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Best pellet grill or smoker? Four picks by how you cook
Four picks from our 17 pellet grill guides, by how you cook
Choose by top heat first. All four smoke; what differs is whether flame reaches the food. The Weber Searwood (to 600 °F) and the recteq Bullseye are built for direct-flame searing. The Weber Smoque (to 500 °F) and the Grilla (to 450 °F) are built to smoke. Then compare area by rack, not by the headline total: a total can include a warming rack, and a vertical smoker spreads its space over five smaller grates.
| Model | Cooking area | Temperature range | Hopper | Clearance to combustibles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Smoque XL | 918 sq in (595 + 323 warming rack) | 180-500 °F | 20 lb | 24 in (2 ft) |
| Grilla Mammoth | 1,660 sq in (5 × 332) | 180-450 °F | 40 lb (Grilla); 15 lb (Amazon) | 36 in, rear and sides |
| recteq RT-B380 Bullseye | 380 sq in (one grate) | 200-749 °F (page); set points to 500 °F (manual) | 15 lb | 18 in, rear, sides and top |
| Weber Searwood XL 600 | 972 sq in (630 + 342) | 180-600 °F | 20 lb | 24 in (2 ft) |
To smoke first, in a lighter Weber: Weber Smoque XL
Weber sells the Smoque as a pellet smoker: 180 to 500 °F, a SmokeBoost setting, two meat probes, app control and a 20 lb hopper. At 110 lb it is about 48 lb lighter than the Searwood (Weber lists 157.8 lb). The catch: 323 of its 918 sq in is a warming rack, and it tops out 100 °F below the Searwood, so it is not the pick for hard searing.
Read the Smoque XL guide · Check the Smoque XL on Amazon
To smoke the most food: Grilla Mammoth vertical smoker
Five slide-out grates of 332 sq in each plus 24 S-hooks for hanging meat; the manual says it fits up to 16 full racks of ribs. It has Wi-Fi app control and runs 180 to 450 °F, so choose it to smoke, not to sear. Each grate is about half the size of the Searwood's 630 sq in main grate. The catch: Grilla lists a 40 lb hopper and Amazon says 15 lb, so confirm with Grilla if long cooks matter. It needs 36 inches clear at the rear and sides, a noncombustible floor, and no garage, breezeway or tent.
Read the Grilla Mammoth guide · Check the Grilla Mammoth on Amazon
To grill over direct flame, without an app: recteq RT-B380 Bullseye
A kettle-style grill with one 380 sq in grate over direct flame and a 15 lb hopper. recteq's page gives 200 to 749 °F; the manual's set points run 225 to 500 °F, with a RIOT setting above that for which it gives no figure. recteq says it is not Wi-Fi enabled. It needs 18 inches clear at the rear, sides and top, and a GFCI outlet. The catch: recteq says it has no grease management and suggests a drip pan for long cooks, and its warranty covers only buyers from recteq or an authorized recteq distributor, so check the seller.
Read the RT-B380 guide · Check the Bullseye on Amazon
To smoke and sear: Weber Searwood XL 600
Weber rates it 180 to 600 °F. Its DirectFlame design leaves the flame open across the grate, and Manual Mode holds a steady fuel and fan speed so you can cook with the lid open. It has a 20 lb hopper and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control through Weber's app. The catch: Weber and the Amazon listing disagree on probe count, weight and power draw, so read our guide before you order.
Read the Searwood XL 600 guide
Before ordering any pellet grill
- Measure the spot. All four picks bar use under a combustible roof or overhang. Weber asks for 2 feet from combustibles, recteq 18 inches at the rear, sides and top, and Grilla 36 inches at the rear and sides.
- Plan the outlet. Weber and Grilla require a grounded outlet and no two-prong adapter, and recteq calls for a GFCI outlet. Weber allows only a 14-gauge outdoor extension cord of 13 feet or less.
- Plan the upkeep. Both Webers ask for a thorough clean after 12 hours or 9 cooks, and for the hopper and auger tube to be emptied every 4 weeks, which means taking out the auger and motor assembly. Grilla asks for ash cleaning after 24 hours of cooking.
Why no Traeger pick? Traeger's warranty covers only grills bought from traeger.com or a dealer on its authorized list, and Traeger's documents do not say whether an Amazon purchase counts. Three of the seven Traeger listings here also carry Canadian model codes. The Traeger, Pit Boss and Green Mountain Grills guides on this page still give each model's specs, clearance and main catch.
