We love pellet smokers here at the Barbecue Lab. These machines have taken the guesswork out of smoking and given great success to the most inexperienced barbecuer.
With traditional offset smokers, you’d have to add wood or manage charcoal every 45 minutes. But with pellet smokers, you can get great results without having to babysit a temperamental flame. Not only that, but the temperature range on these pellet grills also give you the ability to smoke, barbecue, grill, and even sear.
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How we picked and tested
In the world of pellet grills, there are far more grills available than we could ever include in this post. Please understand that we are well aware that there are many "contestants" missing from this contest. What we have done here is collected first-hand data from all the pellet grills we were able to get in our possession. Some of the pellet grills were provided to us by the manufacturers. Some of the pellet grills were borrowed. Some of the pellet grills were purchased by us.
As with most products out there, pellet grills run a wide spectrum when it comes to price and quality. In order to best be able to determine which is the best wood pellet grill while still comparing "apples to apples", we've broken the entire wood pellet grill population into 5 categories: Under $599, Under $1199, Under $1999 (coming soon), Over $2000 (coming soon), and Portable Pellet Grill (coming soon).
We have also compiled a list of 20 criteria in which we tested and compared the pellet grills within each category. Some categories were very black and white as to how the grills ranked, whereas other categories rely upon personal preference.
In the end, out of all of the pellet grills personally tested by us, we can tell you which grills ranked highest for us, earning the title "best wood pellet smoker" in their respective categories.
Ready to see how it all shook out?
Best Pellet Grill Winners
Winners
Product Information
UNDER $599
Pit Boss Mahogany 820D3
Cooking Surface: 849.48 sq. inches
Temperature: 180-500℉
Pellet hopper capacity: 21 lbs.
Warranty: 5 years
Winner: Best Under $599
UNDER $599
Z Grills 7002C2E
Cooking Surface: 697 sq. inches
Temperature: 180-450℉
Pellet hopper capacity: 24 lbs.
Warranty: 3 years
Winner: Runner Up Under $599
UNDER $1199
Grilla Grills Silverbac AT
Cooking Surface: 692 sq. inches
Temperature: 180-500℉
Pellet hopper capacity: 20 lbs.
Warranty: 4 years
Winner: Best Under $1199
UNDER $1199
Z Grills Multitasker 11002B
Cooking Surface: 1068 sq. inches
Temperature: 160-500℉
Pellet hopper capacity: 28 lbs.
Warranty: 3 years
Winner: Runner Up Under $1199
Ok, now that you've seen the winners, let's take a look at how each of the wood pellet grills tested performed against the competition.
Best Pellet Grills under $599
We took 5 different pellet grills from 5 different manufacturers and ran them through 23 different tests to help you decide which pellet grill is right for you.
At the time of our testing, every pellet grill in this roundup was priced at $599 or less. Between testing and editing, we're seeing inflation take a toll, and a couple prices have fluctuated up and down a bit. Unfortunately, our best intentions are still slave to the market.
The pellet grills we compared at this price point included (pictured above L-R) the Pit Boss 820D3, Cuisinart Oakmont, ZGrills 7002C2E, Lifesmart 2000B, and Expert Grill Commodore.
1. Best Under $599: Pit Boss Mahogany 820D3
Read our full review of the 820D3 here.
In this roundup of pellet grills, the 820D3 was the contender that was the most fascinating to watch through all of the tests. Though it appeared to be possibly the most inconsistent when it comes to temperature, the finished cooks were consistently more visually stunning than the competition.
As it turns out, the fluctuations we observed in temperature were exactly what was generating more smoke in this pellet grill giving our proteins the bark and color that we all strive for in barbecue.
If this pellet grill was in a job interview and asked what its greatest weakness was, it should definitely answer something along the line of temperature fluctuation because it is most certainly a "weakness" that results in a slam dunk benefit.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Do you want to cook low and slow and put the best color you possibly can on a pork shoulder while you sit inside in the air conditioning? The Pit Boss 820 is your baby. It has stick burner color in a pellet grill body.
