Big Green Egg Prices for 2018

If you were shopping for a Big Green Egg in 2018, you probably learned two things within the first 10 minutes:
(1) the Egg is not cheap, and (2) nobody’s price tag looks exactly the same. One dealer would quote a number that felt
“reasonable-ish,” another would quote something that made you wonder if the ceramic was infused with unicorn tears.
The truth is, 2018 pricing was predictable and confusing at the same timebecause the Egg itself had a fairly
consistent MSRP, while the real-world “out-the-door” cost depended heavily on packages, accessories, and dealer policies.

This guide is your friendly 2018 price time capsule. We’ll break down what the Big Green Egg cost by size in 2018,
why you rarely paid exactly the “Egg-only” number, what a realistic total budget looked like once you added the gear you
actually needed, and how smart shoppers found deals without accidentally buying a very expensive green flowerpot.

First, a quick reality check: Big Green Egg pricing is dealer-driven

Big Green Egg has long leaned on an authorized dealer network, not a “click-and-ship-to-your-door” big-box strategy.
In 2018, that mattered because it shaped how pricing was presented. Many stores quoted prices as “Egg only,” while others
emphasized bundles (Nest, Handler, side shelves, convEGGtor/plate setter equivalents, covers, tool kits). You weren’t
just comparing apples to applesyou were comparing apples to apples-plus-a-cart-plus-a-raincoat-plus-a-mysterious
accessory someone insisted was “non-negotiable.”

Bottom line: the “price of a Big Green Egg” in 2018 depended on which size you chose and what came with it. If your goal
is to understand 2018 pricing, you want the baseline MSRP and the typical add-ons people bought immediately.

The 2018 Big Green Egg MSRP cheat sheet

Here’s the 2018 MSRP-style pricing most shoppers used as a baseline for the main ceramic cooker (the “Egg-only” starting point).
Dealers could still vary, especially with bundles, but these numbers were the common reference points for 2018.

A quick note about the top end: 2018 was a transition period for the largest sizes. The 2XL was introduced around 2018 as an
evolution/replacement direction for the older XXL lineup in some markets and dealer inventories. If you saw XXL listings
in that era, the pricing could look wildly different depending on the package and availability.

Why you almost never paid “just the MSRP” in 2018

1) The Egg is the beginning, not the ending

Buying only the ceramic cooker is like buying a car with no wheels and saying, “I’ll figure out the tires later.”
Could you cook on an Egg with minimal accessories? Yes. Would you enjoy the Egg’s full superpowerlow-and-slow smoking,
indirect roasting, baking, steady temperature controlwithout a few key add-ons? Not really.

2) Bundles blurred comparisons

In 2018, “package” deals often included some combination of a Nest (stand), Handler (to roll it around), side shelves,
and sometimes an indirect cooking setup (often referred to as a plate setter/convEGGtor). That’s why one store might say,
“Large is $875,” while another says, “Large is $1,100,” and both can be telling the truth.

3) MAP-style behavior and dealer policy affected discounts

Premium grill categories tend to have pricing policies that keep advertised discounts from turning into a race to the bottom.
So in 2018, huge publicly advertised price cuts were less common than:
a) value-add bundles, b) throw-in accessories, or c) event specials where you got more gear for the same money.

What a realistic 2018 budget looked like: Egg + “you’ll want this anyway”

Let’s talk totals. In 2018, most first-time Egg buyers quickly discovered that the cooker cost was only part of the story.
Here are the typical budget categories people ran into immediately after falling in love with the idea of baking pizza in a ceramic spaceship.

Must-have category: indirect cooking

If you wanted to smoke brisket, roast a chicken without turning it into a solar experiment, or bake bread/pizza with stable heat,
you needed an indirect setup (commonly the convEGGtor/plate setter family of accessories). This was one of the most frequent
“oh, that’s another expense” moments in the Big Green Egg journey.

Strongly recommended: a stable base or table

A Nest (stand) or a sturdy table wasn’t just about aestheticsit was about safety and comfort. Lifting a hot ceramic cooker is not
a hobby most people want to develop. In 2018, many shoppers planned for either:

• A Nest + Handler (roll the Egg around), or
• A dedicated table/island (the “my backyard has a kitchen now” approach).

