Traditional smokers make it difficult to control temperatures. Using these, you run the risk of undercooked meat that can make you sick.
With a vertical pellet smoker, you get a more consistent cooking temperature and more evenly cooked meat.
We’ve narrowed down and reviewed the best vertical pellet smokers to help you up your pellet grill game.
The Best Vertical Pellet Smokers
- Best Overall Vertical Pellet Smoker: Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series
- Cheapest Vertical Pellet Smoker: Pit Boss 2-Series
- Easiest-to-Assemble Vertical Pellet Smoker: Weber Smokey Mountain
- Easiest-to-Use Vertical Pellet Smoker: Pit Barrel Co. Cooker
- Most Heavy-Duty Vertical Pellet Smoker: Masterbuilt MWS 330S
- Easiest-to-Maintain Vertical Pellet Smoker: Pit Boss 3-Series
- Best Vertical Pellet Smoker for Beginners: Dyna Glo
- Best Vertical Smoker With Large Cooking Capacity: Bradley BTDS76P
Top 10 Vertical Pellet Smokers in 2024
1 - Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker (Best Overall)
- Massive cooking area
- Convection cooking airflow
- Five cooking options
- Digital control board for ease of use
- No grilling option
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Outdoor cooking enthusiasts
Who is it not for?
- Indoor use
Final Verdict
A robust smoker ideal for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who want a versatile and large-capacity smoker. It may not be suitable for indoor use due to its size and weight.
Pit Boss Sportsman 5-series wood pellet has a massive cooking area of 1,513 square inches spread over five racks and six stainless steel hooks.
This vertical smoker has a temperature range of 150 to 420 degrees, making it versatile for smoking, basing, braising, and roasting.
I could easily set and check the temperature on the digital control board with an LED read-out.
The meat probes check the meat doneness so that you can adjust the cooking temperature and track fuel all from the control board.
The pellet hopper has a large capacity of 55 lbs, which means you can smoke even the largest cuts without running out of fuel.
Overall, this is the best vertical pellet smoker if you want even cooking results and need to feed a large number of people.
Quick Facts:
- Product Dimensions : 28.9 x 27.9 x 53.2 in
- BTU Value : 20700
- Cooking Area : 1513 square inches
- Hopper Capacity : 55 pounds
- Fuel Type : Wood Pellets
- Material : Stainless Steel
2 - Pit Boss 3-Series Digital Vertical Smoker (Easiest-to-Maintain)
- Adjustable racks
- Elevated stand for easier loading
- Front-access drawer for easy cleanout
- Only two hours of cooking time per pellet load
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Tech-savvy cooks
Who is it not for?
- Traditionalists
Final Verdict
Great for tech-savvy cooks who appreciate digital controls and consistent results. Traditionalists may find it too modern.
Pit Boss 3-series is a 1650-watt smoker. A large front window lets you check on the food without opening the smoker and letting the smoke and heat out.
This vertical smoker has 684 square inches of porcelain-coated cooking racks, which is more than enough space for an average family. The cooking area is spread over four adjustable cooking racks.
The multiple-position racking system allowed me to have room to accommodate different cuts, including pork shoulder, beef brisket, and ribs.
I like that this smoker has an elevated stand, making loading and unloading it much easier (no more back pain from constant bending down).
Quick Facts:
- Product Dimensions : 21.8 x 20.2 x 46.9 in
- BTU Value : N/A
- Cooking Area : 684 square inches
- Hopper Capacity : N/A
- Fuel Type : Wood chips
- Material : Stainless Steel
3 - Pit Boss Vertical Pellet Smoker
- Large front viewing window
- Large 1,513 square inch cooking capacity
- Temperatures up to 450 degrees
- Easy to read digital controller
- With locking caster wheels
- Hopper can be hard to clean
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Frequent smokers
Who is it not for?
- Occasional users
Final Verdict
Excellent for frequent smokers needing a reliable and large-capacity smoker. It might be too advanced for occasional users.
If you are looking for the best vertical pellet smoker, this is the model you should consider first.
The Pit Boss Vertical Pellet Smoker has everything you need in a pellet grill, including digital controls and readouts and stable temperature control.
This vertical pellet smoker has a sizable door-sized viewing window, which we like as you can monitor the cooking without regularly opening up the unit.
The total pellet grill cooking space is 1,513 square inches, with five porcelain-coated cooking racks to work with.
