EDITORIAL COMPARISON · 1 VS 1
Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24" vs Monolith LeChef Pro 2.0 XL: which one should you choose?
Comparison by Valery Grin · 27 May 2026
XL against XL, with two diameters that aren't actually equal: 61 cm on the Big Joe III, 56 cm on the LeChef Pro 2.0. Five centimeters sound trivial — they're the difference between fitting a whole rib rack flat or having to trim it.
Specs side by side
| Specification | Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24" | Monolith LeChef Pro 2.0 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 61 cm | 56 cm |
| Diners | 8-10 | 10-12 |
| Weight | 170 kg | 175 kg |
| Material | Cerámica esmaltada | Cerámica esmaltada (Pro 2.0) |
| Temperature range | 110°C – 400°C | 80°C – 400°C |
| Warranty | Vitalicia (cerámica) | 10 años (cerámica) |
| Current price | €2,899 | €2,499 |
Verdict by use case
Five real cooking scenarios. For each one we pick a winner with a concrete reason — no diplomatic ties.
For low & slow smoking
Winner: Monolith LeChef Pro 2.0 XL
Factory BBQ Guru + 175 kg of dense ceramic: the LeChef's thermal mass is brutal. The SlōRoller is a weaker argument when the competitor automates the whole stack.
For pizza and oven bread
Winner: Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
The Big Joe III's three-tier multi-level keeps pizza up top while vegetables work below. The LeChef wants you to buy the auxiliary grate.
For big families or parties
Winner: Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
61 cm vs 56 cm: five centimeters that at a 12-person party mean two whole chickens side by side instead of one and the other waiting.
For balconies or tight spaces
Winner: Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
Neither is portable, but the Big Joe III tips 170 kg with its frame vs the LeChef's 175 kg plus masonry module. The LeChef's catch is that it's designed to be built-in — once installed, it stays.
For a tight budget
Winner: Monolith LeChef Pro 2.0 XL
The LeChef lands €400 below the Big Joe III on Amazon ES with ash drawer and BBQ Guru included. If you're European and don't need multi-tier, the savings are real.
Best and worst of each
Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
Best
- 61 cm grate — full brisket or two rib racks side by side
- SlōRoller hyperbolic chamber: true convection for long smokes
- Three-tier Divide & Conquer, two-temperature cooking at once
Worst
- Around 170 kg — you need two people for the install
- Heating 61 cm of ceramic burns more charcoal and takes longer than a Classic III
Monolith LeChef Pro 2.0 XL
Best
- 56 cm grate — between the Classic III and the Big Joe III in usable area
- Designed to drop into masonry: modules and drawings published by Monolith
- Front ash drawer and factory BBQ Guru adapter as standard
Worst
- 175 kg with the frame: install needs a courier and three people
- Not portable: once in the garden, it stays there
Our pick: Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
If you're buying an XL to cook — not to build into a masonry outdoor kitchen — the Big Joe III. The full 61 cm, multi-tier and Air Lift Hinge make the difference at 10-12-person events, which is the whole reason an XL exists. The LeChef Pro 2.0 is the obvious call if you're building a modular outdoor kitchen and want a European brand with fast service and built-in masonry support.
KEEP READING
Take this decision further
- Editorial guide
How to light a kamado: the step-by-step method
No petrol, no weird tablets and no 45-minute waits. The cone method, airflow control and the mistakes that prevent 80% of the frustration.
- Recipe to try
Low-and-slow smoked brisket
The kamado acid test. Ten hours at 110°C, a deep bark, a pink smoke ring and a texture that gives way under the weight of a fork.
- Recipe to try
St. Louis-style ribs on the kamado
St. Louis-cut ribs (no rib tips), cooked reverse-sear: four hours at 130°C with light smoke, then a final blast of direct heat to caramelise the glaze.
- Glossary term
SlōRoller
Convection chamber patented by Kamado Joe that evens out low-temperature heat and removes hotspots.
- Glossary term
Air Lift Hinge
Spring-loaded hinge by Kamado Joe that cuts perceived lid weight by up to 96% and seals airtight without effort.