The 5 Best Pellet Grills & Smokers We’ve Tested – Spring 2026
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Buying a pellet grill can be overwhelming, with dozens of models designed for various cooking styles. Some focus on low-and-slow smoking, while others prioritize grilling versatility. Higher-end grills add features that quickly drive up the price.
Our team has cooked on and reviewed more than 39 pellet grills, ranging from $299 to $3800. Below are our picks for the best pellet grills on the market in 2025.
UPDATED DEC 12, 2025: We updated our budget pick and named the
The Best Pellet Grills You Can Buy in 2026 Reviewed
Unlike many other websites, our team has cooked on all of these pits. We’ve put them through rigorous tests to see how well they perform at smoking and grilling. We’ve considered size, features, and budget to help shortlist the best pellet smoker for people with different needs.
Also, make sure to check out our picks for the best portable pellet grills, and best budget pellet grills.
1. Best Overall – Weber Searwood 600
Read our full Weber Searwood 600 review.
The original
The new Searwood is replacing the SmokeFire. It’s a complete redesign, and after putting this grill through months of rigorous testing, we can confidently say
The new Searwood lineup includes the Searwood 600, which is the model we’ve tested. It has 648 square inches of grilling space, but if you need more room, the Searwood XL 600 gives you 972 square inches.
Unlike most pellet grills, you can grill over the entire cooking surface and get great sear marks. We’ve made a YouTube video that goes into a lot more detail.
You can also swap the grill grates for an entire flat top griddle surface or add a rotisserie. Both options are sold as optional accessories, so you can easily add that functionality down the road.
What we like:
- Edge-to-edge sear – While you do get some hotter and cooler zones, as long as you rotate your meat, you can use the entire surface for high heat grilling.
- Versatile add-on options – Add a rotisserie or swap out the grill grates for a griddle surface
- Great controller – This grill heats up quickly and gets back up to temperature faster after you open the lid. You can even run it with the lid open for grilling.
- Adjustable smoke setting – A standard feature on more expensive pellet grills, so it’s nice to see Weber include.
- Grease and ash clean up – Easy system for managing grease and ash so you don’t have to pull the grill apart to clean nearly as often
What we don’t like:
- Front and side shelves are sold separately – You don’t get much prep space without spending money on these accessories. Straight out of the Traeger playbook.
- Grill grate choice – I preferred the grates on my SmokeFire stealth for searing, although the Searwood still does OK.
The Searwood is an easy recommendation for anyone with a budget of under $1,000, especially if you’re looking for a single option to replace your gas or charcoal grill.
2. Best Mid-Range – Camp Chef Woodwind Pro
Read our full Camp Chef Woodwind Pro review.
The original Camp Chef Woodwind has been one of our most recommended pellet grills.
The Pro takes everything we liked about the original and improves on it with more rugged construction, and our favorite feature, the new built-in Smoke Box. For only $200 more, we think it’s a no-brainer to go for the Pro vs the standard Woodwind.
Unless you want to do a lot of grilling, the Woodwind Pro is also a better choice than the
For years we’ve complained about pellet grills lacking the depth of wood flavor you get from more authentic smokers, so it’s great to see manufacturers come up with new solutions.
The Woodwind Pro is available in two sizes. Most people will choose the mid-sized 24″ model, which gives you 811 total square inches of cooking space (429 sq in the lower rack + 382 sq in the upper rack.
If you need to cook for a crowd, you can opt for the otherwise identical 36″ model, which gives you 1236 square inches of grill real estate to use.
The Woodwind ticks all the boxes you expect from a pellet grill at this mid-price point. You’ll enjoy the set-it-and-forget-it style barbecue with the four color-coordinated meat probes included, helping you keep an eye on your temperatures.
You can control the grill via a large color touch screen or via the companion App. One of the best features in the app is the option to ramp up or down smoke output by setting the “Smoke Number”.
If you crave even more smoke flavor, the new smoke box is a great addition. Accessed via a handle below the lid, the smoke box can hold a few chunks of wood or charcoal.
The burning pellets ignite the fuel, so all you have to do is reload.
The other major drawback with most pellet grills is their inability to sear.
Camp Chef gives you the option to upgrade to the SickKick and convert the side table into either a flat top or a sear station.
You can buy the Woodwind Pro packaged with either the Searbox or Flat Top, or upgrade in the future.
What we like:
- Super simple to operate – From the digital controls that allow you to dial in the exact temp you want to the ash cleanout system, the Woodwind Pro is one of the easiest-to-operate pellet grills we’ve tested.
