If you’re looking to make smoky chicken breast, fall-off-the-bone ribs and tender brisket in your backyard, the best BBQ smokers offer ample cooking space, precise heat control and useful features like built-in thermometers to help you become the pitmaster you’ve always dreamed of. Our top pick for most people is the Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill And Smoker, which has a generous capacity, Wi-Fi connectivity and versatile cooking options. For those who prefer the convenience of an electric model, the SmokinTex Smoker stands out for its user-friendly design and consistent performance.
The best BBQ smokers produce tender, flavorful food and maintain a consistent, even temperature.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Smokers come in various sizes and designs, offering BBQ enthusiasts numerous options to choose from. As you begin your shopping expedition, consider the cooking space you have on hand, your preferred heat and fuel sources and desired portability. Whether you’re partial to a charcoal smoker’s rich flavor or an electric model’s convenience, here are the best BBQ smokers on the market.
Dimensions: 48 x 25 x 70 inches | Weight: 243 pounds | Cooking space: 924 square inches | Temperature range: 165 to 500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years
What you’ll love:
6-in-1 functionality
Large cooking space
Wheels provide mobility
WiFi enabled
Keep in mind:
Expensive
Takes up more pellets than smaller grills
Traeger’s Ironwood XL offers impressive technology and a large cooking space for smoking your favorite foods. Helpful features include Smart Combustion to keep the temperature consistent, even when the hood is open, and Super Smoke Mode for when you want a quick flavor infusion. The brand’s specialized downdraft exhaust also keeps smoke blowing over your food for enhanced flavor.
This WiFi-enabled model includes a wireless meat thermometer to adjust the temperature and monitor the cooking action from anywhere. Plus, a dual grease and ash keg makes cleanup a breeze. The Ironwood XL is also incredibly versatile: It allows users to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and barbecue all from the same device.
Best Budget BBQ Smoker
An Affordable Device That’s Portable
Amazon
Royal Gourmet CC1830S Charcoal Grill And Offset Smoker
Dimensions: 28 x 53 x 49 inches | Weight: 50.3 pounds | Cooking space: 811 square inches | Temperature range: Not listed | Warranty: 1-years limited
What you’ll love:
Inexpensive
Large cooking area
Keep in mind:
Bottom shelf holds up to 20 pounds
Short warranty
The Royal Gourmet CC1830S is an excellent pick for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on a smoker. While it has fewer extra features, it still allows BBQ fans to whip up tender, flavorful meat. In addition to 811 square inches of cooking space, the CC1830S features a two-level height-adjustable charcoal pan for optimal heat control and a lid-mounted thermometer gauge to conduct temperature checks quickly. The CC1830S also has plenty of room for food prep, including front and side tables. A bottom wire shelf offers extra storage space for cooking essentials, and the oversized wheels make it easy to push around your yard.
Best Pellet BBQ Smoker
A Pick That Holds Up To 18 Pounds Of Pellets At Once
Amazon
Camp Chef XT 24 Pellet Grill
Dimensions: 24.5 x 47.5 x 50 inches | Weight: 110 pounds | Cooking space: 429 square inches | Temperature range: 160 to 500 degrees | Warranty: 3 years
What you’ll love:
Impressive smoke control
Single-release ash tray for easy cleanup
Keep in mind:
Digital controls take time to learn
Pellet storage box may be tricky to empty
If you’re in the market for a pellet smoker, Camp Chef’s XT 24 Pellet Grill makes the process breeze, with controls that allow users to precisely determine the level of smoke in any given cooking session. The smoker offers a whopping 429 square inches of cooking space, which can fit up to 30 burgers at one time. It also can house 18 pounds of pellets, thus minimizing frequent refills. To smoke your food, pick a “smoke number” from one to ten on the digital controls to dictate the level of smokiness, while a PID controller ensures an even temperature.
Best Electric BBQ Smoker
A Great Pick For Families
Williams Sonoma
SmokinTex Smoker
Dimensions: 17.5 x 21 x 29 inches | Weight: 93 pounds | Cooking space: 1051 square inches | Temperature range: 100 to 250 degrees | Warranty: 3 years
What you’ll love:
Ample cooking space
Adjustable racks
Keep in mind:
No viewing window
Doesn’t double as a grill
For those who want the convenience of an electric smoker, you can’t go wrong with the SmokinTex Smoker. This device is simple to operate: Plug it in, add wood chips, adjust the dial to your desired temperature and let it get to work. This smoker has five rack positions, providing up to 1051 square inches of cooking space. While you can pack it with just about anything, this smoker can handle up to six chickens in one round or five racks of ribs, making it a good option for large families or those who like to entertain. Other thoughtful features include double-walled insulated stainless steel construction for durability (and superior heat retention) and locking castor wheels.
