Best Pellet Grills for Backyard Cooking (Six Picks for Every Budget)

Pellet grills sell a simple promise: set a temperature, add wood pellets, and the grill does the work of holding it for hours. That is why a first-time buyer can put out decent brisket, ribs and smoked chicken in the first week. It is also why the category is crowded. Dozens of models look alike on the shelf, yet they differ a lot in cooking area, steel thickness, controls and how well they hold temperature in cold or windy weather.

This page narrows the field to six grills that cover most backyard situations. You get a quick comparison first, then a short guide to choosing, then the reasoning behind each pick so you can match a grill to your yard, your budget and the way you actually cook.

How to choose a pellet grill

Four decisions do most of the work. Settle them first and the list shrinks quickly.

1. Cooking area

Cooking area is measured in square inches, and it tells you how much food fits on the grates at once. As a rough guide, about 500 to 600 square inches suits a household of two to four people. If you cook for family gatherings, smoke a couple of pork shoulders at once or host often, look for 800 square inches or more. Bigger grills also burn more pellets to reach temperature, so do not buy size you will not use.

2. Controls and app features

Almost every grill here has a digital controller. Some add Wi-Fi and an app, so you can check the grill temperature and the meat probe from the couch. It is a real convenience on long cooks, and it costs more. If you plan to smoke a brisket overnight, app alerts are worth having. If you mostly grill on weekends while standing next to it, you can skip them.

3. Build quality

Look at the steel thickness, the lid fit and the legs. A thin lid that does not seal leaks heat and smoke, which makes the grill burn more pellets and swing in temperature. Heavier grills usually hold temperature better in wind and cold. Reviews from owners who have used a grill for a full season are more useful than first-week impressions.

4. Where you will use it

A grill on a covered patio next to an outlet is an easy case. If you want to take it camping, to a tailgate or to a small balcony, portability and power source matter more than size. We cover that in the portable pick below.

If you are still deciding between pellet, charcoal and gas, our comparison of the three covers the trade-offs in plain terms.

Our top picks, one by one

Traeger Pro 575 (Pro 22): best overall

Traeger is the name most people think of with pellet grills, and the Pro 22 and Pro 575 line (the Amazon listing is titled Pro 22 and lists 572 square inches) is the model that shows why. Operation is simple. You set the temperature in the controller and the grill lights and runs, and the Pro 575 design pairs with Traeger's app so you can keep an eye on the cook without hovering. Confirm the controls on the listing before you buy, since Traeger has updated this model over the years. Pellets and replacement parts are easy to find, which matters more than it sounds when the grill is a few years old and needs an igniter or a controller.

The trade-off is price and size. You pay a premium for the brand compared with similar-sized Pit Boss and Z Grills models, and the cooking area is mid-size, so it suits a family but not a crowd. If you want a grill that works the first time and has a long track record behind it, this is the safe choice.

Buy it if you want an easy, well-supported first pellet grill. Skip it if you want the most cooking area per dollar.

Pit Boss Navigator 850: best value for space

The Pit Boss Navigator 850 lists 932 square inches, WiFi and Bluetooth control and a 30 pound hopper, at a price below the similar-size Traeger models. That space matters when you cook for a family, because ribs, a couple of racks and sides fit on the grates at once, and the big hopper suits long cooks. Pit Boss has a big owner base, so there is plenty of help online if something goes wrong. It is a newer listing with fewer buyer ratings than the older Pit Boss models, so read recent reviews.

The compromise is polish. Steel and finish on lower-priced grills tend to be thinner than on premium models, and you may need to care for it more carefully to avoid rust, with a cover and regular grease cleanup. For most backyard cooks, that is a fair trade for the extra space and the lower cost.

Buy it if you want plenty of room without paying a premium. Skip it if you want a refined finish and the most polished app experience.

Z Grills 7002B: best mid-size value

The Z Grills 7002B is the grill to look at if you want a mid-size grill without the brand premium. It lists about 700 square inches and a PID controller, and thousands of buyers have rated it, so you can smoke, roast and grill without paying for extras you may not use. For a first pellet grill, it lets you find out whether you enjoy this style of cooking without a large purchase.

Expect a simpler build and fewer extras than a premium grill, and be gentle with it: keep it covered, clean the grease regularly and avoid leaving pellets in a damp hopper. Within those limits, it does the job well for the money.

Buy it if you want a mid-size pellet grill at a fair price. Skip it if you want the heaviest build or app control.