- Smoke Box – The option to add more authentic smoke flavor by burning lump charcoal or wood chunks is a game changer for pellet grills.
- SideKick attachment – Add a powerful propane burner that can be configured as a flat top griddle or sear box to give you ultimate versatility.
- Smoke adjustment controls – You can set the smoke level between 1-10 depending on if you want subtle or heavy smokey flavor.
What we don’t like:
- No cabinet door – You get a small storage shelf, but it would be more useful if there was a door so you could keep a bag of pellets or some tools dry.
- Smoke Box Size – I could only fit 2 to 3 chunks of wood or lump charcoal at once, so I wish they had made it a little bigger.
3. Best Budget Pellet Grill – Pit Boss 850 DX
Read our full Pit Boss 850 DX review.
If the
This is a Lowe’s exclusive model explicitly designed for first-time and budget-conscious pellet grill buyers.
With 840 square inches of cooking space and a 21-pound pellet hopper, the 850 DX is large enough for real barbecue cooks, including overnight chuck roasts or pork shoulders. In testing, it handled long cooks without needing refills, which is not guaranteed at this price point.
The standout feature is the probe-controlled Keep Warm mode. Once food hits your target internal temperature, the grill automatically drops to around 180°F. That is a genuinely useful safety net for beginners and rare on budget pellet smokers.
The PID controller runs from 180°F to 500°F with WiFi and Bluetooth. The initial app setup took approximately 45 minutes, but after setup, performance was stable and easy to manage.
Build quality is solid for the category, with a powder-coated body that is easy to clean and sufficient weight to prevent it from feeling flimsy.
The 850 DX maintained steady temperatures during 8+ hour low-and-slow cooks, with sufficient smoke output for classic barbecue.
Watch my full hands-on video review of the
What we liked:
- Strong value for first-time pellet smokers You get real cooking space, a stable PID controller, and solid build quality at a much lower price than our top picks.
- Probe-triggered Keep Warm is genuinely useful Once food hits your target internal temp, the grill drops to about 180°F, which is helpful for overnight cooks and beginners.
- Large enough hopper for overnight cooks The 21 lb hopper handled 8 hour plus low-and-slow cooks without refills in testing.
What we didn’t like:
- Limited direct-flame grilling space – The flame broiler works, but the usable searing area is small.
- Slow, unpolished WiFi setup – Initial app setup took about 45 minutes, though performance was stable after that.
- Manual interior cleanup – Ash and firepot cleanup require removing parts and vacuuming.
4. Best High-End Pellet Smoker – Yoder Smokers YS640S Pellet Grill
Read our full Yoder YS640S review.
Once you get up to this price point you are spoiled for choice with a wealth of great options from the likes of REC TEC, and the Traeger Timberline.
But if you talk to any competition guy, the one brand that always comes up is Yoder.
So what does spending three times the cost of our top pick the Traeger Pro get you?
For starters, this is the only pellet smoker on our list that is American-made (in Kansas).
This grill is built like a tank with 10-gauge steel construction for unparalleled insulation and temperature stability across 1070 square inches of cooking space.
You can also switch between indirect heat and direct, over the flame grilling to hit temperatures up to 700°F.
There is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity plus two integrated food probes for keeping an eye on your food while it smokes.
What we like
- American-made – Everyone says they want American-made, so here’s your chance to put your money where your mouth is.
- Extra headroom – The door design allows 12 inches of headroom, which is enough for extra tall items like beer-can chicken, or turkey.
- Customization options – Just like buying a car, you can option out your Yoder with various extras, including different types of cooking grates, griddle, temperature gauge, and shelves.
What we don’t like
- Price – You’re going to have to pay a lot for local construction and high-end build quality.
If you have the money to spare, the YS640s is an excellent investment. It’s far from the most expensive pellet grill, but anything above this you start to get diminishing returns.
The YS640s is an ultra high quality pellet grill that performs just as well at home as on the barbecue competition circuit where it was designed to compete.
5. Best for feeding a crowd – Grilla Mammoth Vertical Pellet Smoker
Read our full Grilla Mammoth review.
With 1,660 square inches of cooking space (expandable up to 3,300 with the purchase of extra racks), the Mammoth from Grilla Grills offers more cooking capacity than any smoker we’ve tested.
And thanks to the vertical design, you get all that room from a 28″ wide by 28″ deep compact foot print.
We’ve always thought vertical smokers should be more popular, but until recently they were all cheaply made without any of the fancy tech you find in other models.
The Mammoth shakes that up. You get double-wall insulation for super stable termpatures, and a heavy duty front door and latch with no smoke leakage.
