When you are on the road in the South and a billow of smoke is visible above someone adding firewood or basting racks of ribs with sauce, it’s a good idea to pull over. They are likely smoking something and it is probably tender and delicious.
But you don’t have to go out to get that smoky bliss, with a smoker in your home arsenal, you can achieve that level of culinary nirvana right in your backyard. Don’t confuse grilling with smoking though—the basic difference is smoking is a slow process where food is cooked at low temperatures for a long period while grilling requires high heat applied over a short burst of time.
The field is wide when it comes to choosing the best smoker—some have smart technology, others offer additional grilling capabilities, there are large and small models, and even options with casters to make portability easier. Whether you are smoking a single brisket for the week or throwing a family reunion for 50 people in your backyard, there is sure to be one that lights your fire.
To come up with our list of the best smokers, we smoked chicken wings in 10 different models, assessing each on its ease of assembly and operation, internal temperature and smoke leakage performance, and more.
Best Overall: Weber Searwood 600 Pellet Grill at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Beginners: Masterbuilt 30-Inch Electric Smoker at Amazon $249 Jump to Review Best Charcoal: PK Grills Original PK300 Grill and Smoker at Amazon $600 Jump to Review Best Kamado: Big Green Egg Charcoal Kamado Grill and Smoker at Ace Hardware $1,150 Jump to Review Best Portable: Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill at Amazon Jump to Review
View on Amazon View on Weber.com $900 at Tractor Supply Co. What’s Great About It Sturdy construction
Large, intuitive control panel with a bright display and multiple features
Versatile
Easy to clean
Excellent customer support
What Could Be Better Deflector plate hindered even heat distribution
This pellet model is a black ceramic-coated smoker that looks like a traditional black gas grill but with a pellet box on the right side. During testing, we found it maneuvered easily despite its hefty weight—it has two wheels on the firebox side of the grill and two legs on the handled side for easy rolling. We were also impressed with the sturdy construction and the 648 square inches of cooking space, plenty to smoke lots of chicken wings.
The Weber Searwood 600 Pellet Grill came with an 8-inch grounded cord, ample for all applications we tried. Our favorite feature was the large, easy-to-read control panel, which is identical to the app and includes a fuel gauge, the set temperature, an adjustable timer, connectivity icons, two temperature probe readings, and more. All modes were straightforward and intuitive on both the control panel and the app.
During testing, we found that the smoker leaked a fair amount of smoke, but this issue is common with pellet smokers. We also found that the deflector plate hindered even heat distribution, causing the chicken wings to finish at different intervals.
We did love the clear instructions and support that come with this grill. The QR Code leads to the website, where a virtual treasure trove of information lies, including 24 How-To Videos and 466 Recipes. The easy clean-up added to the versatility of being able to smoke, roast, sear, grill, and bake, make this a great value.
Cooking Area: 648 square inches | Dimensions: 38.5 x 45.8 x 23 inches | Weight: 125.4 pounds
Smoker Type: Pellet These electrically powered smokers burn wood pellets to provide heat and smoke. They are as convenient as an electric smoker but offer the smoky flavor of a charcoal or wood smoker.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a low-maintenance, set-it-and-forget-it style smoker.
$249 at Amazon View on Walmart What’s Great About It Easy to operate
Affordable
Well-sealed
Easy access wood chip tube
Large cooking area
Easy assembly and cleanup
What Could Be Better Awkward to maneuver
Wide temperature fluctuation
Short cord
If you are looking for an easy introduction to smoking, this vertical, electric smoker has detailed instructions, a very straightforward control panel, and an easy-to-fill chip tube for that added smoked wood flavor.
The sturdy steel construction and ample 710 square inches of cooking area come at a budget price. However, right out of the box, we found that the 5-inch power cord was insufficient for the 10-inch clearance requirement. We also wish it was more maneuverable since it is so lightweight (the lightest on our list), but you can purchase a leg kit, making it much more functional.