Traeger Ironwood 885: best premium pick

The Ironwood 885 is for people who already know they will use a pellet grill often. It is larger than the Pro 575, with more room for big cooks, and the finish and features reflect the higher price. If you smoke regularly, host or want a grill that feels like a long-term piece of equipment, it is a sensible step up.

The cost is the obvious drawback. If you cook a few times a month, the extra size and features will not change your results enough to justify the price, and a mid-range grill will make food that tastes just as good.

Buy it if you cook on a pellet grill every week and want room and refinement. Skip it if this is your first pellet grill and you are not sure how much you will use it.

Brisk Zelos-450: best budget WiFi pick

The Zelos-450 is for people who want app control without the Traeger price. It lists 450 square inches, a PID controller, a meat probe and a 12 pound hopper, and it connects over WiFi, so you can check the grill and the probe from the couch. That is a lot of features for the money, and it makes long cooks like pork shoulder far easier to manage.

The catch is track record. Brisk is a newer name, the cooking area is on the small side for big gatherings and only a couple hundred buyers have rated it so far. Read recent reviews on the app and the build before you decide. If you want the lowest risk, a Traeger or Pit Boss from this list has a longer history.

Buy it if you want WiFi control at a low price. Skip it if you want a long-established brand or lots of cooking space.

Pit Boss 150: best portable pick

The Pit Boss 150 is a compact pellet grill built to travel. It lists 256 square inches, a 7 pound hopper and a flame broiler, which gives you real pellet cooking in a small body that works for camping, tailgates, a small patio or a balcony where a full-size grill will not fit. It is also priced low, and well over a thousand buyers have rated it.

Because it is small, the cooking area limits how much you can cook at once, the small hopper means more refills on long cooks, and it needs a power source, so plan for a portable power station or an outlet. For a couple or a small group, it is the easiest low-cost pellet grill to take with you.

Buy it if space or travel matter more than capacity. Skip it if you cook for a crowd or want to smoke large cuts.

Side-by-side specs

Mistakes people make when buying a pellet grill

Buying size you will not use. A huge grill burns more pellets and costs more. Pick the area you need for a normal cook, not the largest one on the shelf.

Paying for features instead of build. Wi-Fi and apps are useful, but they do not fix thin steel or a lid that leaks. If you have to choose, spend on build quality first.

Skipping the cover. Pellet grills rely on electronics and dry pellets. A cover protects the controller, stops rust and keeps moisture out of the hopper.

Using the wrong pellets. Heating pellets are not made for food. Buy food-grade hardwood pellets and store them dry. Damp pellets swell and can jam the auger.

Ignoring power needs. Every pellet grill needs electricity. If your patio has no outlet within reach, plan for an extension cord or a power station before you buy.

First cook and basic care

Before you cook on a new grill, follow the manufacturer's break-in, which is usually a short high-heat run to burn off manufacturing residue. After that, start with something forgiving, such as chicken thighs or a pork shoulder, so you learn how your grill behaves.

Use a meat thermometer instead of the clock, since cook times vary with weather, cut and grill. Keep the grill clean. Scrape the grates after each cook, empty the grease trap before it fills and vacuum ash from the fire pot on a regular schedule. Built-up ash and grease cause temperature swings and can start fires, so a few minutes of cleaning pays back quickly.

If you are brand new to this style of cooking, start with our guide on how to use a pellet grill for a step-by-step first cook.

How we chose these grills

We started with the most widely sold pellet grills and compared cooking area, controls, build, support, portability and what each one costs to own. We favored grills with a long track record and a large base of owner feedback, and we picked a range so there is a fit for different budgets and yards.

These picks come from specifications, manufacturer information and listing research. We have not tested each grill ourselves, and we do not claim to. Prices shown are typical ranges and move often, so confirm the current price on Amazon before you buy. You can read how we work and how we earn money on our about page and our affiliate disclosure.

Short on time? Our guide to the best pellet grills for the money ranks the best values, and our list of pellet grills as gifts covers buying for someone else.

Which one should you buy?

If you want one answer, buy the Traeger Pro 575. It is easy to run and easy to support, and it will cover most cooks for years. Choose the Pit Boss Navigator 850 if you want more cooking area for the money, and the Z Grills 7002B for a mid-size grill at a lower price. Spend more on the Ironwood 885 only when you know you will use the extra size, try the Brisk Zelos-450 if you want app control for less, and pick the Pit Boss 150 if your grill needs to travel.