Last updated on April 13th, 2020
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Comparison of the best pellet grills/smokers under $1,000
- Best portable pellet grills (for tailgating)
- Best big commercial pellet grills (for professionals and catering)
- Individual pellet smoker reviews
(Click on the bullet links above to jump to that section in the article)
Know exactly what to consider when buying a pellet grill, explore the many reasons pellet grills shine over other grills and discover which pellet smoker is the best for your lifestyle, cooking style and particular needs.
If you’re looking to purchase a pellet grill, this article will help you pick a good one that meets your needs and lasts for years. Check out the comparison tables below and read our honest pellet grill reviews to pick the best pellet smoker for your budget and needs.
Happy grilling and smoking!
Why pellet grill is a smart choice
According to research, food grilled with a wood pellet grill is healthier:
Wood-pellet-burning grills use an indirect cooking method, which reduces the formation of carcinogenic chemicals.
Another reason I like pellet grills is that it’s like having the benefits of a smoker, a gas grill, and a wood/charcoal grill all in one. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided to get one and that means you’re already ahead of the 95% of grilling enthusiasts. Congratulations!
- Convenience of a gas grill
Set it and forget it. Fill the hopper with pellets, set your preferred temperature (and a timer if you need) and go prepare a side dish or drink beer with friends. No charcoal grill will give you that freedom.
- Taste and flavor of a wood smoker
Pellets are made of wood and they come in a multitude of flavors to choose from. No gas grill will give your food that smoky taste and flavor.
- Not just grilling
Use your pellet grill for smoking, baking, roasting, braising, slow cooking, and even frying. No gas or charcoal grill will give you so many options.
Choosing the right pellet grill and smoker
The reviewed grills here are the best rated, most popular and most reviewed pellet grills and smokers in the United States (most of them are also available for delivery to outside of U.S).
Only the best wood pellet grills with high-quality features and ones that have proven to be reliable to their owners made it to the list. Take a closer look:
Best pellet smokers under $1,000
| Image | Title | Price | Cooking area | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Top Rated 2019 model Z GRILLS ZPG-700D - 700 sq inch pellet grill with electric digital controls and a patio cover | $599.00 | 694 sq in | 4.5 84 |
 | 2019 model Z GRILLS ZPG-7002B - 700 sq inch pellet grill with electric digital controls and a patio cover | $509.00 | 694 sq in | 4.4 23 |
 | #1 Bestseller Camp Chef PG24 Deluxe Pellet Grill and Smoker (with Digital Controls and Stainless Temp Probe) | $499.99 | 573 sq in | 4.2 424 |
 | Wi-Fi controllable Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill – WIFI enabled | $329.00 | 219 sq in | 4.1 350 |
 | New Upgraded Model Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill without Sear Box Digital temperature control 570 sq inch cooking area Ash cleanout system | $699.99 | 570 sq in | 4.2 29 |
 | Top Rated REC TEC RT-700Wood Pellet Grill - Featuring Smart Grill TechnologyTM | $1499.00 | 702 sq in | 5.0 21 |
 | Traeger Pellet Grills BBQ155.01 19.5K BTU Pellet Grill | $445.22 | 292 sq in | 4.3 159 |
 | Camp Chef SmokePro Stainless DLX Pellet Grill | $499.99 | 570 sq in | 4.0 53 |
Best portable pellet grills (comparison)
Good news if you’re one of the pellet grill fans who needs to move your grill often or just prefers to have a smaller pellet grill that you can take with should the need arise. REC TEC has come out with a smaller and portable version of their best selling wood pellet grill.
| Image | Title | Price | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Top Rated in Portable Traeger TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker | $699.99 | 4.5 | 577 |
 | Wi-Fi controllable Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill – WIFI enabled | $329.00 | 4.1 | 350 |
 | Currently Unavailable REC TEC Grills™ Mini Portable Pellet Grill | $499.00 | 3.8 | 14 |
 | Traeger Portable Grill PTG | $399.40 | 3.4 | 96 |
Best pellet grills for catering and professional chefs
The Memphis Grills Elite Series pellet grills and smokers are the absolute best you can have. They are more expensive than your backyard pellet grills but built to last and they come with Wi-Fi which gives you the freedom to control your grill from anywhere you desire.
