Outdoor Smokers — Complete Buyer's Guide
A smoker cooks at 225-275°F for hours, so the right choice depends on how much attention you want to give it. This guide covers the main types, what makes temperature easy or hard to manage, and who should buy a dedicated smoker rather than a grill that can also smoke.
Smoker Types and Tradeoffs
Offset smokers burn wood or charcoal in a side firebox and deliver the most traditional results. They demand constant fire tending and a learning curve. Vertical smokers stack racks over a heat source, save floor space, and tend to hold temperature more steadily.
Drum smokers are simple, charcoal-fed, and efficient with fuel, but they have limited rack space. Pellet smokers feed wood pellets automatically and are the easiest to run, though they produce a milder smoke flavor. Electric smokers are the most hands-off and suit beginners, but they give the lightest smoke character.
Temperature Control: Easy vs. Difficult
Pellet and electric smokers use thermostats, so you set a number and walk away. Offsets sit at the other end: you manage airflow, fuel, and weather by hand. Vertical and drum smokers fall in between, since they are compact and reward small vent adjustments.
Look for thick steel or good insulation, tight door seals, and a thermometer you can trust. Thin metal and leaky seams make temperatures swing, especially in wind or cold.
Wood Types and Flavor Profiles
Hickory gives a strong, bacon-like smoke that suits pork and ribs. Oak is balanced and works with almost anything, including brisket. Mesquite burns hot and bold, so use it sparingly.
Apple and cherry add light sweetness for poultry and pork, and cherry also deepens color. Pecan sits between hickory and fruitwood. Pellet users can blend woods, while stick-burner users get the strongest flavor.
Cooking Capacity
Count grate area, but also check rack spacing and height. A brisket or pork shoulder needs vertical clearance, and ribs need width or rib racks. Drum smokers hold plenty of food for their size when hung vertically, while offsets and large vertical cabinets suit big gatherings.
If you cook for two to four people, a compact pellet or electric unit is plenty. Cooking for 10 or more calls for a larger offset, a cabinet-style smoker, or two units.
Top Brands at Different Price Points
Several brands we carry cover the main smoker styles:
- Entry level (roughly $530-$1,000): Oklahoma Joe's is known for offset smokers, and Pit Boss for pellet models. Smokin Tex and Masterbuilt offer electric options, and Gateway Drum Smokers sits near the upper end of this range.
- Mid range ($900-$3,300): Traeger, Camp Chef, Green Mountain Grills, and recteq are the pellet names here. Backwoods Smoker and Cookshack cover vertical and electric cabinets, and Old Country BBQ Pits makes offsets. Kamado Joe and Primo fit this range if you want a ceramic cooker that smokes.
- High end ($4,000+): Memphis Grills, upper-tier Traeger and recteq models, and larger Cookshack units suit buyers who cook often and want durability.
Dedicated Smoker or Grill With Smoking Capability?
Buy a dedicated smoker if you cook brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder regularly and care about smoke flavor and stable low temperatures. A dedicated unit does this job better than any add-on. It is also easier to dial in for long cooks.
A gas grill with a smoker box or tube works if you grill most nights and smoke occasionally. Smoke flavor and temperature stability will be more limited. If you go this route, start with our guides to gas grills under $1,000 or gas grills under $2,000. For a lower budget, see entry-level gas grills starting around $500.
For a multi-purpose setup, Weber vs. Napoleon and Fire Magic vs. Lynx show how popular gas grill brands compare.