Best Pellet Grills Under $1,000 (2026)

You don't need to spend $2,000 for great smoked ribs. Our picks for pellet grills under $1,000, from Pit Boss and Traeger to the Weber Searwood.

By Tyler RamirezUpdated October 29, 2026How we pick products

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A pellet grill is a smoker that runs itself. You fill a hopper with wood pellets, set a temperature, and an auger feeds pellets to a small fire pot to hold that temperature for hours. It’s the easiest way to make real smoked barbecue at home.

You don’t need to spend $2,000 to get good results. These pellet grills come in under $1,000, and three of them are under $700.

Compare at a glance

Test notes are from Smoked BBQ Source's hands-on pellet grill testing. Prices are typical October 2026 prices; pellet grills go on sale often, especially in spring and around Black Friday.

Where these picks come from

We relied on Smoked BBQ Source’s hands-on testing, where each grill cooks ribs, chicken and more, along with manufacturer specs. We focused on:

• Temperature control and evenness
• Smoke flavor
• Searing ability
• Build quality and features like WiFi, probes and pellet dumps
• Price

We haven’t tested these ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.

1. Weber Searwood 600: Best overall

Buy it if: People who want one grill that smokes low and slow and also grills hot.

Smoked BBQ Source has had the Searwood at the top of its pellet grill list for two years. Its standout feature is searing: it can put direct flame across the full grates, which most pellet grills can’t do. You can adjust how much smoke it makes, grill with the lid open, and add griddle and rotisserie accessories.

What bugs us: Testers found some hot and cold zones, and the front and side shelves cost extra. At full price it’s right at the top of this budget.

Skip it if: you only want to smoke. You’ll pay for grilling features you won’t use.

2. Pit Boss 850 DX: Best value

Buy it if: Budget buyers who still want WiFi control.

Smoked BBQ Source named the 850 DX its best pellet grill under $700. Ribs and chicken came out with good color and a real barbecue smoke flavor, and smoke output was above average. It has a WiFi controller, a meat probe with a keep-warm mode, a folding front shelf and a side shelf. It also has a direct-flame broiler for searing.

What bugs us: There’s a hot spot from left to right, so you’ll need to rotate food on long cooks. The sear zone is small, searing adds cleanup, and app setup can be slow. In the U.S. it’s a Lowe’s exclusive.

Skip it if: you want the most even heat.

3. Traeger Pro 22: Most reliable

Buy it if: People who want to smoke ribs, pork and brisket and don’t care about apps.

The Pro 22 is an older, simpler design: no WiFi, no app and a basic controller. But Smoked BBQ Source named it the most reliable grill in its budget lineup, with great smoke flavor on chicken and ribs. It has 527 square inches over two racks, an 18-pound hopper with a pellet dump for switching wood types, and two color-coded meat probes.

What bugs us: No WiFi, no side shelf, and it doesn’t sear steaks well.

Skip it if: you want to check your cook from your phone.

4. recteq Bullseye RT-B380: Best for grilling

Buy it if: People who grill more than they smoke.

The Bullseye is shaped like a kettle grill and made from 304 stainless steel. In its “Riot” mode it reaches about 800°F, hot enough to sear steaks properly. Smoked BBQ Source found its wings among the best it has cooked on a pellet grill, and its ribs had good color and juicy flavor.

What bugs us: The cooking area is small, and there’s no pellet dump. During one early cook, grease built up on the drip pan and caught fire. Clean out ash and grease before high-heat cooks.

Skip it if: you smoke whole briskets or cook for a crowd.

Also worth a look

Z Grills 7002C2E: A big 697-square-inch grill with WiFi, a 24-pound hopper and a pellet dump. Smoked BBQ Source says it’s a good deal when it’s on sale, which is often.

What to look for in a pellet grill

Cooking area

About 450 to 700 square inches suits most families. Bigger helps if you smoke briskets or several racks of ribs.

Controller and WiFi

WiFi lets you check temperatures and adjust from your phone. It’s handy on long cooks, but simpler grills often make just as good barbecue.

Searing

Most pellet grills struggle to sear. If you want great steaks too, look for a sear zone or a high-heat mode, or keep a gas grill for searing.

Hopper size and pellet dump

A bigger hopper means fewer refills on overnight cooks. A pellet dump makes it easy to switch wood flavors or empty the hopper for storage.

Cleaning

Pellet grills need regular ash and grease cleanup to avoid grease fires. Here’s how to clean a pellet grill.

Short answers

Pellet grill or gas grill? Pellet grills are better for smoking and set-and-forget cooking. Gas grills are faster and better at searing. Here’s the full comparison: pellet grill vs gas grill.

Do I need a meat thermometer with a pellet grill? Most come with a probe, but a good wireless thermometer is more accurate and lets you track several cuts. See the best wireless meat thermometers for smoking.

Do pellet grills need electricity? Yes. They need an outlet to run the controller, auger, fan and igniter.