Picks are by published specifications and maker manuals, not cooking tests. Sources checked September 28, 2026: Weber Smoque XL (weber.com), Smoque owner's guide (digital-assets.weber.com), Grilla Mammoth (grillagrills.com), Mammoth user manual (aob.canto.com), recteq RT-B380 (recteq.com), RT-B380 manual (support.recteq.com), Weber Searwood XL 600 (weber.com), Searwood owner's guide (digital-assets.weber.com), Traeger warranty (traeger.com). Amazon links are affiliate links.
Compare every model in this category
Each row says who the model suits, its main strength and its main catch, taken from each guide's listed sources. Open a guide to confirm the exact model and what's included before you buy on Amazon.
| Product | Best for | Main strength | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Pro Series 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (TFB57PZBO, Bronze) | An outdoor spot with 18 inches clear on every side and a GFCI outlet | Maker publishes the exact grate split, 418 plus 154 square inches | Warranty is void if you do not buy from a Traeger Authorized Seller |
| Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 Portable Wi-Fi Pellet Grill | Cooking where 12V power and 36 inches of clearance are available | Runs on 12V DC, from a 12V supply or a mains connection | Hopper holds 9 pounds of pellets |
| recteq RT-B380 Bullseye Wood Pellet Grill | Direct-flame grilling on one 380-square-inch grate | Direct flame grilling, with a RIOT setting at full auger capacity | recteq states the grill has no grease management; drip pan liners are extra |
| Pit Boss PB700FB2 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (SKU 11087) | A yard where three feet of clearance on the sides and back is realistic | Maker publishes the main and upper cooking areas separately, not just the total | Manual demands 36 inches of clearance at the sides and back during operation |
| Traeger Woodridge Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (TFB86MLH) | An outdoor spot with 20 inches clear and a GFCI outlet, with app control | One keg collects both grease and ash | Warranty is void if you do not buy from a Traeger Authorized Seller |
| Traeger Timberline 1300 Wood Pellet Grill (TFB01WLEC) | Large-batch pellet smoking across three stainless grates | Traeger publishes a per-grate split for all three tiers | Canadian model code; manual warranty says U.S.A. only |
| Traeger Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill (TFB89BLFC listing) | Wi-Fi pellet smoking with a published two-grate split | Traeger publishes the main and upper grate split | Listing code is Traeger's Canadian model, not the US one |
| Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill with Induction Cooktop (TBB01RLG) | Three-tier pellet cooking with a plug-in induction side burner | Induction cooktop plugs into the grill, per its manual | 289 lb and 71 in wide; needs a GFCI outlet |
| Traeger Woodridge Elite Wood Pellet Grill (TFC97XLH) | Wi-Fi pellet grilling with an electric side burner | Electric side burner that works in shutdown or standby | Traeger's own pages list 970 and 860 sq in |
| Weber Searwood XL 600 Wood Pellet Grill (1500121) | Pellet smoking plus high-heat searing up to 600°F | 600°F ceiling with DirectFlame access across the grate | Probe count, weight and wattage conflict across sources |
| Grilla Grills Mammoth Vertical Pellet Smoker (4001294) | Vertical smoking of ribs and poultry on five grates and 24 S-hooks | Five slide-out grates plus 24 S-hooks for hanging | Hopper listed as 40 lb by Grilla but 15 lb on Amazon |
| Weber Smoque XL 34-Inch Pellet Smoker (1500771) | Low-and-slow smoking with a vacuum-free ash drawer | Grease and ash share one drawer; no vacuum needed | Hopper and auger clearing every 4 weeks in regular use |
| Traeger Pro 780 WiFi Wood Pellet Grill (TFB78GLEC) | A backyard with a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet and room for an 18-inch clearance | 780 sq in of cooking space on two grates, per Traeger | Listing sells Traeger's Canada code; warranty needs an authorized seller |
| Pit Boss Navigator 850 Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Grill (PB850M, 11111) | A backyard pellet grill with 932 sq in, app control and a flame broiler for searing | 932 sq in with a 30 lb hopper and Flame Broiler searing, per Pit Boss | Warranty may not apply if the seller is not a Pit Boss authorized retailer |
| recteq Bullseye Deluxe RT-380BD Wood Pellet Grill | A small patio that needs a direct-heat pellet grill with 18 inches of clearance and a GFCI outlet | Direct-heat firepot that reaches 1000°F, per recteq | Manual describes knob controls and never mentions the Wi-Fi the listing advertises |
| recteq Flagship 1600 Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1600FS) | A large yard with room for a 218 pound grill and 18 inches of clearance on three sides | 40 pound hopper for a long cook, per recteq | About 218 lb and 53.25 in wide; 18 in clearance on three sides, outdoors only |
| recteq DualFire 1200 Dual-Chamber Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1200DF) | Smoking and searing at once on GFCI power with 18 inches of clear space | Two chambers with their own controls, 180°F to 700°F per recteq | Rust and oxidation are excluded from the warranty for any reason |
What to check before buying
The pellet grill guides here split cooking area by grate and check it against the maker's other documents, and quote the clearance to combustibles each manual sets. They give hopper size and temperature range, the ash and grease routine the maker asks for, and note warranty conditions tied to where the grill is bought or which country's model code the listing carries.
