A pellet grill is the closest thing barbecue has to an autopilot. You fill a hopper with hardwood pellets, set a temperature, and a controller feeds pellets into a firepot at whatever rate holds that number — for an hour of chicken thighs or 14 hours of brisket. The best models now report the temperature, the meat probe and the pellet level to your phone, so the overnight cook that used to mean checking a smoker at 3 a.m. now means checking an app. They are also more versatile than their name suggests: the same grill smokes, roasts, bakes and, on the better models, sears. Prices for a good one run from about $800 to $1,800, and the differences come down to capacity, temperature range and how well the grill holds heat in winter. These are the five worth buying.
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| Product | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 Traeger Woodridge Pro Best Overall |
$1,149.99 | Check Price |
 Pit Boss 850 Navigator Best Value |
$780 | Check Price |
 Traeger Pro 780 Most Proven Design |
$799.99 | Check Price |
 recteq Flagship 1600 Biggest Capacity |
$1,374.99 | Check Price |
 Traeger Woodridge Elite Best for Winter Grilling |
$1,799.99 | Check Price |
1. Traeger Woodridge Pro — Best Overall ($1,149.99)
The Woodridge Pro is the pellet grill we would recommend to most people buying their first serious smoker, and to most people upgrading from an old one. It has 970 square inches of cooking space, which Traeger says will fit 7 whole chickens, 9 racks of ribs or 7 pork butts. That is enough for a holiday cook-out without needing a second grill.
The features are the ones that actually change how you cook. Super Smoke mode adds extra smoke at the press of a button, which is what you want for brisket, pulled pork and ribs. WiFIRE connectivity lets you set and monitor the temperature from the Traeger app, and the digital pellet sensor tells you when the hopper is running low — the most common way an overnight cook goes wrong. Keep Warm mode holds food at serving temperature once it is done.
Clean-up uses Traeger’s EZ-Clean Grease and Ash Keg, which collects both in one container instead of making you vacuum out the firepot. A folding side shelf gives you prep space, and the grill accepts Traeger’s P.A.L. and ModiFIRE accessories for extra hooks, trays and cooking surfaces. The maximum temperature is 500°F, which is fine for roasting and grilling but not for a hard steak sear; for that, see the Woodridge Elite below.
Pros
- 970 square inches fits 7 chickens or 9 racks of ribs
- Super Smoke mode for extra smoke flavor
- WiFIRE app control and monitoring
- Digital pellet sensor warns before you run out
- Keep Warm mode once the cook is done
- EZ-Clean Grease and Ash Keg simplifies cleaning
- Works with P.A.L. and ModiFIRE accessories
Cons
- 500°F maximum limits searing
- 174 pounds — not easy to move
- Accessories are sold separately
- No insulation for cold-weather cooking
2. Pit Boss 850 Navigator — Best Value ($780)
The Pit Boss 850 Navigator costs $780 and gives you 932 square inches of total cooking surface, which is almost as much as the Woodridge Pro for $370 less. It is the best value here and our recommendation for anyone who wants a big, connected pellet grill without paying Traeger prices.
Its temperature range runs from 180°F to 500°F, and the Pit Boss flame broiler lets you slide a plate aside to put food over direct flame for searing, which Traeger’s mid-range grills cannot do. The 30-pound hopper has a viewing window, it has both WiFi and Bluetooth, and two meat probes are included in the box, where most grills include one.
Fan-forced convection spreads the heat evenly across the cooking surface, and there is a folding front shelf, a side shelf with tool hooks, and a bottom shelf for pellets. The detail that most stands out is the warranty: Pit Boss backs the grill for 5 years, the longest coverage you will find at this price.
Pros
- 932 square inches for $780
- Flame broiler for direct-flame searing
- WiFi and Bluetooth control
- Two meat probes included
- 30-pound hopper with a viewing window
- Fan-forced convection for even heat
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- 500°F maximum, like the Traegers
- Pit Boss app is less polished than Traeger’s
- 175 pounds
- Fewer accessories than the Traeger ecosystem
3. Traeger Pro 780 — Most Proven Design ($799.99)
The Pro series is the pellet grill that made Traeger a household name, and the Pro 780 is its current large model. It has 780 square inches of space, enough for 34 burgers, 6 whole chickens or 6 racks of ribs, and almost 400 owner ratings at 4.6 stars, which is the strongest track record of any grill on this list.
