Best Smokers 2026: Pellet, Charcoal, Electric, Gas and Kamado

How to Pick in 30 Seconds

Renting with only a balcony? The Ninja Woodfire ProConnect XL is an electric grill that burns a scoop of pellets for flavor. Smoking through cold, windy winters? The insulated Traeger Ironwood 885 is worth a look, though it's a legacy model. Want a pellet grill that also sears hard? See the Pit Boss Navigator 850. For cookers built to grill as well as smoke, see our best grill and smoker combos.

Which Type of Smoker Should You Buy?

Choose the fuel first, then the model. Each type trades effort for flavor differently, and some need an outlet or a propane tank.

Charcoal and wood give the most smoke flavor and ask the most of you. Pellet, electric and propane smokers hand the fire to a controller, a dial or an element, and the smoke gets milder as the work gets easier. Our pellet grill vs traditional smoker guide covers that trade-off in depth.

You'll also see drum smokers and reverse-flow offsets in other lists. We haven't reviewed one of either, so none is recommended here.

Best Overall: Weber Smokey Mountain 18

1Best overall

Weber

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18"

★★★★★4.5/5

Best for: Regular smokers of ribs, pork shoulder and brisket

Best for: Regular smokers of ribs, pork shoulder and brisket

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Why we picked it: It's the simplest way to hold a low charcoal fire for a long cook. A water pan sits between the fire and the food to buffer the heat, a removable fuel door lets you add charcoal and wood without lifting the stack, and bottom and lid dampers steer the temperature. A lid thermometer and a silicone probe grommet come standard.

It lists 481 sq in on two stacked grates in a 41 x 19 x 21 in body (part number 721001). Weber covers the bowl, lid and center section for 10 years against rust-through and burn-through, plastic parts for 5 and the rest for 2. It lists at $419.

The usual way to fuel it is the Minion method: unlit briquettes in the charcoal ring with a small batch of lit coals on top, so the fire spreads slowly. There's no controller; you run it with the dampers.

Who it's for: People who smoke ribs, pork shoulder and brisket regularly over charcoal and want nothing to plug in.

Skip it if: You want one cooker that grills as well (look at the Weber Original Kettle 22"), you want set-and-forget control, or you want a tight door: owners commonly report smoke leaking around the fuel door. Need more room? Weber lists 726 sq in for the 22-inch Smokey Mountain, which we haven't reviewed.

Two stacked grates let big cuts sit below while ribs cook above.

Best Pellet Smoker: Traeger Woodridge Pro

2Best pellet smoker

Traeger

Traeger Woodridge Pro

★★★★★4.4/5

Best for: Overnight smokers who want a pellet sensor and Super Smoke on WiFIRE

Best for: Overnight smokers who want a pellet sensor and Super Smoke on WiFIRE

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Why we picked it: It's the pellet grill built for long, unattended smokes. Its 24 lb hopper has a pellet sensor that warns you before it runs low, and Super Smoke adds smoke at the low end of the dial; Traeger gives the Super Smoke range as 165–225°F. Keep Warm, WiFIRE app control and an RTD temperature sensor round it out.

It lists 970 sq in total (585 main plus 385 upper), and Traeger rates it at 6 chickens, 8 rib racks or 8 pork butts. It carries a 10-year limited warranty and sits in the $1,000–$1,150 tier.

Who it's for: People who want to load a shoulder at night and check on it from a phone.

Skip it if: You sear often. It tops out at 500°F and has no sear station, so the Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the better fit: its Flame Broiler is rated up to 1,000°F, for about $800 list. For six pellet picks, see our best pellet grills; set on the brand, see our best Traeger grills.

