Vertical pellet smokers are here to change the game and offer you a whole new barbecue experience. The design is suitable for holding larger quantities of meat with improved airflow than traditional models. All this while still providing the high temperatures and fuel efficiency of standard wood pellet models. The big bonus is it occupies less space in your backyard and is suitable for use on decks.
There is one key difference between most vertical pellet smokers and horizontal pellet smokers. Vertical pellet smokers only allow you to smoke, however, the horizontal smoker allows for flexibility when it comes to a dual-purpose device.
Which is the best vertical pellet smoker? We reviewed several and rated the PitBoss PBV3P1 as the best overall vertical smoker. However, depending on your needs, space or budget, there may be a better vertical smoker for you. Keep reading to see what to look for in choosing the best vertical smoker and to read our full reviews.
Top 5 Vertical Pellet Smoker | Our Top Picks
Do you love to smoke foods at home for family and friends? Want to learn more about the proper tools required to achieve an original southern-style smoke flavor?
Look no further as this article has some excellent vertical smokers to suit your needs. To make the process easier we have rounded up the top 5 vertical smokers for you to choose from. Vertical pellet smokers vary in size, shape, function, and style. That’s why choosing the best vertical pellet smoker can be a challenging task. Below we discuss the five best vertical pellet smokers with complete reviews to help you make the correct decision. Let’s get smoking.
Things to Consider Before buying a Vertical Pellet Smoker
To better understand the different features when buying a vertical pellet smoker we outline some of the most important factors to consider when going about this decision.
Built-Quality & Materials
Vertical pellet smokers come in different shapes and sizes. The build quality of the pellet smoker should be sturdy and rust-resistant. Some pellet smokers have an aluminum body that’s very lightweight, while others have a cast iron or steel body that’s slightly heavier. We recommend buying a cast iron or steel body for excellent durability and perfect smoking results.
The capacity of the Smokers
The internal size of the smoker is an essential factor in buying a smoker. How many people will you be cooking for? You generally have an idea of the number of guests you will be serving, small family gatherings, or big neighborhood barbeques. Remember that you can always smoke small portions in a large smoker but not the other way around. A 30-inches size of smoker provides ample space for cooking for large crowds.
Budget
There are various kinds of pellet smokers on the market. The prices range from cost-effective entry-level models to pricy premium models. High-ended smokers often have a heftier price tag as they offer some unique features. So it is best to allocate a budget for your smoker according to your needs.
Versatile of Foods
Some smokers can be used to grill and smoke. The art of smoking can achieve various results depending on the ingredients. Low and slow to tenderize tough cuts of meat or add texture and flavor to delicate pieces of fish vegetables and chicken.
Power Source
Vertical smokers can run on different fuels like gas, electricity, wood, pellet wood, gasoline, charcoal, etc. You should think about what kind of energy is available in your region and which is cost-effective. This is a critical decision to ensure you have many happy smoking hours in the future
What is a pellet smoker, and how does it work?
A pellet smoker is a device that combines the simple mechanics of smoking with digital technology to control temperature, smoke levels, and cooking time. A pellet grill uses small wood pellets as fuel for its firebox. These are fed into an auger system that then feeds into a heating element, spreading the pellet-fired heat over the grill. This pellet smoker is great for cooking anything from meat to vegetables! This allows you to cook incredible dishes, even if you’ve never used one before!
What is pellet grilling?
A pellet smoker uses small wood pellets as fuel for its firebox. These are fed into an auger system which then feeds into a heating element, this pellet-fired heat spreads out to cook your meat evenly and thoroughly, resulting in mouthwatering goodness! This pellet smoker is great for cooking anything from meat to vegetables!
A pellet smoker is a device that combines the simple mechanics of smoking with digital technology to control temperature, smoke levels, and cooking time. This allows you to cook amazing dishes, even if you’ve never used one before!
Pellet grilling is pellet-fired heat that spreads out to cook your meat evenly and thoroughly for mouthwatering goodness.
Is it a pellet smoker or a pellet grill?
It’s important to note that a pellet smoker and a pellet grill are different. A pellet smoker is primarily used as an outdoor cooking device, and it does not have the capabilities of traditional grills like searing meat at high temperatures or adjusting temperature levels easily while you cook! On the other hand, a pellet grill has the capability to cook low and slow, but it can also produce high temperatures for searing.
