The LotusGrill XL is a round charcoal tabletop grill in which a fan drives the embers. At the manufacturer in Limburgerhof it carries the type designation G435; the manual applies jointly to the S, Classic and XL and calls it a charcoal tabletop grill (Holzkohletischgrill). LotusGrill GmbH describes itself as an independent family business and, by its own account, emerged from the traditional company Lotus, a maker of household goods, kitchenware, cookware and grilling utensils. Within the range the XL is larger than the Classic, which we cover as the G340. There are also the S, the XXL with a grill trolley on wheels, the Hybrid Classic for charcoal and gas, and the XL Garten Set. In our categories the XL counts among the tabletop grills under charcoal grills.
We have not handled the grill and have not grilled anything on it. The information comes from lotusgrill.de, from the multilingual manual (two versions, V38 and V41) and from the Amazon catalogue; where we calculate or infer something, we say so. In a few places the manufacturer’s sources contradict each other, for example on weight, heat-up time and where to set it up. There we give both sides.
Construction, material and dimensions
The product photo shows a green outer shell with vertical slots, wider at the top than at the bottom. At the front there is a dial with a blue light; we match it to the combined on/off switch fan with heat control and light indicator from the manual’s parts list. At the rim, two buckles can be seen on the left and right, in our reading the two locking buckles of the parts list.
The XL is built from two shells. The outer shell is made of powder-coated steel and has a metal base, a battery compartment in the base and the electrical unit. The inner shell sits inside it, the lighting bowl on top of that, above it stands the charcoal container with lid, and the grate sits on top. According to the product page, the inner shell, charcoal container, grate and locking buckles are made of stainless steel; the manual’s materials table additionally lists impact-resistant plastic. In the care section the manual speaks of the inner bowl (Innenschüssel); in our reading this is the same part as the inner shell in the parts list.
At the top the grill measures approx. 435 mm in diameter according to the manufacturer, at the bottom approx. 350 mm, and the height is approx. 257 mm. The manual’s dimensions table confirms this, and the Amazon catalogue dimensions (approx. 43.4 x 35.1 x 25.7 cm) match.
On weight, two figures stand against each other. The product page gives 6.5 kg, and the Amazon catalogue, with 14.33 pounds, the same value. The manual’s weight table gives approx. 8.1 kg and, according to a footnote, includes the carry bag, manual, batteries and USB power cable. The difference of 1.6 kg is in line with the bag, batteries and cable.
The manufacturer offers the XL in six colours: lime green, fire red, deep blue, anthracite grey, plum purple and tangerine orange. Lime green carries the item number G-GR-435P and the EAN 4260023010905.
In detail: what the fan changes about the embers
On a charcoal grill without a blower, the draught determines how quickly the charcoal glows through and how hot it gets. On the XL a fan takes over this job. When lighting, it blows the fire upwards into the charcoal according to the principle page, and afterwards it stays switched on during the whole grilling process according to the manual. You set the heat with the heat control, which the principle page describes as continuously variable; by our inference, it regulates how much air reaches the embers.
The double wall is for cooling. According to the principle page, the inner shell reflects the heat upwards. According to the FAQ it stays separate from the outer shell, with air circulating between them and cooling the casing and base. For that reason the outer shell never gets hot and can be touched and moved on the outside even during use, according to the principle page. How this fits with the manual is covered further below under setting up.
On smoke: LotusGrill calls the grill low-smoke and writes of clearly reduced smoke production; the manufacturer does not promise smoke-free. It gives two reasons. When lighting, the active ventilation produces hardly any fumes. While grilling, according to the FAQ, a stainless steel plate in the middle of the grate covers the combustion chamber so that no fat drips onto the embers from above; the FAQ describes it for the LotusGrill in general, and it does not appear on the XL product page. Technically this makes sense: fat that falls onto glowing charcoal burns there and smokes. Where it runs instead, we infer from a note in the Important list below. With very fatty food the inner bowl must be emptied regularly, so the fat collects there. On first use the grill may still smoke slightly according to the manual, because there can be oil residues on the charcoal container from production.
