Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg: Which Ceramic Grill Would I Buy After Owning Five of Them?

Last Updated: July 29, 2026

Jump to:

• My Quick Verdict
• Big Green Egg vs. Kamado Joe: Feature Comparison
• Why Both Grills Have a Loyal Following
• 15 Years, Five Ceramic Grills: Why This Review Is Different
• What Most Comparison Articles Get Wrong
• How I Ended Up Owning Five Kamado Grills
• Do Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe Cook Differently?
• What Are You Actually Buying?
• Ash Management: Convenience Versus Simplicity
• Bands: The Most Expensive Lesson I Learned
• Air Lift Hinge: The Feature I Miss Every Time I Cook on Another Grill
• Gasket and Front Latch: Not Exciting, But Important
• Firebox Design: A Better Way to Handle the Heat
• Top Vent: Sometimes Simpler Really is Better
• Dealer Network and Customer Support: More Important Than It Sounds
• Pros and Cons
• Which Grill Should You Buy?
• Buy a Big Green Egg If...
• Buy a Kamado Joe Classic II If...
• Frequently Asked Questions
• My Final Recommendation
• Where to Buy
• More Kamado Joe Resources

My Quick Verdict

After fifteen years, five ceramic grills, and more weekends than I can count managing fire, gaskets, and everything in between, I would buy the Kamado Joe Classic II again. Not because it cooks better. Both grills produce outstanding barbecue. Put identical briskets on either one, and you will not taste a difference.

The real question is what happens after the first hundred cooks. That is where the Kamado Joe separates itself with less maintenance and longer component life that makes the grill easier to own over the long term.

That does not mean the Big Green Egg is a bad choice. It has a long track record, a loyal following, and specific advantages I prefer. But when I weigh everything across fifteen years of ownership (the hinge, the firebox, the gasket system, the serviceability) the Classic II wins. It is the grill I would buy again without hesitation.

Watch my complete side-by-side comparison on YouTube, then continue reading below for the full review.

Big Green Egg vs. Kamado Joe: Feature Comparison

Category	Winner
Cooking Performance	Tie
Cooking Capacity Between Comparable Models	Tie
Ash Management	Big Green Egg
Hinge	Kamado Joe
Bands	Kamado Joe
Gasket and Latch	Kamado Joe
Lid Seal	Kamado Joe
Firebox	Kamado Joe
Top Vent	Big Green Egg
Included Accessories	Kamado Joe
Dealer Network and Parts Support	Big Green Egg
Overall Recommendation	Kamado Joe Classic II

Why Both Grills Have a Loyal Following

Both companies build exceptional ceramic grills. If you already own either one, you're cooking on one of the best charcoal cookers available today.

My goal is to explain which engineering decisions made the biggest difference after years of ownership. You won't find this information in a specification sheet.

15 Years, Five Ceramic Grills: Why This Review Is Different

I've owned two Big Green Eggs and three Kamado Joes over the past 15 years. During that time, I've cooked hundreds of meals on both grills, replaced gaskets and firebox components, and dealt with the kinds of problems that only reveal themselves after years of ownership.

I have also learned that a feature that looks good on a brand-new grill sitting in a barbecue store can mean very little when the grill is sitting in your backyard. Other features that barely catch your attention make your life easier with every cook. Over time, the small differences stop feeling so small. These are the difference I want to focus on.

What Most Comparison Articles Get Wrong

After reading dozens of Kamado Joe vs. Big Green Egg comparisons while researching this article, I noticed a pattern. Most of the kamado comparisons treat every feature as if it deserves equal weight - one point for the hinge, one point for the top vent, one point for the side shelves. Then they total the score and declare a winner.

A folding side shelf isn't as important as the hardware supporting a heavy ceramic dome. A wheeled cart doesn't matter as much as the firebox. And neither matters as much as getting replacement parts when something eventually wears out.

After owning five ceramic grills, here's what I actually care about:

• How often do I have to adjust the bands?
• How easy is the dome to lift?
• How long does the gasket last?
• Will the firebox holdup to high heat?
• How simple is routine maintenance?
• If something breaks, how difficult is it to get replacement parts?

