Published 22 October 2026 · Last updated 3 November 2026 · By Ben Austen · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
For turning food on the barbecue I use a pair of standard all-metal kitchen tongs from ProCook. They’re the sort of thing you’d use in the kitchen, so they’re not great on a barbecue, and when I’m grilling I wear my gloves to stop my forearms getting too hot. I need some proper longer tongs, and these five BBQ tools are the ones I’d look at. I checked every price on 22 October 2026.
Tick Compare on any two or more to see them side by side.
Best BBQ tongs Researched
Weber barbecue tongs
Buy these if you want one good pair of BBQ tongs from a brand owners trust.
- Recommended by name on the UK BBQ forum
- Lock shut and go in the dishwasher
Best BBQ tool set Researched
OXO tongs and turner set
Buy this set if you want long tongs and a spatula in one go.
- Seven owners on the UK BBQ forum recommend OXO’s tongs or this set
- Long tongs and a spatula together, both dishwasher-safe
Best cheap BBQ tongs Researched
DAILY KISN 17-inch tongs
Buy these if you want long tongs on a budget and don’t mind an unfamiliar brand.
- 43.2cm long
- Pull-ring lock, and they go in the dishwasher
Best long BBQ tongs Researched
Petromax barbecue and charcoal tongs
These are the ones to buy if you want the longest tongs here, and a pair you can move charcoal with as well as food.
- At 54cm, the longest tongs here
- Made to move charcoal as well as food
- Lock shut, with an eyelet for hanging
Best BBQ spatula Researched
Weber Precision barbecue spatula
Buy this if you’ve already got tongs you’re happy with and want a proper spatula on its own.
- Blade bevelled on three sides
- 45.5cm long, and dishwasher-safe
- 5.0 from 6 ratings on Weber’s site
Popular, but I’d skip them
ROMANTICIST 26-piece BBQ tool set
I’d skip this, because you don’t need that much stuff for a barbecue, and a lot of what comes in a big boxed set is superfluous. Four of its 26 pieces are tongs, a spatula, a fork and a basting brush, and the rest include eight corn holders, four skewers, straws, a corkscrew and a grill brush with a spare head. The listing’s title also promises a meat thermometer that isn’t in the list of what’s in the case.
Grilliance 30-piece BBQ tool set
I’d skip this one too, for the same reason. Its 30 pieces include tongs, a spatula and a fork, but most of the count is eight corn holders, four skewers, straws, spice bottles and a corkscrew. Three owners on the forum say the tongs that come in BBQ sets tend to be flimsy or bendy, though none of them names this one.
Key takeaways
- If you want one good pair of tongs, the Weber pair is the one I’d look at first. An owner on the forum recommended this exact pair.
- If you want tongs and a spatula together, buy the OXO set. Seven owners on the forum recommend OXO’s tongs or this set.
- If you want long tongs on a budget, the DAILY KISN pair is 43.2cm long. For more distance from the fire, the Petromax pair is 54cm and can move charcoal too.
- I’d skip the big boxed sets. You don’t need that much stuff, and in the two popular 26- and 30-piece sets most of the pieces are corn holders, skewers and straws.
- My must-haves for a barbecue are gloves, tongs, firelighters and at least an instant-read thermometer, and on a kamado a deflector as well.
At a glance: five BBQ tools
| Tool | Best for | Price | Length | Lock | Dishwasher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber barbecue tongs | Best BBQ tongs | See the price on Amazon UK → | 40.5cm | Yes | Yes |
| OXO tongs and turner set | Best BBQ tool set | See the price on Amazon UK → | 41cm and 47.5cm | Yes, on the tongs | Yes |
| DAILY KISN 17-inch tongs | Best cheap BBQ tongs | See the price on Amazon UK → | 43.2cm | Yes | Yes |
| Petromax barbecue and charcoal tongs | Best long BBQ tongs | £22.95 | 54cm | Yes | Not stated |
| Weber Precision barbecue spatula | Best BBQ spatula | See the price on Amazon UK → | 45.5cm | n/a | Yes |
Full prices, checked on 22 October 2026.
Best BBQ tongs: Weber barbecue tongs
Buy these if you want one good pair of BBQ tongs from a brand owners trust. An owner on the forum linked to this exact pair and said “You cant go wrong with the Weber ones”.
They’re 40.5cm long, stainless steel with a silicone grip, and they lock shut and go in the dishwasher. Other owners on the forum have had Weber tongs for ten and fifteen years, though they don’t say which model.