With the 40lb hopper you can run this thing for up to 40 hours, making it great for long overnight cooks. I tested it out with a couple of no-wrap pork butts. The butts had amazing bark and smoke flavor, with a nice smoke ring.
Grilla have also taken the hint from Camp Chef with the addition of a lipped deflector so you can add wood chunks or chips to get even more smoke output. It’s s/himilar to the FireBox they’ve added to the Woodwind Pro.
What we like:
- Excellent build quality – The double wall insulation does a great job maintaining stable temperatures.
- Adjustable – You get five stainless steel racks included, but there is room for up to 10 racks at once. This is great for smoking larger items like a whole turkey.
- Huge cooking space for the size – Way more cooking space than the Yoder, at less than half the price, in a smaller foot print.
What we don’t like:
- Runs loud – Not enough to get an angry call from the neighbors, but the fan does generate a bit of noise.
- No handle – Would make it a little easier to move around, although you do get 4 caster wheels.
Other pellet grills worth considering
These are the pellet grills that narrowly missed out on our main selections.
They are still worth checking out, and depending on your specific requirements, they might be the best option for you.
Feature-packed but expensive – Traeger Timberline
What we like:
What we don’t like:
- Small wheels for the size – For a grill of this size and price it would be nicer to have larger wheels with an easier-to-access locking mechanism.
- The price – A lot of folks will have trouble spending this much money on a Traeger, when there are American-made options for less
The Traeger Timberline is an investment, but you can’t go wrong if you are looking for a high-end pellet grill with the best tech and clever design.
If you can’t quite stomach that price, the Ironwood is a good alternative you just miss out on some of the outdoor kitchen options. Be sure to check out our list of Traeger alternatives.
‘Buy Once Cry Once” – Lone Star Grillz Pellet Grill
Read our full Lone Star Grillz Pellet Grill Review.
The Lone Star competes with our high-end pick, the Yoder YS640s. It’s. a little more expensive, but if you’re prepared to wait the 8-14 weeks for it to be built and shipped to you, it’s probably the ultimate ‘buy once, cry once’ pellet grill.
100% American-made by a family-owned business in Texas. The craftsmanship is outstanding with 3/16 inch thick steel main chamber and stainless steel cool-touch handles.
They also allow for plenty of customization, so you can get the exact grill you want.
A unique design with a small footprint – Grilla Grills Alpha Connect
Grilla have developed a cult following in recent years for producing reasonably priced grills with unique designs.
This is one of the most eye-catching grills we’ve tested, with the sliding door and the branded glass window to the fire pot which creates some nice ambiance at night.
This is a direct-to-consumer brand, so you won’t find these grills in the big box stores.
With 488 square inches of cooking space, this is one of the smallest grills we’ve tested, but the tall design makes it a great choice if you are limited for space.
What we like:
- Build Quality – Double-wall insulation for stable temps and everything feels heavy-duty.
- Smoke Flavor – We noticed a higher smoke output compared to other pellet grills.
- Small footprint – This grill can slot into spaces that other grills can’t.
What we don’t like:
- Side tray location – Difficult to use located towards the back of the grill
Another Budget Pellet Grill – Z GRILLS Backyard Warrior 7002C2E
When we first got our hands on a Z Grill, they were a fairly new brand on the scene. Now that they have been around for a while, we’ve seen their models undergo several upgrades and continue to improve.
You now get a PID temperature controller, which keeps your temperature a lot more stable. There’s also a larger screen, two probes included, and an easy pellet clean-out feature.
In 2024, they’ve also added WiFi so you can control the grill on your phone.
If you want to save even more, you could consider a smaller model like the 450B (reviewed here), or if you can stretch your budget the Z Grills 700D4E also comes with a better cart.
What we like:
- Value for money – Getting a pellet grill with this much cooking space for the price is already a good deal. Throw in solid stainless steel construction, a newly updated PID digital temperature and pellet control system and the Z-grill starts to look like a steal.
- Stable temperatures – In our tests, this grill barely swings by more than 5°F, far lower than many more expensive grills we have tested
- Pellet dump system – If you want to change pellet flavors or remove unused pellets after cooking, there is a handy door at the back of the hopper that makes clean out a breeze.
What we don’t like:
- Lid handle placement – You must be careful when closing the lid so that you don’t touch the hot surface. Might not be a problem for you, but at 5ft 10″, I had to be careful not to burn my hand.
Who pellet smokers are best suited for
It only takes two words to sum up the benefits of cooking with a pellet smoker.
