In Summary
• The right kit comes down to three things: how many people you feed, what you like to cook, and how often you will use it. Size, motor strength and build quality matter far more than price alone.
• Match the spit’s capacity and motor rating to your usual crowd, and make sure it can handle a full lamb without straining if that is your goal.
• A good kit lasts for years, so buy for the cooking you actually do week to week, not the one big party you might host once.
Few things turn a backyard into an event quite like a spit roast. There is the theatre of it, the smell drifting over the fence, and a centrepiece that feeds a crowd without you hovering over a hotplate all afternoon. But spit roast kits come in a huge range, from compact skewer kits that handle a couple of chooks to full-length roasters built to turn a whole lamb. Choosing the right one is less about spending the most and more about matching the kit to the way you cook.
Start With What You Actually Cook
Before you look at a single product, picture your typical cook. Are you feeding a family of four on a Sunday, or catering a whole extended-family Christmas? Do you dream of a whole lamb turning over coals, or is it more likely to be a couple of chickens and the odd pork roast? And how often will you use it: every few weekends, or once or twice a year? Your honest answers here shape everything that follows. There is no point buying a commercial-sized spit for the occasional roast chook, and equally no sense in a small kit that cannot cope the one time you go all out. Buy for the cooking you genuinely do, with a little room to grow.
Understanding the Main Types of Spit Kits
Spit roast kits fall into a few broad families, and knowing them makes the rest of the choice much easier.
• Portable and skewer kits: Compact, affordable and often battery powered, these suit a whole chicken or small cuts and are great for camping or small backyards.
• Kettle and BBQ rotisserie attachments: These clip onto a BBQ or kettle you already own, adding a spit rod and motor without a separate unit. A smart, space-saving entry point.
• Freestanding charcoal rotisseries: Mid-sized standalone units with their own firebox, ideal for regular roasts, several birds at once, or a leg of lamb.
• Big spits and whole-animal roasters: Full-length, heavy-duty spits built to handle a whole lamb or suckling pig, with the frame, motor and coal capacity to match.
• Gas spit roasters: Similar in size to the above but fuelled by gas burners, trading some smoky flavour for easy, consistent temperature control.
Sizing: Capacity and Spit Length
Size is where many first-timers get caught out. Two numbers matter: the length of the spit rod, which sets how much you can fit along it, and the load capacity, which is how much weight it can carry and turn. A whole lamb of 16 to 22 kg needs a proper full-length big spit. Try to force one onto a small kit and you will overload the motor and cook unevenly. As a rough guide, a small kit suits one to two birds, a mid-sized rotisserie handles several birds or a large roast, and a big spit covers whole-animal cooking for a crowd of 25 or more. When in doubt, size up slightly, because a half-loaded big spit still cooks beautifully, while an overloaded small one struggles the whole way through.
The Motor Matters More Than You Think
The motor is the heart of any spit kit, and it is the part people most often underestimate. Its job is to turn your load smoothly and steadily for hours, and if it is underpowered it will stall, stutter or burn out, especially when the meat is heavy and slightly off-balance. Look for the motor’s weight rating and make sure it comfortably exceeds the heaviest thing you plan to cook, with headroom to spare. Mains-powered motors tend to offer more torque for big loads, while battery models add portability for smaller kits. Good gearing and a solid mount matter too, since a strong motor bolted to a flimsy frame will still wobble. If you are cooking whole animals, this is not the place to cut corners.
Fuel: Charcoal, Gas or Both
Your fuel choice shapes both the flavour and the effort. Charcoal delivers that deep, smoky character and a long, steady heat once the coals are established, though it needs lighting and topping up through the cook. Gas is the convenience option, offering quick starts and precise, consistent temperature control with far less fuss, at the cost of some of that classic charcoal flavour. Dual fuel setups give you the best of both, letting you choose based on the day and the occasion. If flavour is your priority, charcoal is hard to beat. If it is ease and repeatability, gas makes a lot of sense.
