Coal & Char

Black Friday & Cyber Monday BBQ Deals 2026

Black Friday falls on November 27 and Cyber Monday on November 30 this year. Here is what genuinely tends to move in charcoal grilling, what almost never does, and how to tell the difference when the banners go up.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which grill we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

What this page is, and what it is not

It is the middle of September. Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27, 2026 and Cyber Monday on Monday, November 30, 2026. No retailer has announced a charcoal grilling deal for those dates yet, and anyone telling you what the discounts will be is guessing.

So this page does not contain a single predicted discount, expected percentage or “typically 40% off” claim. We do not have historical price data for these exact models, and inventing a number to make a page look useful in September is the thing we most reliably refuse to do. What you get instead is the part that is genuinely knowable now:

  • What the grilling sales calendar actually looks like, sourced rather than asserted.
  • Which product classes are worth waiting on and which are not, with our reasoning shown so you can disagree with it.
  • Today’s live price on every one of our top picks, dated, so you have a baseline to measure November against.
  • How to tell a real discount from a manufactured one, using the federal standard for what a “was” price is allowed to mean.

When the sales actually start, this page gets updated with the products that are genuinely discounted against the dated prices we already publish — and the ones that are not will simply not appear.

The grilling sales calendar does not peak in November

This is the single most useful thing to know before you plan a November purchase, and it runs against the assumption most people bring to Black Friday.

Grills are a seasonal product, and seasonal products get discounted when the retailer wants the floor space back. For outdoor cooking, that is the end of summer. Consumer Reports puts it plainly in its September deal roundup: “Labor Day is the last major chance of the year to find grills on sale, though you may still find sale prices for a couple of weeks after the holiday” — because “retailers are looking to make room in their warehouses as the outdoor cooking season draws to a close.”

Its dedicated grill-deals page says the same thing from the other direction: the months it lists as the best time to buy a grill are April, May, July, August and September. November is not on that list.

None of which means grills are never discounted in November. It means that by Black Friday, the structural reason to discount a grill has already happened, and anything you see in the last week of November is a promotion rather than a clearance. Promotions are real and sometimes good. They are just a different, and shallower, thing.

What tends to move in November, and what rarely does

We want to be precise about which of the following is sourced and which is our reasoning, because they carry different weight.

Sourced: the grill-season calendar above. Late summer through early September is when grills are cleared; Labor Day is described as the last major chance of the year.

Our reasoning, stated as reasoning:Black Friday’s promotional weight has always concentrated in consumer electronics and small appliances, because that is where the volume, the margin structure and the headline-grabbing discounts live. In our category, the products that sit closest to that description are the ones with circuit boards in them — wireless probe thermometers, multi-probe controllers, anything with an app. The products that sit furthest from it are enamel-on-steel cookers from brands with tightly managed pricing, and consumables like charcoal, which are already priced thin.

That is a structural argument, not a measurement, and you should treat it as one. The only way to actually know is to compare a dated price against a later one, which is exactly what the table on this page is for.

Buy now or wait: our call by product class

Here is how we would think about each class if you were buying today, in mid-September, with a gift deadline in December.

Product classOur callWhy
Charcoal, briquettes, wood chunksBuy when you need itAbsolute dollar amounts are small, so even a good percentage saves you very little. Fuel is also heavy, which keeps online discounting shallow.
Cheap accessories (chimney, gloves, starters, brushes)Buy nowWaiting nine weeks to save a couple of dollars on a chimney starter is a bad trade, particularly when the item is a gift with a date attached.
Thermometers and anything with electronicsWorth waiting, if you canThis is the class closest to where Black Friday promotion actually concentrates. Our reasoning, not a measured claim — but it is the one class where we would hold if the deadline allows.
Kettles and full-size charcoal grillsBuy at a price you are happy withThe seasonal clearance window has passed. Waiting is a bet on a promotion rather than on a clearance, and stock on the good models thins into December.
Smokers and kamadosBuy at a price you are happy withSame logic as grills, with more money at stake, so the temptation to wait is stronger. Note that these are large, heavy items where shipping and stock matter as much as the headline price.
Covers, grates and anything sized to a grillBuy now, carefullyFit matters far more than price here. A correctly sized cover at full price beats a discounted one that does not fit, and returns are slower in December.

The thread running through all of it: in this category the gap between a good price and a great price is usually smaller than the gap between the right product and the wrong one. If you are torn between waiting for a discount on a grill you are unsure about and paying today for the one you actually want, buy the one you want.

How to tell a real deal from a manufactured one

The struck-through “was” price next to a discount is not a neutral fact, and there is a federal standard for what it is allowed to mean. Under the FTC’s Guides Against Deceptive Pricing, a former price is a legitimate basis for comparison only when it is “the actual, bona fide price at which the article was offered to the public on a regular basis for a reasonably substantial period of time.” The same guidance describes the failure mode directly: a price is fictitious “where an artificial, inflated price was established for the purpose of enabling the subsequent offer of a large reduction.”

