Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
Offset Smoker
~$400

Char-Griller

Char-Griller Dakota 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.

Approx. price
~$400
Buy at Char-Griller

Goes to the manufacturer. We earn nothing on this one.

Cooking Area
580 sq in
Fuel
Wood/Charcoal
Best For
A first real offset for someone who wants to learn fire management rather than turn a dial

Specifications

Fuel Type
Wood/Charcoal
Cooking Area
580 sq in
Temp Range
Up to 500°F
Build Material
Powder-Coated Steel
Dimensions
60.2 x 31.1 x 52.4 in
Weight
141.1 lbs
WiFi / App
No
Meat Probe
No

Pros

  • ✓141 lbs at $400 — noticeably more steel than the $450 Competition Pro, which matters for temperature stability on an offset
  • ✓Firebox is sized for wood splits, not just charcoal briquettes, so it can be run as a true stick burner
  • ✓580 sq in of main chamber holds two racks of ribs or a packer brisket without hanging
  • ✓Rated to 500°F, so it doubles as a direct grill over the firebox
  • ✓Sits between the $329 Smokin' Champ and the $729 Grand Champ, a gap the Char-Griller offset line previously had

Cons

  • ✗Thin-gauge steel by offset standards — this is not a quarter-inch pit and will swing with the weather
  • ✗Char-Griller does not publish a warranty term for this model, unlike the rest of the charcoal line's 5 years
  • ✗141 lbs on two wheels means moving it is a two-person job
  • ✗Stock gaskets and door fit on offsets in this price class leak; sealing it is part of the purchase
Char-Griller Competition Pro Offset Smoker
~$450
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.

720 sq in primary, 1,010 sq in totalSide firebox included, not an add-onHome Depot exclusive
Wood/Charcoal720 sq in
Best for: A budget offset buyer who wants more grate than an Oklahoma Joe's Highland for less money
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 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
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