Which Pit Boss Smoker Should You Actually Buy?

Best for
Tailgaters and camping enthusiasts

The Pit Boss 150 Wood Pellet Grill delivers authentic hardwood barbecue in a portable tabletop package built for travel, camping, and tailgating. Weighing 43 pounds with external dimensions of 24.8 inches deep by 18.6 inches wide and 14 inches high, this portable pellet smoker is designed for easy transport. It features latch-locking lid latches and sturdy side handles that keep internal components secured during transit in an SUV or truck bed.

Inside the cooking chamber, the unit offers 256 square inches of total cooking space across a two-tiered rack configuration. A digital temperature controller manages convection heat between 180°F and 500°F across three selectable power levels, accompanied by automated start-up and cool-down cycles. A sliding flame broiler plate provides instant direct flame heat for high-temperature searing up to 1,000°F. If you frequently cook away from home, reviewing an in-depth pitboss portable pellet grill analysis helps demonstrate how this model balances tabletop convenience with legitimate wood-fired performance.

Pellet fuel feeds from an integrated 7-pound hopper designed to support standard cooking sessions. The porcelain-coated steel cooking grates distribute heat evenly and clean up quickly after greasy cooks. Pit Boss covers the grill with a 5-year warranty, providing solid peace of mind. It is ideal for couples, small families on road trips, and tailgaters, though anyone feeding larger backyard gatherings will quickly outgrow its compact surface.

• Tabletop portable design weighing 43 pounds with latching lid and carry handles
• Total cooking surface of 256 square inches across two porcelain-coated steel tiers
• Digital temperature control ranging from 180°F to 500°F with three power levels
• Direct flame broiler slider delivering direct heat searing up to 1,000°F

Best for
Small backyards and patios

The Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series Wood is a standalone backyard wood pellet cooker built for small decks and patios. Mounted on a heavy-duty cart with a solid lower storage shelf, this model weighs 136.6 pounds and gives you 8-in-1 cooking versatility to smoke, bake, braise, roast, grill, barbecue, chargrill, and sear. It offers a practical entry point into wood-fired cooking without consuming excessive yard space.

Cooking capacity spans 518 square inches across two tiers of porcelain-coated steel grates, accommodating multiple racks of ribs, chickens, or burger patties. An LCD digital controller governs the fire pot, holding temperatures steady between 180°F and 500°F in 5°F increments for precision heat management. The controller features two probe ports, and Pit Boss includes one meat probe in the box to help monitor internal food temperatures without opening the lid.

For high-heat cooking, the integrated Flame Broiler Lever opens the internal deflector plate to allow direct flame searing up to 1,000°F over the fire pot. The hopper holds 5 pounds of hardwood pellets, optimizing fuel consumption for shorter, efficient cooks. While the 5-pound capacity requires topping off during marathon smoking sessions, the lower shelf keeps extra fuel sacks close at hand. This model fits small families and weekend cooks who want true grilling and smoking versatility in a compact footprint.

• Cooking space of 518 square inches across two tiers of porcelain-coated steel racks
• LCD digital control board with 5°F increment adjustments from 180°F to 500°F
• External Flame Broiler Lever enabling direct flame searing up to 1,000°F
• Two meat probe ports with one food probe included and a 5-pound fuel hopper

Best for
Weekend family brisket smoking

The Pit Boss 700 FB2 Series Wood builds on the FB2 platform by providing increased cooking surface area and a much larger hopper for uninterrupted low-and-slow barbecue. It expands primary cooking space to 747 square inches across two tiers of porcelain-coated steel grates. This increased barrel volume easily fits large briskets, multiple pork butts, or several racks of ribs for neighborhood gatherings.

The primary advantage of this model is its 21-pound hopper capacity, which holds an entire standard 20-pound bag of hardwood pellets in a single pour. This large reservoir allows pitmasters to run overnight briskets and pork shoulders without waking up to refill fuel. An LCD digital controller maintains temperatures between 180°F and 500°F in 5°F increments. If you plan to monitor multiple cuts at once, sourcing an extra pit boss probe allows you to make full use of the controller’s two integrated probe ports.

Direct searing remains simple via the manual Flame Broiler Lever, which slides open to expose the fire pot for direct-flame charring up to 1,000°F. The heavy-duty cart features a solid lower shelf for tool buckets and pellets, backed by a 5-year warranty. While it lacks wireless connectivity, the 700 FB2 is an exceptional choice for pitmasters who value reliable mechanical operation and overnight fuel capacity.

