table
- ✗No built-in temperature probes, fan control, or connectivity at a price where pellet grills include all three
- ✗Porcelain enamel is durable but chips if you knock the rim with heavy cast iron, and chips can eventually rust
- ✗The accessory ecosystem is far smaller than Big Green Egg's or Kamado Joe's - no included second cooking level like KJ's Divide & Conquer
- ✗The dome thermometer reads well above grate level, so most owners still end up buying a separate leave-in probe thermometer