Flame Broilers, PID and WiFi: Sorting Out the Best Pellet Grill for Your Patio

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Is a premium model worth it, or will a budget grill do the job? The best pellet grill for you depends on four things: how much you cook at once, how hot you need it to get for searing, how long you want it to run between hopper refills, and whether you want to check on a brisket from your phone.

We compared seven pellet grills sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, from a 256-square-inch portable to a 932-square-inch WiFi grill with a 30-pound hopper. For each, we quote the listed temperature range, hopper size, controller type and cooking area, attribute brand claims to the brand, and flag where a listing leaves a key number out.

Pellet grills also differ from gas and charcoal in one important way: they plug in. So alongside the grilling safety basics from the NFPA and U.S. Fire Administration, we cover the outdoor outlet and power questions to settle before your first cook.

Our Top Pellet Grill Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Traeger Westwood (WiFi): Best Overall

Traeger’s Westwood is a mid-size wood pellet grill aimed squarely at beginners. Traeger says it works just like your kitchen oven: you set a temperature, load the food, and the grill feeds pellets and controls the fire to hold that heat, with no gas or charcoal to manage.

WiFIRE is the everyday convenience. It connects the grill to the Traeger app, so you can adjust temperatures, track a cook and get dinner-ready alerts from your phone while you’re inside or running errands. The 18-pound pellet hopper is sized, in Traeger’s words, for hours of uninterrupted cooking, which matters on a long brisket or pork shoulder.

The listing gives 653 square inches of dual-tier cooking space, enough for burgers, ribs, chicken and sides at once, and calls it 6-in-1: grill, smoke, bake and more. The range runs from 180°F for low-and-slow smoking up to 450°F, which Traeger says handles seared burgers and baked pizza. It has premium steel construction, an integrated side shelf and storage, and P.A.L. Rail compatibility for Traeger accessories.

It suits families who want set-and-forget smoking, a brand with a large accessory ecosystem and app control, and who care more about convenience than about the highest possible searing temperature on a weeknight steak.

Why we like it

• App control and dinner-ready alerts
• Generous 653 sq in
• 18 lb hopper for long cooks

Watch out for

Its stated top temperature, 450°F, is the lowest here, and the listing leaves warranty and weight blank.

Check Price on Amazon →

2. Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series: Best Budget Pellet Grill

Pit Boss’s 500 FB2 Series is a compact pellet grill and smoker with one feature that budget pellet grills often skip: a Flame Broiler. Most pellet grills cook with indirect, fan-forced heat. On this one, a lever opens a slide plate so food can sit over direct flame, which Pit Boss says reaches up to 1,000°F for steakhouse-style grill marks.

Day to day, the digital controller runs from 180°F to 500°F in 5°F increments, so you can set 225°F for ribs and walk away, or turn it up for burgers. Fan-forced convection circulates indirect heat across the cooking surface. Two probe ports, with one meat probe included, let you track doneness without opening the lid.

Cooking space totals 518 square inches across two tiers of porcelain-coated steel, and a solid bottom shelf holds pellets, tools and accessories. The 5-pound hopper is small by design; Pit Boss describes it as supporting compact, efficient cooks in a smaller footprint, but you’ll top it up during long smokes. Pit Boss lists eight cooking styles, from smoking and braising to chargrilling and searing.

It suits a household of three or four that wants both smoke and sear without paying for WiFi, and doesn’t mind refilling the hopper on overnight cooks. The bullets say it’s backed by a five-year warranty.

Why we like it

• Direct-flame searing lever
• 5°F temperature steps
• Five-year warranty in the bullets

Watch out for

The 5-pound hopper means refills on long cooks, and there’s no app control.

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3. Z GRILLS ZPG-550B2: Best Value PID Controller

Z GRILLS’ ZPG-550B2 is a full-size pellet grill built around a PID 3.0 controller. PID controllers adjust the auger and fan continuously instead of cycling on and off, and Z GRILLS says this one auto-tunes fuel and airflow to hold the set temperature even when the weather outside changes.

The LCD display makes the controller easy to read, and an included meat probe shows the food’s internal temperature so you don’t have to open the lid to check. Z GRILLS lists eight cooking functions: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, barbecue, sear and char. Two rugged wheels let you roll it into position on the patio.

The hopper has two practical touches. A cleanout lets you empty pellets to switch from hickory to apple, or to store pellets dry between cooks, and a viewing window shows the pellet level without opening the lid. The listing gives 553 square inches of grilling space, enough for family meals and small gatherings. It doesn’t state the hopper’s capacity or the temperature range, so check the manual if those numbers matter to you. Amazon lists it at 47 x 24 x 48 inches and 77 pounds.