• Generous 747 square inches of cooking space on two tiers of steel cooking grates
• Large 21-pound hopper holding an entire standard bag of hardwood pellets
• Flame Broiler Lever opening direct flame access for high-heat searing to 1,000°F
• LCD digital control board adjusting from 180°F to 500°F with two probe ports

Best for
Entertainers wanting smart app control

The Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi represents the brand’s connected horizontal pellet grill lineup, combining heavy-duty construction with modern smart features. Offering 932 square inches of total cooking surface, it accommodates large family cookouts with room to spare. The cart features tapered legs, a solid bottom shelf, and folding front and side prep shelves equipped with tool hooks for convenient food prep right at the grill.

Smart connectivity comes built-in via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, linking the grill directly to the Pit Boss Grills mobile app. This allows you to monitor meat temperatures, adjust cooking temps from 180°F to 500°F in 5°F increments, and receive cook notifications on your mobile device. Inside the drum, fan-forced convection circulates heat and wood smoke evenly across the cooking grates for dependable results on long cooks.

The fuel hopper holds a massive 30 pounds of hardwood pellets and includes a clear viewing window to verify fuel levels without lifting the lid. Cleanup is managed by an easy-access grease tray that funnels runoff into an external bucket, preventing grease pooling inside the barrel. Retaining the sliding flame broiler for direct searing and supported by a 5-year warranty, the 850 Navigator suits backyard cooks who want premium prep space and remote mobile management.

• Expansive 932 square inches of cooking surface with folding front and side prep tables
• Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity controlled through the Pit Boss Grills app
• High-capacity 30-pound pellet hopper featuring a transparent fuel viewing window
• Fan-forced convection airflow, easy-access grease management, and 5-year warranty

Best for
Marathon low and slow smoking

The Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi & vertical pellet smoker abandons the horizontal grill barrel in favor of a dedicated smoking cabinet. Recognized as the 2025 Best Vertical Smoker by Men’s Journal, this model organizes 1,118 square inches of cooking space across five porcelain-coated steel racks. Its vertical layout takes advantage of natural heat convection, drawing smoke past every rack before venting through the top chimney exhaust.

Temperature control operates from 130°F to 420°F, supporting delicate tasks like beef jerky and sausage alongside traditional pork shoulders and brisket. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth link the LCD controller to the Pit Boss Grills app, letting you adjust heat and track probes remotely. The control board includes three probe ports, with one meat probe provided in the package. Checking an extensive pitboss vertical pellet smoker overview shows how this cabinet architecture maximizes rack capacity within a narrow patio footprint.

Fuel endurance is a highlight, powered by a massive 50-pound pellet hopper that allows extended smoking sessions without reloading. The cabinet features heavy-gauge stainless steel construction, a high-temperature door gasket, and a large viewing window to check cooking progress without venting chamber heat. Because it lacks a flame broiler for direct searing, this unit gives way to horizontal models for grilling, but excels at dedicated low-and-slow barbecue.

• Vertical cabinet with 1,118 square inches of capacity across five adjustable racks
• Enormous 50-pound hopper capacity supporting uninterrupted multi-day smoking
• Temperature control from 130°F to 420°F with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app integration
• Heavy-gauge stainless steel cabinet with high-temp door seal and three probe ports

Best for
Batch smoking fish and sausage

The Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth digital vertical smoker takes an electric heating approach rather than using a motorized pellet auger. Standing as a 42-inch cabinet, it offers 1,320 square inches of cooking space across six adjustable racks. This electric smoker setup provides tremendous capacity for smoking whole turkeys, trays of ribs, fish fillets, and cured sausages simultaneously.

Heat is produced by a 1,650-watt electric heating element that maintains temperatures from 100°F to 300°F. The low 100°F threshold makes this smoker ideal for smoking cheese, curing bacon, and drying jerky without cooking the protein too quickly. Hardwood flavor is supplied by an integrated wood chip tray that accepts wood chips or pellets, generating smoke while the electric element manages cabinet heat. Wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controllers let you monitor cooking progress and heat settings directly from your smartphone.

The cabinet features heavy-duty steel walls and a sealed latching door that retain internal heat and smoke density. Dual probe ports and an included meat probe track internal temperatures accurately, while a removable grease cup and drip tray handle cooking runoff. Rear transport wheels allow you to roll the cabinet into storage after use, backed by a 3-year warranty. While it cannot grill or sear, it offers exceptional low-temperature control and rack volume for dedicated smoking enthusiasts.

• Vast 1,320 square inches of cooking space distributed across six adjustable racks
• 1,650-watt electric heating element operating across a 100°F to 300°F range
• Dedicated wood chip tray compatible with wood chips or wood pellets for smoke generation
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mobile connectivity, dual probe ports, and rear mobility wheels