Best Pellet Smokers 2023

Jul 24, 2023

The best pellet smokers allow you to take your home barbecue game to the next level. Powered by electricity and fueled by wood pellets that generate smoke and heat as they burn, these nifty devices—also known as pellet grills—infuse a delectably smoky flavor into meats and vegetables. For most aspiring pit masters, our top recommendation remains the Camp Chef XT 24 Pellet Grill, a moderately priced pick that boasts a wide temperature range and easy clean-out system.

The Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill has a whopping 1,320 square feet of cooking space.

That said, all the models on this list are winning options, any of which are worthy of a spot in your backyard grill setup. The best part? They’re relatively beginner-friendly to boot. "Because pellet grills are electrically powered through the push of a button, it's almost impossible to ‘mess up’ a cook," say Canada-based grill masters Maddie and Kiki Longo. "If you can operate a stove or grill, you can operate a pellet smoker." To choose the best pellet smoker for you, experts recommend considering factors like cooking area, hopper capacity, temperature range, maintenance and price. Below, find the best pellet smokers you can buy in 2023. (While you’re at it, check out our list of the best electric smokers.)

Amazon

Dimensions: 24 x 47 x 50 inches | Weight: 110 pounds | Cooking space: 429 square inches | Hopper capacity: 18 pounds | Temperature range: 160-500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years | Extra features: Digital temperature control, automatic auger, automatic shut-off

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For its ease of use, versatility and affordable price tag, the Camp Chefs XT 24 Pellet Grill is our top pick overall. This smoker holds up to 18 pounds of pellets and fits up to 30 burgers on its 429-square-inch surface, providing you ample space to smoke your foods to perfection. To operate it, simply pick a "smoke number" on the appliance's display to adjust the smoke intensity, then let the machine get to work. But the best part? The Camp Chefs XT 24 Pellet Grill has a single-release tray for cleaning out ash, allowing you to remove waste and carry it away with ease.

Amazon

Dimensions: 50 x 24 x 40 inches | Weight: 96 pounds | Cooking space: 465 square inches | Hopper capacity: 5 pounds | Temperature range: 180-500 degrees | Warranty: 5 years | Extra features: Digital temperature control, LED lighting, side tray works as serving platter

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For those who want a smoker to use only on special occasions—or those who simply don't have the budget for a pricier model—this Pit Boss grill is an excellent option. Featuring an impressive 465-square-inch cooking surface and a wide temperature range (it can heat up to 500 degrees), this affordable model leaves little to be desired. A digital control board with LED lighting also makes it easy to adjust your smoke level, even in dim lighting. Another cool feature: The side tray is removable and can double as a serving platter. The only downside of the Pit Boss grill is its small hopper, meaning you need to refill it with wood pellets more frequently.

The Home Depot

Dimensions: 25 x 51 x 71 inches | Weight: 289 pounds | Cooking space: 1,320 square inches | Hopper capacity: 22 pounds | Temperature range: Up to 500 degrees | Warranty: 10 years | Extra features: Smart controls, joint grease and ash catcher, induction cooktop

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If you’re open to paying a little more for your pellet smoker, consider the Traeger Timberline XL. This grill is packed with attractive features to make your smoking experience one that family and friends will buzz about. Enjoy a massive 1,320-square-inch cooking surface spread out over three stainless steel grates, along with an induction burner for whipping up sauces and sides; meanwhile, two wooden shelves and a prep space give you plenty of room for side chopping and plating tasks. To control the action, you can use the built-in dial or WiFIRE technology, the latter of which allows you to adjust the smoker using an app on your phone. And if you really love a strong smoky flavor, great news: This grill features a "super smoke mode" for maximum results.

Williams Sonoma

Dimensions: 23 x 39 x 45.5 inches | Weight: 84 pounds | Cooking space: 465 square inches | Hopper capacity: 13 pounds | Temperature range: 180-500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years | Extra features: Digital controls, all-terrain wheels, large hopper

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While many of the pellet grills on this list aren't difficult to operate, this Cuisinart model—which boasts 465 square inches of cooking space—is designed with ease of use in mind. A 13-pound hopper holds enough pellets to smoke for hours without needing a refill, while the digital controller helps you keep tabs on the action. Additionally, the grill's design includes all-terrain wheels and a lift handle, both of which would come in handy if you wanted to cruise on over to a neighbor's backyard. If you’re in the market for a beginner-friendly model that's also versatile, you find better than this smoker. Along with smoke, the grill has presets for BBQ, grill, roast, sear, braise, bake and char-grill.