Charcoal and fire-starting gear

Lump charcoal is the classic Egg fuel. Many new owners in 2018 also bought starters, ash tools, and a grid lifter early on.
Not glamorous, but extremely practicallike socks, but for fire.

Thermometer strategy

In 2018, plenty of Eggheads used the dome thermometer plus experience. Others added a digital probe system to monitor grate
temperature and meat temperature precisely. This could range from “simple and cheap” to “my grill now has more sensors than my car.”

Three sample 2018 shopping scenarios (with realistic totals)

Prices below are illustrative 2018-style totals based on the common MSRP baselines and typical accessory buying patterns.
Your local dealer’s bundles could push these up or down, but the point is to show the shape of the spendingnot to pretend every receipt was identical.

Scenario A: The 2018 MiniMax “Take It Everywhere” setup

• MiniMax baseline: ~$599
• Optional stable stand/portable nest: add-on cost varies
• Indirect cooking accessory (often purchased soon after): add-on cost varies
• Charcoal + starter basics: modest add-on

The MiniMax was popular in 2018 because it delivered real Egg performance in a smaller footprint. It was also famous for
changing people’s weekends: you’d bring it tailgating “just once,” and next thing you know, you’re hosting parking-lot pizza parties.

Scenario B: The 2018 Large “Most People’s Sweet Spot” setup

• Large baseline: ~$875
• Nest + Handler or table solution: moderate-to-significant add-on
• Indirect cooking accessory: typical add-on
• Cover, tools, charcoal: modest add-on

In 2018, the Large was the “if you only buy one Egg” pick for many households. You could grill burgers for a crowd, smoke ribs,
roast a turkey, and still have enough accessory compatibility to feel like you joined a delicious secret society.

Scenario C: The 2018 XLarge “I host a lot” setup

• XLarge baseline: ~$1,239
• Cart/table solution: often a larger spend here
• Indirect cooking + multi-level setups: common add-ons
• More charcoal capacity and storage: practical extras

The XLarge often made financial sense for people who entertained frequently. More cooking surface can reduce “batch cooking”
and help you manage different foods at once, which is priceless when your guests are circling like polite sharks.

How to shop smart for Big Green Egg prices in 2018

Buy authorized if you care about long-term value

A Big Green Egg is often purchased with the expectation of long life. In 2018, the warranty and support story was a major reason
people stuck with authorized dealers. A too-good-to-be-true price from an unofficial channel could turn into a “congratulations,
you own an expensive mystery ceramic” situation if something went wrong.

Look for “more stuff” deals rather than “lower sticker” deals

In premium grill categories, the best bargains tend to show up as bundles or event specials. In 2018, shoppers reported better value
from packages that included the stand, handler, indirect setup, or accessoriesrather than expecting dramatic advertised markdowns on the cooker alone.

Floor models and demos could be your secret weapon

Dealers sometimes cycled displays or used demo units for events. A lightly used floor model with the right accessories could be a great 2018 value
especially if you inspected it carefully (gasket condition, firebox, fire ring, obvious cracks, hinge alignment).

Used-market math: proceed with joy, but also caution

The used market was active in 2018, but the risk profile varied. Some sellers barely used the Egg. Others “seasoned” it through years of
questionable choices and one suspiciously aggressive use of lighter fluid. If buying used, you wanted a careful inspection and realistic expectations.

2018 vs today: why 2018 prices look “low” now

If you compare 2018 baselines to modern pricing you’ll often see higher sticker prices today across many sizes. That doesn’t automatically mean
the Egg “got worse” or that 2018 was some golden era of bargain ceramics. It reflects a mix of inflation, distribution changes, product line updates,
and how the brand packages and sells components over time.

The practical takeaway for anyone studying 2018 pricing is this: when someone says, “I bought my Large for $875 back then,” the most important
follow-up question is, “Was that Egg-only, or was it a package?” Because in 2018, packages were the difference between “I got a deal” and
“I got the first page of a very tasty but expensive choose-your-own-adventure.”