The four chrome-coated racks provide a sturdy surface for loading food and during testing the wings came out juicy and nicely browned. The meat was also pleasantly smoky, but we struggled with temperature fluctuation due to the single-door design of this smoker.
We did appreciate the secure seal on the door to prevent smoke leakage and the drip tray design that caught everything. Overall, the simple, beginner-friendly operation coupled with an affordable price makes this a great buy. Plus, cleanup is a breeze and who wants to scrub the grill after you’ve been smoking dinner for hours?
Cooking Area: 710 square inches | Dimensions: 20.9 x 33.3 x 19.8 inches | Weight: 45.9 pounds
Smoker Type: Electric These models are probably the easiest to operate right out of the box—just plug in, add fuel, water, and food.
Who It’s For: These are for people who want a beginner-friendly, mess-free smoker that adds just a touch of smoky flavor to food.
$600 $525 at Amazon View on Pkgrills.com $600 at Home Depot What’s Great About It Easy setup and cleanup
Excellent heat retention and control
Portable
Built-in side table
What Could Be Better Venting system has learning curve
Cooking surface small and may lead to uneven cooking
Drip pan requires cleaning after each use
This model combines grilling and smoking in one unit for ultimate versatility. The cast aluminum construction offers superior heat conduction and the two-wheeled design coupled with a light, 60-pound body makes portability easy. We especially admired the design of the door on the cooking grate, which allowed us to add charcoal and wood without lifting the whole grate out throughout testing.
A side table provides workspace, and though the four-point venting system has a slight learning curve, we found controlling the temperature easy with the four dampers—this model gave us complete control.
It has 320 square inches of cooking area, putting it on the smaller side on our list—we struggled to load the 3 pounds of chicken wings on the grate during testing. This, coupled with the indirect cooking required when smoking, led to uneven cooking times.
When it came to the cleaning tests, we found the PK Grills was the most effortless. The grill comes apart except for the base, and the lid and bottom are lifted out of the base, making all parts removable for quick cleanup. Based on ease of use, cleaning, and overall performance during testing, we felt this smoker was a good value compared to the cost.
Cooking Area: 320 square inches | Dimensions: 42.8 x 37.4 x 16.2 inches | Weight: 60 pounds
Smoker Type: Charcoal Charcoal smokers offer you more flavor than propane, usually a less expensive price tag, and a less smoky alternative to wood, but there is a learning curve with this model to achieve the sweet spot with temperature.
Who It’s For: If you are interested in learning how to smoke effectively, this is a great entry-level style of grill.
$1,150 at Ace Hardware View on Biggreenegg.com What’s Great About It Heavy-duty construction
Precise temperature control
Easy to clean and operate
Excellent heat retention
Ready to cook in minutes
No smoke leakage
Efficient airflow control
What Could Be Better Very heavy
Pricey
Smaller cooking area
Challenging to operate
Kamado-style smokers like this one offer heavy-duty design, ease of cleanup, and versatility. All of that capability comes at a cost, but Aaron Fletcher, pitmaster chef at Noko in Nashville, thinks it is a worthy splurge, “Though more of a learning curve, using a kamado-style smoker like The Big Green Egg can produce amazing results with little monitoring. And it will last you a lifetime.”
This model has 262 square inches of cooking area for grilling, roasting, smoking, searing, and baking. All 3 pounds of each batch of wings fit, but not without maneuvering them around the small cooking area.
The exterior is weather-resistant and crafted from durable powder-coated steel, while the ceramic coating inside provides excellent heat retention, keeping food moist. We found that the rubberized feet on all legs created a very stable surface, even on uneven ground.
All that said, this smoker is not for a beginner—you have to know how to adjust airflow and how much charcoal/wood you need. But once you get the hang of it, you will appreciate the lack of smoke leakage and the resulting moist, smoky foods it produces. We definitely did when smoking our chicken wings, which came out juicy, whether dry-rubbed or naked, with a clean, consistent flavor and cook.