Amazon

Dimensions: 27 x 47 x 53 inches | Weight: 163 pounds | Cooking space: 885 square inches | Hopper capacity: 20 pounds | Temperature range: Up to 500 degrees | Warranty: 7 years | Extra features: Smart features, D2 Direct Drive, downdraft exhaust

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Because smoking can take time, especially with larger meats, it makes sense if you don't want to pass much of that time hovering over the grill to keep an eye on the cooking progress. That's where this smart Traeger model comes in handy. Equipped with WiFIRE technology, this grill allows you to use your phone to monitor and control what's happening inside your smoker. It also features D2 Direct Drive to heat up your machine quickly and consistently, and can handle up to 44 burgers at once—plenty to feed a party. Meanwhile, a downdraft exhaust system helps prevent you from getting a face full of smoke every time you swing by your grill.

Wayfair

Dimensions: 14 x 18 x 24 inches | Weight: 43 pounds | Cooking space: 256 square inches | Hopper capacity: 5 pounds | Temperature range: 180-500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years | Extra features: Digital control, removable upper rack

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Take your smoking game on the road with this portable Country Smokers grill. Weighing 43 pounds, this compact machine is relatively easy to haul around and set up—just perch it on a flat surface and get to work. While the 5-pound hopper capacity isn't massive, it allows you smoke for an hour or so before needing a refill. Plus, its 256-square-inch cooking surface offers plenty of space to whip up several cuts of meat and vegetables at once. Meanwhile, a dial-in digital control lets you adjust the temperature and smoke level with ease.

The Home Depot

Dimensions: 32 x 47 x 57 inches | Weight: 192 pounds | Cooking space: 1,068 square inches | Hopper capacity: 28 pounds | Temperature range: 160-500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years | Extra features: Built-in meat probes, WiFi connectivity, digital controls

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With a 28-pound hopper capacity and 1,068 square feet of cooking space, this large model from Z Grills can host a marathon meat-smoking session. And it's not just impressive because of its size: It also boasts a slew of nice features including built-in stainless steel meat probes to monitor your food temperature and WiFi connectivity, so you can adjust the cooking from your phone. Meanwhile, a digital control board lets you flip easily between cooking modes: smoking, grilling, baking, roasting, barbecuing and more.

The Home Depot

Dimensions: 26 x 27 x 52 inches | Weight: 161 pounds | Cooking space: 1,388 square inches | Hopper capacity: 80 pounds | Temperature range: 150-500 degrees | Warranty: 1 years | Extra features: Clear display panel, Bluetooth enabled, locking door

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Vertical pellet grills are a nice option when you’re short on space but don't want to sacrifice cooking power. This Nexgrill has an impressive 1,388 square inches of cooking area to allow you to cook plenty of meats, veggies and more at one time. This grill gives you options—you can smoke, bake, roast, braise and warm whatever you’re cooking. It also connects to WiFi, allowing you to monitor and control the action from your phone. There's even a SureTemp Controller to keep tabs on the grill's internal temperature and adjust the pellet fuel as needed to keep your cooking consistent. A pellet view indicator makes it easy to check fuel levels.

Amazon

Dimensions: 30 x 31 x 56 inches | Weight: 204 pounds | Cooking space: 1,008 square inches | Hopper capacity: 20 pounds | Temperature range: 200-600 degrees | Warranty: 5 years | Extra features: Ash and grease drawer, Flavorizer bars, LCD display

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Weber's Smokefire EX6 is loaded with features to make your BBQ experience seamless. It boasts two meat probes to allow you to monitor the action, along with a roomy 1,008 square inches of dual grilling space for plenty of BBQ. The brand's Flavorizer bars are designed to deliver consistent heat across the cooking surface—a common struggle with pellet grills. Weber Connect smart features let you know via the app when it's time to flip meat and even gives you a countdown to when your food is ready. An easy to read LCD display allows for simple temperature adjustments.

To determine the very best pellet grills, we first consulted grilling experts for their input on the most important features to have in a home smoker. Then, we identified the most popular pellet smokers on the market, eliminating those that didn't meet our (and our experts’) standards for quality. Considering ease of use, hopper capacity and cooking space, we finalized our list, ensuring it included an attractive model for every kind of grill master.

As we’ve explained, pellet smokers are vastly different from electric and charcoal smokers. Given that fact, you’ll likely have some questions as you shop. Consider the following features as you advance your search; you’ll be able to find just the right smoker.

In general, the more people you like to cook for at once, the larger cooking space you’ll need. Experts generally recommend about 72 square inches of cooking space per person, so if you’re just cooking for yourself or yourself and one other person, you should be just fine with a smoker that has, say, a 200-square-foot cooking area. That said, if you have a larger family or tend to host friends a lot, you’ll want to aim for a larger cooking space. The Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill has a massive 1,320 square feet of cooking space, just in case you tend to feed an army on a regular basis.