It suits buyers who mostly smoke low and slow, value steady temperatures over app features, and like to switch pellet flavors between cooks.

Why we like it

• PID 3.0 temperature control
• Hopper cleanout and window
• Probe included

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t give a temperature range or hopper capacity, two numbers most shoppers compare first.

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4. recteq RT-B380 Bullseye: Best for High-Heat Searing

recteq’s RT-B380 Bullseye looks more like a kettle on legs than a classic barrel pellet grill. Under a 22-inch stainless steel dome, it burns wood pellets in an open-flame design that recteq says delivers consistent heat, and it is pitched as much for hot-and-fast grilling as for smoking.

Heat is the headline. The listing says it reaches temperatures up to 749°F, and recteq rates its ignition for 100,000 lighting cycles. That makes it a pellet grill you can use for seared steaks, crisp chicken wings and smash burgers, not only low-and-slow barbecue.

Capacity is 380 square inches, which recteq says fits three whole chickens, four racks of baby back ribs, 50 chicken wings or 15 bone-in pork chops. The 15-pound hopper is three times the size of a 5-pound compact hopper, and the dome has rainproof venting. recteq also says it uses more stainless steel components than other grills in its class, for rust resistance. Amazon lists it at 22.5 x 40 x 36 inches and 70 pounds, and the listing calls it a portable model.

It suits a family that grills more than it smokes, wants pellet-fired flavor at searing temperatures, and is happy buying from recteq’s own store on Amazon rather than from Amazon.com itself.

Why we like it

• Up to 749°F, by the listing
• Stainless steel dome
• 15 lb hopper

Watch out for

At 380 square inches it’s small for big smoking days, and the listing names no controller type or warranty.

Check Price on Amazon →

5. Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series: Best Large WiFi Pellet Grill

Pit Boss’s 850 Navigator is the big-cook pellet grill in this guide: 932 square inches of total cooking surface, a 30-pound hopper with a viewing window, and WiFi plus Bluetooth for monitoring and adjusting the cook from your phone.

The controller holds temperatures from 180°F to 500°F, and fan-forced convection spreads indirect heat across the grates. Two meat probes come in the box, so you can track a brisket and a pork butt at the same time. The title also lists Pit Boss’s Flame Broiler, the direct-flame searing feature that sets the brand’s grills apart from many pellet grills.

Practical touches add up on a long cook. The 30-pound hopper means fewer refills overnight, and the window lets you check fuel without lifting the lid. A folding front shelf and side shelf give prep space, tool hooks hold utensils, and a bottom shelf stores pellets and accessories. An easy-access grease tray contains runoff and drippings, which matters for fire safety as much as cleanup. Pit Boss says it runs on 100% all-natural hardwood pellets.

It suits people who regularly cook for a crowd or smoke big cuts overnight. Plan the spot first: Amazon lists it at 175 pounds and 34 x 58.7 x 46.6 inches. The bullets say it’s backed by a five-year warranty.

Why we like it

• 932 sq in of cooking space
• 30 lb hopper for overnight smokes
• Two probes and app control

Watch out for

At a listed 175 pounds, it’s not a grill you move often, and it needs real patio space.

Check Price on Amazon →

6. Traeger Ironwood 885 (WiFi): Best Premium Pellet Grill

Traeger’s Ironwood 885 is the step-up model in this guide: a two-tier, 885-square-inch pellet grill with double-wall insulation, Traeger’s D2 controller and WiFIRE app control. Traeger says it fits up to 10 chickens, seven rib racks or nine pork butts.

The insulation is the reason to pay more. Traeger says the double-wall design, paired with the D2 controller, holds steady heat and performs reliably in all climates, including winter. That matters if you smoke year-round in a cold state, where a thin-walled grill burns more pellets fighting the weather.

Super Smoke Mode adds extra wood-fired flavor, and the range runs from 165°F, the lowest stated starting point here, up to 500°F for searing. Through WiFIRE and the Traeger app you can adjust temperature, set timers and check probe readings from anywhere. Traeger lists six cooking styles: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and barbecue. The listing doesn’t give a hopper capacity. Amazon lists it at 53 x 27 x 47 inches and 170.2 pounds.

It suits experienced barbecue cooks who smoke often, cook through the winter and want a premium brand with a stated three-year manufacturer warranty. Because it weighs so much, choose its permanent spot on the patio before assembly, with clearance from the house, railings and eaves and a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet within reach.