“Convenience” and “versatility”.
Get used to throwing a brisket on the pellet grill, setting the temperature, and then just going about your day (or sleeping through the night) without a worry.
Because pellet smokers run off electricity, they can also be a great choice if you live in a condo or are unlucky enough to have restrictions on burning charcoal or wood.
Check out our list of pellet grill recipes for more inspiration on what you can cook.
How pellet smokers work
As the name implies, pellet grills work by burning cylindrical wooden pellets. A typical setup will include a hopper on the side where you add the pellets.
Don’t be confused if you see the “pellet grill” and “pellet smoker” used interchangeably. They refer to the same thing.
When you plug the grill in and set the heat on a digital controller, the pellets start getting pushed through and turned into heat and smoke.
The controller is one of the most important parts of a pellet smoker. It’s the computer that regulates the temperature in your pellet cooker throughout the cook.
These days, most controllers are PID and utilize complex algorithms to maintain temperatures with accuracy to within a few degrees. The pellet feed is constantly adjusted to maintain the correct temperature.
The level of technology inside a typical pellet smoker makes a gas or charcoal grill look primitive.
What to consider before buying a pellet grill
1. Plan how much cooking real estate you need
Ask yourself how many people you will be cooking for, and if you plan on cooking large cuts. If you think you would ever want to smoke a whole pig, you’ll need a pit that’s big enough.
Both of our top picks are available in standard and XL sizes, usually for quite a small price jump.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better though. A huge pellet smoker will burn more pellets per hour than a smaller model.
When looking at specs, make sure you check the primary and secondary cooking area. The primary cooking area refers to the area on the main cooking grate, while the total cooking area considers secondary racks, which aren’t always usable when you’re smoking taller items.
2. Decide which features are important
Wood pellet grills can come with a whole bunch of bells and whistles. Some features you should think about include:
- WiFi capability: With WiFi connectivity, you can monitor and control the temperature of your grill from just about anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection.
- Meat probes: Models range from one to four meat probes so you can display the temperature on the screen of your cooker (or in the app).
- Grilling options: In the past, a drawback of pellet grills was their lack of grilling capability. Some manufacturers have made grilling possible by removing part of the diffuser plate or providing a dedicated grilling area within the cooker.
- Pellet removal: Most brands recommend removing pellets between cooks. Some models make this easy with a chute to remove unused pellets. Others you’ll need to vacuum out.
- Cart Design: Some pellet grills come with closed cart designs, which are helpful for storing pellets and accessories.
- Add-ons: Manufacturers often offer a variety of add-ons. Check what features come standard and what are add-ons at extra cost. Some add-ons are offered by companies independent of the manufacturer. If a feature is essential to you but not a standard feature of your particular cooker, make sure it is available as an add-on before buying it.
3. Durability and Construction Material
Don’t be fooled by an attractive pellet grill exterior. Even if there is plenty of stainless steel on the outside, the manufacturer may have cut corners and used cheap materials that will rust on the inside.
The components of your pellet grill that matter the most are the fire pot, flame deflector, drip pan, and grates. If these components are made of high grade stainless steel, you have a cooker that will last you a lifetime.
If you’re looking at a grill made with powder-coated steel, make sure that it is a very high-quality coating. As soon as the paint blisters and chips, your cooker will start to rust, and these components will deteriorate.
It is also worth noting that a pellet smoker made of high quality materials will perform better. High quality materials will retain heat, ensure more efficient pellet consumption, and maintain temperature better in the cold weather.
4. Ease of clean up
Pellet grills require regular cleanup as the ash from burnt pellets builds up around the burn pot and under the heat deflector.
Most models are fairly easy to clean with a shop vac. You’ll need to remove the grill grates and remove the deflector plate.
Some models, like the Camp Chef Woodwind and Searwood, feature an easy way to clean out the ash from the burn pot without disassembling the entire grill.
You can pull a sliding rod that releases a catch pot for quick disposal. You’ll still need to take the grill apart to get rid of the ash from the sides, but you don’t have to do that nearly as often.
If you don’t clean out the burn pot every cook, you run the risk of ash buildup, causing problems with ignition in the future.
5. Size of the hopper
The hopper on your pellet cooker is a container that stores wood pellets ready for the auger to take to the fire pot. Therefore, the size of your hopper dictates how long your cooks run without you needing to refill.
As a guide, a pellet grill with a 40-pound hopper will give you around 40 hours of cooking time at standard smoking temperatures. Considering some cooks take around 20 hours, an 18 pound hopper, for example, is going to be problematic.
