Kamado Joe
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III
$2199.99
Released 2019
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 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 Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 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 | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III | Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $2199.99 | $249 |
| Brand | Kamado Joe | Napoleon |
| Released | 2019 | — |
| Type | kamado | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 250 | 360 |
| Material | Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and 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 in | 21.5 in |
| Release | 2019 | — |
Sources — Kamado Joe Classic Joe III: kamadojoe.com (verified 2026-06-19). Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K: napoleon.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 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: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III kamado vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K kettle
- Primary cooking area sqin: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 250 vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K 360
- Material: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid, stainless steel cooking grids
- Hinged cooking grate: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III false vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K true
- Diameter or size (in): Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 18 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.
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, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Purchase price includes several accessories (stand, drop-down shelves, two-tier grates and deflector/pizza plates); Easy-to-remove ash drawer inside the firebox makes cleaning easy; Lid locks in place with an easy release button for burping.
Flagged: Heavy lid won't stay open; air-lift hinge adjustment isn't intuitive; Draft door has no screen, a potential safety risk of live coals escaping; Drop-down side shelves don't sit flat, resting at an upward angle.
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.