2. Runner Up Under $599: Z Grills 7002C2E
Read our full review of the Z Grills 7002C2E here.
Consistency is the name of the game for this cooker. It passed almost all the tests we ran it through and seemed to perform by-the-book in most cases.
What we like:
What we don't like:
This is a very consistent pellet grill that holds temperature within a very tight range whether you're cooking at 250 for smoking or on high for a hot and fast sear.
It's a wood pellet grill that really can both smoke and sear, and it was the most efficient grill in our testing group of 5 units.
A 24 pound hopper means that you can get over 20 hours of cooking at smoking temperatures, so an overnight brisket cook is right in the wheelhouse for this pellet grill.
There's not much to argue with in this unit, and in the sub-$600 price range it performs very well against the competition.
Other $599 Pellet Grills Worth Considering
Cuisinart Oakmont
Read our full review of the Cuisinart Oakmont here.
This pellet smoker stood strong against the competition in this price point. There were a lot of qualities we really appreciated about this model and it felt like a really strong and sturdy build that often made me forget it cost less than $599.
What we like:
What we don't like:
If you're looking for a pellet grill with all the bells and whistles that you would normally see on pellet grills costing more than $1,000? A pellet grill that did well in most of the tests and had more extra features than any other? Then you want the Cuisinart Oakmont.
Expert Grill Commodore
Read our full review of the Expert Grill Commodore here.
The price of the Expert Grill is $200+ less than the other pellet grills we're comparing it to. And in spite of the price difference, it did a pretty decent job standing up to the competition making this the best budget pellet grill.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Do you want the unit in this roundup that costs only $317 compared to the $550-$600 that the rest of the pellet grills will cost? If cost is a factor, then the Expert Grill Commodore is for you. It didn't win many of the categories that we tested, but for half the price, should we expect it to?
Lifesmart 2000B
Read our full review of the Lifesmart 2000B here.
It's hard to find any quality pellet grills at this price point with this many square inches of cooking space. With 3 shelves, the cooking chamber is tall and can accommodate nearly anything you want to smoke.
What we like:
What we don't like:
When we first started collecting grills for this roundup we were pretty shocked that a pellet grill of this size fell in the sub-$600 price point. And apparently Lifesmart agreed, because at some point during our testing their price for this pellet grill has risen quite a bit. But if you're looking for the most amount of cooking space on a pellet grill for a decent price, this is a good one to consider.
Best Pellet Grills under $1199
We took 8 different pellet grills from 8 different manufacturers and ran them through 30 different tests to help you decide which pellet grill is right for you.
At the time of our testing, every wood pellet grill in this roundup was priced at $1199 or less.
The pellet grills we compared at this price point included (pictured above L-R) the Recteq 590, Traeger Pro 780, ZGrills Multitasker 1100, Camp Chef Woodwind 36, Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX 1200, Pit Boss Sportsman 1100, Louisiana Grills Black Label 1000, and the Grilla Grills Silverbac AT.
1. Best Under $1199: Grilla Grills Silverbac AT
Read our full review of the Grilla Grills Silverbac AT pellet grill.
In this roundup of pellet grills, the Silverbac was the biggest surprise for us in many ways. It was a last minute addition to this group, arriving 2 days into having already begun testing on the others. We weren't sure what to expect or whether it would even be worth it for us to interrupt what we'd already begun with the other 7 pellet grills.
As it turns out, we're thrilled that we made room for one more because for us, this pellet smoker was the standout.
The build quality and functionality were all top quality and we were shocked with the Silverbac's ability to grill meat even with indirect heat.
What we like:
What we don't like:
I don't think we would have understood the higher level of quality of this pellet grill without having hands on it next to the competition. The Silverbac is just built solid and built to last and that's why it was our top pick for best wood pellet smoker under $1199.
2. Runner Up $1199: Z Grills Multitasker 1100
Read our full review of the Z Grills Multitasker 11002b pellet grill.
