Buying guide

The Best Pellet Grill

Researched by Johnny Alto · last updated July 27, 2026

Short answer: The best pellet grill is the Traeger Pro 780. The pellet grill most others get measured against. The main things to weigh are temperature control, hopper size, cooking area, and ecosystem & parts.

Top pick

Traeger Pro 780

The pellet grill most others get measured against. Its controller holds temperature reliably across the range from low smoking to higher-heat grilling, it has WiFi so you can monitor and adjust from your phone during a long cook, and 780 square inches covers ribs, chicken, and burgers for a family with room to spare. Traeger's ecosystem, parts, and pellet availability are the best in the category, which matters when you are three years in and need a part. Reviewers cite the consistency as the reason they stopped fiddling and just cook.

Check price on Amazon Live price on Amazon. Representative image.

How this guide was made: I don't own every product I write about, and I won't pretend otherwise. Unlike the hands-on reviews elsewhere on this site, this is a research pick, synthesized from BBQ and grilling communities, grill review sites, and thousands of verified buyer reviews. It reflects the community's consensus, not my own testing. See how we research our picks →

A pellet grill gives you real wood-smoke flavor with the convenience of a gas grill: a hopper feeds wood pellets to a fire pot, and a controller holds your set temperature like an oven, so it handles both low-and-slow smoking and hotter grilling. The keys are a stable controller, a hopper big enough for long cooks, and solid build. Here is the benchmark pick, plus a value alternative.

How do the best options for pellet grill compare?

Pick	Product	Why it makes the list
Top pick	Traeger Pro 780	The pellet grill most others get measured against.
Value pick	a Z Grills or Pit Boss pellet grill	These give you more cooking area and a bigger hopper per dollar than Traeger. The apps and fit-and-finish are a step behind, but the cooking results are excellent for the price, and they are the smart-money pick if you do not need the Traeger ecosystem.
Larger Traeger	Traeger Pro 34	A bigger-capacity Traeger if you routinely cook for a crowd or want to run multiple briskets. Same reliable platform, more grill.

What should you look for in pellet grill?

A few things separate a good pellet grill from a frustrating one: temperature control, hopper size, cooking area, and ecosystem & parts. Weigh these before you buy.

Temperature control: a stable PID-style controller is what makes a pellet grill set-and-forget.
Hopper size: a larger pellet hopper gets you through a long overnight smoke without refilling.
Cooking area: size it to how many people you feed; the racks fill up fast.
Ecosystem & parts: pellet and replacement-part availability matter for the long haul.

What are the best alternatives?

Value pick

a Z Grills or Pit Boss pellet grill

These give you more cooking area and a bigger hopper per dollar than Traeger. The apps and fit-and-finish are a step behind, but the cooking results are excellent for the price, and they are the smart-money pick if you do not need the Traeger ecosystem.

Larger Traeger

Traeger Pro 34

A bigger-capacity Traeger if you routinely cook for a crowd or want to run multiple briskets. Same reliable platform, more grill.

Check price on Amazon

Bottom line: the Traeger Pro 780 is the reliable, well-supported benchmark; go with a Z Grills or Pit Boss for more grill per dollar, or the Pro 34 if you need Traeger with more capacity.

Our top pickTraeger Pro 780

Check price on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pellet grill?

Traeger Pro 780. The pellet grill most others get measured against.

What should you look for in pellet grill?

Focus on temperature control, hopper size, cooking area, and ecosystem & parts.

What is a good alternative to the Traeger Pro 780?

The a Z Grills or Pit Boss pellet grill. These give you more cooking area and a bigger hopper per dollar than Traeger. The apps and fit-and-finish are a step behind, but the cooking results are excellent for the price, and they are the smart-money pick if you do not need the Traeger ecosystem.

Related buying guides

This is a research-based buying guide, not a personal hands-on review; recommendations reflect community consensus and verified buyer reviews. Prices and availability are subject to change, so always confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

← All guides · How we research · About · Affiliate Disclosure · Privacy Policy · Contact