Char-Griller Competition Pro Offset Smoker
Offset Smoker
~$450

Char-Griller

Char-Griller Competition Pro Offset Smoker

Char-Griller's Competition Pro is a Home Depot retailer exclusive that pairs a barrel grill with a bolted-on side firebox — the same architecture as the Smokin' Champ already in the catalog, but with 720 sq in of primary grate instead of the Champ's smaller chamber, and an insulated body. It is the cheapest true offset in Char-Griller's line that ships with the firebox included rather than as a $99 add-on.

Approx. price
~$450
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Cooking Area
720 sq in
Fuel
Wood/Charcoal
Best For
A budget offset buyer who wants more grate than an Oklahoma Joe's Highland for less money

Specifications

Fuel Type
Wood/Charcoal
Cooking Area
720 sq in
Build Material
Steel with Expanded Metal Grates
Dimensions
66.3 x 33.1 x 52.8 in
Weight
151 lbs
WiFi / App
No
Meat Probe
No

Pros

  • ✓720 sq in primary beats the similarly-priced Oklahoma Joe's Highland Classic by over 100 sq in
  • ✓Side firebox is included in the price, unlike most Char-Griller barrel grills where it is a separate $99 part
  • ✓Insulated body helps a thin-steel pit hold temperature better than its gauge suggests
  • ✓Expanded metal grates shed grease better than porcelain wire and are easier to scrape
  • ✓Dual dampers front and stack for real airflow control

Cons

  • ✗Home Depot exclusive — no Lowe's, no Walmart, and limited options if you want to see one before buying
  • ✗Char-Griller does not publish a steel gauge for it, which usually means it is thin
  • ✗Only 3.1 lbs of charcoal capacity in the firebox, so long cooks mean frequent refuelling
  • ✗Char-Griller does not list a warranty term on the product page
  • ✗Rated to 450°F — fine for smoking, marginal for searing
Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
~$400
Offset Smoker

A newer Char-Griller offset that sits above the Competition Pro and below the Grand Champ: 580 sq in of cooking chamber, 141 lbs, and a firebox that takes splits rather than only charcoal. It is the model Char-Griller added when the entry-offset market moved upmarket, and at $400 it competes directly with the Oklahoma Joe's Highland Classic.

580 sq in cooking chamber141 lbs of steelRuns splits or charcoal
Wood/Charcoal580 sq inUp to 500°F
Best for: A first real offset for someone who wants to learn fire management rather than turn a dial
See specs & owner notes
Char-Griller Smokin' Champ
~$329
Offset Smoker
4.5(1,882)

The Char-Griller Smokin' Champ is a barrel-style charcoal grill paired with a side firebox for offset smoking, offering large capacity at a budget price. It's a flexible, affordable charcoal grill and smoker combo.

Barrel Grill + Offset BoxLarge CapacityEasy-Dump Ash Pan
Wood/Charcoal680 sq inapprox 225–400°F
Best for: Budget offset smoking plus charcoal grilling
See specs & owner notes
Char-Griller Grand Champ Offset Smoker
~$729
Offset Smoker

The Grand Champ is the top of Char-Griller's offset line and the heaviest thing the brand sells at 254 lbs — meaningfully more steel than the Competition Pro at 151 lbs for the same nominal capacity class. It runs 780 sq in of primary grate and 1,200 sq in total, with an EasyDump ash pan and a folding front shelf. It is sometimes badged 'Grand Champ XD' at Lowe's and Home Depot; the underlying model is the 8250.

254 lbs — the heaviest pit Char-Griller sells1,200 sq in total cooking areaEasyDump ash pan
Wood/Charcoal780 sq in
Best for: The buyer choosing between a $700 mass-market offset and a $600 welded Old Country, who wants nationwide retail support
See specs & owner notes
Char-Griller
No longer sold new
~$449
Kamado

The Akorn Auto-Kamado is the steel Akorn body with a digital controller and a fan that manages airflow automatically, plus Wi-Fi so the temperature can be set from a phone. It is the cheapest way to get set-and-forget charcoal control — the feature that otherwise means a $2,000 Konnected Joe or a third-party fan controller. Everything below the controller is the standard Akorn: triple-walled insulated steel rather than ceramic, cast iron grates, and an EasyDump ash pan. Char-Griller no longer lists the Auto-Kamado itself — only its cover remains on the maker's store — and the $449.99 that once bought it now buys the plain AKORN Kamado with the cart. It is still widely owned and still turns up at retail, which is why it stays here.

Digital fan control with Wi-Fi445 sq in totalTriple-walled insulated steel
Charcoal445 sq in200–700°FWiFi
Best for: A charcoal cook who wants overnight temperature control without ceramic weight or a four-figure price
See specs & owner notes
Char-Griller Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill
~$400
Charcoal Grill

This is the barrel grill Char-Griller has sold for decades under the Super Pro name; the 2026 catalog lists it as the Classic Cart Style Charcoal Grill, SKU 2175. It is a double-walled steel barrel on a cart with 550 sq in of primary grate plus a 260 sq in warming rack, an adjustable-height charcoal pan on a crank, and a side-firebox port so it can be converted into an offset smoker later. Compared with the Wrangler below it, it adds the crank-adjustable fire pan and the side-firebox port; compared with the Smokin' Champ above it, it ships without the firebox.

810 sq in total cooking areaCrank-adjustable charcoal panSide firebox port for offset conversion
Charcoal550 sq inUp to 700°F
Best for: The buyer who wants a large, cheap steel barrel grill that can be upgraded into an offset smoker for another $100
See specs & owner notes
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado
~$399
Kamado
4.7(761)

The Char-Griller Akorn is a budget kamado-style grill that uses triple-wall insulated steel instead of ceramic to deliver kamado-like efficiency at a fraction of the price. It's the popular gateway into kamado cooking.

Triple-Wall SteelBudget Kamado PriceLocking Lid
Charcoal314 sq inapprox 200–700°F
Best for: Trying kamado cooking on a budget
See specs & owner notes