The catch is length. At 40.5cm they’re the shortest tongs here, so over a hot fire you’ll still want gloves on, as I do.
Pros
- Recommended by name on the UK BBQ forum
- Lock shut and go in the dishwasher
Cons
- At 40.5cm, the shortest tongs here
| PRICE | See the price on Amazon UK → |
| LENGTH | 40.5cm |
| WEIGHT | 210g |
| MATERIAL | Stainless steel, silicone grip |
| LOCK | Yes |
| DISHWASHER | Yes, the listing says |
Best BBQ tool set: OXO tongs and turner set
Buy this set if you want long tongs and a spatula in one go. Seven owners on the forum recommend OXO’s tongs or its tongs and spatula set, and one of them said the tongs “are perfect” and come “with an equally good spatula”.
The two pieces are 41cm and 47.5cm long, in stainless steel with non-slip grips, and both go in the dishwasher. The turner has a wide, bevelled head, and an owner reviewing the set on Amazon UK found both pieces solid, easy to clean and fine in the dishwasher.
I’ve only got the grid on my barbecue, so I’ve never used a spatula on it. If that’s you too, the Weber tongs cost less than half as much and do the main job.
Pros
- Seven owners on the UK BBQ forum recommend OXO’s tongs or this set
- Long tongs and a spatula together, both dishwasher-safe
Cons
- If you only need tongs, the Weber pair costs less than half as much
| PRICE | See the price on Amazon UK → |
| LENGTH | 41cm and 47.5cm |
| WEIGHT | 553g (both pieces) |
| MATERIAL | Stainless steel, non-slip grips |
| LOCK | Yes, on the tongs |
| DISHWASHER | Yes, the listing says |
Best cheap BBQ tongs: DAILY KISN 17-inch tongs
Buy these if you want long tongs on a budget and don’t mind an unfamiliar brand. An owner on Amazon UK bought them to replace the tongs from a barbecue tool set, which were too short and put their hands too close to the heat.
They’re 43.2cm long and weigh 191g, in stainless steel with anti-slip strips on the handle, and they lock with a pull ring and go in the dishwasher. On the forum, four owners say they’d rather use long stainless kitchen tongs than the ones that come in BBQ sets, and these are a long stainless kitchen pair.
The question mark is how well they’ll last. One owner said they could feel sturdier, though the grip and the lock were good, and another thought they’re reasonably well made but wasn’t sure they’d take much abuse.
Pros
- 43.2cm long
- Pull-ring lock, and they go in the dishwasher
Cons
- Two owners aren’t sure how well they’ll stand up to heavy use
| PRICE | See the price on Amazon UK → |
| LENGTH | 43.2cm |
| WEIGHT | 191g |
| MATERIAL | Stainless steel, anti-slip strips on the handle |
| LOCK | Yes, pull ring |
| DISHWASHER | Yes, the listing says |
Best long BBQ tongs: Petromax barbecue and charcoal tongs, £22.95
These are the ones to buy if you want the longest tongs here, and a pair you can move charcoal with as well as food.
They’re 54cm long and weigh 375g, in brushed stainless steel with a wooden handle. They lock shut for storing and have an eyelet to hang them up, and Petromax says the curved head is made to pick up coal and briquettes as well as food.
FireFly’s listing doesn’t say they can go in the dishwasher, which every other pick here can. They’re also the dearest tongs here, and heavier than the Weber or DAILY KISN pairs at 210g and 191g.
Pros
- At 54cm, the longest tongs here
- Made to move charcoal as well as food
- Lock shut, with an eyelet for hanging
Cons
- The listing doesn’t say they’re dishwasher-safe
- The dearest tongs here
| PRICE | £22.95 at FireFly |
| LENGTH | 54cm |
| WEIGHT | 375g |
| MATERIAL | Brushed stainless steel, wooden handle |
| LOCK | Yes |
| DISHWASHER | Not stated |
Best BBQ spatula: Weber Precision barbecue spatula
Buy this if you’ve already got tongs you’re happy with and want a proper spatula on its own. Four owners on the forum list a good spatula among the barbecue tools they rely on, and this one averages 5.0 on Weber’s own site, though from only 6 ratings, and none of the forum owners name this model.
It’s 45.5cm long, with an 11cm stainless steel blade bevelled on three sides, which Weber says lets you lift food from any angle. It has a soft-touch handle and a loop for hanging, and Weber says it goes in the dishwasher.
