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The 6 best pellet grills in 2026, by the space you can really use
Updated
Short version: for most backyards, the Traeger Pro 22 is the one I'd start with. Its 418 sq in main grate is published, so you know what fits. For big cooks and phone control, step up to the Traeger Woodridge. For overnight smokes without a refill, the Z Grills 7002C has a 28 lb hopper. If you want to sear on the same grill, look at the Pit Boss 700FB2.
Planning a specific cook? Use the what fits calculator first.
Quick comparison
| Grill | Advertised area | Main grate | Hopper | Hours per fill, low and slow (our estimate) | Temperature range | WiFi | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Pro 22 | 572 sq in | 418 sq in | 18 lb | About 20 | 180 to 450°F | Not mentioned | 102.5 lb |
| Traeger Woodridge | 860 sq in | 520 sq in (rack 1) | 24 lb | About 27 | 180 to 500°F | Yes | 138 lb |
| Z Grills 7002C | 697 sq in | Not published | 28 lb | About 31 | 180 to 450°F | Not mentioned | 113 lb |
| Pit Boss 700FB2 | 747 sq in | Not published | 21 lb | About 23 | 180 to 500°F, flame broiler | Not mentioned | 119 lb |
| recteq Bullseye RT-B380 | 380 sq in | 380 sq in (no upper rack mentioned) | 15 lb | About 17 | 200 to 749°F | No | 70 lb |
| Green Mountain Trek Prime 2.0 | Grate size only | About 216 sq in | Not stated | Not stated | 150 to 550°F | Yes | 63 lb |
"Not published" means we could not find the main grate size on the listing or the maker's page we read. "Hours per fill" divides the hopper by Z Grills' published 0.88 lb an hour for low and slow cooking. It is an estimate for every brand, explained on the hopper page.
Advertised totalMain grate
- Traeger Pro 22572 sq in418 sq in
- Traeger Woodridge860 sq in520 sq in
- Green Mountain Trek Prime 2.0 (one grate)none stated216 sq in
The picks
Specs and owner feedback checked on Amazon September 18, 2026. Main grate sizes come from the makers' own pages where they publish them.
Traeger Pro 22
Get this if you want a well-known, simple pellet grill for a family and the odd party. Skip it if you want WiFi or a real sear. The listing says 572 sq in, but Traeger's support guide splits that into a 418 sq in main grate and a 154 sq in second grate. The main grate holds 4 pork butts or 3 racks of spare ribs lying flat, by our math.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Cooking area: 572 sq in total. Main grate 22 x 19 in (418 sq in), second grate 22 x 7 in (154 sq in), per Traeger
- Hopper: 18 lb. Our estimate is about 20 hours per fill low and slow
- Temperature: 180 to 450°F, maker claims within plus or minus 15 degrees
- Controller: Digital Pro Controller. No WiFi mentioned on the listing
- Included: 2 wired meat probes per the listing
- Weight: 102.5 lb assembled per Traeger. 41 x 27 x 49 in
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it is easy to use and turns out good food, with deep smoke rings on beef and pork shoulders and a flavor they like.
- They complain about: Temperature control gets mixed reports. Some say it holds steady, others report big swings. Some units arrived dented or damaged.
Good
- Main grate size is published, so you know what fits
- Hopper clean-out door for swapping pellet flavors
- Long-running model with wide accessory support
Watch out for
- 450°F top end. Not a searing grill
- No app control
- Some owners report temperature swings
Traeger Woodridge
Get this if you cook for a crowd and want to check the grill from your phone. Skip it if you have a small patio. Of the 860 sq in on the box, Traeger lists 520 sq in on rack 1 and 340 sq in on rack 2. The 24 lb hopper is good for about 27 hours low and slow by our estimate.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Cooking area: 860 sq in total. Rack 1 520 sq in, rack 2 340 sq in, per Traeger
- Hopper: 24 lb, with a clean-out door
- Temperature: 180 to 500°F
- WiFi: WiFIRE app control. Wired meat probe included
- Weight: 138 lb per Traeger. Amazon lists 181.6 lb, which may include packing. 50 x 27 x 46 in
- Warranty: 10-year limited per the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it cooks well, goes together easily with the app's instructions, and is easy to clean. They like checking and changing the temperature from a phone.
- They complain about: The review summary we read was mostly positive. Opinions on the controls are mixed, and it is a big, heavy grill.
Good
- Big lower rack for briskets and pork butts
- App control and monitoring
- Grease and ash keg for cleanup
- 10-year limited warranty
Watch out for
- The base model has no pellet sensor. Traeger lists it on the Woodridge Pro, not this one
- Heavy and wide
- Owners are mixed on the controls
Z Grills 7002C
Get this if you smoke overnight briskets and hate refilling at 3 a.m. Its 28 lb hopper is the largest here, about 31 hours low and slow by our estimate. Skip it if you want WiFi or searing heat. The listing gives 697 sq in and does not split out the main grate, so measure it before you plan a big cook.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Cooking area: 697 sq in total. The main grate size was not given on the pages we read
- Hopper: 28 lb, with a pellet view window and a clean-out
- Temperature: 180 to 450°F per the comparison chart on the listing
- Controller: PID with an LCD screen. 2 meat probes included. No WiFi mentioned
- Weight: 113 lb. 26 x 48 x 51 in
- Warranty: 3 years from the maker per the listing
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners call it well made, say assembly is easy, and say it holds temperature for hours. One mentions a 12 pound brisket that came out well.