The current version uses Traeger’s D2 drivetrain: an upgraded controller and a brushless motor that light the grill quickly and hold temperature reliably. TurboTemp brings the temperature back up quickly after you open the lid, which is the moment when cheaper pellet grills lose time. WiFIRE app control is included and so is a meat probe.
It is a 6-in-1 grill — grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and barbecue — with a powder-coated steel body, heavy-duty wheels and an 18-pound hopper. Compared with the Woodridge Pro it has less space, no pellet sensor and no Super Smoke mode, which is why it is $350 cheaper. If you want a Traeger and do not need the extra capacity, it is the safe choice.
Pros
- 780 square inches: 34 burgers or 6 chickens
- D2 drivetrain with a brushless motor
- TurboTemp recovers heat quickly after opening the lid
- WiFIRE app control and a meat probe included
- 4.6 stars from nearly 400 owners
- $350 cheaper than the Woodridge Pro
Cons
- Smaller 18-pound hopper
- No pellet level sensor
- No Super Smoke mode
- 500°F maximum
4. recteq Flagship 1600 — Biggest Capacity ($1,374.99)
The recteq Flagship 1600 is the grill for people who cook for crowds. It has 1,667 square inches of cooking space, nearly twice that of the Woodridge Pro, and recteq says a full hopper will run for 40 hours without refilling, which makes the longest brisket and pork shoulder cooks genuinely hands-off.
It also has the widest temperature range here, from 180°F up to 700°F. That top end is hot enough to sear steaks properly on the grates, so you do not need a separate gas grill. recteq uses a PID controller that it says holds temperature within 5°F, and the build is stainless steel throughout, with recteq’s bumper-to-bumper warranty. The app handles monitoring and control.
The main limitation is that it is a large, 230-pound machine, and only a few dozen Amazon owners have rated it so far, although recteq has a strong reputation with barbecue enthusiasts. If you regularly cook for 15 or more people, nothing else here comes close for capacity.
Pros
- 1,667 square inches — the largest here by far
- 180°F to 700°F range sears as well as smokes
- Up to 40 hours of cooking on a full hopper
- PID controller holds temperature within 5°F
- Stainless steel construction
- Bumper-to-bumper warranty
Cons
- $1,374.99
- 230 pounds and a large footprint
- Only a few dozen Amazon ratings so far
- Far more capacity than most families need
5. Traeger Woodridge Elite — Best for Winter Grilling ($1,799.99)
The Woodridge Elite is the Woodridge Pro with the two upgrades serious grillers ask for most. The first is an insulated body. Pellet grills burn more pellets and struggle to hold temperature when it is cold and windy, and insulation keeps the heat consistent, which is what you want if you smoke a turkey in November or ribs in January.
The second is a side sear station: a built-in burner beside the main grill for scorching steaks, sauteing vegetables or simmering sauces. It solves the one complaint everyone has about pellet grills, which is that they do not sear well. You smoke the steak low on the main grill, then finish it on the side station.
Otherwise it matches the Pro: 970 square inches of cooking space, WiFIRE, the digital pellet sensor and Keep Warm mode, plus support for a Bluetooth meat thermometer and a built-in storage cabinet. It is expensive at $1,799.99, but if you grill all year round it is the most complete pellet grill Traeger sells.
Pros
- Insulated body for consistent heat in cold weather
- Side sear station for steaks and sauces
- 970 square inches of cooking space
- WiFIRE, pellet sensor and Keep Warm mode
- Bluetooth meat thermometer compatible
- Built-in storage cabinet
Cons
- $1,799.99 is the most expensive here
- 220.5 pounds
- Same main-grill capacity as the cheaper Woodridge Pro
- Limited stock at the time of writing
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Woodridge Pro | Pit Boss 850 | Pro 780 | recteq 1600 | Woodridge Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,149.99 | $780 | $799.99 | $1,374.99 | $1,799.99 |
| Cooking area | 970 sq in | 932 sq in | 780 sq in | 1,667 sq in | 970 sq in |
| Temperature range | Up to 500°F | 180-500°F | Up to 500°F | 180-700°F | Up to 500°F |
| Searing | No | Flame broiler | No | 700°F grates | Side sear station |
| Hopper | Not specified | 30 lb with window | 18 lb | 40-hour runtime | Not specified |
| Connectivity | WiFi | WiFi + Bluetooth | WiFi | WiFi app | WiFi + Bluetooth probe |
| Pellet sensor | Yes | Window | No | Not specified | Yes |
| Meat probes included | Not specified | 2 | 1 | Not specified | Bluetooth compatible |
| Insulated | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Weight | 174 lb | 175 lb | 166.7 lb | 230 lb | 220.5 lb |
How to Choose a Pellet Grill
Size It to Your Biggest Cook, Not Your Average One
Most nights you will cook for a few people and any grill here is big enough. The question is the holiday or the party. Around 780 square inches handles about 6 chickens or 34 burgers. Around 950 square inches handles 7 chickens or 9 racks of ribs. Beyond that, the recteq’s 1,667 square inches is catering territory. Buy for the largest cook you do a few times a year.
