Best Pit Boss Pellet Grills: Four Models That Give You the Most Grill for the Money

Pit Boss built its reputation on one idea: give people a lot of pellet grill for the money. Compare cooking area per dollar, and Pit Boss usually wins. That is why so many first-time buyers end up with one, and it is why this brand deserves its own guide.

The trade-off is polish. Pit Boss grills tend to use lighter steel, simpler finishes and less refined controllers than premium brands. They cook well, but they ask a little more care and sometimes a little more tinkering. Prices vary, so the table shows typical ranges. Confirm the current price on Amazon before you buy.

What you get with Pit Boss

Size for the price. The Navigator 850 and 700 Carbon offer far more cooking area than similar-priced rivals.

Big hoppers. The Navigator 850 has a 30 pound hopper, and the 700 Carbon has a 13.5 pound hopper. Big hoppers mean fewer refills on long cooks.

Flame broilers. Several models let you slide open a plate for direct flame, which helps with searing.

Low entry price. The Pit Boss 150 is among the lowest-priced pellet grills with a large ratings base.

What to expect

Pit Boss grills use thinner steel than premium models, so they lose heat faster in wind and cold. Build quality can vary between production runs, so read recent reviews, not just the average. Customer support is serviceable, but the parts network is smaller than Traeger's. None of these points stops a Pit Boss cooking good ribs and chicken. They are the reason it costs less.

Our four picks

Pit Boss Navigator 850: best Pit Boss overall

About 932 square inches, WiFi and Bluetooth app control and a 30 pound hopper. It is the biggest, best-equipped Pit Boss in our list, and it is priced well below premium grills of similar size.

Few buyers have rated it so far, and it has a large footprint.

Buy it if you want space, app control and a big hopper. Skip it if you want a long track record on this exact model. See also our WiFi guide.

Pit Boss 700 Carbon: best low-cost large Pit Boss

About 718 square inches, a 13.5 pound hopper and an LCD digital controller with a meat probe, at a low price. It is a lot of grill for under $500 on many days.

It is a newer listing with fewer ratings, and it has no app control.

Buy it if you want room on a tight budget. Skip it if you want WiFi. Our guide to pellet grills under $500 compares more low-cost choices.

Pit Boss 440 Mahogany: best compact Pit Boss

A 518 square inch grill with a flame broiler and an LED controller. Well over a thousand buyers have rated it, so you can read plenty of real experiences.

The 5 pound hopper means more refills, and the build is lighter than pricier grills.

Buy it if you want a proven compact grill at a low price. Skip it if you smoke overnight.

Pit Boss 150: best portable Pit Boss

A small grill with 256 square inches, a 7 pound hopper and a flame broiler, built to travel to campsites and tailgates. Well over a thousand buyers have rated it.

The cooking area is small, and it needs a power source. Our guide to small and portable pellet grills covers the alternatives.

Buy it if you want the cheapest portable pellet grill with a good track record. Skip it if you cook for a crowd.

Pit Boss or something else?

If cooking area per dollar is your priority, Pit Boss is hard to beat. If you want a longer support network and a mature app, a Traeger may suit you better, and our Pit Boss vs Traeger comparison walks through the differences. For a value grill from another brand, the Z Grills models in our main guide are strong rivals.

Getting the most from a Pit Boss

Run the burn-in before the first cook, keep the grill covered and store pellets in a sealed bin. Clean the fire pot and grease tray regularly, since a dirty pot is the main cause of ignition problems. Use a separate thermometer, because built-in probes can drift. In cold or windy weather, shield the grill and allow longer preheats.

If you plan to sear with the flame broiler, clean up grease first. Drips on a hot fire can flare. Our guide to cleaning and maintaining a pellet grill covers the routine.

Common mistakes

Ignoring hopper size on the compact models, skipping the cover, using damp pellets and trusting the built-in probe alone. Another mistake is buying the biggest grill without checking the patio space for the open lid.

Getting the most from a Pit Boss

Pit Boss grills reward a bit of attention. The first thing to do is run the burn-in, which removes manufacturing oils and seasons the grill. Follow the manual for the temperature and the time. After that, learn how your grill behaves. Every grill has quirks, and cheaper models can have bigger ones.

Put a separate thermometer at the grate and compare it with the controller's reading. If the grill runs hotter or cooler than it says, you can adjust your settings to match. Learn where the hot spots are, and rotate food if one side browns faster.

Common Pit Boss quirks and how to handle them

Temperature swings. Basic controllers swing more than PID controllers. Wind and cold make it worse. Shield the grill from wind, keep the fire pot clean and use dry pellets.

Pellet jams. Damp pellets and dust cause jams in the auger. Store pellets in a sealed bin, and sift out dust before loading.

Flare-ups with the flame broiler. Grease dripping onto the open flame can flare. Clean the tray and the pot before you sear, and keep the lid within reach.

Paint and rust. Thinner finishes can chip, especially around the firebox. Keep the grill covered, touch up chips with high-heat paint and keep it dry.

Small hoppers on compact models. The 440 Mahogany has a 5 pound hopper, and the Pit Boss 150 has a 7 pound hopper. Fill them before long cooks and check often.

None of these quirks is unique to Pit Boss. They are common on budget grills, and good habits keep them rare. Our troubleshooting guide covers fixes for the most common problems.

Which Pit Boss for which cook

If you smoke long cuts, the Navigator 850 gives you the hopper and the space. If you cook for a small family and want a low price, the 440 Mahogany or the 700 Carbon fit. If you tailgate, the Pit Boss 150 is the one to pack. If you want WiFi, the Navigator 850 is the model in our list that has it.

Think about the space you have as well. The Navigator 850 has a large footprint, so measure your patio, including the open lid and the hopper. A compact grill that fits is better than a large one that does not.

Accessories worth buying

A fitted cover is the first purchase. Add a quality digital thermometer, a grill brush and foil liners for the grease tray. A spare igniter is cheap insurance. If you plan to smoke often, a smoke tube adds flavor. For searing, a cast iron pan or a grate insert can help. Our guide to wood pellets for smoking covers pellet choices.

Final check before you buy

Look at the current price, the cooking area, the hopper size and the recent reviews on the exact model. Confirm the warranty and the return window. If you are comparing brands, our Pit Boss vs Traeger guide and our guide to pellet grill brands lay out the trade-offs.

Bottom line

Pit Boss gives you the most cooking area for the money. The Navigator 850 is the best all-round pick, the 700 Carbon is the low-cost big grill, the 440 Mahogany is the proven compact grill and the Pit Boss 150 is the budget portable pick. Check the current price, read recent reviews and buy a cover.