To Find the Best Pellet Grills, We Tested 21 of Them and Made 200 Pounds of Chicken Wings

Pellet grills take a lot of guesswork out of grilling (and smoking): add pellets, turn it on, set the temperature, and you’re ready to go. Many pellet grills even have compatible apps, allowing you to monitor the temp and pellet level remotely. 

Now, we’ve long liked pellet grills, and it seems that they’ve come of age—with brands like Traeger being a household name and grilling giant Weber breaking onto the scene. To find the best ones, we tested 21 of them. We looked at their performance, but also how easy they were to assemble, how intuitive their controls were, and how simple they were to clean. After making 200 pounds of chicken wings, 80 pounds of flank steak, and nine bone-in pork shoulders, we narrowed it down to our seven favorite pellet grills for any budget. 

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Pellet Grill

Traeger Ironwood XL

View On Amazon $2,000 View On Walmart $1,500 View On Home Depot $1,800

With a huge cooking surface, an easy-to-use interface and app, and exceptionally smoky, delicious results, we were impressed by the Ironwood XL. Commerce editor Grace Kelly has been using this pellet grill for about a year. “The super smoke function works incredibly well, and the smoked beef tenderloin I made for my husband’s birthday in February was super flavorful and had that coveted pink smoke ring on the interior,” Grace says. “While I always thought learning to smoke meat would be intimidating, the simple dial and screen on the Traeger made it easy, and I feel like a budding pit boss right in the comfort of my own backyard."

The Best Budget Pellet Grill

Weber Smokefire EX4 (2nd Gen) Wood Fired Pellet Grill

View On Amazon $890 View On Walmart $1,099 View On Weber.com

With a digital control panel and knob for toggling the temp and time, this grill was easy to use and imparted a mildly smoky flavor. It held its temp exceptionally well during our longer smoke test but was capable of reaching searing heat, too. 

The Best Splurge Pellet Grill

Traeger TBB86RLG Timberline Pellet Grill

View On Williams-Sonoma $3,000 View On Home Depot $3,000 View On Bbqguys.com

If you’re looking for all of the bells and whistles (and have the cash), the Timberline floored us with its consistency, smoky flavor, and uber-easy-to-use control panel. Its ash catcher is located underneath the grill and looks like a chimney starter, complete with a grippy handle that makes it easy to hold onto and empty. The Timberline also has an induction side burner, wooden shelves, and MEATER wireless cooking probes (which we separately recommended in our review of wireless grill thermometers).

Editor’s Splurge Pick

Yoder Smokers YS640S Pellet Grill

View On Atbbq.com $2,399 View On Yodersmokers.com

If there’s one grill that earned the adoration of our testers (and editors), it’s the Yoder, thanks to its consistency and excellent results. It allows you to set the temperature in 5-degree increments and is Bluetooth-compatible. “I have never fallen so absolutely head-over-heels in love with any grill like I did the Yoder Smokers YS640 Pellet Grill,” says Steven Schrimpf, avid griller and our procurement and inventory manager. “[And] I've cooked on a wide variety of grill types and brands over the last 25 years.”

Editor’s Budget Pick

Pit Boss 440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill

View On Amazon $398 View On Walmart $450 View On Wayfair $420

“You know I'm head over heels in love with the Yoder if the price were no object, but the model we tested that I recommend most frequently when my friends ask me is the Pit Boss,” Steven says. Its performance and price make it the cheapest full-size pellet grill we recommend. 

The Best Pellet Grill Under $1000

Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

View On Amazon $1,000 View On Walmart $1,400 View On Home Depot $800

With nice smoke flavor, a digital control panel, and four wheels for easy moving, the Pro 780 delivers great performance for its price. It was also exceptionally easy to assemble.

The Best Small Pellet Grill

Traeger TFB30KLF Tailgater Pellet Grill

View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma $480 View On Home Depot $480

Whether you have a small backyard or are looking for a pellet grill to take to a campsite or tailgate, this Traeger has enough cooking space for about 12 burgers and is less than $500. With two wheels and foldable legs, this thing weighs just 60 pounds. It isn’t the fanciest grill, but it works well given its size and price.

The Tests

• Assembly Test: We assembled the grills and timed how long it took to do so.
• Chicken Wings Test: We made five pounds of chicken wings on each pellet grill, recording the amount of time it took the grill to reach 225°F using a separate wireless grill thermometer and cooking the wings for about two and a half hours.
• Baking Test: We baked a frozen pizza on each grill at 425°F (timing how long it took the grill to reach this target temperature).
• Searing and Grilling Test: We grilled four 8-ounce flank steaks on each model at 500°F, evaluating their ability to perform at a higher temperature and recording how hot they got.
• Pork Shoulder Test (Winners Only): On each of our favorite grills, we smoked a 7-pound pork shoulder at 225°F, recording notes on the finished meat's bark and smoke ring depth.
• Usability Tests: Throughout testing, we evaluated how easy the pellet grill was to operate via its control panel and app. We also noted how intuitive it was to add pellets and monitor fuel levels and how often the pellets needed to be replenished.

