What Size Kamado Grill Do I Need? Every Kamado Bono Size Compared
Minimo, Media, Grande, Limited or EVO? Compare every Kamado Bono size by cooking area, people fed, footprint and price, and choose the right one first time.
Quick answer
For a couple or a small family, a 15–16 inch kamado (Minimo or EVO Minimo) is plenty. For a family of four that entertains, buy a 20–22 inch (Media, Maxi or EVO Media). If you regularly feed ten or more, or want to cook a whole turkey, a brisket and sides at once, go to 23–25 inch (Grande, Limited or EVO Grande).
The most common regret we hear is “I should have gone one size up”. The second most common is nobody saying “I wish I had bought a smaller one”.
Choosing a size is the decision that matters most, because it is the one you cannot change later. Accessories can be added, charcoal can be swapped, but the ceramic body you buy is the one you will cook on for the next twenty years. This guide covers all nine Kamado Bono sizes we stock, from the 12-inch Hibachi to the 25-inch EVO Grande, with real cooking areas rather than marketing numbers.
How kamado sizes are measured
The inch figure in a kamado name (15”, 20”, 23” and so on) refers to the diameter of the ceramic body or the main cooking grate, and different brands measure differently. What actually matters is the diameter of the grate you cook on, because that decides how many steaks, how large a joint and what size pizza stone will fit.
As a rule of thumb, a 34 cm grate takes four to five good steaks or one whole chicken; a 46 cm grate takes eight steaks or two chickens with room for vegetables; a 52 cm grate takes a full rack of ribs laid flat, a large turkey or a whole brisket.
Every Kamado Bono size side by side
| Model | Body | Grate | Feeds | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hibachi 12” | 12” | small round grate | 1–2 | Table-top grilling, picnics, direct heat only | £129 |
| Hibachi EVO table grill | — | round or rectangular | 2–4 | Cooking at the table with guests | £250 |
| Picnic 13” | 13” | 26 cm | up to 3 | Portable kamado with deflector and thermometer | £199 |
| Minimo 15” | 15” | 34 cm | up to 5 | Small gardens, balconies, couples | £399 |
| EVO Minimo 16” | 41 cm | 34 cm | up to 5 | Compact with 2-level GrillMax system | £549 |
| Media 20” | 20” | approx. 44 cm | up to 10 | The family all-rounder, complete set | £799 |
| Maxi 21” | 21” | slightly larger than Media | up to 10 | Media capacity with side trays and two-zone system | £849 |
| EVO Media 22” | 56 cm | 46 cm | up to 10 | Easy Lift hinge, side shelves, 3-level GrillMax | £1,399 |
| Grande 23” | 23” | approx. 50 cm | 10+ | Big families, Christmas turkey, brisket | £949 |
| Limited 25” | 25” | takes the 42 cm pizza stone | 15+ | Largest classic, restaurants and big events | £1,049 |
| EVO Grande 25” | 64 cm | 52 cm | 10+ | Largest EVO, long tables and entertaining | £1,499 |
Grate diameters marked “approx.” are taken from the matching cast iron grates in our spare parts range (34 cm Minimo, 44.5 cm Media, 50 cm Grande). Prices include VAT and are correct at the time of writing; the product page always shows the current price.
How many people each size really feeds
“Feeds up to 10” assumes one main item per person cooked in a single batch. In practice you cook in rounds, so a Minimo can absolutely feed a party of eight if you are grilling kebabs and burgers. The size question is really about the biggest single thing you want to cook.
- Whole chicken: fits on every size from the Picnic upwards. The ceramic chicken rack included with Media, Maxi, Grande and Limited sets stands it upright.
- Full rack of pork ribs laid flat: needs a 44 cm grate or bigger, so Media and above. On a Minimo you cut the rack in half or use a roast rack to stand them on edge.
- Christmas turkey (5–6 kg): Grande, Limited or EVO Grande. It fits on a Media but leaves no room for anything else.
- Whole brisket: 23-inch and up. Smaller grills take a point or flat comfortably.
- Pizza: the 30 cm stone fits Minimo, Media and Grande; the 36 cm stone needs Media or larger; the 42 cm stone is Limited only. Details in our pizza guide.
Footprint, weight and where it will live
A kamado is heavy, and the weight rises quickly with size. That is a feature (thick ceramic is what makes it work) but it decides where you can put it and whether you will ever move it.
| Model | Weight (boxed) | Needs | Moves easily? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibachi / Picnic | light enough to carry | a heatproof table or paving | Yes, by hand |
| Minimo / EVO Minimo | around 60 kg boxed | about 1 m of patio, stand included | Yes, on the stand wheels |
| Media / Maxi / EVO Media | up to 146 kg boxed (EVO Media) | about 1.3 m wide with shelves | With two people, or on wheels on a level patio |
| Grande / Limited / EVO Grande | up to 185 kg boxed (EVO Grande) | a permanent spot, ideally near the kitchen door | Not really, and that is fine |
Boxed weights for the EVO range are from the product specifications. Never move a kamado while it is hot or before it has fully cooled.
