As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
How long will one hopper of pellets last?
Updated
Divide the hopper size by how many pounds of pellets the grill burns an hour. Z Grills publishes the most useful numbers: about 0.66 to 0.88 lb an hour when cooking low and slow, and about 2.2 lb an hour above 356°F. At 0.88 lb an hour, an 18 lb hopper lasts about 20 hours. Treat that as an estimate.
Hours per hopper fill (estimate)
An estimate, not a promise. The presets are Z Grills' published burn figures, used here for every brand. Cold, wind, rain and lid opening all burn more. Plan to refill well before the hopper runs dry.
Hours per fill for the picks
| Grill | Hopper | At 0.66 lb an hour | At 0.88 lb an hour | At 2.2 lb an hour (hot grilling) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z Grills 7002C | 28 lb | About 42 | About 31 | About 12 |
| Traeger Woodridge | 24 lb | About 36 | About 27 | About 10 |
| Pit Boss 700FB2 | 21 lb | About 31 | About 23 | About 9 |
| Traeger Pro 22 | 18 lb | About 27 | About 20 | About 8 |
| recteq Bullseye RT-B380 | 15 lb | About 22 | About 17 | About 6 |
- Z Grills 7002C (28 lb)31 hours
- Traeger Woodridge (24 lb)27 hours
- Pit Boss 700FB2 (21 lb)23 hours
- Traeger Pro 22 (18 lb)20 hours
- recteq Bullseye (15 lb)17 hours
These use Z Grills' figures for every brand, because the other makers we checked did not publish a low and slow burn rate. recteq's own claim for the Bullseye is 15 hours on its 15 lb hopper, which works out to 1 lb an hour. The Green Mountain Trek Prime 2.0 listing we read did not give a hopper size.
Why the label number is not your number
Some grills carry a fuel input rating under the hopper lid. Traeger explains that this is the pounds burned per hour at the grill's highest setting, in a room temperature lab, once the grill settles. Traeger says you would rarely reach those conditions at home. It is a worst case at full heat, not a smoking rate.
Things that burn more pellets:
- Cold weather. Traeger lists the outside temperature as one of the things that change burn rate.
- Opening the lid. Traeger lists the number of lid openings too.
- Higher set temperatures. By the Z Grills figures, hot grilling burns about 2.5 to 3.3 times what smoking does.
- Pellets that took on moisture. Traeger says to store pellets in a dry, airtight container, and indoors in a humid climate.
If you run out mid-cook
Traeger's support steps: if the grill is still at temperature, refill the hopper and expect a short dip. If the temperature has already dropped or the grill shut off, take the food off and keep it warm, let the grill cool, and check the firepot before you restart. Do not just dump pellets in and hit start on a hot firepot. Keep a thermometer in the meat so you know where it stands. See the safe temperature page.
Which hopper size do you need?
- Weeknight grilling and ribs: 15 to 18 lb is plenty.
- Overnight brisket or pork butt: 21 lb or more, so one fill gets you from evening to morning with room to spare. The Z Grills 7002C has the most at 28 lb.
- Cold climate: size up, or plan a refill.
Only use food-grade wood pellets. Traeger warns that home heating pellets contain binders and softwoods that cause problems.
Check your own grill and food with the what fits calculator, or see all six picks on the best pellet grills page.