What’s the difference between vertical and horizontal pellet smoker grills?
It’s actually very simple, the vertical pellet smokers cant grill, but you can smoke, bake, or cook whatever you want, it is basically a beginner-friendly smoker.
Horizontal pellet grills can do everything that a vertical pellet smoker can, but they’re more versatile because they can sear and cook meat at high temperatures via indirect flames broiling.
– so stick with a vertical pellet smoker if you want a smoker.
– If you’re looking for a grill that can do everything from smoking to baking and even indirect flame broiling then horizontal pellet grills are the best type of pellet grill for your money.
You can read more about the difference between a Pellet Smoker and an Offset Smoker.
Top 5 Vertical Pellet Smoker | Our Top Picks
Top 5 Best Vertical Pellet Smoker Detailed Review
Pit Boss PBV3P1 Vertical Pellet Smoker Copper – Best Vertical Pellet Smoker
Pit Boss Vertical Pellet Smoker is renowned for its larger cooking space and allows for a long smoking and grilling time. It’s effortless to use and versatile in design. The temperature range starts from 150F to 450F. Porcelain-coated cooking racks help to distribute the heat equally to the main chamber.
Pit Boss has wholly changed the vertical smoking game! They integrate the top-loading pellet hopper to the rear of the smoker. The cooking area of the Pit BOSS smoker is 901 sq. It’s very convenient for versatile cooking at once. 3.5 cup’ capacity pellet smoker includes five cooking racks for extra space. You can host the ultimate BBQ feast for your friends, family, relatives, colleagues on holidays. 40+ lb. hopper provides you with smoke for a long time. If you don’t love wood smokers, you can go with the electric vertical pellet smokers.
Features:
- Pit Boss monitors internal temperatures with a digital LED readout and meat probe. It helps to cook your meat evenly for both sides.
- Four porcelain-coated cooking grids with porcelain-coated water and heat deflector.
- The cooking space of the grill is 901 sq. in. which is very convenient for cooking for many people at once.
- 40+ lb. hopper allows for more wood pellets giving you a long time cooking. You can cook for 24+ hours by using a full hopper wood pellet.
- Auto-start 300-watt ignition system plays a critical role to ignite the main chamber.
Pros
- Large cooking space
- Decent temperature range
- Reliable ignition system
- Precise temperature control
- Versatile of accessories
Cons
- The brightness of the LED monitor is very poor
- Complicated digital panel
- Monitor internal temperatures with digital LED readout and meat probe
- Four porcelain coated cooking grids, 901 sq in. Includes porcelain coated water and heat Deflector
- 40 plus lb hopper capacity with pellet Purge. 24 plus hours of use.
- Fully programmable 150 – 450 temperature range
- Auto-start 300 watt igniter with auto shut-off
Camp Chef XXL Vertical Pellet Grill and Smoker
The Camp Chef XXL Pellet Smoker gives you everything for backyard grilling and smoking. With a unique feature for added smokiness. There are four meat racks, three jerky racks, and a sausage rack with twelve hooks that make your cooking hassle-free. You’ll never run out of space for your favorite food.
You can grill and smoke your favorite food like jerky, sausage, pork shoulders, etc. It can produce 33,000 BTUs/Hr—of cooking power. The temperature range of the grill is between 150F – 350F.
The Camp Chef pellet grill comes with Smart Smoke Technology. It helps to maintain the smoky fragrance and texture of the food. The Digital display, ash cleanout system is handy for everyday cooking and easy cleaning of the grill. For all-around performances, we choose the best vertical pellet grill for you.
Features:
- New Camp Chef XXL Vertical grill is a wood pellet grill smoker. This is a great dual smoking and grilling device.
- It has a digital display, Grease management System, Pellet Hopper Purge, Smart Smoke Technology.
- Deluxe Collapsible side self, four smoking grill grates, three jerky racks, two temp rod probes, one hanging rack give you options to make your cooking easy.
- The digital controller automatically maintains the cooking temperature.
- The built quality of the Camp Chef is very sturdy, ensuring even heat distribution to the chamber.
