Best Vertical Pellet Smokers 2024: Top 10 Vertical Pellet Smokers Reviews

Are you tired of eating meat that was cooked hours ago?

If so, you might want to consider investing in a vertical pellet smoker. This type of smoker allows you to cook your food directly over the fire.

How to select the best vertical pellet smoker for your home can be a daunting task. Many brands are offering different high-quality products. So, how do you choose the one that is perfect for you?

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most important features to consider when shopping for a vertical pellet smoker.

TOP 3 BEST VERTICAL PELLET SMOKER: CHEF’S RECOMMENDATION

1. PBV3P1 Pit boss Pellet Smoker – The Best in the Grilling Game!
2. Camp Chef XXL Smart Smoke Technology – A Must-Have Smoker!
3. Pit Boss Grills 77550 – Top Performance Smoker!

These smokers, as mentioned above, have become increasingly popular in recent years, notably due to the fact that they tend to deliver better results than most of their counterparts.

However, it doesn’t mean that you should rush and buy the first model of vertical smoker you see. There are quite a few things you need to consider before investing in one of these appliances, most importantly; your budget!

To give you insights into other options in this category, we have reviewed ten models for you, so you just go through each ones’ specifications and click on the most suitable for you.

Woah! Purchasing an upright pellet smoker has never been this much easy!

LIST OF BEST VERTICAL PELLET SMOKER

TOP 10 BEST VERTICAL PELLET SMOKER REVIEWS

Here are the best vertical pellet smokers along with detailed reviews and pros & cons.

1. PBV3P1 Pit Boss Pellet Smoker – Best in Grilling

This pellet smoker is among the best models that you can find on the market. It has become a popular choice for smokers because of its performance and how it can make smoked food.

This is a convenient product that is easy to maintain, but you will still want to learn more about how you can use it to your advantage.

DETAILED REVIEW

The Pit Boss 3 Series is sleek and slim, but it offers just as much cooking space.

It has a small yet very effective removable rack system. It contains four porcelain-coated cooking racks that measure 721 square inches, giving you more than enough space for grilling or smoking.

You can also expect a smaller pellet hopper with this product. That means the grill will require less maintenance and longer smoke time – 18 hours! That truly makes it stand out from most other pellet smokers.

This well-priced BBQ is user-friendly and straightforward. It includes a meat probe, so you don’t have to pay extra. The pit boss model also has a clear viewing window and an easy-to-clean grill.

This vertical pellet smoker costs less than most of Pit Boss’s line-up but still includes everything you need.

This Pit Boss pellet smoker vertical is by far one of the best investments you can make in a smoker.

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2. Camp Chef XXL Smart Smoke Technology – A Must Have Smoker!

Camp Chef is the best option for anyone who wants to prepare great food but also wants a smoker that is easier to use than other options on the market. This smoker has Smart Smoke Technology, which uses four different types of wood pellets to create different smoke flavors and aromas.

DETAILED REVIEW

This smoker has four meat racks that can fit more than enough for your family. Three jerky racks are perfect for snacks and twelve hooks on the sausage rack for added convenience. You will never run out of space for your favorite meats with this smoker.

This pellet smoker makes smoking food very easy. You can set this beauty to the perfect temperature, and it will automatically generate the right amount of smoke. With Its two meat probes, you can watch your food while it smokes and never worry about over or undercooking it.

What’s new?

The updated features of this grill are roomier, with a higher capacity. Plus, enjoy the Ash Cleanout system after each cookout.

Choose from temperatures from 150° F to 350° F, and now with the convenience of a bottle opener and pellet hopper window. No longer need to worry about cleaning up after an eventful cookout!

If you’re a fan of smoking meats, then you might have thought about buying this beauty!

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3. Pit Boss Grills 77550 – Top Performance Smoker!

If you’re looking for a smoker that’s full of top-quality features, Pit Boss Grills 77550 is the one to go for. It has an extremely large cooking area – 800 square inches – that lets you smoke just about anything.

