What Is The Best Sized BBQ Grill For My Needs?

BBQ cooking is a culinary art form, and finding the right tool for the job is essential.

Whether you prefer the smoky richness of charcoal, the earthy tones of wood, or the convenience of pellet smokers, the size of your BBQ grill can make or break your cooking experience.

From compact grills for camping adventures to large, powerful models that can feed an entire party, choosing the right BBQ size to fit your lifestyle is crucial.

This guide will walk you through the best BBQ sizes, breaking down the options available for portable, medium, and large BBQ grills.

We'll focus on popular models like the Traeger Ranger, Monolith Icon, Traeger Ironwood, and Monolith Le Chef Pro Series 2.0, detailing their sizes, uses, and features to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.

Also see our blog post, Which Is The Best Type Of Grill?, where we discuss the different styles of BBQ grills and fuel types.

For BBQ enthusiasts who love the outdoors, portability is key. A good camping BBQ grill should be lightweight, easy to transport, and efficient enough to cook delicious meals on the go. Here are some of the best portable BBQ grills on the market:

1- Traeger Ranger

• Size: Compact  and portable.
• Features: The Traeger Ranger is a portable pellet grill designed for those who want wood-fired flavour anywhere. It includes a digital arc controller for precise temperature control and a meat probe to monitor your cooking.
• Uses: Ideal for camping trips, tailgating, or small gatherings where space is limited. Despite its size, it can grill, smoke, bake, and roast with ease.

2- Monolith Icon

• Size: 33 cm grill grate.
• Features: The Monolith Icon is a compact ceramic BBQ grill with a stainless steel frame, perfect for those who want to enjoy ceramic grilling on the go. It can grill, smoke, bake, and even has an optional cast iron grid.
• Uses: Great for smaller outdoor spaces, picnics, and camping trips. The ceramic material helps retain heat, making it incredibly fuel-efficient.

3- ProQ Flat Dog

• Size: Ultra-portable, foldable design.
• Features: The ProQ Flat Dog is a folding charcoal grill that can be easily packed and transported. Despite its minimalist design, it provides enough space for grilling several burgers or steaks at once.
• Uses: Ideal for backpacking or camping where weight is a concern, yet you still want a reliable grilling option.

4- Ozpig Series 2 and Ozpig Big Pig

• Size: Compact, with additional space in the Big Pig model.
• Features: The Ozpig Series 2 is a multi-functional, portable wood-fired stove that’s excellent for grilling, cooking, and even heating water. The Ozpig Big Pig offers more cooking space and versatility, ideal for larger groups.
• Uses: Perfect for BBQ grill camping or backyard cooking, offering both grilling and slow-cooking options.

5- ProQ Rodeo

• Size: 37 cm diameter.
• Features: The ProQ Rodeo is a versatile charcoal BBQ smoker, small enough to be portable but large enough for serious smoking and grilling. It’s compatible with ProQ’s stackable designs for added cooking space.
• Uses: Great for small outdoor adventures, but also capable of smoking meat for a few people.

Medium-sized BBQ grills are perfect for backyard cookouts, providing enough cooking space for a family while maintaining flexibility. These BBQ grills offer more features than portable models, making them ideal for a wide range of cooking techniques.

1- Traeger Pro 22

• Size: 418 square inches of cooking space.
• Features: This wood pellet grill comes with the ability to use dual meat probes and precise temperature control. It’s perfect for those who want to step up from a portable grill without going too large.
• Uses: Ideal for family dinners or small gatherings, capable of grilling, smoking, baking, and roasting. It is a fantastic, entry level, medium size BBQ grill with so much versatility.

2- Traeger Pro 575

• Size: 575 square inches of cooking space.
• Features: Equipped with WiFIRE technology, allowing you to control the grill from your smartphone. The Pro 575 offers larger cooking space than the Pro 22, with the same versatility.
• Uses: Perfect for slightly larger families or frequent backyard chefs who want to monitor their cooking remotely.

3- Traeger Ironwood 650

• Size: 650 square inches of cooking space.
• Features: WiFIRE technology, double side-wall insulation, and the ability to super smoke at low temperatures. It’s one of the most versatile grills for medium-sized gatherings.
• Uses: Great for smoking large cuts of meat or grilling for a party of 6-8 people.

