Kamado Joe Big Joe II

In this kamado joe big joe ii review, the Kamado Joe Big Joe II ranks sixth of ten in our 2026 best kamado grills guide and takes the Best mid-price 24-inch ceramic label. It is a 24-inch ceramic charcoal grill and smoker with 450 square inches of cooking surface, a two-tier rack setup, and a list price of $1,935.12. Owners give it 4.4 stars from 83 Amazon ratings, and it sits at number 159 in Amazon's Charcoal Grills category. This grill is for the cook who wants Big Joe capacity without paying Big Joe III money. Meanwhile, anyone who mostly grills two steaks on a weeknight will find it oversized at 394 pounds.

The Air Lift Hinge is the feature owners notice first, because it cuts the dome weight enough to open with one finger, which matters when you are adding charcoal or checking a brisket. In practice, the two-tier Divide & Conquer system turns that 450 square inches into two levels, so you can sear steaks on the stainless steel grates below and hold vegetables above at a lower heat. The aluminum control tower top vent is rain-proof and holds its setting through a long smoke, and the double-thick wire mesh fiberglass gasket seals tighter and lasts about ten times longer than standard felt. On top of that, the six-piece multi-panel firebox is built to survive the cracking that kills single-piece designs. Cooking power is rated at 8,000 BTU.

Value is where the Big Joe II earns its place: at $1,935.12 it costs about $1,065 less than the Series III, and it keeps the same 24-inch diameter and 450 square inches. By contrast, the Series III adds the SloRoller smoke chamber and a third cooking tier, so buyers who chase the cleanest possible smoke flavor should budget for it. That said, the 83 Amazon ratings are a thin base, so treat 4.4 stars as a signal, not a guarantee. Ceramic parts carry a lifetime warranty for the original owner, metal and cast iron get five years, heat deflectors three, and gaskets and the thermometer one year. If you feed eight or more people and want a 24-inch kamado for less, this is the one to get.