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The best pellet grills turn smoking brisket, ribs and a Thanksgiving turkey into a set-it-and-forget-it job: you fill the hopper with wood pellets, pick a temperature, and a digital controller feeds the fire for you. With fall cookouts and holiday smoking season here, we compared specs, expert testing and owner reviews to pick the pellet grills worth buying in 2026, from WiFi-connected backyard smokers to tailgate-size portables.
Part of our Outdoor, Kitchen & Pet Buying Guides.
Quick picks
| Product | Best for | Price range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Ironwood 885 | Best Overall | $$$ | See price |
| Recteq RT-700 | Most Durable | $$$$ | See price |
| Weber SmokeFire EX6 (2nd Gen) | Best Large Capacity & Searing | $$$$ | See price |
| Traeger Pro 780 | Best Classic Traeger | $$$ | See price |
| Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 | Most Versatile | $$$ | See price |
| Recteq Bullseye Deluxe (RT-B380X) | Best for High-Heat Grilling | $$ | See price |
| Z Grills 700D3 | Best Value | $ | See price |
| Pit Boss PB440D2 | Best Budget | $ | See price |
| Traeger Tailgater 20 | Best Portable | $ | See price |
| Green Mountain Grills Trek | Best Portable with WiFi | $ | See price |
Price ranges: $ under $500 · $$ $500–$900 · $$$ $900–$1,500 · $$$$ $1,500+. Grill prices change with seasonal sales, so check the current price on Amazon.
1. Traeger Ironwood 885: Best Overall
The Ironwood 885 is the pellet grill we’d point most backyard cooks to. It has room for a big family cook, WiFi control through the Traeger app, a precise D2 PID controller, and a SuperSmoke mode that boosts smoke flavor at lower temperatures. A pellet sensor tells your phone when the hopper is running low.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 885 sq in
- Hopper: 20 lb with pellet sensor
- WiFi app control; D2 PID controller; meat probe
- SuperSmoke mode
- Weight: about 175 lb
- Warranty: 3 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners love checking the cook from the couch and the consistent smoke. Weak searing and cold-weather performance are the usual complaints.
2. Recteq RT-700: Best for Durability
Recteq builds its grills mostly from stainless steel, and the RT-700 feels like a tank. Its 40-lb hopper can feed an overnight brisket without a refill, WiFi lets you adjust from your phone, and the 4-year warranty is longer than most rivals.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 702 sq in
- Hopper: 40 lb (rear-mounted)
- WiFi app control
- Mostly stainless steel construction
- Weight: about 190 lb
- Warranty: 4 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners praise its rock-steady temperatures and build. Some wish the hopper were easier to reach.
3. Weber SmokeFire EX6 (2nd Gen): Best Large Capacity & Searing
Most pellet grills can smoke but can’t sear. The SmokeFire EX6 does both. It reaches up to 600°F, which makes reverse-searing steaks easy, and its 1,008 sq in of space fits several pork butts at once. Weber’s Flavorizer bars and enamel finish also give it more smoke flavor than most.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 1,008 sq in
- Hopper: 22 lb
- Temperature: up to 600°F
- Two meat probes included
- Weight: about 204 lb
- Warranty: 3+ years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Fans like having one grill for both smoking and searing. Grease management and cleanup come up most as complaints.
4. Traeger Pro 780: Best Classic Traeger
The Pro 780 is Traeger’s best-selling style of grill in a larger size. You get WiFIRE app control, a roomy cooktop, and enough range to smoke low, roast or bake. It’s a solid step up from entry-level grills without Ironwood pricing.
Key specs
- Larger cooktop than the Pro 575
- WiFIRE app control
- Low-and-slow smoking through high-heat roasting
- Meat probe included
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners describe it as a reliable workhorse. A probe that reads a few degrees off is a common note, so many cooks use a separate thermometer.
5. Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24: Most Versatile
The Woodwind WiFi 24 is the grill for people who want one outdoor cooker to do everything. Adjustable smoke settings let you dial flavor up or down, and the Sidekick attachment adds a propane sear burner or flat-top griddle. An ash cleanout makes maintenance easier.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 811 sq in
- Hopper: 22 lb
- WiFi app; PID controller with smoke control
- Sidekick sear burner or griddle (runs on propane)
- Weight: about 162 lb
- Warranty: 3 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Buyers like smoking and searing on one station. Fan noise and the extra propane tank are the main gripes.