Pros
- The vertical pellet smoker style gives a huge amount of cooking space
- Ideal for large cuts of meat including smaller cuts like chicken pieces beef, jerky, and sausages
- WiFi connectivity for remote control
- Includes a wide range of racks and hooks for the ultimate flexibility in where you place things
- Window on pellet hopper allows checking on refiling
- Sturdy design on castors makes for easy mobility
- Set and forget technology
- Automatic temperature control
- Separate setting for the smoke level
- Contains 2 meat probes for precision cooking
- Internal circulation fan
- Large pellet hopper burns for up to 12 hours without refilling
- Easy cleaning
- Good value for money
- Decent warranty
Cons
- Cannot maintain the temperature and leaks a bit of smoke around the door
- A low brightness of the LED display
- Operates only as a dedicated smoker
- NEW Camp Chef XXL Vertical Wood Pellet Grill Smoker (PGVXXL)
- Includes: 4 Smoking Grill Grates, 3 Jerky Racks, 2 Temp Read Probes, 1 Hanging Rack w/ 12 Sausage Hooks
- Sports a Digital Display, Grease Mgmt System, Pellet Hopper Purge, Smart Smoke Technology, Ash Cleanout System
- Compatible with Deluxe Collapsible Side Shelf (PGXXLSH)
- Unparalleled Camp Chef Quality
Pit Boss Grills 77550 5.5 Pellet Smoker
If you need generous cooking space and longer smoking times in one pack the Pit Boss Vertical Smoker is the best choice for you. Porcelain-coated cooking racks distribute heat evenly to the main chamber. The design of the Pit Boss is like nothing you have seen before.
Pit boss Smoker produces up to 450F. Allowing you more outdoor cooking options than other pellet smokers. The cooking area of the PitBoss grill is about 1548 sq cooking area. 5.5 cup’ capacity pellet smoker includes five cooking racks & boasts.
Double-walled construction makes the Pit boss very strong. A blanket insulator protects internal temperatures in the coldest weather. The hopper capacity is 40+lb. which helps to smoke low and slow over 24 hours.
Features:
- Pit Boss Grills has a developed technological interface. It monitors internal temperature with an LED display and meat probe.
- Five porcelain-coated cooking grids are very hardy. The cooking area of the grill is 1548 sq.
- Hopper of the grill comes with a large capacity of about 40+ lb. You can load extra pellets for a long time cooking.
- Pit Boss Grills produces 150F- 450F temperature with ease. The heat distribution of the grill is well controlled.
- Pit Boss Grill has its own ignition system. It produces 300 watts for igniting the grill in a single blow.
Pros
- Large cooking capacity with good heat distribution
- 5 racks included for great versatility
- Porcelain-coated cooking racks
- A large pellet hopper allows for 24 hours of smoking
- A large viewing window allows for easy monitoring of cooking
Cons
- The smoker is heavy and bulky.
- Operates only as a dedicated smoker
- Monitor internal temperatures with digital LED readout and meat probe
- Five porcelain coated cooking grids, 1548 sq in. Includes porcelain coated water pan and heat Deflector
- 40+ lb hopper capacity with pellet Purge. 24+ hours of use.
- Fully programmable 150 – 450 temperature range
- Auto-start 300 watt igniter with auto shut-off
Louisiana Grills Vertical Pellet Smoker
Louisiana Grill Vertical Pellet Smoker allows for great convenience where you can set it to smoke and forget about it. Packed with unique features it has a small footprint and gives you tender meat and adds real-wood flavor to your favorite dishes.
This smoker provides you with all-natural hardwood pellets, combined with fan-forced convection cooking. A 2059 sq. inches of cooking space gives you a large space for cooking larger quantities of meat at the same time. The smoker quickly reaches temperatures in the range of 150 to 450 that ensuring a perfect smoke result, every time.
The Louisiana Grill comes with a full package of 6 cooking racks, porcelain-coated grid construction. In the market, only Louisiana provides a versatile smoker with different sizes, shapes, and styles. It’s effortless to use compared to other smokers. The compact design of Louisiana makes it the best portable vertical pellet smoker on our list.
Features:
- Louisiana is not only a grill but also a fan-forced heavy smoker. People can use it for both purposes.
- A large 2059 sq cooking area gives you the ultimate satisfaction of cooking. Allows you to cook for large groups with ease.
- The smoker quickly reaches low to high temperatures in the range of 150F to 450F. Very convenient for your versatile cooking options.