| Pellet Grill | Grill Name and Model | Price | Features | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Top Rated Wi-Fi controllable Memphis Grills Elite 39-inch Pellet Grill Built In - Vgb0002s | $4,999.00 | 844 sq in 180-700 F 24 lb hopper | 5.0 (5) |
 | 1750 sq in capacity Louisiana Grills LG-001000-1750 WH-1750 Country Smoker Whole Hog | $3,099.00 | 1750 sq in 180-500 F | 4.0 (3) |
 | Wi-Fi controllable Memphis Grills Advantage Plus 26-inch Pellet Grill On Cart - Vg0050s4-p | $2,899.00 | 427 sq in 180-600 F 12 lb hopper | 5.0 (1) |
 | Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Grill | $1,349.99 | 884 sq in | 4.3 (20) |
Pellet grill reviews
1. Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill
New Upgraded Model
Price: $699.99
This is our favorite pellet grill today. The Woodwind is a new upgraded pellet grill from Camp Chef over their SmokePro, PG24, and PG24 Deluxe.
Compared to previous models, Woodwind comes with leg casters, a bottom shelf, blue LED screen read-out (easier to see in the sunlight), and thicker and more sturdy legs. It also has an enlarged and improved cover on the pellet hopper, stainless steel burner pot and upgraded thermometer probe placement.
Note that the Woodwind comes in two versions: with sear box ($899) and without a sear box ($699).
2. Camp Chef PG24 Pellet Grill
#1 Bestseller
Price: $655.90
Comes with a medium sized grilling area of 19.5″ x 22″ (430 square inches). The PG24 is our second favorite pellet grill under $1,000 but it landed on the first spot (before they introduced the Woodwind) because of its better price and free shipping compared to the Rec Tec.
It’s not as large as the REC TEC and the construction is not as rock-hard sturdy but it’s still very solid and definitely gets the job done.
With the internal temperature sensor, meat temperature probe, and a digital temperature readout, the PG24 pellet smoker takes the guesswork out of your cooking process. An advanced digital temperature chip gives a more steady smoke and temperature, eliminating large temperature swings and giving a more consistent cooking temperature. The patented Ash Can Cleanout System makes clean up the easiest out there.
Click here to read the full review of Camp Chef PG24 pellet grill and smoker.
3. REC TEC Wood Pellet Grill
Top Rated
Price: $998.00 + shipping
Comes with a large 19.5″ x 36″ (702 square inch) cooking area. Maintains precise temperature from 180ºF to 500ºF (5º increments). REC TEC will automatically light up with a push of a button and heat up to the temperature you have selected. REC TEC has a really good and precise temperature control so you can even use it for baking.
REC TEC grills are built of 304 stainless steel in America and come with a 6-year limited warranty. I have yet to meet a person that owns a REC TEC and isn’t happy with its performance. It’s super high quality and durable.
I love the features and I’m happy to pay a few hundred extra bucks for the highest quality and durability.
This, in my opinion and first-hand experience, is the best pellet grill out there for under $1,000.
The only downside and the reason this landed on the second spot in our reviews is that when you order yours from Amazon, they make you pay $199 for shipping.
Check out the video below or click to read my full review and experience with REC TEC pellet grill.
Price: $998.00 + shipping
4. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill (WIFI enabled)
This is the ultimate portable grill. It can run off a 12V with no problem so plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter. It also works 120AC so it’s perfect for home or camping, tailgating, hunting, house-boating, music festivals or anywhere you can take it!
The legs are foldable and it weighs only 57 pounds so easily place in the trunk of any car.
Your Davy Crocket comes with a digital Wi-Fi controller so you can control it and monitor both with iOS and Android app.
Includes a meat probe, a peaked lid, a convenience tray with utensil hooks and our new open flame technology grease tray. Also included is Sense-Mate, a thermal sensor which constantly monitors grill temperature.
Buy GMG Davy Crocket Pellet Grill
5. Traeger BBQ155.01 Junior Pellet Grill
This is a small and portable pellet grill from Traeger.
Comes with a small 292 square inch cooking surface, bronze lid finish, fully automatic auger, electronic auto start, digital control and a 10-pound pellet hopper.
With a weight of just 70 pounds and dimensions of 21 x 23 x 21 inches, it’s one of the smallest pellet grills there is.
Comes partially assembled, just attach the legs and the firebox (takes less than 30 minutes). All the necessary tools for assembly are included in the package.
Really easy to use and you don’t even have to clean it after every use.
6. Camp Chef PG24S Pellet Grill and Smoker Deluxe
This is an exclusive model built for outdoor cooking. Comes with a stainless steel lid and the construction is very sturdy.
PG24S pellet grill comes with a built-in meat probe for temperature control, a 19.5 x 22 inches grilling area and an 18 lbs hopper. The unit itself weighs 131 pounds.