Power and lighting: batteries, USB cable, ten steps
The fan runs on four AA batteries (1.5 V each, 6 volts together according to the manual’s table), which are in the box. For running time the FAQ gives approx. 15 to 20 hours, on average up to 25 grilling sessions with one set if the batteries are removed and stored properly; the figure applies to the LotusGrill in general. Alternatively, the supplied USB power cable feeds the fan from a USB power adapter, which is not part of the delivery. Once the round plug is in the grill, the battery compartment is disconnected. The grill has no rechargeable battery: according to the manual, rechargeable batteries or accumulators cannot be charged with the cable. According to the principle page, the power cable has come with all new LotusGrill models since the 2019 season.
It is lit with gel. The fan must already be running while you do this, otherwise the flame is smothered. The manual describes ten steps:
- Open the battery compartment in the base of the outer shell and insert four AA batteries with the correct polarity.
- Place the inner shell in the outer shell.
- Fill the charcoal container completely with charcoal and put the lid on. According to the manual, any normal charcoal can be used.
- Apply a ring of grill lighting gel about 10 mm wide around the centre hole of the lighting bowl and place the bowl on the inner shell. The manufacturer recommends its safety lighting paste.
- Switch on the on/off switch and first turn the control to the highest setting (to the right).
- Light the gel until it burns. Do not reach into the open flame while lighting.
- Carefully and evenly place the filled charcoal container with lid on the lighting bowl; the charcoal begins to glow within a very short time.
- Place the grill grate on the inner shell, insert the four metal feet into the slots of the inner shell and align the two brackets on the grate over the locking buckles.
- Hook the brackets into the buckles and press down; the tabletop grill is then one connected unit.
- After approx. 3 to 4 minutes the grill is ready. The heat can be controlled with the heat control, and the fan stays switched on during the whole grilling process.
The time in step 10 applies jointly to the S, Classic and XL in the manual. The principle page advertises 3 minutes, the Amazon catalogue 4 minutes of pre-heating time, and our title follows the Amazon value.
Is the grate enough for ten people?
According to the manufacturer, yes: the grate has a diameter of approx. 405 mm and is intended for up to 10 people. Our counter-calculation comes to around 8, and LotusGrill does not state an area in square centimetres.
For the G340 the manufacturer’s page gives a grate of approx. 320 mm diameter, designed for up to 5 people. If you scale this figure by grate area, the XL comes to around 8 people: (405 / 320)² × 5 ≈ 8 (our calculation). It assumes that both manufacturer figures are calculated equally generously, and it uses the full circular disc; the stainless steel plate in the middle of the grate, which the FAQ describes in general, takes away part of that. We would therefore plan the XL for six to eight people, and for ten only if the food is allowed to be finished in stages.
The charcoal container holds max. 400 g of charcoal or max. 1080 g of LotusGrill Superior grill briquettes. The principle page contrasts this fill with 3 kg on standard charcoal grills, and the FAQ gives approx. 80% less charcoal than on other grills. Both are manufacturer statements.
Where to set it up, safety and care according to the manual
On where to set it up, the product page and manual are clear: the grill must not be operated in enclosed and/or habitable spaces, with buildings, tents, caravans, motorhomes and boats named as examples. “There is a danger to life from carbon monoxide poisoning.” The FAQ requires use exclusively outdoors: when grilling, combustion takes place inside the grill, producing invisible, odourless carbon monoxide. Even if the LotusGrill releases only little CO, the gas can be dangerous in enclosed spaces.
The Amazon catalogue, by contrast, advertises balcony, terrace, boat and campsite as places of use. Of these four places, the manual names only the boat, and then among the places where grilling is not allowed. On the campsite the same rule applies as everywhere: outdoors yes, in a tent, caravan or motorhome no.
On the balcony, the product page, manual and FAQ say nothing: no statement on minimum distances, railings, combustible materials or behaviour in wind. The manual requires only a stable surface. Whether you may grill with charcoal on your balcony is governed by your tenancy agreement and house rules, and when lighting, gel also burns in the lighting bowl. Our guide Grilling on a balcony goes through the legal position.