Best for Smoking and Searing: Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050

3Best smoke and sear

Masterbuilt

Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050

★★★★★4.3/5

Best for: Cooks feeding large groups who want charcoal flavor without vent work

Best for: Cooks feeding large groups who want charcoal flavor without vent work

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Why we picked it: It gives you charcoal flavor without the vent work, and it gets hot enough to sear. Charcoal in a tall side hopper feeds the fire, and Masterbuilt's DigitalFan holds any setpoint from 225°F to 700°F. Masterbuilt says it reaches 225°F in 8 minutes and 700°F in 15. The cast iron grate is reversible, with a smoking side and a searing side.

It lists 1,050 sq in total across a main grate and two warming racks (model MB20041220). The hopper takes up to 10 lb of lump or 16 lb of briquettes; Masterbuilt's feature list says a full hopper gives up to 10 hours of cooking, while a graphic on the same page says up to 8. The app tracks up to 4 probes. It lists at $999.99.

Who it's for: Hosts who cook for large groups and want real charcoal smoke with a controller doing the fire management.

Skip it if: You have no outdoor power, you want a long warranty (Masterbuilt gives 1 year, with registration required and rust excluded), or your patio is small: it measures 60.6 x 52.2 x 31.9 in. Masterbuilt also sells the bigger Gravity Series 1150, which we haven't reviewed.

Best Electric Smoker: Masterbuilt 40" Digital Electric Smoker

4Best electric

Masterbuilt

Masterbuilt 40" Digital Electric Smoker with Window and Legs

★★★★★4.2/5

Best for: Beginners and flame-restricted patios that want hands-off smoking

Best for: Beginners and flame-restricted patios that want hands-off smoking

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Why we picked it: It's the most hands-off smoker here. You set a time and a temperature from 100°F to 275°F, and the controller cycles the element in an insulated cabinet. A side wood chip loader lets you add chips without opening the door, and the door window lets you check the food.

It lists 970 sq in on 4 chrome-coated racks, which Masterbuilt says holds 16 chickens, 4 turkeys, 8 pork butts or 8 racks of ribs. It also has an adjustable air damper, a lockable latch, a water bowl and a rear grease tray, and it measures 28.1 x 23 x 50.4 in. It lists at $449.99, and Masterbuilt covers it for 1 year.

Check the model number: this pick is the MB20070122 with the window and legs. Masterbuilt also sells a legless version, the MB20072918.

Who it's for: Ground-level patios where open flames aren't allowed but an outlet is close, and anyone who wants to set it and leave it.

Skip it if: Bark comes first (chips smolder on an element, so smoke and bark are milder than charcoal), you want to sear (275°F is the top), or you live on a balcony, where Masterbuilt's clearance rules usually rule it out; see our best electric grills for apartments instead.

Best Kamado Smoker: Kamado Joe Classic Joe I

5Best kamado

Kamado Joe

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I

★★★★★4.5/5

Best for: First-time kamado buyers who want searing and long smokes from one grill for less

Best for: First-time kamado buyers who want searing and long smokes from one grill for less

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Why we picked it: It's the one cooker here that smokes low, sears hot and bakes pizza. Thick ceramic walls hold heat, and Kamado Joe rates it from 225°F to 750°F. The 2-tier Divide & Conquer racks let you set up direct and indirect zones at once.

It has an 18-inch, 250 sq in stainless grate (model KJ23RH). The warranty is the strongest here: limited lifetime on the ceramic for the registered original buyer, 5 years on metal and cast iron, and 3 years on deflectors and stones. It lists at $999.99.

Who it's for: People who want one charcoal cooker for smoking, searing and pizza.

Skip it if: You cook for crowds (250 sq in is about one shoulder at a time), you'll move the grill around, or you want a lift-assist dome; the Classic I has a spring hinge without the Air Lift. The Classic Joe II adds that hinge but is sold out at Kamado Joe US. For more ceramic options, see our best kamado grills.

Best for Big Crowds: recteq Flagship 1600

6Best for crowds

recteq

recteq Flagship 1600

★★★★★4.4/5

Best for: Big families, hosts and batch smokers who want long, hands-off cooks

Best for: Big families, hosts and batch smokers who want long, hands-off cooks

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Why we picked it: No other smoker we've reviewed has more room. The recteq Flagship 1600 lists 1,667 sq in total and a 40 lb hopper, with a PID controller and a Wi-Fi app. It has a 304 stainless fire pot and stainless grates, and it runs 180–700°F. Coverage is recteq's limited warranty.

