Big Green Egg
Big Green Egg Large
$1199.99
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Big Green Egg Large vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K is cheaper at $249. Every spec and price links to its source.
Napoleon
Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
$249Cheaper
Which is better: the Big Green Egg Large or Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K is the cheaper at $249.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Big Green Egg Large | Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1199.99 | $249 |
| Brand | Big Green Egg | Napoleon |
| Released | — | — |
| Type | kamado | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 262 | 360 |
| Material | Ceramic with stainless steel hardware | Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid, stainless steel cooking grids |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | Yes |
| Ash catcher | No | No |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 18.25 in | 21.5 in |
| Release | — | — |
Sources — Big Green Egg Large: biggreenegg.com (verified 2026-06-19). Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K: napoleon.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Big Green Egg Large and Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Big Green Egg Large kamado vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K kettle
- Primary cooking area sqin: Big Green Egg Large 262 vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K 360
- Material: Big Green Egg Large Ceramic with stainless steel hardware vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid, stainless steel cooking grids
- Hinged cooking grate: Big Green Egg Large false vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K true
- Diameter or size (in): Big Green Egg Large 18.25 in vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K 21.5 in
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Precise, wide-range temperature control via top/bottom dampers; Reaches high searing heat over 700°F; Fuel efficient — lump charcoal lasts and leftover coals relight.
Flagged: Key functions need extra paid accessories (ConvEGGtor for indirect heat, griddle for searing); High price for the grill itself; Heavy, stays hot long after cooking, hard to move or store.
Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
One whitelisted tester, Reviewed (USA Today), hands-on tested this Napoleon 22in charcoal kettle and named it Best Overall charcoal grill, praising even heat distribution, strong heat retention, sturdy four-leg stability, easy vent airflow control, and roomy capacity (12-13 burgers), with no cons found. Note Reviewed tested the prior NK22K-LEG-2 leg generation, and the review was last updated April 2024. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Even heat distribution and strong heat retention (center convex dome spreads heat); Sturdy, stable four-leg design; Easy, precise vent airflow control and effortless coal access for indirect cooking.