Kamado Joe
Kamado Joe Classic III
$2199.99
Best Kamado Grills · head-to-head
Kamado Joe Classic III vs Primo Oval XL 400
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Primo Oval XL 400 is cheaper at $1619. Every spec and price links to its source.
Primo
Primo Oval XL 400
$1619Cheaper
Which is better: the Kamado Joe Classic III or Primo Oval XL 400?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Primo Oval XL 400 is the cheaper at $1619.
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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 III | Primo Oval XL 400 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $2199.99 | $1619 |
| Brand | Kamado Joe | Primo |
| Released | — | — |
| 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 | — | — |
Sources — Kamado Joe Classic III: kamadojoe.com (verified 2026-07-11). Primo Oval XL 400: primogrill.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Kamado Joe Classic III and Primo Oval XL 400?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.
- 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 true vs Primo Oval XL 400 false
- Side shelves included: Kamado Joe Classic III true vs Primo Oval XL 400 false
- Tiered rack system: Kamado Joe Classic III true vs Primo Oval XL 400 false
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Purchase price bundles several accessories: a stand, drop-down shelves, and a two-tier flexible cooking system with half-moon cooking grates and deflector plates (which double as a pizza stone); Easy-to-remove ash drawer sits inside the firebox, making cleanout much easier; Lid locks in place when closed with an easy release button to 'burp' the grill on opening.
Flagged: Heavy lid doesn't stay open; the air-lift hinge adjustment isn't intuitive and may cause problems; Draft door has no screen, risking live coals escaping the grill; Drop-down side shelves don't sit flat, resting at an upward angle.
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.)
Praised: Oval shape enables dual-zone cooking; High lid fits whole chickens and turkeys cooked vertically; One of the biggest ceramic cookers, high capacity.
Flagged: Heavy lid is hard to lift; 'Cool touch' handle can still get hot; Sold bare-bones; cart/table purchased separately.