Offers full cooking range from low to high smoke or 160 to over 400 degrees Fahrenheit (depends on pellets used etc).
We like this grill a lot and another thing we like about Camp Chef is their excellent customer service.
If you want to store your grill outdoors when not using it you should also get the cover to protect it from the rain and such.
7. Louisiana Grills LG 900 Pellet Grill
Comes with a 633 square inch main grilling surface, but also includes a 280 square inch removable upper cooking rack (total cooking area: 913 square inches). Includes a digital thermostat and gives you precise heat control from 170 Fahrenheit to 600 Fahrenheit (5 degree increments).
And by using the included programmable meat probe interface, you can cook and control automatically with precision. Comes with a Flame Broiler for Open Flame Grilling.
Made from heavy duty 14 gauge steel. Porcelain Cast Iron Main Grids.
Buy Louisiana LG900 Pellet Grill
8. Traeger TEXAS ELITE 34, Black and Bronze
This is a huge pellet grill. Comes with a 646 square inch (34″ x 19″) grilling area which holds up to 24 burgers or 6 chickens or 32 hot dogs or 9 rib racks.
The wheels and legs have been upgraded for more stability.
Comes with porcelain grill grates which are easy to clean and a digital thermostat (means from low and slow to hot and fast grilling).
Note: Some people have noted problems with the temperature control.
Includes a 3-year warranty like all Traeger grills.
Note: more pellet grill reviews will be published soon but all our favorites have been listed above. Read below for some elite pellet grill reviews, portable pellet grill reviews and our list of pellet grill deals and packages.
Best portable pellet smokers (reviews)
1. REC TEC Grills™ Mini Portable Pellet Grill
Top Rated in Portable Pellet Grills
Heats up real fast. Takes about 4 minutes to heat up to 225 degrees, 8 minutes to 400 degrees, and about 15 minutes to 600 degrees.
We were impressed with how steady it holds the temperature, max fluctuation around 3-4 degrees.
341 square inch grilling area. Big enough for one turkey or 3-4 ribs or about two briskets.
Efficient, you’ll go through only about 1 pound of pellets an hour when smoking at 225 F.
It’s got foldable legs so it’s easy to carry the thing from one place to another.
Solid construction like it’s big brother. Comes with a 2-year warranty.
2. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crocket
Wi-Fi controllable
As already discussed above, this is the ultimate portable grill.
It can run off a 12V with no problem so plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter. It also works 120AC so it’s perfect for home or camping, tailgating, hunting, house-boating, music festivals or anywhere you can take it!
The legs are foldable and it weighs only 57 pounds so easily place in the trunk of any car.
Your Davy Crocket comes with a digital Wi-Fi controller so you can control it and monitor both with iOS and Android app.
Includes a meat probe, a peaked lid, a convenience tray with utensil hooks and our new open flame technology grease tray. Also included is Sense-Mate, a thermal sensor which constantly monitors grill temperature.
Buy GMG Davy Crocket Pellet Grill
3. Traeger Junior Elite
300 square inch grilling area (20 x 15 inches), holds up to 12 burgers, 18 hot dogs, 4 chickens, 3 rib racks or 1 turkey.
Weighs 60 pounds.
Perfect for tailgating, small households and traveling.
Comes with a 3-year warranty.
Pellet Grill Deals and Packages
Every now and then the pellet grill manufacturers come out with deals and discount packages. It would be foolish to not take advantage of these offers. Take a look at some of the current offers available below.
Davy Crockett Online Package:
- Wi-Fi controlled Green Mountain Grills Pellet Grill
- Grill Cover and tote bag
- 2 bags of Gourmet blend pellets (8lb)
- 2 bottles of rubs and 2 bottles of sauces
More about pellet grills
What is a pellet grill (often called pellet smoker)
Wood pellet grill is a two-in-one mixture of a smoker and a grill. It doesn’t provide direct flame for your steaks or meat as a grill would which eliminates flare-ups. Since there’s no direct flame, searing meat isn’t an option and there’s a better choice if this is your desire. However, if you desire a great smoky flavor with an easy cooking process then a pellet smoker is an excellent choice.
Pellet grill is a type of grill that uses wood pellets as its fuel source. The pellets are made of compressed sawdust. These wooden pellets are used to fuel the grill instead of charcoal or gas. However, the pellet grill works almost the same way as charcoal and gas grills combined.