Whatever size you choose, stand it on paving, stone or a protective mat, never directly on decking, and leave room to open the lid fully. The EVO Media and Grande have fold-down side shelves so they take less room when you are not cooking. If you want a built-in look, the Kamado Grill Table turns any Media or Grande into an outdoor kitchen.
Classic Kamado Bono or EVO?
We sell two families of grill, and the size choice interacts with this one. The classic range (Minimo, Media, Maxi, Grande, Limited) is the proven design: every set arrives complete with stand, cover, ash tool, cookbook and, from the Media upwards, the two-zone grilling system and ceramic chicken rack. It is the best value per inch of grate.
The EVO range (Minimo 16”, Media 22”, Grande 25”) is the newer design from the same team: a cylinder-shaped body for better airflow, a reinforced Easy Lift hinge so the heavy lid opens with one finger, a cast iron top vent, a modular firebox, a calibratable dome thermometer and the multi-level GrillMax cooking system. It costs more and it is heavier, and it is the one we would buy for a grill that is going to live in one place for twenty years.
Our honest steer
If the budget is the deciding factor, a classic Media or Grande gives you more grill for the money than anything else on the market. If the grill is a long-term investment and you value the lid hinge, shelves and cooking levels every single cook, the EVO Media 22” is the model most of our team would choose.
Shop this section
The sizes most people end up choosing
Every classic grill comes as a complete set. EVO grills include the GrillMax cooking system and ceramic heat deflectors.
Three sizing mistakes to avoid
- Buying for the average Tuesday instead of the best Saturday. You will cook for two most of the time, but the grill earns its keep on the days you cook for twelve. A bigger kamado costs almost nothing extra in charcoal to run for two people because you only light what you need.
- Forgetting accessories take up grate space. A pizza stone, a Dutch oven or a chicken rack each occupy a large part of a small grate. On a 34 cm grate, a 30 cm stone leaves no room for anything else; on a 46 cm grate you can bake a pizza and roast vegetables at the same time.
- Choosing by price alone. The gap between a Media and a Grande is smaller than the gap in what you can cook. Read our cost-of-ownership article before you decide purely on the sticker price.
Our recommendation by household
Couple, balcony or courtyard
Minimo 15” if budget matters, EVO Minimo 16” if you want the two-level system and the newer design. Add the side tables set and you have a full outdoor kitchen in a metre of space.
Family of four who has friends round
Media 20” is our most recommended grill for a reason. It comes with everything, feeds ten, and takes every accessory in the range. The EVO Media 22” is the upgrade.
Big family, Christmas dinner, garden parties
Grande 23” for the best value, EVO Grande 25” for the largest grate and the most cooking levels. If you cook for fifteen or more, or commercially, the Limited 25” is built for it.
Camping, picnics and the allotment
The Picnic 13” is a real kamado, with a heat deflector and dome thermometer, that one person can lift. For cooking at the table, the Hibachi EVO lets every guest grill their own skewers.
Sizing questions we get asked
Is a bigger kamado harder to get up to temperature?
It takes a few more minutes and a little more charcoal, but the vents work exactly the same way. Once hot, a bigger ceramic body is actually more stable because it holds more heat.
Can I cook for two on a Grande without wasting charcoal?
Yes. Light a small pile of charcoal on one side and cook over it. What you do not burn stays in the firebox for next time.
Do accessories fit across sizes?
Most are size-specific: deflectors, cast iron grates, ash baskets and covers are made for a particular grate diameter. Thermometers, tools, gloves and pots are universal. Each accessory page lists the grills it fits.
What is the difference between Media and Maxi?
The Maxi 21” has a slightly larger grate than the Media 20” and the same complete set (two-zone system, chicken rack, side trays, cover). If the budget allows, the Maxi gives you a little more room for the same footprint.
Will a Grande fit through my side gate?
The EVO Grande box is 85 × 80 × 101 cm and the classic Grande is smaller. The grill is assembled in place, so the widest part you carry is the ceramic base. Contact us before ordering if access is tight and we will advise.
Which size is best for smoking?
All of them smoke well. The larger the body, the longer a single load of charcoal runs, which is why 20-inch and up are favoured for 12-hour brisket cooks. A Minimo will still do ribs and pulled pork without refuelling.
Not sure between two sizes?
Tell us how many people you usually cook for, the biggest thing you want to cook and where the grill will live. We will give you a straight answer, and you can see the sizes side by side at a dealer near you.