6. Recteq Bullseye Deluxe (RT-B380X): Best for High-Heat Grilling
The Bullseye Deluxe is built more like a kettle grill that runs on pellets. Recteq says it can reach very high searing temperatures for steaks and burgers, and it adds WiFi, a PID controller and auto start and shutdown. It’s a great second grill or a first pellet grill for people who grill more than they smoke.
Key specs
- Hopper: 18+ lb
- WiFi; PID controller
- Automatic start and shutdown
- Built-in thermometer
- Very high max temperature (manufacturer claim)
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners say it produces a real sear that most pellet grills can’t. A flimsier-feeling lid is the most common complaint.
7. Z Grills 700D3: Best Value
The Z Grills 700D3 gives you almost 700 sq in of cooking space and easy, steady temperature control for a fraction of big-brand prices. It skips WiFi and a built-in probe, but it’s durable, simple and a great way to learn pellet smoking.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 694 sq in
- Hopper: 20 lb
- Digital temperature control
- No WiFi; no included meat probe
- Weight: about 132 lb
- Warranty: 3 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Beginners love how easy it is to get good results. Missing smart features is the main trade-off.
8. Pit Boss PB440D2: Best Budget
The Pit Boss PB440D2 is one of the cheapest real pellet grills you can buy. It has porcelain-coated grates, a digital controller, a small flame-broiler sear zone and a 5-year warranty, which is long for this price.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 518 sq in
- Hopper: small (about 5 lb per one test)
- Digital controller; porcelain-coated grates
- Flame broiler for direct-heat searing
- Weight: about 96 lb
- Warranty: 5 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Buyers are happy with the value and flavor. Complaints center on the lid thermometer and frequent pellet refills.
9. Traeger Tailgater 20: Best Portable
With folding legs and a 62-lb weight, the Tailgater 20 goes from backyard to campsite or stadium lot. It’s also a friendly first pellet grill for small households, with simple digital controls and Traeger’s smoke flavor in a compact package.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 300 sq in
- Hopper: 8 lb
- Folding legs
- Weight: about 62 lb
- Warranty: 3 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Campers and tailgaters like how easy it is to pack. Temperature swings are the most common complaint.
10. Green Mountain Grills Trek: Best Portable with WiFi
The Trek is a small tabletop-style pellet grill that still gives you phone control, so you can monitor a cook from the campsite or tailgate. It comes with a cover, and the app includes recipe ideas.
Key specs
- Cooking area: 219 sq in
- Hopper: 9 lb
- WiFi smartphone control
- Weight: about 65 lb; cover included
- Warranty: 3 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners like smart control on the road. The small grate is the main limitation.
How to choose a pellet grill
- Cooking area: 300–500 sq in suits couples and small families; 700–1,000+ sq in handles big gatherings, multiple briskets or holiday turkeys.
- Hopper size: Hoppers range from about 5 lb to 40 lb. Bigger hoppers mean fewer refills during 12-hour smokes.
- Searing ability: Most pellet grills excel at low-and-slow but can’t sear well. If you love steaks, look for a high max temperature, a flame broiler or a sear add-on.
- Temperature control: PID controllers hold temps more tightly. Cold, windy weather makes any grill work harder, so an insulated blanket helps in winter.
- WiFi and probes: App control and built-in probes let you monitor long cooks from inside. Budget grills often skip both, so plan on a separate thermometer.
- Build and warranty: Thicker steel, stainless parts and longer warranties (3 to 5+ years) usually mean the grill lasts longer outdoors.
FAQ
Is a pellet grill the same as a pellet smoker?
Yes. The terms are used interchangeably. Pellet grills are best at smoking and roasting; their ability to grill at high heat varies by model.
Do pellet grills need electricity?
Yes. The auger, fan and controller need power, so you’ll need an outlet, an outdoor extension cord rated for the load, or a portable power source when camping. Follow the manufacturer’s power requirements.
How long does a pellet grill take to heat up?
Most preheat in about 10–15 minutes, much faster than a charcoal smoker. Cold weather and larger grills take longer.
Are cheap pellet grills worth it?
Budget models like the Pit Boss PB440D2 and Z Grills 700D3 make great barbecue. You mostly give up WiFi, hopper size, build thickness and accurate built-in thermometers, so add a good probe thermometer.
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Sources
We drew specs and testing notes from The Grilling Dad, Chowhound and Smoked BBQ Source, plus manufacturer specifications. Owner feedback is summarized in our own words from public reviews. Photos courtesy of Unsplash.