Weber Original Kettle 22 vs Weber Original Kettle 18
vs
Quick take: The Weber Original Kettle 18 costs $20 less; the Weber Original Kettle 22 offers more cooking space (363 vs 240 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Original Kettle 22 | Weber Original Kettle 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$149 | ~$129 |
| Rating | — | 4.7★ (945) |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 363 sq in | 240 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | Porcelain-Enameled Steel |
| 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 | No | No |
| Dimensions | 39.5 x 22.5 x 25 in | 36 x 18.5 x 23 in |
| Weight | 32 lbs | 21 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid | 10 years bowl and lid, 5 years One-Touch system, 2 years remaining parts |
Pros & cons
Weber Original Kettle 22
- ✓Cheapest route into the 22-inch grate size that nearly every kettle accessory is built around
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system sweeps ash with a single lever rather than a brush
- ✓Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid carry the same 10-year no-rust-through warranty as kettles three times the price
- ✓363 sq in is enough to bank coals to one side and still hold a full indirect zone
- ✓Replacement parts are stocked by Weber and most hardware stores for decades-old kettles
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature has to be read with an aftermarket probe
- ✗Open aluminum ash pan spills in wind and holds far less than the Premium's enclosed catcher
- ✗Fixed one-piece grate means the fire has to be reached by lifting the whole grate mid-cook
- ✗No lid holder, so the hot lid goes on the ground or hooks over the bowl edge
Weber Original Kettle 18
- ✓240 sq in still holds a two-zone fire, which no tabletop grill under it can do
- ✓Same 10-year no-rust-through warranty on bowl and lid as kettles four times the price
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system and enclosed ash catcher, which the tabletop Smokey Joe below it lacks
- ✓At 21 lbs it can be carried to a truck bed or a campsite, unlike the 22-inch cart models
- ✓Rated 4.7 from 945 reviews on Weber's own store
- ✗240 sq in fills up at roughly six burgers, so it is a two-to-four-person grill
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature needs an aftermarket probe
- ✗The 18-inch bowl is outside the accessory ecosystem — most kettle inserts, rotisseries and griddles are built for the 22
- ✗Legs are bare aluminum with no cart, side table or lid holder