What Is a Pellet Grill?

A pellet grill is thermostatically controlled and uses a fan to blast heat around its cooking chamber, like a convection oven. Because of this indirect heat source, pellet grills can smoke foods, too, at lower and slower temps and times. This is why pellet grills are often called pellet smokers. 

Regardless of the nomenclature, with this type of grill, you simply select a temperature, and the controller maintains it by feeding wood pellets from the hopper to the fire pot using an auger. They are ignited by what’s often called a Hot Rod, the smoke and heat then wafting upwards into the cooking chamber. Of the grills and smokers out there, it’s the most set-it-and-forget-it and functions like an oven: Turning on and off to maintain a set temperature. You could quite literally go to sleep knowing that your pellet grill will have an exceptional brisket waiting for you in the morning (we know because we’ve done it).

While it used to be that pellet grills had just a few heat settings (like low and high), the digital, thermostatic controllers now offer wide temperature ranges that can, sometimes, be set in 5-degree increments. Many grills even come equipped with probes for displaying food’s internal temperature on both the control panel and in their apps (though we still like to have a dedicated wireless grill thermometer, which is generally more accurate).

It’s true that even the most basic pellet grills are pricier. For example, the cheapest recommendation on our list is about $400, whereas you can snag our favorite charcoal grill for around $200. That said, a few of our top picks are $750 to $1000, which is what you’d spend on a feature-heavy gas grill, and you’re really paying a premium for a pellet grill’s convenience.

A Brief History of Pellet Grills

Traeger invented the first wood pellet grill in 1987 when they were a heating company. “They're located in Oregon and were down the street from a sawmill,” Steven says. “[They] asked them if they could have their sawdust rather than simply dispose of it.” 

The company compressed that sawdust and made it into wood pellets to fuel their furnaces. Eventually, they wanted to find a way to boost profits in the summer (when furnace use was nil) and created a grill that could use these pellets. Soon enough, competitors took notice and began producing similar models.

What We Learned

What Are the Pros of Pellet Grills? 

We’ve touched on some of these above already, but here are four of our favorite things about pellet grills:

• Flavor: Pellet grills add smoky, wood-fired flavors without the use of charcoal. Plus, there are a variety of pellets available (like pecan, cherry, and mesquite) that imbue different flavors into food and burn hotter and faster or cooler and slower. It’s worth experimenting to find your pellet preference.  
• Usability: A pellet grill really is as simple as adding pellets to the hopper, turning on the grill, and setting your temp and time. The grill regulates itself after that, automatically feeding pellets into the cooking chamber. They’re less finicky and more hands-off than most any smoker—including electric ones—and their offset hopper allows you to easily add more pellets mid-cook. It’s also worth noting that the ash is less messy (and plentiful) than that of charcoal.
• Temp Range and Precise Control: “Depending on the manufacturer, many models can handle any cooking session: from a low and slow 225ºF to a steak-searing 700ºF,” Steven says. Some pellet grills, like the Yoder, even allow you to set the temp in 5-degree increments, offering exceptional control.
• Eco-Friendliness: Wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust, which is a more sustainable fuel source than charcoal or gas. 

Do Pellet Grills Have Any Cons?

Of course, pellet grills aren’t all sunshine, pork butts, and rainbows. There are four cons we think are worth noting: 

• Electricity: All pellet grills require electricity. You’ll need to run an extension cord from the garage, out a window, etc, so pick a convenient spot for your pellet grill where you can access an outlet.
• Fuel Choice: Unlike other smokers, which run the gamut of fuel and flavoring options—including charcoal and wood chips—pellet grills only take pellets. As aforementioned, you can buy different types of pellets, but you’re still stuck with the single (often pricier) fuel source. 
• Searing Abilities: While gas grills generally max out at 500 to 550ºF, charcoal grills can get much, much hotter—ideal for searing meat. Pellet grills are more like gas grills, with many models maxing out at 500ºF. However, because of their indirect heat, they still sear less efficiently than a gas grill (more on this below).
• Price: Compared to gas or charcoal, pellet grills are often more expensive.