Build Quality and Materials
A spit lives outdoors and works hard, so build quality is what separates a kit you love from one you replace. Stainless steel resists rust and cleans up easily, making it the go-to for rods, forks and any part near the heat. Pay attention to the spit rod itself: a square rod grips the meat far better than a round one, which can let a heavy load spin freely instead of turning with the rod. Check that the frame is sturdy and stable, that any height adjustment feels solid, and that a hood or wind protection is available if you cook in exposed spots. Thicker steel holds heat and lasts longer. These details are easy to overlook in a photo but obvious the first time you cook.
Essential Accessories and Extras
The kit is only part of the picture. A few extras make the difference between a smooth cook and a frustrating one. Prongs or forks hold the meat firm and are worth having in good stainless steel. A counterweight balances an uneven load and takes strain off the motor. Adjustable height lets you control browning. Beyond the spit itself, keep a drip tray, a charcoal chimney for easy lighting and mid-cook top-ups, heat-proof gloves, and a meat thermometer on hand, since whole-animal cooking is all about cooking to temperature rather than the clock. A quality cover will protect your investment between cooks.
Matching Your Budget to Your Needs
Spit kits span a wide price range, and it pays to spend where it counts. Entry-level kits are perfect for occasional small cooks and camping, but tend to use lighter materials and smaller motors. Mid-range units add sturdier frames, stronger motors and better capacity, and suit most regular home cooks. Premium and big-spit setups bring commercial-grade build, powerful motors and whole-animal capacity for those who entertain often or like to go big. The false economy to avoid is buying an underbuilt kit for a job it cannot handle, because you will only end up replacing it. Spend according to how you will really use it, and a good kit will pay for itself over years of use.
A Quick Checklist Before You Buy
Run through these before you commit:
• Crowd size: how many people do you usually feed?
• Meat type: chickens and roasts, or whole animals?
• Fuel: charcoal, gas or dual fuel?
• Motor: does its weight rating comfortably exceed your heaviest cook?
• Rod: is it a square rod for better grip?
• Materials: stainless steel where it matters?
• Adjustability: height control and wind protection?
• Accessories: forks, counterweight, drip tray, chimney?
• Practicalities: storage and portability for your space?
• Support: warranty and after-sales backup?
FAQs
Can I use a spit roast kit on my existing BBQ or kettle?
Often yes. Many rotisserie kits are designed to fit standard kettles and hooded BBQs, adding a spit rod and motor without a separate unit. Check the fit and the weight rating against what you plan to cook before you buy.
What size spit do I need for a whole lamb?
A whole lamb of 16 to 22 kg needs a full-length big spit with a strong motor and a decent coal capacity. Smaller kits will not take the length or the load, so this is the one job that calls for a dedicated whole-animal roaster.
Is charcoal or gas better for a spit roast?
Neither is simply better; they suit different priorities. Charcoal wins on flavour and steady heat, gas wins on convenience and control, and dual fuel gives you both. Choose based on whether flavour or ease matters more to you.
Do I really need a powerful motor?
For anything beyond a chicken or two, yes. A motor rated comfortably above your heaviest load will turn smoothly for hours, while an underpowered one stalls and strains. It is one of the most important parts of the whole kit.
How much should I spend?
Enough to cover the cooking you actually do. Occasional small cooks are well served by an entry or mid-range kit, while frequent entertainers and whole-animal cooks should invest in a sturdier, higher-capacity setup. Buying too small to save money usually costs more in the long run.
Ready to Choose Your Kit?
The best spit roast kit is the one matched to your backyard, your crowd and the food you love to cook. Work those out first, keep this checklist handy, and the right choice becomes obvious. Browse the full range of spit roasters, charcoal rotisseries and accessories to find the setup that suits you, and get ready to become the reason everyone shows up hungry.
Glossary
• Rotisserie: A cooking method where meat turns slowly on a rotating rod over or beside a heat source for even, self-basting results.
• Spit rod: The central rod the meat is mounted on. A square rod grips better than a round one.
• Counterweight: A weight fitted to balance an uneven load, reducing strain on the motor.
• Prongs (forks): Clamps that hold the meat firmly in place on the spit rod.
• Weight rating: The maximum load a motor or spit is designed to turn safely.
• Dual fuel: A setup that can run on either charcoal or gas.
