# Big Green Egg Large vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe III: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Big Green Egg Large (Big Green Egg) and Kamado Joe Classic Joe III (Kamado Joe) among charcoal grills. Big Green Egg Large is the cheaper of the two at $1199.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Big Green Egg Large | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1199.99 | $2199.99 |
| Brand | Big Green Egg | Kamado Joe |
| Released | — | 2019 |
| Type | kamado | kamado |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 262 | 250 |
| Material | Ceramic with stainless steel hardware | Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | No |
| Ash catcher | No | No |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 18.25 in | 18 in |

## Key differences

- Primary cooking area sqin: Big Green Egg Large 262 vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 250
- Material: Big Green Egg Large Ceramic with stainless steel hardware vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware
- Diameter or size (in): Big Green Egg Large 18.25 in vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 18 in

## What reviewers say

**Big Green Egg Large** — Two whitelisted testers who hands-on cooked on the exact Large model — Reviewed (USA Today) and Pro Tool Reviews — both strongly recommend it, praising precise temperature control, 700°F+ searing heat, and fuel efficiency. Both survived verification with all quotes literal and all measured values supported in the source text. Main gripes: costly required accessories, weight, and price. (2 sourced reviews.)

**Kamado Joe Classic Joe III** — Only one whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today), reviewed by professional chef Lindsay D. Mattison — produced a hands-on write-up of this exact model, listing it among the kamado grills the team tested. She was unimpressed: she praised the generous bundled accessories, an easy-to-remove ash drawer, and the locking lid with a burp release, but flagged a heavy lid that won't stay open, a screenless draft door as a safety risk, and side shelves that don't sit flat. No measured numbers were reported for this model. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Big Green Egg Large: https://biggreenegg.com/products/large-big-green-egg (biggreenegg.com, verified 2026-06-19)
- Kamado Joe Classic Joe III: https://www.kamadojoe.com/products/classic-joe-iii-standalone (kamadojoe.com, verified 2026-06-19)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/charcoal-grills/big-green-egg-large-vs-kamado-joe-classic-iii/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Big Green Egg Large ($1199.99) vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe III ($2199.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/charcoal-grills/big-green-egg-large-vs-kamado-joe-classic-iii/
License: CC BY 4.0.