The Pit Boss pellet smoker can get up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius), which is enough to cook any meats you want. Many vertical pellet smoker reviews pointed out that Pit Boss Grills has easy-to-reach customer support.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 28.82 x 27.83 x 52.76 in
BTU Value: 20700
Cooking Area: 1513 square inches
Hopper Capacity: 55 pounds
Fuel Type: Wood Pellets
Material: Stainless Steel
4 - Pit Boss 2-Series Analog Electric Vertical Smoker (Cheapest)
- Easy mobility with rear wheels and a handle
- External heat indicator and included analog meat probe
- Porcelain-coated wire racks for easy cleaning
- 1650 watts of power and a double-walled cabinet keep the meat at the right temperature control
- No pellet grill cover included
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Budget-conscious smokers
Who is it not for?
- Tech-savvy cooks
Final Verdict
A good choice for budget-conscious smokers who want a straightforward analog smoker. Not ideal for those preferring digital controls.
This electric smoker makes smoking meat easy. It has a total of 2.2 cubic feet of cooking space with four porcelain-coated smoking racks. The control panel makes it easy to watch the temperature and comes with a meat probe, so you'll always know when your food is ready.
The Pit Boss 2-Series Analog Electric Vertical Smoker has a temperature range of 150-350 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can cook meat however you want. It also has an elevated frame for a comfortable cooking experience.
We appreciate the large and clear window on the front of this vertical smoker. It allows you to observe the smoking process without letting heat escape. The large wood tray means you can smoke for up to 2 hours before needing to refill, but the window allows you to gauge your progress more clearly.
The pellet grill smoker does not come with a cover, so you will have to purchase one separately or store it indoors to protect it from the weather.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 22 x 40 x 21 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 514 square inches
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Corded Electric
Material: Metal
5 - Pit Barrel Co. Cooker (Easiest-to-Use)
- Flexible cooking space
- Simple to operate
- Eight stainless steel hooks
- Includes a coal basket
- Barrel may not be deep enough
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Charcoal purists
Who is it not for?
- Electric smoker users
Final Verdict
Perfect for charcoal purists seeking an authentic smoking experience. Less suitable for those preferring electric smokers.
The Pit Barrel Cooker is another vertical pellet smoker model you should consider if you’re looking for the best vertical pellet smokers on the market.
Despite its plain and basic looks, the Pit Barrel Cooker provides an unparalleled cooking experience as it makes smoking easy and flexible. This 18-gauge porcelain-enameled drum has a vertical design that allows for shorter smoking time without monitoring the temperature control every minute.
This vertical pellet smoker also includes racks and hooks for plenty of cooking options. Overall this is a reliable option, but the one thing that held this back is that the cooking capacity varies depending on the accessories used.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 21 x 21 x 31.1 in
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 240 square inches
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Charcoal
Material: Stainless Steel
6 - Weber Smokey Mountain Vertical Smoker (Easiest-to-Assemble)
- Cookes with charcoal or wood pellets
- Easy to assemble
- Built-in lid thermometer
- Rust-resistant material
- More difficult to control temperature range
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Barbecue lovers
Who is it not for?
- Quick cooks
Final Verdict
A solid option for barbecue lovers who want a traditional smoking method. It may not be suitable for quick cooks.
Weber is one of the biggest names in the grilling industry. Smokey Mountain vertical smoker is one of their most popular charcoal smokers.
This vertical pellet smoker is easy to assemble, capable of reaching temperatures up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit (87 degrees Celsius). The total pellet grill has over 700 square inches (4,516 sq Cm) of cooking space with two smoking grates for cooking meat.
It’s important to note that wood pellets can be used with charcoal smokers. The pellets can improve the flavor of the meat and cook more consistently.
Of course, you can also use charcoal for smoking meat, and if you want to learn which charcoal type we think is the best you can check out this review.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 24 x 23 x 48.5 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 726 square inches
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Charcoal
Material: Stainless Steel
7 - Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker
- More affordable than some other options
- Large capacity wood chip box
- Door mounted temperature range gauge
- Cooking time up to 24 hours
- Lacks digital readout
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Beginner smokers
Who is it not for?
- Advanced users
Final Verdict
Ideal for beginner smokers who need a simple and straightforward smoker. Advanced users might find it lacking in features.
The Char-Broil Analog is a bit smaller, which can be a good option if you have limited space for your vertical pellet smoker. The total cooking area is 544 square inches (3,509 sq Cm) spread across three cooking grates.