- They complain about: Durability is mixed, with some units breaking within four months. Some owners find the smoke flavor lighter than they hoped.
Good
- Largest hopper of the six picks
- View window shows pellet level without opening the lid
- Rain cover included
Watch out for
- Main grate size not published on the pages we read
- 450°F top end
- Some owners report parts failing within months
Pit Boss 700FB2
Get this if you want to smoke a pork butt on Saturday and sear steaks on Sunday. The Flame Broiler lever opens a slide plate for direct flame, which Pit Boss says reaches up to 1,000°F. Skip it if you need to know the main grate size before you buy. Pit Boss lists 747 sq in on two tiers and gives no split on the pages we read.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Cooking area: 747 sq in on 2 tiers of porcelain-coated racks. Split not given
- Hopper: 21 lb. Our estimate is about 23 hours per fill low and slow
- Temperature: 180 to 500°F in 5 degree steps. Maker claims direct flame searing up to 1,000°F
- Probes: 2 meat probe ports, 1 probe included. No WiFi mentioned
- Weight: 119 lb. 26.8 x 43.7 x 47 in
- Warranty: 5 years per Pit Boss
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it cooks well, is easy to use and feels well built. Some say it holds within 5 degrees of the set temperature.
- They complain about: Assembly is mixed, with some noting a missing assembly guide. Some owners find the hopper small, and size and temperature control get mixed reviews.
Good
- Direct flame for searing
- 5-year warranty
- Solid bottom shelf
Watch out for
- Main grate size not published on the pages we read
- Some owners call the hopper small
- Assembly guide complaints
recteq Bullseye RT-B380
Get this if you mostly grill steaks, burgers and pizza and want pellet flavor. recteq lists a range of 200 to 749°F. Skip it for big smoking sessions. It has 380 sq in, a 15 lb hopper, and the review summary is split. recteq says a full hopper cooks for 15 hours. Our estimate at 0.88 lb an hour is about 17.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Cooking area: 380 sq in. The listing does not mention an upper rack
- Hopper: 15 lb. recteq claims 15 hours of continuous cooking
- Temperature: 200 to 749°F per recteq. Maker says it is rated for 100,000 ignitions
- Controller: non-WiFi per recteq's support pages
- Weight: 70 lb per recteq. 22.5 x 40 x 36 in
- Stainless steel dome and more stainless parts than most, per the maker
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners who like it praise the searing. One reports it reaching about 750 degrees.
- They complain about: Reviews are split. Some owners report temperature swings of 100 degrees, assembly that was hard, and fire burning back up the auger.
Good
- Highest top temperature here
- Light enough to move around the patio
- Small footprint
Watch out for
- Mixed owner feedback, including temperature swings
- Reports of fire burning back up the auger
- Too small for a whole packer brisket and ribs at once
Green Mountain Trek Prime 2.0
Get this for camping, tailgating or a balcony-free small yard where you still want WiFi. It runs on 12V or 120V. Skip it as your only grill for a big family. The grate is 17.25 x 12.5 in, about 216 sq in, and by our math fits 2 pork butts or 1 whole packer brisket.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Grate: 17.25 x 12.5 in (about 216 sq in)
- Temperature: 150 to 550°F in 5 degree steps
- WiFi: app control on iOS and Android
- Power: 12V or 120V AC
- Weight: 63 lb. 16 x 32 x 24 in. Maker says it arrives about 95% assembled
- Hopper: size not given on the listing we read
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it holds temperature well, is easy to use and carry, and has more cooking room than they expected for its size.
- They complain about: Some owners report power failures and units that stopped working.
Good
- Runs from a car's 12V power
- WiFi app on a portable grill
- Almost no assembly
Watch out for
- Small grate. One brisket at a time
- Hopper size not stated on the listing
- Some owners report power failures
Before you buy any pellet grill
- Ask for the main grate size. If the listing gives only a total, look for the maker's support guide or measure one in a store.
- Match the hopper to your longest cook. A brisket can run through the night. Know how many hours one fill gives you.
- Plan for power. A pellet grill runs an auger, a fan and an igniter on electricity. You need an outdoor outlet, or 12V power for the Trek.
- Buy a food thermometer even if the grill has a probe. See the safe temperature page.
Before you light it
- Outdoors only. NFPA says to place the grill well away from the home and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Kid-free zone. Keep children and pets at least 3 feet from the grill.
- Stay with it. NFPA says never leave a grill unattended while it is in use. An app is not a substitute for being nearby.
- Clean out grease. Remove grease and fat buildup from the grates and the trays below.
- Use a food thermometer. Cook to USDA safe minimum internal temperatures. See the temperature page.