We have reviewed several different Z Grills units here at the lab and they have definitely elevated the game with this model. It is significantly higher quality than the others we've used, and rightly so at this price point.
The double-walled construction and quality gaskets exceeded my expectations at this price point and the spacious cooking chamber offered even cooking throughout.
What we like:
What we don't like:
We honestly weren't expecting to like the ZGrills Multitasker as much as we did. From everything we can see this is a very well built pellet smoker.
Other $1199 Pellet Grills Worth Considering
Traeger Pro 780
Over the years Traeger Grills have become synonymous with pellet grills and pellet smokers so we of course had to include one in this lineup.
It was fascinating to observe this industry leading name run side-by-side next to the competition and see the ways that it lived up to the hype as well as those where it maybe didn't.
What we like:
What we don't like:
While it may not have blown us away in many of the tests we performed, the Traeger continues to be "Old Reliable" for me. It's the pellet grill I know I can count on. I will often set up the Traeger for a long cook and then go about my day with the aid of the Traeger Grills app and a delicious dinner will be waiting for me when I get back home. Controlling the pellet grill with the app is easy, and on weekdays, I like easy.
Camp Chef Woodwind 36
Read our full review of the Camp Chef Woodwind 36 here.
The Camp Chef Woodwind performed well in a number of the tests we ran at this price point. There are a couple of nice extra features that the Woodwind offers that truly set it apart from the other pellet grills in this price point.
What we like:
What we don't like:
The Camp Chef Woodwind wifi has a lot of great extra features to offer and was a solid contender in this roundup of best pellet smokers
Oklahoma Joe's Rider DLX
I was excited to try out this Oklahoma Joe's pellet grill as it has a number of extra features that really intrigued me.
What we like:
What we don't like:
If you want a pellet grill that is maybe more grill than smoker but can still do both, this model is a great option to consider.
Pit Boss Sportsman 1100
What we like:
What we don't like:
Though it wasn't our top pick in this grouping, the Pit Boss Sportsman performed quite well and is a good value.
Louisiana Grills Black Label 1000
What we like:
What we don't like:
Recteq 590
What we like:
What we don't like:
Do pellet grills give good smoke flavor?
Most pellet grills have a reputation for lacking in smoke flavor.
Some pellet smokers include features like a super smoke mode or smoke boost that allow the user to select the level of smoke desired for a particular cook. Typically what that does is allow for more swings in temperature that will then produce more smoke flavor.
Typically, pellet grills holding more consistent temperatures, particularly those with a PID controller will produce less smoke flavor than those with a wider swing in temperature.
However in our smoking tests at both price points we detected minimal difference from pellet grill to pellet grill in actual smoke flavor while we did see more of a visual difference in the outside bark, color, and smoke ring.
Pellet smokers: what makes them different?
Pellet smokers are designed to be all about convenience, and they are by far, the most convenient smoker on the market. What makes them convenient? You don’t have to babysit. You can fill up the hopper, plug in the pellet grill, and let it do most of the work for you.
You don’t have to worry about managing the flame or air flow or maintaining consistent temperature with pellet smokers. The pellet grill does all that for you, and you get pretty dang good barbecue. Beginners and pit masters alike get great results with a wood pellet grill.
Wait, is it ‘pellet smoker’ or ‘pellet grill?’
Every industry has its quirks, and the barbecue world is no exception. While some experts believe that these machines should only be called pellet smokers, and not pellet grills, really the words are used interchangeably.
Since you’re not traditionally cooking with direct flame the way you would with a gas grill, technically you aren’t grilling, per say. But you are cooking at grilling temperatures on a product that’s designed to cook outside. So we here at the Barbecue Lab say that you can call it either a pellet smoker or pellet grill. Trust us, if you’re making great food on it, no one really cares what you call it.
The Importance of Materials and Construction
When you’re choosing the best wood pellet smoker for you, you’ll need to consider what the weather is like where you live, what type of environment you’ll be cooking in, and where you’ll be storing your wood pellet grill.