Best Gas BBQ Smoker
Powered By Propane With Snap-Ignition
Camp Chef
Camp Chef Smoke Vault
Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 16 inches | Weight: 65 pounds | Cooking space: 630 square inches | Temperature range: 50 to 550 degrees | Warranty: 1-year limited
What you’ll love:
Relatively affordable
Adjustable racks
Keep in mind:
Heat may escape when adjusting water pan
No interior meat probe
The Camp Chef Smoke Vault is simple enough for beginners to operate, with enough features to please more seasoned pros. This smoker is powered by propane through an attached line, with an 18,000 BTU burner to deliver plenty of heat. A heat-control dial makes it simple to flip to your desired heat level, while the built-in gauge in front allows you to monitor temperatures as you cook. Customers appreciate the wood chip tray and water pan that help deliver a rich, smokey flavor and infuse moisture into your meat. When it comes time for cleanup, the porcelain base tray is removable.
Best Wood BBQ Smoker
A Model Designed To Deliver Even Smoke
Amazon
Weber Smokefire EX6
Dimensions: 30.3 x 55.5 x 31.3 inches | Weight: 204 pounds | Cooking space: 1,008 square inches | Temperature range: 200 to 600 degrees | Warranty: 5 years
What you’ll love:
LCD display
Smart features
Large cooking area
High temperature allows you to sear food
Keep in mind:
Pricey
Assembly takes time
The Weber Smokefire EX6 is powered by wood pellets for a distinct smoky flavor, with ample features to make the cooking process smooth and painless. This pick offers up to 1,008 square inches of space, giving you plenty of room to cook your favorite meat, fish and vegetables. Two included meat probes sync up with an app on your phone to help you keep tabs on your ingredients and when it’s time to flip your food. There’s even a countdown to signal when your food should be ready. What’s more, this model uses specialized “flavorizer” bars to provide even heat and infuse your food with rich flavors.
Best BBQ Smoker For Beginners
Easy To Use And Quick To Clean Up
Amazon
Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker
Dimensions: 20 x 22 x 40 inches | Weight: 59 pounds | Cooking space: 548 square inches | Temperature range: 100 to 400 degrees | Warranty: 3-year limited
What you’ll love:
Easy to operate
Removable shelves
Keep in mind:
Seasoned smokers may want more customization
Assembly takes about 45 minutes
The Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker was specifically designed for newcomers to smoking, with user-friendly features and a relatively portable, lightweight design. Operation is simple: Place your food inside, set the internal temperature and the COS-330 handles the rest. There’s enough cooking space for several cuts of meat plus vegetables, and the chrome-coated racks are adjustable to allow room for larger ingredients. Thanks to the removable water pan and wood chip tray, cleanup is a breeze, and users can monitor the interior temperature with the built-in thermometer on the front door.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen editors have extensive experience testing, researching and reviewing the best home products on the market. We’ve published scores of expert-backed roundups on outdoor products, including the best grills, best flat-top grills and more.
Korin Miller, the author of this story, is a regular Forbes Vetted contributor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics.
For additional guidance, Miller consulted with three industry experts: Myron Mixon, a five-time BBQ world champion and a judge on BBQ Pitmasters; Debora Miller, a chef and dean of culinary arts at Keiser University; and Bob Bennett, head chef at Zingerman’s Roadhouse.
How We Chose The Best BBQ Smokers
To find the best BBQ smokers, we researched dozens of best-selling options, compared features, spoke with three industry experts and asked our experienced staff for insights.
Our home and kitchen editorial team focused on BBQ smokers from trusted brands and retailers like Traeger, Cuisinart and Weber.
To determine the best options, we analyzed features such as dimensions, weight, cooking space, heat source, temperature range and portability.
We took customer reviews and average star ratings into careful account, sticking to models that have garnered at least an average rating of 4 stars and only a negligible amount of concerning reviews, if any.
The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In The Best BBQ Smokers
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best BBQ smokers. Here’s what to look for.
Heat Source
Smokers are typically powered by electricity, charcoal or gas. There is no right choice when it comes to heat source—it often comes down to personal preference. Electric smokers are easy to operate and a good option for beginners. They’re also known for delivering even temperatures. Charcoal smokers require slightly more skill to operate, but they tend to produce more flavorful food. While most smokers are large and h
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