On the cool outer shell there are two manufacturer lines that do not fit together. The principle page says it never gets hot, and according to the FAQ the grill can be moved during use and placed on any surface. The product page, by contrast, places children and pets under a warning, which the manual defines as a danger of serious injury or death, and requires a stable surface. The grate stays hot even if the casing does not. Our assessment: we would not describe the grill as safe with children nearby, and on wood or plastic we would put a heat-resistant mat underneath, because the casing stays cool only according to the manufacturer.
We reproduce the safety and care notes following the wording of the product page and the German manual; the product page links to version 38. On intended use, the manual says: the charcoal tabletop grill may be used for grilling with charcoal to prepare grillable food, not in enclosed spaces; all instructions in the manual must be followed unchanged, and the grill is intended for private use only.
The product page lists these notes under four signal words:
- Warning: Risk of burns. Risk of suffocation. Do not use in enclosed spaces. Keep children and pets away.
- Caution: Use only lighting aids that comply with EN 1860-3 (a European standard). Wear gloves when touching the hot grill grate. Change the batteries only when the grill has cooled down completely. Do not use water to cool the hot grill, otherwise there is a risk of burns and scalds.
- Attention: Do not use methylated spirit or petrol to light or relight. Let the grill cool down completely before cleaning. Never pour water into the charcoal container to extinguish the glowing charcoal.
- Important: Before use, place the grill on a stable surface. Use grill tongs for grilling (LotusGrill recommends its own accessories). Never leave the hot grill unattended. With very fatty food, make sure the inner bowl is emptied regularly. Check the batteries before each use. Do not replace empty batteries while the grill is in use. Let the grill cool down completely before cleaning.
The product page lists cooling down before cleaning twice. In the care section of the manual it appears a third time:
- After each use, clean the grill grate, inner bowl and other dirty parts, but only when the grill has cooled down completely, otherwise there is a risk of burns.
- The grill grate and inner bowl can be cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand with standard dishwashing detergents.
- For stubborn residues use standard grill cleaners, for example the LotusGrill grill and oven cleaner; do not use acid, white spirit or flammable substances.
- Clean the outer shell with the electrical unit only with a damp cloth or a brush.
- Clean the charcoal container dry only, for example with a brush, and never with water.
- Before longer periods out of use, remove the batteries from the appliance.
What is missing from the box, and what is available
According to the product page, the delivery includes the grill, a nylon carry bag in a matching colour, four Mignon (AA) batteries, the instruction manual and the USB power cable. Charcoal, grill lighting gel or paste and the USB power adapter are not included. At Amazon the catalogue price for the lime green colour stood at €269.00 on 5 October 2026; our price box lists approx. €269.
LotusGrill itself sells fuels: beech charcoal in a 2.5 kg pack, FSC-certified and with wood from Europe according to the principle page, and Superior grill briquettes in a 3 kg pack. If you are weighing up whether charcoal or briquettes suit you better, our guide Charcoal or briquettes helps. As a lighting aid the manual recommends the safety lighting paste, made of ethanol according to the accessories page and available in 200 ml or 500 ml. The cleaner from the accessories list comes in 500 ml and, according to the accessories page, is applied undiluted to cooled parts, left to work and rinsed off thoroughly.
As accessories for the XL the manufacturer’s page names the Pizzastein XL, the Teppanyakiplatte XL, the stainless steel Grillhaube XL (grill hood) and the Reisehaube XL (travel hood); what the pizza stone and teppanyaki plate can do is covered in the frequently asked questions. According to the manufacturer’s page, the Abdeckhaube XL (cover) is intended for the XL Garten Set.
As spare parts for the XL, the spare parts page lists the lighting bowl XL (305 g), the charcoal container XL (0.400 kg, with perforated lid against flying sparks), the grill grate XL (stainless steel, 1.9 kg), the inner bowl XL (stainless steel, 0.900 kg) and the carry bag XL.