Your hopper capacity dictates how much wood pellets you can put in your smoker at once, and it really varies by machine. If your budget allows, look for a smoker with a capacity at or around 20 pounds. So suggests Paul Sidoriak, founder of Grilling Montana, a website dedicated to grilling recipes and guides. "It's nice to be able to load a whole bag of pellets in the smoker and not have to worry about storing them," he explains. Of course, not everyone needs a hopper capacity that large. "Pellet smokers come in all different shapes and sizes, and the hopper capacities vary as well," the Longos say. Just keep in mind that "the longer the cook, the more times a hopper will need to be reloaded with pellets." However, if you’re not bothered by tossing more pellets into your cooker sporadically, you don't need to stress about hopper capacity.

Most pellet smoker range from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making them good for "low and slow"-style smoking to faster grilling, the Longos say. "However, keeping the lid open on a pellet grill dramatically decreases the heat of the grill, making them difficult to get a very hot sear," they continue. "Because of this issue, some pellet grill brands have developed a specific sear zone that ensures the grill remains hot enough to get that sizzling hot sear that produces the grill marks that we all know and love." Sidoriak recommends looking for a pellet smoker with the "widest temperature range possible," but adds that "there's almost nothing you can't accomplish between 165 to 550 degrees."

In general, pellet smokers are easy to care for, but they do require some maintenance. It's best to read your manufacturer's instructions to ensure you’re giving your machine the proper care, but there are some basics to keep in mind. "After you get a few cooks deep, you have to roll up your sleeves, take out the grills racks, and get to cleaning the fire pot and main body of the pellet smoker," the Longos say. Cleaning a pellet grill usually involves using a shop vac to suck up spent pellets that are now ash, they say (note: it can be used as fertilizer for your plants once it's collected). Overall, Sidoriak recommends planning to clean your smoker every two to three cooks.

A pellet smoker is designed to deliver plenty of smoky flavor to your meats, vegetables and other ingredients. While all of these should get the job done, some have the capacity to deliver a little extra smokiness. Our top choice, the Camp Chef XT 24 Pellet Grill, allows you to choose a smokiness number to select the level of flavor you prefer. But our choice for the best high-end smoker, the Traeger Timberline XL Wood Pellet Grill, has a specialized "super smoke mode" for those who like extra smokiness.

In general, experts say that pellet smokers are a great choice for most grill fans. However, there are a few potential downsides to keep in mind. "While pellet smokers are awesome for low and slow smoking, baking and generally looking super cool in your backyard, they are limiting when it comes to having the ability to sear at scorching hot temperatures," say the Longos. "One of the biggest calling cards of grilling is the beloved look of grill marks seared onto meat and vegetables. The pride that a griller feels when grill marks have been successfully applied to food is one of the happiest moments one can experience while cooking outdoors. Most pellet smokers do not have the capability of getting hot enough to produce grill marks."

Pellet smokers can also be tricky for people who live in humid areas, Sidoriak says. "The pellets that fuel these smokers are basically compressed sawdust. So if you live in a humid, or rainy environment it's only a matter of time before they wilt into a soggy mess like the Wicked Witch of the West," he says. "Pellets that have been exposed to moisture simply do not burn as well as fresh, dry pellets." They can also solidify and prevent your auger from spinning if they get wet, he says. "From there, it doesn't take long before you’ve burned out the auger's motor."

Best is a relative term, and everyone's pellet smoker needs are slightly different. However, we like the Camp Chef XT 24 Pellet Grill for its moderate price tag and roomy cooking space. It's also easy to clean and has enough bells and whistles to create a great cooking experience, but not so much that newcomers to pellet smoking will be overwhelmed. If you need a large cooking space, consider the Z Grills Wi-Fi Pellet Grill and Smoker. It features an impressive 1,068 square inches of cooking area—plenty of room for burgers, poultry and beyond.

This comes down to personal preference, Sidoriak says. "Some pellet manufacturers use additives like waxes, caking agents, flavored oils and blends of various woods to make the smoke taste the way they think you want it to taste," he says. "When you use 100% wood chips or wood chunks for smoking, there's no mistaking that the wood you chose is actually the wood you will use." But while wood chips usually add to the flavor of your food, the Longos say they’re not the best for fuel since they burn quickly and don't retain heat well. "Typically, pellet smokers produce the least amount of authentic smoke flavor out of all the various outdoor cookers," they say. "On a scale of smoke flavor, it starts low at pellet smokers, then wood chips, then charcoal grilling, then stick burners, then live fire pits."