To cook food using a pellet grill, put the pellets into a hopper. When you turn it on, the igniting rod will burn pellets in the fire. The motor-driven auger will then supply the fire pot with pellets from the hopper. The ratio that auger delivers pellets to fire pot depends on the settings you control. If you set it at a high temperature for a longer period of time, the auger will keep on feeding the fire pot with pellets. However, if you are slow-cooking and set a low-temperature one, the feeding and delivery of pellets will also slow down.
Pellet grills are used not only for grilling but also in baking, smoking, roasting, and more. Nevertheless, the significance of pellet grill is to imitate how charcoal works in smoking and how gas grill regulates the temperature.
Why should I get a pellet grill
If you like grilling outdoors, you want to reduce the time and energy you spend using traditional and classic methods of grilling in an open air. The problem with traditional grills is that you keep on manually feeding the grill with charcoal or wood. In addition, you need to stay near the grill until the food is finally cooked.
Time is as precious as your energy. In conventional grills, your waiting period is much longer, and they require much attention. On top of that, you will need to exert so much effort in setting them up and keeping them work in the entire duration of cooking. If you are sick and tired of all this, it is high time you buy a pellet grill.
Pros of a Pellet Grill
Set it and forget it. It does not require you to stay while the food is being cooked as you can set a timer and temperature so you can do other things, like prepare the side dishes or drink beer with friends while the grill is doing its job. Most pellet grills use electronic controls to regulate the grilling according to your preferences. You have a choice to choose the level of smoke aside from choosing your desired temperature.
Choose your flavor. The good thing about pellet grills is that the pellets are flavored. Pellets may come from apple wood, cherry, pecan, mesquite, and hickory wood. You can also match a combination of wood flavor and food like using apple pellets when cooking fish or using hickory with beef.
Moreover, pellet smokers are safe. You won’t have to worry about fire and explosion because its temperature control prevents the grill from overheating even in prolonged use. It has a deflector plate between the fire pot and grill grate to ensure that grease, oil, or meat juices will not get in contact with fire so as to prevent a sudden flare-up.
Cons of a Pellet Grill
First pellet grills and older models with three-position controllers have disadvantages as it is hard to achieve your desired temperature in the winter. Pellet jams are also a problem with the old type of pellet grills.
Today, there is no general disadvantage that is present among all pellet grills. Each model or brand has its pros and cons. There are a lot of different pellet grill manufacturers in the market today, including some cheap Chinese ones that you should steer clear from.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Pellet Grill
Every pellet grill offers a lot of benefits, but choosing a better one will not make you regret it along the way. Although it is difficult to decide which one is better, you will have an idea what to choose if you know what you need.
Are you looking for a pellet grill for slow-cooking? The one with larger hopper would serve well. If you are looking for a much safer one, a stainless pellet grill is better.
Before you buy a pellet grill, check if it has a PID controller. This is a built-in electronic feature that uses an advanced algorithm to accurately and safely control the cooking process based on your preferences you set. Most pellet grills today have PID so it is good to buy what the one that many people already enjoy.
How Does It Compare to Other Grills?
There are several types of grills and these are charcoal, gas, wood, electric smokers, open fire grill, and pellet grill. Each of them offers different benefits. In terms of comparison, pellet grill is still superior because it is the combination of all such grills. You can use it to smoke that way charcoal grill does. You enjoy the wood flavor of wood grill using pellets, and it is also electrically and electronically-operated.
Types of Cooking Techniques You Can Use with a Pellet Grill
As mentioned above, pellet grill can be used for many types of cooking such as
- grilling,
- smoking,
- baking,
- roasting,
- braising,
- slow-cooking, and even
- frying.
The only thing you may not do is steam your food as moisture may affect the grill itself.
Types of Food that is Best to Cook with the Pellet Grill
Chicken, beef, pork, and more are the ones that are ideal for a pellet grill. Fish is also good as long as you should clean the grill after use because the smell of a fish may affect the taste of meat you will cook next. Looking for inspiration? Take a look at these pellet grill recipes or these to get your juices flowing.
Best pellet grill manufacturers
- REC TEC Grills
- Traeger Grills
- Louisiana Grills
- Green Mountain Grills
- Memphis Wood Fire Grills
- Yoder Smokers
Conclusion
More and more pellet grills are being manufactured now as the benefits of “pellet grilling” are being discovered and it’s a smart choice to go with if you want the taste and flavor of the wood grill and the convenience of a gas grill.
Just make sure to pick a grill that meets your needs (size, features, portability) and has good customer reviews. Do your research (hopefully this article helps) but don’t overthink it – a grill in your back yard is better than no grill.
Enjoy the BBQ and time with your friends and family!