Who it's for: Hosts and batch smokers who regularly fill a cooker with ribs and big cuts, and have a permanent spot on the patio.

Skip it if: You cook for four or fewer, want open-flame searing (it cooks indirectly over a cast-iron deflector), or have no permanent spot: it's 230 lb on its retail listing.

Best Budget Offset: Royal Gourmet CC1830S

7Best budget offset

Royal Gourmet

Royal Gourmet CC1830S Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker

★★★★★4.2/5

Best for: First-time offset smokers and budget hosts

Best for: First-time offset smokers and budget hosts

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Why we picked it: It's the only offset smoker we've reviewed, and it doubles as a charcoal grill. A side firebox holds the fire away from the food for indirect smoking, and a 2-level charcoal pan in the main chamber lets you grill direct.

It lists 811 sq in in total: a 443 sq in main grate, a 184 sq in warming rack and a 184 sq in firebox grate.

Who it's for: Budget cooks who enjoy tending a fire and adjusting dampers through a cook.

Skip it if: Your yard is windy (thin painted steel reacts fast to wind), you want set-and-forget smoking, or you want a long warranty; retailer listings show 1 year. For more charcoal options, see our best charcoal grills.

Best Propane Smoker: Pit Boss 3-Series Vertical Gas Smoker

8Best propane

Pit Boss

Pit Boss 3-Series Vertical Gas Smoker

★★★★★4.0/5

Best for: Beginners and big-batch cooks who want dial control without needing power

Best for: Beginners and big-batch cooks who want dial control without needing power

Check Current Price Read full review

Why we picked it: It smokes without an outlet or charcoal. A dual valve runs the cabinet burner and the chip-tray burner from one dial, with piezo ignition, and the owner's manual lists 720 sq in on 4 porcelain-coated racks, 12,500 BTU in total and a 100–320°F range. A front chip tray, a door window and a water pan round it out.

Is it still available? Pit Boss no longer lists it on its US site. Check for model PBV3G1 and SKU 10773 on any listing, since other Pit Boss "3-Series" smokers are different products. Pit Boss's newer PBV30GS is a different model we haven't reviewed.

Who it's for: Patios with no outlet where you'd rather run propane than charcoal.

Skip it if: Smoke flavor comes first, you want to sear or use an app, or you want a model the maker still sells. The warranty is 5-year limited per the owner's manual; confirm it with Pit Boss.

Best Smokers Compared

Use the table to confirm a pick, not to choose one. Every smoker here has a full write-up in our charcoal grill and smoker reviews and the other review hubs.

WSM 18 or Woodridge Pro?

Pick the Smokey Mountain if you want the strongest smoke and enjoy working dampers, with no cord to run. Pick the Woodridge Pro if you'd rather a controller hold the fire, with an app and a pellet sensor watching the hopper; it needs an outlet.

Gravity 1050 or Woodridge Pro?

The Gravity 1050 burns charcoal on a fan and reaches 700°F, so it smokes and sears on one grate. The Woodridge Pro makes milder pellet smoke and stops at 500°F, but it carries a 10-year limited warranty against the Gravity's 1 year.

Masterbuilt 40 or Pit Boss 3-Series?

Choose the Masterbuilt if you have an outlet: it has more rack space (970 vs 720 sq in) and Masterbuilt still lists it. Choose the Pit Boss only if propane suits you better and you can find model PBV3G1, since Pit Boss no longer lists it.

Classic Joe I or WSM 18?

The Classic Joe I sears and bakes pizza, and its ceramic is covered for life. The Smokey Mountain has almost twice the grate area for less than half the list price, and it's built to do one job: smoke.

