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When the sun comes out the first thing most people think about is getting the BBQ out of the shed but what if you want to have a BBQ away from home?
Whether you’re heading to the beach, off for a hike, or off camping you’re going to need a charcoal folding BBQ that you can easily take with you.
Folding BBQs are portable and small enough when collapsed, to enable you to take them wherever you want.
To help you choose your folding BBQ we’ve put together a list of 7 of the best charcoal folding BBQ grills but before we start let’s take a look at what you need to consider when buying a folding BBQ.
What to Look for in a Folding BBQ?
If you’re looking to buy a folding BBQ there are certain things we suggest you look at before you take the plunge.
After our handy buying hints, you’ll find the full list of our 7 best folding BBQs.
Folding BBQ Size
There are two things you want to look at when it comes to the size of a folding BBQ.
First is the size of the grill, and the cooking area itself! There’s no point buying a BBQ that cooks food for 2 if you’re always going to be cooking for 4.
Secondly, you want to decide what you intend on using the BBQ for. Obviously cooking, but we mean, are you going to just keep it in the car for beach trips, are you going to take it hiking, will you have to carry it a long way?
If it’s just going to sit in the car then you can go big but if you want to carry it then smaller might be better.
Weight
Similar to size, you also need to think about the weight of the BBQ.
Heavier can mean that it’s made from a thicker and therefore stronger material but you don’t want to be carrying a BBQ that weighs the same as a child!
Again, you’ll want to decide what you intend on using your folding BBQ for.
Material and Durability
Material and durability are things that people sometimes overlook. A folding BBQ is certainly meant to be portable otherwise you wouldn’t need it to pack away.
However, just because something is portable and folds, it doesn’t have to be made of thin metal and certainly shouldn’t be disposable.
DISPOSABLE and PORTABLE are not the same things. Make sure that you chose a solid and sturdy folding BBQ it will last for years.
Ease of Packing and Storage
As we mentioned above if you’re after a folding BBQ you clearly want it to be portable otherwise you wouldn’t care if it folded away or not.
Take a look at how easily the BBQ will fold down. How long does it take to put together and then take apart? Are there lots of parts?
Do you need any tools to put it together, if so do they come with the BBQ? Does it come with a bag for the bits?
All of these questions you should be asking before you buy!
Shape
The shape of a folding BBQ again is not something that people think about until it’s too late and they’ve already bought one.
Think about how you are going to use it, beach, car, hiking or camping! Some shapes are easier to carry in a rucksack than others, whilst rectangular ones are easier to fit into a car than round ones.
Charcoal Area Size
You may have a large enough grill area for cooking but is the fuel area large enough?
There’s no point having a grill area for 4 if your charcoal will run out before you’ve cooked enough for one.
Cost
Finally, think about the cost of the BBQ. We’d always recommend you set a budget and then try and spend as much as possible within that budget.
If you set a budget first it’s much easier but as with all things you generally get what you pay for. Don’t expect an all singing all dancing item for next to nothing. There will always be some drawbacks.
However, good things do come in cheap packages. You can often find very good, very cheap folding BBQ’s on the market, some of which we’ve listed below.
7 Best Charcoal Folding BBQs
Below we’ve listed our chosen 7 best charcoal folding BBQs, followed by the full details of each.
1) Stainless Steel Folding BBQ Grill
2) UCO Grilliput Flatpack BBQ
3) Valiant Folding Camping BBQ
4) Fennek Light Folding Grill
5) ProQ Flatdog Folding BBQ Grill
6) Notebook Folding BBQ Grill
7) Gizzo Grill Folding BBQ
1) Stainless Steel Folding BBQ Grill
If you’re looking for something really cheap and cheerful that you can take to the beach or camping then this stainless steel folding BBQ is for you.
We’ve seen the reviews commenting on the sharpness of the metal but to be honest ours was ok. Yes it’s not the most heavy-dut BBQ you’ll come across but when you look at the price we think you’ll find it’s pretty good.
You can easily fit a burn in the bag charcoal bag in it and you can even use it as a disposable BBQ stand to keep it off the floor.
The legs fold in neatly and the charcoal tray comes up so it fits neatly together. The charcoal tray can also be removed along with the grate so they can be cleaned and washed.
There are much better folding BBQs on our list but this is here for those wanting something really cheap that they can take with them on the odd occasion.
Main Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Silver
Product Size: 41.4 Long 27.4cm Wide x 19.6cm High
Product Weight: 1.39kg
Main features
- Cheap folding BBQ
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Did we mention CHEAP
2) UCO Grilliput Flatpack BBQ
The UCO Grilliput Flatpack portable BBQ & fire pit gets on the list due to its relatively low price and the fact it can easily be used as a BBQ and also a fire pit.
It packs away for easy transportation so whether you’re going camping, to the beach or out for a day hiking you’ll easily be able to fit it into a bag or rucksack.
The Grilliput can easily be put together in less than 30 seconds and you’ll be ready to cook. All that’s needed to set this portable fire pit up is to unfold it and place the BBQ grill grates on top.
Its solid stainless steel construction means that it’s really durable and is easy to clean and maintain. Once it has cooled down, simply give it a quick wash and dry, and it is ready to be packed away and used again.
This folding BBQ has a stable base for safe grilling and the sides serve as windbreaks for BBQing in windy conditions.
