# Kamado Joe Classic III vs Primo Oval XL 400: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Kamado Joe Classic III (Kamado Joe) and Primo Oval XL 400 (Primo) among kamado grills. Primo Oval XL 400 is the cheaper of the two at $1619.

## Side by side

| Spec | Kamado Joe Classic III | Primo Oval XL 400 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $2199.99 | $1619 |
| Brand | Kamado Joe | Primo |
| Main cooking area sq (in) | 250 | 400 |
| Total cooking area sq (in) | — | — |
| Grid diameter (in) | 18 | — |
| Body material | ceramic | ceramic |
| Wall thickness (in) | — | — |
| Max temp f | 750 | 850 |
| Weight (lb) | — | 250 |
| Included cart | Yes | No |
| Side shelves included | Yes | No |
| Air lift hinge | Yes | Yes |
| Tiered rack system | Yes | No |
| Warranty body years | — | — |

## Key differences

- Main cooking area sq (in): Kamado Joe Classic III 250 vs Primo Oval XL 400 400
- Max temp f: Kamado Joe Classic III 750 vs Primo Oval XL 400 850
- Included cart: Kamado Joe Classic III Yes vs Primo Oval XL 400 No
- Side shelves included: Kamado Joe Classic III Yes vs Primo Oval XL 400 No
- Tiered rack system: Kamado Joe Classic III Yes vs Primo Oval XL 400 No

## What reviewers say

**Kamado Joe Classic III** — Only one whitelisted tester, Reviewed (USA Today), hands-on tested the exact Kamado Joe Classic III; its professional-chef reviewer wasn't impressed, placing it in the 'Other Kamado Grills We Tested' tier behind the Big Green Egg and Char-Griller Akorn. She praised the bundled accessories and easy-to-clean ash drawer but flagged a heavy lid that won't stay open and a screenless draft door. No other whitelisted tester reviewed this exact model. (1 sourced review.)

**Primo Oval XL 400** — One whitelisted tester, Reviewed, covers the Primo Oval XL 400 within its 2026 kamado roundup, but its write-up is derived from specs and user reviews rather than hands-on cooking: first-person testing language appears only for the other grills in the guide, while the Primo entry uses hedged phrasing ('is said to be', 'a couple user reviews mention'). No lab measurements exist for this model. Single-source, no cross-source corroboration. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Kamado Joe Classic III: https://www.kamadojoe.com/products/classic-joe-iii (kamadojoe.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Primo Oval XL 400: https://www.primogrill.com/x-large-charcoal-grill.html (primogrill.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kamado-grills/kamado-joe-classic-iii-vs-primo-oval-xl-400/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Kamado Joe Classic III ($2199.99) vs Primo Oval XL 400 ($1619) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kamado-grills/kamado-joe-classic-iii-vs-primo-oval-xl-400/
License: CC BY 4.0.