4- Pit Barrel Junior

• Size: 14 inch diameter grill.
• Features: The Pit Barrel Junior is a compact version of the popular Pit Barrel Cooker, designed for portability without sacrificing capacity. It allows for vertical cooking, which optimizes heat distribution.
• Uses: Excellent for tailgating or small backyard barbecues, perfect for smoking meat and grilling.

5- Monolith Junior & Monolith Classic Pro Series 2.0

• Size: Monolith Junior has a 33 cm grill grid, and the Monolith Classic offers 46 cm.
• Features: Both models provide the versatility of ceramic grilling, with the Classic offering more space for medium gatherings. The Pro Series 2.0 includes enhanced airflow control and an easy-access wood chip feeder.
• Uses: Great for versatile backyard cooking, from grilling to smoking and baking, making it the ideal BBQ grill

6- ProQ Ranger

• Size: 30 cm cooking area.
• Features: The ProQ Ranger is a compact smoker and BBQ grill, designed for portability but with enough space for low and slow cooking. Stackable sections allow you to adjust capacity as needed.
• Uses: Excellent for those who love smoked meats but want a compact, easy-to-transport option.

7- Ascua Parrilla by Black Box BBQ

• Size: Medium cooking surface, customizable design. Cooking grill surface area is 360mm x 360mm.
• Features: A premium Argentine-style grill made from high-quality materials, designed for those who want to try traditional parrilla-style grilling.
• Uses: Ideal for backyard gatherings and open-fire cooking enthusiasts.

When it comes to entertaining large groups, a larger BBQ grill is necessary. These models are designed for serious BBQ lovers who need to cook for 10 or more people.

1- Monolith Le Chef Pro Series 2.0 & Monolith Le Chef Avantgarde

• Size: 55 cm grill grid.
• Features: These are among the largest ceramic BBQ grills on the market, offering superior heat retention and versatility. The Pro Series 2.0 includes advanced airflow controls for precise cooking.
• Uses: Perfect for large gatherings, ideal for grilling, smoking, and even baking.

2- Traeger Pro 780

• Size: 780 square inches of cooking space.
• Features: Equipped with WiFIRE technology, it allows you to manage large amounts of food remotely. A solid choice for big BBQ events.
• Uses: Designed for larger families or BBQ parties, perfect for smoking and grilling multiple racks of ribs or briskets.

3- Traeger Ironwood 885 & Ironwood XL

• Size: 885 square inches for the Ironwood 885 and even more for the XL at 924 square inches.
• Features: Like the Ironwood 650 but with additional space and features, including double-wall insulation for better temperature control. The XL also has the New Smart Combustion™ technology.
• Uses: Perfect for large gatherings or events where precise temperature management is key.

4- Traeger Timberline XL

• Size: 1320 square inches of cooking space. This is the ultimate in BBQ grills.
• Features: The largest in the Timberline series, with premium features like WiFIRE, a pellet sensor, and an insulated design.
• Uses: Designed for BBQ professionals or large parties where extensive cooking space and versatility are required.

5- Pit Barrel Classic

• Size: 18.5 inch diameter grill.
• Features: A vertical drum smoker designed for efficient cooking. Its large capacity is perfect for feeding a crowd.
• Uses: Great for cooking large quantities of food at once, especially meats that benefit from vertical smoking.

6- ProQ Excel

• Size: 50 cm cooking area.
• Features: The largest model in the ProQ lineup, the Excel is a versatile BBQ smoker with multiple stackable sections for added cooking space.
• Uses: Ideal for smoking large cuts of meat or grilling for a sizable crowd.

7- Ascua Fuego by Black Box BBQ

• Size: Large cooking surface with customizable options. Larger size than Ascua Parrilla.
• Features: Built for traditional wood-fired cooking, the Ascua Fuego is a premium option for BBQ grill enthusiasts who love open-fire cooking.
• Uses: Perfect for large gatherings, especially if you love cooking over an open flame.

Choosing the best BBQ grill size for your needs depends on how often you cook, the number of people you typically serve, and where you’ll be using your BBQ.

From portable grills like the Traeger Ranger and Monolith Icon, through to the medium range with the likes of Monolith Classic or a full-on mammoth size BBQ grill like the Traeger Timberline XL, there is something to suit your needs.

If you want to find out even more about all the models of BBQ grills outlined here, use the buttons below to view the selections in each size category and light up your barbecuing adventure today.