Choosing a grill for grills outdoor cooking is really a choice between how you like to cook, where you plan to use it, and how much cooking surface or structure you want around the fire. A compact propane griddle can make sense for flat-top meals and portability, while charcoal grills lean into classic BBQ flavor, shelves, lids, and larger cooking zones. The four options here span from a simple barrel-style patio charcoal grill to an oversize charcoal BBQ grill, with a park-style swivel model in between.
Quick take
- Best for compact propane griddle cooking: Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle with Hood for Outdoor Cooking, thanks to its 3 independently controlled burners and detachable griddle top.
- Best for a patio charcoal setup with prep space: Royal Gourmet Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side & Front Shelves, for Patio Parties, because it combines a barrel grill shape with shelves, hooks, and a warming rack.
- Best for a park-style charcoal feel: Pilot Rock CBP-135 Park Style Outdoor Camping BBQ Charcoal Grill with Swivel, with its post-style design, four cooking levels, and 360-degree rotation.
- Best for maximum listed cooking space: Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Oversize Cooking Area Outdoor BBQ Grill for Camping, which emphasizes a large BBQ footprint and an oversize cooking area.
Listed price comparison
The listed prices run from USD 99.99 to USD 362.99, so the lowest-priced option is about 72% below the highest-priced option. That spread matters: the least expensive pick is still a full barrel charcoal grill, while the highest-priced option is the oversize charcoal BBQ grill.
| Product | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Gourmet Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side & Front Shelves, for Patio Parties | USD 99.99 | |
| Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle with Hood for Outdoor Cooking | USD 109.99 | |
| Pilot Rock CBP-135 Park Style Outdoor Camping BBQ Charcoal Grill with Swivel | USD 262.44 | |
| Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Oversize Cooking Area Outdoor BBQ Grill for Camping | USD 362.99 |
Decision matrix
| If you want... | Look first at... | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| A flat-top cooking surface for burgers, breakfast foods, or quick outdoor meals | Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle with Hood for Outdoor Cooking | It uses propane, has 3 independently controlled burners, and includes a grease drain hole with grease cup. |
| A charcoal grill with shelves and utensil storage | Royal Gourmet Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side & Front Shelves, for Patio Parties | It includes side and front shelves, side hooks, a bottom shelf, and an adjustable charcoal pan. |
| A simple, fixed-location outdoor BBQ style | Pilot Rock CBP-135 Park Style Outdoor Camping BBQ Charcoal Grill with Swivel | The park-style format includes a post, swivel movement, and four adjustable cooking levels. |
| The biggest stated cooking setup among these picks | Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Oversize Cooking Area Outdoor BBQ Grill for Camping | It highlights a total of 941 sq. in. cooking space and an outdoor BBQ grill format. |
How to choose among these grills outdoor cooking options
Start with fuel. The Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle is the only propane option here, and it is also the only griddle-style pick. If you want a flat cooking surface instead of open grates, that narrows the choice quickly. The other three are charcoal grills, so they are better aligned with shoppers who want charcoal cooking and do not need propane burners.
Next, think about cooking format. A griddle gives you a broad flat surface, while the barrel grill gives you a classic charcoal lid-and-grate arrangement with prep shelves. The Pilot Rock model is more like a park BBQ station, with a firebox on a post and swivel movement. The Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill is framed around a large BBQ area, lid, freestanding format, and side charcoal access door.
Finally, consider how much structure you want around the grill. Shelves, hooks, a warming rack, a hood, a grease cup, adjustable cooking levels, and a side access door all change the cooking routine. A shopper who wants a compact cooking station may prefer fewer parts and a smaller footprint. A shopper who wants to cook for a group may prefer storage space, extra rack area, or the largest stated cooking capacity.
Concise product notes
Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle with Hood for Outdoor Cooking
This is the most distinct choice because it is a propane griddle rather than a charcoal grill. The 3 independently controlled stainless steel burners, 25,500 BTU total output, piezo ignition, and grease drain system point toward quick flat-top cooking for burgers and other griddle-friendly foods. The hood is useful for covering the griddle during storage and staying open while cooking. The main limitation is that it is not a traditional grate-style charcoal BBQ; shoppers who specifically want charcoal fuel, a warming rack, or a barrel grill shape will likely find the other Royal Gourmet model more aligned with that style.
Royal Gourmet Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side & Front Shelves, for Patio Parties
This is the low-priced charcoal choice and the strongest fit for someone who wants a patio grill with built-in prep space. The side shelf, front shelf, utensil hooks, bottom shelf, warming rack, adjustable charcoal pan, lid stack, and side vent all support a more organized charcoal cooking setup. It also lists a 426 sq. in. total cooking area, including the primary grill area and warming rack. The tradeoff is that it does not offer propane burners or a flat griddle surface, and its cooking area is smaller than the oversize charcoal BBQ grill in this group.
Pilot Rock CBP-135 Park Style Outdoor Camping BBQ Charcoal Grill with Swivel
The Pilot Rock CBP-135 stands apart for its park-style design rather than a cart or barrel format. It has a steel firebox, solid steel bar cooking grate, four adjustable cooking levels, coiled steel grips, and 360-degree rotation. That makes it appealing if you want a straightforward charcoal grill with a swivel function and a compact 14 in by 16 in cooking area. Its limitation is the format: it is not built around shelves, a hooded cart body, or a large multi-zone cooking setup, so it is less suited to shoppers prioritizing prep surfaces or the biggest cooking area.
Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Oversize Cooking Area Outdoor BBQ Grill for Camping
This is the choice to focus on if cooking capacity is the main priority. The title emphasizes a heavy duty charcoal grill and oversize cooking area, while the product text describes 941 sq. in. total cooking space, including enamel cooking grate area and offset enamel cooking grate area. It also includes a side charcoal access door, freestanding design, lid/stopper feature, polished finish, and charcoal fuel type. The limitation is cost: at the top of this set, it asks shoppers to pay much more than the two Royal Gourmet options, so it makes the most sense when the larger BBQ setup is the reason for buying.
Final recommendation
For most patio shoppers comparing grills outdoor cooking options, the Royal Gourmet Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side & Front Shelves, for Patio Parties is the easiest starting point. It has the lowest listed price in the group, and it still includes a barrel charcoal design, prep shelves, utensil hooks, warming rack, and adjustable airflow features.
Choose the Royal Gourmet Portable 3-Burner Propane Griddle with Hood for Outdoor Cooking if you want propane and flat-top cooking instead of charcoal grates. Its detachable griddle top, three burners, piezo ignition, and grease cup make it the best match for a compact griddle station.
Pick the Pilot Rock CBP-135 Park Style Outdoor Camping BBQ Charcoal Grill with Swivel if the park-style post-and-swivel format is the appeal. It is less about extra storage and more about a direct charcoal BBQ setup with adjustable cooking levels.
Go with the Heavy Duty Charcoal Grill Oversize Cooking Area Outdoor BBQ Grill for Camping when size is the deciding factor. The price spread is substantial, but this is the model here that emphasizes the largest total cooking space and a bigger outdoor BBQ grill format.