And that's why my recommendation favors the Kamado Joe. Not because it makes better food. Because I think it's the better ownership experience.

How I Ended Up Owning Five Kamado Grills

My first kamado grill was a Large Big Green Egg that became the centerpiece of my backyard. Steaks on Friday nights, burgers during the week, and more than a few cooks had the neighbors leaning over the fence around dinnertime asking what smelled so good. That Big Green Egg earned its keep for years.

Then I learned one of my more expensive barbecue lessons. The lid and base went out of alignment and would no longer meet flush. While adjusting the bands to correct the problem, I broke the dome. I replaced it, went back to cooking, and eventually sold it because of a move.

After moving, I purchased another Large Big Green Egg and soon discovered that the base and lid were out of alignment. After adjusting the bands, and failing to adequately tighten the top band, I opened the lid and the dome flew over the back and onto to the ground. Another dome in little pieces. Ugh! To be fair, I was the one holding the tools. But two broken domes made me pay much closer attention to the hardware holding all of that heavy ceramic.

Those experiences pushed me to try a Kamado Joe Classic II. I preferred it over the Egg and never went back. The dome and base never went out of alignment and several features made it easier to use. I ended up selling my Classic II due to an out-of-state move and quickly purchased a new one for my new home. My family grew and eventually I purchased a Big Joe.

Do Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe Cook Differently?

This is usually the first question people ask when comparing the Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe. The honest answer is no. I don't believe one grill cooks better than the other. Both grills produce excellent BBQ.

I've cooked low-and-slow brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, reverse-seared steaks, pizzas, seafood, vegetables, and desserts on both brands. The results have been remarkably similar. Both grills hold temperatures extremely well and both produce wonderful smoke-infused charcoal flavor. I've also taken both grills beyond 700°F for pizza and steakhouse-style searing.

If you put the same lump charcoal in each one, build the fire and manage the airflow the same way, I don't believe one will produce better barbecue than the other. If your brisket comes out dry, the color of the ceramic was not the problem.

Both are excellent kamado grills. It's the design differences that shape that ownership experience far more than the food these grills create.

What Are You Actually Buying?

One of the easiest traps to fall into is comparing the price of a well-equipped Kamado Joe to the price of a bare bones Big Green Egg. The Big Green Egg appears to be less expensive, however you will also need to purchase several accessories that come standard with the Kamado Joe.

Big Green Egg takes a modular approach allowing you to build the setup that you want. That might mean adding a nest, side shelves, a heat deflector, racks, and other accessories. The advantage is that you are not forced into one standard setup.

Kamado Joe takes a package approach. The Classic IIs I purchased came with more of the accessories I needed including the cart and folding side shelves. I added the Divide & Conquer system with heat deflectors.

Neither approach is better. Just make sure to compare the prices of a complete setup.

Ash Management: Convenience Versus Simplicity

At first glance, this looks like an easy win for Kamado Joe. After all, it has a slide-out ash drawer. Pull it out, dump the ash, slide it back in, and you're done. If we were judging these grills after one weekend, Kamado Joe would win without question. After a short cook, it's easier than scraping ash through the lower vent of a Big Green Egg.

But after using it for a few years, my opinion changed. The Kamado Joe ash drawer is small and the holes for airflow are really small. During long cooks, especially for an overnight brisket or pork shoulder, it fills with ash. As the ash drawer fills, ash begins covering those holes choking off the air feeding the fire. I have had the fire go out completely because the ash built up enough on a long cook that the charcoal could no longer breathe.

Another issue that I experiences is that ash doesn't stay inside the drawer. Over time, it works its way underneath the drawer assembly. The first time I took my Kamado Joe apart for a deep cleaning, I was surprised by how much ash had accumulated beneath the drawer assembly. I eventually removed the factory ash drawer and replaced it with a Kick Ash Can, which has worked better for me for long overnight cooks. I shake the charcoal basket, brush the firebox walls, remove the Kick Ash Can and dump it.