In practice, that means the only reliable way to evaluate a November discount is to compare it against a price you independently know was real on a specific date. Three steps that cost you nothing:

  1. Take a dated baseline now. The picks below carry a live price stamped September 23, 2026. Note the number for whatever you are considering.
  2. Ignore the struck-through figure in November.Compare the November selling price against your baseline, not against the retailer’s own claim about its former price.
  3. Check the exact model, not the family.The FTC’s own shopping advice is to note the specific manufacturer or model number when comparison shopping. Grill lines run several near-identical variants, and the discounted one is frequently the stripped model rather than the one reviewed.

That third point is the most common way people get caught in this category. A kettle with the same name and a different letter at the end of the model number can lack the hinged grate, the ash catcher or the thermometer that made the reviews good. Our kettle model comparison walks through exactly which features distinguish the tiers.

What we will post here in November

When the sales go live, this page becomes the list. Specifically, we will add the products from our existing picks that are genuinely discounted against the dated prices we already publish, with the live price and the date it was read, and a one-line note on whether we would take it.

What will not appear: deals we have not verified, products we do not already recommend, percentage claims we cannot support, or a countdown timer. If a category sees nothing worth buying, this page will say that a category saw nothing worth buying. A deals page that recommends something every year is not a deals page, it is an advertisement.

In the meantime, the prices below are live and dated, and every one of these picks is argued in full elsewhere on the site — start with the charcoal grill hub, the smoker hub, or the gift guides if you are buying for someone else.

Our current top picks, at today's live prices

These are the same picks we recommend across the site — not a “deal” list. Every price below was pulled from our daily check and is stamped September 23, 2026. That is deliberate: it gives you a dated baseline to measure November’s banners against. Write down the number beside a pick you care about, come back when the sales start, and you will know immediately whether the discount is real.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, beginner-friendliness and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t cooked on every one of these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Weber Original Kettle Premium 22"

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22"

If you buy one charcoal grill for life, buy this. The Premium adds a hinged cooking grate and a one-touch ash sweep to the classic 22-inch kettle, so it lights fast, holds a two-zone fire for hours, and cleans out in seconds. Nothing at this price is built as well or lasts as long.

Best charcoal grill overall
$219.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Char-Griller Patio Pro (E1515) Charcoal Grill

Char-Griller Patio Pro (E1515) Charcoal Grill

The cheapest grill on this list that we'd actually stand behind. A barrel body with heavy cast-iron grates, an adjustable charcoal pan and a side-hinged lid — genuinely more grill than the price suggests. The trade-off is thin steel that leaks heat, so you'll tend the fire more; for a first grill or a small patio, that's a fair deal.

Best value full-size grill
$109.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18"

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18"

The charcoal smoker with a cult following, and the one we'd point a committed beginner toward. Two cooking grates, a water pan and three vents give real charcoal-and-wood flavor, and once you learn to set the vents it will hold 225-250°F for hours with almost no fuss. Buy once, smoke for a decade.

Best charcoal smoker
$419.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Portable Kamado

Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Portable Kamado

The cheapest honest way into kamado cooking. Instead of heavy ceramic, the Akorn Jr uses triple-wall insulated steel, so it holds heat and sips charcoal like a kamado but costs a fraction of a ceramic egg and weighs little enough to carry. Small at 153 sq in, but for one or two people who want kamado efficiency without four-figure ceramics, it's the value pick.

Best budget kamado
$196.85 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
TempPro TempSync TP20 Wireless Dual-Probe Thermometer

TempPro TempSync TP20 Wireless Dual-Probe Thermometer

The best-value way to actually know your temperatures. Two leave-in probes — one for the meat, one for the grate — read on a handheld receiver with a stated 500-foot range, so you can watch a low-and-slow cook from inside the house. No app, no WiFi to fight with, and a price that makes 'I'll just eyeball it' indefensible. This is the thermometer sold for years as the ThermoPro TP20: ThermoPro rebranded to TempPro in 2026, so the box and the listing now say TempPro. Same ASIN, same hardware, new name.

Best thermometer
$35.99 · View on Amazon

$56.9937% off

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Amazon Basics Charcoal Chimney Starter (6.6 lb capacity)

Amazon Basics Charcoal Chimney Starter (6.6 lb capacity)

There is no technology in a chimney starter — it is a steel tube with a grate across the middle and a handle on the side — so the only sensible way to buy one is to get a full-size body for the least money. This is that. The listing states a 6.6-pound capacity, which is a full 22-inch kettle's worth of briquettes in a single light, and it costs less than the name-brand alternatives that do exactly the same job. If you buy one thing on this page, buy this.