Why we like it

• Double-wall insulation
• Lowest smoke setting here
• Three-year warranty field

Watch out for

The hopper size isn’t listed, and at 170.2 pounds it needs a permanent spot.

Check Price on Amazon →

7. Cuisinart 8-in-1 Portable CPG-256: Best Portable Pellet Grill

Cuisinart’s 8-in-1 Portable is a pellet grill shrunk down for RVs, tailgates and campsites. The listing gives 256 square inches of cooking space, 188 on the main rack and 68 on a warming rack, and says it can smoke, barbecue, grill, roast, sear, braise, bake and char-grill.

It works like a full-size pellet grill. An automatic pellet feeder adds pellets as needed, and the digital controller regulates temperature from 180°F to 500°F, with a real-time PID temperature display and electronic auto-start ignition. An included food probe reads internal temperature, and an integrated sear zone gives you a hotter area for direct cooking alongside indirect smoking.

Portability comes from the size: 24 x 18 x 15 inches and about 40 pounds, per the bullets, with a locking lid and an easy-carry handle. Like every pellet grill, it needs power to run the auger, fan and igniter, so at a campsite or tailgate you’ll need a suitable outdoor power source. The listing doesn’t state the hopper capacity.

It suits RV owners and tailgaters who want wood-fired flavor on the road, and couples with small patios who rarely cook for more than four. Set it on a stable, heat-safe surface away from the RV or car, and let it cool completely before you latch the lid and pack it up.

Why we like it

• Carry-it-yourself weight
• Sear zone for direct cooking
• Locking lid for travel

Watch out for

You need a power source wherever you cook, and 256 square inches limits it to small meals.

Check Price on Amazon →

How We Chose the Best Pellet Grills

We limited our picks to wood pellet grills listed in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, skipped gas, charcoal and electric-only grills, and compared what each listing actually says:

• Temperature range: the stated low and high, plus any direct-flame searing claim, attributed to the brand.
• Controller: PID, WiFi or Bluetooth where the listing names them.
• Hopper size: pounds of pellets, flagged where the listing leaves it out.
• Cooking area: square inches, including warming racks where stated.
• Warranty, size and rank: the warranty field, listed size and weight, and Amazon sales rank.

Pellet Grill Buying Guide

Is a Premium Pellet Grill Worth It?

Spending more mostly buys capacity, connectivity and insulation. The budget Pit Boss 500 FB2 has a 5-pound hopper and no WiFi; the Pit Boss 850 Navigator has a 30-pound hopper, WiFi and Bluetooth; the Traeger Ironwood 885 adds double-wall insulation that Traeger says keeps it reliable in winter. If you smoke a few times a summer, a budget grill does the job. If you smoke overnight, in cold weather or for crowds, the bigger hopper and insulation earn their price. Wondering how pellet grills compare with propane? Our best gas grill guide covers burners and sear zones, and our charcoal grill guide covers kettles and kamados.

Best WiFi Pellet Grill: PID and App Control

A PID controller adjusts pellet feed and airflow continuously to hold a set temperature. The Z GRILLS ZPG-550B2 lists a PID 3.0 controller, and the Cuisinart lists a real-time PID display. WiFi adds remote monitoring: both Traegers list WiFIRE and the Traeger app, and the Pit Boss 850 lists WiFi and Bluetooth. The Pit Boss 500, Z GRILLS and recteq Bullseye listings don’t mention WiFi.

Best Searing Pellet Grill

Pellet grills cook mainly with indirect, fan-driven heat, which is great for smoking but weaker for sear marks. Two approaches fix that here. Pit Boss’s Flame Broiler, on the 500 FB2 and 850 Navigator, opens to direct flame that Pit Boss says reaches up to 1,000°F on the 500 FB2. The recteq Bullseye lists temperatures up to 749°F, and the Cuisinart portable has an integrated sear zone. The Traeger Westwood tops out at a listed 450°F.

Best Small and Portable Pellet Grills

The Cuisinart 8-in-1 Portable is about 40 pounds by its bullets and lists 256 square inches, the smallest cooking area here. The recteq Bullseye, at 380 square inches and a listed 70 pounds, is compact but not a carry-along. Remember that any pellet grill needs electricity wherever you take it.

