Walk into any high-end backyard patio store and you’ll see them. Those distinctive, dimpled, forest-green ceramic behemoths. They look like something unearthed from an archaeological dig in a very posh garden. If you’ve spent any time around a self-proclaimed "pitmaster," you’ve heard the hype. But when you finally work up the nerve to look at the price tag, things get a little blurry. How much is a green egg grill anyway? The answer is rarely a single number on a sticker.
It’s a commitment.
Big Green Egg, the company that basically sparked the modern kamado revolution in the 1970s, doesn’t sell their grills online directly. This is a deliberate move to protect their dealer network. It also means that prices fluctuate based on your zip code, the local demand, and whether the shop owner is trying to clear out last year's floor models. Generally, you’re looking at a range starting around $430 for the tiny ones and soaring well past $4,000 for the massive setups.
The Price of the Porcelain: Breaking Down the Sizes
Most people assume there’s just "The Egg." There are actually seven sizes. Seven.
If you’re looking at the Mini, it’s cute. It’s tiny. It’s also about $430 to $450. It’s designed for tailgating or maybe a couple who only ever grills two pork chops at a time. Honestly, most people regret the Mini because you can’t fit a full rack of ribs on it without doing some weird architectural folding.
The MiniMax is the cult favorite. It’s the same diameter as the Small but shorter. It usually retails for about $650. It’s heavy as lead, though, so don't let the "portable" marketing fool you unless you’ve been hitting the gym.
Then we hit the sweet spot. The Large. This is the flagship. If you ask a dealer how much is a green egg grill for a family of four, they will point to the Large. It’s roughly $1,000 to $1,100 for the "head" only (that's just the grill itself). It fits a 20-pound turkey. It’s the industry standard for a reason.
Moving up, the XL sits around $1,400 to $1,500. It’s a beast. You can cook 12 steaks at once. It’s for the person who hosts the entire neighborhood on the Fourth of July.
👉 See also: Campbell Hall Virginia Tech Explained (Simply)
Finally, the 2XL. This thing is the size of a small hot tub. It costs around $4,000. You need a literal crane—or four very strong friends—to move it. It’s overkill for almost everyone, but it’s a massive flex for a commercial kitchen or a serious catering hobbyist.
Why Do Prices Vary So Much?
Dealers have "MAP" pricing (Minimum Advertised Price). They can’t list it lower than what the manufacturer says, but they can certainly bundle. This is where it gets tricky. One shop might sell the Large for $1,050 with nothing else. Another might sell it for $1,300 but include the "Nest" (the metal stand) and a bag of charcoal.
Always ask what’s included. Buying just the ceramic shell is like buying a car without wheels. You can’t exactly sit a 200-pound ceramic egg on your wooden deck and light a fire in it. It'll burn your house down.
The Hidden Costs: The "Eggcessories" Trap
Here is the truth: the price of the grill is just the entry fee. The Big Green Egg ecosystem is built on add-ons.
You absolutely need a ConvEGGtor. It’s a ceramic plate that sits inside the grill to provide indirect heat. Without it, you just have a very expensive, very heavy charcoal grill. With it, you have a smoker and a brick oven. That’s another $80 to $150 depending on the size.
Then there’s the stand. Unless you’re building a custom outdoor kitchen with a stone hearth, you need a Nest. A basic rolling metal Nest is about $180. If you want the fancy "Integrated Nest + Handler" (which has a handle to move it safely), you’re looking at $300.
Don't forget the "Mates." Those are the side shelves that look like little wings. They’re usually another $100 to $150.
✨ Don't miss: Burnsville Minnesota United States: Why This South Metro Hub Isn't Just Another Suburb
Let's do the math on a "Standard" Large setup:
- Large Egg: $1,100
- Nest: $180
- ConvEGGtor: $120
- Shelves: $120
- Ash tool and Grid Gripper: $40
Suddenly, your $1,100 grill is a **$1,560 investment**. And we haven’t even bought the charcoal yet.
Ceramic vs. Metal: Is the Premium Justified?
You can go to a big-box store and buy a Weber kettle for $150. It’ll cook a great burger. You can buy a Char-Griller Akorn (a metal kamado) for about $350. So why pay four times that for green ceramic?
It’s about thermal mass.
The ceramic walls are an inch thick. Once they get hot, they stay hot. This means you use way less fuel. In the winter, while your neighbor is struggling to keep their thin metal smoker at 225°F, the Egg is humming along like it’s a summer day. The moisture retention is also superior. Because there’s so little airflow needed to maintain the temp, the meat doesn't dry out.
I’ve seen Eggs that are 30 years old still cooking perfectly. The warranty is a huge part of the price. Big Green Egg offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the ceramic. If your firebox cracks in fifteen years, they usually replace it for free. That peace of mind is factored into that initial $1,000+ investment.
The Used Market Reality
Because these things are essentially indestructible rocks, the used market is surprisingly tight. People rarely sell them. When they do, they usually ask for 70% of the retail price.
🔗 Read more: Bridal Hairstyles Long Hair: What Most People Get Wrong About Your Wedding Day Look
If you find an XL on Facebook Marketplace for $300, it’s either a scam or the ceramic is shattered. Be careful. Check for "crazing" (tiny spiderweb cracks in the glaze, which are normal) versus actual structural cracks that go through the ceramic (which are a dealbreaker).
Operating Costs: Lump Charcoal Only
Do not—under any circumstances—use briquettes in an Egg. The fillers and binders in "blue bag" charcoal will soak into the porous ceramic and make your food taste like chemicals forever.
You have to use Lump Charcoal.
A 20-pound bag of high-quality lump (like Fogo or the Big Green Egg brand itself) costs between $25 and $35. Because the Egg is so efficient, you can actually extinguish the fire by closing the vents and reuse the leftover charcoal for your next cook. It’s a higher upfront cost for fuel, but you waste much less of it.
The Verdict: Who is this for?
If you only grill hot dogs twice a summer, please don't buy one. It's a waste of your money.
But if you’re the type of person who wants to smoke a brisket for 14 hours, then bake a sourdough loaf, then sear a ribeye at 700°F—all on the same machine—then the price starts to make sense.
The question of how much is a green egg grill is really a question of how many other appliances you’re willing to get rid of. It replaces a smoker, a charcoal grill, and a pizza oven.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
- Find a Local Dealer: Forget the big-box hardware stores. Go to a dedicated hearth and patio shop. They usually have "Demo Days" where they cook food on the Eggs. It’s the best way to see the different sizes in person.
- Wait for "Eggfests": These are festivals where people cook on brand-new Eggs all day. After the event, the "demo" Eggs are sold at a significant discount (often 20-30% off). They’ve only been used once, and they still carry the full warranty.
- Prioritize the ConvEGGtor: If your budget is tight, skip the fancy shelves and the cover for now. But do not skip the plate setter/ConvEGGtor. It is the soul of the machine.
- Check the Gasket: If you are buying used, look at the felt gasket where the lid meets the base. If it’s fried, it’s a $25 fix and an hour of your time, but you can use it to negotiate the price down.
- Measure Your Space: A Large Egg in a Nest takes up more room than you think. Ensure your deck can handle the weight—a Large weighs about 162 pounds without the stand.
Investing in a ceramic grill is a long-term play. It’s the last grill you’ll ever buy, provided you don't drop it while moving houses. Get the Large, find a local dealer who offers free assembly, and start practicing your temperature control. It’s a learning curve, but the results are usually delicious.