There is an easy-to-read thermometer installed on the front of the door with dual latches to help keep the pellet grill properly sealed during smoking.
The front access water tray, grease cup, and wood chip tray make it easy to use and allow you to quickly add water or more chips or pellets while in use. Learn how to use wood chips in an electric smoker.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 15 x 20.7 x 33.5 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 544 square inches
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Electric
Material: Grate Material Chrome Plated Wire
8 - Dyna Glo Vertical Charcoal Smoker (Best for Beginners)
- Built-in easy to read thermometer
- Dual door design for more stable temperature range
- Burns charcoal, wood chips, or wood pellets
- High-temperature powder coat finish
- No viewing window
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Beginner smokers
Who is it not for?
- Advanced users
Final Verdict
Ideal for beginner smokers who need a simple and straightforward smoker. Advanced users might find it lacking in features.
The Dyna Glo DGO1 is an offset charcoal smoker. This is similar to the Weber Smokey Mountain in that you can use charcoal, wood chips, or pellets for cooking meats. The cooking area is quite large, roughly 764 square inches (4,929 sq Cm).
One thing we liked during testing was the dual door design, which keeps the vertical pellet smoker unit from losing heat when adding more fuel. This can help to prevent massive temperature fluctuations and makes loading fuel much more manageable.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 34.52 x 47.03 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 1176 square inches
Hopper Capacity: 25 pounds per grate
Fuel Type: Charcoal
Material: Stainless Steel
9 - Masterbuilt MWS 330S (Best Heavy-Duty)
- Digital gauge with LED display
- Large smoking space
- Easy to clean pellet hopper
- Temperature probes for exact measurement
- No viewing window
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Convenience-focused cooks
Who is it not for?
- Traditionalists
Final Verdict
Great for convenience-focused cooks who value digital controls and ease of use. Not for traditionalists seeking a manual experience.
The Masterbuilt MWS 330S is a heavy-duty vertical pellet smoker for serious meat lovers looking to do large amounts of grilling. It has four chrome-plated racks that can cook up to twelve chickens, two turkeys, four racks of ribs, or three kurobuta pork butts.
The cooker comes with numerous accessories designed to help you cook a variety of foods such as asparagus or potatoes. The unit is made from stainless steel and has a side-mounted smoker box with a digital temperature gauge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 20 x 21.69 x 40.15 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: N/A
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Corded Electric
Material: Cast Iron
10 - Bradley Smoker BTDS76P (With Largest Cooking Capacity)
This is one of the more technologically advanced vertical pellet smokers on the list. It’s an offset cooker with a powerful digital control panel and smart smoke technology. You can easily control the entire cooking process by quickly setting the cooking temperature range for a more consistent experience.
The vertical smoker uses electricity for heat and pure wood sawdust Bisquettes, which are specially compressed to form wood discs of uniform thickness that burn for a precise time. They produce consistent pure smoke and are extinguished before converting it to ashes, to enjoy only the pure flavor of smoke.
- Stainless steel build
- Four cooking racks
- Large cooking capacity
- Complete digital temperature range controls
- Short warranty of only 1-year
The vertical pellet smoker unit is made from high-caliber materials and designed to be airtight to prevent smoke leakage and provide a more consistent temperature range. The ash cleanout is smooth with a removable ash pan you can wash.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 31 inches
BTU Value: N/A
Cooking Area: 4x 135in2 ( 4x 871cm2)
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Electric
Material: Polished Stainless Steel
11 - Dyna Glo Wide Body Gas Smoker
- Pellet smoker has dual cast iron burners
- Four cooking racks and large area
- High capacity wood chip and pellet box
- Sausage hangers and rib racks
- No window for monitoring
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Heavy-duty users
Who is it not for?
- Beginners
Final Verdict
Best for heavy-duty smoking with precise gas controls. Not ideal for beginners due to complexity.
The Dyna Glo Wide Body is the alternative to the charcoal cooker discussed above. We will always be partial to charcoal or natural-burning wood pellets over a propane smoker, but this unit has its place. The total cooking capacity is 1,235 square inches (7,967 sq Cm), which is plenty to cook large meals and entertain.
There are four adjustable cooking grates with other excellent features such as sausage hooks and vegetable racks. The unit comes with a 15,000 BTU cast iron burner and a built-in front-facing thermometer for more precise slow cooking.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 20.35 x 31.28 x 49.71 inches
BTU Value: 20000
Cooking Area: 1235 square inches
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Material: Iron
12 - Smoke Hollow Propane Smoker
- Four different types of cooking racks
- High caliber heat inductor for better management
- Pellet smoker cooking time up to 24 hours
- Porcelain-coated water container
- No digital controls
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Outdoor cooks
Who is it not for?
