Best Charcoal Grills with Offset Smoker
A charcoal grill with a built-in offset smoker is the most versatile setup you can put in a backyard. You get high-heat searing for weeknight burgers and low-and-slow smoking for weekend brisket, all from one unit that takes up one footprint.
These combo rigs connect a firebox on the side to the main cooking chamber. For grilling, you load charcoal directly into the main barrel. For smoking, you build the fire in the offset firebox and let heat and smoke flow through the cook chamber at 225-275 degrees.
The five options here range from a $159 entry-level pick for beginners to a 1,060-square-inch reverse flow unit for serious backyard pitmasters. All five are actual dual-purpose rigs worth owning.
Best Budget Combo for First-Time Smokers
The Royal Gourmet CC1830F gives you 811 square inches of total cooking space for around $159, which is a legitimate deal for a combo unit. The main barrel handles 443 square inches of direct grilling area, enough for eight burgers or a full rack of ribs laid flat. The offset firebox adds another 368 square inches of smoking and warming space.
This grill works well on a 10x10 patio because it does not dominate the space the way a larger horizontal combo would. The firebox lid opens independently, so you can tend your fire without lifting the main lid and dumping heat. It is not the most airtight grill on the market, but for someone learning to smoke, that slight leakage actually makes temperature management more forgiving rather than less.
If you have never smoked a pork shoulder before, this is a low-risk way to start. You practice the technique on a $159 rig before deciding whether you want to invest in something bigger and more precise.
Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
$159
6,200+ reviews
An 811-square-inch combo grill that makes an honest entry into offset smoking without requiring a real financial commitment.
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The Char-Griller 1224 Smokin' Pro has been a reliable recommendation in this category for years, and it still earns that position. The main chamber runs 580 square inches, the side firebox adds another 250, and the whole unit is built from heavy-gauge steel that holds heat better than the lighter competitors at this price point.
The key upgrade over the budget pick is the adjustable charcoal grate inside the main barrel. You can raise the coals closer to the grate for searing or drop them down for slower, more indirect cooking. That one feature makes this grill feel more like two separate tools sharing a body rather than a compromise product.
At around $199, it costs $40 more than the Royal Gourmet. If you plan to use this more than a couple of times a month, the sturdier construction and better airflow control justify the difference in price. It handles a 12-pound brisket flat comfortably with room to spare.
Char-Griller 1224 Smokin' Pro Charcoal Grill with Side Fire Box
$199
8,400+ reviews
Heavy-gauge steel and an adjustable charcoal grate make this one of the best value combo rigs you can buy at any price.
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The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D takes a different approach to the offset concept entirely. Instead of a horizontal barrel, the main cooking chamber is a tall vertical cabinet with six height-adjustable grates. That layout gives you 1,176 square inches of smoking space at around $289, which is more capacity than most horizontal combos at twice the price.
Vertical smokers produce a different result than horizontal units. Heat and smoke rise naturally through the stack of grates, so every piece of meat gets coated from below and above at the same time. You can hang sausage links from the top rack, load ribs onto the middle grates, and keep a drip pan on the bottom all in one session.
This setup works best for long cooks rather than quick grilling. It holds temperature steadily once dialed in, and the large water pan at the base keeps moisture in the chamber over a 10 or 12-hour cook. The patio footprint is also noticeably smaller than a full horizontal combo, which matters on a 10x10 or 12x12 deck.
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
$289
5,100+ reviews
Six adjustable grates and 1,176 square inches of vertical capacity let you run multiple proteins at once in a compact footprint.
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Oklahoma Joe's Highland is where this list shifts from hobbyist territory into something a competition-level backyard cook would feel comfortable defending. The 900 square inches of total cooking space, thick steel construction, and multiple damper vents give you real, repeatable control over airflow and temperature in ways that cheaper combos simply cannot match.
The main chamber runs 619 square inches, which fits two full packer briskets side by side with room to position them correctly relative to the firebox. You will maintain a 250-degree chamber more reliably here because the steel is thick enough to buffer outside temperature swings without constant fire management. Most backyard cooks feeding 8-12 people will find this the right size.
At $449, this is not a casual purchase. If you are smoking ribs or brisket twice a month or more and have genuinely outgrown a budget combo, the Highland is the natural upgrade. Oklahoma Joe's also sells aftermarket tuning plates that distribute heat even more evenly across the grate, turning this grill into a genuinely serious rig without a lot of additional effort.
Oklahoma Joe's Highland Offset Charcoal Smoker
$449
11,300+ reviews
Thick steel and multiple damper vents give you real pitmaster-level control at a price most backyard cooks can justify.
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The Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker is the biggest and most capable unit on this list. The reverse flow design uses a series of steel plates inside the main chamber to redirect heat, forcing it to travel back under the cooking grates before it exits through the stack. The result is dramatically more even cooking from one end of the chamber to the other.
Total cooking area is 1,060 square inches. That is enough space to run three racks of ribs, a 14-pound brisket, and a full tray of chicken thighs simultaneously. If you are feeding 15 or more people for a birthday, a holiday weekend, or a neighborhood cookout, this is the setup that makes that possible without cutting corners on any protein.
It runs around $599 and sits at the top end of the combo offset category. The reverse flow plates are removable if you want to run it as a standard offset depending on what you are cooking. This grill needs a 12x12 or larger patio space, so measure before you commit.
Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
$599
4,800+ reviews
Removable reverse flow plates and 1,060 square inches of cooking space make this the most capable large-format combo grill available.
Shop on Amazon →Quick Tips for Offset Combo Grills
- Season the steel before your first cook. Coat every interior surface with cooking oil and run the grill at 300 degrees for two hours. This seals the steel, prevents early rust, and keeps metallic flavor out of your food.
- Use a wired probe, not the lid thermometer. The built-in gauge on most combo grills reads temperature at the top of the chamber, not at grate level where your meat actually sits. A wired probe clipped to the grate is always the accurate number.
- Manage temperature through fire size first. The most effective way to raise or lower your cooking temperature is to add or reduce fuel in the firebox. Use the damper vents to fine-tune, but the fire itself does the heavy lifting.
- Add tuning plates if heat is uneven across the grate. Horizontal offset combos often run hotter near the firebox side. Aftermarket steel tuning plates sit below the cooking grates and distribute heat more evenly. They cost $30-60 and make a real difference.
- Cover it every time. Steel combo grills rust faster than you expect, especially in humid climates or near a coast. A fitted cover extends the life of your grill significantly and keeps pests out of the firebox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grill directly in the offset firebox?
Yes, most offset fireboxes include a grate and can be used for direct charcoal grilling. The cooking area is small, usually 200-350 square inches, but it handles steaks, sausages, or anything that cooks quickly over a hot fire.
What is the difference between a regular offset and a reverse flow offset smoker?
A standard offset pulls heat and smoke from the firebox straight across the main chamber to the exhaust stack. A reverse flow unit uses a steel plate beneath the grates to redirect heat back across the chamber before it exits. Reverse flow designs produce more even grate temperatures from end to end.
How much charcoal does an offset combo grill burn per session?
A long smoking session at 225-250 degrees burns through roughly 6-10 pounds of charcoal every 3-4 hours depending on outside temperature and how airtight your grill is. Most combo grills at this price point need a fuel reload every 60-90 minutes to hold steady temperature.
Are combo grill and smoker units worth it compared to buying two separate pieces?
For most backyard cooks who want both capabilities, a combo unit is the practical choice. You get dual functionality in one footprint for $159-600, versus buying a dedicated kettle grill and a separate offset smoker that would cost more and take up twice the space.