Best cheap accessory
$19.26 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

#1Best charcoal grill overall

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22"

If you buy one charcoal grill for life, buy this. The Premium adds a hinged cooking grate and a one-touch ash sweep to the classic 22-inch kettle, so it lights fast, holds a two-zone fire for hours, and cleans out in seconds. Nothing at this price is built as well or lasts as long.

What’s good

  • 363 sq in easily feeds a family — and does two-zone grilling and low-and-slow both
  • Hinged grate lets you add coals without lifting hot food off
  • One-touch cleaning system and a sealed ash catcher — the messy part, solved
  • Porcelain-enameled steel that genuinely lasts a decade-plus

Trade-offs

  • No side table or hooks — the bare-bones layout of a classic kettle
  • You manage a live fire; there's no thermostat (that's charcoal)
TypeCharcoal (kettle)
Cooking area363 sq in
Primary materialPorcelain-enameled steel
Ease for beginnersEasy

Specs read from the product listing, on July 21, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#2Best value full-size grill

Char-Griller Patio Pro (E1515) Charcoal Grill

The cheapest grill on this list that we'd actually stand behind. A barrel body with heavy cast-iron grates, an adjustable charcoal pan and a side-hinged lid — genuinely more grill than the price suggests. The trade-off is thin steel that leaks heat, so you'll tend the fire more; for a first grill or a small patio, that's a fair deal.

What’s good

  • Cast-iron grates hold heat and lay down proper sear marks
  • Adjustable charcoal pan lets you raise the fire closer for searing
  • Compact 250 sq in footprint suits a patio or balcony
  • One of the cheapest charcoal grills worth owning

Trade-offs

  • Thin steel loses heat — needs more fuel and more fire tending
  • Basic assembly and finish; this is a starter, not an heirloom
TypeCharcoal (barrel)
Cooking area250 sq in
Primary materialSteel with cast-iron grates
Ease for beginnersModerate

Specs read from the product listing, on July 21, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#3Best charcoal smoker

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18"

The charcoal smoker with a cult following, and the one we'd point a committed beginner toward. Two cooking grates, a water pan and three vents give real charcoal-and-wood flavor, and once you learn to set the vents it will hold 225-250°F for hours with almost no fuss. Buy once, smoke for a decade.

What’s good

  • Rock-steady temperatures once the vents are dialed in
  • Two 481 sq in grates hold several racks of ribs, or a brisket and a butt
  • Near-indestructible porcelain build with strong resale value

Trade-offs

  • You manage a live fire — a learning curve the pellet crowd skips
  • No thermostat; a leave-in thermometer is essential
TypeCharcoal (with wood chunks)
Cooking area481 sq in
Primary materialPorcelain-enameled steel
Ease for beginnersModerate

Specs read from the product listing, on July 21, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#4Best budget kamado

Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Portable Kamado

The cheapest honest way into kamado cooking. Instead of heavy ceramic, the Akorn Jr uses triple-wall insulated steel, so it holds heat and sips charcoal like a kamado but costs a fraction of a ceramic egg and weighs little enough to carry. Small at 153 sq in, but for one or two people who want kamado efficiency without four-figure ceramics, it's the value pick.

What’s good

  • Insulated steel holds low-and-slow temps and sips charcoal
  • A fraction of the price and weight of a ceramic kamado
  • Portable enough to take camping, unlike a heavy egg

Trade-offs

  • 153 sq in is small — a one-or-two-person cooker
  • Steel won't retain heat quite like thick ceramic, and can dent
TypeCharcoal (insulated kamado)
Cooking area153 sq in
Primary materialTriple-wall insulated steel
Ease for beginnersEasy

Specs read from the product listing, on July 21, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#5Best thermometer

TempPro TempSync TP20 Wireless Dual-Probe Thermometer

The best-value way to actually know your temperatures. Two leave-in probes — one for the meat, one for the grate — read on a handheld receiver with a stated 500-foot range, so you can watch a low-and-slow cook from inside the house. No app, no WiFi to fight with, and a price that makes 'I'll just eyeball it' indefensible. This is the thermometer sold for years as the ThermoPro TP20: ThermoPro rebranded to TempPro in 2026, so the box and the listing now say TempPro. Same ASIN, same hardware, new name.

