Jealous Devil vs Royal Oak: Which One Should You Buy?

Jealous Devil at $30/20lb and Royal Oak at $12/15lb represent opposite ends of the lump charcoal market. The score gap — 8.4 vs 6.2 — is 2.2 points. That's enormous. But the price gap is also significant. Let's figure out where the money goes. ## Quick Comparison | Feature | Jealous Devil | Royal Oak | |---------|--------------|----------| | **Price** | ~$30/20lb | ~$12/15lb | | **Price per lb** | $1.50 | $0.80 | | **Piece Consistency** | Excellent | Poor | | **Burn Time** | 4+ hours | 2-3 hours | | **Sparking** | Minimal | Moderate to heavy | | **Ash Production** | Low | High | | **BBQ Experience Score** | 8.4/10 | 6.2/10 | ## Burn Characteristics Jealous Devil lights easily, reaches temperature quickly, and stays there. Pieces are consistently large, dense, and uniform. You get predictable heat for 4+ hours per chimney. Ash production is minimal. Sparking is virtually zero. Royal Oak is inconsistent. Some bags have large, decent pieces. Others are full of fragments, dust, and the occasional piece of uncharred wood. Burn time is 2-3 hours at best. Sparking is noticeable — not dangerous, but annoying. Ash production is high, meaning more cleanup and more airflow restriction during long cooks. The consistency gap is the real issue. Jealous Devil performs the same every time. Royal Oak is a lottery. ## Flavor Jealous Devil produces clean, neutral smoke. Royal Oak produces adequate smoke but with occasional off-flavors from impurities and inconsistent wood sourcing. Most cooks won't notice on a quick grill. On a long smoke, the difference becomes apparent. ## Value for Money Royal Oak is half the price per pound. For casual weekend grilling — burgers, hot dogs, chicken — it's fine. You light it, cook for an hour, and you're done. The inconsistency doesn't matter for short cooks. Jealous Devil costs more but lasts nearly twice as long per fill. When you account for burn time, the effective price difference narrows significantly. For long cooks, Jealous Devil is actually comparable in cost because you use less. ## Verdict **Jealous Devil wins for anyone who cooks seriously.** The 2.2-point gap is not close. Better burn time, better consistency, better flavor, less ash, less sparking. It's better in every measurable way. **Buy Royal Oak if:** you grill casually, you're on a tight budget, and your cooks are under 2 hours. It's adequate for basic grilling. The honest truth: once you try Jealous Devil, you won't go back to Royal Oak. The difference is that obvious. [Full Jealous Devil Review](/en/reviews/jealous-devil-lump-charcoal-review/) | [Full Royal Oak Review](/en/reviews/royal-oak-lump-charcoal-review/)