Price is the problem. On its own it costs more than the whole OXO set, which comes with a spatula as well as tongs, so if you need both, that set is the cheaper way in.
Pros
- Blade bevelled on three sides
- 45.5cm long, and dishwasher-safe
- 5.0 from 6 ratings on Weber’s site
Cons
- Costs more than the OXO tongs and turner set
- Only 6 ratings, and no forum owner names it
| PRICE | See the price on Amazon UK → |
| LENGTH | 45.5cm |
| BLADE | 11cm, bevelled on three sides |
| MATERIAL | Stainless steel, soft-touch handle |
| LOCK | n/a |
| DISHWASHER | Yes, Weber says |
How to spot BBQ tools that aren’t worth buying
Good BBQ tongs close properly, don’t bend and hold on to what you pick up. An owner on the forum said that cheap tongs usually give out at the spring and the hinge, not the arms, so that’s where to look first.
Things to look out for:
- Tongs that don’t close properly or line up. Two owners on the forum have had cheap pairs that wouldn’t.
- Arms that flex. If you want to lift a hot grate or a charcoal basket with your tongs, they need to be stiff enough not to bend under the weight. Three owners on the forum use gloves for that job instead.
- Tongs with a thermometer built in. When a maker asked the forum about the idea, five owners were against it. One said “It makes both things worse”, others said you can’t put them in the dishwasher and there’s more to break, and a moderator pointed out that “probes and tongs can both be had inexpensively”.
How to choose BBQ utensils
Tongs, or tongs and a spatula. If you’ve only got the grid, like me, a good pair of tongs does the main job. Four owners on the forum count a big spatula among the tools they rely on, and if you want one, a set gets you both for less.
Length. Longer tongs keep your hands further from the heat. The tongs here run from 40.5cm to 54cm, and at the short end you’ll still want gloves on over a hot fire.
Food or charcoal. If you want to move charcoal around with your tongs, buy a pair made for it, or do what one owner on the forum does and keep an old pair just for the charcoal.
Cleaning. The listings for four of the five here say they go in the dishwasher. Petromax doesn’t say either way.
Common questions
What is the best brand for barbecue tools?
There isn’t a clear winner. On the UK BBQ forum on Reddit, seven owners recommend OXO’s tongs or its tongs and spatula set, and seven recommend Weber tongs, two of them after ten years or more. Those are the two brands I’d look at first.
Are BBQ tool sets worth it?
A small one can be. The OXO set is a pair of tongs and a spatula. I’d skip the big boxed sets, though, because you don’t need that much stuff and most of the pieces are corn holders, skewers and straws.
Can you use kitchen tongs on a barbecue?
Yes, and I do. Mine are standard all-metal kitchen tongs, and they’re not great on a barbecue. I need some proper longer ones. Four owners on the forum would rather use long stainless kitchen tongs than the tongs in BBQ sets, and the forum’s moderator says “the longer the better”.
Sources and how I checked
- My own kitchen tongs, from ProCook.
- The shop and maker pages for every tool here: prices, lengths, weights, materials, locks and cleaning, read between 18 and 22 October 2026. That’s Weber UK, OXO, Petromax, FireFly, BBQ World and Amazon UK.
- Owner reviews and ratings on Amazon UK and Weber UK, read on 21 and 22 October 2026.
- The Amazon UK listings for the Weber tongs, the OXO set and the Weber spatula, read on 2 November 2026.
- Threads about BBQ tools on r/UKBBQ, the UK BBQ forum on Reddit, including A decent set of tongs, Bbq tool recommendations, Must have tools/utensils and Best bbq tools in the UK?
How I got this, and what I’ve spent
I bought my kitchen tongs myself, from ProCook. Nobody sent me any of these tools, and none of the makers or shops have seen this before you have. The photos are from the makers and shops that sell them. The Amazon links here are affiliate links, so if you buy through one, Amazon pays me a commission. The links to other shops earn me nothing.
Final verdict
If you need one good pair of BBQ tongs, get the Weber pair. If you want a spatula as well, the OXO set gets you both, and seven owners on the UK BBQ forum recommend OXO’s tongs or this set. On a budget, the DAILY KISN tongs are longer than the Weber pair. If you want the most reach, or a pair you can move charcoal with, get the Petromax at 54cm. I’d skip the big boxed sets.