DETAILED REVIEW

With the Pit Boss 5.5, you don’t have to worry about your smoker being flimsy or not effective in cold weather. It is high quality, made of steel, and comes with double-wall insulation. The five series is also a great deal for the price!

The grates are simple, durable, and aesthetically pleasing porcelain-coated steel. They are easy to clean and rust-resistant.

But Pit Boss’s multi-level racking system is next-level and will please any outdoor enthusiast who needs or wants extra flexibility when setting up their smoker.

The 5 Series gives you five racks and 1,548 sq. in. of space as well as a 40+ lb. pellet hopper.

With this, Pit Boss Grills smokers can get up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius). It has user-friendly customer support, with many reviews pointing out that Pit Boss has a straightforward way of getting help.

It is not the most elaborate design on the market, but this smoker is a great value for money on a sturdy build that does a good job in cooler weather.

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4. Masterbuilt Pellet Smoker Sportsman Elite

With the new Masterbuilt pellet smoker sportsman elite, your next grilling will be amazing. It is made of the finest materials and is built easily. It has a strong steel structure with a durable porcelain-enameled finish.

DETAILED REVIEW

With a two-door configuration, the smoker has a double door. The top door opens the smoking cabinet, and the bottom one reveals the heating element, drip tray, and water reservoir. This way, you can maintain the levels of water without disrupting the interior of the smoker.

As we looked closer at the water reservoir, we were happy to see it slides out and can hold a lot of liquid.

If you want to do a 10-hour brisket cook, make sure you plan on refilling your smoker’s hopper at some point during the cook. The smoker’s hopper holds 17 pounds of pellets, and the smoker uses up 2 pounds of pellets per hour.

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5. Masterbuilt MWS 330B

If you want to enjoy tasty, tender meat that’s infused with a smoky flavor, then buying a Masterbuilt model is a must. Masterbuilt vertical pellet smoker 330B is a great choice.

DETAILED REVIEW

When you want to grill up large amounts of meat, the Masterbuilt MWS 330S is an essential heavy-duty smoker.

If you are in a rush or want more flexibility, this product also has preset cooking and smoking cycles, but if you wish to, even more, you can control the temperature and cooking time.

The smoker cooker is made of stainless steel, with a side-mounted smoker box. This unit has numerous accessories to help you cook various foods. These accessories include asparagus tongs and a potato/vegetable basket.

The digital temperature gauge will allow you to cook your food to perfection.

This smoker is missing one thing – windows. The lack of visibility into the cooking process may be a major downside for some.

The upside to this best vertical pellet smoker is that you can cook with relative ease. And it surely has melted your heart to buy this smoker.

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6. Masterbuilt MWS 340B

As the best vertical wood pellet smoker, the Masterbuilt MWS guarantees efficiency. Unlike traditional smokers, you can fit four smoking racks of foods into the smoker. This ensures that all food is smoked simultaneously and evenly.

DETAILED REVIEW

This pellet smoker is 111.3 pounds, powered by electricity, and is fueled by wood pellets, with a cooking area of 1830 square inches.

Once you load the hopper with pellets, you can go for hours without needing to reload. You can put up to eight pounds of pellets into the hopper at a time.

The MB20250218 by Masterbuilt Store has a perfect temperature range, from 180 to 350 degrees. The inside of the cooking chamber is monitored, and the auger speed is controlled.

The model also has a removable ash container for easy ash disposal.

With all of such conveniences, it’s easy to say that the user is one happy camper.

Overall, we recommend this model because of more positive points than a few negative points.

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7. Louisiana Grills Pellet Smoker Vertical

Have you been looking for a smoker that can cater to your smoking needs? Stop by this Louisiana Grills vertical pellet smoker. It has a cooking size capable of meeting your every need!

DETAILED REVIEW

This grill has some great features. For one, it has a full range indicator on the front so you can control the temperature. It also handles temperatures between 175ºF and 325ºF.