- Cooking area by grate. Headline square inches can differ from the maker's own grate table. Guides report a grill named 1,300 whose grates sum to 1,343, a manual printing a smaller area than the listing, and one maker's pages giving 970 and 860 sq in.
- Clearance to combustibles. Manuals set very different distances: 18 or 20 inches on some grills, 2 feet on two, and 36 inches at the rear and sides on four. Two also ask for 40 inches overhead, so measure against your deck or siding.
- Hopper and heat range. Hoppers in the guides hold from 9 lb to 40 lb of pellets. Guides also report a hopper listed as 40 lb by the maker and 15 lb on the listing, and a manual whose set points stop at 500°F while the product page says 749°F.
- Ash and grease routine. The guides give each maker's stated intervals: firepot ash about every 20 hours, a grease keg checked before every cook, hopper and auger clearing every four weeks, and one grill the maker says has no grease management.
- Warranty and model code. Some warranties are void unless bought from an authorised seller. Three listings carry Canadian model codes, and one of those manuals limits its warranty to the U.S.A. Guides also report rust or painted surfaces excluded.
This page collects 17 pellet grill guides from Plain Buy Guides. Each guide covers one exact Amazon listing: the maker's published specifications, what the listing says is included, the fit and installation limits that decide whether it suits you, and the main caveat, with every source listed and dated. Nothing here is based on hands-on testing, and no guide promises a price or stock level.
In the table above, the Best for column says who each model suits, and the strength and caveat columns carry the first point each guide makes. Open a guide before buying to confirm the exact model, the included parts and any conflict between the listing and the maker's documents, which each guide reports rather than settles. Side-by-side pages put the published facts of two models from this category in one place.
Compare the published specs
The main figures stated in each pellet grill guide on this page, side by side, with each guide's sources behind them. Units are as published; nothing here was measured by us.
A table scrolls sideways when it is wider than the screen. Select a column heading to sort.
— means the guide does not state that figure. “or” means the guide states more than one figure, for example where two sources disagree, for different modes or versions, or where a kit includes two tools; open the guide to see which applies. † means the guide reports that another source gives a different figure, or doubts the figure; open the guide. Only single figures in the column’s unit, with no mark, word or note in brackets, are sorted and counted below.
By the numbers
These cover only the 17 pellet grills on this site, not the whole market. Ranges use the figures the guides state; the lowest and highest link to their guides, and the median is the middle of those figures. A model whose figure is missing, not applicable, more than one, marked, in words, in another unit or qualified in brackets is left out of that line.
- Total cooking area across the 10 of our 17 pellet grills that state one figure: 219 sq in to 1,660 sq in, median 872.5 sq in. Lowest: Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 Portable Wi-Fi Pellet Grill. Highest: Grilla Grills Mammoth Vertical Pellet Smoker (4001294).
- Hopper across the 16 of our 17 pellet grills that state one figure: 9 lb to 70 lb, median 20.5 lb. Lowest: Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 Portable Wi-Fi Pellet Grill. Highest: recteq DualFire 1200 Dual-Chamber Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1200DF).
- Top temperature across the 13 of our 17 pellet grills that state one figure: 450°F to 700°F, median 500°F. Lowest: Traeger Pro Series 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (TFB57PZBO, Bronze) and 1 other. Highest: recteq DualFire 1200 Dual-Chamber Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1200DF).
- Weight across the 9 of our 17 pellet grills that state one figure: 63 lb to 289 lb, median 119 lb. Lowest: Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 Portable Wi-Fi Pellet Grill. Highest: Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill with Induction Cooktop (TBB01RLG).
Read the full Real Grate Space buying guide (real-grate-space.pages.dev).