And remember, if you live in a colder climate, your cooker will use even more fuel to bring the smoker up to and maintain temperature.
It’s a good idea to always store a few bags of pellets spare in a cool dry place. A pellet bucket like this one from Oklahoma Joe’s is nice, and comes with a mesh filter to separate the wood dust from the pellets.
6. Pellet Consumption
If your pellet cooker is too thin, heat will be lost through its body. To maintain the temperature, it will use a lot of pellets.
If the metal is too thick, you will also use a lot of pellets. The walls of a thick-bodied smoker act as a “heat sink.” So, it will take a lot of pellets to get the cooking area up to the desired temperature.
Do some research and find out how many pounds of pellets per hour the smoker burns.
We did some testing on a few different pellet grill models and came up with these figures:
Average hourly pellet consumption
| Pellet Grill Model | Low Temperatures (225°F) | High Temperatures (450°F-600°F |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grills Beale Street | 0.3 – 0.5 lbs per hour | 2 lbs |
| Camp Chef Woodwind | 0.75 lbs per hour | 2 lbs |
| Louisiana Grills Black Label | 1.6 lbs per hour | 4.5 lbs |
| Weber SmokeFire | 1.25 lbs per hour | 4 lbs |
Give our guide on how long pellets last a read to learn more.
7. Length of warranty
Pellet smokers have some fairly high-tech components, such as the auger, and moving parts. This means that parts of your cooker may break, and you may not be able to fix them yourself.
Make sure you are clear about exactly how long your warranty is, what it will cover, what would void it, and where you would need to take your smoker for any repairs under warranty.
Warranties vary between manufacturers, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.
8. Price
A cheap cooker may save you upfront, but if it starts to rust, components break down within a few short years, you don’t have a good warranty, and the customer service is not up to par, you will be spending more money in the long run.
On the other hand, if you purchase a cooker with all the bells and whistles but never use it, you will have wasted your hard-earned cash when a more basic cooker that costs less would likely have done the trick.
This comes down to your personal situation and budget. Some folks subscribe to the “buy once cry once” philosophy, while others are happy buying a new grill every three to four years.
Getting the most out of your new pellet grill
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand a little bit more about the pros and cons of cooking with a pellet grill and helped you pick out the right model for your budget and needs.
Once you’ve pulled the trigger, check out our guide with 21 Pellet Grill Tips & Tricks to Help You Master Your Grill.
Happy smoking!
About Your Pitmaster
Joe Clements is the founder and editor-in-chief of Smoked BBQ Source, a leading barbecue resource that has helped tens of millions master grilling and smoking. Growing up in a vegetarian household, his love for barbecue was unexpected. Determined to master the craft, he launched Smoked BBQ Source in 2016 to document his journey from amateur to pitmaster.
Joe leads a team of expert barbecue creators and oversees the largest collection of in-depth grill reviews and a library of tested, foolproof recipes. Whether he’s firing up a pellet grill or charcoal kettle, he’s passionate about making barbecue approachable and enjoyable for all.
I have the larger Traeger smoker and have really liked it but not from the start. I had issues with the heating unit but the Traeger help people managed to get my “mechanical blondness” through this and all is well. The assistance center people at Traeger weres super supportive so I’m a loyal fan today. One thing I suggested to Traeger, and all who have a Traeger smoker, is to make the grill surface in two parts so it fits into a dishwasher. I cut my grill in half allowing it to fit in my dishwasher. Easy peasy to clean now!
Thank you for all the information on your website.
A Smoker review without any mention of Rec Tec is not much of a review comparing the best of the best.
I have a red tec 680 and love it. I gave my tragedy away. What don’t you like about rec tec
I searched for a comparison between Traeger, Grilla, Camp Chef & REC TEC. I never saw anything reviewing the REC TEC, does your site have any opinions regarding this grill? I’ve had a MES for 5 years and it’s starting to taper off now so I was looking into an upgrade in a smoker but a smoker, searing, grilling, baking ….etc would be an awesome upgrade I just wanted someone to be able to back up what they claim as to be a non-rusting unit that can do everything, albeit a VERY expensive alternative. Plus, going from wood to pellets…not sure what I will compromise in taste.
We love our Traeger pellet smoker. We live in Quebec, Canada so as long as nothing goes wrong with it, it is fine.
Ours is 10 years old and does not heat up. We called Traeger and were told that there are no service/repair centres in Quebec!,,, They will send us the part and we have to fix it
ourselves which is outrageous. I would think twice before I buy another Traeger.