There is one important safety concern I need to mention. The Big Green Egg has a sliding screen at the bottom draft door that can be completely closed. That allows air to flow while keeping hot pieces of charcoal contained inside the base. The Kamado Joe does not have a screen on the draft door. The drawer keeps the hot coals contained. If you replace the stock ash drawer with the Kick Ash Can, there is nothing to keep small pieces of hot coals from rolling out of the draft door. This would create a fire hazard if your Kamado Joe was located on a flammable wood or composite deck. My Kamado Joe is on concrete so I don't worry about it. Always have a fire extinguisher available nearby regardless what grill you use.

The Big Green Egg uses a much simpler system. There is no drawer and no assembly hidden underneath. Ash falls into the bottom of the cooker and is scraped out through the lower vent. Is it slower? Yes. Is it messier? Yes again. It's also beautifully simple and I'm not concerned about ash choking out the fire in the middle of a long cook.

For quick everyday cleanup, the Kamado Joe is more convenient. For long cooks and simplicity, I prefer the Big Green Egg.

Edge: Big Green Egg

Bands: The Most Expensive Lesson I Learned

The band system was not on my radar when I bought my first ceramic grill. It should have been. On both of my Big Green Eggs, the lid and base eventually moved out of alignment and would no longer meet flush. Both times, I ended up cracking the domes while trying adjust the alignment. At some point, you have to admit you're at least part of the problem.

After the second dome broke, the band system stopped feeling like a minor maintenance issue. The bands support one of the heaviest and most expensive components on the entire grill. If the bands shift or lose alignment, the dome may no longer meet the base evenly. That will affect the seal, cause air leaks, and impact how well you can make fine adjustments to the temperature.

My experience with the Kamado Joe has been very different. The bands are noticeably heavier and seemed to maintain their alignment better. After owning two Classic IIs and a Big Joe, I can say that the bands have required far less attention from me. This does not mean the Kamado Joe bands are maintenance free. While they still require periodic checking and tightening, this is one of those features that I appreciate because I don't have to think about it very often.

Advantage: Kamado Joe

Air Lift Hinge: The Feature I Miss Every Time I Cook on Another Grill

The first time I opened a Kamado Joe with the Air Lift Hinge, I thought "Well, that's nice." It didn't feel like a reason to buy the grill; it just made it easier to open and close. After all, I lifted Big Green Egg domes for years without complaining.

One day I cooked on my neighbor's Big Green Egg and realized how much I had come to appreciate the Air Lift Hinge. Ceramic domes are heavy. The Lift Hinge completely changes how the grill feels. I can lift the dome with two fingers and I can stop it hallway open without fighting its weight. Does that make the brisket taste better? No. But I lift that dome multiple times during every single cook. A feature doesn't have to improve the flavor of the food to improve the experience of using it.

The Air Lift Hinge is easy to dismiss after opening the grill once or twice in the barbecue store. It's one of the things I miss whenever I cook on a another ceramic grill and is one of the features of the Kamado Joe I appreciate the most.

My Pick: Kamado Joe

Gasket and Front Latch: Not Exciting, But Important

No one gets excited about a gasket when shopping for a ceramic grill. You start caring about it after heat, grease, smoke and repeated openings have damaged the gasket and you're having trouble holding low-and-slow temperatures.

On my Big Green Eggs, the felt gasket was a yearly maintenance item. Over time, it would become so compressed that it was nearly flat, and smoke would leak out between the dome and the base. I had to replace the gasket every year. The gasket can be replaced with a third-party wire mesh gasket similar to the one used on the Kamado Joe.

The fiberglass gasket on my Kamado Joes have lasted noticeably longer, about two years. That is a meaningful improvement over replacing a Big Green Egg gasket every year. The Kamado Joe's front latch also pulls the dome down firmly against the gasket when the lid is closed. It provides a tighter seal than one made with the weight of the dome alone.