The grill has two chrome-coated cooking grids that are adjustable in height, along with a heat source at the bottom and a smoke tray at the top.

Louisiana Grills boasts that their vertical pellet smoker can hold up to 60 pounds of pellets. For 35 hours of cooking time, this should be more than enough.

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8. Pellet Pro Upright Pellet Smoker

Do you have a large family or a lot of friends over for BBQs?

Then the Pellet Pro 2300 vertical pellet smoker might be a good choice. The grill has a 10cu cooking space and comes with an extra-large 1680 inches of grilling area.

DETAILED REVIEW

If you are looking for a big smoker, you have found the right product.

This pellet smoker has ten cubic feet of cooking space, which is more than enough to cook for your whole family. On top of that, four steel grates spanning 1680 square inches will give you plenty of room. The metal grates are spaced 7 ½” apart, so air can flow properly.

This smoker is tough. It is built to last!

Here’s an interesting feature; The smoker even includes a divider so you can separate your vegetables from your meat.

This grill has two meat probes, so you can track the temperature of your food without opening it. There are two holes for the probes, so you don’t have to open the door, which is great because it lets out all the heat.

There are two vents on the top of the smoker and one on the side. You can control the airflow by adjusting these vents.

You can load up to 35 pounds of pellets in the hopper, so it will take a while before you need to refill it. It’s good for about 20 hours without any monitoring.

The Pit Boss owes its name to its advanced technology and smart features. This smoker starts automatically if the temperature falls below 150F and can be set to a specific temperature. You won’t burn your hands when you open the door. Moreover, its ventilation system is designed for optimal air circulation.

Its cons are nothing in comparison to its special features, so we highly recommend this monster!

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9. Pit Boss Pellet Smoker 5-Series

The PB7000SP is practically the best smoker in the Pit Boss series. It’s not for those who are faint of heart, but instead for those who live and breathe the outdoors.

DETAILED REVIEW

The square footage for this smoker is more than 1853 square inches with a hooper capacity of 55 pounds. Competitors will have to up their game if they want to keep up with this grill.

Large viewing windows for pellets, four caster wheels that lock, and no risk of the smoker running down a hill make this an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy smoking meats and vegetables.

The 7 Series smoker is a pretty straightforward device. For example, you get two meat probes for monitoring your food without having to see inside the smoker’s grill.

The temperature range goes from 150 F to 420 F, which is pretty decent.

It’s not as wide as the 77550, but the 30-degree difference isn’t significant enough to be concerned about. So, it is a decent purchase!

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Why Choose a Vertical Pellet Smoker?

So, why choose a pellet smoker vertical over a horizontal one? Vertical smokers offer a few key benefits that horizontal ones do not.

First and foremost, they’re much more compact. Vertical smokers also allow you to smoke less at a time. And, they can be used with nearly any kind of fuel.

Vertical smokers are gaining popularity every year because of their ease of use, convenience, and ability to produce delicious smoked food.

They use indirect heat and do not require an open flame, which makes them safer and easier to use than other types of smokers.

However, there are some disadvantages, too. Vertical smokers require stacking your meat vertically.

What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Vertical Pellet Smoker?

Too overwhelmed by all the choices to find a quality vertical pellet smoker? Well, your worries are over. Here are five important features to take into consideration when looking for a good smoker:

Cooking capacity

Pellet smokers should be chosen for their cooking space. The size of the smoker and the size of food you plan to cook will play a major role in your buying decision.

For instance, if you plan to cook large quantities of meat, you’ll need a larger cooking area. The Sportsman PB7000SP is a great option for this because it has six cooking grids and a size of 1853 square inches.

If you’re planning to feed fewer people, you’ll need an average smoker, and for that, you should buy Masterbuilt MWS 330B.

It’s always best to do your research before you buy so that you know what size suits your needs best.

Hopper capacity

To keep your pellet grill fed with wood, you need a hopper. The container holds the pellets and is automatically provided to the fire, so you won’t have to refill it.