Decide How Much Searing Matters
This is the biggest weakness of pellet grills. Most top out at about 500°F with indirect heat, which is great for smoking and roasting but will not give you a steakhouse crust. If you grill a lot of steaks, choose a grill that solves this: the Pit Boss flame broiler, the recteq’s 700°F maximum, or the Woodridge Elite’s side sear station.
WiFi Is Worth Having
Smoking is long and slow. Being able to see the grill temperature, the meat temperature and the pellet level on your phone, and to adjust the temperature without going outside, is the single biggest quality-of-life improvement in modern pellet grills. Every grill here has it.
Watch the Pellets
A pellet grill that runs out of fuel goes cold and can ruin a 12-hour cook. A larger hopper and a pellet level sensor are the two features that prevent it. Plan on roughly 1 to 3 pounds of pellets per hour depending on temperature and weather, and keep pellets dry — damp pellets swell and jam the auger.
Cold Weather Changes Everything
Pellet grills use more fuel and hold temperature less well in cold, windy weather. If you plan to smoke through the winter, an insulated grill like the Woodridge Elite, or an insulated blanket made for your model, will save pellets and keep temperatures steady.
Check the Warranty
Pellet grills have electronics — controllers, igniters, auger motors and fans — that can fail. Warranty terms vary widely; Pit Boss offers 5 years on the 850 Navigator and recteq offers a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Compare coverage before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pellet grill worth it?
If you like smoked food and want consistent results without managing a fire, yes. A pellet grill holds a set temperature automatically by feeding hardwood pellets into a firepot, so long cooks like brisket and pork shoulder become largely hands-off, especially with WiFi monitoring. The trade-off is that most pellet grills do not sear as well as a gas or charcoal grill unless they have a searing feature.
Can you sear a steak on a pellet grill?
It depends on the grill. Most top out around 500°F, which is not hot enough for a proper crust. The recteq Flagship 1600 reaches 700°F, the Pit Boss 850 Navigator has a flame broiler for direct-flame cooking, and the Traeger Woodridge Elite has a dedicated side sear station. With any pellet grill, a reverse sear — smoking the steak low, then searing at the end — gives excellent results.
How many pellets does a pellet grill use?
Roughly 1 to 3 pounds per hour, depending on the temperature, the weather and the grill. Low-and-slow smoking uses the least; high-temperature cooking and cold, windy weather use the most. A 20-pound bag usually lasts somewhere between 6 and 20 hours of cooking.
Traeger vs Pit Boss: which is better?
Traeger has the more polished app and the larger accessory range, and features such as the pellet sensor, Super Smoke mode and the Woodridge Elite’s insulated body and sear station. Pit Boss offers more cooking space for the money, a flame broiler for searing, two meat probes and a 5-year warranty. If value matters most, Pit Boss; if you want the best software and ecosystem, Traeger.
Can you use a pellet grill in winter?
Yes, but it will use more pellets and take longer to reach and hold temperature in cold, windy weather. Insulation helps a lot: the Traeger Woodridge Elite has an insulated body for exactly this reason, and insulated blankets are available for many other grills. Keep the grill out of the wind and keep pellets dry.
Do pellet grills need electricity?
Yes. The controller, auger motor, igniter and fan all need power, so a pellet grill must be plugged into an outdoor outlet. That is the main practical difference from charcoal and gas grills. For a backyard setup, a covered outdoor GFCI outlet near the grill is the simplest solution.
The Verdict: Which Pellet Grill Should You Buy?
For most people, the Traeger Woodridge Pro is the best pellet grill of 2026. It has room for a holiday cook, Super Smoke for better flavor, WiFi control and a pellet sensor that prevents the most common overnight failure.
If you want the most grill for your money, the Pit Boss 850 Navigator gives you almost the same space, a flame broiler, two probes and a 5-year warranty for $780. The Traeger Pro 780 is the proven classic. The recteq Flagship 1600 is for cooking for crowds and searing at 700°F. And the Traeger Woodridge Elite is the pick if you grill all year and want a built-in sear station.