You have to be joking on the Traeger being the “runner up.” It is a pile of junk. The “steel,” and I use that term loosely, is so thin and flimsy that I doubt very seriously would last a few years. Their controllers have been plagued with inaccuracies and wild swings in temps. Several companies make far superior products to Traeger. Even now they are being sued for false advertising over their pellets, who in turn are suing Louisiana Grills for perceived patent violations. A lot of the time, but not always, when you have an infomercial advertising your products it is pretty indicative of a sub-par product.
Yoder, RecTec, Green Mountain Grills, Louisiana Grills, which a few of these you mentioned make far better grills than the Traeger.
While Yoders, Memphis Pros, and RecTecs are far more pricey than some of the others, the extra expense far outweighs the shoddy construction of a Traeger.
Have to disagree with your choices Yoder by far outperforms all the above smokers
Have you ever heard of the Yoder pellet grill. It is a solid grill made in America.
Do you have any thoughts on the Outdoor gourmet? Think it’s the xl. Pros/cons
Its very easy to change out most of the parts in a treager, or any other pellet grill for that matter. Hotrods are also easy to swap out with a couple of screws, pull the one through, and plug it back in to the controller.
I am a MAK 2 Star General Owner x 2. They are simply excellent and worth every penny. The MAK and Yoder pellet smokers really ought to be represented in this list. Their owners would vouch for the quality and value.
Pellet smoking really is the easiest way to have an outstanding product. Stick burners are wonderful too, but you cannot find a simpler way to make great BBQ!
Smoke On!
You need to redo this and add in the product offerings from RecTec Grills because those are the absolute best. From construction to warranty and customer service NO ONE can come close to them.
Hey Adam,
We do have the RT-700 from REC TEC on our list. It’s a fantastic grill, we don’t have it in the top section because it’s outside the budget for most folks.
Rec Tec is top notch product and customer service. Ceramic Hot stick good for 100,000 ignitions. It is a little more pricey, but definitely get what you pay for.
Thinking about a RT700 Rec Tec-Can you give me some input about this Pellet Smoker? Thanks
It’s a great grill. I don’t own one myself, but everyone I’ve talked to that does love them and say the build quality is top-notch. Here’s a post we’ve done that covers what we think in more detail. https://www.smokedbbqsource.com/rec-tec-rt-700-pellet-grill-review/
I have noticed that none of the American made pellet smokers such as Yoder Smokers, Blazin Grill, MAK, Smokin Brothers, and cookshack are on the list? Is there a problem with these units other than price?
Thanks Al Long
Would love to see this question’s answer.
Alan, You read my mind. I saw a Jeff Phillips review on the Country Smoker Frontier series table top and one comment addressed the Chinese connection. A replying comment said “what is so bad with that”! Soon they will be selling pellet smokers at Harbor Freight at 1/4 the price!!!
If you keep buying Chinese, better learn to speak Mandarin. I will buy “Made in the USA” every time I have the option! That said, I have a Chinese made Traeger pellet grill I bought at a charity auction which served flawlessly for about three years, but about 8 months ago it started shutting down during the cook for no apparent reason. I’ve cleaned everything regularly but the issue still persists. I unplug the unit and it’ll fire up again with a tremendous amount of smoke and may finish the cook or shut down again after an hour or so for no reason. I no longer trust the thing and am seriously considering ditching it for a Yoder or other USA made pellet smoker. Any thoughts?
Having this discussion with friends but can’t really find anything online. Pellets can I use whatever brand of pellet I want, I know the manual says use the manufacturer’s brand but how can there be that much difference in a pellet that is going to be burned off anyways.
You are safe to use any brand of pellets. Some manufacturers say to only use their own brand, but this is not true.
I’m looking for gas/pellet combo grill.. thoughts?
Hey Nichole, I haven’t done a lot of hands on testing with any, but I know Pit Boss have some quite new pellet/gas combos that look interesting. Here’s a link to one that looks good. You could also consider the Camp Chef Woodwind with the Sidekick, which is basically a gas burner on the side that you can put different attachments on (griddle, grill, pizza oven etc).
I just purchased the Pit Boss PB1100PSC2 combo smoker/gas grill. I love it because sometimes you need to cook things that do not have the smoke flavor for some family members. It has great features and with the combo setup, it has a damper that allows you to do cold smoking as well.
Well worth checking it out if your budget allows.
Joe any update on the Weber Smokefire they have released several firmware updates since April. I had high hopes for the Smokefire being a one stop shop for pellet grills. I was one of the people that cancelled their pre-order after all of the negative publicity i am on the fence on whether or not to pull the trigger now that they have fixed some of the early issues.