Latest updates:
Apr 5, 2019 – introduced new models, reviewed whole article
Jan 1, 2019 – updated article for 2019
Jan 11th, 2018 – pellet grill guide update for 2018
Jun 4th, 2017 – major comparison and reviews update
Jan 3rd, 2017 – updated for 2017
Nov 24th, 2016 – added Elite section, updated pellet grill reviews
Nov 16th, 2016 – added “Portable pellet grills” section
Nov 11th, 2016 – updated comparison table
Have you reviewed at all the Grilla Silverbac? If so, does it not make your list because it isn’t as good a quality as those you have picked? I mean, when I look online for reviews of those who have bought them I haven’t found anyone disappointed with theirs, but perhaps they haven’t been out as long to have a track record? I’m so confused at this point as to which to buy with PID or no PID (some say smoke does better without one), thickness of metal, etc.
Any further advice you could give would be extremely appreciated.
Yeah it seems like no one is providing any input on it…I was interested in having them review it and do a direct comparison to some of these other grills. I made the mistake of getting a Myron Mixon pitmaster Q3 at sears. It turned out to be a waste of money and the slight humidity I had caused the pellets to burst and seize up the Auger. Anyway I had narrowed my search down to a rec tech or silverback but none of the reviewers seems to be giving it any attention.
Hey David, Is there a particular reason why the Grilla grills interest you? I tend to find they’re great smokers, just expensive for what they are. If you’re working with limited space (say smoking on a condo balcony) then the Grilla models vertical footprint can make all the difference between having a smoker or not. But for the price, and for a standard model smoker, the Traeger models tend to be better all around.
The Grilla Silverback is a fantastic pellet grill with much better construction than any of the ones listed above except the Rec-Tec which is comparable. but the Rec-Tec is more expensive. I would put my silverback against it any day
Personal review of the Traeger: The auger fed the pellets after the fire pot went out making a large pile up which caused it to catch fire and burn up my grill. I had to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames and prevent my house from catching fire. I sent Traeger the description of damages with photos. After much waiting and no response from the management team regarding my Traeger grill we gave up. The service team was very responsive but lacked any authority to make decisions to fix the grill. We worked with the service team for awhile having a different person each time respond and request information and photos that were already provided. Then, we got passed up to the management which is highly ineffective because we never heard from them, even after an email requesting an update. We really did like our Traeger grill and had high hopes that since it was under warranty and caught fire due to a failure we would have the grill repaired. Because of the terrible unresponsive service of Traeger we took our money and purchase a Green Mountain Grill.
Thanks for posting your review here, Kim. Are you happy with the new Green Mountain Grill? Would love to know your thoughts on it. Cheers!
I have had a Traeger Junior Elite for 4 years. In that time I have used it < 50 times. I have replaced a fan motor, a fuse, and now I have been trying to get a thermometer replaced. First time, the service guy dropped the ball and never sent it. Second time- the thermometer got sent around to multiple post offices. Third time, never got to me- apparently they sent it to the wrong address. Fourth time- still waiting. It's been 5 weeks now, and I cannot get the part, and have no idea if the part will fix the grill. Everyone in service has been polite, but incompetent as well. I have had 2 flash fires in the grill from the auger pushing too many pellets into the hot pot, the temperature fluctuates wildly. Save yourself the frustration: avoid Traeger at all costs!
Has anyone purchased and reviewed a Traeger Timberline Smoker, their new (as of late 2017) models – double-layer stainless steel and some tech?
I’m a bit confused.
You list a number of Camp Chef models as “Best pellet smokers under $1,000.
Yes, under “Best pellet grill manufacturers” Camp Chef is not listed.
Is there a reason for leaving Camp Chef off that list?
Are your reviews from customers or from an independent lab like Consumer Reports?
Best smoker manufacturers omits Camp Chef, yet you rate several Camp Chef smokers very high, even stating Top Rated. Reason?
I have owned a Camp Chef Woodwind for over a year and love ease of cleaning, delicious smoked meats, and remain impressed smoked burgers do not fall apart like grilled.
David, I often share great smoking models, just a bit expensive. It seems that some of your models are not suitable for tight spaces. I realized that the smoker’s camp model seems more suitable for the whole family and type
I should choose which product you value according to the criteria, five stars, or the number of reviews
This is good for when you are baking cakes or pies or doing dishes that don’t need smoke. But down under 250°F, they produce plenty of mild, elegant smoke. And even though the fuel is wood, it is hard to oversmoke with a pellet smoker. Burning wood on a charcoal grill produces much more intense smoke flavor.