- Indoor use
Final Verdict
Great for outdoor cooks who prefer propane-fueled smoking. Not suitable for indoor use due to propane fuel.
The Smoke Hollow is a propane-fueled vertical pellet grill with some great features. This also comes with two standard smoking racks, two jerky racks, and two combo smoker/rib racks to make cooking a variety of meats easier.
The vertical pellet smoker unit is powered by two independently controlled 15,400 BTU heating units. We also like that it’s designed and sealed in such a way as to lower temperature loss for a more consistent cooking experience.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product Dimensions: 21.26 x 29.13 x 43.5 inches
BTU Value: 15400
Cooking Area: N/A
Hopper Capacity: N/A
Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Material: Stainless Steel
7 Important Considerations Before You Buy
1. Vertical Pellet Smoker Water Pan Capacity
One of the downsides with vertical smokers is they can dry out the meat more quickly. The solution to this is having a water container that will evaporate the water and help keep the meat moist and tender. You want to look for a water container that has a larger capacity.
Remember that the more often you have to open the door to replace the water, the more spikes and dips you are going to have in the internal temperature. Ideally, the best vertical pellet smoker can hold at least three liters of water.
2. Pellet Smoker Hopper Capacity
The hopper is the area where you put your pellets. As with the water container, you want a hopper that will hold enough, so you don’t have to add more pellets continually.
Every time you open the door, you are adding enormous amounts of oxygen into the chamber, which can cause temperature spikes before the temp settles back.
This isn’t an issue as much with vertical pellet smokers, which generally have larger hoppers but can be more of a problem with traditional pellet grills.
The best vertical pellet smokers should have a large enough hopper so you don’t have to open the door and add more pellets too often.
3. Temperature Control
One of the most significant challenges when smoking meats is temperature control (1).
Vertical pellet smokers are typically better for maintaining a consistent temperature range compared to different types of BBQ smokers and pellet grills.
This is especially true for offset cookers as there is a separate fuel door that you open to add fuel and water. You can find out which offset pellet smoker model we think is the best by clicking on this link.
Electric pellet smokers are also better as you digitally set the temperature range, and the heating unit will kick in to help regulate the temp.
This is in contrast to gas-powered cookers that use dials or charcoal cookers that you have to work with to maintain the temperature range. For the doneness level of meat, you desire, it is best to use a meat thermometer.
Recommended Article: ThermoPro TP Review
4. Pellet Smoker Heating Element
There are various types of heating elements that you can select from (2). When it comes to the best vertical pellet smokers, you will likely decide between an electric heating element or a gas heating element. Most traditional vertical pellet smokers use an electric element that you can control digitally.
However, the reality is that you can use pellets with any pellet smoker. Suppose you’re looking for an easy-to-use option that will give you the best and most consistent temperature range settings. In that case, we recommend a vertical pellet smoker with an electric element.
The pellet smoker will cycle, and the fluctuation of that cycle depends on the brand of the grill.
The temperature fluctuation comes as a shock to some users, who then view it as a fault.
But the cycling of temperature in a pellet smoker is only a fault if it is erratic or outside a zone of acceptability.
Nor is anyone going to find better temperature control in their kitchen because that’s not how ovens work.
5. Cooking Grate
It may not be the most apparent aspect of grilling, but the material of the actual cooking surface can affect how your meat turns out. Cooking grates for vertical pellet smokers can be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain, stainless steel, and cast iron.
Some of the differences between cooking grate materials include:
- Porcelain-Enameled steel - this is easier to clean than cast iron and, because of the porcelain, retains heat better than traditional stainless steel.
- Stainless Steel - the main benefit of stainless steel grates is that they can last for a long time if properly maintained. These may be a good option if you don’t want to replace parts regularly.
- Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron - because of the combination between porcelain and cast iron, this grate type retains the heat level for much longer than others. This also makes it ideal for achieving sear marks in steaks.
6. Ease of Use
If you’re new to smoking meats, these best vertical pellet smokers can be a great place to start. The main draw for many people is the electric components, which make it a more straightforward process to set the temperature range.
It also makes it much easier to keep the temperature range regulated throughout the cooking process for a more consistent cooking experience.