Pellet vs. Gas vs. Charcoal Grills

A charcoal grill or a gas grill will do a better job at searing and getting that desirable Maillard reaction than a pellet grill. This is why we often think of pellet grills more as smokers. If you’re just looking to quickly grill up chicken thighs on a weeknight, both gas and charcoal grills are probably better options.

However, if you want a grill that can smoke and sear decently and certainly excels at imparting deliciously smoky flavor over a longer cook time, a pellet grill is a good choice. As mentioned above, pellets are easier to use and work with than charcoal (no breaking out a chimney starter) and pellet grills are more intuitive than either their gas or charcoal cousins. If you’ve used an oven, you’ll be able to successfully operate a pellet grill.

Do You Need a Smart Pellet Grill? 

All but two of our top picks—the Pit Boss and Traeger Tailgater, the cheapest of our recommendations—are WiFi- and Bluetooth-compatible. This allows you to download the pellet grill’s proprietary app and set the grill’s temp, monitor cooking progress, and check on pellet levels remotely. While smart features will cost you more, they do massively add to the pellet grill’s functionality, especially if you plan on using it for longer smoking sessions.

What Size Pellet Grill Should You Buy?

Most of our pellet grills (besides our compact pick) offer 640 to 880 square inches of cooking space, which is large enough to make chicken wings to feed a crowd. In general, we say go for the biggest grill your yard and budget can handle. A smaller grill can’t fit more, but a bigger one can accommodate less.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Pellet Grill

Since pellet grills are easy to use and thermostatically controlled, buy one that suits your budget and outdoor space. If you can swing it, opt for one that has smart features, which will make it easy to control and monitor the pellet grill remotely and is particularly helpful for longer smoking sessions. If you’re interested in doing more grilling than smoking, opt for a pellet grill that has a higher temperature range for deeper searing and browning.

Our Favorite Pellet Grills

The Best Pellet Grill

Traeger Ironwood XL

View On Amazon $2,000 View On Walmart $1,500 View On Home Depot $1,800

What we liked: This mammoth of a pellet grill boasts 924 square inches of cooking space, making it superfluous if you rarely smoke meat, but a boon if you're frequently throwing meaty backyard bashes. During testing, we (and all of our lucky test subjects) swooned over the results pumped out by this baby: ribs, pork butt, and chicken wings were succulent and seriously (but not overwhelmingly) smoky. Overall, it's a great grill that produces barky, smoky results every time (especially if you use the Super Smoke setting) and lets you set the temp in 5-degree increments. We'd recommend investing in a separate wireless grill thermometer, but we'd say that for any grill or smoker anyway. “After using the Traeger extensively last summer (and when the craving for smoked meat hit in the fall and winter) I can say that its longevity has stood the test of time—and tons of meat,” Grace says. “While the internal ambient thermometer is still not the best, paired with a separate one, I can easily keep an eye on the temperatures and keep my smoked meat on track to succulent, smoky glory.”

What we didn't like: The biggest downside was the app and smoker interface were glitchy when used in tandem, but if you set your cooking parameters manually on the smoker or just used the app, everything turned out fine. Of course, $2,000 is also quite expensive.

Key Specs

• Cooking surface area: 924 square inches
• Dimensions: 34 x 70 x 40 inches
• Temperature range: 165 to 500°F
• Warranty: 10-year limited
• Extra features: App compatible; cooking probes; digital display
• Assembly: Easy

The Best Budget Pellet Grill

Weber Smokefire EX4 (2nd Gen) Wood Fired Pellet Grill

View On Amazon $890 View On Walmart $1,099 View On Weber.com

What we liked: The Weber name has long been synonymous with backyard cooking, and the SmokeFire EX4 upholds the brand’s integrity. This grill smoked its way through our tests with ease, delivering consistent results and boasting a snazzy “smoke boost” option. For this feature, you’ll have to select it at the beginning of the cook time (or within a couple of hours of starting your smoke session) and it’ll allow pellets to burn lower, slower, and smokier.

The SmokeFire has a higher temperature range (200 to 600°F) and the chicken wings and steak had nice grill marks and charring. Compared to some of our other top picks, though, its smoky flavor was more mild (we’ll call it medium). However, some of our testers preferred this. Throughout a 10-hour smoke, it delivered accurate, consistent temps—on par with Yoder and Traeger models.

What we didn't like: This isn't the grill that's going to wow you with over-the-top smoke flavor.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 672 square inches
• Dimensions: 47 x 43 x 33 inches
• Temperature range: 200 to 600°F
• Warranty: 10 years
• Extra features: App compatible; digital display; two cooking probes
• Assembly: Easy

The Best Splurge Pellet Grill

Traeger TBB86RLG Timberline Pellet Grill

View On Williams-Sonoma $3,000 View On Home Depot $3,000 View On Bbqguys.com

What we liked: The testing notes of this Timberline describe it best: “The control panel on this grill seems like it belongs on a spaceship on its way to explore distant and smoky new worlds.” We found this grill to be easy to navigate and non-complicated to use, with a straightforward digital control panel and intuitive app.

