Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch vs Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.8 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about The weekend backyard BBQer who wants a no-nonsense charcoal kettle that lasts a decade and handles burgers, steaks, ribs, and the occasional smoked chicken without buying accessories on day one. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Charcoal Grills

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch

4.8

2 sourcesall derived$219as of Aug 1

There is a reason the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch is the default charcoal kettle: 363 square inches of porcelain-enameled cooking surface, a One-Touch ash sweep and a 10-year warranty, all under $250. AmazingRibs gave it a Platinum medal, and over 11,000 reviewers gave it five stars. If you want a workspace and gas ignition, look at the Performer Deluxe sibling; if you want fuel efficiency and ceramic heat retention, jump to the Kamado Joe Classic III.

Strengths

— 363 sq in of cooking grate fits 13 burgers at once with porcelain-enameled bowl and lid that resist rust
— One-Touch sweep system clears ash through three blades into an enclosed wind-proof catcher in seconds
— Hinged plated-steel cooking grate flips up on either side so you can add charcoal or wood chunks mid-cook

Watch-outs

— Built-in lid thermometer sits 7.5 inches above the grate and reviewers call its reading unreliable
— Three-leg tripod design feels top-heavy on uneven patios compared to four-leg carts
— No side table or workspace for prep, plates, or tools out of the box

$219 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Charcoal Grills

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

4.7

3 sourcesall derived$549as of Aug 3

The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch wraps the standard Original Kettle in a four-leg cart with Touch-N-Go propane ignition, a thermoset work table, a charcoal storage bin and a 99-minute LCD timer. AmazingRibs awarded it a Platinum medal and Smoked BBQ Source called it the best mid-range charcoal grill. Its 363 sq in cooking area is identical to the Original Kettle Premium, so what you are buying is ergonomics and convenience. Anyone who wants a workspace and push-button ignition will spend the extra $240; anyone focused on raw cooking capability is better served by the Kamado Joe Classic III at this price tier and above.

Strengths

— Touch-N-Go propane ignition lights a full chimney of charcoal in 10 minutes without lighter fluid or paper
— Same 363 sq in porcelain-enameled cooking surface as the Original Kettle, with the same AmazingRibs Platinum-grade build
— Thermoset work table, three tool hooks, charcoal storage bin, and bottom wire shelf make a complete outdoor cook station

Watch-outs

— $469 is roughly double the Original Kettle Premium for the same 363 sq in cooking surface
— 99-minute timer ceiling is too short for low-and-slow cooks longer than 90 minutes
— Built-in lid thermometer is inaccurate above 470 F per Smoked BBQ Source — plan to add a digital probe

$549 · Buy at acehardware.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch

Cheaper and more portable than the Kamado Joe Classic III, but with thinner steel walls that lose heat faster on overnight smokes. The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch shares the same 363 sq in cooking surface but adds a Touch-N-Go gas ignition, work table, and storage cart for about double the price. Char-Griller Akorn matches the price band with more cooking area and ceramic-style insulation, but build quality is noticeably thinner. The PK Grills PK300 is a portable alternative if you want cast aluminum and dual-zone cooking.

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

Shares the porcelain-enameled bowl and cooking surface of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch, but adds a Touch-N-Go propane ignition, work table, and storage cart for roughly $240 more. Far less capable than the Kamado Joe Classic III for long cooks (no ceramic insulation, no overnight burn), and at this price the kamado tier starts to make sense if smoking is your focus. The Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado costs slightly less and offers ceramic-style insulation in exchange for thinner construction. PK Grills PK300 is the portable cast-aluminum alternative if you want a workspace and dual-zone cooking on a smaller footprint.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch	Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Cooking Area	363 sq in	363 sq in
Diameter	22.5 inches	22.5 inches
Material	Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid	Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid
Cooking Grate	Plated steel, hinged	—
Dampers	Adjustable lid and bowl	—
Ash Catcher	Enclosed One-Touch high-capacity	Enclosed One-Touch high-capacity
Lid Thermometer	Yes (built-in)	Built-in plus 99-min LCD timer
Weight	32 lb	100 lb
Warranty	10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts	10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts
Dimensions	22.5"D x 22.5"W x 27"H	8"D x 48"W x 43.5"H
Cart	—	Four-leg cart with thermoset work table
Ignition	—	Touch-N-Go propane (1 lb tank)
Wheels	—	Two large all-weather

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