The UCO Grilliput is one of the best folding BBQs as far as reviews go with an average customer rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Main Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Silver
Product Size: 34.3cm Long x 25.4cm Wide x 27.9cm High
Product Weight: 1.81kg
Main features
- Folds up very thin into a bag that comes with it
- Quick 30 second set up
- Constructed from durable stainless steel to provide high rust and corrosion resistance
- Sides of grill serve as a wind-break
3) Valiant Folding Camping BBQ
The Valiant folding camping BBQ is a cracking piece of kit that all folds down and packs away inside its outer case.
To be honest it looks very much like a stylish briefcase before you open it up. Within a few seconds of opening the case, the pieces easily fit together to make a BBQ that can easily cook enough for 4 people.
Perfect for a BBQ on the beach or countryside this folding BBQ is both lightweight and tough due to its stainless steel construction.
Available in black and yellow, you can choose a design to suit your style. If you fancy a little more, you can also buy this fantastic BBQ with or without an accessory pack and multi-cooking tool.
Main Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Black or Yellow
Product Size: 40cm Long x 10cm Wide x 28.5cm High
Product Weight: 3.3kg
Main features
- Compact foldaway design for easy transportation
- Stainless steel design with rust free and easy to clean
- Heavy duty charcoal burner offers safe and convenient cooking
- Cooking area for at least 4
4) Fennek Light Folding Grill
The FENNEK light is the smaller version of the highly popular FENNEK range of folding BBQs.
Whether you’re going fishing, camping, hiking or relaxing by the beach this cleverly designed BBQ will help you cook food on the go.
Made from high-quality stainless steel, it fits together in next to no time at all and packs away into its very own bag. Also included in the package are a tool and a charcoal starter.
To top it all off, the grilling rack can quickly be adjusted to 3 different heights allowing you to continue cooking even when the heat is dying down. All components are also dishwasher-safe so forget about spending time cleaning it after you’ve cooked, simply take it home and pop it in the dishwasher.
Main Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Silver
Product Size: 28.4cm Long x 18.3cm Wide x 27.7cm High
Product Weight: 2.276kg
Main features
- Made from high quality stainless steel
- Easily and quickly assembled
- Folds flat and packs away into its own bag
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with charcoal starter
5) ProQ Flatdog Folding BBQ Grill
The ProQ Flatdog folding BBQ grill is highly innovative and provides the perfect BBQ in seconds.
It is the ultimate fold-flat portable BBQ grill and is made from high-quality stainless steel which is super easy to clean.
Collapsible & compact, this fantastic BBQ folds down to the width of a laptop at just 2.5cm. It’s great for the beach, camping, walking and so much more.
It has a large cooking grill which is suitable for up to 12 people and can even be used at home. It takes only a few seconds to set up and takes only 10 minutes to cool down so it’s ready to pack away.
The ProQ Flatdog’s space-saving design has been created to make carrying a barbecue effortless, presenting a highly efficient outdoor grill set-up.
Although it’s more expensive than many on our list, its innovative folding mechanism and style mean it’s one of the best on the market.
Main Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Silver
Product Size: 43cm Long x 33cm Wide x x 18cm High
Product Weight: 4.65kg
Main features
- Large cooking area for up to 12
- Folds up to just 2.5cm
- Opens from flat to functional in seconds
- Ready to pack away after 10 minutes
6) Notebook Folding BBQ Grill
The Notebook folding BBQ grill is one of the cheapest on our list.
It’s a very simple design which is what makes this folding BBQ so popular. It’s also so easy to use you could set it up blindfolded.
The ingenious design means it starts off being folded completely flat. To use simply unfold the BBQ and pop the cooking rack on top and you’re ready to go.
Its clever yet simple design means that it is perfect for taking to the beach, on a camping trip, on a family picnic or anywhere you want.
Main Specifications
Material: Heat-resistant painted steel with chrome-plated steel grills
Colour: Black
Product Size: 45cm Long x 27.5cm Wide x 30cm High
Product Weight: 2.8kg
Main features
- Folds completely flat
- Easy to set up
- Easy to clean
- Convenient carry handles
7) Gizzo Grill Folding BBQ
The Gizzo Grill folding BBQ is completely portable and very easy to transport.
There are a number of different options available when buying the Gizzo Grill including a basic BBQ, one with a starter kit, and even one that comes with a whole variety of tools.
The Gizzo is ideal for camping, picnics, walks or the beach and takes only a few moments to assemble. It comes with a carry bag which is roughly the size of a laptop that’s perfect for getting from one place to another.
With its easy-to-clean finish, the Gizzo even comes with a coal bunker so cleaning the grill is child’s play.
If you opt for the Gizzo starter set you’ll get Gizzo Grill + BBQ Case + BBQ Gloves + Easy clean foil pans 8x + Eco fire starter cubes + Chimney starter grate.
It may be a little more expensive than the basic set but it’s well worth the extra!
Main Specifications
Material: Steel
Colour: Black
Product Size: 47cm Long x 31cm Wide x 55cm High
Product Weight: 10.9kg
Main features
- Sturdy heavy duty BBQ
- Cools down in 10 minutes
- Easy to clean
- Quick set up and handy bag
Finally
There are lots of different folding BBQs on the market to choose from so we hope that you’ve found our & best folding BBQs article handy and that our buying guide has also been useful.
If you want to find out more about disposable BBQs and disposable BBQ stands then please check out our articles.