But how does it perform once you’re strapped in and ready for liftoff? Very well. The Timberline delivered consistent temperatures while grilling or searing, yielding a moderate smoke flavor. Temperatures remained consistent between 200 to 225°F, and its smoke output meant that chicken wings emerged with a robust—but not overpowering—smoky taste. Following an 11-hour-long smoke session, pork shoulder had an evenly dark bark with a smoke ring reaching a quarter of an inch into the meat—results paralleled only by Ironwood XL. We also like this grill’s induction side burner and wood table/shelves, and that its assembly was seamless, with clear instructions and graphics. 

What we didn't like: You can't recommend a $3,500 grill without mentioning its price. This model is undeniably expensive. It also has a lower temperature range.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 880 square inches
• Dimensions: 35 x 59 x 25 inches
• Temperature range: 165 to 500°F
• Warranty: 10 years
• Extra features: Bluetooth probes; touchscreen display; induction cooktop; bamboo cutting board
• Assembly: Easy

Editor’s Splurge Pick

Yoder Smokers YS640S Pellet Grill

View On Atbbq.com $2,399 View On Yodersmokers.com

What we liked: Yoder is known for heavy-duty competition smokers and the 10-gauge-steel cooking chamber on this model offered incredible heat retention. It had a higher temp range (adjustable in 5-degree increments) and seared beautifully, too.

During our grilling tests, the Yoder S640 produced a high volume of smoke. And long smoke tests revealed a 3/8-inch smoke ring on our pork butt, with a consistent, medium-dark bark. “Like most hard-core grillers and smokers I know of, I have several grill varieties at home and which one I use for a given cook session depends almost entirely upon what I'm making and for how many people,” Steven says. “Not anymore. Whether I'm grilling burgers and hot dogs for my kids on a weeknight or participating in a BBQ competition, the YS640 will do anything and everything I want it to with consistently excellent flavor and precise results like no other I've ever used in my life.”

What we didn't like: Again, this grill is pricey, though arguably a better value than the Traeger Timberline. Also, this thing is heavy (weighing a whopping 335 pounds). One of our editors placed it on their elevated deck, then had to move down steps and onto a patio—no easy feat. 

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 640 square inches
• Dimensions: 55 x 61.3 x 36.1 inches
• Temperature range: 150 to 600ºF
• Warranty: 10 years
• Extra features: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity; two integrated cooking probes
• Assembly: Moderately easy (it’s heavy and will require two people)

Editor’s Budget Pick

Pit Boss 440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill

View On Amazon $398 View On Walmart $450 View On Wayfair $420

What we liked: “Part of our testing included a blind taste test and my personal rankings always were the same: the Yoder YS640 and Traeger Timberline were first or second in every category and in third was....Pit Boss??” Steven says. Indeed, the performance-meets-pricepoint of this pellet grill is worth raving about. Its searing panel got blisteringly hot, yielding nice browning despite its lower temperature range. The Pit Boss also delivered a well-defined smoke flavor.

What we didn’t like: This pellet grill only has two wheels, making transport tougher. It also lacks the smart features of the other grills. During the long smoke test, the smaller hopper was noticeable and it needed refilling after just two-and-a-half hours. It also ran hotter and less consistently than we’d like for smoking.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 465 square inches
• Dimensions: 50.2 x 24 x 39.8 inches
• Temperature range: 180 to 500ºF
• Warranty: 5 years
• Extra features: N/A
• Assembly: Moderately easy (requires additional tools)

The Best Pellet Grill Under $1000

Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

View On Amazon $1,000 View On Walmart $1,400 View On Home Depot $800

What we liked: With a digital control panel, an intuitive app, and consistent performance, we liked this Traeger model. High-tech features aside, the Pro 780 performs like, uh, a pro. It had a moderately smokey flavor and delivered nice grill marks. During the long smoke test, it produced a desirable 1/4-inch smoke ring on our pork butt. Like all of the Traegers we tested, this model was easy to assemble.