- Traeger Pro Series 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (TFB57PZBO, Bronze)
Traeger Pro 22 (TFB57PZBO) specs from Traeger and its manual: 418 + 154 sq in grates, 18 lb hopper, 450°F max, 41 x 27 x 49 in, 102.5 lb, 18 in clearance.
- Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 Portable Wi-Fi Pellet Grill
Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0 guide: about 219 square inches, a 9 lb hopper, 150-550°F, Wi-Fi control, the 36-inch clearance rule and three-year terms.
- recteq RT-B380 Bullseye Wood Pellet Grill
recteq RT-B380 Bullseye guide: 380 square inches on one grate, a 15 lb hopper, RIOT mode, no Wi-Fi, no grease management per recteq, and a two-year warranty.
- Pit Boss PB700FB2 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (SKU 11087)
Pit Boss PB700FB2 guide: 519.7 plus 227.7 square inches, a 21 lb hopper, the 36-inch clearance rule from the manual, the flame broiler and five-year terms.
- Traeger Woodridge Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker (TFB86MLH)
Traeger Woodridge TFB86MLH guide: 860 square inches, 24 lb hopper, 20-inch clearance, the grease-and-ash keg routine, two weight figures and warranty limits.
- Traeger Timberline 1300 Wood Pellet Grill (TFB01WLEC)
Traeger Timberline 1300 (TFB01WLEC) guide: 1,343 sq in in Traeger's grate table, 285 vs 255 lb, the lined grease pan, 18 and 40 in clearances, US-only warranty.
- Traeger Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill (TFB89BLFC listing)
Traeger Ironwood 885 guide: a Canadian model code on the listing, the 570 plus 315 sq in grate split, three weights, the 2018 manual's clearances and warranty.
- Traeger Timberline XL Pellet Grill with Induction Cooktop (TBB01RLG)
Traeger Timberline XL (TBB01RLG) guide: 1,320 sq in over three grates, the plug-in induction cooktop, 1,756 W on 120V with GFCI, 289 lb, probe counts and warranty.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite Wood Pellet Grill (TFC97XLH)
Traeger Woodridge Elite (TFC97XLH) guide: 970 vs 860 sq in in Traeger's own pages, the electric side burner, 20-inch clearance, keg upkeep and warranty limits.
- Weber Searwood XL 600 Wood Pellet Grill (1500121)
Weber Searwood XL 600 (1500121) guide: 972 sq in on two grates, 180-600°F, one probe or two, 1,500 W vs 1.3 A, 2 ft clearance, a 13 ft cord limit and warranty.
- Grilla Grills Mammoth Vertical Pellet Smoker (4001294)
Grilla Mammoth (4001294) guide: 15 vs 40 lb hopper, 1,660 sq in on five grates, 180-450°F, 36 in rear and side clearance, foil grease care, 4-year warranty.
- Weber Smoque XL 34-Inch Pellet Smoker (1500771)
Weber Smoque XL (1500771) guide: 918 sq in over two levels, 180-500°F, 1.3 A at 120V, 2 ft clearance, a 13 ft extension-cord limit, the 12-hour clean and warranty.
- Traeger Pro 780 WiFi Wood Pellet Grill (TFB78GLEC)
Traeger Pro 780 guide: TFB78GLEC is Traeger's Canada code, 780 sq in, an 18 or 19 lb hopper, GFCI power, 18-inch clearance and a tiered 7-year warranty.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Grill (PB850M, 11111)
Pit Boss Navigator 850 (PB850M, 11111) guide: 932 sq in, 30 lb hopper, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app, the one versus two probe conflict, clearances and 5-year cover.
- recteq Bullseye Deluxe RT-380BD Wood Pellet Grill
recteq Bullseye Deluxe RT-380BD guide: 380 sq in, an 18 lb hopper, knob controls with no Wi-Fi in the manual, 18-inch clearance and a 4-year warranty.
- recteq Flagship 1600 Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1600FS)
recteq Flagship 1600 (RT-1600FS) guide: 1,665 or 1,667 sq in, a 40 lb hopper, optional app control, 18-inch clearance and a 6-year warranty with rust excluded.
- recteq DualFire 1200 Dual-Chamber Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1200DF)
recteq DualFire 1200 (RT-1200DF) guide: two separately run chambers, 180°F to 700°F, a 70 lb hopper, 1,229 or 1,264 sq in, GFCI power, upkeep and 6-year terms.