Hey Josh,
Thanks for your question. I’ve actually just been thinking it was time to update this review. I would let you know now, but one of our team mebers was the person who actually owns the grill and did the original review so I’ll get him to update with his thoughts after the latest round of updates.
Thanks Joe that would be really helpful
I decided to avoid the Chinese made products and went with the Yoder YS640S with Competition Cart. It is a real tank at over 400 lbs and likely the one and only smoker I’ll ever need to buy in my lifetime.
I am surprised to see the lack of American made products in this article but do appreciate the article and information.
Yoder is an excellent choice. Most American made smokers are outside the budget of most people, however, I’m planning to add a section on best higher end pellet grills so I would definitely include the YS640 in that.
I like the reviews on the Yoder and most likely will replace my Green Mountain Grill Jim Bowie for one. My GMG is just over 5 years and I’ve replaced the auger once, control panel once, fan twice. I love the support from GMG but don’t know if I can continue to support the brand with minor, but consistent issues.
I purchased 2 GMT smokers about 3 years ago. The Daniel Boone will peak stover 360 degrees when it is set at 275. The Daniel Boone control board went out and although they agreed that it is under warranty, they have not sent the replacement and they won’t respond to my e-mails. Both started well, but now I won’t use them again because I am tired of paying money for meat and ruining it because the temperature stability is horrible. I can’t control the temperature to within 75 degrees and GMG will not respond to my e-mails to replace the defective control devices. I think they are trying to drag it out past the warranty expiration. I would never buy another GMG product again.
How can you have a “Best” list and excoude the Memphis? Yes the price is a “Con,” but its the ONLY con…
… the Elite hits 700° for perfect searing. They invented the Double Lid concept. Their App and Wi Fi are top notch. I’ve owned a Trager, and a Green Mountain, and they DON’T compare to my Memphis…
Hey Ace,
While we love Memphis, they are outside the price range of most people who are looking to spend between $400-$1000, the point of our article is to help the most people choose in that price range. However, we do plan on adding a new “high end” selection to our guide, and will certainly be considering grills like Memphis and Yoder for that. Thanks for your suggestion.
We recently purchased a Davey Crockett and we’re new to pellet smokers. Do you recommend any specific pellets for more smoke flavor? Thank You
The fact that the ZGrill is even mentioned makes your list untrustworthy. The ZGrill is designed without a variable motor drive and therefore the temperature cannot be controlled and the entire grill goes up in flames from the pellets catching on fire. How is this grill rated when it comes out of the box unable to work.
I have one sitting outside my house that works just fine so I’m thinking you either haven’t used one, or you may have received a faulty unit. That does unfortunately happen from time to time with any manufacturer.
I bought the Rec Tec 340 last year. I didn’t need a big pellet grill since it just the wife and I now. I can’t say enough great stuff about this smoker. Everything I’ve done on it so far has been outstanding. While it is on the smaller size a full 18lb packer brisket fits on it perfect. It holds the temp perfectly and I really like having the 2 temperature probes vs 1 like many others.
Hi there, love your site and content, seems like your hyperlinks are broken, just a heads up. Thanks for all the help in selecting a new grill!
Camp Chef grills suck! Cheap, thin materials, inconsistent heating… just crap.
I own 2 Treagers, and 1 Camp chef. Treager all day long.
I am moving to Texas. Treagers go, Camp Chef… can’t even give away.
Rec Tec ….#7….you lost me there.
“We could definitely include this REC TEC grill with our top choices above”
So why didn’t they? LOL. just a guess here but rec tec probably has ethical boundaries and refuses to give this website a kickback. I own two of them the 340 (which folds up and I travel with) and 700. I also have a pitmaker cabinet and a kamado. Traeger = Charbroil. You will never find customer service like you will with rec tec
The Wifi and phone capabilities are must-have features. Don’t settle for a grill that doesn’t have those or you’ll just be upgrading your grill in a year or two.
I do overnight, 24 hours cooks all the time. I’m checking on my temps in the middle of the night, at work, at softball games, whenever and where ever. It’s a pain to go downstairs at just to check the temps on the grill or meats, be it at night or in the day. The wifi controls make life so much easier. I’ve sat at my office and used my phone to adjust grill temps on my brisket that is 10 miles away from me.
I have the Camp Chef Woodwind wife 36-inch. Great smoker.
Yes, I understand Yoder Smokers YS640S Pellet Grill is on top. But another on top and made is USA is Spitts & Spitts which I prefer. I like a sturdy smoker, well insulated, heats evenly, and dependable. Why no mention of P&S I don’t know? The mentioned ones are good but maybe not as dependable and sturdy as the top ones.