That being said, not all pellet units will be easy to control, and if you haven’t used one before, the best vertical pellet smoker will be the one that’s simple to use.
The more complicated the electronics are, and the more options you have, the more difficult it will be the first few times you grill. If you’ve never used a pellet smoker before, you should opt for one with easy-to-set-up controls and read our guide on how pellet grills work.
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7. Setting Options & Accessories
One of the significant benefits of these vertical smokers is the wide variety of extra features and accessories you can get. It ranges from various attachments for monitoring the temperature control of your meat to numerous different types of racks for cooking vegetables, carnivore jerky, ribs, or fish, which is why these vertical smokers are often considered as one of the best smokers of fish.
Some of the extra features you should look for in a pellet smoker include:
- Jerky racks
- Vegetable racks
- Rib racks
- Tube smokers
- Bluetooth monitoring
- Sausage hangers
Some of the best vertical pellet smoker units include all of these things. Other units will have some of these features with the option for you to add the rest as you need them. Before purchasing a pellet grill, you should think about which features will be most helpful or you can try to build your pellet smoker.
“Pellet grills are gaining prestige among professional grillers. Two of the top five teams in the Kansas City Barbecue Society competitions this year exclusively used pellet grills.”
-Candy Weaver, President of the Kansas City Barbecue Society
If you regularly cook sausage, for example, having built-in sausage hangers can help make sure the meat is more evenly cooked and doesn’t burn. Likewise, if you know you want to cook multiple racks of ribs at one time, then having a rib rack can be helpful.
FAQs
Are vertical or horizontal smokers better?
It depends. Vertical smokers are better than horizontal smokers if you want to smoke or roast different types of meats. These pellet smoker types cannot grill due to the heat source being further away. If you're going to grill different meats, then a horizontal pellet smoker may be better.
Can you get a smoke ring with a pellet smoker?
Yes, you can get a smoke ring with a vertical pellet smoker. The smoke ring occurs when the compound myoglobin mixes with the nitric oxide dissolved in the tissues of the meat. Nitric oxide is a byproduct of nitrogen dioxide, the product of burnt wood, mixing with hydrogen in the meat.
Is a vertical pellet smoker better than an electric smoker?
Generally, yes. A vertical pellet smoker is better than an electric smoker if you are looking to get smoky flavor in the meats. Pellet smokers are a good mix of traditional smokers and electric smokers. You get the ease of use of an electric pellet smoker with the flavor of a traditional smoker.
Do you need a water pan in a vertical pellet smoker?
Yes. You need a water pan in a vertical pellet smoker if you plan on slow-cooking meat at lower temperatures. The water container serves as a barrier between the heat source and the meat. It also helps to catch any drippings from the meat to prevent flare-ups.
How do you offset a vertical pellet smoker?
You offset a vertical pellet smoker by adding a smokebox to the side of the smoker. An offset smoker is one where the smokebox is to the side of the cooking chamber with smoke entering from the side. A vertical pellet smoker has smoke going from the bottom up to the cooking chamber.
Is an offset smoker better than a vertical pellet smoker?
Not necessarily. Offset smokers take up a larger space because it lies horizontally. Unless you have extra space or area to spare, opt for a vertical pellet smoker whenever you smoke meat.
Do I need to put water in my vertical pellet smoker?
Yes. If you're using a vertical pellet smoker, place at least 2 liters of water, wine, apple juice, or beer in the pan.
Is a vertical pellet smoker better than a regular smoker?
It depends. If you are after convenience and consistent decent outcomes, then go for the best vertical pellet smokers. However, if you like a more authentic flavor and experience, you can stay with using chunks.
And the Best Vertical Pellet Smoker is ...
All of the vertical smokers on this list are solid choices, but the Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker gets our vote for the best vertical smoker you can buy right now.
We are particularly impressed with its digital control panel that makes each grilling session more enjoyable compared to other vertical smokers.
One of the main selling points was the sizable door-sized viewing window allowing you to easily monitor your food without opening up the unit.
The five cooking racks provide plenty of cooking space, and you can adjust them as needed; plus, it comes at an affordable price compared to similar vertical smokers.
Our #1 Recommendation
Pit Boss Sportsman 5-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker
- Massive cooking area
- Convection cooking airflow
- Five cooking options
- Digital control board for ease of use
- No grilling option
The top vertical pellet smokers, which are a necessary appliance for outdoor cooking and producing mouthwatering BBQ outcomes, are listed above. I’m lucky I tried it out!