What we liked: Overall, this model yielded less smokey flavor than other pellet grills.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 780 square inches
• Dimensions: 55 x 49 x 27 inches
• Temperature range: 165 to 500°F
• Warranty: 3 years
• Extra features: App compatible; cooking probe
• Assembly: Easy

The Best Small Pellet Grill

Traeger TFB30KLF Tailgater Pellet Grill

View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma $480 View On Home Depot $480

What we liked: It's certainly hard to argue with this pellet grill's portability, which is aided by a pair of smooth-rolling wheels and easy-to-fold legs. The Tailgater 20 is a likely crowd-pleaser thanks to the mild smoke flavor it imparts during both grilling and smoking—ensuring that even smoke flavor-averse guests will reach for another chicken wing—and if you want to use it for a long smoke, you totally can. While this probably isn’t a competition grill, it’s a great candidate for anyone looking to dabble in smoking, someone with a small backyard, or if you want a pellet grill to take to a tailgate.

What we didn't like: Some thought that the Tailgater 20 produced a smoked pork butt with the second-least amount of smoke flavor.

Key Specs

• Cooking area: 300 square inches
• Dimensions: 36 x 37 x 18 inches
• Temperature range: 180 to 450°F
• Warranty: 3 years
• Extra features: Cooking probe
• Assembly: Easy

The Competition

• Louisiana Grills Black Label: We found this grill had too many hot spots to recommend.
• Rec-Tec 590: This grill was difficult to assemble (it didn't come with a physical instruction manual for starters) and imparted no smoke flavor to the steak.
• Oklahoma Joe's Rider 600 Pellet Grill: This grill imparted no smoke flavor to the steak, however, if you're into a smoke-free grilling experience, you may like this grill.
• Traeger Ironwood 885: We preferred the performance of the Traeger Ironwood XL over this model—and have comparable favorites that are cheaper. However, this is the pellet grill senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm owns and loves, so if you’re interested in it, you likely won’t be disappointed. 
• Pit Boss 10537 Wood Pellet Grill: This grill lacked smart features and yielded a steak that tasted more baked than grilled.
• ZGrills Multitasker 11002B with Wifi: This grill was difficult to assemble and performed just so-so.
• Camp Chef Woodwind: Also difficult to assemble, we found the heat control and retention lacking with this model.
• Traeger Ranger: For a portable, tabletop option, this isn't bad. Just don't expect the smoke or mega performance of standalone, full-sized grills, of course.
• Traeger Grills Pro Series 34: For the price, we expected better results and more features.
• ZGrills Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker: This grill was difficult to assemble and its performance didn't match its price.
• Green Mountain Davy Crockett Sense Mate Grill: This grill was also tough to assemble and yielded wings that tasted acrid. It fit just four pounds of wings.
• Char-Griller 9040 Wood Pellet Grill: A poor performer, this grill is now discontinued.
• Cookshack Fast Eddy's Pellet Grill: We experienced serious issues with this grill's fan, and are therefore unable to recommend it.

FAQs

Which pellet grills are made in the USA?

Of this list, the Yoder YS640 is the only one made in the United States. (It's also one of the priciest pellet grills we tested.)

Is a pellet smoker worth it?

Though they’re pricey even at entry level, pellet grills/smokers are worth the investment if you want to smoke your own meat and aren’t worried about high-level grilling capability. That said, for ultimate versatility, a pellet grill is a great option because it can be used as a smoker, but you’ll also have a real-deal grill to work with.

How do you smoke a turkey on a pellet grill?

When smoking a turkey, we like to spatchcock it, since it'll cook up faster (and more evenly) than a whole one. We also recommend allowing the turkey some time to dry brine before cooking, so the flavor soaks through the skin; this long brine time (with a rub that includes baking soda) also helps draw moisture from the skin, leading to a crisper final product. For more tips, check out this article on how to smoke a turkey that Kenji wrote.

Are pellet grills better than gas grills?

First, let's clear up some confusion: gas grills don't smoke. Conversely, a pellet grill CAN grill, though most models really shine when they're smoking. To sum it up: gas grills get hotter than a pellet grill and are better at creating char, while pellet grills often excel at smoking and struggle to get a deep sear.

How much does a pellet grill cost?

Ah, well, as with many things, pellet grills come in a range of prices and you can spend as much as you want on one. Our cheapest recommendation is about $400 and our most expensive is $3,300.

Why We're the Experts

• We tested 21 pellet grills and smokers—cooking more than 200 pounds of chicken wings, 80 pounds of steak, nine pork shoulders, and 20 pizzas to land on our eight favorite grills.
• We've continued to test new pellet grills and smokers as they come out to add to and update this review, including this model from Traeger.
• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor at Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021 and previously worked at America’s Test Kitchen, Food52, and EatingWell. She’s written many reviews for this site, including Ooni ovens.
• Summer Rylander is a freelance writer and has written several equipment reviews for Serious Eats, including pellet grills, Traeger grills, and gas grills. She's been writing for Serious Eats for about two years.