Though pricey, we feel the durability of this smoker is reflective of the product's overall value. It’s hard not to be impressed by its reliable, precisely calibrated temperature gauge and patented air flow systems—we crowned it the best kamado-style on our list of the best charcoal grills.
Cooking Area: 262 square inches | Dimensions: 22 x 31 inches | Weight: 162 pounds
Smoker Type: Kamado Kamado-style smokers offer the versatility of grilling and smoking and the convenience of not having to add more fuel. You will need to spend some time learning how to control the airflow, but ceramic is the gold standard in insulation and heat retention.
Who It’s For: “If you're looking for a mixed-use grill and smoker that won't take over all your patio space, kamado-style grills produce great results and are really fun to learn,” says Fletcher.
View on Amazon $480 at Williams Sonoma $480 at Home Depot What’s Great About It Easy to use and clean
Lightweight and portable
Versatile
Straightforward assembly
Precise temperature adjustments
What Could Be Better Some hot spots
One of the major issues with smokers is lack of portability, but this lightweight smoker has foldable legs, wheels, and a handle so you can bring it along for tailgating, camping trips, or weekend getaways.
This versatile smoker can grill, smoke, braise, roast, and bake, but it does have one of the smaller cooking areas on our list at 300 square inches and we found it would only fit 28 chicken wings at a time.
During testing, we appreciated the easy-to-use digital control, electric auto-start ignition, and precise cooking temperature with its Digital Arc Controller. We were impressed with precise temperature adjustments in 5-degree increments up to 450°F throughout testing.
Leonard Botello IV, owner and pitmaster at Truth BBQ, adds, “If you are in a place where you cannot openly burn wood or build fires to cook barbecue, I would start with a Traeger pellet smoker. They come fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. They constantly monitor your cooking temperatures, smoke, and internal protein temperatures, all while self-fueling the pit.”
The porcelain-coated grates made cleanup a breeze, and despite some noticeable hot spots, we appreciated the clean smoke flavor without bitterness or acrid notes that it delivered.
Cooking Area: 300 square inches | Dimensions: 37 x 36 x 18 inches | Weight: 60 pounds
If you want an expansive smoker with updated features, including an intuitive control panel and app, then the Weber Searwood 600 Pellet Grill is for you. We love the easy cleanup and the versatility of being able to smoke, roast, sear, grill, and bake.
If you are just getting into the smoking game and looking for an approachable model, choose the Masterbuilt 30-Inch Electric Smoker. This electric smoker has detailed instructions, a very straightforward control panel, and an easy-to-fill chip tube for that added smoked wood flavor.
We rounded up 10 of the best smokers and put them through a series of tests. We assessed ease of assembly and operation, preseasoned grills as recommended by manuals, smoked chicken wings two ways over two days, documented hot and cold spots, evaluated various features, and then cleaned the smokers according to the manufacturer’s instructions to observe ease of cleanup.
We assembled each smoker according to the included manufacturer’s instructions, noting the time it took to assemble it and the initial burn. For smokers with Wi-Fi capability, we downloaded the applicable app and navigated through it, noting ease of use and available smoking features. We smoked chicken wings, noting hot and cold spots, how many wings fit on the grill surface, the appearance, taste, and texture of the meat, and whether we needed to replenish the fuel.
We observed and documented the thoughtfulness of the design, whether the grill seemed sturdy and well-constructed, and how easy it was to clean after smoking. For performance testing, we evaluated heat distribution, temperature regulation, and smoke leakage. We also looked at maneuverability and ease of use when loading the fuel.
Finally, we thoroughly cleaned each smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We noted whether the drip pan was large enough to catch all or most drippings. In the end, we took all the data and evaluated the value of each smoker. We are currently in the process of long-term testing the winners, and will be updating this piece with fresh insights at the six-month and one-year mark.