Advantage: Kamado Joe

Firebox Design: A Better Way to Handle the Heat

The ceramic firebox expands and contracts every time it's heated and cooled. Over hundreds of cooking sessions, those repeated thermal cycles put stress on a single large ceramic component. The Big Green Egg uses a one-piece ceramic firebox. It's a proven design that's been around for decades, but they can crack. I have had to replace a cracked firebox on a Big Green Egg.

Kamado Joe approached this issue differently. Instead of relying on one large ceramic firebox, Kamado Joe designed the AMP FireBox, which is made from several interlocking ceramic panels. Those individual panels have more room to expand and contract as the grill heats up and cools down.

Is it perfect? No. If you've ever torn down a Kamado Joe for a deep cleaning, you know that reassembling the panels takes patience. One panel fits, the next one doesn't. You adjust that panel and suddenly the first one no longer lines up. Fortunately, most owners won't completely disassemble their grill very often.

I would rather deal with that occasional frustration than worry about replacing a one-piece ceramic firebox later. The AMP Firebox may not be the most visible Kamado Joe feature, but its segmented construction is one of the features I value most.

My Pick: Kamado Joe

Top Vent: Sometimes Simpler Really is Better

This is one of the areas where I prefer the Big Green Egg. The Big Green Egg's cast-iron top vent is simple with very little to go wrong. That simplicity is the advantage: fewer moving parts, less grease and smoke buildup to fight, and less to replace.

The Kamado Joe Kontrol Tower gives you precise control over airflow, stays in position when the lid opens, and does a better job keeping rain out than a traditional daisy-wheel style vent. For everyday cooking, I actually prefer using it. Long-term ownership, however, changed my opinion. On mine, grease, smoke residue, and carbon buildup gradually made the Kontrol Tower difficult to adjust. The paint peeled, the exposed aluminum corroded, and eventually it became completely stuck in place.

The process of trying to obtain a replacement exposed another important difference between the two companies that I will address in the next section. I ultimately replaced it with a Smokeware stainless steel chimney cap. That solved the problem and has worked well for me.

The Kontrol Tower is better for fine adjustments when everything is clean and moving freely. The Big Green Egg vent is the one I trust long term.

Edge: Big Green Egg

Dealer Network and Customer Support: More Important Than It Sounds

When I was shopping for a ceramic grill, customer support was not high on my list of requirements. It is now, after replacing gaskets, firebox parts, thermometers and a top vent.

These aren't disposable grills. When you spend this much on a ceramic cooker, you expect to keep it for years. Eventually, something will wear out, crack, or corrode and need to be replaced. The important question is, "What happens next?"

When I ordered a replacement Kontrol Tower directly from Kamado Joe, two weeks passed without it shipping. Phone support wasn't available, so I reached someone through online chat and was told it would take another two or three weeks before the part would even leave the warehouse, even though it was in stock. I canceled the order and bought the Smokeware replacement instead.

Big Green Egg has built much of its business around an authorized dealer network. In many areas, including where I live in Texas, you can walk into a local dealer, ask a question, order a replacement part, and get help with a warranty claim from an actual person. That matters.

This is still just my customer experience. I'm not claiming that every Kamado Joe owner will experience the same delay, nor am I saying that every Big Green Egg dealer will handle every problem perfectly. But my personal experience affected the way I judge these two companies. If knowledgeable, local support and easy access to replacement parts are important to you, Big Green Egg has a meaningful advantage.

Advantage: Big Green Egg

Pros and Cons

Big Green Egg

Pros

• Simple, proven design that has stood the test of time
• Cast-iron top vent is durable and dependable
• Excellent dealer network for parts, warranty support, and service
• Straightforward ash management that performs well during long cooks
• Strong resale value and decades-long reputation

Cons

• Band adjustments require careful attention
• Dome feels heavy with the spring support system
• Felt gasket typically requires annual maintenance
• One-piece firebox is more susceptible to thermal stress over time
• Modular approach requires the purchase of additional accessories

Kamado Joe Classic II

Pros

• Air Lift Hinge makes the heavy dome easy to move
• Heavy-duty bands have required very little adjustment
• Fiberglass gasket and front latch create an excellent seal
• Segmented AMP FireBox handles thermal expansion well
• Includes many accessories most buyers would purchase anyway

Cons

• Ash drawer can restrict airflow during long cooks
• Ash accumulates beneath the drawer assembly and requires occasional deep cleaning
• Kontrol Tower requires regular cleaning to maintain smooth operation
• The Kontrol Tower may bind over time due to peeling paint and corroded aluminum
• Replacement parts were slower to obtain

Which Grill Should You Buy?