Choosing the right Egg size in 2018 (so your budget matches reality)

Mini and MiniMax: the “small space, big ambition” picks

In 2018, the MiniMax had a reputation as the portable powerhouse. It made sense for campers, tailgaters, apartment dwellers with outdoor rules,
or anyone who wanted authentic Egg performance without the footprint of a full backyard setup.

Small and Medium: underrated, but very practical

The Small and Medium were often chosen by couples or small families who grilled often but didn’t host huge cookouts.
In 2018, these sizes could be a sweet spot if you valued efficiency, quicker heat-up, and a slightly smaller accessory budget.

Large: the “default recommendation” for a reason

The Large earned its popularity because it balanced capacity with versatility. In 2018, it was often the best all-around match for families
who wanted to grill and smoke without feeling cramped.

XLarge and 2XL: capacity solves problems, but costs money

Bigger Eggs in 2018 weren’t just about bragging rights. They helped you cook multiple items at once, manage zones, and feed a crowd without
playing “now everyone eats in shifts.” But the budget didn’t stop at the cookerbigger carts, more accessories, and sometimes more space
planning were part of the deal.

Was a Big Green Egg “worth it” in 2018?

In 2018, the Big Green Egg earned its premium reputation by being a multi-tool: grill, smoker, roaster, and baker in one ceramic body.
The value argument usually came down to three points:

• Versatility: One cooker, many cooking stylesespecially if you bought the right accessories.
• Performance: Strong heat retention and efficient fuel use are classic kamado benefits.
• Longevity: Many buyers treated it as a long-term backyard investment, not a disposable seasonal grill.

The counterargument in 2018 was also fair: you could cook delicious food on less expensive grills. The Egg wasn’t “10x tastier” just because it cost more.
What you paid for was control, consistency, and rangeand, honestly, the joy of learning a cooker that feels like it has its own personality.

Extra: of real-world experiences tied to Big Green Egg prices in 2018

Let’s talk about the part no price list can capture: the emotional roller coaster of buying an Egg in 2018. The journey often started with
someone casually saying, “We should get a grill,” and ended with you comparing ceramic thickness like you were choosing armor for a medieval tournament.
In 2018, the sticker shock was realespecially if you walked in expecting “nice grill money” and discovered you were shopping in the
“small appliance + furniture + hobby budget” category.

The most common 2018 experience was the package whiplash. You’d see “Large: $875” and feel hopeful. Then you’d learn that’s the cooker only,
and your next questionsstand? side shelves? indirect? cover?unlocked an entirely new set of numbers. It wasn’t necessarily bad news; it was just
the moment you realized you weren’t buying a grill, you were buying a system. Some people loved that. Others needed a minute alone with their calculator.

Many buyers in 2018 also described the “dealer education effect.” You’d walk in thinking you knew what you wanted, and a knowledgeable salesperson
(often an Egg owner) would calmly explain why the Large was the sweet spot for most households, why the MiniMax was perfect for tailgates but still
weighed enough to qualify as strength training, and why indirect cooking accessories weren’t optional if you wanted to smoke brisket without turning it
into a charcoal comet. That education could feel like upsellinguntil you cooked your first low-and-slow pork shoulder and realized you’d been underestimating
what “temperature control” actually means.

Deal-hunting in 2018 had its own personality. People didn’t usually score massive price cuts on brand-new Eggs (at least not advertised ones),
but they did find value through bundles, event specials, and the occasional “floor model with extras” situation. And then there was the used market:
the magical land of “I’m selling because I never used it” listingsmixed with the occasional “it works great” Egg that looked like it had survived
three hurricanes and one experimental attempt at cremating a Thanksgiving turkey.

Perhaps the most relatable 2018 experience was what happened after the purchase. The price faded into the background once the cooking started.
The first time you nailed a steady smoking temperature, the first time you pulled off pizza with a crisp bottom and blistered top, the first time
you served ribs that made your friends suspicious you’d hired a pitmasterthose were the moments that made the budget feel less like pain and more like
an investment in weekends, gatherings, and a weirdly satisfying new skill. In other words: in 2018, people didn’t just buy an Egg. They bought a hobby,
a community, and a very delicious excuse to invite people over.