I use a rec tec and it is amazing. Best I’ve used and expected it to be on this article
Greetings – enjoyed reviewing the 11 Best Pellet Grills article. Good info. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and looking. One pellet grill I’m interested in is the Grilla Silverbac. It has great specs and reviews well. Have you ever reviewed this grill?
No one in our team has ever done any hands-on tests with the Grilla, but I have heard mostly good things.
Did I miss something, or aren’t there ANY pellet smokers MADE IN AMERICA that meet you approval? Yup, I would rather spend more to support American manufacturing than not, and I am on disability with NO other retirement funds. I don’t intend to insult, but have you looked around at the mess in which we find ourselves?
Our “best high-end pick” is the Yoder YS640S which is indeed made in the USA. It would be nice if there were more options in the price ranges we looked at for this article ($500-$2000), but the simple fact is if you want to buy “Made in America” you are going to have to pay a lot more for it, and that puts it out of reach of most people.
I purchase the Yoder 640s. It’s a beast. It does cost more but I’m done buying after this one. It should last me until I’ve checked out. The sear grate does heat up to 700+ but using a thermal gun it’s around 900+ Turned all the way up. I did use the biscuit test to find the hot spots with the damper all the way open. Im very impressed with the unit and would recommend it to anyone who is on the bubble if they want to spend a few more $$$. Also I purchased the upgraded kit that comes with a half shelf and grease drip pan on the front.
I really hope Traeger has improved there PID and temperature control. The one I bought in 2017 was quality construction and lasted in the yard for years without rust and corrosion, but it struggled to keep an even temp within 100 degrees and was prone to shut down in the middle of a cook. Replaced the controller once under warranty and when the second one was just as bad, the Traeger reps wanted me to pay for the 2nd controller at a cost of nearly buying a whole new grill.
They were all redesigned in 2019 with new controllers. My Pro has been going strong for the last 2 years.
What country is the green mountain smokers manufactured ?
China. If a company manufactures their grills anywhere else trust me you will know because they don’t stop talking about it.
Grilla pellet grills didn’t make the cut. Are they that bad?
We’re in the process of getting our hands on some to review. Stay tuned!
I like many others started out on a stick burner and switched to pellet due to the ease of the process. I started with a Pit Boss and loved it at first!!!! Then the control panel failed and I replaced. As i replaced the unit the welds popped off the unit. It was under warranty but took a year to be replaced. I decided that Yoder YS640 was the way to go. I have never looked back. As others have mentioned it is a tank. I use it more than I use the oven in the house. Glad to see your mention of the last smoker I’ll ever have. And the accessories available make it that much more versatile.
Nice summary. However, the Weber EX6 has been discontinued, so I was a little surprised to see that it was included in this group (it’s been replaced with a grill line called “Searwood,” but they haven’t been released yet).
I just bought a Timberline Large (the little sibling to the Timberline XL) and I really like it so far. I looked at a Yoder and it certainly is built like a tank. OTOH, I was concerned, among other things, with the thick metal surrounding the cook chamber. That’s a lot of metal to heat up, which will consume pellets. I really like the Timberline’s insulated structure, which has done an excellent job of keeping heat inside.
Thanks for your various reviews – I’ve found them to be helpful.
Hey Steve, that’s a good point, we have kept the Weber in the guide for the time being because it’s still being sold, and it’s been on the list for the last few years. I will add a note though that it’s been discontinued, as that’s an important factor in the buying decision for sure! We’re getting our hands on the Searwood in a couple of weeks, so will be updating with a review of that for sure.
That Timberline is a great pit, and a nice alternative to the Traeger. We went with the Yoder for this guide for a couple of reasons, but we have included the Timberline in our ‘also consider’ section.
I’m baffled that lone star grillz is not on this list. I have read and watched a lot if videos where people say those are the best by a long shot. Also, fully built in America. Plus the guys pic being utilized at the header has a YouTube channel and boasts about his LSG, yet it fails to make this list? Is this some sort of list based on each brand paying out?
Hey Kevin, thanks for your comment. I have a couple of points. With our buying guides we aim to suggest a variety of products at different price points, to try and guide people towards the best option for their budget. The smallest LSG starts at $2,695.00 so it’s a product that is going to appeal to probably less than 1% of the people who read this. We have included a few high-end products in the guide though, including the Yoder which is also built in America. Having said that, we do plan add the LSG the next time we update this guide.