Smoker Buying Guide

The fuel, the way the fire is controlled and where the smoker will live decide more than grate area or brand.

Flavor vs effort

Charcoal and wood make the strongest smoke, and the bark and smoke ring people chase, but you manage the fire. Pellet smokers burn hardwood pellets under a controller, so the smoke is milder by design. Electric and propane smokers make smoke from wood chips on an element or a chip-tray burner, which gives the mildest flavor of all.

Temperature control: dampers, fans and controllers

On the Smokey Mountain, the bottom and lid dampers set the airflow and the water pan buffers the swings. The Gravity 1050's DigitalFan feeds air to a charcoal fire to hold a setpoint. Pellet smokers use a controller to meter pellets; the recteq's PID controller adjusts the feed continuously. The Pit Boss runs from one dial, and the Masterbuilt 40 uses digital time and temperature settings. For the airflow basics on charcoal, see our guide to charcoal grill temperature control.

Can a smoker sear?

Some can. The Classic Joe I is rated to 750°F, the Gravity 1050 to 700°F, and the CC1830S grills direct over its charcoal pan. The recteq reaches 700°F, but indirectly over a deflector. The Woodridge Pro tops out at 500°F, the Pit Boss at 320°F and the Masterbuilt 40 at 275°F, so those are for smoking. On a smoker that can't sear, smoke first and finish over high heat with the reverse sear method.

How much space do you need?

Go by the maker's own capacity claims. Masterbuilt rates the 40" electric for 8 pork butts or 8 racks of ribs and the Gravity 1050 for 7 racks of ribs or 17 chickens. Traeger rates the Woodridge Pro for 8 pork butts. The Classic Joe I's 250 sq in grate suits a family meal or one shoulder; the recteq's 1,667 sq in is for crowds.

Power, fuel and placement

The Gravity 1050, the pellet picks and the Masterbuilt 40 all need an outdoor outlet. The Smokey Mountain, Classic Joe I and CC1830S need only charcoal, and the Pit Boss runs on a propane tank; do a soapy-water leak check on the connection at every tank swap. Our guide to how long a propane tank lasts covers tank planning.

Charcoal and propane smokers belong in open air. Never move one into a garage or under a covered patio to escape the weather: they make carbon monoxide, and the manuals set clearances. Keep the Gravity's fan and controller out of the rain.

Wi-Fi and apps: worth it?

An app lets you watch temperatures and change the setpoint from your phone. The Woodridge Pro has WiFIRE, the Gravity 1050's app tracks up to 4 probes, and the recteq has its own app. It earns its place if you smoke overnight or leave the house during long cooks. If you stay nearby, a wireless meat probe covers most of the same need.

Build, insulation and weather

The Smokey Mountain is single-wall porcelain-enameled steel, so it loses more heat in cold and wind; shelter it and open the bottom dampers further. The kamado's thick ceramic holds heat well. The Traeger Ironwood 885 has a dual-wall insulated body if you smoke through winter. The CC1830S's thin painted steel reacts quickly to wind. Whatever you buy, keep controllers and pellets dry.

Warranty compared

Wood, charcoal and pellets

The Gravity 1050 takes lump or briquettes; briquettes fit more weight per fill. Pellet smokers need food-grade hardwood pellets made for cooking, never heating pellets. Electric and propane smokers burn wood chips in a loader or tray. Our wood pairing chart for smoking matches woods to meats.

Seasoning and cleanup

Follow your manual's first-use steps; Masterbuilt, for example, says to pre-season before first use. After cooks, empty the ash, clean the water pan or water bowl and the grease tray, and keep the cooker covered. Our grill cleaning and maintenance guide has the full schedule.

The Takeaway

Choose the Weber Smokey Mountain 18 for charcoal smoke with no cord, the Traeger Woodridge Pro for pellet convenience, and the Masterbuilt Gravity 1050 to smoke and sear on charcoal. For your first long cook, start with how to smoke pork shoulder, and compare every fuel type in our best grills guide.