What the manufacturer leaves open
Neither product pages, manual nor FAQ clarify these points:
- Grilling area in cm², size of the stainless steel plate in the middle of the XL’s grate, number of sausages or steaks on the grate, and cooking times and quantities
- Maximum temperature and temperature range in degrees
- Power consumption, speed and number of settings of the fan (the principle page speaks only of continuous adjustment)
- Surface temperature of the outer shell in degrees and the time until the remaining embers have cooled
- Smoke quantity as a measured value, and the comparison grill and measuring conditions behind the statements on smoke, charcoal consumption and heat-up time
- Charcoal consumption of the XL per grilling session or grilling hour (the FAQ gives 150 to 200 g for the original model only); on the lifespan of the charcoal container only the English FAQ gives a figure (around a maximum of 80 uses), while the German FAQ and the manual give none
- Stainless steel grade (V2A or V4A), wall thicknesses, type and heat resistance of the powder coating
- Replacement for the outer shell with fan unit, buckles and switch, although the principle page promises all components as spare parts
- Country of manufacture (only the company seat in Limburgerhof is documented), year the brand was founded and year the XL was launched
- Certification marks such as CE or GS (the manual refers to EN 1860-3 only for lighting aids)
- Prices for charcoal, lighting paste, accessories and spare parts, and a manufacturer price (lotusgrill.de is not a shop)
What else comes into question?
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LotusGrill XL G435 (this one) | Grate approx. Ø 405 mm, for up to 10 people according to the manufacturer, 6.5 kg | approx. €269 | 8.5 | you grill for six to eight people and want a tabletop grill with a fan |
| LotusGrill G340 | Smaller grate, up to 5 people, approx. 3.7 kg | approx. €179 | 8.8 | you grill for five people at most and carry the grill often |
| Everdure CUBE | No fan and no power, 7 kg net, 670 cm² grilling area according to Everdure | approx. €239 | 8.6 | you want to plan for neither batteries nor USB power |
| barbecook Carlo Gelb | Blower, grilling area approx. 38.5 x 28.5 cm according to the Amazon listing | approx. €165 | 8.1 | you want to grill with a blower and stay €104 below the price of the XL |
The prices are guide values from our price boxes and apply as of the date of each box, not on a common date. The rating is our editorial assessment based on manufacturer data, not a measurement result, and the table is not suitable for comparing smoke quantity or heat. The figures for the G340 come from lotusgrill.de, those for the CUBE from everdure.com; for the Carlo they come from the Amazon listing, and we have not yet checked them against the manufacturer’s page.
When the XL suits you and when another one does
The number of people decides first. The G340 costs approx. €179, €90 less than the XL, and weighs 3.7 kg instead of 6.5 kg according to the product pages. Its grate is enough for up to five people according to the manufacturer; beyond that you would have to grill in stages. In our assessment the extra cost of the XL therefore pays off only from six people.
The second point is burn time. According to the manufacturer, an XL fill burns 60 to 130 minutes depending on the type of charcoal and can be topped up at any time; the G340 manages 40 to 90 minutes at half the fill quantity (max. 200 g). For hours of low-temperature cooking we would choose neither of the two, because you would have to add fuel several times. For steaks and sausages that are meant to be done in one round, the fan principle does fit, since the manual allows for a few minutes until it is ready.
On power there is the opposite design. According to Everdure, the Everdure CUBE has no fan and needs no power, costs approx. €239 in our price box, so €30 below the XL, at 7 kg net. Amazon listed it as currently unavailable on 6 October 2026. In return it lacks the fan that sets the heat with the heat control on the XL.
The barbecook Carlo, at approx. €165, is €104 below the XL. Its data so far come from the Amazon listing and not from barbecook; if you are considering it, check the grilling area and power supply on the manufacturer’s page before buying.
The XL is wrong for three groups. If you want to grill in a tent, caravan, motorhome or on a boat, you must not operate it there according to the manual. If you want to carry neither batteries nor a power adapter, you need a grill without a fan. And if you grill for one or two people and want to keep the table small, you carry 2.8 kg more with the XL than with the G340 without using the area.
If you do not yet know whether you want charcoal at all, go through fuel, budget and place of use in the Grill Finder.