Larger hopper capacity like PBV3P1 Pit Boss Pellet Smoker means that you can place more pellets in the container, which saves both time and hassle. A standard hopper can hold up to 40 pounds of pellets and lasts up to 20 hours before needing refueling.

Temperature range

A great pellet smoker will always have a wide temperature range, usually within 100 to 450 degrees. You should expect your grill to warn you of the temperature at any point accurately. Some grills also include a meat probe, which will show you optimum temperatures.

Pit Boss Grills 77550 and PBV3P1 Pit Boss are a strong recommendation as they get up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius), which is perfect for perfect grilling.

Convenient to use

It’s worth it to invest in a smoker that is easy to use.

You need your smoker to be easy to use, so the better you know how it works, the better chance you’ll have of using it to its fullest potential.

Digital control panels for cooking settings, cooking cycles, and time are standard for most smokers. Castor wheels will keep your smoker portable for all of your outdoor needs.

Masterbuilt MWS 340B, Louisiana Grills Pellet Smoker Vertical (a bit pricey in comparison to others), Pellet Pro Upright Pellet Smoker should be considered because they are highly user friendly and got our points in ease of use.

Build up quality

When a customer buys a high-quality vertical pellet smoker, a thick steel body is one of the most important things to look for.

Sportsman PB7000SP is a high-end vertical pellet smoker that has a thick steel frame. Stainless steel is used on the inside, with porcelain and chrome on the racks.

A tight door is also imperative in solid construction smokers. It helps to ensure that little heat escapes through the door and keeps all of the delicious flavors in.

LET’S CONCLUDE!

When you decide to buy the best vertical pellet smoker, the decision becomes harder. There are so many different brands and models out there, like the Pit Boss Pellet Smoker, Masterbuilt pellet smoker, Camp Chef, Pellet Pro, etc.

We have selected the most popular, most handy, and most useful from every aspect.

Camp Chef XXL Smart Smoke Technology is a must-have smoker in real meaning!

You’ve got it all, and we’ve got your back. Our top choice for a smoker is the Camp Chef XXL Vertical Pellet Smoker!

Why should you choose this smoker?

It provides a temperature range from 150F to 350F, the right heat for a smoker. It has a digital temperature gauge and sensors so you can check that your food is being cooked at the right temperature. This smoker provides a whopping 2,059 square inches of smoking space, with four grill racks, three jerky racks, and 12 sausage hooks to cook for a crowd.

This rugged and powerful smoker has a variety of features that make it a top-notch choice for any outdoor BBQ or picnic.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are vertical smokers any good?

Answer: Vertical pellet smokers provide some benefits that other models don’t. They offer a larger cooking space and better airflow, which is great for high-temperature cooking. These models also offer the standard benefits of wood pellet smokers, such as giving high temperatures and fuel efficiency.

Q: How much time vertical pellet smoker takes to heat up?

Answer: It takes no longer than 10 minutes to heat up.

Q: Which one is better? Upright pellet smoker or electric smoker?

Answer: If you are looking for that smoky flavor in the meat, a pellet smoker is your best bet. They come somewhere in between an electric smoker and a traditional smoker. Not only do they have the convenience of an electric smoker, but they also have the flavor of a conventional smoker.

Read our previous full review on the electric smoker to learn more about those models.

Q: Can a vertical pellet work without a water pan?

Answer: No, you need a water pan in this category of smokers. The water pan helps in perfect slow cooking at low temperatures. It acts as a barrier between meat and heat source and helps to prevent drippings from meat that may cause flaring.

Q: Can a vertical pellet be left for overnight cooking?

Answer: Yes, it is safe to leave your smoker for overnight cooking, but it is advised to check after a couple of hours to make sure if it’s working properly and something is not burning out.

Q: Why is my pellet smoker not producing enough smoke?

Answer: It’s time for a cleanup! You need to clean your pellet smoker regularly to get better results out of it.

For thorough cleaning, please carefully follow the instructions you get in the user manual.

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