Best Pellets for a Grill and Keeping Them Dry

Use food-grade hardwood pellets made for grilling, not heating pellets. Pit Boss describes its 850 as fueled with 100% all-natural hardwood pellets, and the Z GRILLS hopper cleanout makes it easy to swap flavors such as hickory, apple or cherry. Pellets are compressed sawdust, and moisture makes them swell and crumble, which can jam an auger. Store bags off the ground in a sealed container, and empty the hopper if the grill will sit unused through wet weather. If you’re smoking homemade sausage, our meat grinder guide covers grinders with stuffing tubes.

Hopper Size and Cooking Area

Hopper size decides how long you can cook before a refill: 5 pounds on the Pit Boss 500, 15 on the recteq, 18 on the Traeger Westwood and 30 on the Pit Boss 850. Cooking area decides how much fits: from 256 square inches on the Cuisinart to 932 on the Pit Boss 850. For most families, 500 to 650 square inches covers a full rack of ribs plus sides.

Pellet Grill Safety: Power, Placement and Grease

Pellet grills combine an open fire with an electric auger, fan and igniter, so they need both fire and electrical precautions. The U.S. Fire Administration’s outdoor fire safety page and the NFPA’s grilling safety page cover the fire side:

• Outdoors only, never the garage. USFA says to use propane, charcoal and wood pellet grills only outside. Don’t run a pellet grill in a garage, under a carport or in an enclosed porch, even in the rain.
• Clearance from the house. USFA and NFPA say to place the grill well away from siding and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches; USFA adds not to store or use a grill on a porch or balcony.
• Kids and pets three feet back. NFPA says to keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area and never to leave a grill unattended.
• Grease and ash. NFPA says to remove grease or fat buildup from the grill and the trays below it, and notes the grill hadn’t been cleaned in roughly one-fifth of grill fires. Empty the grease tray or bucket regularly, and let firepot ash cool completely before putting it in a metal container.
• A GFCI-protected outdoor outlet. The NFPA’s electrical safety page says all outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected, and to test GFCIs after installation and once a month. It also notes extension cords are intended for temporary use, so follow your grill manual on cords, keep connections off wet ground, and have an electrician add an outlet if the grill is far from one.

Grill and Patio Fires and Your Home Insurance

A grease fire in a pellet grill pushed against the siding, or a cord run through a doorway to a garage outlet, can lead to damage that reaches the house. Homeowners policies generally cover sudden fire damage and liability for guests, but limits, deductibles and exclusions vary. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide explains what to check, and renters should read their lease for grill rules and see renters insurance costs in Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best pellet grill for most people?

Our top pick is the Traeger Westwood: 653 square inches, an 18-pound hopper, a listed 180°F to 450°F range and WiFIRE app control. If you want direct-flame searing on a smaller budget, the Pit Boss 500 FB2 lists a Flame Broiler and a five-year warranty.

Is a premium pellet grill worth it?

It depends on how you cook. Premium models here add bigger hoppers (30 lb on the Pit Boss 850), WiFi, and double-wall insulation on the Traeger Ironwood 885, which Traeger says helps in winter. Occasional smokers will be well served by a budget model like the Pit Boss 500 FB2.

Can a pellet grill sear a steak?

Some can. Pit Boss says its Flame Broiler reaches direct flame up to 1,000°F on the 500 FB2, the recteq Bullseye lists temperatures up to 749°F, and the Cuisinart portable has an integrated sear zone. Grills that top out near 450°F to 500°F sear less aggressively.

Do pellet grills need electricity?

Yes. The auger, fan, igniter and controller all run on power. Plug into an outdoor outlet; the NFPA says all outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected and that extension cords are intended for temporary use. Never move a pellet grill into a garage to be near an outlet.

What are the best pellets for a pellet grill?

Use food-grade hardwood grilling pellets, not heating pellets, and keep them dry in a sealed container. Pit Boss says its grills are fueled with 100% all-natural hardwood pellets, and a hopper cleanout, like the Z GRILLS ZPG-550B2’s, makes switching flavors easy.

The Bottom Line

For most backyards, the Traeger Westwood is the best pellet grill to start with: beginner-friendly, app-controlled and roomy at 653 square inches. On a budget, the Pit Boss 500 FB2 adds direct-flame searing, and the Z GRILLS ZPG-550B2 brings PID control and an easy hopper cleanout. Searing fans should look at the recteq Bullseye, big-batch cooks at the Pit Boss 850 Navigator, year-round smokers at the insulated Traeger Ironwood 885, and travelers at the Cuisinart 8-in-1 Portable. Whichever you buy, plug it into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet and keep it well away from the house.

Setting up a pellet grill on your deck or patio and want to know how your policy handles a fire? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or get a free coverage review.