We evaluated each smoker on its heat distribution, temperature regulation, and smoke leakage.
Size For Botello bigger is better. He adds, “Most people see our 1,000-gallon pits made out of propane tanks and immediately become intimidated, but those pits are easier to cook on because they have a large surface area to distribute the heat, making them much more forgiving.”
In the end, it comes down to how much space you have for a smoker and how many people you regularly cook for when considering the size. As a general rule of thumb, 300-500 square inches will comfortably accommodate a whole brisket, pork shoulder, a full rack of baby back ribs, or about 20 quarter-pound burgers. If you want to smoke multiple proteins at the same time, a larger cooking surface will be required.
Features Smart Technology
Smoking is a time-honored process that connects you to the food you are cooking, but smokers have evolved to make that time commitment less onerous, so this question then comes down to how involved you want to be in the cooking process.
If you are looking for a set and forget it, look for electronic or computer control features that take some of the work out for you like the Weber Searwood 600 Pellet Grill from our list.
Versatility
For the home cook who may not have a ton of space or budget to have multiple cooking appliances, some models smoke and grill. Multipurpose smokers, like the PK Grills Original PK300 Grill and Smoker from our list, are designed to deliver both high-heat charcoal grilling and low and slow smoking. Kamado grills, like the Big Green Egg from our list, also offer the versatility of grilling and smoking.
Portability
Portability isn’t something we usually associate with smokers, but models like the Traeger Tailgater Grill from our list make it easier to move around with its lightweight design and wheeled cart. If you don't have a permanent home for your smoker, make sure you take weight into account to make moving it in and out of storage easier.
Char-Broil Bullet Charcoal Smoker: This compact smoker was easy to assemble with clear instructions and included hardware. We loved the amount of smoke it produced and how that flavored the chicken wings. We added charcoal and wood easily through the front door and the sturdy legs provided stability. We do wish it had wheels to make it more stable and the small cooking surface limited food capacity during testing. However, this was one of the easiest to clean smokers in our testing. We appreciated that it came apart in various pieces and all the interior components were removable and overall felt that the smoky flavor it produced on the chicken and the size, construction and abilities make this smoker a great value.
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker: This vertical smoker delivered smoky flavor and juicy meat on both dry-rubbed and naked wings during testing. We wish the cooking area was a little more generous and the seals were tighter to prevent leakage, but we loved that the removable grates, drip tray, and charcoal tray all have a nonstick coating, making cleanup quick.
Cuisinart Vertical Propane Smoker: This gas-powered smoker had clear assembly instructions with well-labeled hardware and detailed pictures that let us put it together with minimal tools quickly. The propane tank was also easy to attach with a large knob for tightening. We appreciated the three cooking grates that provided ample cooking space. We smoked up to 40 wings at a time and they had a good smoky flavor. We found there was a learning curve to balance temperature control, and the thin walls led to fast heat loss, requiring frequent adjustments. We did appreciate the lightweight construction that allowed easy lifting and transport despite lacking wheels.
The Cuisinart Vertical Propane Smoker produced wings with a good smoky flavor, but its thin walls led to fast heat loss, requiring frequent adjustments.
Carrie Honaker is a food and travel writer who loves the fall-off-the-bone tender ribs that her smoker produces after 18 hours in the box. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she has seared and smoked hundreds of ingredients—she knows the importance of the proper smoker to ensure peak flavor and ideal cook temperature.
To compile this list, we tested 10 of the best smokers over two days, evaluating them based on design, ease of use, performance, and value. Carrie spent hours researching what to consider when shopping for smokers, including cooking area, ease of operation, ease of cleaning, fuel types, and available features. For expert tips on what to look for in smokers, she spoke to Aaron Fletcher, pitmaster chef at Noko in Nashville, as well as Leonard Botello IV, owner and pitmaster at Truth BBQ.
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