What’s good

  • Two probes track the food and the grate at once
  • Long stated 500-ft range on a dedicated receiver — no phone needed
  • Cheap enough that there's no excuse not to own one

Trade-offs

  • No smartphone app or temperature graphing
  • Two wired probes to route past the lid
TypeLeave-in wireless (handheld receiver)
Probes2
Stated rangeUp to 500 ft
App / WiFiNo — dedicated RF receiver

Specs read from the product listing, on September 2, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

#6Best cheap accessory

Amazon Basics Charcoal Chimney Starter (6.6 lb capacity)

There is no technology in a chimney starter — it is a steel tube with a grate across the middle and a handle on the side — so the only sensible way to buy one is to get a full-size body for the least money. This is that. The listing states a 6.6-pound capacity, which is a full 22-inch kettle's worth of briquettes in a single light, and it costs less than the name-brand alternatives that do exactly the same job. If you buy one thing on this page, buy this.

What’s good

  • 6.6 lb stated capacity — a full kettle load in one light
  • Lights coals evenly in about 15 minutes with no lighter fluid
  • About as cheap as a full-size chimney gets, and in stock
  • Fits any charcoal grill — nothing to match up or measure

Trade-offs

  • Plain metal handle with no heat shield — a glove is not optional
  • You still need a sheet of paper or a wax cube underneath to light it
  • Galvanized steel discolors quickly; treat a cheap chimney as a consumable
  • A house-brand product rather than a grill maker's, so there is no parts channel behind it
TypeChimney starter (large capacity)
Stated capacity6.6 lb of charcoal
MaterialGalvanized steel
Lights~15 minutes to ashed-over coals

Specs read from the product listing, on September 17, 2026. “Not published” means the maker doesn’t state that figure there.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday 2026?

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, which puts Black Friday on Friday, November 27 and Cyber Monday on Monday, November 30. In practice most large retailers now run promotions across the whole week rather than the single day, and some start in early November.

Do charcoal grills go on sale on Black Friday?

Some do, but grills are not a November category the way electronics are. Consumer Reports describes Labor Day as the last major chance of the year to find grills on sale, because retailers discount them to clear warehouse space as the outdoor cooking season ends. Its grill-deals page lists April, May, July, August and September as the best months to buy — November is not among them.

Should I wait until Black Friday to buy a grill?

If you need it as a gift, we would not gamble the gift on it. The seasonal clearance that produces the deepest grill discounts happens in late summer, not late November, and stock on the well-regarded models thins as December approaches. If you find a price you would be happy to pay today, paying it is a defensible decision rather than a mistake.

What BBQ gear is most worth waiting for in November?

Anything with electronics in it — wireless probe thermometers in particular — sits in the categories retailers promote hardest over the Black Friday week. That is our reasoning from where the promotional weight goes, not a measured claim about these specific models. Cheap accessories are the opposite case: the absolute saving on a chimney starter is a couple of dollars, so waiting mostly costs you time.

How can I tell if a Black Friday discount is real?

Compare it against a dated price you trust rather than against the retailer's own struck-through number. Federal guidance on price advertising (16 CFR 233.1) says a 'was' price is only legitimate if it is the actual price the item was openly offered at, on a regular basis, for a reasonably substantial period — a price inflated specifically to support a large-looking reduction is a fictitious one. Our prices carry the date they were read, so you can use them as that baseline.

Will you post actual deals on this page?

Yes. When the November sales go live we will update this page with the specific products that are genuinely discounted against the dated prices we already publish, and we will leave out the ones that are not. We do not publish predicted discounts, expected percentages or deals we have not seen, because we would be making them up.

Is Cyber Monday better than Black Friday for grilling gear?

For online-only accessories and anything small enough to ship cheaply, Cyber Monday is worth a second look, since it skews online. For large items like grills and smokers, shipping cost and stock availability matter more than which day the banner is up. In both cases the useful move is the same: check the current price against a dated one rather than against a struck-through claim.

Sources

  • Consumer Reports — 20 Products on Deep Discount in September — Consumer Reports (Samantha B. Gordon, updated September 1, 2026) on when grills are discounted: “Labor Day is the last major chance of the year to find grills on sale, though you may still find sale prices for a couple of weeks after the holiday,” because “retailers are looking to make room in their warehouses as the outdoor cooking season draws to a close” (accessed September 14, 2026)
  • Consumer Reports — Best Summer Sales on Grills — Consumer Reports’ grill-deals page lists April, May, July, August and September as the best months to buy a grill — November is not among them (accessed September 14, 2026)
  • 16 CFR § 233.1 — Former price comparisons (FTC Guides Against Deceptive Pricing) — The federal standard for a legitimate “was” price: it must be “the actual, bona fide price at which the article was offered to the public on a regular basis for a reasonably substantial period of time.” A price is fictitious “where an artificial, inflated price was established for the purpose of enabling the subsequent offer of a large reduction” (accessed September 14, 2026)
  • FTC Consumer Advice — Online Shopping — FTC guidance for buying online: “before you buy something online, shop around and check out sellers and products,” note the exact manufacturer or model number when comparison shopping, and pay by credit card so a bad order can be disputed (accessed September 14, 2026)

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