You want to choose materials that are resistant to the weather and can hold up to extreme temperature fluctuations. Not only will it affect the longevity of your unit, but it will also affect your cooking.
Some grills have cold rolled steel, which is fine, but it has little ability to stand up to the elements. You have to keep the paint intact with touch ups. The repeated heating and cooling of the unit will also weaken and thin the paint and allow rust to get through.
We like grills that are made of stainless steel. 304 stainless steel is the industry standard that won’t rust, and is made to be uncovered.
If you can afford the double walled chamber models, even better. The double walled construction helps keep heat in and weather out. Keeping a stable, even cooking temperature will let you have more consistent results and remove some of the frustration of cooking with cheaper models.
If nothing else, make sure you have an oven gasket around the chamber. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
Hopper: Size matters…. Maybe
Not sure what size of hopper you need? It depends on how long of cook you plan to do and your availability to refill it if it runs low.
Most pellet grills we're looking at have a hopper capacity of 18-22 lbs of wood pellets, or roughly one whole bag. While, our portable pellet grill picks have smaller hoppers for obvious reasons, longer cooks are definitely possible. You’ll just have to refill the hopper - set it and forget it overnight cooks aren’t possible on the smaller models.
Pellet consumption
One 20 lb. bag of wood pellets can run about 20 hours at smoking temperatures. The general rule of thumb is 1 lb of pellets used for 45 minutes - 1 hour of cook time. So if you’re doing shorter cooks, one bag of wood pellets will last you quite a while, about as long as a tank of propane.
What size of pellet smoker do YOU need?
What do all the square inches of cooking space translate to for you? What size do you need? Think about what you want to cook and how many people you want to be able to cook for on your wood pellet grill.
Here at The Barbecue Lab, we recommend that you buy a pellet grill or smoker based on whether the main grate itself can support what you’re generally wanting to cook. For a family of 4, a bottom grate of around 500-600 square inches would be enough of a cooking area for about 90% of what you want to do, including cooking for a crowd.
How to choose a pellet smoker
- 1SIZE: How many people do you typically cook for? Choose based on the main cooking area grate size! Use our recommendation for a family of 4 plus occasional entertaining as a starting point. The main grate should be about 500-600 square inches.
- 2TEMPERATURE RANGE: If you’re looking for all in one machine to dominate your outdoor cooking, select a wood pellet grill that has a wide range of temperatures and some nice accessories. If you’re wanting to do everything like smoke, grill, and sear, choose a pellet grill that will reach 650-700 degrees. If you’re just wanting to smoke and grill with indirect heat, 500 degrees should suffice. If you’re wanting a nice addition to expand your outdoor cooking options, then go with a simple pellet smoker. You’ll save a bit of money and still get great results.
- 3COOKING LOCATION: Where are you going to cook? Your environment and wood pellet grill storage options should also be taken into consideration when choosing your pellet smoker.
If you’re going to be mainly smoking on the road or have limited space, then a portable pellet grill like the Green Mountain Grill - Davy Crocket or Asmoke AS300 will be a good choice.
Just make sure you choose models that have stainless steel construction on the parts where it matters - which is anywhere water would potentially sit and pool. Make sure to get the right stainless steel (316) if you live next to an ocean. If you choose not to get stainless steel, make sure to keep up on maintenance so the paint doesn’t chip on it.
If your backyard patio or garage/driveway grilling area is prone to breezes, then make sure your wood pellet grill has an oven gasket or similar feature to keep the heat in your smoker where it belongs and help regulate pellet consumption. A thermal blanket can also help if you're cooking in cold and breezy temperatures.
Other Grill Types To Consider:
While pellet smokers offer plenty of options when it comes to the types of food that they can cook, other grills may be your preference for different styles of cooking.
Gas Grill
Gas grills tend to be a fan favorite for those quick weeknight meals as they're simple to light, simple to manage, and just all-around easy to use. Check out this article on the Best Gas Grill.