- This smoker comes with a full package of what you need, like six cooking racks with porcelain-coated grid construction.
- 6.2 cubic feet hopper is suitable for carrying a 60lb—wood pellet at the same time. Pellet Burn Chamber and two Meat Probes included.
Pros
- Large cooking area
- Convenient temperature range
- Complete package with accessories
- Huge hopper size
- Fan forced smoker
Cons
- The temperature probe is not the best
- Grill LGV7PC1 Vertical Smoker
- Vertical smoker
- Porcelain steel
- Removable upper cooking
- Digital control center
- material type: porcelain;stainless_steel;steel
- power source type: Charcoal
Masterbuilt MB20250118 Pellet Smoker – Best Budget Vertical Pellet smoker
Masterbuilt MB20250118 Pellet Smoker is the best budget pellet smoker for you. It has sensational features that can beat high ended smokers in the present market situation. This grill is very suitable for consistent temperatures. The temperature range of the pellet smoker is 180 f to 350 f. Four chrome-coated smoking racks give you extra space for keeping your delicious food. The meat probe thermometer maintains temperature precisely. Digital AI (Artificial Intelligence) system shows and controls everything of your cooking. Pellet hoppers can hold 12lbs. Pellet wood is enough for 24 hours of cooking.
Features:
- Four chrome-coated smoking racks provide you with enough space for even heat distribution.
- The meat probe thermometer maintains heat generation for the controlled temperature of particular foods.
- Digital panel controls, auto on/off features, cook & smoke timers are the main features of the smoker.
- The Pellet hopper can hold over 12lbs of the wood pellet which is ideal for long-time cooking.
- Auger moves wood pellets from the hopper for even, consistent cooking from 180F to 350F.
Pros
- Chrome-coated smoking racks
- Meat probe thermometer
- Advanced control system
- Small footprint
- Large hopper size
Cons
- Bulky design
- No window to check on food
- 4 chrome-coated smoking racks
- Meat probe thermometers for great results every time
- Digital panel controls on/off, temperature, cook & smoke time–preset smoke & cook cycles automate pellet smoking process
- Pellet hopper holds over 12 lbs of wood pellets for hours of cooking without reloading
- Auger moves wood pellets from the hopper for even, consistent cooking from 180deg F-350deg F
FAQ
Which is the best vertical pellet smoker?
Answer: PitBoss PBV3P1 is the best vertical pellet smoker for 2024. If you want to deliver an expert bbq pitmaster flavor, then this particular product is definitely for you.
Are vertical or horizontal pellet smokers better?
Answer: Vertical pellet smokers are very suitable for smoked and roasted foods but cannot grill. On the other hand, Horizontal pellet smoker grills are suitable for both smoking and grilling but they take up lots of space and have a larger footprint.
What is the best pellet smoker for the money?
Answer: Masterbuilt MB20250118 Pellet Smoker is the best pellet smoker for the money.
Is smoked meat bad for you?
Answer: Smoked meat is considered processed meat. All processed meats have been classified as Group 1 carcinogens. This classification, says the World Health Organisation (WHO), is based on evidence from several studies that have shown that eating processed meat, including smoked meat, causes colorectal cancer
What is the healthiest way to smoke meat?
Answer: Indirect grilling keeps the fat from dripping directly on the fire. Thus reducing carcinogens rising in the smoke. We recommend always using a dripping pan to collect excessive fat or oil.
Final Verdict
Smoking is the best way to slow-cook meat whilst adding that iconic smoky flavor. It makes for fork-tender cuts with a unique smoky flavor.
Whether you want to feel cool or show your barbecuing expertise when entertaining friends and family, smoking sumptuous meat cuts can be challenging. It can be a demanding task that requires a lot of patience. Choosing a pellet smoker can really change your smoking game and make the process much easier with the result more consistent and absolutely impressive.
This article will take the hassle out of finding the best vertical pellet smoker that suits your needs helping you choose the correct smoker.
Our overall choice for the best vertical pellet smoker is: PitBoss PBV3P1 is an all-around performer. It provides us with huge cooking space, a useful temperature range, well-balanced control overheat, and various accessories. PitBoss PBV3P1 can cook versatile dishes that a user is looking for. Happy smoking
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Last updated: September 24, 2023
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