7 cheap barbecues to get your summer sizzling

Our tests prove you don't need to spend a lot to get a good barbecue. Out of the 95 barbecues we've tested, 16 are Best Buys and four of those cost less than £200. 

We've also uncovered nine Great Value barbecues that combine impressive cooking results with good value for money.

Admittedly, a cheaper barbecue won't have all the bells and whistles that you'd get with one costing £1,000. Lower-cost barbecues are typically smaller portable or tabletop models and tend to use charcoal – although we've found some inexpensive gas and electric models to consider, too. 

See our selection below or check out our barbecue reviews to compare all the models we've tested.

See which are the best barbecues and read our expert advice about different types and how much you can expect to pay for them

Cheap charcoal barbecues

B&Q Pondera Black Charcoal Barbecue (typical price: £100)

• Two cooking areas
• 98 x 119 x 72cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: charcoal briquettes

We like: Two adjustable grills

We don't like: No lid

This B&Q barbecue has two adjustable cooking zones so you can grill different foods at different temperatures. This can be great if you're cooking a wide variety of foods for a summer feast. 

There isn't a lid though, so you're better off with a different model if you're planning on smoking meats or slow cooking.

Read our B&Q Pondera barbecue review to find out how well it cooks foods such as steaks and chicken.

You can buy it directly from B&Q for £100.

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Argos Habitat Mini Tabletop Kamado BBQ (typical price: £120)

• Can grill or smoke food
• 69 x 43 x 44cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: charcoal briquettes

We like: Feels sturdy, adjustable coal tray and air vents

We don't like: Despite the 'mini' in the name and the fact that it's marketed as portable, this barbecue is fairly hefty at 22.3kg

Traditional kamado-style barbecues cost upwards of £500 thanks to their thick insulating ceramic walls, which are designed to retain heat and moisture. 

This mini tabletop version from Argos' Habitat brand is available for £120 and has a 27cm cooking surface. which gives enough room to grill for four people. You can use it for grilling, smoking, baking and searing. 

Read our Argos Habitat Mini Tabletop Kamado BBQ review to see how well it cooks.

You can currently buy this barbecue from Argos for £120.

Napoleon Portable Charcoal Kettle Barbecue (typical price: £80)

• 35cm circular cooking grill
• 30 x 39 x 39cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: charcoal briquettes

We like: Portable and lightweight

We don't like: Tricky to assemble

This simple barbecue takes grilling down to its basics. It has a porcelain-enamelled body that contains a 35cm cooking area, a charcoal basket with removable ash catcher, and a locking lid with a handle for easy transporting. 

It weighs just 4.9kg, which, along with its compact size, mean it's easy to carry around for on-the-go al-fresco dining. 

Read our Napoleon Portable Charcoal Kettle review to find out if this barbecue sizzles or fizzles.

You can buy it direct from The BBQ Shop at a slight discount, for £76. 

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Cheap gas barbecues

Cadac Safari Chef 2 (typical price: £130)

• 28cm circular grill
• 34 x 35 x 36cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: butane propane canisters

We like: It's energy efficient 

We don't like: Might be too small if you have a lot of food to make

The Cadac Safari Chef 2 is a small, portable grill that's energy efficient. It comes with several attachments that let you use it as a regular barbecue, a small flat-top grill or a saucepan, plus there's a lid for oven-style cooking.

The modular design is great if you're looking for a portable all-in-one system that can fit easily on a table, but its small size won't be ideal if you want to cook for a large group.

Read our Cadac Safari Chef 2 review to find out how well it grills.

Check out cheap barbecue deals below:

Make sure you clean your barbecue properly and know how to care for and store it in winter when it's not in use

Cadac 2 Cook 3 Pro Deluxe QR (typical price: £160)

• 24 x 27cm grilling area (WxD)
• 30 x 57 x 34cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: butane or propane

We like: Compact and portable

We don't like: Very small cooking area

This portable gas barbecue has a rectangular grilling area, which might allow you to fit a few extra sausages on – although if you're cooking for the whole family, you'll probably still want to go for a larger barbecue. 

It's incredibly straightforward to use, and with the lid down it's only 9cm tall, so can easily be tucked away in a shed when not in use. 

Read our Cadac 2 Cook 3 Pro Deluxe QR review to see if this barbecue is worth it.

You can see if the barbecue is on sale below:

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Cheap electric barbecues

Cadac E Braai (typical price: £170)

• 39cm circular grilling area
• 42 x 43 x 54cm (HxWxD)
• 8.2kg 

We like: Compact

We don't like: Might be too small if you need to cook lots

If you're looking to grill indoors or you have limited space, this electric barbecue from Cadac is a good option to consider. It comes with a ceramic-coated barbecue grid and dome lid, with options to buy a paella pan and pizza stone that are sold separately. It has a large range of temperatures to work with, so you can use it as a grill or a slow cooker.

For a portable barbecue, it's still quite heavy at 8.2kg, which might make it harder to carry for some. While it's bigger than the other Cadac barbecue featured above, it still might be too small for large parties.

How does this electric grill compare with traditional models? Read our Cadac E Braai review to find out.

You can compare prices from retailers below:

Can I get a dual-fuel barbecue for less than £200?

The short answer is typically not. Sometimes you can find dual-fuel models on sale for around £200, but they'll usually cost you £300+ for a cheaper one. That said, the cheapest dual-fuel barbecue we've tested is, at time of writing, available for £265 from Argos.

Our cheapest dual-fuel barbecue on test:

Argos Home 2 Burner Gas And Charcoal BBQ (typical price: £265)

• Two separate grilling zones with lids
• 57 x 72 x 47cm (HxWxD)
• Recommended fuel: charcoal briquettes and propane

We like: Loads of built-in features

We don't like: No adjustable grill height

It's an unconventional two-in-one because this dual-fuel barbecue from Argos Home is essentially a charcoal and gas barbecue merged into one model, and each section has its own lid.

It has built-in thermometers, warming racks, storage shelves, spice racks, towel hooks, wheels, smoker capabilities, and it comes with a propane regulator. A propane gas tank is sold separately; if you want to use butane you'll have to buy a different regulator.

Read our Argos Home 2 Burner Gas And Charcoal BBQ review to see if this feature-packed barbecue is worth buying.

You can buy it from Argos, and check prices below: 

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How much do you need to spend for a good barbecue?

We've tested barbecues costing less than £150 that dazzle us, while others leave us frazzled. You'll typically get a smaller or portable model that's fuelled by charcoal. Larger models at this price can be flimsy or unsteady, which could end quite badly considering you've got red hot coals or gas burning above your feet. 

On the other hand, you probably don't need to spend more than £700 on a barbecue, unless you're after a highly specific model or design. The average price of our tested Best Buys is £526. 

A smaller, cheaper barbecue can be good to cook for a few friends in the garden. However, for a larger party you might need something with more cooking space. A larger barbecue can cost around £200 to £300, although we've found some good models that cost less.

Our tests have shown that there isn't always a link between price and quality. The most important aspects of a barbecue are how well it can grill veggies, meats and other foods; whether it heats up quickly and has good temperature control; plus how well built and stable it is.

Before buying any grill, we recommend reading our barbecue reviews to find the best model to suit your needs.

Find out how we test barbecues to see exactly how we put each barbecue through its paces