Charcoal Grill
Where charcoal grills may not rank high in the ease-of-use category, they make up for it in the flavor department. From kettle cookers to kamado grills, there are several options when it comes to price and difficulty when it comes to cooking with charcoal.
Offset Smoker
For those who enjoy the whole experience of good barbecue, an offset smoker may be the way to go. While it doesn't provide the precise temperature control you'll find in most pellet smokers, the wood fire taste is unmatched. Check out this article on the Best Offset Smokers.
Gravity-fed Grill
Gravity-fed grills are newer to the scene and marry the technology of pellet smokers with charcoal cooking. Check out this article on the Best Gravity Smokers.
Flat-Top Grill
Flat top grills, or outdoor griddles have become wildly popular in the last several years, popping up on patios and porches everywhere. From breakfast favorites like pancakes and bacon to fajitas and hibachi cooking, the flat-top grill can do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to backyard cooking.
Mrfood
May 30, 2021 4:41 amWhy did you not review the Recteq?
Tom
August 21, 2022 9:59 pmYou said that the Cuisinart Oakmont doesn’t get color and bark, why is that? Can anything be done to get bark??
Charles and Sue Lehman
September 6, 2022 3:27 pmHi,
Wee looking to upgrade out 10-year-old Traeger to something better. I’m looking at the lone star 20 X 36 pellet. Have you experienced this smoker? I just watched your review on the 24 X 48 offset grill. looking for educated thoughts and opinions. thanks
Chuck Lehman
Vancouver WA
Wes richey
October 29, 2022 4:44 amI just wanted to thank you for your YouTube videos. I smoked a pork butt the other day and it was a massive hit. followed your instructions to a point.
I hope this message gets to you and I hope you keep making videos
David Gafford
October 31, 2022 1:40 amHi Wes,
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment! I’m glad to hear that you had success with that pork butt, and that it was a hit. That’s why we record videos, and we’re going to keep it up. All the best, and keep cooking!
robert
November 2, 2022 12:14 amI think you need to go over your review again… you say you review in different categories and yet the only thing listed in best overall and under $599 is just the $599 grills. There is not a under $1000, $1100 or $2000 category? am i missing something? The way this article is put together you are saying the under $599 grills out perform even the over $2000 grills
David Gafford
November 2, 2022 1:05 pmYes, you are correct! Those other price points are still coming, but as you can imagine it is a lot of work when you review products hands-on the way we do. We actually have 8 pellet grills at the $1199 on the patio this week undergoing testing, so there will be more to add to this page shortly!
Tipsy Brisket
March 23, 2023 7:44 pmI would have loved to have seen a Recteq rt-700 or rt-1250 on this comparison. I looked around for the other comparison you had mentioned in your Nov2 2022 comment but I did not see it, if it’s already live I’d love a link to it in a comment response!
My rt-1250 actually exceeds the maximum temperature range Recteq gives so I am surprised that your 590 didn’t hit the mark. I’m curious if it was the pellet’s you were using? I know in the past I’ve personally used lower quality pellets that produce more ash and don’t burn as hot, this has caused the different pellet grills I have to take considerably longer to get to temp however when I use a high quality/low ash/hot burning pellet they all seem to get to temp much faster and hold more consistent temps. Generally I use Cookin Pellets or Recteq(rebranded Cookin Pellets to my knowledge).
Thanks for the awesome content, I look forward to reading more!
Joe Schmoe
May 5, 2023 6:53 pmGreat reviews, though I question your RecTeq RT-590 review. There must be something wrong with your unit if you’re unable to get to 700. On mine, I’m able to get up to 800+ depending on the situation and this was during 30 degree weather. Anyway, great reviews, but I do believe your 590 had something wrong with it.
Reggie
May 10, 2023 1:17 amTrying to pick from Pellet grill and Gravity grill. Which one do you recommend?
Richard Patton
September 30, 2023 2:11 pmI did not see the section covering pellet grills under $1,999 and over $2,000. The intro is misleading.