By now, you've probably realized this isn't a comparison between a good grill and a bad grill. It's a comparison between two outstanding ceramic grills that prioritize different things. Both grills can smoke championship-quality brisket, produce incredible steaks, and bake restaurant-quality pizza. Both can maintain rock-solid temperatures for hours. The difference isn't what they cook. The difference is what it's like to own them.

If your goal is simply to make incredible barbecue, you can't make a wrong choice. The decision comes down to which ownership experience is the best match for you.

Buy a Big Green Egg If...

I would lean toward the Big Green Egg if you:

• Have an authorized dealer nearby
• Place a high value on local warranty help and parts availability
• Prefer simple, proven mechanical designs
• Like its straightforward no-drawer ash system
• Prefer its durable cast-iron top vent
• Want the freedom to choose your own accessories over time

The Big Green Egg has earned its reputation. Its simpler design has changed very little because it got the fundamentals right years ago.

If you already own one, I wouldn't replace it because the Kamado Joe has different features. You aren't missing out on better barbecue.

Buy a Kamado Joe Classic II If...

I would lean toward the Kamado Joe Classic II if you:

• Value the Air Lift Hinge and the ability to open the dome with two fingers
• Like the segmented AMP FireBox design
• Prefer a fiberglass gasket and front latch
• Prefer heavy-duty bands
• Want a complete cooking package right out of the box

The Kamado Joe wins because these features made for a better ownership experience for me. That's the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Final Recommendation

If someone stopped me in a barbecue store today and asked, "Which ceramic grill should I buy?" I would recommend the Kamado Joe Classic II because I believe it provides the better ownership experience. The features I value most, like the Air Lift Hinge and segmented AMP FireBox, have made the Kamado Joe easier for me to use, easier to maintain, and more enjoyable to own.

I still prefer the Big Green Egg's ash system, cast-iron top vent, and dealer network. Those are real advantages, and they may matter more to you than they do to me. If local dealer support is your highest priority, buy the Big Green Egg. Otherwise, the Kamado Joe Classic II is the one I would choose again.

If you're trying to choose between the Big Green Egg and the Kamado Joe, I hope this ceramic grill review has helped you make that decision with confidence. Whichever grill you choose, you're buying one of the best ceramic charcoal cookers made.

Where to Buy

These are paid affiliate links. As a customer, you do not pay any more or less for using an affiliated link. A small percentage of the sale will go to the person who generated the link. Thank you for supporting my website and channel.

• Kamado Joe Classic
• Big Green Egg Large
• Kamado Joe Joetisserie
• Kamado Joe Grill Cover
• Kamado Joe Karbon Steel Griddle
• Kick Ash Basket & Kick Ash Can
• Thermoworks IR Thermometer with Circle Laser

More Kamado Joe Resources

If you found this review helpful, here are a few more resources that will help you get the most out of your Kamado Joe:

• Kamado Joe Owner's Handbook
• The Texas Backyard Kitchen - Complete Meals from Fire to Table
• Kamado Joe 101 Bootcamp: The Fundamentals
• How to Replace a Kamado Joe Gasket (Step-by-Step
• How to Control Temperature on a Kamado Joe
• Kamado Joe 101 Bootcamp: The Fundamentals
• How to Replace a Kamado Joe Gasket (Step-by-Step Guide)
• How to Clean a Kamado Joe: The Complete Maintenance Guide
• FireBoard 2 Drive - A BBQ Grill and Smoker Temperature Controller
• Kamado Joe Karbon Steel Griddle Review: Is It Worth It?
• Napoleon 57013 Review: Is This the Best Budget Rotisserie Basket for the Kamado Joe Joetisserie?